Expertise

Frances has a broad commercial practice encompassing contractual and shareholder disputes, banking and financial services disputes, fraud and other high value and complex disputes for individuals and corporates. She has extensive experience of procedural disputes and has acted for clients successfully in appeals before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She also has significant experience of resolving disputes through mediation and ADR.

Frances’ practice frequently includes multi-faceted disputes. She frequently handles tactically complex claims involving inter-related commercial or employment disputes, international litigation, jurisdictional issues and other competing commercial and regulatory considerations.

She has significant experience of multiple party and group claims, and claims involving litigation funding.

Experience

• Defending applications under Insolvency Act 1986, including a successful Supreme Court appeal, concerning the standing of a bankrupt to challenge the decisions of a trustee in bankruptcy.
• Acting in an extensive series of related disputes, including a successfully defended Court of Appeal claim regarding rights of confidence and privacy.
• Acting for an investment manager in a dispute regarding the validity of corporate actions in respect of c. $700m funds subject to the Cayman Island sanctions regime.
• Acting in significant securities action for 112 investors under s90A FSMA against Tesco in respect of £263m accounting misstatements.
• Acting for institutional investors in the first UK claim against a leading rating agency and bank alleging fraudulent and negligent rating and marketing of complex financial products.

Career

Frances gained her undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Christ Church, University of Oxford. She subsequently completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course in London.

Frances undertook her training contract at Stewarts and qualified in 2015. She spent a year working between our Employment and Commercial Litigation departments before specialising in commercial litigation.

Accreditations and Memberships

London Solicitors Litigation Association