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Anna Dilnot

e-mail adilnot@3sb.law.co.uk

Anna has a broad commercial and Chancery litigation practice with experience in the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions. She has a particular speciality in the area of civil fraud and asset recovery having acted in a number of high profile multi-jurisdiction cases. She also has substantial experience of commercial arbitration in a number of industry sectors including energy, IT, construction and telecoms.

Whilst Anna’s call date is 2008, she has extensive litigation experience having qualified as a solicitor in 2002 into the commercial litigation department of Stephenson Harwood where she developed a specialism in fraud and asset tracing. Anna was part of the team which was given the Legal Business Dispute Resolution Team of the Year award in 2005 in respect of the monies recovered for Westminster City Council from Dame Shirley Porter. Anna moved to Simmons & Simmons in 2005 where she became a member of the fraud/crime group and where she became a solicitor advocate. She has acted for Prince Jefri Bolkiah since 2005 as both solicitor and barrister in his long running dispute with Brunei.

Anna practices in the following areas: general commercial litigation including fraud and asset tracing/recovery (including interim relief), arbitration, banking and financial services, insurance & reinsurance, contentious trust, partnership, insolvency (both personal and corporate), company law, conflicts of law and contract disputes.

Anna has litigation experience in the Privy Council, the High Court, County Courts, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and the Jersey Royal Court. She also undertakes advisory and drafting work.

  • Professional reputation

    In October 2009 Anna was chosen by Legal Week, as part of its 'stars of the bar' article, as a "highly commended up and coming barrister". Per Legal Week: "Although she was only called to the Bar in 2008, she acts in reality like she is seven years call. She is a very nice person to work with, though she can be a Rottweiler and is one to look out for in the future."

  • Notable recent cases

    Anna’s recent cases include:

    • [2010] LCIA arbitration: Anna acts for a energy commodity trader in a pipeline and construction dispute.
    • [2009-2010] LCIA arbitration: Anna acts for a large telecoms and technology company in an LCIA international commercial arbitration.
    • Emmott v Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd [2009] EWHC 1 (Comm): the first reported (and widely commented upon) decision on the Court’s powers under s. 42 Arbitration Act 1996 with regard to enforcement of a peremptory order made by a Tribunal.
    • (1) The State of Brunei Darussalam (2) the Brunei Investment Agency v HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah [2008] EWHC 1247 (Ch): committal proceedings for alleged breaches of freezing and disclosure orders and the submission of evidence without an honest belief in its truth.
    • (1) The State of Brunei Darussalam (2) the Brunei Investment Agency v HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah [2008] EWHC 1248 (Ch): successful application for permission to cross-examine the Sultan of Brunei involving questions of sovereign immunity.
    • [2008-2010]: Anna acted in the hearing of a very substantial ad hoc commercial arbitration regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary and contractual duties (including the diversion of business opportunities) arising out of a business venture in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
    • Noble Automotive Ltd v Noble [2008] (settled): claim involving allegations of misappropriation of assets, breach of fiduciary duty and knowing receipt.
    • In the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands: (1) the State of Brunei Darussalam (2) the Brunei Investment Agency v (1) Sol Properties, Inc (2) HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah [2008]: application for rectification of the share register of a Cayman Islands incorporated company; involved the question of whether a non money judgment could be enforced at common law; resulted in a change in the common law as applied in the Cayman Islands.
    • The State of Brunei Darussalam v Fidelis Nominees & Ors [2008] JRC 152: application to enforce a non money judgment in Jersey. The case resulted in the common law, as applied in Jersey, being changed to allow enforcement. 

    Anna’s recent cases as a solicitor include:

    • HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah v (1) the State of Brunei Darussalam & Ors [2007] UKPC 63: specific performance; summary judgment; collateral contract; misrepresentation and estoppel.
    • HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah v (1) the State of Brunei Darussalam & Ors [2007] UKPC 62: application for recusal of trial judge; apparent bias; right to fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal.
    • Amedeo Hotels Ltd Partnership v Faith Zaman & Ors [2007] EWHC 295 (Comm): alleged breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of assets; freezing orders obtained under s.25 Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982.
    • Westminster City Council v Dame Shirley Porter (English and Jersey courts) [2004]: asset tracing; sham trust; freezing orders; third party disclosure orders; receivership and gagging orders.
    • Anna also acted in a number of substantial international commercial arbitrations in the energy, banking and construction sectors (ad hoc, LCIA and ICC).

  • Professional membership

    COMbar

    Chancery Bar Association

  • Education and career

    Anna read Law and French Law at University College London and Université d’Assas in Paris, graduating in 1998. She speaks fluent french. 

    Between 2002 and 2008 Anna practised as a Solicitor in the commercial litigation departments of Stephenson Harwood and Simmons & Simmons.

  • Seminars and lectures

    Recent talks and publications include:

    • Contributor for the new LexisNexis online training programme (commencing proceedings)
    • Injunctions Update 2008/2009 and 2009/2010
    • Member of debate for October 2009 Jersey seminar dealing with breach of contract, negligence and fiduciary duty

    • Member of debate for the April 2009 Cayman seminar dealing with Madoff related fraud