Frederick Alliott

Commercial litigation, including arbitration, is the mainstay of Fred’s practice. He has experience in a wide variety of disputes, from smaller and medium sized cases (where he is regularly instructed on his own) to substantial high-value international litigation. Recent cases include the following:

• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd & Ors v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA and Ors; Falcon 2019-1 Aircraft 3 Ltd v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA and Ors; KDAC Aircraft Trading 2 Ltd v Chubb European Group SE and Ors (part of the wider ‘Russian Aircraft’ litigation). This well-known and multi-faceted insurance litigation is, taken altogether, the biggest case the London market has seen for many years. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, approximately 500 foreign-owned aircraft remained in Russia, with a market value greater than US$10 billion. These actions, part of that wider litigation, are in respect of just under US$1 billion, with claims made under both War Risk and All Risk policies. A concurrent trial is scheduled for the second half of 2024 (with Alistair Schaff KC, Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC and others).
• MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA v (1) Maersk A/S, (2) AP Moller Singapore Pte Limited (the ‘MAERSK HONAM’ litigation). In 2018, the Maersk Honam, an ultralarge containership, caught fire in the Arabian Sea. Tragically, five seafarers lost their lives. It was the largest containership general average loss in history. This litigation includes a Limitation Action in the Admiralty Court, and a related arbitration between MSC and Maersk. A trial in the Limitation Action is scheduled for January / February 2024 (with Michael Ashcroft KC and Alex Carless).
• National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) v (1) Crescent Petroleum Company International Limited; (2) Crescent Gas Corporation Limited (Crescent). This arbitration claim, brought under s.67 Arbitration Act 1996, seeks a declaration from the Court that part of an arbitration award (which awarded Crescent over US$1.85 billion) be set aside because the Tribunal did not have substantive jurisdiction. The underlying dispute concerns a gas supply and purchase contract concluded between the NIOC and the First Defendant back in 2001. The underlying award was for in excess of US$2.42 billion (with David Bailey KC and Jess Sutherland).
• LITASCO SA v (1) Der Mond Oil and Gas Africa SA; (2) Locafrique Holding SA. In this case, Fred acts on his own against an established silk and a senior junior in a high value (c.€47 million), high-profile political dispute concerning a shipment of crude oil. LITASCO, the Swiss arm of Lukoil, argued that recent Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine did not justify defaulting on repayments for the consignment either as a matter of sanctions law or contractual analysis.
• Specialised Vessel Services Ltd v Meridian Risk Solutions Ltd. In this action, SVS claims damages after an alleged shortfall in its claim under H&M and IV insurance policies following the constructive total loss of its offshore supply vessel. SVS alleges that Meridian’s professional negligence meant it breached its duty of fair presentation, leading to the insurance policies being avoidable by insurers (with Peter MacDonald Eggers KC)
• Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank v BR Shetty and others (2020-ongoing): Fred is instructed by two respondents to a US$1 billion freezing injunction brought by the claimant bank following the well-publicised collapse of the NMC Group (the largest healthcare provider in the UAE). A jurisdiction challenge and an application to set-aside the injunction have been listed for a hearing in late November 2021 (with Tim Penny QC, James Sheehan and Sam Goodman).
• JSC Commercial Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Ors (2020-ongoing): instructed as part of a large team by the six corporate defendants in a claim for damages and interest totalling c. £3.5 billion, with interest claimed to be accruing at a daily rate of c.£570,000. Privatbank, the largest state-owned Ukrainian bank, claims that the two defendants and former Privatbank owners, Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov, have misappropriated vast sums of money via sham loans and supply agreements.
• ISCF Capital v Khaleefa Butti, Saeed Butti (2020-ongoing): instructed (with Tim Penny QC) in this multi-million-pound dispute relating to certain contracts of guarantee which were said to have been forged. A number of complex factual and legal issues arise in this case relating to the allegedly fraudulent conduct of those who originally agreed the underlying loan agreements in respect of which the guarantees were purportedly issued.
• Yukos Finance & Ors v Lynch & Ors. Instructed in this case concerning significant losses alleged to have been suffered in connection with deliberate tortious wrongdoing relating to a bankruptcy auction in Russia, and featuring numerous disputes as to the meaning and effect of Russian law (led by Dominic Kendrick QC and Jawdat Khurshid QC).
• Simetra Global Assets Ltd & Or v IKON Finance Ltd & Ors. Assisted lead and junior counsel for certain of the defendants in this multi-party Commercial Court claim centring on an alleged Ponzi investment scheme leading to multi-million-dollar losses.
• Accident Exchange Ltd v Colin Mclean and others. Instructed to assist on various matters in this high-value claim for conspiracy, fraud and perverting the course of justice against the former directors of Autofocus (a company specialising in providing evidence of car hire rates to defendants in credit hire disputes) and against three firms of solicitors by which Autofocus were regularly instructed.
• Acton Grange Properties Ltd & Ors v Howells. Instructed as sole counsel in a dispute featuring claims for unjust enrichment and knowing receipt relating to commission payments purportedly due to a company director following the sale of a hotel and resort complex in Barbados.
• Slater and Gordon (UK) Ltd v Watchstone Group PLC. Instructed to assist on matters relating to privilege, amongst other things, in this claim for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranty and breach of contract in connection with the Claimant’s multi-million pound acquisition of the professional services division of the Defendant.
• Libyan Investment Authority v Société Générale S.A. and others. Instructed on behalf of the Fifth Defendant in claims brought by Libya’s sovereign wealth fund (LIA) involving allegations of fraud, intimidation and bribery relating to $1.5 billion of structured investments entered into by the LIA under the Gaddafi regime.
• Aircraft Purchase Fleet Limited v Compagnia Aerea Italiana. Instructed as part of a counsel team from 7KBW on behalf of the Defendant, which previously operated the airline Alitalia, in a €300m claim for non-acceptance of thirteen aircraft.
• SPL Treasury (AT1) IC Ltd & Ors v Koros & Ors. Instructed as sole counsel to represent a judgment debtor at his examination in the High Court, and at an earlier interlocutory hearing, in relation to a multi-million pound judgment debt arising out of fraudulent transactions.

