Nicholas Goodfellow

Nick’s commercial litigation practice has a significant international element and frequently involves applications for urgent injunctive relief.  Many of Nick’s commercial cases have a civil fraud element and overlap with his specialism in that area.

Highly complex multi-million pound claim brought by a logistics business against various former directors and corporate parties based on (inter alia) a variety of allegedly fraudulent schemes; acting for the claimant (led by two silks from other commercial sets); interim applications for imaging orders and Norwich Pharmacal relief (Comm Ct, 2025-ongoing).

• Jinxin v Aser and others (Comm Ct, 2021-2025): claim for fraudulent misrepresentation valued at circa US$660 million brought by the majority shareholder in a leading sports media rights agency; acted for one of the defendants (led by Ruth Den Besten KC) that partly succeeded in an early strike out application [2022] EWHC 2988 (Comm), and against whom the case settled pre-trial.  Nick also appeared unled in successfully resisting an application concerning a claim for privilege [2023] 1 WLR 1084.
• Frontiers Capital I Ltd Partnership v Flohr [2025] EWHC 678 (Ch): claim for breach of contract and fiduciary duty arising out of an investment made by a venture capital fund in the technology sector brought by a Jersey limited partnership; acted for the defendant (led by Jonathan Cohen KC) and succeeded in strike out of the claim on limitation grounds; the case also involved an appeal to the Court of Appeal on a discrete issue of partnership law [2025] 2 WLR 967.
• Domestic & General Group Ltd v Premier Protect Holdings Ltd and others [2024] EWHC 2654 (KB): acted for the claimants as main counsel in successful claim for unlawful means conspiracy, brought against rogue traders engaged in making fraudulent misrepresentations to prospective customers; successful contempt applications against two of the defendants; permission has been granted for further contempt applications to be pursued, following trial [2025] EWHC 2405 (KB).
• K v L (DIFC Courts, 2023): Instructed as junior counsel in multi million pound contractual bonus claim brought in the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts.
• Roslea v Silver and others (ChD, 2023): claim against a property agent for defrauding his principals by deliberately disposing of their assets for his own personal gain and taking secret commissions; acted for the claimants (sole counsel); proprietary and freezing injunction obtained, and default judgment granted.
• 111 Skin v Smith and others (London Circuit Commercial Court, 2021-2023): multi-party fraud claim in the beauty products industry concerning an unlawful arrangement to deliberately inflate the price paid to overseas suppliers in order to generate a secret commission; acted for the claimant (led by Jonthan Cohen KC) in successful interim applications for freezing orders.
• Mousavi-Khalkali v Abrishamchi [2020] EWCA Civ 1493: jurisdictional challenge relating to the question of whether England and Wales was the appropriate forum to hear the claim (appeared unled); claim concerned a multi-million pound contractual claim relating to an Iranian telecommunications project.
• S v L and others (BVI Comm Ct, 2018): advised in relation to a worldwide freezing order and receivership application in the BVI courts arising out of a $50 million criminal and civil fraud claim being brought in Russia (led by Charles Samek KC).
• Williams v Federal Government of Nigeria (Comm Ct, 2018): acted unled in a successful application for default judgment against the Nigerian state in a sum in excess of US$14 million, in a claim based on a substantial fraud, that raised complex issues of state immunity law.
• Greenbrier Companies Inc v Ebreez Railway Services and others (Comm Ct, 2016): claim brought in deceit relating to a $15million commission, the subject of proceedings in Saudi Arabia; successfully resisted anti-suit injunction and application to serve outside the jurisdiction; succeeded in staying claim on grounds of forum non conveniens and discharging freezing order (led by Jonathan Cohen KC).

Nick’s practice has a heavy emphasis on cases involving allegations of dishonesty, misappropriation of corporate assets and other serious corporate wrongdoing.  Nick has extensive experience of claims based on deceit, the economic torts, and other forms of accessory liability.

Highly complex multi-million pound claim brought by a logistics business against various former directors and corporate parties based on (inter alia) a variety of allegedly fraudulent schemes; acting for the claimant (led by two silks from other commercial sets); interim applications for imaging orders and Norwich Pharmacal relief (Comm Ct, 2025-ongoing).

