Profiles

Paul Fallon

For the past twenty years, Paul has advised a range of multinational companies, primarily in connection with financial services disputes. His clients have included Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. He has also represented a range of other major multinationals (including the Ford Motor Company, Exxon, Texaco and BP) on complex litigation and was heavily involved with both the proceedings resulting from the fraudulent defalcations of Robert Maxwell (where he acted for the Mirror Group of Companies) and for the liquidators of BCCI following the collapse of the Bank in 1991.

Paul is currently acting for a number of off-shore hedge funds in connection with an investigation by the SEC into mutual funds. In 2006 he appeared successfully as advocate in Grosvenor Casinos -v- National Bank of Abu Dhabi [2006] EWHC 784 (Comm).

Helen Mulcahy

Helen is a qualified solicitor-advocate, and has appeared in numerous courts in both Australia and England, including successfully represented two of the defendants in the trial brought by Michael Douglas and Ok! Magazine against Hello! and others. Helen has extensive experience in advising on corporate transactions, particularly in the gaming and retail sectors as well as being heavily involved in advising on financial compliance and enforcement issues (in public and private placements and distribution agreements) in local and overseas jurisdictions.

Helen is currently advising an offshore hedgefund and its custodian in an investigation against a BVI Fund which collapsed late 2007.

Simon Munro

Simon qualified as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1999, and spent over six years working as a commercial litigator in two of New Zealand's top law firms. He has also worked for over two years advising on investigations within the Enforcement Division of the Financial Services Authority. Simon qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2006.

Simon joined City Law in January 2008 and he is advising in International Arbitration proceedings relating to pension mis-selling claims consequent upon the disposal of shareholding interests in a UK Regulated Life company. He is also involved in claims in connection with the failure to pay redemptions by offshore Hedge Funds including a successful claim for redemptions by one off shore hedge fund against another (SV Special Situations Fund Limited v Headstart Class F Holdings Limited (2008)).

Clark Hood

Clark was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and to the Federal Courts of Australia. He qualified into the commercial litigation department of the Perth office of a leading Australian law firm where he dealt with a range of banking, trade practices, insurance and debt recovery matters.

Clark came to the UK to read for a Masters in Commercial Law at University College London, which he obtained with merit. On completion of that course Clark worked for a leading London firm in its commercial litigation department on the BCCI litigation.

He subsequently joined a niche litigation practice in London where he worked on the CIBC Mellon Trust v. Stolzenberg litigation, a large scale multi-jurisdictional fraud and asset tracing claim, including seeking recognition and enforcement of UK judgments in several jurisdictions including Europe and New York.

Clark joined a well known insurance litigation practice, advising insurers, particularly focussing on construction insurance. More recently, Clark practised in the commercial litigation department of a large regional practice, where he had a varied case load, including breach of contract claims, shareholders disputes, but decided to move back to London, and joined City Law in August 2008.

Miranda Austin

Miranda has advised on corporate restructurings, including the restructuring and subsequent sale of Amey plc. She has advised a number of institutions on a broad spectrum of corporate strategies including, for example, advising the Royal Bank of Scotland on the enforceability of insolvency provisions under a £3 billion
credit support agreement. In addition, Miranda has advised on corporate compliance strategies, including the application of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to European corporations.

Miranda recently carried out a fundraising and listed a gaming company on PLUS.

Rita Padam

Rita qualified in 1999 with Ashurst, and spent 18 months on secondment as an investment banker with Close Brothers Corporate Finance. Whilst at Close Brothers, Rita gained considerable experience on corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. She was a member of the Close Brothers team that advised on the merger between Whitehead Mann Group plc and GKP Group Limited. She worked on a variety of takeover transactions and numerous secondary offerings for AIM listed companies such as MDIS plc.

At Ashurst, Rita spent much of her time advising corporate finance clients such as Clubhaus plc and investment banks on initial public offerings (both UKLA and AIM) and raising finance by rights issues, open offers and other secondary offerings.

Rita has also advised on corporate restructurings pursuant to Insolvency legislation and various schemes of arrangements for funds such as GT Japan Investment Trust. Rita also gained market leading private equity experience advising private equity houses such as Barclays Capital and 3i.

In June 2005, Rita left Ashurst to join the Gem Group as General Counsel. Rita managed the Group's variety of debt and equity investments.

Rita recently advised on a fundraising and PLUS listing of a gaming company.

James Kindon

James qualified as a solicitor in 2005. He qualified into the corporate department of a firm in Reading and then moved to Salans in London. Whilst at Salans James was involved in several cross border acquisitions and disposals, re-organisations and the domestic disposal through an auction process of a large chain of car dealerships.

James then joined Addleshaw Goddard's corporate team in London where he assisted in advising a major international drinks company on a joint venture in Southern Africa, was part of the team that helped the owners of an inter-brokerage trading house sell their shareholdings to an industry buyer and led a deal for the acquisition of a chain of music stores from an administrator.

James has attended Oxford and Reading Universities and spent 2 years as a professional rugby player in London and South Africa in between. James joined City Law in February 2009 to assist with the Firm's corporate work.

Santiago De Silva

Santiago qualified in Australia in 2005 and worked in private practice in Sydney, dealing with large disposals and acquisitions of residential and commercial property. His practice also included litigation matters involving commercial disputes, insolvency, estates and debt recovery.

He played a major role in complicated noise nuisance and trade practices litigation against a major Sydney amusement park in 2007 and successfully prosecuted contempt proceedings arising from that matter.

Since qualifying in England and Wales in 2007, Santiago gained further litigation experience at various London borough councils, before joining City Law in June 2008.

Henry Farris

Henry joined City Law in August 2006 on a part-time basis whilst completing the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School. Henry also undertook pro bono work representing claimants in the Employment Tribunal for the Free Representation Unit. In September 2007 Henry joined City Law as a barrister on a full time basis and qualifies as a solicitor in May 2009.

Henry read History with Contemporary Chinese Studies at Nottingham University. He likes skiing, football and surfing.

Freda Zacharia

Freda is an Assistant Solicitor with City Law. She qualified in Australia in 2006 and has acted in various disputes in the Queensland jurisdiction. Her experience has included representing litigants in various commercial, company and estate disputes as well as matters involving body corporate and community management schemes. Freda has also appeared before the Supreme Court of Queensland on numerous occasions for corporate matters such as winding up and costs applications.

Freda has a dual degree in Commerce, majoring in Politics and Public Policy. She speaks modern Greek and was a participant in a scholarship program at the University of Cyprus in 2005, undertaking an intensive course in Greek language and culture.

Beelia Byron

Beelia has assisted Helen and Paul for several years and has extensive knowledge and experience in international dispute resolution, corporate support and office management. She exudes effortless charm and maintains a cool head in all situations.

Susannah Underwood

Susannah has worked in corporate support across a variety of industries, including high end fashion, property development, banking and law, in both London and Auckland. Her versatility, attention to detail and easy going nature are a huge asset to the firm.