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Ben Woolgar

Ben Woolgar

YEAR OF CALL: 2014

"Absolutely one of the Stars of the Bar, and will rise to the very top of the profession at this rate."
Legal 500, 2024
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Ben specialises in heavy-duty, high profile commercial litigation and arbitration. His broad commercial practice spans civil fraud, banking and finance, energy, crypto and mining work, including jurisdiction challenges and injunctions. He has particular experience of company and insolvency work, and is also a member of the BVI Bar.

Ben has been nominated for Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2024, and he is consistently ranked in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, across his core practice areas of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, Banking & Finance, and Offshore work. A recent survey of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases feature showed that Ben had appeared on that list 9 times in the last decade, more than any other junior at the Bar. The directories say:

“Ben is a very versatile barrister – he combines excellent written and oral advocacy skills with outstanding legal analysis. Absolutely one of the stars at the Bar, and will rise to the very top of the profession at this rate.”

"Ben may easily be the best barrister of his generation, and he has strong analytical, legal and advocacy skills."

“‘Exceptionally commercially savvy, he is able to dissect complex issues and get to the heart of the matter, he is also a very strong advocate and cross-examiner.’

"Nothing gets past him with his superhero type x-ray vision and his ability to turn over every stone." “The human equivalent of IBM Watson.”

Ben specialises in heavy-duty, high profile commercial litigation and arbitration. His broad commercial practice spans civil fraud, banking and finance, energy, crypto and mining work, including jurisdiction challenges and injunctions. He has particular experience of company and insolvency work, and is also a member of the BVI Bar.

Ben has been nominated for Commercial Litigation Junior of the Year at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2024, and he is consistently ranked in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, across his core practice areas of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, Banking & Finance, and Offshore work. A recent survey of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases feature showed that Ben had appeared on that list 9 times in the last decade, more than any other junior at the Bar. The directories say:

“Ben is a very versatile barrister – he combines excellent written and oral advocacy skills with outstanding legal analysis. Absolutely one of the stars at the Bar, and will rise to the very top of the profession at this rate.”

"Ben may easily be the best barrister of his generation, and he has strong analytical, legal and advocacy skills."

“‘Exceptionally commercially savvy, he is able to dissect complex issues and get to the heart of the matter, he is also a very strong advocate and cross-examiner.’

"Nothing gets past him with his superhero type x-ray vision and his ability to turn over every stone." “The human equivalent of IBM Watson.”

A selection of Ben’s major cases in recent years includes:

  • Public Institution For Social Security v Al-Rajaan & Others: (led by Harry Matovu KC) acting for a defendant in relation to an alleged fraud against the Kuwaiti state pension fund.
  • Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest & Ors: (led by Duncan Matthews KC) US$2 billion claim in bribery and conspiracy relating to maritime infrastructure projects in Mozambique.
  • Privatbank v Kolomoisky: (led by Mark Howard KC) US$1.9 billion fraud claim against two Ukrainian businessmen arising out of their former ownership of a nationalised bank in Ukraine.
  • Avonwick Holdings v Azitio (led by Neil Calver KC and, on appeal, Laurence Rabinowitz KC) US$1.1 billion claim in deceit concerning a Ukrainian mining business, with major counterclaims resulting in an important judgment on the law of unjust enrichment [2021] EWCA Civ 1149  
  • NBT v Shishkhanov & ors: (led by Paul McGrath KC and Nathan Pillow KC) a c.US$2 billion fraud claim on behalf of a bank against its former owner and various well-known commodities traders, before the BVI High Court.
  • Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse: (led by Tim Lord KC) US$100m claim in relating to a CDO, linked to RMBS which are alleged to have tainted by systemic fraud in Credit Suisse’s RMBS securitisation business.
  • GLAS v European Topsoho: (led by Sue Prevezer KC and Stephen Midwinter KC) €250m claim under bonds issued by a shareholder in SMCP, the major French fashion company, with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
  • Three Arrows Capital (in liquidation) v DCG: (led by Sue Prevezer KC) for a major creditor in disputes with the Joint Liquidators of Three Arrows, a large crypto hedge fund, before the BVI courts.