• Jinxin v Aser and others (Comm Ct, 2021-2025): claim for fraudulent misrepresentation valued at circa US$660 million brought by the majority shareholder in a leading sports media rights agency; acted for one of the defendants (led by Ruth Den Besten KC) that partly succeeded in an early strike out application [2022] EWHC 2988 (Comm), and against whom the case settled pre-trial.  Nick also appeared unled in successfully resisting an application concerning a claim for privilege [2023] 1 WLR 1084.
• Frontiers Capital I Ltd Partnership v Flohr [2025] EWHC 678 (Ch): claim for breach of contract and fiduciary duty arising out of an investment made by a venture capital fund in the technology sector brought by a Jersey limited partnership; acted for the defendant (led by Jonathan Cohen KC) and succeeded in strike out of the claim on limitation grounds; the case also involved an appeal to the Court of Appeal on a discrete issue of partnership law [2025] 2 WLR 967.
• Roslea v Silver and others (ChD, 2023): claim against a property agent for defrauding his principals by deliberately disposing of their assets for his own personal gain and taking secret commissions; acted for the claimants (sole counsel); proprietary and freezing injunction obtained, and default judgment granted.
• Domestic & General Group Ltd v Premier Protect Holdings Ltd and others [2024] EWHC 2654 (KB): acted for the claimants as main counsel in successful claim for unlawful means conspiracy, brought against rogue traders engaged in making fraudulent misrepresentations to prospective customers; successful contempt applications against two of the defendants; permission has been granted for further contempt applications to be pursued, following trial [2025] EWHC 2405 (KB).
• Zenith Logistics Services (UK) Ltd and others v Keates and others [2022] EWHC 1496 (Comm):  acted for the claimants (led by Michael Duggan KC) in successful claim by a logistics business against a former director and various other individual/corporate parties, relating to the fraudulent misappropriation of company assets.
• 111 Skin v Smith and others (London Circuit Commercial Court, 2021-2023): multi-party fraud claim in the beauty products industry concerning an unlawful arrangement to deliberately inflate the price paid to overseas suppliers in order to generate a secret commission; acted for the claimant (led by Jonthan Cohen KC) in successful interim applications for freezing orders.
• S v L and others (BVI Comm Ct, 2018): advised in relation to a worldwide freezing order and receivership application in the BVI courts arising out of a $50 million criminal and civil fraud claim being brought in Russia (led by Charles Samek KC).
• Williams v Federal Government of Nigeria (Comm Ct, 2018): acted unled in a successful application for default judgment against the Nigerian state in a sum in excess of US$14 million, in a claim based on a substantial fraud, that raised complex issues of state immunity law.
• Greenbrier Companies Inc v Ebreez Railway Services and others (Comm Ct, 2016): claim brought in deceit relating to a $15million commission, the subject of proceedings in Saudi Arabia; successfully resisted anti-suit injunction and application to serve outside the jurisdiction; succeeded in staying claim on grounds of forum non conveniens and discharging freezing order (led by Jonathan Cohen KC).

Nick’s company law work has three main facets: (i) claims against directors for breach of statutory / fiduciary duty (and claims against third parties for associated accessory liability); (ii) unfair prejudice petitions; (iii) claims relating to the rights of shareholders arising out of share purchase agreements and other contractual documents.

Multi-million pound claim brought by a logistics business against various former directors involving claims for breaches of statutory duty under the Companies Act 2006 (“2006 Act”) (Comm Ct, 2025-ongoing).

• Jinxin v Aser and others (Comm Ct, 2021-2025): claim for fraudulent misrepresentation valued at circa US$660 million brought by the majority shareholder relating to a share purchase agreement in a leading sports media rights agency; acted for one of the shareholder defendants (led by Ruth Den Besten KC).
• Dressel and others v Ferreira and Impossible Labs Limited (ChD, Companies List, 2023-2024): unfair prejudice petition brought by minority shareholders in a group of international companies operating in the design industry; acted for the claimants (sole counsel).
• S v O (ChD, Companies List, 2023): unfair prejudice petition brought by a minority shareholder against a company carrying on business as a firm of solicitors, challenging the application of compulsory transfer share provisions; acted for the defendants (junior counsel).
• Zenith Logistics Services (UK) Ltd and others v Keates and others [2022] EWHC 1496 (Comm):  acted for the claimants (led by Michael Duggan KC) in successful claim by a logistics business against a former director and various other individual/corporate parties, relating to the fraudulent misappropriation of company assets, and claims for breach of statutory duty under the 2006 Act.
• Falk & Ross Group (UK) Ltd and others v Hyams (ChD, 2020-2022): claim by the majority shareholders in a clothing retail company against a former non-executive director, seeking declaratory relief that he was a ‘Bad Leaver’ within the meaning of the company’s articles; case was consolidated with parallel unfair prejudice proceedings.
• Hayward v Benning and others (Companies Court, 2019): unfair prejudice petition brought by one of two quasi-partners in a company involved in submitting bids for development funding in the education sector.
• Button v Phelps [2016] EWHC 3185 (Ch): claim arising out of an attempted acquisition of a group of companies involved in the Po Na Na group; strike out application after claimant sought to resurrect quantum proceedings many years after trial (sole counsel).
• Poole v Horton [2016] 1315 (Ch): claim against a liquidator appealing against proof of debt raised by claimant, seeking payment of one third of the net asset value of the company when he ceased to be a director.  Successful following trial in the Companies Court.

