Jonathan Davies-Jones Call 1994; MA (Cantab) E-mail: jdj@3vb.com

Core Practice Areas

General Commercial

Jonathan has been ranked as a Leading Junior for general commercial work by Chambers & Partners since 2002. They describe him as "superb. He does not leave a stone unturned and has a brilliant memory for facts, law and procedure" (2008); he is "technically able and good on his feet…and even though he is extremely busy he will always have time to talk you through a difficult point" (2006). He is currently ranked by Chambers & Partners amongst the top 16 Leading Juniors at the commercial bar.

Over the years his caseload has comprised a wide range of commercial disputes. In addition to his core practice areas, he has wide experience of general contractual disputes, interlocutory proceedings and interim remedies. Examples of his cases are listed below.

Banking and Finance

Before coming to the Bar, Jonathan was an investment banker specializing in mergers and acquisitions. For nearly a decade, he has been ranked as a Leading Junior in this area by both The Legal 500 (1999 to date) and Chambers & Partners (1998 to date).

Chambers & Partners describe him as "accessible, works incredibly hard and is an original thinker" (2008), "a pleasure to deal with" (2007) and "pragmatic… a man always thinking of solutions rather than finding problems…prepared to muck in as part of the team" (2006). The Legal 500 describes him as "very popular" and ranks him amongst the top 12 Leading Juniors in this field. Examples of his cases are listed below.

Civil Fraud

Jonathan has been regularly instructed in large-scale commercial fraud litigation. He has been ranked as a Leading Junior in this field by The Legal 500 since 2002 and by Chambers & Partners since 2007. Chambers & Partners describes him as "outstanding…an original thinker…bringing a no-nonsense approach to the table" and as "extremely bright and clear thinking…his approachable and easy going nature proves a positive lure for clients" (2007-2008). The Legal 500 also describes him as "extremely bright and clear thinking" and as "very thorough" (2006-2007).

Jonathan's practice has included bringing and defending a wide range of claims for breach of fiduciary duty and accessory liability, claims in the economic torts (particularly conspiracy and unlawful interference) and claims in deceit. It has also included the usual range of protective and interim remedies. Examples of his cases are listed below.

Professional Negligence

Jonathan has been ranked as a Leading Junior in this field by Chambers & Partners since 2005. They describe him as "extremely bright", "a high quality practitioner with an impressive intellect and dedicated approach" and "singled out for his attention to detail and impressive knowledge of the field" (2006-2008). Jonathan's practice has included bringing and defending claims against solicitors, auditors, insurance brokers and financial and investment advisors. Examples of his cases are listed below.

Insurance and Reinsurance

In 1994 Jonathan spent 6 months as a Judicial Assistant to the Commercial Court during part of the Lloyd's Litigation. Since then he has regularly been instructed in insurance and reinsurance disputes. Whilst he has specialized in acting for brokers (including JLT and Aon), he has a wide range of insurance experience. For five years he was a contributor to the insurance precedents in Bullen & Leake.

Notable and recent Cases

• JP Morgan Chase v Springwell (2004-2007): Jonathan spent much of the last three years working on this major banking case led by Michael Brindle QC; the trial ran for 6 months in the Commercial Court and finished at the end of 2007; judgment is awaited; the claim (for $700m) arose out of investment advice on the sale of emerging market debt instruments to a private investment company; the case raises a number of important legal issues in the context of investment advice claims; note also the following interlocutory decisions:
  
  o [2006] PNLR 28: Court of Appeal on similar fact evidence;
  
  o [2006] EWCA Civ 161: Court of Appeal on measure of damages;
  
  o [2007] 1 AllER (Comm) 549: Aikens J on the principles governing, and the use of, expert evidence in substantial commercial litigation.
  
  
• Leaders v Royal Bank of Scotland (2004-2008): acted for the defendant bank in this claim raising interesting issues as to the extent of a bank's duties when taking in deposits;
  
  
• HIH Casualty & General Insurance v JLT: [2007] 2 Lloyds Rep 278, [2007] LRIR 717 and [2007] 2 AllER (Comm) 1106 (decision of the Court of Appeal) and [2006] LRIR 493 (decision of Langley J): acted for the defendant insurance brokers, led by Tom Weitzman QC, successfully defending claims for fraud and professional negligence in excess of $50m;
  
  
• TeliaSonera v Hillcourt (2005): acted for the claimant, TeliaSonera the Swedish Telecoms multi-national, led by Tony Temple QC, in this multi-million pound claim for conspiracy to defraud and to rescind a commercial lease;
  