Ben is a member of the BVI Bar, where he has frequently appeared unled before the Commercial Division and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, and is a member of the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Legal Services Panel. He also has extensive experience of proceedings in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. He is ranked as a leading junior in Legal 500 Caribbean.

In addition to his led work, Ben frequently appears unled in significant matters, or arguing applications in his more substantial cases. Legal 500 describes him as “a very strong advocate and cross-examiner”, and C&P calls him a “very persuasive advocate”. Ben has recently acted unled; for the successful claimant in a 6-day breach of warranty trial in the Commercial Court (Millbrook Healthcare Bidco v Croll [2023] EWHC 290 (Comm); for the successful defendants to an unfair prejudice petition raising significant allegations of impropriety over a 3-week trial in the BVI High Court (AMS Holdings v Amstel Holdings BVIHCM 2019/0176); in a complex jurisdiction challenge involving issues of unjust enrichment and forum conveniens (Gulfvin Investment Ltd v Tahrir Petrochemicals [2022] EWHC 1040 (Comm); and in two week-long London-seated arbitrations each worth c.US$4m.

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  • Commercial M

    ‘Ben is a very versatile barrister – he combines excellent written and oral advocacy skills with outstanding legal analysis. Absolutely one of the stars at the Bar, and will rise to the very top of the profession at this rate.” (Legal 500, 2024)

    "Provides incisive analysis at lightning speed and delivers his advice with crystal clarity." (C&P. 2024) “Ben is consistently excellent at grasping complex issues” (C&P, 2023)

    “Delightful to work with – super clever, highly knowledgeable and gets completely his client’s (and instructing solicitors’) needs (Legal 500, 2022)

    “He is hugely intelligent and operates way above his year of call." (C&P, 2022).

    Ben has been recognised for his broad commercial practice in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners (UK & Global). He has been involved in many of the biggest cases in the English courts in recent years (SKAT, Privatbank, Avonwick, Privinvest, Topsoho, PIFSS).

    Ben’s area-specific experience is described in the relevant categories below. In addition, he has extensive experience with cross-border and multi-forum disputes. He has acted in several major jurisdiction disputes (PrivatBank, Avonwick, Timis), disputes about alternative service (Goshawk, Avonwick) s.9 stays for arbitration (Privinvest), anti-suit injunctions to compel both litigation and arbitration (Pan Ocean v China-Base Group [2019] EWHC 982 (Comm), Hiscox v Weyerhauser [2019] EWHC 2671 (Comm), and disputes which have proceeded in multiple forums (PrivatBank, Privinvest, Timis), including overlapping criminal trials.

    More recently, Ben has been involved in a number of cryptocurrency-related matters, including the 3AC liquidation before the BVI courts, and advising on a confidential shareholder dispute in relation to a crypto business.

    Many of Ben’s cases have involved acting for or against states and state-owned institutions, and dealing with allegations of official corruption. As well as acting against the Republic of Mozambique in Privinvest, he was instructed (leg by Roger Masefield KC) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in its claims against JP Morgan and Shell/Eni arising out of alleged bribery in connection with the OPL 245 bloc, and has acted in investment treaty arbitrations where corruption issues have arisen.

  • Civil fraud M

    Razor-sharp advocacy and cuts straight to the chase.‘ (Legal 500, 2024)

    "Ben's first-class brain cuts through complex facts and law like a hot knife through butter, and he distils his advocacy in razor-sharp and succinct skeletons." (C&P, 2024)

    “Ben is a fantastic junior. He is excellent in grasping complex issues” (C&P, 2023)

    Civil fraud work is a mainstay of Ben’s practice. Most of his cases involve allegations of fraud and dishonesty, and he is experienced in all aspects of fraud litigation, from urgent injunctions and freezing orders, to heavy fraud trials.

