George Hayman KC

George’s practice covers business agreements and contract disputes of all kinds (including shareholder disputes), both in court and arbitration. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer and in all aspects of interim disputes in the English Courts and overseas, and has acted as counsel in many LCIA, ICC and ad hoc international commercial arbitrations.

The directories report that “he knows his subject matter inside-out and is user-friendly”, and describe George as “a very diligent and careful barrister who is excellent on complex matters and very persuasive in court”. His recent notable court and arbitration cases include:-

• Hua She Asset Management v Kei [2022]: application challenging recognition and enforcement of a £20m Chinese (Shanghai International Economic and Trade Commission) arbitration award and related freezing injunction.
• X v Y [2022-2023]: acting for the Defendants in ICC and LCIA arbitrations concerning a large scale construction project and the development of part of London’s Docklands.
• Hangzhou Jiudang v Hung [2023]: application in the Commercial Court challenging enforcement in England of two Chinese Court judgments.
• X v Y [2022]: LCIA arbitration concerning breach of oil & gas contracts.

George acts for international clients in fraud disputes in the commercial courts and overseas, and has appeared in high profile cases including the Libyan Investment Authority Litigation, the Ablyazov Litigation and the Namalco Litigation.

The directories recommend George as “a real expert in fraud cases with a huge amount of experience”. He “knows fraud inside out, from injunctions to substantive claims. A delight to work with, and exceptionally user friendly”. His recent notable cases include:-

• Namalco Construction v EMBD [2018-2023]: acting for the State-owned Defendant in a 6-week trial of a $1.4 billion construction claim in the Caribbean Court of Justice (Trinidad &Tobago) concerning conspiracy in relation to five large scale infrastructure projects.
• Tugushev v Orlov [2019-2021] : a dispute over the ownership of ‘Norebo’, one of the largest fishing enterprises in the world, concerning allegations of conspiracy and fraud. Generated notable judgments on jurisdiction ([2019] EWHC 645(Comm)) and the discharge of worldwide freezing orders ([2019] EWHC 2031(Comm).
• Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) v Societe Generale and Others [2016-2017]: acting for the Fifth Defendant claims brought by the LIA to set aside $1.5billion of structured investments with SocGen on the basis that they formed part of a corrupt scheme involving the alleged bribe of Libyan state officials. 
• Tatneft v Bogolyubov and Others [2017] : $380m fraud claim by a Russian state oil company against four Ukrainian oligarchs. Obtaining freezing and asset disclosure orders. 
• JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov [2011-2015]: representing the principal defendants in this major international commercial dispute in relation to the affairs of a Kazakhstan bank. Particular involvement in committal proceedings, injunctive relief, summary judgment applications and appeals in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean(BVI).

Much of George’s work has an international element, and so he frequently represents international clients in overseas courts and arbitrations.

As a member of the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI), and the Trinidad & Tobago Bar, George undertakes advisory and advocacy in that region.  His recent notable cases include:-

• Namalco Construction v EMBD [2018-2023]: acting for the State-owned Defendant in a 6-week trial of a $1.4billion construction claim in the Caribbean Court of Justice (Trinidad &Tobago) concerning conspiracy in relation to five largescale infrastructure projects.

• Wilton Trustees v AFS Trustee [2022]: acting for six defendants in largescale multi-party claims in the Eastern Caribbean Court(BVI), involving allegations of breach of trust, conspiracy, and fraudulent misrepresentation.

• JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov [2015-2016]: representing the principal defendants between 2011 and 2016 in this major international commercial dispute in relation to the affairs of a Kazakhstan bank. Particular involvement in enforcement proceedings in the BVI Commercial Court and in the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean(BVI).