  
• Fraudulent Trading (2004-2006): defended a former director in proceedings for fraudulent trading arising out of the insolvency of a West Country yacht building company; the matter was successfully compromised in 2006;
  
  
• Bank Sepah v Kelvin Trust (2003-2006): acted for the claimant bank in this series of a cross-jurisdictional claims arising out of a substantial Letter of Credit fraud; judgment for $17.5m;
  
  
• Ken Bates v Cheslea Football Club (2004-2005): acted for the defendant Chelsea FC in this high-profile, contractual dispute with its former Chairman;
  
  
• AEP Energy Services v Hidrcantabrico Generacion SA (2004): acted for the defendant in this arbitration of a $20m claim arising out of an international coal trading agreement;
  
  
• Anglo-American Intl SA v Danisco SA (2004): acted for the claimant in this £8m claim for breach of warranties in a sale and purchase agreement;
  
  
• SSL v C (2002-2004): acted for the claimant company in this substantial £m claim for conspiracy to defraud and breaches of fiduciary duty;
  
  
• Communisis v Jaycare (2002-2003): acted for the claimant company, led by Geraldine Andrews QC, in this £2m claim for breach of warranties in a sale and purchase agreement;
  
  
• Jahan v Habib Bank (2002): acted for the defendant bank, led by Bill Blair QC, in this forex trading dispute;
  
  
• Oracle Fund litigation (2001-2004): acted for various UBS subsidiaries, led by Robert Hildyard QC and Stephen Phillips QC, in this Bahamian litigation arising out of the collapse of a Bahamian mutual fund. The substantial £m claims were for negligent misstatement and fraud in Offering Memoranda;
  
  
• Law Debenture Trust v Lexington & Others [2003] AllER (D) 165: decision of Colman J on the extent to which non-parties should have access to pleadings and written Opening Submissions referred to in open Court;
  
  
• Law Debenture Trust v Lexington & Others (2001-2003): acted for the defendant insurance brokers, JLT, led by Geoffrey Vos QC in respect of three fraud and professional negligence claims known as Hollywood 4, 5 and 6 (for a total of c. $180m) arising out of the placing of film finance insurance; the actions also raised issues relating to banking securitizations and the duties of solicitors giving transaction opinions;
  
  
• HIH Casualty v The Matrix New Professionals Partnerships (2002): acted for the insurance brokers, JLT, led by Geoffrey Vos QC in defending this claim arising out of the placing of TV finance insurance;
  
  
• Quyoumi v Southall (2001): acted for the defendant solicitors in a claim against them for having paid away money without authority;
  
  
• Versailles Trade Finance v C (TLR 1 November 2001): acted for the defendant director facing an £11m claim in this Court of Appeal decision on the extent to which a defendant can rely upon the privilege against self-incrimination;
  
  
• Tamarind v Eastern Electricity [2000] EuLR 708; acted for Eastern Electricity, led by Nicholas Stadlen QC, in defending this substantial £m claim under the Commercial Agents Regulations;
  
  
• Portman Building Society v Dusangh [2000] Lloyds Banking Rep 197: acted for the building society, led by Ali Malek QC successfully resisting an appeal; the case raised important issues on the doctrine of unconscionable bargain;
  
  
• Yorkshire Bank v Halls [1999] 1 WLR 1713, [1999] 1 AllER 879, 78 P&CR 136: acted for the bank, led by Ali Malek QC, successfully resisting an appeal; the case raised important issues as to the nature of the duties of a chargee of shares;
  
  
• News International v Bourgignon (1996-1999): acted for News International in this successful $3m claim for conspiracy to evade a Mareva injunction; note also the interlocutory Court of Appeal decision on service abroad and the status of amendments to pleadings (5.3.98);
  
  
• News International v Clinger (1996-1998): acted for News International, led by Tony Temple QC, in this successful $50m claim for conspiracy and secret profits arising out of smartcard technology;
  
  
• GRE v Coopers & Lybrand (1996-1997): acted for GRE, led by John Jarvis QC and Ali Malek QC, in this substantial professional negligence action.
  
  
• Bell Group Finance v Bell Group [1996] BCC 505, [1996] 1 BCLC 304: acted for Bell Group Finance, led by Michael Crystal QC.
  

Academic and Professional Awards

Scholar, St John's College, Cambridge
Queen Mother's Scholar, Middle Temple