    Current and recent major fraud cases (all worth more than US$1 billion) include PrivatBank, Privinvest, and Shishkhanov. Other recent fraud cases include:

    -Bourlakov v Bourlakova (unled) for the Second and Fourth Defendants to a complex claim concerning a deceased Russian oligarch’s assets following his divorce.

    -SKAT v Stratford (led by Andrew Hunter KC) acting for one of the defendants to a US$1.6 billion fraud claim concerning Danish withholding tax.

    -CVS v Bonnier (led by Alec Haydon KC) in a substantial fraud claim arising from an investment in a new technology business, and defending a US$100m+ claim for damages on a cross-undertaking.

    -TREO GP v Kowski & Lueken (led by Jasbir Dhillon KC), acting for the Claimant private equity fund and its GP in a claim against two of the fund’s founders, concerning allegations of bribery in the acquisition of a French pharmaceuticals business.

    -MCM v Come Harvest Holdings & Ors , (led by Paul Lowenstein KC, and unled, in a c.US$320m claim involving an alleged metals trading fraud in China and Singapore)

    Earlier in his career, Ben acted in a number of major fraud cases, including Gerald Metals v Timis (led variously by Neil Calver KC, Ali Malek KC and Alan Gourgey KC), a US$75m conspiracy claim which spanned five jurisdictions, and Holyoake v Candy (led by Tim Lord KC and Thomas Plewman KC), the high-profile claim against the Candy Brothers by a former business associate, in which all the claims against Ben’s clients were dismissed after a nine-week trial.

    Ben has also appeared in major fraud litigation in the BVI, including Shishkhanov. Nam Tai Property v Greater Sail (led by Vernon Flynn QC in a leading case on stays pending appeal, and subsequently by Sue Prevezer QC in a contempt application) and Von Der Heydt Invest v Mex Clearing (led by John Carrington QC in a five-day application to discharge freezing orders, involving complex issues – where Ben conducted the oral advocacy – of consolidation and service in parallel proceedings)

    Ben has particular experience obtaining, maintaining and discharging freezing injunctions and asset disclosure orders. His freezing order cases include PrivatBank (the discharge application is reported at [2018] EWHC 3308 (Ch) and [2019] EWCA Civ 1708), Timis (where the WFO was continued at [2017] EWHC 1375 (Comm), and Avonwick (where a freezing order was obtained post-judgment in respect of a costs award). He acted (led by Richard Lord QC) in Bravo & Ors v Amerisur Resources PLC [2020] EWHC 2279 (QB), in which a freezing order was obtained on behalf of hundreds of Columbian farmers who allege their land has been contaminated by pollution from oil-drilling.

    Ben has also been involved in many of the most important cases in recent years on the technical aspects of freezing orders, including the asset disclosure requirements ( Timis [2017] EWHC 3381 (Comm), led by Stephen Midwinter QC), the scope of the ‘ordinary course of business’ exception and the grant of permission for transactions under a WFO ( PrivatBank [2018] EWHC 1910 (Ch), led by Michael Bools QC), costs orders (the Amerisur decision at [2020] EWHC 2279 (QB), led by Richard Lord QC), and post- judgment freezing orders (Avonwick, led by Neil Calver QC).

    He also has experience of contempt applications, including Greater Sail before the BVI court (which involved the first reasoned decision on the appropriate level of fines for contempt in that jurisdiction).

  • Offshore M

    Ben appears in proceedings in all the major offshore jurisdictions. He has been a member of the Bar of the British Virgin Islands since 2021, and a significant proportion of his practice is offshore. He has considerable experience, led and unled, in the BVI courts at all levels, including the Commercial Division, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and the Privy Council. He is currently instructed in two matters before the Bermuda courts. He is ranked in Legal 500’s Caribbean guide as a leading junior in the English Bar Offshore. He is on the Government of the Virgin Islands Legal Services Panel.