Nick has extensive experience of claims relating to confidential information, restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duty, and the economic torts.  Nick has appeared in numerous ‘team move’ cases involving applications for (inter alia) springboard injunctive relief.

• Veetee Rice Limited v Chada and others (ChD, 2024): claim by rice manufacturer against former employees for breach of fiduciary duty, dishonest assistance and unlawful means conspiracy; acted as sole counsel for claimant and obtained interim springboard relief (case settled pre-trial).
• Amberside Energy (Development) Ltd v Ahmed [2024] EWHC 3077 (KB): claim by a group of companies that operate in the renewable energy sector, against a former employee and his new employer for misuse of confidential information; acted for claimants (unled) and successfully obtained interim injunctive relief.
• Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers Limited (trading as ‘Allcover Insurance Brokers’ v The Broker Investment Group Limited and others (KBD, 2024): claim by an insurance broking business relating to a team move; acted for the claimant (led by Adam Solomon KC) and successfully obtained interim springboard and confidentiality injunctive relief pending a speedy trial (case settled pre-trial).
• PSN Recruitments Ltd (t/a Cosmopolitan Recruitment) v Ludley: [2023] EWHC 3153 (IPEC): acted for successful claimant in claim for passing off brought against a former employee.
• Vanilla Electronics Limited v Agile Electronics Limited and others (KBD, 2022): successful application for interim springboard injunctive relief against competitor company (and company directors) in the electronics industry (acted unled for the interim hearing).
• Law By Design Ltd v Ali [2022] IRLR 610: successful claim to enforce 12-month non-competition covenant against a solicitor following a speedy trial (led by Selwyn Bloch KC).
• Zenith Logistics Services (UK) Ltd and others v Keates and others [2022] EWHC 1496 (Comm):  acted for the claimants (led by Michael Duggan KC) in successful claim by a logistics business against a former director and various other individual/corporate parties, relating to the fraudulent misappropriation of company assets.
• Argus Media Ltd v Halim [2019] IRLR 442: acted for the successful claimant in a claim for breach of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information (7-day speedy trial, led by Gavin Mansfield KC).  Nick also appeared (unled) against more senior counsel in a successful specific disclosure application.
• Vanden Recycling Ltd v Kras Recycling BV [2017] EWCA Civ 354: appeal concerning impact of a consent order on the claimant’s ability to pursue joint tortfeasors in an unlawful means conspiracy claim; appeal succeeded in part (led by David Reade KC).
• WE Cox Claims Group Ltd v Spencer [2017] EWHC 2552 (QB): application for forensic examination of computer equipment (sole counsel).
• Airsys Communications v Becker [2017] EWHC 1684 (QB): claim for breach of non-compete restrictive covenants in shareholders and service agreements against former CEO; acted for claimant (led by Stuart Ritchie KC) and successfully obtained interim relief with court undertakings.
• Davies v Hart [2015] EWHC 3121 (QB): successfully resisted application to set aside default judgment in restrictive covenant share sale agreement case (sole counsel).
• De Vere Holding Company Ltd v Belgravia Wealth Management Europe Kft [2014] EWHC 3189 (QB), [2014] EWHC 3781 (QB): multi-jurisdictional team move case concerning independent financial advisors across Eastern Europe, involving application for springboard injunctive relief (led by Adam Solomon KC).
• First Rate FX Ltd v Trading by Telephone Ltd and others [2014] EWHC 982 (QB); [2014] EWHC 983 (QB): foreign currency trader team move case involving allegations of unlawful means conspiracy in breach of financial regulations (led by Adam Solomon KC).

