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 2023, Trevor was described as ‘a mastermind who is very knowledgeable and experienced’ and as having ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of different jurisdictions’ while another source adds: ‘He thinks outside the box and is constantly trying to push the envelope on ideas’.

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’ ‘incredibly hard-working, a very good thinker (with) a great attachment to the details’ and having ‘the best legal mind of any solicitor i’ve worked with’.

Chambers and Partners Litigation Support

In global asset recovery, it is said of Trevor that: ‘He is a very, very clever guy and works on a lot of cross-border stuff’. One satisfied client explains: ‘He is deeply involved in all processes and offers non-standard solutions to complex problems.’

Legal 500

In the 2023 edition, Trevor is identified as a Leading Individual for civil fraud and commercial litigation (where he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame) and is recommended for banking litigation. He is described as one of the ‘giants of the civil fraud market’, who combines ‘a wealth of experience with a commercial approach that always gets the best possible result for the client’ and ‘one of the very best commercial litigators in London. Able to hold off whole teams from the largest firms with one hand’.

One source says ‘Trevor Mascarenhas is like having an in-house silk on call’. While another says he ‘has exceptional legal knowledge, a sound strategic mind and is great to work with’.

Who’s Who Legal

Trevor has been identified as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Asset Recovery and ‘a favourite among peers and clients in the asset recovery space, who say he is ” a really fantastic, intellectual lawyer, with a great manner”, He has also been 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’.

A Thought Leader also in commercial litigation, Who’s Who Legal has said that Trevor ‘is a distinguished name in the English litigation market who sources give high praise to’.

Notable experience

Acting for two of the principal defendants in successfully challenging jurisdiction 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.
Acting for a major business in the agricultural sector, successfully challenging jurisdiction to a US $250m breach of contract claim
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.
Providing expert evidence on English law for foreign arbitral and court proceedings

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.