Fred has built up a busy practice in cases involving civil fraud and allegations of dishonesty. His experience has spanned smaller actions, often featuring employees or company directors accused of misappropriating company money, to much heavier international and/or multi-million pound cases in the commercial court. He is familiar with a wide range of different types of fraud claim, from breach of trust and breach of fiduciary, tortious or statutory duties to accessory liability (for example, dishonest assistance and unconscionable/knowing receipt). Recent cases have included the following:

• Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank v BR Shetty and others (2020-ongoing): instructed by two respondents to a US$1 billion freezing injunction brought by the claimant bank following the well-publicised collapse of the NMC Group (the largest healthcare provider in the UAE). A jurisdiction challenge and an application to set-aside the injunction have been listed for a hearing in November 2021 (with Tim Penny QC, James Sheehan and Sam Goodman).
• JSC Commercial Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Ors (2020-ongoing): instructed as part of a large team by the six corporate defendants in a claim for damages and interest totalling c. £3.5 billion, with interest claimed to be accruing at a daily rate of c.£570,000. Privatbank, the largest state-owned Ukrainian bank, claims that the two defendants and former Privatbank owners, Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov, have misappropriated vast sums of money via sham loans and supply agreements.
• ISCF Capital v Khaleefa Butti, Saeed Butti (2020-ongoing): instructed (with Tim Penny QC) in this multi-million-pound dispute relating to certain contracts of guarantee which were said to have been forged. A number of complex factual and legal issues arise in this case relating to the allegedly fraudulent conduct of those who originally agreed the underlying loan agreements in respect of which the guarantees were purportedly issued.
• Yukos Finance & Ors v Lynch & Ors. Instructed in this case concerning significant losses alleged to have been suffered in connection with deliberate tortious wrongdoing relating to a bankruptcy auction in Russia, and featuring disputes as to the meaning and effect of Russian law (led by Dominic Kendrick QC and Jawdat Khurshid QC).
• Simetra Global Assets Ltd & Or v IKON Finance Ltd & Ors. Assisted lead and junior counsel for certain of the defendants in this multi-party Commercial Court claim centring on an alleged Ponzi investment scheme leading to multi-million-dollar losses.
• Accident Exchange Ltd v Colin Mclean and others. Instructed to assist on various matters in this claim for conspiracy, fraud and perverting the course of justice against the former directors of Autofocus (a company specialising in providing evidence of car hire rates to defendants in credit hire disputes) and against three firms of solicitors by which Autofocus were regularly instructed.
• Acton Grange Properties Ltd & Ors v Howells. Instructed as sole counsel in a dispute featuring claims for unjust enrichment and knowing receipt relating to commission payments purportedly due to a company director following the sale of a hotel and resort complex in Barbados.
• Slater and Gordon (UK) Ltd v Watchstone Group PLC. Instructed to assist on matters relating to privilege, amongst other things, in this claim for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranty and breach of contract in connection with the Claimant’s multi-million pound acquisition of the professional services division of the Defendant.
• Libyan Investment Authority v Société Générale S.A. and others. Instructed on behalf of the Fifth Defendant in claims brought by Libya’s sovereign wealth fund (LIA) involving allegations of fraud, intimidation and bribery relating to $1.5 billion of structured investments entered into by the LIA under the Gaddafi regime.
• SPL Treasury (AT1) IC Ltd & Ors v Koros & Ors. Instructed as sole counsel to represent a judgment debtor at his examination in the High Court, and at an earlier interlocutory hearing, in relation to a multi-million pound judgment debt arising out of fraudulent transactions.
• Instructed as sole counsel in a case concerning the misappropriation of company funds by a fraudulent director, which involved a multitude of claims in deceit, conversion, breach of trust and fiduciary duty, and breach of statutory duty.
• Instructed as sole counsel to appear at several interlocutory hearings in a claim relating to an alleged large-scale fraud by property agents, which featured issues such as the validity of so-called secret commissions, false accounting and/or failure to account, and other misappropriation of monies.

