Charlotte Davies

Charlotte is known as one of the leading juniors practising in business protection / employee competition law. She has significant experience of acting in applications for injunctive relief, in speedy trials and in standard trials. Her experience covers the range of issues that arise in this area including enforcement of restrictive covenants, abuse of confidential information, team moves and breach of fiduciary duties.

Notable cases have included:

• Jump Trading International Ltd v Couture & Verition Advisors (UK Partners) LLP [2023] EWHC 1305 (KB), [2023] EWCA Civ 670: acted for Verition, a US-based hedge fund, in respect of a claim to enforce a variable non-compete and a claim of inducing breaches during garden leave. Led by Adam Solomon K.C.
• Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd v Jefferies International Ltd & others: acted for Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd, an investment bank, in claim against Jefferies and various individuals alleging an unlawful team move and breach of covenants. Led by David Reade KC.
• Burnell v Trans-Tag Ltd [2021] EWHC 1457 (Ch): acted for Trans-Tag Ltd in its claims against a former director for breach of fiduciary duties. Important judgment covering the scope of a director’s ongoing duties. Led by Richard Leiper KC.
• Investec Bank plc v Muzinich & others: acted for Muzinich & Co Ltd, an asset management company alleged to have unlawfully recruited from Investec a team of employees operating in the aviation finance sector. Led by Daniel Oudkerk KC.
• Dorma UK Ltd v Bateman and others [2016] IRLR 616: acted for successful claimant in obtaining wide-ranging springboard relief against a competitive business and former employees. Led by Adam Solomon KC.
• Davies v Hart [2015] EWHC 607 (QB): successful in obtaining wide-ranging injunctive relief for the Claimant against a former director.
• Warm Zones CIC v Thurley & others [2014] EWHC (QB): instructed by one of the defendants following the interim hearing in this claim relating to alleged misuse of confidential information.
• CEF Holdings Ltd & others v Mundey & others [2012] IRLR 912: acted for the claimants on the return date to consider the continuance of the injunctions against a number of ex-employees. Led by David Reade KC.

Charlotte has been consistently recognised as a leading junior in employment law and is “often found working on the biggest cases in the employment law world” (Legal 500 2023).

Notable cases have included:

• Perez v Four Marketing Ltd: acting for the former CEO of a large fashion agency in respect of claims of whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. Led by Gavin Mansfield K.C.
• Nwabueze v University of Law & others [2021] ICR 280 (Court of Appeal): Important Court of Appeal decision on the scope of the Employment Tribunal’s jurisdiction in respect of students. Charlotte appeared as sole counsel for the University of Law.
• Imran v Linklaters LLP & others: acted for Linklaters and an individual respondent in this claim for sexual harassment. Charlotte was successful in having all the claims dismissed.
• A v B: acted for a global asset management firm in complex whistleblowing claims brought by a senior individual (led by Gavin Mansfield KC).
• A v B: acted for the respondents, an international defence company, in a multi-week case involving claims of race discrimination and unfair dismissal listed for 10 days. Case settled after Claimant’s cross examination (led by Jonathan Cohen KC).
• A v B: acted for the claimant, a senior lawyer for an international firm, in a multi-week trial of her claims of sex discrimination and whistleblowing.
• Novakovic v Tesco Stores Ltd UKEAT/0315/15/RN: acted for the claimant in this successful appeal of a decision on affirmation.
• Engel v Joint Committee for Parking and Traffic Regulation [2013] ICR 1086: acted for the appellant in this EAT case concerning whistleblowing and judicial immunity (led by Adam Solomon KC).
• Spaceright Europe Ltd v Baillavoine & others [2012] IRLR 111: acted for the appellant in the Court of Appeal in case concerning the meaning of reg.7 TUPE 2006 (led by Gavin Mansfield K.C.)
• Johns v Solent SD Ltd [2008] IRLR 820: acted for the respondent in Court of Appeal in case concerning stay pending judgment from the ECJ (led by Adam Solomon KC).

Charlotte has a broad commercial litigation practice, acting in cases involving contractual disputes, commercial fraud, shareholder disputes and disputes between directors/senior employees.

Notable cases have included:

• A & others v B: advised in respect of a potential claim involving the sale of racehorses. Led by Jonathan Cohen K.C.
• A v B & another: acted for a client of very significant wealth in respect of extensive fraud by former advisors. The case was complex and multi-jurisdictional. Led by Jonathan Cohen K.C.
• Burnell v Trans-Tag Ltd [2021] EWHC 1457 (Ch): acted for Trans-Tag Ltd in its claims against a former director for breach of fiduciary duties. Important judgment covering the scope of a director’s ongoing duties. Led by Richard Leiper K.C.
• Re a Security Services Company: acted for the Claimant in a claim for breach of a share purchase agreement and conspiracy against the vendor of a business and other defendants. Led by Jonathan Cohen K.C.
• Stephen Kent Jervis & others v Victor Skinner [2011] UKPC 2: appeal to the Privy Council from the Supreme Court of the Bahamas, in a case concerning breach of a profit share agreement and an employment contract. Led by Adam Solomon K.C.
• Polymer Vision R&D Ltd & others v Van Dooren [2011] EWHC 2951: jurisdictional dispute arising in the context of claims of breach of contract/misrepresentation against a liquidator in the Netherlands. Led by Charles Samek K.C.

An increasing number of Charlotte’s cases have a partnership dimension, and she has particular experience of cases involving a cross-over of employment and partnership law.

Recent cases have included:

• Re a law firm: advising on the powers of an Executive Committee under the LLP Agreement.
• A v B: acted for a law firm defending claims brought by a former partner in respect of
• Re A Private Equity Firm: advising a partner in an LP in respect of forfeiture clauses.
• Partnership arbitration: acting for a defendant in arbitration concerning an alleged unlawful team move of partners and employees from a professional services firm. Led by Gavin Mansfield K.C.

Charlotte has experience of a range of arbitrations, including LCIA and ICC, both appearing as counsel and as acting as Secretary to the Tribunal.

• COMBAR
• LCLBA
• YIAG
• ELBA
• YFLA