Derek worked in the finance and music industries before pursuing a career in law.
In 1997 Derek became the firm's first trainee, qualifying in 1999.
He became a partner of the firm in 2007 and now leads a team of junior solicitors in our London office in Chancery Lane.
Expertise:
Derek is a commercial lawyer based in our London office with particular expertise in commercial dispute resolution covering a broad range of areas including construction and property disputes, consumer law and aspects of aviation and insolvency law.
Derek also advises on a wide range of commercial contracts including supply, procurement and distribution agreements.
He is renowned for his efficiency and is popular with clients for his approachable and pragmatic style.
Notable Cases:
- Acting for a high end hotel group in securing a judgment against a former resident (King's Bench Division).
- Acting on an heavy contested application for disclosure of a bankrupt's evidence in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement for use in proceedings in Kenya (Business and Property Courts - Insolvency And Companies List (ChD)).
- Acting for an Irish listed company in a claim for breach of warranties by the vendor of an electrical company (Business and Property Courts – Business List).
- Acting for a bond provider in respect of the rights of holders of equitable liens in the distribution of proceeds of sale of a property to be realised by administrators - (Business and Property Courts - Insolvency And Companies List (ChD)).
- Acting for an Italian leisure and food company defending a claim brought under a share purchase agreement, subject to Italian law (King's Bench Division).
- Acting for a regional airport to secure the sale of aircraft in lieu of payment for its charges (Commercial Court).
- Acting for an individual whose residential property had been fraudulently transferred without knowledge (HM Land Registry Adjudication).
- Acting for a landlord in exercising a rent review clause which had not been exercised since 1977 (Arbitration Act 1996).
- Acting for a US Attorney defending a claim for in excess of £1 million for alleged negligent misstatement/misrepresentation and breach of trust (King's Bench Division).
- Securing and enforcing judgment of in excess of £1 million for an oil and gas exploration and production company against Italian and Dutch companies (Commercial Court).
- Acting for a middle-east airline in pursuing a claim for unpaid commission and defending a counterclaim of in excess of £1 million (King's Bench Division).