• Instructed in a substantial (c.US$76 million) arbitration claim under a policy of lenders’ interest insurance concerning loan defaults on the part of the insured’s counterparty. The case involves significant expert evidence as to the political and economic acts of the Venezuelan Government and their status under international law (with Richard Waller KC).
• Instructed in a US$50 million claim for an indemnity under a policy of warranty and indemnity insurance (with Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC).
• Instructed as sole counsel in a preliminary issue trial in front of an experienced maritime arbitrator concerning a consignment of bunkers that were allegedly off-specification causing serious damage to a vessel’s engine. The case included detailed cross-examination of expert witnesses and a more experienced opposing counsel.
• Instructed (for the successful respondents) in a c.$60 million SCC arbitration concerning multiple alleged breaches of a JVA relating to the production of automobiles in China, featuring inter alia numerous difficult issues of PRC law (with Ian Gatt QC of Stewarts Law)
• Instructed in relation to a cargo misdelivery claim under bills of lading held by a bank, including an application to extend time for the commencement of arbitration proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (with Robert Bright QC and later Steven Berry QC)
• Instructed to represent the claimant in a series of hearings relating to a multi-million pound worldwide freezing order, in particular applying for further sums to be added to the order (and other amendments thereto) in respect of substantial unpaid demurrage accruing monthly on a vessel detained in Venezuela (led by Stephen Hofmeyr QC).
• Instructed (with Peter MacDonald Eggers QC) in an LCIA arbitration involving claims for indemnity under D&O and PI insurance policies in the context of, inter alia, an avoidance defence.
• Instructed as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration in a claim by owners against charterers for losses suffered as a result of their vessel being struck and damaged by a floating dock vessel during loading operations in Indonesia.
• Instructed in a multi-million-pound LCIA sale of goods arbitration featuring issues of misrepresentation and (repudiatory) breach of condition and/or description, and including extensive technical expert evidence (with Richard Southern QC).
• Instructed as sole counsel in a GAFTA arbitration (and, subsequently, a GAFTA appeal) between a buyer and seller of cargo under an FOB contract as to the commencement of laytime thereunder, featuring a number of issues concerning the validity of notices of readiness in the context of multiple shippers of cargo.
• Instructed to advise head shipowners on the prospects of recovering losses arising out of a collision of a vessel at port under either a port safety warranty or an implied indemnity under a voyage charterparty.
• Instructed in an action arising out of an explosion on board a vessel, and losses arising therefrom, after the allegedly negligent fumigation of cargo (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC).
• Instructed in an application responding to an attempt to appeal an arbitration award under s.68 and s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (led by Stephen Hofmeyr QC).
• Instructed as sole counsel in an arbitration arising out of a dispute as to the suitability of a vessel’s holds to load grain, including a preliminary issue on time bar under the Hague-Visby Rules.

