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Fred Hobson KC

Fred Hobson KC

YEAR OF CALL: 2005    YEAR OF SILK: 2024

“He’s exceptionally good. Clients love him, his drafting is amazing and advocacy is really good.”
(Chambers & Partners 2024: Banking and Finance)
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Fred specialises in complex commercial disputes. He was appointed KC in 2024 and is a very experienced advocate. His practice spans the full range of commercial work, with a particular focus on banking and civil fraud disputes. Fred is regularly instructed in relation to injunctive relief and other urgent applications.

Fred has been recommended for many years in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He is recommended for:

  • His advocacy. "Fred stands out for his succinct, lucid and highly effective advocacy”; “he gets straight to the point in argument. Judges respect him, and he is a formidable opponent”; “Analytical and clear in approach and advocacy”; “Fred Hobson is very tenacious and very happy to go in and really fight the client's corner”; “has  great advocacy skills and is someone who reads the judge very well”; he is “very happy to go in and really fight the client's corner”.
  • His intellect.  “outstandingly clever”; he “adds serious intellectual firepower”; “Deals with complex and novel areas of law very, very well”; “He thinks laterally and is always looking for new points”; his “commercial awareness is very good”.
  • His collaborative approach. “Clients love him”; “personable and engaging”; “Fred is very responsive and hard working”; “He is also highly collaborative and very much part of the team”; “Fred is super-responsive”.

Recent work includes:

  • IBM v LzLabs: acting for IBM in a 10-week trial in 2024 in an unlawful means conspiracy claim involving the alleged reverse-engineering of IBM software.
  • Celestial Aviation v UniCredit: acting for AerCap in $46 million claim under letters of credit, raising issues over the effect of UK and US sanctions against Russia (to be heard by the Supreme Court in 2025).
  • Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse: acted for investor in USD 100 million claim against Credit Suisse, arising out of the purchase of a CDO linked to RMBS.
  • Banco Comercial Português v Republic of Mozambique: acted for three banks in claims against Mozambique and Credit Suisse arising from alleged bribery of state officials in connection with major construction projects.
  • Dexia v City of Venice: acted for two Italian banks in a dispute relating to Venice’s capacity to enter into a collar derivative transaction.

