David Johnson - PCB Byrne

Our People — Biographies

David Johnson

Senior Associate

djohnson@pcb-byrne.com

0207 842 1680

07436 911080

Languages:

English

With wide experience in contentious and multi-jurisdictional matters, David focuses his expertise on advising clients in complex insolvency and fraud cases.

David supports insolvency officeholders in all aspects of their appointments, and has advised on complex issues such as asset tracing, international enforcement, cross-border recognition and trust disputes. He also brings broad experience in complex High Court litigation, particularly in cases involving allegations of fraud and freezing injunctions.

Notable experience

Advising one of the world’s largest commodities companies in a multi-billion-dollar shareholder dispute, involving allegations of breach of duty, fraud and misappropriation of assets
Advising liquidators in fraud claims against a director and 13 overseas defendants, including: (i) obtaining freezing and disclosure orders in several jurisdictions, (ii) having a defendant committed to 18 months imprisonment for contempt, (iii) obtaining judgment on claims of £60 million, and (iv) coordinating an enforcement strategy across nine jurisdictions, including by obtaining Chapter 15 recognition in the USA
Advising the trustees in bankruptcy of two ultra-high-net-worth individuals, in relation to the recognition and implementation of a multi-billion-dollar restructuring plan across several jurisdictions
Advising corporate service providers in defending liquidator claims in conspiracy, fraudulent trading and misfeasance (said to be valued at over $300 million)
Advising victims of fraud in respect of the winding up of a foreign company in this jurisdiction in order to recover their losses; subsequently advising the liquidators with respect to fraudulent trading claims of £400m against banks
Advising the trustees in bankruptcy of a former high net worth individual, to recover assets of £25 million dispersed across various jurisdictions and held through offshore trust structures
Advising a UAE bank in proceedings to enforce judgments of £30 million against assets dispersed across six jurisdictions
Advising a Saudi gas and oil company in connection with the administration of its UK subsidiary, in its capacity as a shareholder, guarantor and secured creditor, including in contested directions applications
Advising the administrators of a commodities trading company, which was placed into administration following the misappropriation of £20 million of coal, including in relation to the successful implementation of a CVA which allowed the company to continue trading
Advising directors, guarantors, creditors, private equity houses and other stakeholders in insolvent companies in all matters arising from the insolvency
Advising a listed Swiss financial services company on the registration and enforcement of a $30 million ICSID arbitration award

Background

David trained and qualified in the restructuring and insolvency department of a commercial law firm, gaining broad experience in insolvency and specialising in contentious matters. David has a degree in law from Newcastle University and completed a secondment at a FTSE 250 energy company.