Biography
Graham Huntley is a founding partner of Signature Litigation and a senior specialist commercial and banking litigator. With his time at Signature and previously as a partner in a major international law firm, Graham has over 35 years’ experience in commercial litigation.
Graham is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers as one of the UK’s highest ranked commercial and banking litigators and has been involved in some of the most significant cases of recent years. The Chambers UK 2024 Guide recognises Graham as a “very astute banking litigator” with “huge experience” who “brings great energy to anything he is involved with“. He has also been noted as “a highly regarded litigator known for handling cases of the utmost value”, with sources praising him as “the mastermind behind the multi-jurisdictional litigation strategy. The kind of lawyer that has a very strong grasp of commercial as well as legal matters.” Previous guides have described him as “a shining light in the litigation market” with “deep experience” and “immense strategic ability”. Market commentators also describe him as “very bright, very hard-working, a good tactician” and “very committed and driven”. Graham has also been ranked in both Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2023, and has been noted as “a real force of nature” and a “real straight shooter who is supportive of the staff working with him.”
The Legal 500 UK 2024 recognises Graham as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for civil fraud, banking litigation and commercial litigation, and he is described as “a lawyer with a particularly formidable reputation within the banking sector.” The Guide also highlights him as “a leading player in the London litigation scene. He’s clever, responsive, always fights his corner, and the opposition don’t underestimate him.” In The Legal 500 UK 2023, Graham is described as “a doyen of London banking litigation”, “a legend in the London banking litigation market”, and a “master tactician”. He is further praised as an “absolute star”, and an “outstanding lawyer [who] has a real skill in getting to the heart of the matter”. A commentator notes “client manner is second to none and the firm thrives on his leadership” and another comments Graham is “utterly dedicated; he will not hesitate to go the extra mile to get the result for his client”. Previous Guides have praised him as “hugely experienced” and an “exceptional litigator”. Graham is further considered “a leading figure in commercial dispute resolution and widely regarded as a rainmaker” and “a force of nature, a very impressive litigator with a deeply commercial intelligence and a willingness to go more than the extra mile for his clients.” The Guide has also noted Graham is an “extremely creative and lateral lawyer”. The Legal 500 UK 2017 regards Graham as “an excellent and careful strategist with unparalleled knowledge of judges, barristers and arbitrators”. In The Legal 500 UK 2016, Graham is commended as a litigator “you would not want to have on the other side” and “one of the most experienced litigators in London.” Graham is praised for his ability to bring “huge experience” to cases. Graham has also been recognised by Citywealth as a Leading Lawyer, as part of the ‘Citywealth Leaders List’ and is also consistently recognised in the Who’s Who Legal Guides for his litigation and asset recovery expertise.
Graham acts for banks, fund managers and life assurers in relation to M&A disputes, regulatory disputes and private investigations, shareholder and joint venture disputes as well as a range of economic tort claims. Graham also has extensive experience of warranty claims and professional indemnity work for a range of corporate and financial institutions as well as for professionals. His experience of ADR includes three of the UK’s most significant mediations involving financial institutions.
Graham Huntley is a past Trustee and President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and has served as a member of several judicial and professional working parties including the Commercial Court Users’ Group. He has rights of audience in the Higher Courts of England and Wales.
Graham also has a long-standing commitment to pro-bono work, having served as International Pro-Bono Partner for ten years at his previous firm. He is currently a Director of the London Legal Support Trust as well as Chairman of the Capital Cases Charitable Trust.
Experience
- Representing Privinvest in connection with a US$2bn claim brought against Credit Suisse by the Republic of Mozambique. The claim relates to supply agreements and supporting financial instruments and guarantees entered into by state-owned enterprises dedicated to the development of Mozambique’s offshore Exclusive Economic Zone and supporting international investment into its oil and gas reserves. The claim engages allegations of bribery of Mozambican government officials.
- Instructed by the investment fund of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family in a dispute against Credit Suisse for losses over mismanagement of his portfolio in Switzerland, which have led to criminal proceedings against the bank’s fund managers. Civil proceedings in Singapore are in progress. The Supreme Court of Bermuda recently ruled in favour of the client, ordering Credit Suisse to pay damages “substantially in excess of $500 million” from its local life insurance entity.
- Acted on behalf of the parent company of a telecommunications firm, Cellcom Telecommunications, in relation to allegations of fraud and cyber attacks allegedly designed to gain a commercial advantage over a competitor in Liberia. This case is one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022.
