Nadia Osborne

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I specialise in complex, commercial litigation including civil fraud and contentious insolvency, international arbitration and group actions. I have particular experience in dealing with cross-jurisdictional disputes and often co-counsel with lawyers in other countries.

I have expertise in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, both domestic and cross-jurisdictional. As a multi-specialist litigator, my work covers various practices and substantive areas, including group actions, director/shareholder disputes (including Venture Capital disputes), post M&A disputes, civil fraud, cross border insolvency (representing creditors, debtors and insolvency practitioners), international arbitration (including LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICC arbitrations) and reputation management.

My experience spans cases that have gone to both court and arbitral trials (in England, the USA and Iceland) as well as applications for injunctive relief or other interlocutory relief.

I have been working in the group action arena since 2008 when I represented over 100 UK local authorities, more than 10 UK universities and two private companies affected by the collapse of the Icelandic banks in 2008, working closely with local counsel and UK counsel (and Dutch counsel who also had depositor creditor clients) to bring (and defend) proceedings in the Icelandic District Court and the Icelandic Supreme Court. I also worked on the winding up of Landsbanki and Glitnir, attending Open Creditor Meetings and Informal Creditor Meetings. In addition, I advised 365 UK local authorities defending a collective action (known as the APPS litigation) brought by personal search companies in respect of breach of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I subsequently assisted 100+ claimants in a group action for restitution of monies paid to the privatised water and sewerage undertakings in England & Wales in alleged breach of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

I am also well versed in dealing with complex multi-claims in a fraud and insolvency context, having previously represented a UK financial services regulator in relation to a complex cross border interconnected recoveries action worth in excess of £400m associated with the winding up of feign corporate entities (arising from a complex fraudulent property Ponzi scheme in the Caribbean involving thousands of investors). Work done included domestic and cross-border insolvency issues and ongoing management of claims both in and out of the UK including formal insolvency processes and civil litigation, working with insolvency practitioners in the Eastern Caribbean Circuit and the UK, as well as local counsel in St Lucia, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.

On the commercial litigation side, I have a particular interest in disputes involving an international element and working with foreign counsel and clients. As a consequence, the majority of my caseload has an international dimension and I regularly work alongside and co-counsel with lawyers in other jurisdictions, including Europe (in particular Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Georgia), USA and the Middle East (including Dubai, Oman and Saudi Arabia). I act for a range of clients including English and international registered companies / corporations including listed entities as well as high net worth individuals and entrepreneurial clients.

As a female and mum of two girls, I am particularly passionate about promoting women in the workplace and am consequentially a member of various organisations in the abovementioned practice areas which share this aim.

Outside of work, I like to stay active, go to the theatre and travel with my family. I am also a history enthusiast.

Contact Nadia

Advising a New York listed entity on its D&O policy coverage in respect of a €60m fraud against a German subsidiary involving entities / persons based in the Far East.

Advising five former directors on issuing protective claims in England against former professional advisors in the context of a €1.4bn claim being brought in Germany by an insolvency administrator.
Acting for a Georgian national, who is one of five named defendants in two complex High Court claims for breach of contract and unlawful means conspiracy (CL-2020-000756 and BL-2023-000303), which includes challenges to jurisdiction and service.
Advising joint administrators on, and securing recovery of, a debt owed to an insolvent entity.
Acting in respect of a complex shareholder/director dispute in the context of a £20m property portfolio which involves a just and equitable winding up petition, a statutory demand and successfully resisting an application to set it aside and various related issues in dispute.
Advising a Thai registered entity on a contracting entity’s insolvency and wrongful trading, in the context of $1.5m of losses, liaising with IPs and the Official Receiver.
Advising joint liquidators in circumstances where their appointment in respect of a members’ voluntary liquidation was objected to by an individual claiming to be the actual owner and director of the company concerned and acting as mediator, alongside one of the joint liquidator, to reach an amicable resolution between the two opposing parties regarding the distribution of the remaining company assets.
Advising directors of a multimillion pound business in the context of a family dispute on the terms of a share purchase agreement and a threatened s994 unfair prejudice claim.
Acting for a non-Executive Director in respect of a £37.6 million claim for breach of directors’ duties (statutory and fiduciary) brought by Joint Liquidators.
Representing a Bahamian bank on a jurisdictional challenge in the English courts.
Acting on behalf of a subsidiary of a UK Listed energy company in relation to two complex and interlinked international arbitrations relating to an oil and gas concession.
Advising on termination of aircraft leasing agreements and seeking ex parte interim arrest and possession injunctions for non-payment of lease fees.
Acted for a financial services regulator in pursing recoveries in excess of £400 million in relation to a complex corporate structure of a failed property fund subject to jurisdictions of various Caribbean countries. Work done involved local and cross border insolvency issues and on-going management of claims both in and outside the UK including formal insolvency processes and civil litigation.
Acting on behalf of a UK listed energy company in relation to two complex and interlinked international arbitrations relating to an oil and gas concession (UNCITAL and ICC rules, with London and Texas arbitral seats). Worked with US co-counsel.
Acting on behalf of a UK listed energy company in relation to an arbitration pursuant to French civil law, under ICC rules. Worked with French co-counsel.
Acting on behalf of English and Swedish registered entities in respect of a LCIA arbitration arising out of a Venture Capital sale.