    Recently, Ben has appeared unled in:

    • The three-week trial of AMS v Amstel, a claim for compulsory share redemption and an unfair prejudice petition made by way of ancillary claim, in which Ben’s clients were successful following a 3-week trial in which the Judge praised Ben’s “cross-examination trap” for the other side’s main witness;
    • The leave to appeal hearing before the ECCA in Farnum Place LLC v Krys , which concerned the circumstances in which the liquidator of a BVI company will be given sanction to pursue foreign proceedings, in which the ECCA decided that no appeal lay as of right in decisions made in the course of a liquidation.
    • Obtaining a freezing order before the BVI courts in GLAS SAS v Dynamic Treasure, which was ancillary to the freezing orders in the European Topsoho case (see under Banking and Finance).

    Other major BVI cases include:

    • NBT v Shishkhanov: acting, led by Paul McGrath KC and Nathan Pillow KC, in c.US$2billion proceedings brought by a bank against its former owners and a number of substantial commodities traders, concerning allegedly fraudulent trade finance transactions.
    • Three Arrows Capital v DCG: Ben is currently acting, led by Sue Prevezer KC, for DCG, the largest creditor in the liquidation of a major crypto fund, Three Arrows Capital, before the BVI courts. DCG defeated the liquidators’ application for sanction before Mangatal J to commence Chapter 11 proceedings in the US in order to bring transaction avoidance claims against DCG, raising novel issues of the basis on which officeholders will be granted sanction to pursue claims before a foreign court.
    • VDHI v Mex Clearing & Ors: Ben acted, led by Vernon Flynn KC and John Carrington KC, for Mex Clearing in this €30m+ claim concerning the activities of a UCITS fund and the circumstances in which a Tomlin Order may be set aside by a third party thereto for fraud. The six-day hearing to discharge freezing orders granted resulted in an important judgment concerning material non-disclosure, joinder and consolidation, and other matters.
    • IsZo Capital v Nam Tai Property / Nam Tai Property v Greater Sail Ltd: Ben acted, led by Vernon Flynn KC, in the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal for Greater Sail in the proceedings brought by IsZo Capital concerning control of Nam Tai, a substantial BVI company doing business in China. Ben then acted for Greater Sail in the subsequent proceedings concerning control of Nam Tai’s subsidiaries, including the first reasoned decision of the BVI courts on the appropriate sentence for civil contempt.

    Ben also regularly acts in merger appraisal/valuation cases. He is currently assisting the petitioners in two major appraisal cases in Bermuda under s.106 of the Companies Act 1981 (including, led by Richard Millett KC, for the petitioners in the Myovant/Sumitovant merger litigation), and also in appraisal processes under s.179 BVI Business Companies Act 2004. He is able to advise on s.238 cases in the Cayman Islands.  

    Ben also has extensive experience of acting on appeals to the Privy Council. He acted in Pearson v Primeo, a successful application to intervene on behalf of Reichmuth S.A. to intervene in an appeal concerning redemption amounts in a Cayman insolvency (led by Mark Howard KC), and in in Stanford Asset Holding v Afrasia, an appeal from the Supreme Court of Mauritius concerning the availability of Norwich Pharmacal relief against banks in Mauritius (led by Sue Prevezer KC), in which the Privy Council granted an order for disclosure on the basis that the Mauritian courts had misinterpreted the Banking Act 2004. He is also instructed in relation to the forthcoming Privy Council appeal in Farnum Place.

  • Banking and finance M

    “Hard-working, very bright star of the future” – Legal 500, 2024

    "Ben Woolgar is fantastically responsive, clients love him and he has the amazing ability to provide technical assistance at a moment's notice." – C&P. 2024

    “Carries the most extraordinary case load and is constantly available providing high-quality advice under pressure and when the stakes are high.” – Legal 500, 2022

    Ben has an extensive practice in all aspects of banking and finance work, ranging from contract disputes concerning derivatives and complex instruments, mis-selling and mispresentation claims, Bank’s Quincecare duties and fraud actions both by and against banks.