Expand All
  • Banking and finance M
    • Celestial Aviation v UniCredit: acting for AerCap in $46 million claim under letters of credit, raising issues over the effect of UK and US sanctions against Russia (to be heard by the Supreme Court in 2025).
    • Macdonald Hotels v Bank of Scotland [2025] EWHC 32 (Comm) (banking dispute over good faith provisions in shareholders’ agreement and Braganza-type implied term).
    • Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse [2023] EWHC 2759 (Comm); acted for investor in USD 100 million claim against Credit Suisse, arising out of the purchase of a CDO linked to RMBS. This raised a significant issue over the scope of litigation privilege (Court of Appeal) [2023] WLR 1425.
    • Macquarie Bank v Phelan Energy Group [2022] 2 CLC 697 (dispute over the requirements for valid notice of Event of Default under the ISDA Master Agreement)
    • Banca Intesa Sanpaolo and Dexia v Venice [2022] EWHC 2586 (Comm) (acted for two Italian banks in 6-week trial of claim in a dispute relating to the capacity of the City of Venice to enter into a swap transaction)
    • Banco Comercial Português v Republic of Mozambique: acted in 2021-2023 for three banks in claims against Mozambique and Credit Suisse arising from alleged bribery of state officials in connection with major construction projects.
    • SCOR v  Barclays: acting for reinsurer against Barclays in a dispute relating to a leak of confidential information in the context of an M&A transaction between major global insurers (settled shortly before trial in 2021).
    • Playboy Club v Banca Nazionale del Lavoro: acted in relating to provision of banker's reference to a London casino. The case went twice to the Court of Appeal (duty of care and abuse of process following a second fraud claim) and was heard by the Supreme Court on the duty of care issue.
    • Terra Firma v Citibank. Fred acted for Citibank in defence of a £2.3 billion fraud claim brought against it by Terra Firma arising out of the acquisition of EMI.
  • Civil fraud M
    • IBM v LzLabs: acting for IBM in a 10-week trial in 2024 in an unlawful means conspiracy claim involving the alleged reverse-engineering of IBM software.
    • Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse: acted for investor in USD 100 million fraud claim against Credit Suisse, arising out of the purchase of a CDO linked to RMBS.
    • Banco Comercial Português v Republic of Mozambique: acted for three banks in claims against Mozambique and Credit Suisse arising from alleged bribery of state officials in connection with major construction projects.
    • Terre Neuve v Yewdale: acted for Swiss investment manager in defence of a claim relating to alleged misappropriation of assets in the context of a tax avoidance scheme.
    • BB Energy v Al Amoudi. Acted for energy company in c.£100m deceit claim arising out of the sale of oil products to a Moroccan oil refinery.
    • SKAT v Solo Capital Partners.  Acted in defence of a £1 billion claim against ‘Klar defendants’ in relation to alleged conspiracy to defraud the Danish tax authorities. The alleged fraud related to dividend arbitrage and applications to reclaim withholding tax from the Danish authorities.
    • Arbitration claim and freezing relief against the well-known art dealer Inigo Philbrick arising out of substantial fraud by an art-dealer in the London contemporary art market (2021).
    • Playboy Club v Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (see above; a second claim in deceit was brought after the Supreme Court held that no duty of care arose).
    • Terra Firma v Citibank (see above).
  • Commercial M
    • IBM v LzLabs: acting for IBM in a 10-week trial in 2024 in an unlawful means conspiracy claim involving the alleged reverse-engineering of IBM software.
    • Celestial Aviation v UniCredit: acting for AerCap in $46 million claim under letters of credit, raising issues over the effect of UK and US sanctions against Russia (to be heard by the Supreme Court in 2025).
    • Loreley 30 v Credit Suisse [2023] EWHC 2759 (Comm); acted for investor in USD 100 million claim against Credit Suisse, arising out of the purchase of a CDO linked to RMBS. This raised a significant issue over the scope of litigation privilege (Court of Appeal) [2023] WLR 1425.
    • Stokoe Partnership  v Dechert: acted for Dechert and former Dechert partner in defence of a claim relating to the alleged ‘hacking’ of solicitors’ confidential information.
    • Banco Comercial Português and others v Republic of Mozambique (see above)
    • SCOR v  Barclays (see above)
    • BB Energy v Al Amoudi (see above)
    • Acted for tobacco company in LCIA claim relating to a joint venture dispute over the payment of dividends and the impact of Russian tax provisions (2021).
    • Uralkali v Rowley [2020] EWHC 3442 (Ch): dispute relating to the fairness of an auction process for the sale by administrators of the Force India Formula One team.
    • Single Buoy Moorings v Zurich Insurance (2018): acted for insured owner of offshore oil storage platform in a claim against insurers worth around $1 billion arising out of abandonment of platform due to safety concerns. Settled shortly before 3-month trial in 2018.
    • Terra Firma v Citibank (see above).
    • Pinchuk v Bogolyubov & Kolomoisky.  Fred acted for a Ukrainian businessman in defence of a proprietary claim (valued in excess of $1 billion) relating to the ownership of an iron ore mining company situated in eastern Ukraine (one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2016).