Fred has acted in a substantial number of insurance and reinsurance cases, both on his own and being led. These have included coverage disputes, issues of non-disclosure and misrepresentation, issues of aggregation and other questions of policy construction, proper law and jurisdiction, and issues related to the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 & 2010, as well as the Insurance Act 2015. Recent cases have included the following:

• Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd & Ors v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA and Ors; Falcon 2019-1 Aircraft 3 Ltd v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA and Ors; KDAC Aircraft Trading 2 Ltd v Chubb European Group SE and Ors (part of the wider ‘Russian Aircraft’ litigation). This well-known and multi-faceted insurance litigation is, taken altogether, the biggest case the London market has seen for many years. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, approximately 500 foreign-owned aircraft remained in Russia, with a market value greater than US$10 billion. These actions, part of that wider litigation, are in respect of just under US$1 billion, with claims made under both War Risk and All Risk policies. A concurrent trial is scheduled for the second half of 2024 (with Alistair Schaff KC, Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC and others).
• Instructed in a US$50 million arbitration claim for an indemnity under a policy of warranty and indemnity insurance (with Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC).
• Specialised Vessel Services Ltd v Meridian Risk Solutions Ltd. In this case, SVS claims damages after an alleged shortfall in its claim under H&M and IV insurance policies following the constructive total loss of its offshore supply vessel. SVS alleges that Meridian’s professional negligence meant it breached its duty of fair presentation, leading to the insurance policies being avoidable by insurers (with Peter MacDonald Eggers KC).
• Instructed in a reinsurance dispute concerning an alleged failure to refer a settlement offer in underlying professional liability proceedings to reinsurers under the terms of a reinsurance agreement (with Gavin Kealey QC).
• Instructed (with Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC) in a multi-million-pound reinsurance dispute relating to whether a claim was validly notified and/or accepted as a notification of a circumstance as defined in the reinsurance policy.
• Instructed as sole counsel to apply for summary judgment in the commercial court in a case concerning water damage to a pleasure yacht and featuring allegations of broker’s negligence and misrepresentation / nondisclosure at the placement of the policy.
• Instructed (with Peter MacDonald Eggers QC) in an LCIA arbitration involving claims for indemnity under D&O and PI policies in the context of, inter alia, an avoidance defence.
• Instructed to advise Insurers on a variety of issues relating to, inter alia, obligations of confidentiality to assureds, inter-firm duties of disclosure, and the applicability and operation of the Insurance Act 2015.
• Instructed to advise a contractor insured under a ‘Construction All Risks’ policy in relation to several high-value claims regarding the construction of a railway system in Hong Kong.
• Instructed to advise on an ongoing basis on the adequacy and applicability of various contractual undertakings (including issues relating to the Insurance Act 2015) in relation to contracts between brokers and insureds.
• Instructed as sole counsel in a claim against insurers under a travel insurance policy, featuring multiple issues of construction and policy wording interpretation.
• Instructed to advise insurers on (amongst other things) the scope of coverage afforded by a professional indemnity insurance policy, where claims had been made concerning a number of serious structural and design defects within a large construction project.
• Instructed to advise a charitable entity on whether a particular contractual scheme constituted the provision of insurance, and related questions concerning regulation and authorisation.

Fred has extensive experience in cases concerning shipping (both wet and dry) and the international carriage of goods. He has acted in numerous charterparty and bill of lading disputes, including performance claims, cargo damage, shipbuilding and construction, demurrage claims, stevedore damage, force majeure, and issues surrounding unseaworthiness. He is used to working in cases conducted under different arbitral rules, including LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA and ICC, as well as ad hoc arbitrations. A selection of recent cases include:

• MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA v (1) Maersk A/S, (2) AP Moller Singapore Pte Limited (the ‘MAERSK HONAM’ litigation). In 2018, the Maersk Honam, an ultralarge containership, caught fire in the Arabian Sea. Tragically, five seafarers lost their lives. It was the largest containership general average loss in history. This litigation includes a Limitation Action in the Admiralty Court, and a related arbitration between MSC and Maersk. A trial in the Limitation Action is scheduled for January / February 2024 (with Michael Ashcroft KC and Alex Carless).
• LITASCO SA v (1) Der Mond Oil and Gas Africa SA; (2) Locafrique Holding SA. In this case, Fred acts on his own against an established silk and a senior junior in a high value (c.€47 million), high-profile political dispute concerning a shipment of crude oil. LITASCO, the Swiss arm of Lukoil, argued that recent Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine did not justify defaulting on repayments for the consignment either as a matter of sanctions law or contractual analysis.
• Instructed in a multi-vessel demurrage dispute featuring a number of issues relating to the status of contractual negotiations, time bar, pumping warranties, and the validity of nominations, ETAs and NORs
• Instructed in relation to a cargo misdelivery claim under bills of lading held by a bank, including an application to extend time for the commencement of arbitration proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (led by Robert Bright QC and subsequently Steven Berry QC)
• Instructed as sole counsel in relation to a dispute concerning liability under a charterparty for security guards ordered onto a vessel by the US Coast Guard, and associated off-hire claims
• Instructed to advise head shipowners on the prospects of recovering losses arising out of a collision of a vessel at port under either a port safety warranty or an implied indemnity under a voyage charterparty.
• Instructed in an action arising out of an explosion on board a vessel, and losses arising therefrom, after the allegedly negligent fumigation of cargo (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC).
• Instructed as sole counsel representing subrogated insurers in a dispute over the loss of cargo due to refrigeration failure during shipment.
• Instructed in an application responding to an attempt to appeal an arbitration award under s.68 and s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (led by Stephen Hofmeyr QC).
• Instructed in an arbitration concerning allegedly wrongful accounting by charterers of a vessel in relation to a profit and loss sharing agreement (led by Stephen Hofmeyr QC).
• Instructed as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration concerning a charterparty claim for costs relating to the hiring of armed security contractors for the passage of a vessel into Nigeria.
• Instructed to represent a client in the middle of a charterparty chain in a case featuring a number of complex issues that were not ‘back-to-back’, including relating to hull damage, loss of earnings, hull fouling, off-hire and detention and demurrage. This case included the preparation of a lengthy and detailed mediation position paper.
• Instructed to represent the claimant in a series of hearings relating to a multi-million pound worldwide freezing order, in particular applying for further sums to be added to the order (and other amendments thereto) in respect of substantial unpaid demurrage accruing monthly on a vessel detained in Venezuela (led by Stephen Hofmeyr QC).
• Instructed as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration in a claim by owners against charterers for losses suffered as a result of their vessel being struck and damaged by a floating dock vessel during loading operations in Indonesia.
• Instructed as sole counsel in an arbitration arising out of a dispute as to the suitability of a vessel’s holds to load grain, including a preliminary issue on time bar under the Hague-Visby Rules.
• Instructed in a demurrage claim concerning both the status of contractual warranties as to the rate of discharging operations and multiple factual issues (primarily relating to causation) regarding a lower rate of discharge.
• Instructed in a case concerning stevedore damage, featuring a number of defences featuring issues relating to unseaworthiness, causation and notification requirements under the charterparty.
• Instructed in an application to convert an arbitration award into a judgment under s.66 of the Arbitration Act 1996, featuring complicating aspects relating to limitation.
• Instructed in a dispute concerning the validity of a contractual lien over cargo in respect of a demurrage claim under a contract of affreightment, featuring a number of points of contractual construction in relation to laytime and notification provisions.
• Instructed to represent the owners in a trip time charterparty dispute, involving complex legal issues as to (amongst other things) the nature of a charter ‘trip’ in circumstances where charterers had called at allegedly illegitimate and/or extra loading and discharge ports.
• Instructed in a case relating to an alleged breach of a memorandum of agreement for the sale of a vessel, featuring a number of issues including the implication of contractual terms and the law on penalty clauses.

Fred has been involved in many cases relating to international trade and the carriage of goods, often though not exclusively by sea. Recent cases have included the following:

• LITASCO SA v (1) Der Mond Oil and Gas Africa SA; (2) Locafrique Holding SA. In this case, Fred acts on his own against an established silk and a senior junior in a high value (c.€47 million), high-profile political dispute concerning a shipment of crude oil. LITASCO, the Swiss arm of Lukoil, argued that recent Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine did not justify defaulting on repayments for the consignment either as a matter of sanctions law or contractual analysis.
• Instructed as sole counsel (for the successful claimant) in a GAFTA arbitration, and subsequently a GAFTA appeal, in relation to the alleged illegal nature of an FOB contract. This case featured complicated issues relating to agency law and in particular the intersection between apparent authority and illegality
• Instructed as sole counsel to represent the sellers of a consignment of steel, where the issues were mainly focused on the status of contractual terms relating to the issuance of a letter of credit and whether the contract itself was void for uncertainty
• Instructed as sole counsel in a GAFTA arbitration (and, subsequently, a GAFTA appeal) between a buyer and seller of cargo under an FOB contract as to the commencement of laytime thereunder, featuring a number of issues concerning the validity of notices of readiness in the context of multiple shippers of cargo.
• Instructed to advise the buyers of a consignment of sugar under a CIF sale contract, in a case featuring the customs seizure of the cargo in Algeria and the concomitant impact on contractual exclusions relating to ‘government interferences’.
• Instructed in multiple small claims disputes relating to the misdelivery of goods, and claims arising therefrom in both breach of contract and negligence.