    On the commercial banking side, Ben’s current instructions include European Topsoho (led by Sue Prevezer QC), where Ben acts for GLAS, the well-known security trustee. The dispute has involved both a Part 7 claim to recover sums due under €250m of secured bonds (including applications for worldwide freezing orders in both England and the BVI, where Ben appeared unled), and a Part 8 claim for Norwich Pharmacal relief which was dismissed in May 2022. He is also advising in relation to an intended conspiracy claim involving a restructuring worth hundreds of millions of dollars (led by Ewan McQuater QC).

    On the retail banking side, he is currently instructed in Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse (led by Tim Lord QC), a US$100m dispute concerning the mis-selling of RMBS-linked notes, and Macdonald Hotels v RBS , a claim for breach of contractual duties owed to the well-known chain of hotels, involving issues of duress.

    Ben acted in Property Alliance Group v RBS (led by Tim Lord QC), both at first instance [2016] EWHC 3342 (Ch) and then in the Court of Appeal [2018] EWCA Civ 355, a long-running dispute concerning alleged mis-selling, LIBOR manipulation and the conduct of RBS’s GRG unit. The latter decision is now the leading authority on numerous issues in bank mis-selling cases, as well as implied representations.

    He has also acted in some of the largest banking fraud litigation in recent years, including PrivatBank (led by Mark Howard QC), and the FRN v JP Morgan case concerning JPM’s Quincecare duties in relation to corrupt payments to Nigerian government officials.

    He also has experience in jurisdiction battles in the context of complex financial litigation, and is currently instructed in Galapagos Bidco S.A. v Signal Credit Opportunities Fund (led by Alain Choo-Choy QC), a jurisdiction dispute concerning a bond restructuring with parallel proceedings in New York, Germany and Luxembourg.

  • International Arbitration M

    He could easily be the best barrister of his generation. He has strong analytical skills, legal skills and advocacy skills. ’ – Legal 500, 2022

    Ben is equally at home in international arbitration as in court litigation, and has conducted arbitrations under all the major institutional rules, including LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL and HKIAC, as well as numerous ad hoc arbitrations.

    Recently, he has been involved in the leading case on application for stays under s.9 Arbitration Act 1996, Privinvest [2021] EWCA Civ 329, and a trial of an application for a final anti-suit injunction to prevent litigation in Nevada, Markel Bermuda Ltd v Caesars Entertainment Inc [2021] EWHC 1931 (Comm) (led by Vernon Flynn QC)

    By its nature, Ben’s arbitration practice is mostly confidential, but recent highlights include:

    • Substantial LCIA arbitration concerning pricing in the telecoms industry (led by Daniel Jowell KC).
    • A multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration concerning an allged debt related to onshore oil fields in West Africa (led by Roger Masefield KC). 
    • US$100m+ HKIAC arbitration concerning a failed investment deal in a commodities business, which led to a 2-week final hearing in September 2020 (led by Ali Malek KC, and Nigel Rawding KC of Freshfields).
    • A US$45m LCIA arbitration concerning a disputed loan agreement (led by Stephen Midwinter KC).

    Ben also has an extensive practice in smaller shipping and commodities arbitrations, and is instructed by firms ranging from Brazil and South Korea as well as the London market. These cases include cases under the FOFSA and GAFTA rules (including boards of appeal), demurrage and laytime disputes, claims for indemnities under charterparties, and safe port warranty cases.

    He is equally comfortable working in both a conventional solicitor-counsel relationship, and conducting arbitrations collaboratively alongside solicitor-advocates and foreign lawyers.

  • Insolvency & Restructuring M

    Ben has extensive experience dealing with insolvency and restructuring matters, and is able to deal with insolvency matters as well as financial disputes arising in an insolvency context.

    He regularly appears unled in the Insolvency and Companies Court, handling and advising on applications to continue or terminate liquidations, restrain the presentation of winding-up petitions, set aside Statutory Demands and appoint conflict administrators.

