Lois Horne Partner

Partner

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Lois advises corporates, funds, investors, financial institutions and entrepreneurs on a broad range of complex, cross-border commercial and corporate disputes in High Court and international arbitration, with particular expertise in post M&A, shareholder and joint venture disputes, funds disputes, contentious insolvency, contract disputes, and senior executive restraint of trade disputes.

Lois has broad experience acting for corporates, or individuals with corporate interests, across a range of sectors, including private equity, financial services, aviation, energy, retail, beverages and commodities.

Lois' High Court and arbitration experience includes complex post-deal warranty and indemnity disputes, claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, valuation issues, shareholder rights and unfair prejudice claims, contentious insolvency, banking disputes concerning complex financial products and breach of commercial agreement claims. She also advises on directors' duties and employment issues with respect to senior officers, team moves and breaches of confidence. As well as advising on the resolution of disputes, Lois advises on the prevention of and investigation into financial crime, including bribery and fraud.

Lois is often involved in dealing with highly sensitive matters which go to the heart of a corporate's commercial objectives. She understands the importance of resolving disputes in the context of broader commercial, reputational and often regulatory contexts. Her breadth of experience enables her to deploy a smart strategy to achieve her client's objectives in a proactive manner.

Lois' work is cross-border, often advising a foreign party on English law disputes, including clients from India, Africa, US, and Asia, as well as throughout Europe. She has expertise in High Court and international arbitral trials, as well as expert determination and alternative dispute resolution.

She is a qualified solicitor-advocate and Chair of the London Solicitor Litigation Association, City of London Law Society Litigation Committee and the Commercial Litigation Association.

Qualified in England and Wales, 2005.

Expertise

Recent work

Thirteen Bitcoin developers

Successfully defending 13 individual Bitcoin developers in a preliminary issue trial in several different claims relating to Dr Craig Wright and concerning the identity of (and Dr Wright’s claim to be) the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, “Satoshi Nakamoto”.

Breach of warranty, fraud and breach of fiduciary duties

Representing a private equity client on substantial and complex accounting warranty claims, including alleged fraud. Matter included an investigation into gross misconduct by senior executives and the exercise of bad leaver provisions on their exit.

Shareholder dispute: unfair prejudice

Successfully pursued unfair prejudice proceedings, in LCIA arbitration, for the minority shareholder of a tech company. The issues involved breaches of a shareholders’ agreement, the articles of association and breaches of directors’ duties under the Companies Act due to excessive and unauthorised remuneration and unauthorised loans and false accounting.

Post M&A claim alleging fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of confidence and conspiracy

Advising a private equity fund LLP on the defence of a High Court claim for breach of confidence, fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy arising out of a corporate transaction through which our clients acquired the assets of two businesses following a prepack administration process. Losses claimed stand at £150m.

Formula 1: minimum terms

Pursuit of speedy trial relief for the enforcement of minimum term employment contracts to protect trade secrets and confidential information.

Joint venture and breach of fiduciary duties

Defending a claim for breach of fiduciary duties arising out of alleged diversion of corporate interests connected to two limited partnerships, two companies and an LLP created for the pursuit of a joint venture worth potentially £2bn.

Contentious insolvency advice to administrators

Acting for administrators on the pursuit of complex allegations against former, shadow and de facto directors for breaches of fiduciary duty, diversion of corporate interests and fraud.

LCIA Arbitration: joint venture dispute and alleged fraud

Pursuing claims for breach of a suite of joint venture agreements and ancillary injunctive relief arising out of the investment into and funding of a joint venture to develop a power plant in Uganda. Defending allegations of fraud and rescission of investment agreements. Advising on connected proceedings in Uganda including freezing injunctions.

CIGA 2020 Monitorship: contention insolvency

Successfully representing the appointed monitor of a restaurant chain defending a challenge to their appointment in the first case to consider the interpretation of CIGA 2020.

See all

What people are saying

"Lois Horne is a star. She is the complete package: ferociously bright, commercial, hands-on and tactically astute, looking two moves ahead. She has a superb feel for the points that will and won’t fly with a tribunal, and the route through to the best commercial outcome for her clients."

The Legal 500 2024