Oliver Clement

Oliver acts in actions where allegations of fraud and dishonesty are made, and where asset recovery is a core concern. His recent matters include:

• An insolvency action relying on a risk of dissipation in breach of undertakings given to the Court as a condition for the discharge of freezing injunctions. 
• Chatwani & Ors v Mehta & Ors [2026] EWHC 2455 (Ch): acted for the successful Claimants in three-week trial involving findings of breach of fiduciary duty by trustees and obtaining declaratory relief in relation to the governance of an important charity.
• Various Investors v Glencore plc & Ors: Oliver acted for one of the Claimant parties, in substantial claims under FSMA for losses caused by alleged wrongdoing in various jurisdictions.  
• Oliver is acting in a civil fraud matter relating to the purchase of a company and claims exceeding £1m. The case involves allegations of fraud, misrepresentation, and illegality. Trial is due to be listed for early-2027.

Oliver acts in significant commercial litigation, including where matters are fast-moving and require urgent action. Recent work includes:

• Obtaining urgent without notice injunctive and springboard relief following alleged breaches of restraint-of-trade clauses in a financial and trading context.
• Successfully obtaining directions for an urgent final hearing of a preliminary issue as part of an ongoing ad hoc arbitration (in which Oliver is instructed as sole counsel). Oliver successfully defended this award following an application to the High Court for a stay of enforcement; Oliver’s client was awarded all of his costs.
• As sole counsel, obtaining a stay of the entirety of a High Court proceeding following an application under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Oliver is acting as sole counsel in a partnership arbitration with an estimated value in excess of £1m, and related company proceedings, including two unfair prejudice petitions, and other High Court claims. He has provided advice and representation across all elements of the proceedings, including before an arbitral tribunal, and before Insolvency and Commercial Court judges.

• In re Plantation Wharf Management Ltd [2025] EWHC 2938 (Ch): Oliver assisted in the action, which related to the validity of company notices and meetings, and the consequences thereof.
• Chatwani & Ors v Mehta & Ors [2026] EWHC 2455 (Ch): acted for the successful Claimants in three-week trial which involved declaratory relief consequent on the validity of actions purportedly calling general and trustee meetings relating to the administration of a charity.

Oliver commonly represents creditors and officeholders in the Insolvency and Companies Court in the full suite of insolvency related applications and petition. Recent work includes:

• Obtaining an order under section 284 of the Insolvency Act following a contested two-day hearing, as sole counsel.
• Obtaining a winding-up order following a contested final hearing, in which Oliver was successful in persuading the Court to strike out all of the opposing evidence as having been made without authority, as sole counsel.
• Other officeholder applications, including applications for appointment, and for distributions to unsecured creditors.

In addition, Oliver is currently acting:

• On behalf of Court-appointed BVI receivers in personal insolvency proceedings relating to the liquidation of Global Steel Holdings. 

As sole counsel, for the liquidators of Midland Skip Hire Ltd in claims against former directors and related companies, and in criminal restraint proceedings in which they are interested parties.

Oliver regularly assists in proceedings which have an offshore element, or are due to be heard offshore. 

Amongst other advisory work, Oliver assisted Ryan Turner in successfully resisting an appeal in Dekel v Clerkenwell Lifestyle Limited (September 2026), before the ECSC Court of Appeal.

Oliver accepts instructions in relation to banking and financial services, and has been involved in claims concerning securities.

Oliver appears regularly in property-related matters, including applications for possession and / or sale (L&T, mortgage, or insolvency). 

Oliver has advised at the pre-litigation stage in relation to novel crypto-asset disputes, including where there is urgency resulting from the risk of dissipation and interim relief is being considered. 

During pupillage, Oliver was involved in assisting in several insolvency applications concerning crypto-assets.

Oliver has been involved in two significant trials relating to the administration of charities in the High Court:

Chatwani & Ors v Mehta & Ors [2026] EWHC 2455 (Ch): acted for the successful Claimants in three-week trial including findings of breach of fiduciary duty by purported trustees of an English charity following a religious schism in India.

Dasji v Bhudia [2026] EWHC 455 (Ch): the leading case relating to the High Court’s making of administrative schemes, in which Oliver assisted at trial.