John Evans

I recognise the disruption caused by a dispute, including the mechanisms available for its resolution. My job is to manage and resolve commercial disputes to achieve the best possible outcome for my clients.

I enjoy working closely with clients to understand their business and ambitions in order to chart a course through the uncertainty. I invariably become part of the client’s trusted adviser team, with a focus on enterprising and commercial solutions tailored to the client’s circumstances.

I have extensive expertise and contacts with third party litigation funders and can work with clients to structure funding to unlock claims, or remove the costs of litigation/arbitration from their balance sheet.

Clear communication and responsiveness are the bywords underpinning my client relationships. Coffee and stories about cycling and dogs are occasional features as well.

I act for clients in their capacity as claimants or defendant often in complex and high value claims. I work on a broad spectrum of matters but with some focus on fraud claims and those in the commodities, energy, natural resources and telecoms sectors.

I have conducted numerous international arbitrations before many of the arbitral institutions, including ICSID and have considerable expertise in handling multi-jurisdiction enforcement as well as collective actions.

I am also passionate about intellectual property and routinely advise on media cases; trade mark opposition and infringement proceedings; trade mark filing and registrations; brand management and portfolio advice; copyright and design right claims; defamation and data scraping actions, which often necessitate prompt applications for emergency injunctive relief.

I am an ADR Group accredited Civil and Commercial mediator, an Allied Member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, and recognised as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500.

I am a doting father of two, a superb* alpine cyclist, a dog lover and keen skier.

*disclaimer: this represents the impartial view of the sole legal practitioner surveyed!

• Acting for the Respondent in the defence of an arbitration claim for US$150 million brought by a Russian company for alleged fraud in connection with mineral fertiliser trading in India and elsewhere.
• Acting for an Oil & Gas exploration company in connection with its arbitration claim for breaches of production sharing agreements by a sub-Saharan African state, resulting in an award of over $600 million in the client’s favour.
• Acting for a listed energy provider with interests in Russia and Africa in the defence of two international arbitration claims brought by its JV partner and with an alleged value of approximately US$55 million. The claims are for breaches of the concession and participation agreements arising from executing an upstream drilling program in Africa.
• Acting for 100+ claimants in a group action for restitution of monies paid to the privatised water and sewerage undertakings in England & Wales under a mistake of law and resulting from an unlawful demand, in breach of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The claim value is estimated at approximately £200 million.
• Acting for major international female recording artist in a claim for copyright infringement resulting in the successful removal of the infringing material from the website in question and a prohibition on use.