Rajiv Bhatt

Rajiv is regularly instructed in banking and finance litigation and counts a private Mayfair bank as a long standing client.

Rajiv recently acted in a complex commercial dispute in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, concerning an aviation asset backed financial product. Rajiv worked closely with Michael Blair KC of 3 Verulam Buildings, who is a leading financial regulatory silk, in drafting an opinion concerning various UK financial regulatory issues relevant to the dispute. Rajiv also had a wider involvement in drafting witness statements and submissions (both at first instance and on appeal), and assisting with strategy. Rajiv’s client was successful at first instance and on appeal.

Rajiv’s experience in civil fraud and asset tracing issues includes:

• VH Invest AG and Air Profile GMBH v Moir, Oil Search Limited and Exact Optics Limited (Comm) – acting for the Claimants in a claim for breach of contract, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment concerning the development of LIDAR technology used to measure the speed and direction of air particles around commercial wind turbines (listed for a 10 day trial in May 2026) (led by David Lewis KC).
• Floreat Investment Management Limited v Churchill and others [2022] EWHC 357 (Comm) – part of the counsel team who represented the Claimant in respect of an alleged multimillion-pound investment fraud (led by Nigel Jones KC).
• Confidential – acted for a claimant in a complex investment fraud against a money transfer company. The case concerned allegations of breach of the Quincecare duty. Rajiv obtained a Norwich Pharmacal Order which provided an important insight into the full scale of the fraud committed.

His legal experience is supplemented by his deep academic knowledge of civil fraud and tracing issues, having studied an LLM in Commercial Equity and Restitution at Cambridge University.

Rajiv has experience of acting in arbitrations and welcomes instructions in this area.

Notable cases:

• Confidential – acting for a Defendant in a breach of contract claim. The dispute is subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.
• Confidential – acted for a well known social media company in a breach of contract dispute which concerned issues of contractual interpretation and rectification (LCIA arbitration) (led by Tony Singla KC).
• Confidential – advised a South Asian pharmaceutical company in respect of potential arbitration under the supervisory jurisdiction of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This was a multimillion dollar dispute concerning the sale and distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan.
• Confidential – acted for an owner of a hotel in a West African country against an international hotel chain. This was a multimillion dollar dispute and concerned the interplay of various agreements and allegations of mismanagement and design faults. The dispute was subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.

Rajiv is regularly instructed on complex commercial disputes often with an international element. He welcomes instructions on cases dealing with cross border disputes.

Rajiv has acted in a variety of matters involving allegations of breach of contract, breaches directors and fiduciary duties and duties of confidence, unjust enrichment and conspiracy. He also has experience of obtaining injunctive relief in the High Court.

He is equally adept as working as part of a legal team or as sole counsel.

Rajiv’s experience of business protection/employee competition work can be found under the “Employment and Executive Disputes” tab.

His niche expertise in sports law can be found on the “Sports Law” tab.

Notable cases:

• VH Invest AG and Air Profile GMBH v Moir, Oil Search Limited and Exact Optics Limited (Comm) – acting for the Claimants in a claim for breach of contract, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment concerning the development of LIDAR technology used to measure the speed and direction of air particles around commercial wind turbines (listed for a 10 day trial in May 2026) (led by David Lewis KC).
• Confidential – acting for a claimant in a professional negligence claim against solicitors and counsel arising out of a multi-million pound shareholders’ dispute.
• Floreat Investment Management Limited v Churchill and others v Wang – acted for the applicant to set aside an order for the provision of certain documents from the Court file. This was part of a wider multi-jurisdictional dispute in the Cayman Islands (led by Nigel Jones KC).
• Floreat Investment Management Limited v Churchill and others [2022] EWHC 357 (Comm) – part of the counsel team who acted for the Claimant in respect of an alleged multimillion-pound investment fraud (led by Nigel Jones KC).
• Confidential – acted for a well known social media company in a breach of contract dispute which concerned issues of contractual interpretation and rectification (LCIA arbitration) (led by Tony Singla KC).
• Confidential (A Ltd and B Ltd v X and Y v Z (ChD)) – represented the Defendant directors as sole counsel in a claim concerning allegations of breach of directors’ duties. The factual and legal issues were complex. The case was multi-jurisdictional and involved individuals/entities located in Argentina, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Rajiv successfully obtained a novel order for security for costs from the Claimants in respect of the Defendants’ costs of defending the claim, and their costs of a Part 20 claim that the Defendants were forced to bring against a third party.
• Ffinal 09 AG v Floreat Merchant Banking Limited [2020] EWHC 2657 (Comm) – acted as sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. This was a multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning entities and assets located in Switzerland. Rajiv advised on strategy which ultimately led to his client successfully resisting an application for summary judgment.
• Confidential – acted for a private Mayfair bank in a breach of confidence claim in the High Court (KBD). Rajiv acted as sole counsel against a KC and junior. Rajiv was heavily involved in the case from the start.
• Frank Warren v Nathan Cleverly – acted for the well-known boxing promoter, Frank Warren, in a claim for breach of a promotional agreement against the former World Champion professional boxer, Nathan Cleverly (led by Jonathan Crystal).
• Nordin and others v Minwalla (DIFC) – acted as sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim for breach of contract arising out of a share purchase agreement.
• IR Relations Limited v Floreat Fixed Income SA – part of the Defendant’s legal team in a claim in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for wrongful termination of contract. Rajiv was instructed by Lewis Silkin LLP in London and Allen & Overy in Luxembourg. The case concerned a complicated investment scheme and issues of UK financial regulatory law. Rajiv’s client was successful at first instance and on appeal. Rajiv was initially led by Nigel Jones KC and then acted as sole counsel.
• Confidential – advised a South Asian pharmaceutical company in a multimillion dollar claim for breach of contract arising out of the supply of a Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan. The case was subject to an arbitration clause with the ADGM having supervisory jurisdiction.
• Confidential – acted for an owner of a hotel in a West African country against an international hotel chain. This was a multimillion dollar dispute and concerned the interplay of various agreements and allegations of mismanagement and design faults. The dispute was subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.
• Land Buyers of Britain Limited v (1) Yu Heung (2) Wonder4City Limited (KBD, William Davis J) – obtained an urgent High Court injunction requiring the Respondents to remove a priority search in respect of the Applicant’s property. Following the Respondent’s failure to comply with the injunction, Rajiv returned to the High Court and obtained a mandatory injunction against the Land Registry requiring it to remove the priority search.
• Confidential (Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber)) – acted for the appellant in a case concerning the law of unjust enrichment. Rajiv drafted the Grounds of Appeal. Permission to appeal was granted on all grounds following which the dispute settled.
• Thompson Investments Limited v Mills – acted for the Claimant in a claim concerning the back to back sale of land. The case concerned allegations of breach of contract and malicious falsehood.

Rajiv’s commercial practice is supported by an LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Cambridge; this has provided him with an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles in this area. Rajiv’s experience at Reed Smith also makes him well placed to understand the work undertaken by solicitors and to work as part of a legal team in large scale commercial disputes.

Rajiv has particular expertise of directors and shareholders disputes, which also complements his employment practice.

Rajiv has experience of drafting unfair prejudice petitions and points of defence.

Notable cases:

• Confidential – acting for a claimant in a professional negligence claim against solicitors and counsel which arises from a shareholders dispute.
• Nordin and others v Minwalla (DIFC) – acted as sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim for breach of contract arising out of a share purchase agreement.
• Confidential (A Ltd and B Ltd v X and Y v Z) (ChD) – represented the Defendant directors as sole counsel in a claim concerning allegations of breach of directors’ duties. The factual and legal issues were complex. The case was multi jurisdictional and involved individuals/entities located in Argentina, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Rajiv successfully obtained a novel order for security for costs from the Claimants in respect of the Defendants’ costs of defending the claim brought against them, and their costs of a Part 20 claim that the Defendants were forced to bring against a third party.
• Re M&L Sheet Metal Limited – acted for a petitioner in respect of a claim for unfair prejudice.
• Nazir v Asgheddi and others – advised the Respondents to an unfair prejudice petition and drafted the points of Defence.
• Confidential – advised a shareholder in respect of an unfair prejudice petition and potential derivative action.