- Acting for members of the Barclay family in claims brought against them in the English High Court by Sir Frederick and Amanda Barclay in relation to recordings of conversations at the Ritz Hotel. The commercial dispute concerned allegations of breach of confidence, misuse of information and breach of data protection rights. Signature advised on the clients’ defence, the wider litigation strategy and confidential settlement
- Acting for ENRC in landmark proceedings brought by the Serious Fraud Office regarding legal professional privilege, which the Court of Appeal determined in ENRC’s favour.
- Acting on behalf of approximately 40 institutional clients and over 8,000 individual shareholders to bring claims against RBS over its 2008 rights issue following the disastrous acquisition of ABN Amro. This case was recognised as one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2017.
- Advising an investment bank based in London and the CIS in relation to several fee and market practice issues arising under banking mandates and totalling $140 million in unpaid fees and damages.
- Conducting heavy Commercial Court proceedings in relation to a range of financial transactions in respect of which allegations of conspiracy, fraud, breach of tortious duty, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty under English and Luxembourg laws were all in issue.
- Advising authorised persons in relation to an ongoing investigation by US regulators (the SEC and the DOJ) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority into the obligations and practices regarding the mark-to-market of a complex book of credit default swaps involving detailed and expert analysis of the marking of tranche trades and index trades.
Publications
Should firms be worried about Nigel Farage’s hope for a ‘debanking’ class action? – City A.M. – 15 November 2023
SIGNATURE LITIGATION—TSEGAYE LAURENDEAU – New Law Journal – 12 September 2022
Signature Litigation sees revenue growth slow to 1.4% this year after bumper 2021 – The Global Legal Post – 7 September 2022
Slower growth at Signature Litigation but staff see increased profit share – Legal Business – 6 September 2022
Signature Litigation Posts £28M Revenue In Latest Results – Law360 – 5 September 2022
Signature move for international arbitration specialist – CDR News – 5 September 2022
Why lawyers want to go solo: It’s ‘very difficult’ to change the culture in a law firm – Financial News – 11 May 2022
Brown Rudnick and Signature go head-to-head in billionaire asset dispute – The Lawyer – 5 April 2022
Signature strengthens banking disputes – CDR News – 24 November 2021
Signature Litigation Hires Finance Partner From Dechert – Law360 – 23 November 2021
Graham Huntley comments in Legal Week re the recent rise in boutique law firms – Legal Week – 22 March 2021
CONTENTIOUS INSOLVENCY EXPERT JOINS SIGNATURE LITIGATION AND WARNS ABOUT FUTURE OF ECONOMY – Edward Fennell’s Legal Diary – 9 October 2020
Increased insolvency and disputes talent at Signature Litigation – Commercial Dispute Resolution News – 7 October 2020
Signature Litigation Boosts Revenue By Nearly A Third – Legal Week – 1 October 2020
News regarding 2019/20 turnover and Paul Brehony appointment – The Lawyer – 1 October 2020
APPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK – TOM SNELLING AT SIGNATURE LITIGATION – Edward Fennell’s Legal Diary – 4 June 2020
Signature Litigation snaps up Snelling – New Law Journal – 31 May 2020
Signature signs up Snelling – CDR – 28 May 2020
Perfect storms – Cases of the year – Legal Business – 27 March 2020
Signature Litigation welcomes Nicolas Brooke in Paris – CDR – 28 August 2019
Former SocGen GC moves to litigation boutique – Global Investigations Review – 8 May 2019
News regarding Nicolas Brooke’s appointment – The Lawyer – 8 May 2019
Press comments in relation to boutique law firms – The Times – 3 August 2018
Interview regarding pro bono work – The Times Raconteur – 28 June 2018
Law versus reality on solicitors’ bills – New Law Journal – 19 January 2018
Q&A: Signature Litigation’s Graham Huntley on potential mergers and the need for litigators to behave – Legal Business – 21 April 2017
Areas of Expertise
Graham Huntley's Latest Published Articles

@SignatureLitLLP
We are pleased to announce that Ela Barda has been promoted to Counsel - many congratulations, Ela! Read more here: bit.ly/3XMqd7A #Litigation #CommercialLitigation pic.twitter.com/JxZLKh1qN2
Graham Huntley comments in relation to potential NatWest ‘debanking’ class action litigation in City A.M.
16 November 2023
Graham Huntley comments in Financial News
11 May 2022
Graham Huntley comments in relation to potential NatWest ‘debanking’ class action litigation in City A.M.
16 November 2023
Graham Huntley comments in Financial News
11 May 2022