David Lascelles

• HQO Inc v TVDB BV & others – acted in a US$14 million earn-out and share sale dispute involving rectification and challenges to an expert determination based on alleged manifest error and material departures from instructions
• Pennon plc v Cutts – represented sellers of recycling plant businesses in multi-million-pound breach of warranty claims; obtained strike out for failure to provide compliant notification of claim
• Ivy Technology v Martin (led) – acted in an online gambling business sale dispute involving fraud, agency and contractual construction issues in Commercial Court and Court of Appeal; the case is cited in leading practitioner texts on commercial fraud, contractual construction, agency and tortious liability
• Arani v Cordic Group Ltd (led) – acted for sellers in £22m SPA dispute over sale of taxi app, dramatically narrowing quantum at trial
• Petch v Thurston Holdings Ltd — acted for the sellers in a £2.7 million share sale dispute concerning deferred consideration, bad-leaver provisions, allegations of fraud and complex accounting issues.
• HB1 Fund LP v Dynamic Procurement – acted for former shareholders in £4m anti-embarrassment clause claim relating to sale of software company
• Illien v Daimler UK plc – acted for buyers, Daimler, in deferred consideration claims regarding sale of high-performance engine business
• FKI Engineering v DeWind (led) – €40m breach of warranties share‑sale dispute in alternative energy sector before the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal

• JMW Solicitors & ors v Injury Lawyers 4U & ors – lead counsel for the successful defendant shareholders and directors in a multi-million-pound dispute over control of a leading personal-injury referral company, securing summary judgment, resisting an amendment application and defeating an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
• Halabi v Suntera Trustee & ors (Jersey; with Ogier) – sole UK counsel for former directors and a former corporate trustee in €55 million Jersey litigation arising from the sale of a Bordeaux wine château, involving fiduciary duty allegations; the claims were struck out in 2025 and the appeal resisted.
• Simpkin v Berkeley Group plc (led) – acted for FTSE 100 home builder in high-value “bad leaver” claim about remuneration committee discretion on exceptionally high-value options and bonus.
• Sports Direct v House of Fraser (led) – represented majority shareholder in high-street department store chain in unfair prejudice petition.
• Pamplona Strategic Investments v ISAM (led) – acted for minority shareholder in hedge-fund management company with US$3 billion assets under management alleging misuse of drag-along provisions.

• Taxo.ai v Tahir – acted for a San Francisco AI health-tech start-up in urgent injunctive proceedings against its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, obtaining delivery-up, disclosure and non-use relief to protect proprietary software and control of core online systems.
• A Co v B Co & C shareholder (names anonymised; led) – acted for majority shareholders in a major tourist attraction in successfully overturning interim injunction preventing completion of a US$100 million share sale.
• Xeinadin v Jarrett – acted for nationwide accountancy firm in claims against former senior accountant for breach of duty and restrictive covenants.
• Amberside Energy v Ahmed – acted for the new employer in renewable-energy sector dispute involving alleged misuse of confidential information and critical digital business assets, resisting wide-ranging interim relief.
• Gymshark v Massiah – represented fashion apparel business Gymshark in urgent restrictive covenant dispute against elite athlete influencer.
• Findmyclaims.com Ltd v Howe — acted in a company-control dispute concerning the legality of company meetings and injunctive relief to prevent alleged board hijack.
• Graphene S17 LLC v Pinl & Others – acted for majority shareholders in a global security company in injunction claim relating to composition of the board.
• Ranbaxy v Flynn Pharma (led) – acted for pharmaceutical distributor seeking interim relief to prevent wrongful termination of distribution agreement.

 David regularly acts in commercial fraud disputes, often involving multiple corporate and individual defendants.

His work commonly requires detailed analysis of complex accounting and financial issues, including cases where the documentary and forensic detail is central to the outcome.

A significant part of this work overlaps with his share and business sale practice, including allegations of fraudulent warranties, dishonest non-disclosure, secret commissions and diversion of corporate opportunities.

“David’s ability to cut through huge volumes of documents and identify the key issues is impressive.”
Chambers & Partners

“A great team player, and always prepared to get his hands dirty and help out those instructing him even at short notice.”
Legal 500

• Cohen v Dennison (led) – represented partners of major regional solicitors’ firm bringing multi-million-pound claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary and contrac­tual duties, conspiracy and dishonest assistance against their former partner and his business associates in relation to his other secret and conflicting business interests.
• Galliard Homes v Cassells – acted for purchaser of block of residential properties avoiding the contracts due to the payment of secret commission to his agent.
• KBC Lease (UK) Ltd v Total Asset Limited (led) – represented MD of corporate finance company in £130 million claims of fraud, bribery and conspiracy in relation to an alleged Ponzi scheme.
• Arab v Merchantbridge (led) – acted for vendor of shares in a US$31 million fraud claim relating to Iraqi mobile phone licence including at successful summary judgment application and 5-day trial.
• DAS UK v Asplin (led) – represented leading insurance company against its former CEO and 7 co-defendants in £10 million fraud dispute.
• GDS Group v NCR Group (led) – acted for display manufacturers in successful multi-million-pound claims arising from deliberately false customer forecasts.

For share sale fraud cases, please also see David’s featured case list under Share and Business Sale practice heading.

• Taxo.ai v Tahir – acted for a San Francisco AI health-tech start-up in urgent injunctive proceedings against its co-founder, shareholder and Chief Technology Officer, obtaining delivery-up, disclosure and non-use relief to protect proprietary software and control of core online systems.
• Goodman v TIM – acted for CEO of a litigation funding business obtaining US$40m judgment in wrongful dismissal and bonus claim.
• Simpkin v Berkeley Group plc (led) – represented FTSE-listed house-builder, Berkeley Group plc, in high-value challenge to Board’s exercise of discretion to refuse leaver’s vesting under share and bonus schemes.
• Huntington v Imagine Group (led) – acted for financial institution CEO in Commercial Court trial and then Court of Appeal in one of highest-value wrongful dismissal and bonus disputes ever litigated.
• ERT v Daley(led) – acted for the CEO of a Kyrgyz woollen mill business in Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the scope of contractual and fiduciary duties owed by a senior employee.

For restrictive covenant and injunctive work, see also David’s experience under the Business Protection and Injunctions tab.

• Brown v Candy – acted for Nick Candy and Candy & Candy in successfully striking out a £1.5 billion claim concerning an alleged agreement to sell a One Hyde Park penthouse; also instructed by same parties and Holly Vallance Candy in subsequent high-value proceedings concerning the same alleged matters.
• Vectone v EE – acted for EE in a wholesale telecoms dispute arising from termination of a mobile services agreement affecting thousands of customers and involving alleged multi-million-pound losses.
• SLC v Nuffield Health – represented Nuffield Health in defending multi-million-pound claims arising from a failed laser and cosmetic surgery joint venture where David succeeded in having the proceedings struck out.
• Explosive Learning Solutions v Landmarc — acted for a military consultancy in £7 million Commercial Court dispute concerning services provided to the UAE armed forces.
• Isis v Investec (led) – represented multiple high-net-worth investors in multi-jurisdictional dispute arising from the sale of Somerfield plc and the collapse of Kaupthing Bank.
• Mercedes-Benz v Derwent Vehicles – acted for Mercedes-Benz in a claim for a declaration that it validly terminated 18 car dealerships.
• Sax v Tchernoy (led) – represented Russian oligarch in successfully contesting jurisdiction and defeating a US$50 million claim regarding proposed Italian resort development.