3PB’s John Jessup has written an article examining Sahara’s sale of crude oil to Sonara and the consequences of Sonara’s late payment.
Clerks Details
- Clerk Name: David Fielder
- Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
- Clerk Name: Joe Townsend
- Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Commercial
John is an experienced commercial chancery junior. His practice encompasses a broad range of litigation and advisory work across the areas typically dealt with in the Chancery Division, with particular strength in insolvency and company law matters.
Core Specialist Areas:
Insolvency and Personal Insolvency:
John regularly advises on complex and high-value disputes involving liquidators and former directors, including claims for misfeasance and transactions at undervalue. He frequently appears on behalf of companies in contested winding up proceedings brought by HMRC and private creditors, and has additional experience in personal insolvency matters and issues arising under s.127 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Company Law:
John has substantial experience in contentious and non-contentious company law matters. His practice includes directors’ duties, shareholder disputes, and unfair prejudice petitions. On the advisory side, he has dealt with applications to rectify the register of charges under the Companies Act 2006, advised on defective share capital reductions, and provided guidance on corporate restructurings, including mergers of companies limited by guarantee.
Commercial and Chancery Disputes:
His broader commercial practice includes High Court litigation involving professional negligence, contractual disputes, property-related claims, and insurance coverage disputes, including complex claims arising from large-scale construction and property losses. He is experienced in interim applications, including injunctions and summary judgment, as well as costs disputes and third-party disclosure applications.
Injunctions and Interim Relief:
John has acted in urgent applications for injunctive relief, including successfully resisting attempts to unwind property transactions and opposing interim injunctions in the High Court.
Recent cases:
Y v D Ltd (construction company) (2024): Represented the defendant in a high value insurance coverage dispute arising from a major construction project fire, involving issues of liability, causation, and the interaction between project-wide insurance arrangements.
CC v F Co (2023). Ongoing: Acting for the Claimant in a High Court professional negligence dispute.
G v R & R (2023): Represented third parties and successfully resisted an attempt to unwind the sale of a property which the claimant was attempting to achieve via an urgent injunction application.
ONS Ultimate Holding Ltd v Nair [2022] EWHC 2200 (Ch): Represented the defendant on a multi-day High Court application for summary judgment.
AK v FLI Limited (2022): Ongoing. Acts for the Defendant company in the High Court in respect of an alleged data protection breach.
A v H (2023): Represented administrators on a successful application to force third parties to hand over company documents.
L Ltd v E Ltd (2023): Successfully resisted a third party costs order application against a former director of a company.
ABG Limited (2023): Advised upon and appeared at an application to restrain advertisement of a winding up petition.
A school (2023): Advised a fee-paying school on the effect of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and a proposal to secure unpaid fees by a charge over property.
B Ltd (2023): Advised on whether certain transactions were caught by s.127 IA 1986 (clawback provision in respect of transactions made after presentation of a winding up petition).
Various v A (2021): Successfully resisted a High Court interim injunction which would have prevented his client from attending his local mosque.
C v CP Ltd (2021): Appeared in the High Court and persuaded the court to depart from the usual rule that indemnity costs are awarded where a party commences litigation in breach of an arbitration clause.
A v Z (2021): Represented a former director at a two-day claim brought by liquidators for director's misfeasance and transactions at undervalue.
BP Ltd v WD (2020): Acted as sole Counsel in a successful 4-day trial relating to unpaid storage fees.
CC v NP (2020): Acted for the Defendant in proceedings brought by a vexatious litigant and obtained a civil restraint order via written submissions.
L v G (2020): Successfully resisted an application heard in the High Court for third party disclosure.
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Articles -
SAHARA ENERGY RESOURCE LIMITED v SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE DE RAFFINAGE S.A.(SONARA) [2026] EWCA Civ 54
19th Feb 2026View Article -
Through a glass darkly: reflections on reflective loss
12th Jul 2018View ArticleThrough a glass darkly: reflections on reflective loss
John Jessup considers the recent Court of Appeal decision of Marex Financial Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 1468 which answers the question of whether the rule against reflective loss (which prevents a shareholder bringing an action for loss of value of their shares) applies to unsecured creditors.
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