Photo, Hugh Lyons

Hugh Lyons

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Hugh Lyons is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution department, based in London. He has extensive experience of high-profile and high-value commercial and financial disputes. His clients include major corporates, financial institutions and leading insolvency practitioners. Much of his work arises from disputed financing transactions, restructuring and insolvency, fraud and financial misconduct. He is also actively involved in the Firm's pro bono offering.

Hugh is recognised for his practice by Legal 500, while Super Lawyers ranks him a “Top Rated Attorney in London” in the categories of commercial litigation, fraud and insolvency & bankruptcy.

Hugh is a member of the Insolvency Lawyers Association and a fellow of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.

Practice Focus

Hugh regularly advises clients on litigation and investigations arising from financing transactions, restructuring and insolvency, fraud and financial misconduct. In such cases, Hugh helps clients both to formulate a strategic response to their issues and to decide how best to engage with regulators and prosecuting authorities.

Hugh has extensive experience representing clients involved in disputes in the Middle East, where he is admitted as an advocate before the DIFC Courts, as well as in other jurisdictions including the Caribbean, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore and the US.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Acting for Dubai Islamic Bank in a USD500 million fraud claim and a subsequent USD2 billion claim in the English Commercial Court.
  • Representing Ireland's National Asset Management Authority in a substantial trial before the English Commercial Court.
  • Acting for Taaleem PJSC in a heavily contested USD100 million dispute before the DIFC Court.
  • Advising various corporate trustees on contested bond defaults, including representing BNYM in the Supreme Court in the Perpetual case.
  • Advising Ford in a GBP300 million claim brought by several hundred of its former employees.
  • Representing the receivers of various structured investment vehicles (including Cheyne and Sigma), including on appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Association of Business Recovery Professionals - Fellow
  • Insolvency Lawyers Association
  • Commercial Litigators' Forum - Committee Member
  • London Commercial Court Users - Former Committee Member
  • Law Society of England & Wales
  • Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Advocacy, England and Wales)
  • Advocate (DIFC Courts)

Admissions

  • England & Wales~United Kingdom (1997)
  • Dubai International Financial Centre Court~United Arab Emirates

Education

  • College of Law (L.P.C.)
  • University of Bristol (LLM)
  • University of Bristol (LLB)

Languages

  • English