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David Oliver QC

Called: 1972

Silk: 1986

Profile

Prior to his taking Silk in 1986, David had developed a wide-ranging junior practice and had been for 6 years the Standing Counsel to the Director General of Fair Trading, in the course of which he acted on the reference relating to the Stock Exchange which led to measures for reform implemented as 'Big Bang'. As a Q.C. David has been involved in much of the large-scale litigation of the past decade and has established himself as one of the leading advocates of his generation.

Education

Westminster School; Trinity Hall Cambridge; Institut d'Etudes Europeanenes, Brussels. BA Cantab (2:1), Licence Special en droit European.

Languages

He speaks fluent Spanish, and has a good working knowledge of French, including legal French.

Recently Reported Cases

Amongst the more notable cases in which he has acted in silk are:

acting for Guinness in connection with the aftermath of the Distillers takeover, in civil claims against Saunders et al and before the Takeover Panel;
acting for Johnson Matthey in claims against auditors following its insolvency;
acting for Price Waterhouse in connection with its role as auditors of BCCI, and claims arising after the collapse of BCCI (representing PW before the Bingham Inquiry, and in disciplinary proceedings brought by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, securing their stay);
acting for liquidators of Polly Peck plc in claims to recover misappropriated assets;
acting for Reed plc, Pearson plc, Granada plc and Chargeurs Reunis in connection with the financing of BSB and subsequently BSkyB, and various pieces of litigation arising out of the financings;
acting for the Fayed brothers in connection with their litigation against Lonrho plc;
acting for Macmillan Inc and Swiss Bank Corporation in connection with claims arising out of the collapse of Robert Maxwell's corporate empire;
acting for the successful Plaintiff in Banque Financiere de la Citie v. Parc (Battersea) Ltd. (HL).
acting for Lord Palumbo in connection with his family trusts.

Whilst as Junior Counsel, his notable cases include:

action for Liquidators of London & County Securities in claims against former directors and auditors;
acting for Johnson Firth Brown re its proposed takeover of Dunford & Elliot;
acting for DGFT in relation to the references of ABTA, the Stock Exchange, RICS. In particular he was closely involved in the preparation of the measures which were implemented as "Big Bang";
acting for Liquidators of Court Line re its arrangements for the repatriation of travellers after its collapse;
acting for working miners re the NUM strike (secured the removal of Arthur Scargill et al trustees of the NUM and the appointment of receivers to the Union);
acting for solicitors holding funds misapplied from Lloyds Names.

Selected cases originating in Hong Kong include:

Chong Kai Tai & Anor v. Lee Gee Kee & Anor. Privy Council 1997-1 HKC 359
Wu Koon Tai & Anor. v. Wu Yau Loi Privy Council [1997] AC 179
Tan Man Sit (decd) (personal representatives) v. Capacious Investments Ltd. Privy Council [1996] 1 AC 514
Attorney General for Hong Kong v. Reid & Ors. Privy Council [1994] 1 AC 324
Markfaith Investments Ltd. v. Chiap Hua Flashlights Ltd. Privy Council [1991] 2 AC 43
BBMB Finance (Hong Kong) Ltd. v. Eda Holdings Ltd. & Ors. Privy Council [1990] 2 HKLR 74, [1990] 1 WLR 409
Cheung Donald Quintin & Ors. v. Fester Corp. Ltd & Ors. High Court 1987-3 HKC 270
Re. Liquidators of Carrion Holdings v. Price Waterhouse Instructed for Price Waterhouse throughout the proceedings until settlement.

Case List

Indcastle Ltd. v. Barbara Attenborough Associations Ltd. and others
Meghraj Bank Ltd. v. Arsiwalla
Attorney General for Hong Kong v. Reid and others
R. v. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and others
Macmillan Inc. v. Bishopsgate Investment Trust Plc and others
Kelly v. Cooper and another
Securities and Investments Board v. Pantell SA and others (No. 2)
Re Polly Peck International Plc
R. v. Panel on take-overs and mergers, ex parte Fayed and others
ISC Technologies Ltd and another v. James Howard Guerin and others
Polly Peck International Plc v. Nadir and others
Standard Chartered Bank v. Walker and another
TSB Bank Plc v. Walker and another
Jasaro SA v. Standard Chartered Bank Plc and others
Polly Peck International Plc v. Nadir and others (No.2)
R. v. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Ex Parte Lonrho Plc
Price Waterhouse (A Firm) v. BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg) SA and others
R. v. Football Association Ltd, Ex Parte Football League Ltd
Football League v. Football Association Ltd
Lonrho Plc v. Fayed and others
Lonrho Plc v. Fayed and others (No. 2)
City Index Ltd v. Leslie
Re Cleveland Trust Plc
Re Charnley Davies Ltd (No. 2)
Markfaith Investment Ltd v. Chiap Hua Flashlights Ltd
Guinness Plc v. Saunder
BBMB Finance (Hong Kong) Ltd v. EDA Holdings Ltd and others
Director General of Fair Trading v. Buckland and another
Lonrho Plc v. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and another
BYNG v. London Life Association Ltd and another
R. v. Panel on take-overs and mergers
Guinness Plc v. Saunders and another
Re Charnley Davies Ltd
In Re Tucker (A Bankrupt) [No. 1361 of 1985]
Re Tramway Building and Construction Co Ltd
Smith and Others v. Croft and Others
Smith v. Croft
Re P. Turner (Wilsden) Ltd
Chancery Lane Developments Ltd v. Wades Departmental Stores Ltd
Re Charge Card Services Ltd
R. v. Monopolies and Mergers Commission, ex parte Elders IXL Ltd
R. v. Monopolies and Mergers Commission and another, ex parte Argyll Group Plc
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors v. Director General of Fair Trading
Manorlike Ltd v. Le Vitas Travel Agency and Consultancy Services Ltd
Ex Parte Molyneaux and others
Jackson v. Parker & Guerney-Champion
Bishop v. Jones and others
In Re National Daily and Sunday Newspapers Proprietors' Agreement
In Welsh Irish Ferries Ltd
In Re London School of Electronics Ltd
Re Pressdee Ltd
Eatons v. Withall
In Re Waldron (A Bankrupt) Ex Parte The Bankrupt v. The Official Receiver
Bishopsgate Ltd v. The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd
The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd v. 99 Bishopsgate Ltd
Re Westminster Property Group Plc
Clarke and others v. Heathfield and others (No. 2)
In Re Building Employers Conferation's Application
In Re Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Application
Barclays Bank Ltd and Others v. TOSG Trust Fund Ltd and others
In Re Agreements relating to the supply of Diazo Copying Materials Machines and
ancillary equipment (ORSE The General of Fair Trading v. Harper & Tunstall Limited)
Stanfield Properties Ltd v. National Westminster Bank Plc (London and County Securities Ltd, Third Party)
Re Christonette International Ltd
In Re Creehouse Ltd
Lawlor v. London Borough of Hounslow
In Re British Concrete Pipe Association's Agrement [Note]
London and County Securities Ltd and Others v. Nicholson and Others
Re Gray's Inn Construction Co Ltd
Booth & Co (International) Ltd and Others v. National Enterprise Board and Others
Warnford Investments Ltd v. Duckworth and Others
Newhart Developments Ltd v. Co-Operative Commercial Bank Ltd
Conway & Others v. Petronius Clothing Co. Ltd and Others
Policyholders Protection Board v. Official Receiver

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