Jessica Thomas

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“Dedicated litigation experts with experience in handling every element of large-scale and highly complex commercial disputes, frequently involving multiple parties and jurisdictions.”

Chambers UK 2019

“Prominent dispute resolution boutique with a strong record acting on behalf of claimants against major banks and financial institutions in complex litigation matters.”

Chambers UK 2019

“A highly specialised dispute resolution firm, with a strong focus on large, complex and often cross-border cases.”

The Legal 500 UK 2019

Dispute resolution boutique Signature Litigation LLP handles large, high-profile professional negligence claims, often with a cross-border element, for claimants and defendants.

The Legal 500 UK 2019

“The practice advises on all aspects of large-scale banking litigation.”

The Legal 500 UK 2019

“The hallmarks of the team are that they are responsive, commercial, conflict-free, flexible … a client gets Magic Circle quality.”

Chambers UK 2019

“They have a lot of experience in multi-jurisdictional, high-value litigation. They are a boutique firm that is growing in size considerably but which can still provide a personal, flexible service.”

Chambers UK 2019

“Adept at handling multiparty and cross-border disputes, particularly those related to banking.”

Chambers UK 2019

“Their advice is sound and their strategic approach is excellent. I would recommend them without hesitation.”

Chambers UK 2019

“The firm is extremely focused on high-quality litigation”.

Chambers UK 2019

“Noted expertise in handling cases related to alleged benchmark manipulation and mis-selling, as well as significant shareholder disputes”.

Chambers UK 2019

“A first-class firm with a positive, collaborative culture of integrity”.

The Legal 500 UK 2019

Dedicated litigation experts with experience in handling every element of large scale and highly complex commercial disputes, frequently involving multiple parties and jurisdictions.

Chambers UK 2019

Biography Experience Email Back to team

Biography

Jessica is a commercial litigator with experience in high value international arbitrations, cross-border professional negligence claims and financial and banking disputes.

Jessica trained at Nabarro LLP and moved to Signature Litigation following qualification in September 2015. She is a fluent French speaker and, prior to starting her training, spent 10 months working in the corporate team of the Paris-based law firm August & Debouzy.

Jessica is a member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and JUSTICE. She also takes an active interest in providing pro bono legal advice.

Experience

  • Defending partners in a UK private equity firm, along with associated global entities, in a Commercial Court claim alleging diversion of the business opportunity to conduct an asset recovery process on behalf of the Family and Estate of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili.
  • Acting for UK private equity firm in an LCIA arbitration against Ukrainian and Russian individuals for breaching obligation to sell majority shares in Georgian bank worth in excess of £30 million.
  • Representing a UK currency management investment firm in its application for pre-action disclosure against a major retail and investment bank. The application was made in light of suspected front-running on historic FX trades.
  • Advising Canadian pension fund in an LCIA claim against a major Australian investment bank for breach of confidentiality provisions in the shareholders’ agreement governing the parties’ holdings in a major European airport.
  • Representing a private investment fund in a professional negligence claim in the Commercial Court against a French law firm worth in excess of £37 million.
  • Acting for the leader of a foreign political party in a claim against a major retail bank following the attempted closure of his bank account. The claim drew upon the implications of national and EU financial and banking regulations, as well as EU discrimination law.

Areas of Expertise

Latest news

Josh Wong interviewed in Maritime Risk International following landmark success against Oil Companies International Marine Forum

Nov 19, 2019

Ioannis Alexopoulos speaking at BVI International Arbitration Conference 2019

Nov 18, 2019

Signature Litigation recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2020

Nov 14, 2019

Josh Wong interviewed in Maritime Risk International following landmark success against Oil Companies International Marine Forum

Nov 19, 2019

Ioannis Alexopoulos speaking at BVI International Arbitration Conference 2019

Nov 18, 2019

Signature Litigation recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2020

Nov 14, 2019

All news

Signature Partners

Ioannis Alexopoulos

Ioannis is recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2020 as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for his international arbitration and commercial litigation expertise, and has been noted as a “highly rated litigator”. Ioannis has also been ranked in Chambers Global as a ‘Foreign Expert Based in UK’ and a ‘Foreign Expert for Greece’ for his dispute resolution expertise and is commended for his ability to “see right to the heart of sprawling banking disputes.”

