Ben Levitt
Biography
Ben Levitt is a senior associate in the Baker McKenzie Dispute Resolution Department based in London. Ben has substantial experience in multijurisdictional insolvency and commercial litigation, particularly those involving fraud and white-collar crime, and complex banking and finance disputes. Ben was a Judicial Assistant for The Honourable Mr Justice Snowden (as he then was) in the Chancery Division in 2015, and seconded to Standard Chartered Bank's distressed debt department in 2018-2019.
Practice Focus
Ben advises multinational companies on multijurisdictional insolvency and commercial litigation, principally across the banking, technology, energy, and construction sectors. Ben has experience of all forms of alternative dispute resolution and frequently advises on issues of contractual interpretation, risk mitigation and settlement strategy.
Representative Legal Matters
Restructuring and Insolvency
- Acting for Citibank in winding up petitions totalling c.USD 600 million against various entities in the Gupta Family Group - Citibank v Speciality Steel UK Limited & others [2022] EWHC 1359.
- Acting for Jain International Trading BV in a Scheme of Arrangement to restructure USD 200 million on bondholder notes.
- Acting for a Distressed Debt Fund to enforce c. USD 100m of judgment debts in the UAE.
- Acting for a former company director during the course of an investigation by administrators and liquidators into historic activity within group companies.
- Acting for a steel company in its capacity as the largest creditor (USD 10 million) in the insolvency of a trading partner. .
Commercial Litigation
- Acting for a Sovereign Entity in respect of proceedings in the Cayman Islands, the USA, and Hong Kong in relation to a c. USD 500 million claim including Norwich Pharmacal Application in Hong Kong and s.1782 Application in the USA.
- Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in connection with a USD 2 billion claim brought against it in the Commercial Court relating to a USD 560 million fraud in Dubai.
- Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in connection with a claim brought against it for breach of a settlement agreement.
- Acting for White Oak in a GBP 6 million summary judgment claim against defaulting payees
- Acting for a defendant bank in c. GBP 500,000 High Court litigation concerning the interface between bank payments and the US and UK sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Professional Honors
- Legal 500, 2022: "Key Lawyer" in Commercial Litigation Premium
- Legal 500, 2021: Commercial Litigation Premium: "Ben Levitt – very bright with great client skills". "Key Lawyer" in Civil Fraud Team
Admissions
- England & Wales (2016)
Education
- Insol International (INSOL Foundation Certificate in International Insolvency Law) (2021)
- University of Law (Legal Practice Course with Distinction) (2013)
- University of Law (Graduate Diploma in Law with Commendation) (2012)
- University of Nottingham (History and Politics BA Jt. Hons) (2009)
Languages
- English
Baker & McKenzie LLP, an English partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.