News

Signature Litigation continues to be recognised as a Leading Firm in The Legal 500 UK Guide for ‘Fraud: Civil’, ‘Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail’, ‘Commercial Litigation: Premium’, ‘International Arbitration’, and ‘Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation’.

The Legal 500 UK 2023 Guide launched on 28 September 2022. A link to Signature’s profile on The Legal 500 website can be found here.

London: Crime, Fraud and Licensing

Fraud: Civil (Tier 2)

“The ‘heavy hitting litigation shop‘ Signature Litigation LLP is regularly involved in high-stakes fraud matters; these often have cross-border elements with the team possessing particular strength in matters involving Eastern Europe. The team’s capabilities range from handling interim measures and asset tracing issues to securing and enforcing foreign judgments. Practice head Graham Huntley has more than 35 years of experience and Ioannis Alexopoulos is noted for his ‘superb commercial and practical sense’.”

The team at Signature is also described as follows: “Highly conscientious and switched-on team of experienced commercial and civil fraud litigators. Extremely impressive“, and as a “heavy hitting litigation shop – great team for the most complex and high value disputes in the Commercial Court.”

Partner Graham Huntley retains his position as a ‘Leading Individual’ in this category. He is also described as “a force of nature” and an “impressive litigator with a deeply commercial intelligence and a willingness to go more than the extra mile for his clients.”

Partner Ioannis Alexopoulos is ranked as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ and is praised as “a highly experienced litigator” who “has superb commercial and practical sense.”

Counsel Kate Gee, a “partner in counsel’s clothing“, is also ranked as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ and is highlighted for her “real depth of experience in civil fraud matters, including cryptocurrencies.”

Dispute Resolution

Banking litigation: investment and retail (Tier 3)

“Boutique disputes firm Signature Litigation LLP is instructed on a broad range of mandates in the banking litigation space, acting for clients including banks, investment funds, corporates and high net worth individuals. The group acts for both defendants and claimants across disputes involving claims of fraud, misrepresenation and breaches of fiduciary duty. Practice head Graham Huntley is ‘a legend in the London banking litigation market’, while Abdulali Jiwaji is ‘absolutely unflappable’ and has expertise across regulatory and civil disputes. The group continues to grow, with Becca Hogan and Rory Spillman made up to partner in June 2021. The pair win praise from clients, with Hogan offering ‘excellent grasp of the detail’ and Spillman noted for his ‘tremendous judgement’.”

Signature Litigation is noted as “a firmly established boutique litigation firm… winning substantial mandates in all areas of banking litigation” and a “very experienced banking litigation team.”

Graham Huntley retains his position in The Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in this category. He is described as a “a legend in the London banking litigation market“.

Partners Becca Hogan and Rory Spillman are ranked as ‘Next Generation Partners’. Becca is described as “exceptional“, with an “excellent grasp of the detail“. She is further praised as a “safe and skilled pair of hands.” A commentator notes that Rory has “tremendous judgement” is “very hard-working“, and comes “highly recommended for banking disputes.”

Partner Abdulali Jiwaji is described by a commentator as “absolutely unflapable, even in the most stressful of circumstances“. He has a “relentless focus on the practical requirements of his clients.”

Partners Josh Wong, Ioannis Alexopoulos, Daniel Spendlove, and Counsel Neil Newing and Senior Associates Ritwick Ghosh and Olivier Swain are all recognised as ‘Recommended Lawyers’.

Ritwick is “always a pleasure to work with and has a lightness of touch even in the heaviest and most stressful of cases” and Olivier is “intelligent and hard working, he is cerebral without letting this get in the way of practical advice.”

Commercial Litigation: Premium (Tier 4)

“Highly regarded boutique litigation outfit Signature Litigation LLP fields an ‘expanding team of top drawer talent‘. At the senior end, three partners are particular worthy of note: Graham Huntley, Daniel Spendlove and Abdulali Jiwaji all regularly act for clients from a host of industry sectors, working across M&A, shareholder and joint venture disputes, often with multi-party and multi-jurisdictional elements. Handling warranty claims and professional indemnity issues for a range of corporate and financial institutions is another mainstay of the practice.”

