International law firm Cohen & Gresser has been recognized by The Legal 500 UK for its “wide international reach” and “seamless collaboration” on cross-border investigations and disputes. Client commentary highlights C&G’s London office as “the go-to team for risk advisory” work and notes that clients should “instruct them before the other side does.”

C&G is recognized as a leading firm in the Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates) category. The guide emphasizes the firm’s work with respect to the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and notes that the team is “distinguished by its ability to draw on the expertise of experts in Washington, DC, New York, and Paris” for its multi-jurisdictional work. Clients highlight the team’s “astonishing depth of knowledge,” “strong connections to authorities,” and “razor-sharp analytical skills.”

The Legal 500 also recognized C&G in the Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals) category. The guide notes that the firm is known for “housing a very strong team of white-collar crime specialists” who are “well-versed in representing senior executives and high-net-worth individuals” in all types of cases and investigations. Clients highlight the practice’s “terrific experience in the most high-profile and difficult cases” and praise the diverse experience each team member brings to the firm’s cases, including as city lawyers, ex-SFO prosecutors, solicitors from crime boutiques, and barristers.

C&G is also recognized as a leading firm in the Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market category. The guide recognizes the firm’s experience in complex, cross-border commercial litigation and highlights the team’s strength in financial services representations, particularly with respect to investment funds litigation and banking and financial services disputes. Clients applaud the practice as “well organized and accessible” and underscore the team’s ability to “give you a full picture” and “summarise the essential of what needs to be known.

In addition, Richard Kovalevsky QC has been recognized as a “Leading Individual” for Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates). Richard, who joined C&G in November 2020, is described by clients as “clever and experienced” and a “major addition for the firm.”

Ranked Practice Areas:

• Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)
• Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals)
• Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market

Recognized Individuals:

• John Gibson: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market; Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals); Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)
• Richard Kovalevsky QC: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market; Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals); Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)
• Jumana Rahman: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market
• Thomas Shortland: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market; Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)
• Tim Harris: Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals); Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)

About The Legal 500: The Legal 500 analyzes the capabilities of law firms across the world. Its rankings “highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel.”

Jumana Rahman spoke with the Financial Times about the potential implications of a forthcoming UK FCA test case in the English High Court relating to business interruption policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jumana Rahman spoke to Law360 about the British government’s emergency loan scheme for companies affected by the nationwide lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jumana commented on some of the potential problems facing banks that increase loan approvals for businesses that could ultimately fail.

Cohen & Gresser announces the expansion of its disputes offering with the appointment of Jumana Rahman as Partner in the firm’s London office. Jumana will lead Cohen & Gresser’s UK commercial litigation practice. She has a particular focus on banking and financial services litigation and funds litigation, as well as judicial review claims. She brings over 20 years of experience acting for a range of clients in banking and financial services, investment and hedge funds, and large corporates, in proceedings in various jurisdictions including Antigua, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the U.S. Jumana also has extensive experience representing Middle Eastern and African clients in complex international matters.

What is the scope of banks’ duties to customers in executing their customers’ instructions? In particular, what are banks’ duties if the instruction is the instrument of fraud?

• Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal overturned the previous decision of the High Court in Philipp v Barclays Bank UK Plc.
• The claim concerned the liability of Barclays Bank for carrying out transfers that constituted an ‘authorised push payment’ fraud on Mrs Philipp – transfers that were requested and authorised by her, but induced by a third party through the use of fraudulent representations.
• Mrs Philipp had argued that Barclays was liable for her losses because of its failure to comply with its Quincecare duty – a duty that has risen to prominence as a result of several high-profile cases in recent years.

In this client alert, Jumana Rahman and Lottie Ritchie explain what a Quincecare duty is, take a brief look at recent cases applying it, and discuss what Philipp v Barclays could mean for future cases concerning the scope of the duty.

The UK Supreme Court recently handed down its hotly-anticipated judgment in the business interruption insurance test case (FCA v Arch and others [2021] UKSC 1). The judgment extends, in certain respects, findings in favour of certain policyholders of business interruption insurance made by the High Court. In this client alert, Jumana Rahman, Thomas Shortland, and Charlotte Ritchie focus on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for causation issues in insurance law and the wider law and address the consequences of the judgment for various key stakeholders.

In this C&G client alert, Jumana Rahman, Thomas Shortland, and Charlotte Ritchie consider the outlook for business interruption policyholders and insurers in the wake of judgment in the FCA’s test case, and take a look at what the insurance community has learned so far about COVID-19 and business interruption insurance.

In this C&G client alert, Jumana Rahman, Thomas Shortland, and Charlotte Ritchie discuss the legal and practical implications of the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the reflective loss principle in Sevilleja v Marex.

In this C&G Client Alert, Jumana Rahman, Thomas Shortland, and Charlotte Ritchie examine the developing tension in the UK between insurers and policyholders regarding business interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jumana Rahman and Charlotte Ritchie discuss the English law implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on force majeure clauses, borrower-lender relations, offshore and fund litigation, and insurance cases, and consider the potential for transformational changes in the law, in an article for Lawyer Monthly

In light of the current outbreak of COVID-19 and other critical events of 2020, Jumana Rahman and Charlotte Ritchie consider the current state of force majeure in English law, and its impact on the performance of contractual obligations.

Jumana Rahman, Dawda Jawara, and Charlotte Ritchie consider the position of the UK borrower who defaults on debt due to COVID-19.

London team members Jeffrey M Bronheim, Jumana Rahman, Charlotte Ritchie, and Daniel H Mathias discuss the English law contractual provisions which may impact businesses and investors in light of the coronavirus epidemic.