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   George McPherson

   Call 2003; MA (Oxon)
   E-mail: gmcpherson@3vb.com

Practice

George McPherson specialises in commercial litigation (including banking, commercial fraud, insurance and insolvency) and arbitration.

George is currently instructed as a junior acting for PwC liquidators alleging misappropriation of business by a director in breach of fiduciary duty. He frequently acts as an advocate in the High Court and County Court for high street banks in the continuing bank charges litigation.

Last year he was involved in substantial and high profile litigation in the Commercial Court arising from the collapse of the Box Clever Group and also acted for a foreign government against a UK multi-national in a two week arbitration in The Hague as part of a long-running ICC arbitration claim.

Main Practice Areas

  • Commercial litigation
  • Arbitration
  • Banking
  • Commercial fraud
  • Insurance
  • Corporate and personal insolvency

Experience

Commercial Litigation

Instructed regularly in both High Court and County Court matters. Acted for various parties in a broad range of general commercial and contractual disputes including disputes relating to commercial fraud, the sale and supply of goods and services, hire-purchase and corporate insolvency.

Current and recent instructions include:

  • Caring Together Ltd v Bauso. Acting for PwC liquidators alleging misappropriation of business by a director in breach of fiduciary duty, with claims in conspiracy and dishonest assistance. (Trial April 2008)

  • Acting for high street banks in the High Court and County Court in relation to continuing bank charges litigation.

  • IXIS v Corporate & Investment Bank v WestLB AG & ors. Instructed in substantial Commercial Court proceedings arising out of the collapse of the Box Clever Group. Claims in negligence and deceit relating to the securitisation of receivables.

  • Settling pleadings and advising in relation to invoice claim involving defences of economic duress and lack of consideration.

  • Acting for coach distributor in ongoing sale of goods claim in multi-party proceedings in the County Court.

Arbitration

Instructed since May 2005 in long-running ICC arbitration claim acting for a foreign government against a UK multi-national in which UNIDROIT is the applicable law of the contracts in dispute. Acted in a two-week arbitration in The Hague in January 2006.

Banking

Frequently acts on behalf of domestic and international banks and building societies. In particular, George is regularly instructed by banks in the High Court and County Court in relation to the continuing bank charges litigation.

Recent experience includes:

  • Acting for high street banks in the London Mercantile Court in relation to bank charges litigation.

  • Acting for third party bank in joinder application in the High Court to recover costs arising out of freezing injunction.


  • Advising mortgagor in relation to defences of lack of capacity, undue influence and unconscionable bargain in claim by mortgagee.
Commercial Fraud

Fraud and asset tracing work. Experience of obtaining search and freezing orders.

Current and recent experience includes:
  • Caring Together Ltd v Bauso. Acting for PwC liquidators alleging misappropriation of business by a director in breach of fiduciary duty, with claims in conspiracy and dishonest assistance. Trial April 2008)


  • IXIS v Corporate & Investment Bank v WestLB AG & ors. Substantial commercial Court proceedings arising out of the collapse of the Box Clever Group. Claims in negligence and deceit relating to the securitisation of receivables.


  • Instructed in a large corporate fraud claim involving applications in the High Court for search orders and freezing injunctions against a series of individuals.
Insurance

Recently advised on the construction of a professional indemnity policy in the context of an underwriter's right to reduce the indemnity provided in specific circumstances.

Corporate and Personal Insolvency

Instructed in relation to general insolvency work, including winding up and bankruptcy petitions, statutory demands and injunctions to restrain presentation of winding up petitions.

Experience includes:
  • Instructed (twice) to appear in the High Court on application for discharge of old-style administration orders relating to the Maxwell Group of companies.

  • Instructed to appear in the High Court to appeal Registrar's refusal to order winding-up of company.

Awards

Major Scholar, Inner Temple 2001 and 2002
"Congratulatory" First in French and Spanish for performance in Finals Examinations (2000). Scholar, Brasenose College, Oxford

Languages

Fluent Spanish and very good French

Professional Membership

COMBAR
Inner Temple