Rajiv has experience in cross-border disputes concerning issues such as choice of law and jurisdiction. His legal experience is supplemented by his in-depth knowledge of these issues having studied International Commercial Litigation during his LLM at the University of Cambridge.

Notable cases:

• Galgotia and another v Skai Zaya Real Estate Developments LLC and another (DIFC Court of Appeal (Justice Rene Le Miere)) – acted for the successful appellant in an appeal concerning the principles applicable to detailed assessment of costs in the DIFC.
• Confidential – acted for an owner of a hotel in a West African country against an international hotel chain. This was a multimillion dollar dispute and concerned the interplay of various agreements and allegations of mismanagement and design faults. The dispute was subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.
• Nordin and others v Minwalla (DIFC) – acted as sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim for breach of contract arising out of a share purchase agreement.
• IR Relations Limited v Floreat Fixed Income SA – part of the Defendant’s legal team in a claim in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for wrongful termination of contract. Rajiv was instructed by Lewis Silkin LLP in London and Allen & Overy in Luxembourg. The case concerned a complicated investment scheme and issues of UK financial regulatory law. Rajiv’s client was successful at first instance and on appeal. Rajiv was initially led by Nigel Jones KC and then acted as sole counsel.
• Confidential – advised a South Asian pharmaceutical company in a multimillion dollar claim for breach of contract arising out of the supply of a Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan. The case was subject to an arbitration clause with the ADGM having supervisory jurisdiction.
• Confidential – acted for a French distributor of high end alcohol products in respect of a breach of contract claim. The case involved jurisdictional issues concerning the Courts of Bordeaux and England and Wales.

Rajiv is a leading employment junior and is recommended by both Chambers UK and Legal 500 in this area. He is regularly instructed in complex heavyweight cases at the cutting edge of employment law and is often against more senior opposition, including KCs.

Rajiv was recently Highly Commended as Employment Junior of the Year at the International Employment Lawyer (IEL) Awards 2024. He was also awarded the Lexology Client Choice Award 2021 for employment law.

Rajiv acts for household brands, the BBC, city law firms, senior executives, a well-known social media firm, banks and financial institutions.

He also has experience of business protection cases which complement his commercial practice.

Rajiv is an expert on worker status issues and is currently representing Bolt in a worker status claim relating to 12,500 drivers (Band & others v Bolt Operations OU and Bolt Services UK Limited).

Rajiv also has significant experience of appearing in the Scottish Employment Tribunals and is familiar with the procedural requirements in that jurisdiction.

Notable Employment Tribunal cases:

• Bandi v Bolt Operations OU and Bolt Services UK Limited (led by David Reade KC) – acting for Bolt in a worker status claim concerning over 12,500 drivers.
• Moving Brands Ltd and others v Heinl & Läikkö [2023] EAT 34 – successfully appeared as sole counsel for the appellant in an appeal concerning the law of privilege. Rajiv also acted as junior counsel (led by Paul Strelitz) in the underlying dispute which concerned allegations of whistleblowing detriment/dismissal, victimisation and sex discrimination in a multi week trial in the London Central Employment Tribunal (judgment with reasons of over 100 pages was handed down in August 2024).
• Pelter v Buro Four Limited [2022] EAT 105 – acted for the appellant against a KC in a case concerning allegations of age discrimination in the provision of income protection insurance. The case was on the “watch list” for IDS Employment Law Handbook (the major employment law publication) and Westlaw. The is a leading authority and has developed the law on age discrimination in the provision of benefits in a number of respects.
• Kumulchew v Starbucks – successfully represented Meseret Kumulchew in her sex and disability discrimination, victimisation and whistleblowing case against Starbucks. The case received considerable press coverage which included: the BBC, The Guardian, The Independent and The Times. The case was also featured in the Equal Opportunities Review.
• A v BBC – successfully acted for the BBC in a multi-day trial in the Glasgow Employment Tribunal in a case concerning allegations of disability discrimination.
• Confidential – acted for the BBC in a complex disability discrimination and victimisation claim.
• Bentley v No Ordinary Designer Limited (t/a Ted Baker) – acted for the Respondent in a redundancy unfair dismissal claim in the Glasgow Employment Tribunal. Having successfully defended the claim, Rajiv then obtained a costs order against the Claimant for £20,000.
• Confidential – currently acting for a prestigious city law firm in a complex claim for disability discrimination, harassment, victimisation and constructive dismissal.
• Smith v Cardylitics UK Limited – acting for a senior executive in a whistleblowing claim.
• Confidential – currently acting for a well-known international law firm and a number of named individual respondents in a complex disability discrimination, sex discrimination and victimisation claim.
• Confidential – currently acting for a city law firm and a number of named individual respondents in a claim for disability discrimination, victimisation, harassment, and pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
• Confidential – acted for a well known social media platform in a series of disputes concerning allegations of constructive ordinary unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal on health and safety grounds and wrongful dismissal. Rajiv was against a KC in one of the disputes.
• Confidential – successfully acted for an affiliate company of Warner Bros in a complex Employment Tribunal claim.
• Confidential – acted for a Professor against a well known university in a whistleblowing claim.
• Stoodley-Dowty v Chief Constable of Surrey Police – acted for the successful claimant in a disability discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal claim.

Notable business protection/employee competition cases:

• Confidential – acting for a defendant in a case concerning allegations of breach of contract, the tort of inducing a breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy. Against a KC and junior.
• Gigamine Limited v Ghoni (KBD) – appeared for the applicant in an application for an urgent interim injunction to prevent the misuse of confidential information and unfair competition.
• Confidential – acted for a claimant furniture manufacturer in a claim against former employees concerning allegations of breach of contract, the tort of inducing a breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy.
• Confidential – extensively advised an employee who was facing allegations of misuse of confidential information and breach of restrictive covenants
• Confidential – acted for a senior executive who was in the process of considering a move to a competitor.

Rajiv acts for parties in construction adjudications and litigation.

Notable cases:

• Confidential – acted for an owner of a hotel in a West African country against an international hotel chain. This was a multimillion dollar dispute and concerned the interplay of various agreements and allegations of mismanagement and design faults. The dispute was subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.
• Confidential – acted for a contractor in respect of a breach of contract claim against the employer for early termination. The case concerned the JCT Minor Works Building Contract with Contractor’s Design and raised complicated issues concerning quantum and delay.
• Gregg Nowak Ltd v CSS Electrical Distributors Ltd (TCC) – acted for the successful Defendant, CSS Electrical. This was a 3 day trial in front of HHJ Bailey where Rajiv successfully resisted Gregg Nowak’s application to lift a stay of enforcement on an adjudication award. The case concerns the interplay between construction and insolvency law. It has received considerable attention and concerned some of the issues discussed in the Court of Appeal’s decision in Lonsdale v Bresco [2019] EWCA Civ 27. Rajiv’s case has featured in a blog for Practical Law UK and was featured in the UK Adjudicator’s newsletter.
• Confidential – successfully acted for a referring party in an adjudication concerning allegations of professional negligence against a contract administrator in respect of work done at a high-end wine bar in Covent Garden. The case concerned difficult issues around contractual interpretation, the extent of a contract administrator’s duty of care, causation and quantum.
• Confidential – acted for the responding party (employer) in a jurisdiction challenge under paragraph 9(2) of The Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998. Rajiv drafted detailed written submissions under considerable time pressure and responded to further requests from the adjudicator. The underlying dispute concerned the value of a final certificate in a contract worth over £1.8m and the contractor’s alleged entitlement to an extension of time.
• Confidential – acted for a claimant contractor in respect of a claim for non payment and a counterclaim for defective works under the JCT Design and Build Contract (TCC).
• Confidential – acted for a claimant in a claim under an NHBC policy in respect of damage caused by alleged defects to the floor of a new build property (TCC).

