V.Ships Limited v Luna Management Corporation [2025] EWHC 3329 (Comm)
Andrew Baker J has found a Liberian company and its de facto director and controller, a Greek shipowner, guilty of contempt of court by reason of their failure to comply with a final antisuit injunction granted by the Commercial Court to restrain proceedings brought in the courts of Greece in breach of an arbitration agreement. The judgment follows an expedited trial of the contempt allegations.
The case represents a successful application of the “Body Corporate Provision” whereby the Court has power under its civil contempt jurisdiction to punish the responsible directors and officers of a company which has breached orders of the court, including de facto directors. Andrew Baker J rejected the defence of the individual defendant that he had in fact ceded control of the Liberian company to his elderly father.
A hearing to determine the appropriate sentence for the contempt will take place early next year.
Michael Ryan and Rebecca Jacobs appeared for the successful Claimant, V.Ships Limited, instructed by Antonia Panayides and Sofia Ntali of Reed Smith LLP.
