Trevor Mascarenhas

Our People — Biographies

Trevor Mascarenhas

Partner

tmascarenhas@pcb-byrne.com

0207 842 1656

07775 910586

Languages:

English

Recognised as one of the leading dispute resolution lawyers of his generation, Trevor brings his extensive legal knowledge and shrewd analysis to bear for clients in highly-complex matters across various jurisdictions.

A thought leader and a ‘distinguished name in the English litigation market’, Trevor was awarded 2019’s Client Choice Award for Arbitration and ADR in the UK. Surveying senior corporate counsel only, this award recognised Trevor’s exemplary client service and his ability to add real value to clients’ businesses – above and beyond other players in the market.

He has been lauded by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal for commercial litigation, banking litigation, civil fraud, asset recovery and his experience in co-ordinating proceedings in several jurisdictions, particularly in relation to injunctive relief.

The directories say:

Chambers and Partners UK

In 2022, Trevor was said to possess ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of civil fraud’ One source says: ‘He has the best legal mind of any solicitor I’ve worked with,’ while another adds: ‘He is formidably intelligent and has an incredible grasp of the law in various jurisdictions’.

He has also been recognised as ‘phenomenally intelligent’, a ‘superb litigation strategist’, ‘a real detail person who can drill down into issues’, ‘a fantastic thinker who is always full of ideas’ and ‘incredibly hard-working, a very good thinker (with) a great attachment to the details’.

Legal 500

In the 2021 edition, Trevor is identified as a Leading Individual for civil fraud and commercial litigation, and is recommended for banking litigation. He is described as ‘frighteningly clever and an excellent strategist’, ‘very sophisticated and intellectual and at the top of his field’ and ‘a powerful academic lawyer, bringing compendious knowledge and focus to your case’.

Trevor is praised for his ‘seriously impressive knowledge of the law, particularly on issues such as jurisdiction’ as well as being described as ‘a great strategist and always there to help’ with an ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of fraud law’.

Who’s Who Legal

Trevor has been identified as a Thought Leader in Asset Recovery, being described as ‘widely respected across the UK market for his standout work on contentious insolvency, fraud and asset tracing matters’, ‘versed in multi-jurisdictional asset recovery’ and ‘one of the top names in London’.

In its analysis of litigation, Who’s Who Legal has said that Trevor ‘is a distinguished name in the English litigation market who sources give high praise to’.

Market sources

Market sources describe him as ‘a genius’ with a ‘fine intellect’, a ‘clever and imaginative lawyer’ and a ‘first-class lawyer and tactician’, who is ‘extremely bright and user-friendly’ with ‘a brilliant mind’. Trevor is also recognised for being ‘a real thinker who comes up with solutions that are outside of the box and who will go the extra mile’, and as a lawyer who ‘leaves no stone unturned’.

Notable experience

Acting for two of the principal defendants to a USD $1 billion fraud claim brought by a UAE bank alleging deceit and conspiracy to injure.
Acting for a defendant to a series of proceedings brought by the Libyan Investment Authority in respect of hundreds of millions of dollars of investments alleged to have been procured through bribery.
Acting for one of the world's largest private equity funds in the successful defence of a €1 billion claim brought by liquidators of a Greek telecoms company under UK insolvency legislation.
Acting for a Kuwaiti businessman in the successful defence of a USD $1 billion claim alleging conspiracy to injure.
Acting in a USD $2 billion LCIA Arbitration in the mining sector and related injunctive proceedings.
Acting in successful appeals to the Supreme Court, House of Lords and Privy Council.
Acting for a company listed on the main board of the London Stock Exchange in a USD $500 million claim against its former owners, obtaining freezing orders in four jurisdictions and search orders at three premises.
Acting in a USD $450 million SCC arbitration in the oil and gas sector and related court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
Representing a television channel in the successful defence of a USD $70 million breach of contract claim.
Acting for a businessman in the successful pursuit of a multi-million-dollar professional negligence claim against a prominent city firm of solicitors.
Acting for a Middle Eastern Bank in seeking to recover c.US$25m, involving proceedings in UAE, Lebanon, England, Canada and Germany and freezing orders in England and Canada.
Acting for the liquidator of an insolvent bank in proceedings in England under s423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, following recognition under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations. The claim is brought against an English company and a Liechtenstein bank in respect of a c.US$25m alleged fraud.

Background

Trevor graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in mathematics before obtaining a law degree from London University. He has authored numerous articles for publications such as the Journal of International Banking Law and Regulation, Trust Law International, International Company and Commercial Law Review, European Lawyer, New Law Journal, Legal Business and the E-Commerce Law Reports. Trevor is also a founding member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association.