A KC at just 38 years old, Jonathan Cohen has built his reputation on being an outstanding cross-examiner and is often brought in to address difficult cases turning on disputed evidence of fact. He is listed in the well-known legal directories as a leading commercial dispute resolution, civil fraud, partnership and employment silk. In Chambers & Partners, he is described as “an awesome cross-examiner, who can really drill down to the nuts and bolts of a case” and a practitioner whose “expertise and sophistication shine through”.
Jonathan has a crossover commercial dispute resolution, fraud, partnership and employment practice almost exclusively consisting of heavyweight High Court litigation and claims involving breach of fiduciary duty, dishonesty or fraud. His employment experience as a junior barrister, when he was twice nominated as Chambers & Partners employment junior of the year, gives him a unique understanding of the issues raised in civil claims for breach of duty against senior executives, directors and partners. He is frequently instructed in high profile international fraud claims; he acted for a number of defendants in the Mukhtar Ablyazov Kazakh banking fraud litigation, for Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation in their high-profile action against a former director for breach of fiduciary duty, for a senior executive of Credit Suisse accused of fraud in the “Tuna Bonds” litigation and for Vista Jets owner, Thomas Flohr, successfully defending him against a claim for breach of fiduciary duty brought by well-known investor, Timothy Horlick.
Highlights of his practice in recent years include appearing:
- For the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, in an ongoing claim against its former Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, for receiving bribes to allocate legal work to English solicitors and counsel.
- For Thomas Flohr, owner of Vista Jets, successfully striking out a claim against him for historic breach of fiduciary duty and deceit, brought by well-known entrepreneur and former business associate, Timothy Horlick.
- For a former executive of Credit Suisse in the three month “Tuna Bonds” Commercial Court litigation brought by the Republic of Mozambique.
- In a SIAC arbitration, successfully recovering circa $50 million for a state owned oil company against another state owned oil company for the conversion of an oil rig and associated breaches of contract.
- In the widely reported Commercial Court Al-Sari litigation, defending against complex asset recovery claims brought by the National Bank of Dubai.
- For well-known Manchester investor, Scott Fletcher, in a fraud claim against social media influencer and concert promoter, Ben Anderson.
- For a Cayman Islands investment fund, Old Park Capital, in a trial against its former investment manager for fraudulent misrepresentation.
- For a leading sports management agency in a claim for injunctive relief against a Premier League football club, to prevent it from impeding access to electronic stadium advertising signs.
- In a substantial partnership dispute in the Jersey Courts (alongside Jersey counsel), between Saudi families, in respect of a prestigious central London plot of development land.
- For one of the world’s leading football agents, to prevent highly embarrassing allegations about his personal life from being used to procure his termination as a bad leaver.
- In a successful King’s Bench Division claim, appearing for members of a well known family in Bangladesh, to prevent misuse of their confidential information and their blackmail.
- For a London asset management house, in respect of arbitration proceedings brought by a well-known member, widely accused in the national press of acts of sexual assault.
- In the Business & Property Courts and the Court of Appeal for the De-Pury family in a claim for commission on the sale of the most expensive painting ever sold on the private art market, and defending against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty. The trial and the appeal, in which he was successful, were reported in press throughout the world.
- In the Queen’s Bench Division and the Court of Appeal for Mandy Gray, a wealthy divorcee, defending against a claim by her former boyfriend for a half share of her considerable assets, and seeking an anti-suit injunction to prevent proceedings being brought in New Zealand. The Court of Appeal referred the question of whether Ms Gray has a right to be sued only in England to the European Court of Justice. The claim was reported throughout the international press.
- In the Business & Property Courts for Domestic & General, the household name appliance insurer, in ongoing fraud litigation against alleged rogue traders.
- In the Commercial Court for Walgreens Boots Alliance in a claim against Avon Cosmetics Inc, seeking injunctive relief to prevent the Chief Financial Officer moving from the former to the latter.
- In an LCIA arbitration for the Richard Green Gallery, defending against a claim that paintings were sold to wealthy purchasers by fraudulent misrepresentations.
- In confidential partnership proceedings for an international law firm, defending against proceedings for breach of duty.
- In a Swiss ICC arbitration for wealthy French investors, seeking damages for a large property fraud perpetrated in London.
- As an expert witness to the courts of the Marshall Islands in English civil procedure in the Akhmedova v Akhmedov divorce.
- For a leading London private equity fund, seeking $100 million of damages for breach of an introduction agreement.
- For a former partner of Deloitte LLP, seeking injunctive relief to enforce rights in the LLP members’ agreement.
- In claims by an actress against Harvey Weinstein and former directors of the Weinstein Company.
Jonathan has a reputation for combining powerful advocacy with strong legal skills and a commercial and cost sensitive approach to litigation.