James Le Gallais

He has acted for a broad spectrum of enterprises involved in or anticipating commercial disputes, from start-ups and entrepreneurs to household name Plcs. James has particular experience in assisting those in the process of corporate or personal insolvency and in acting for banks and commercial financiers seeking redress for fraud and other wrongdoing on the part of commercial clients.

James has experience of and has obtained a wide range of emergency interim remedies, including freezing orders and other injunctions designed to protect and preserve assets.

Recent Cases

James’s recent cases include:

A claim by minority creditors of a bankrupt’s estate who alleged that they had been prejudiced by a fraudulently low valuation and transfer of shares held by the bankrupt worth in excess of £1 million.  James obtained an emergency injunction after the shares had been transferred out of the estate, preventing their imminent onward sale.  At trial, the court ordered that the shares be returned to the bankruptcy estate for the benefit of the creditors.

A claim against the joint administrators of a well-known chain of amusement arcades for the conversion of assets with a sale value of over £4 million. As sole counsel, James obtained an urgent without notice injunction protecting and preserving those assets.

A claim by a large commercial financier for a fraudulent conspiracy on the part of the owner/directors of a client company whereby the claimant was induced to part with substantial sums following the creation of false invoices.

Defending a claim against a high street bank for substantial damages arising out of the alleged lack of capacity of the Claimant to grant a legal charge in favour of the Claimant over his property. 

A wide range of insolvency related applications, including:

-s.212 IA 1986 misfeasance claims by liquidators against company directors for breach of duty, unlawful dividends, and misappropriation of company funds;

-applications to set aside statutory demands, annulment applications, “clawback” applications and cases involving the remuneration and expenses of insolvency practitioners;

-Director’s disqualification proceedings.