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Nicolas Brooke

Nicolas has deep experience in the management of complex and international high stakes litigations. He receives high praise within the industry; his team at Société Générale was awarded the “Trophée d’or Direction Juridique Contentieux” by Décideurs/Leaders League and most recently Nicolas won the “Outstanding In-house Counsel” award at the Global Investigations Review Awards in 2018.

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Simon Bushell

Simon is regarded as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2020 for his civil fraud and commercial litigation expertise, and is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for his banking litigation work. The Legal 500 notes Simon is “an excellent litigator, constantly striving for ways to improve a case or undermine his opponents”, a “force-field of drive and determination” and he is “highly rated for high-stakes Russian and CIS-related disputes”. Chambers UK describes him as a “truly exceptional lawyer” and he has also been ranked as a Foreign Expert for his Russian dispute resolution work in Chambers Global. Simon became involved in Russian and CIS related disputes nearly two decades ago and continues regularly to handle matters with a connection to the region. Recognised for being “very clear-sighted and capable of identifying clear strategies for his clients to pursue“, Simon has been consistently ranked in Bands 1 and 2 for his civil fraud expertise in Chambers UK over many years.

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Natalia Chumak

Natalia is ranked in the Chambers UK and The Legal 500 UK Guides for her International Arbitration expertise. She has previously been praised by The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for her “fantastic experience and responsiveness”, for being an “extremely good tactical mind”, a “steely litigator with excellent litigation instincts” and she has been praised for her ability to “remain incredibly calm under pressure”.

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Julian Connerty

Julian has been ranked in Chambers for Civil Fraud and the Guide notes he “has considerable expertise in international fraud cases.” Julian is recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2020 for his civil fraud and banking litigation expertise. The Legal 500 notes that Julian is a “highly rated” litigator and an “extremely experienced operator“.

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Steven De Lara

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Sylvie Gallage-Alwis

Sylvie is described by Who’s Who Legal as a “dynamic and determined litigator”, who is “a firm favourite among clients” as “she always goes the extra mile to support her clients, and is proactive in seeking commercial solutions to disputes” and is “analytical, intelligent and responsive”.

Sylvie Gallage-Alwis
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Graham Huntley

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. Chambers UK describes him as “an intense and effective solicitor with an incredibly client-focused approach” and he has previously been described as “very bright, very hard-working, a good tactician” and “very committed and driven”. The Legal 500 recognises Graham for being a “a leading figure in commercial dispute resolution and widely regarded as a rainmaker.”

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Abdulali Jiwaji

The Legal 500 UK has noted that Abdulali is recommended for commercial litigation and financial disputes. The Legal 500 praises him for his ‘ability to analyse difficult issues and provide concise and clear advice’, whilst Chambers Global has described Abdulali as a “technically sound, sensible and robust litigator who always finds practical solutions”.

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Emmanuèle Lutfalla

Emmanuèle is recognised as a “thought leader” in Who’s Who Thought Leaders 2018. She is also ranked in Who’s Who Legal France: Product Liability Defence 2019, which notes that she “draws recommendations from peers across the EU, the USA and Asia.”

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Hermès Marangos

Hermès is recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2020 for his insurance and reinsurance litigation practice. Hermès is ranked as a Band 3 expert in Chambers Global 2019 and Chambers Latin America 2020 for his Insurance expertise in the region.

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Elliott Phillips

Elliott is recognised in The Legal 500 2016 for his experience in dispute resolution work and is also ranked as a Band 2 individual in both Chambers Global and Chambers Europe for General Business Law: Dispute Resolution — Gibraltar.

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Thomas Rouhette

Thomas is ranked Band 2 by both Chambers Global and Europe for his litigation and aviation law expertise, with sources praising him for his “invaluable” advice, experience and knowledge. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide recognises Thomas as a ‘Leading Individual’ for his aviation and commercial litigation practices, and he is regarded as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for his insurance experience. Who’s Who Legal regards Thomas as the “finest product liability lawyer in the country and one of the very best on the continent.”

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Daniel Spendlove

Daniel has been highly ranked in The Legal 500 UK Guide for his expertise in banking litigation, commercial litigation and professional negligence. The Guide describes him as “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and a “highly rated litigator”. He receives praise for being “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”.

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Josh Wong

Josh is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2020 for his international arbitration expertise, and is praised for being “an excellent lawyer, who is hardworking and has a clear vision.” He is also ranked in Chambers Global as a ‘Foreign Expert Based in UK’ for his Chinese dispute resolution, arbitration expertise, and as a ‘Foreign Expert for China’ for UK dispute resolution.

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