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About
Provided by Sharif A. Shivji KC
Practice Areas
Formerly a derivatives trader in London and Hong-Kong, now King’s Counsel specialising in commercial law with a focus on banking, financial services, company, insolvency, and civil fraud litigation. Sharif is also a leading barrister offshore, especially in the DIFC where he has acted in many of the jurisdiction’s most significant cases (Court of Appeal and First Instance) and the BVI (Court of Appeal). He has in-depth knowledge of the financial markets and corporate finance (in particular, financial and commodity futures, options and complex derivatives). Notable cases include: Mozambique v Credit Suisse International (2023), Autonomy v Lynch (2022), Akhmedova v Akhmedov (2018) (DIFC CFI & CA), Akers v Stanford (BVI HC & CA), Wentworth v Lehman (2017), S&P v ApoBank and RBS (2016) and Chesterfield v Deutsche Bank (2016).
Career
Economics graduate (LSE), research assistant to Bank of England’s monetary policy committee member, derivatives trader (London and Hong Kong 1997 to 1999). The Lawyer Hot 100, C&P Company & Insolvency Junior 2016, Commercial Litigation Junior 2018 and Legal 500 Insolvency Junior 2020. Deputy High Court Judge, Attorney General to HRH The Prince of Wales, Chair of Advocate (the legal advice and representation charity), Chair of Reserves and Director of Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
Professional Memberships
Called to the Bar of the Dubai International Financial Centre and the British Virgin Islands. Chancery Bar Association, COMBAR, Insolvency Lawyers' Association.
Publications
Author, Transaction Avoidance in Insolvencies, OUP, 2018.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Sharif Shivji KC is often instructed in high-value shareholder disputes and financial services-related claims. His technical expertise is bolstered by prior experience as a derivatives trader, which he applies to a range of banking and insolvency law matters.
Sharif Shivji KC's background as a derivatives trader allows him to bring a wealth of direct and professional experience to his highly rated work advising on a range of domestic and international financial regulatory issues. He is also well regarded as an advocate and regularly appears before the Upper Tribunal. His client list includes high-profile investment banks, institutional investors and regulatory bodies.
Sharif Shivji KC is a highly skilled practitioner who has solid experience of acting for a wide range of clients, from investment banks to institutional investors. He co-ordinates cases concerning LIBOR manipulation, mis-selling claims and derivative issues, and also handles matters with offshore elements, including in the Middle East.
Sharif Shivji KC is a well-regarded silk who is regularly involved in complex and high-value fraud litigation. He acts for a broad client base, including several high net worth individuals and financial institutions, and has experience handling cases involving multiple overseas jurisdictions.
Sharif Shivji KC delivers standout performances in financial services litigation and has a highly international practice that sees him work in places such as Dubai, the BVI and Trinidad & Tobago. He is well known for his private client work including high-value divorce agreements, where he advises on trust-related issues, among others. He also maintains particular expertise in commercial litigation, fraud and insolvencies.
Sharif Shivji KC is highly sought after for his expertise in insolvency disputes and wider commercial capabilities. He is particularly adept at handling matters arising from the collapse of financial institutions, and his broad experience covers both domestic and offshore insolvencies.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Sharif has a background in business and banking, which really comes across in what he brings to the table. He is very in tune with the client's requirements and brings a commercial mindset to bear."
"Sharif is very impressive on his feet and in his writing."
"He is a brilliant cross-examiner, who is fierce in court and very sharp."
"Sharif's advocacy is fantastic. A very skilful and incisive cross-examiner, he builds great rapport with judges and tribunals."
"Sharif is exceptionally brilliant and able to quickly grasp and dissect complicated matters. His background in financial services makes him a go-to for complex financial fraud cases."
"His approach is careful and well thought through, with a great attention to detail."
"He is excellent and combines a sharp intellect with a very good tactical mind."
"Sharif is really approachable and very personable. He's one of the main silks in the region - every big matter he's there. He's definitely excelled and always done a very good job. He's excellent."
"Sharif is extremely personable and an extremely able lawyer."
"Sharif is really approachable and very personable. He's one of the main silks in the region - every big matter, he's there. He's definitely excelled and always done a very good job. He's excellent."
"Sharif is a great lawyer. He's very intelligent, hard-working and remains immersed in the detail."
"Sharif is brilliant. He's a really nice person, very hard-working and knows financial services well."
"Sharif is very clever and excellent on his feet. He brings a fine blend of commercial experience and intellectual ability to the job."
"He's a forceful advocate who is all business in a good way and gets things done."
"Sharif's advocacy is fantastic. He is very incisive as a cross-examiner and is really skilful and great at building rapport with judges and tribunals."
"Sharif is fantastic. He is super-analytical and excellent on his feet."
"Sharif is passionate, hard-working and all over the detail."
"I wish I could work with Sharif on every case. He is totally brilliant."
"He really goes to bat for his clients. He is an understated, persuasive advocate and a dogged cross-examiner. He stays on top of the complexity in very detailed and complicated litigation."
"Sharif is a pleasure to work with. He is a strategic thinker but also a master of the detail. His written work is consistently excellent, as is his advocacy. He is an asset to any team he is on."
"Sharif has a background in business and banking, which really comes across in what he brings to the table. He is very in tune with the client's requirements and brings a commercial mindset to bear."
"Sharif is very impressive on his feet and in his writing."
"He is a brilliant cross-examiner, who is fierce in court and very sharp."
"Sharif's advocacy is fantastic. A very skilful and incisive cross-examiner, he builds great rapport with judges and tribunals."
"Sharif is exceptionally brilliant and able to quickly grasp and dissect complicated matters. His background in financial services makes him a go-to for complex financial fraud cases."
"His approach is careful and well thought through, with a great attention to detail."
"He is excellent and combines a sharp intellect with a very good tactical mind."
"Sharif is really approachable and very personable. He's one of the main silks in the region - every big matter he's there. He's definitely excelled and always done a very good job. He's excellent."
"Sharif is extremely personable and an extremely able lawyer."
"Sharif is really approachable and very personable. He's one of the main silks in the region - every big matter, he's there. He's definitely excelled and always done a very good job. He's excellent."
"Sharif is a great lawyer. He's very intelligent, hard-working and remains immersed in the detail."
"Sharif is brilliant. He's a really nice person, very hard-working and knows financial services well."
"Sharif is very clever and excellent on his feet. He brings a fine blend of commercial experience and intellectual ability to the job."
"He's a forceful advocate who is all business in a good way and gets things done."
"Sharif's advocacy is fantastic. He is very incisive as a cross-examiner and is really skilful and great at building rapport with judges and tribunals."
"Sharif is fantastic. He is super-analytical and excellent on his feet."
"Sharif is passionate, hard-working and all over the detail."
"I wish I could work with Sharif on every case. He is totally brilliant."
"He really goes to bat for his clients. He is an understated, persuasive advocate and a dogged cross-examiner. He stays on top of the complexity in very detailed and complicated litigation."
"Sharif is a pleasure to work with. He is a strategic thinker but also a master of the detail. His written work is consistently excellent, as is his advocacy. He is an asset to any team he is on."
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