During his time at Reed Smith Rajiv was involved in a high profile billion-pound dispute concerning the collapse of the metro tunnel in Cologne. The case concerned the interplay between construction, insurance and professional liability. Rajiv was also involved in construction adjudications. Rajiv’s experiences at Reed Smith have allowed him to gain a detailed understanding of the work undertaken by construction solicitors and the intricacies of the various forms of construction contracts.

Prior to coming to the Bar Rajiv also worked at a firm of loss assessors where he dealt directly with builders and contractors and has first-hand insight as to the realities of construction projects.

Rajiv has experience in insurance-related disputes.

Prior to coming to the Bar, he worked at a firm of loss assessors where he acted for policyholders dealing with household insurance claims. Rajiv’s work included advising on interpretation of policy wording, working with insurance loss adjustors and drafting appeals to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Rajiv is currently acting for a policyholder in respect of a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service in a case concerning allegations of misrepresentation made by the insurance company against the policyholder.

Rajiv has a particular interest in sports litigation. He acted for the well-known boxing promoter, Frank Warren, in a claim for breach of a promotional agreement against the former WBO Light Heavyweight Champion boxer, Nathan Cleverly (led by Jonathan Crystal).

He is a Sports Resolutions Pro Bono panel member and also a member of LawInSport and undertook the LawInSport mentoring scheme.

Prior to coming to the Bar Rajiv assisted in the case of Dwain Chambers v British Olympic Association [2008] All ER (D) 255. The case concerned the British sprinter Dwain Chambers’ application for an interim injunction preventing the British Olympic Association from applying a byelaw which made him ineligible for selection as a member of Team GB for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Rajiv has considerable expertise in international commercial litigation, underpinned by his time at the international law firm Reed Smith.

He has particular experience in relation to disputes in the Middle East.

Notable cases:

• Skai Zaya Real Estate Development LLC and Assass Investments Limited v Galgotia and Galgotia (Justice Rene Le Miere in the DIFC Court of Appeal) – successfully appeared for the appellant in an appeal concerning the law and procedure applicable to the assessment of costs on the standard basis under the DIFC Rules.
• Confidential – acted for an owner of a hotel in a West African country against an international hotel chain. This was a multimillion dollar dispute and concerned the interplay of various agreements and allegations of mismanagement and design faults. The dispute was subject to an LCIA arbitration clause.
• Nordin and others v Minwalla (DIFC) – acted as sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim for breach of contract arising out of a share purchase agreement.
• IR Relations Limited v Floreat Fixed Income SA – part of the Defendant’s legal team in a claim in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for wrongful termination of contract. Rajiv was instructed by Lewis Silkin LLP in London and Allen & Overy in Luxembourg. The case concerned a complicated investment scheme and issues of UK financial regulatory law. Rajiv’s client was successful at first instance and on appeal. Rajiv was initially led by Nigel Jones KC and then acted as sole counsel.
• Confidential – advised a South Asian pharmaceutical company in a multimillion dollar claim for breach of contract arising out of the supply of a Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan. The case was subject to an arbitration clause with the ADGM having supervisory jurisdiction.
• Confidential – acted for a French distributor of high end alcohol products in respect of a breach of contract claim. The case involved jurisdictional issues concerning the Courts of Bordeaux and England and Wales.

• Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Legal Advice Panel member
• Rajiv runs an annual advocacy workshop for participants of the Queen Mary University George Hinde mooting competition. He has also judged the quarter final of the competition.
• Rajiv undertakes work with the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
• Free Representation Unit.

• Combar
• London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
• Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Legal Advice Panel
• Employment Lawyers Association
• Industrial Law Society

Rajiv is a contributor to Paul Reed KC’s book, “Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance” 2nd edition.

• Shelford Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2014)
• LLM, Commercial Law, Jesus College, University of Cambridge (2012)
• LLB, English & European Law, Queen Mary College, University of London (2010) (1st Class)
• LLB, ERASMUS year, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (2009) (1st Class)

• Gujarati