    Major instructions include:

    • Major crypto liquidation (led by Sue Prevezer KC), for the largest creditor in a liquidation of a crypto business before the BVI High Court;
    • Pearson v Primeo (led by Mark Howard QC), a successful application to intervene in a Privy Council appeal concerning payments of redemption amounts in a Cayman insolvency;
    • The European Topsoho litigation (both led by Sue Prevezer QC, and unled), which concerns complex issues arising out of an allegedly insolvent Luxembourg debtor;
    • Galapagos Bidco S.A. v Signal (led by Alain Choo Choy QC), a jurisdiction dispute arising out of cross-border insolvency issues with parallel proceedings in New York, Germany and Luxembourg;
    • The Goshawk litigation (led by Stephen Midwinter QC), which raised an issue as to the effect of French insolvency proceedings on claims under English debts.
  • Energy and natural resources M

    “Ben’s razor-sharp advocacy cuts straight to the jugular” Legal 500, 2024

    "He bears all the hallmarks of becoming one of the great barristers of his time – he is analytical, commercial when needed and his advocacy skills are second to none." Legal 500 2023 (Energy)

    Ben is recommended as a leading junior for Energy work in Legal 500 UK Bar 2024. His experience includes both all the major types of energy contract dispute, and more general litigation and fraud work involving energy businesses.

    Recent highlights include KUFPEC v EnQuest (led by Daniel Jowell QC and Fionn Pilbrow QC), a US$75m breach of warranty dispute concerning a field in the North Sea which settled on the eve of trial, a Confidential Arbitration (led by Harry Matovu QC) concerning a US$20m + claim for failure of a novel piece of drilling equipment, Avonwick and Pinchuk (which were both fraud claims involving substantial Ukrainian energy businesses), and Federal Republic of Nigeria v Shell & Eni (which concerned one of the largest oil and gas deposits in Africa).

    Ben also has particular expertise in working on behalf of green and renewable energy providers. He is frequently instructed by Ecotricity, the market-leading green energy provider, including in its Companies Court dispute with its rival Good Energy Group (led by Thomas Plewman QC) and an ongoing dispute concerning the Court’s power to grant an injunction preventing a defaulting customer from taking electricity and gas from the network (unled).

  • Reported cases M

    Stanford Asset Holdings Ltd v Afrasia Bank Ltd (Mauritius) [2023] UKPC 35 (availability of Norwich Pharmacal relief under Mauritian law; banking confidentiality; relevance of law enforcement investigations)

    Privinvest Shipbuilding SAL & Ors v Filipe Jacinto Nyusi [2023] EWHC 2215 (Comm) (service under CPR r.6.42, Head of State Immunity)

    Republic of Mozambique (acting through its Attorney General) v Credit Suisse International (No.7) [2023] EHWC 514 (Comm) (declaration of breach of documents by claimant sovereign state; orders for further disclosure from Office of President and secret service)

    Loreley Financial (Jersey) No.30 Ltd v CSSEL [2023] EWHC 548 (Comm) (application for disclosure of documents; control of documents by largest creditor of claimant)

    Millbrook Healthcare Bidco v Croll [2023] EWHC 290 (Comm) (trial of breach of warranty claim concerning sale of wheelchair business; quantum)

    Gulfvin Investment Ltd v Tahrir Petrochemicals Corporation [2022] EWHC 1040 (Comm) (jurisdiction challenge concerning unjust enrichment and forum conveniens issues)

    Markel Bermuda Ltd v Caesars Entertainment Inc [2021] EWHC 1931 (Comm) (trial of claim for final anti-suit injunction concerning incorporation of endorsements into insurance policy)

    Goshawk Aviation Ltd v Terra Aviation Network S.A.S [2021] EWHC 1029 (Comm) (application for alternative service in Thailand and Indonesia)

    Galapagos Bidco SARL v Kebekus [2021] EWHC 68 (Ch) (jurisdiction challenge re Article 8(1) B1R in context of claim for a declaration)