Signature is recognised as a “team of top drawer talent provides strength in depth across the field. Talented partners supported by up and coming associates make for a powerful team.”

Graham Huntley retains his ‘Hall of Fame’ status.

Abdulali Jiwaji maintains his ‘Leading Individual’ ranking and is regarded as a “stand-out practitioner” with “eyes on the detail – but also on the big picture.” He is also praised for his “ace judgement” and is lauded as “truly impressive” and “delightful to deal with – for barristers, team members and clients. He has it all.”

Daniel Spendlove is also highly commended in the Guide. A client notes he “is a consummate professional and lawyer, combining intellectual and emotional intelligence in such a way as to make me, as a client, feel completely supported.” He is also described as “an outstanding litigator with particular experience of high-value and complex funded litigation“, and he is “methodical, engaged, imaginative and bright“, combining “a good legal brain with a commercial appraoch.”

Partners Paul Brehony, Tom Snelling and Ioannis Alexopoulos are recognised as ‘Recommended Lawyers’ in the Guide. Counsel Ryan Cable and Senior Associate Olivier Swain are also commended.

International Arbitration (Tier 5)

“‘Attracting stellar work‘, specialist dispute resolution firm Signature Litigation LLP focuses on complex, high-value matters that frequently comprise cross-border features. Ioannis Alexopoulos is consistently involved in heavyweight commercial arbitration mandates; Josh Wong‘s practice increasingly includes China and Hong Kong-related instructions; and commercial arbitration expert Daniel Spendlove is particularly focused on finance, mining, and oil and gas mandates. At counsel level, Bernhard Maier is a 2021 recruit from Squire Patton Boggs, while Neil Newing has ‘excellent arbitration experience’.”

The team is described as “highly diligent and precise, the lawyers allow clients to sleep more easily, given the maelstrom normally surrounding complex legal matters“. They are also praised for their “excellent understanding of state arbitration processes and different systems; and excellent understanding of the law and practice of arbitration.”

Partners Ioannis Alexopoulos, Daniel Spendlove and Josh Wong are ranked as ‘Recommended Lawyers’. Counsels Ryan Cable, Bernhard Maier and Neil Newing are also ranked.

Ioannis “leads a bright and dedicated team” and he “brings his exceptional experience to bear in making smart strategic calls during challenging cases“.

“Josh Wong and his colleagues are a highly knowledgeable and intellectually-focused team that fully appreciates and acts upon all the levers within complex litigation, taking full account of the strengths and weakness of all components.”

Neil is praised for his “excellent arbitration experience, and excellent appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of cases.”

Ryan is “experienced and has a good understanding of arbitration processes – quick to absorb information and responsive.”

Insurance

Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation (Tier 5)

“Hermès Marangos is the key figure at Signature Litigation LLP, a boutique practice with expertise leading high value disputes in emerging markets in Latin America, the Mediterranean basin, Asia and West Africa. Marangos stands out for his work in political and trade and war and terrorism risks, and knowledge in developing wordings for investors and the reinsurance market. Joining in from Dechert LLP in November 2021, Simon Fawell ‘s practice focuses on cyber-breach recovery.”

The team is “highly professional and very experienced“, providing “in-depth and prompt advice“. They are “high-calibre litigation lawyers” with “excellent knowledge of local practice in several countries,” with “excellent collaboration with Hermes Marangos.”

“Well known for insurance disputes work which has an international element” Hermès Marangos maintains his ‘Leading Individual’ status in this category. He is praised as a “top-notch litigator” who is “very thorough and able to work in many jurisdictions as he can speak seven languages fluently; a talent that is very difficult to come by.” A commentator notes he “has demonstrated passion, been proactive and displayed out-of-the-box strategic advice. He has a never-say-die approach and has been a great motivator of the team“, and his “knowledge of Latin American particularly Brazil is second to none.” Furthermore, another commentator notes that Hermès “has arbitrated and litigated insurance disputes in more different jurisdictions than almost any other solicitor I know.”

Partner Simon Fawell is ranked as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’.