  • Arbitration M
    • Acted in shipping arbitration in 2024 governed by Singapore (SIAC) rules, raising jurisdictional issues over scope of reference to arbitration.
    • Hays v Bloomfield [2022] EWHC 1648 (Comm) (challenges to LCIA arbitration award on grounds of lack of jurisdiction and serious irregularity; underlying dispute related to breach of funding agreement with litigation funder).
    • Acted for tobacco company in LCIA claim relating to a joint venture dispute over the payment of dividends and the impact of Russian tax provisions (2021).
    • Arbitration claim and freezing relief against Inigo Philbrick arising out of substantial fraud by an art-dealer in the London contemporary art market (2020-2021).
  • Professional negligence M
    • FRC v KPMG: Acting for KPMG in disciplinary proceedings brought by the Financial Reporting Council against KPMG and two partners relating to audit of Lloyd’s insurance syndicate (4 week hearing in November 2017).
    • Experience of wide range of professional negligence actions, including against insurance brokers, investment managers and solicitors.
  • Sanctions M
    • In addition to his mainstream commercial work, Fred regularly advises in relation to the application of sanctions on commercial transactions.
    • Celestial Aviation v UniCredit: acting for AerCap in $46 million claim under letters of credit, raising issues over the effect of UK and US sanctions against Russia (to be heard by the Supreme Court in 2025).
  • ENTERTAINMENT AND ART M
    • Acted in dispute between a member of a very well-known rock group and a music publisher (2023).
    • Arbitration claim and freezing relief against the well-known art dealer Inigo Philbrick arising out of substantial fraud by an art-dealer in the London contemporary art market (2021).
    • Playboy Club v Banca Nazionale del Lavoro: acted in relating to provision of banker's reference to a London casino. The case went twice to the Court of Appeal (duty of care and abuse of process following a second fraud claim) and was heard by the Supreme Court on the duty of care issue.
  • Publications M
    • Contributor to 'Banks and Financial Crime: The International Law of Tainted Money' (ed. Blair and Brent, Oxford University Press, 2008).
    • ‘Targeted sanctions and sanctions targeted: Iranian banks in the European Court' [May 2013] Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (with Maya Lester QC)
    • 'Foreign restructurings and English law debts: the limits to cross-border assistance' [March 2019] Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (with Simon Camilleri)
  • Qualifications M
    • Starred double first, History, Cambridge
    • MA International Relations, University of Chicago
    • CPE/Diploma in Law, City University (distinction)
    • Clare College Foundation Scholarship and Allan Prize for History
    • Donnelley Chicago / Clare College Exchange Scholarship
    • Lincoln's Inn Lord Mansfield, Hardwicke and Wolfson scholarships
  • Directory Quotes M
    • "Analytical and clear in approach and advocacy."  (Legal 500 2025- Banking and Finance)
    • "Great judgement and poise."  (Legal 500 2025- Commercial Litigation)
    • "Fred is the full package: clever, personable and engaging." (Legal 500 2025- Fraud: Civil)
    • "Fred Hobson is very tenacious and very happy to go in and really fight the client's corner." (Chambers & Partners 2024: Banking and Finance)
    • "He's exceptionally good. Clients love him, his drafting is amazing and advocacy is really good." (Chambers & Partners 2024: Banking and Finance)
    • "Fred is very responsive and hard working. He is also commercially minded in his approach in terms of what needs to be prioritised." (Chambers & Partners 2024- Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "Clients love him. His advocacy is really good and his drafting is amazing." (Chambers & Partners 2024- Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "Fred Hobson is very reliable and bright. He thinks laterally and is always looking for new points." (Chambers & Partners 2024- Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "Fred stands out for his succinct, lucid and highly effective advocacy. Quick-thinking and impressively analytical, he gets straight to the point in argument. Judges respect him, and he is a formidable opponent." (Legal 500 2024- Banking and Finance)
    • "An outstandingly clever junior. Judges like his style." (Legal 500 2024- Commercial Litigation)
    • "Fred Hobson's commercial awareness is very good and he is a really good safe pair of hands." (Chambers & Partners 2023- Banking and Finance)
    • "Fred is very strategic, has great advocacy skills and is someone who reads the judge very well." (Chambers & Partners 2023- Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • 'Fred is an exceptionally strong technical barrister, with superb drafting skills and advocacy. He's also a pleasure to work with and is liked very much by the clients.' (Legal 500 2023 - Commercial Litigation)
    • 'Fred is always available to provide measured insight and counsel; he is never ruffled.' (Legal 500 2023- Fraud: Civil)
    • ‘Fred is a next generation Silk in the making. A real star of the junior Bar, Fred is a talented advocate in his own right who also adds serious intellectual firepower to a multi-barrister team supporting a KC.’ (Legal 500 2023- Banking and Finance)
    • "Deals with complex and novel areas of law very, very well. He is also highly collaborative and very much part of the team." (Chambers & Partners 2022 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "A very good technical lawyer in the area of banking." "He is very calm under pressure." (Chambers & Partners 2022 - Banking & Finance)