    GRS v Behike & Ors [2020] 7 WLUK 298 (power to amend a party name under CPR r.17.4)

    Avonwick Holdings v Azitio [2020] EWHC 1844 (Comm) (trial judgment), [2019] EWHC 305 (Comm) (adjournment where defendant in prison in Russia); [2021] EWCA Civ 1149 (unjust enrichment claims conflicting with express contractual terms)

    Mozambique v Credit Suisse International, Privinvest Shipbuilding S.A.L & Ors [2020] EWHC 2012 (Comm) and [2021] EWCA Civ 329 (dispute concerning scope of Swiss law-governed arbitration clauses); [2020] EWHC 1709 (Comm) (correct approach to s.9 Arbitration Act challenge where same dispute before arbitrators), [2020] 6 WLUK 465 (amendment of party name under CPR r.17.4(3)).

    Bravo & Ors v Amerisur Resources PLC [2020] EWHC 203 (QB) (joinder of claimants in mass tort case), [2020] EWHC 2279 (QB) (costs of unopposed freezing injunction).

    PJSC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky [2018] EWHC 3308 (Ch) and [2019] EWCA Civ 1708 (jurisdiction challenge and application to discharge WFO), [2018] EWHC 1910 (Ch) (scope of ‘ordinary course of business’ exception); [2021] EWHC 1910 (Ch) (continuation of confidentiality clubs pending trial); [2022] EWHC 775 (Ch) (adjournment in light of war in Ukraine).

    Pan Ocean v China-Base Group [2019] EWHC 982 (Comm) (anti-suit injunction and jurisdiction dispute, scope of Art.25(1)(a) of B1R)

    Holyoake v Candy [2017] EWHC 3397 (Ch) (trial judgment), [2018] EWCA Civ 355 (permission to appeal, Consumer Credit Act), [2018] EWHC 502 (Ch) (indemnity costs, third-party funding), [2017] EWHC 382 (Ch) (collateral waiver of privilege)

  • Education and Qualifications M

    Education:

    2013-2014: BPTC, City Law School (Outstanding)

    2012-2013: GDL, City Law School (Distinction, 4th in year)

    2009-2012: MA, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Oxford (Balliol College) (First Class, Gibbs Prize for Best Thesis in Politics)

    Other:

    Best Speaker, World Universities Debating Championship 2012

    Grand Finalist, World Universities Debating Championship 2011

    World Schools’ Debating Champion 2008 (and 2014 as coach of the English national team)

  • Directory quotes M

    "We will recommend work to Ben at every opportunity we are able to. He delivers. He is absolutely brilliant."  Chambers & Partners 2025

    "He is intelligent, with a strong grasp of both the law and commercial considerations." Chambers & Partners 2025  (Fraud)

    "He's a very good writer and very thoughtful." Chambers & Partners 2025  (Fraud)

    "A strong junior who is developing an enviable offshore practice. Easy to work with and always readily available." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Offshore)

    "Mr Woolgar thoroughly impressed me with his quick grasp of issues, speedy turnaround time and excellent writing style.He is an excellent junior that any counsel team would be happy to have on board." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Offshore)

    "Ben is very switched on; he's ahead of his time. He's someone we'd trust to come in and help on things where we require input from external counsel." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Offshore)

    "Ben is very pleasant and easy to deal with. A great rising star. He's very diligent and open to different points of view. He's excellent." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Offshore)

    "Ben is brilliant. He's one of the stars of the future. He's very good at banking disputes, with a great brain and a tremendous work ethic."  Chambers & Partners 2025 (Banking & Finance)

    "Ben is very good on the details. He's someone who operates at a different level to most; he is so quick and is very responsive too." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Banking & Finance)