Nick’s cases regularly involve applications for urgent injunctive relief. He has expertise from his commercial litigation and civil fraud practice of applications for freezing orders, proprietary injunctions, search and imaging orders, and anti-suit injunctions. Nick’s business protection practice also involves applications for injunctive relief to restrain breaches of restrictive covenants, misuse of confidential information and/or springboard injunctive relief.

Further details of the cases listed below are set out under the sections headed ‘Commercial Litigation’, ‘Civil Fraud’ and ‘Business Protection’

Successful interim applications for imaging orders (ex parte) and Norwich Pharmacal relief in complex multi-million pound claim brought by a logistics business against various former directors and corporate parties based on (inter alia) a variety of allegedly fraudulent schemes (Comm Ct, 2025-ongoing).

• Veetee Rice Limited v Chada and others (ChD, 2024): successful application for interim springboard relief.
• Amberside Energy (Development) Ltd v Ahmed [2024] EWHC 3077 (KB): successful application for interim injunctive relief to restrain misuse of confidential.
• Domestic & General Group Ltd v Premier Protect Holdings Ltd and others [2024] EWHC 2654 (KB): successfully obtained interim and final injunctions to restrain the pursuit of an unlawful cold calling campaign in claims based on deceit.
• Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers Limited (trading as ‘Allcover Insurance Brokers’ v The Broker Investment Group Limited and others (KBD, 2024): successfully obtained interim springboard and confidentiality injunctive relief pending a speedy trial.
• Roslea v Silver and others (ChD, 2023): successful applications for interim proprietary and freezing injunctions.
• Vanilla Electronics Limited v Agile Electronics Limited and others (KBD, 2022): successful application for interim springboard injunctive relief against competitor company and company directors in the electronics industry.
• Law By Design Ltd v Ali [2022] IRLR 610: successful in obtaining interim and final injunctive relief to enforce 12-month non-competition covenant against a solicitor.
• 111 Skin v Smith and others (London Circuit Commercial Court, 2021-2023): successful interim applications for freezing orders in fraud claim.
• Argus Media Ltd v Halim [2019] IRLR 442: successful obtained final injunction to enforce a non-competition restrictive covenant following a speedy trial.
• W v R (2018): advised defendant to imaging and evidence preservation order application on potential grounds for set aside.
• WE Cox Claims Group Ltd v Spencer [2017] EWHC 2552 (QB): acted for defendant to application for forensic examination of computer equipment.
• Greenbrier Companies Inc v Ebreez Railway Services and others (Comm Ct, 2016): successfully resisted anti-suit injunction in deceit claim.

Nick’s commercial and business protection practice includes claims being brought by or against members in an LLP, or other forms of partnership.  Nick has acted in several appellate cases that have centred on discrete issues of partnership & LLP law.

• Frontiers Capital I Ltd Partnership v Flohr [2025] 2 WLR 967: appeal to the Court of Appeal on a discrete issue of partnership law concerning the interpretation of section 38 of the Partnership Act 1890.
• Bates van Winkelhof v Clyde & Co LLP [2014] 1 WLR 2047: Supreme Court case concerning the interpretation of section 4(4) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000, and the worker status of members of LLPs.

Nick’s commercial and civil fraud practice extends to cases that involve international parties, conflicts of law issues, and claims being tried in offshore jurisdictions, such as the British Virgin Islands, and the Dubai International Financial Centre.  For further information, see cases listed under the section headed ‘Commercial Litigation’.

Nick is member of Littleton’s highly ranked sports group.  He is a keen sportsman, which drives his interest in sports related work.  Nick’s sports practice primarily concerns contractual disputes in the sporting sector.

• Jinxin v Aser and others (Comm Ct, 2021-2025): claim for fraudulent misrepresentation valued at circa US$660 million brought by the majority shareholder in a leading sports media rights agency, which held distribution rights to one of the major football leagues across the globe; acted for one of the shareholder defendants (led by Ruth Den Besten KC).
• A v B (2024): Acted in FA Rule K arbitration contractual dispute.
• Acted for a sports agency company in proceedings against a former employee seeking to recover the diverted profits of agency contracts, relating to high profile players (led by Adam Solomon KC).
• Acted for a rugby player before the National Anti-Doping Panel.
• Represented a racehorse trainer claiming unpaid fees and defending allegations of professional negligence under the British Horse Racing Authority regime.

Nick’s commercial, civil fraud and sports practice encompasses arbitration.  Nick has experience of arbitrations conducted under the LCIA rules and the FA Rule K procedure.