    • "Highly intelligent and excellent at strategy as well as a robust cross-examiner, clients love him." (Legal 500 2022 - Banking & Finance)
    • "Approachable and pragmatic in his outlook. He is also responsive and prepared to listen. A really good senior junior to have on a case." (Legal 500 2022 - Civil Fraud)
    • "Fred is super-responsive and brings quality analysis to every case he works on." (Legal 500 2022 - Commercial Litigation)
    • "He is very bright, very user-friendly and commercial. He is also a good draftsman." (Chambers & Partners 2021 - Banking & Finance)
    • "User-friendly and on top of the detail." (Chambers & Partners 2021 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "Excellent to work with, very bright, good judgment, explains complex issues well to lay clients, likeable and a team player." (Legal 500 2021 - Banking and Finance)
    • "One of the names you’d always think about on a big case, very tough which we like him for and he’s easy to deal with." (Legal 500 2021 - Fraud: Civil)
    • "He presents well and is able to command the judge’s undivided attention." (Chambers & Partners 2020 - Banking & Finance)
    • "Fred Hobson is an excellent advocate who knows his way around the courtroom, and is genuinely persuasive, even when faced with initially unreceptive judges." (Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "A brilliant banking junior with experience that belies his years." (Legal 500 2020 - Banking and Finance)
    • "An excellent senior junior who is utterly reliable and superb to work with." (Legal 500 2020 - Fraud: Civil)
    • "He is very reliable and thorough." (Legal 500 2020 - Insurance and Reinsurance)
    • "He has a growing professional negligence practice." (Legal 500 2020 - Professional Negligence)
    • "His analytical skills are brilliant. He presents very difficult cases in an excellent light, and is extremely bright and tactically shrewd." "He is extremely thorough and has the ability to produce very clear, concise written submissions. In addition, he's a pleasure to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2019 - Banking & Finance)
    • "His drafting is excellent and he produces very good skeleton arguments." "He's sensible and easy to get along with." (Chambers & Partners 2019 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "A pleasure to work with, very creative and excellent with challenging clients." (Legal 500 2018-19 - Banking and Finance)
    • "Lovely to work with, down to earth, incredibly bright, clients love him." (Legal 500 2018-19 - Fraud: Civil)
    • "He prepares well and is excellent to work with." (Chambers & Partners 2018 - Banking and Finance)
    • "He's really, really good, very well prepared, and clients view him as a very good find." (Chambers & Partners 2018 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "Calm and measured in his approach, showing excellent judgement." (Legal 500 2017 - Banking and Finance)
    • "A very good commercial fraud junior with strong legal and drafting skills." (Legal 500 2017 - Fraud: Civil)
    • "He is very good, particularly in terms of his cross-examination." (Chambers and Partners 2017 - Banking and Finance)
    • "Highly able commercial junior who is often brought in to handle some of the toughest cases currently being heard. He regularly represents Russian and CIS clients." (Chambers and Partners 2017 - Commercial Dispute Resolution)
    • "His advice, advocacy and cross-examination skills are fantastic." (Legal 500 2016 - Banking and Finance)
    • "He demonstrates very good client skills and judgement." (Legal 500 2016 - Fraud: Civil)
    • "He's absolutely brilliant. He's incredibly bright, lovely to work with and really on top of everything." (Chambers and Partners 2016 - Commercial dispute resolution)
    • “Receives plaudits from a wide range of sources including peers, instructing solicitors and clients for the standard of his representation in commercial disputes. He has appeared in a number of the most significant proceedings of recent years, including the dispute between Pinchuk and Bogolyubov.” (Chambers and Partners 2016 - Commercial dispute resolution)
    • “An excellent commercial junior with particular banking expertise.” (Legal 500 2015 – Banking and Finance)
    • “Great with clients.” (Legal 500 2015 – Fraud: Civil)
    • "Very easy to deal with and very fair." (Chambers and Partners 2015 - Commercial dispute resolution)
    • “An active junior with a practice spanning energy, banking and civil fraud disputes. His recent work has included high-profile oligarch litigation” (Chambers and Partners 2015 - Commercial dispute resolution)
    • “He is very pragmatic and proactive, and responds very quickly with sound advice.” (Legal 500 2014 – Banking and Finance)
    • “A very smooth and persuasive advocate.”  (Legal 500 2014 – Fraud: Civil)
    • “Picks difficult conceptual issues up in a nanosecond”. (Legal 500 2013 – Banking and Finance)
    • “A good up-and-coming guy who has the brains for any case.” (Chambers and Partners 2014 - Commercial dispute resolution)
    • “Fred Hobson rounds off Brick Court's impressive cadre of talented young barristers recognised by this year's guide. Sources hail him as a very able lawyer and a crisp draftsman.” (Chambers & Partners 2013)
    • “Fred Hobson is ‘very strong on the law - senior barristers have great confidence in him’.” (Legal 500 2009)