    "Intelligent, with a strong grasp of both the law and commercial considerations." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Ben has a great brain and a tremendous work ethic." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Extremely intelligent and very hard-working, he'll pour everything into a case." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Totally energetic and enthusiastic, he's incredibly prodigious and a barrister of high quality." Chambers & Partners 2025 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "A razor-sharp junior."  Legal 500 2025 (Energy)

    "Ben is a future star of the bar and he is already very much in demand. He has a special ability to spot winning points and to see an opponent's weaknesses." Legal 500 2025 (Commercial Litigation)

    "Has an exceptional ability to take on and turn around massive amounts of work, and to produce excellent documents with real legal flair. A great lawyer who is a pleasure to work with." Legal 500 2025 (Banking & Finance)

    "He has the ability to get to the essence of a case and to find points which the judges will find of interest." Legal 500 2025 (Fraud)

    "Provides incisive analysis at lightning speed and delivers his advice with crystal clarity." "Ben Woolgar is a fantastic advocate, who is fast developing as a brilliant case strategist." "Ben Woolgar is very user-friendly and hard working. He has the ability to get on top of very complicated facts very quickly." Chambers & Partners 2024 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Ben is a very clever lawyer and a brilliant analyst, fast and hard-working." "Ben's first-class brain cuts through complex facts and law like a hot knife through butter, and he distils his advocacy in razor-sharp and succinct skeletons." Chambers & Partners 2024  (Fraud)

    "Ben Woolgar is fantastically responsive, clients love him and he has the amazing ability to provide technical assistance at a moment's notice." "He is incredibly clever and will go far. Ben is hard-working and a really good investigator." Chambers & Partners 2024 (Banking & Finance)

    "Hard-working, very bright star of the future." Legal 500 2024 (Banking & Finance)

    "Razor-sharp advocacy and cuts straight to the chase." Legal 500 2024 (Fraud; Energy)

    "Ben is a very versatile barrister – he combines excellent written and oral advocacy skills with outstanding legal analysis. Absolutely one of the stars at the Bar, and will rise to the very top of the profession at this rate." Legal 500 2024 (Commercial Litigation)

    "Ben is a fantastic junior. He is excellent in grasping complex issues." "Ben has the ability to deliver well- thought-out analysis." "He is a very persuasive advocate. He is very bright and he possesses good knowledge of lots of different areas of law." Chambers & Partners 2023 (Fraud)

    "Ben provides very commercially valuable and pragmatic advice." "A very bright and persuasive advocate with good knowledge of lots of different areas of law." "Ben is consistently excellent at grasping complex issues." Chambers & Partners 2023 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "He bears all the hallmarks of becoming one of the great barristers of his time – he is analytical, commercial when needed and his advocacy skills are second to none." Legal 500 2023 (Energy)

    "He is hugely intelligent and operates way above his year of call." Chambers & Partners 2022 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)

    "Ben may easily be the best barrister of his generation, and he has strong analytical, legal and advocacy skills." Legal 500 2022 (Energy and International Arbitration)

    "Carries the most extraordinary case load and is constantly available providing high-quality advice under pressure and when the stakes are high." Legal 500 2022 (Banking & Finance)

    "A very confident and aggressive junior barrister who presses home winning points with tenacity. A pleasure to work with and one to watch for the future." Legal 500 2022 (Fraud)

    "Delightful to work with – super clever, highly knowledgeable and gets completely his client’s (and instructing solicitors’) needs." Legal 500 2022 (Commercial Litigation)

    "Exceptionally commercially savvy, he is able to dissect complex issues and get to the heart of the matter, he is also a very strong advocate and cross-examiner. Legal 500 2021 (Commercial Litigation)

    "Nothing gets past Mr Woolgar and his super hero type x-ray vision, his ability to handle the facts and work the law, to pin point and drill in to strength and weaknesses, to turn every stone is above and beyond." Legal 500 2021 (International Arbitration)

    "He's the human equivalent of IBM Watson." "Renowned for being able to give advice above his level of call, he's extremely efficient and clever, and able to deal with complicated issues." Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020 (Commercial Dispute Resolution)