Steven Thompson KC

Areas of experience

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• Arbitration

  Steven has been involved in numerous arbitrations including ones governed by the rules of the ICC, LCIA, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, as well as trade associations and ad hoc arbitrations mainly as counsel but also as arbitrator. He advises on cases in his areas of expertise (particularly aviation, company and shareholder disputes and civil fraud) which involve an arbitration clause for dispute resolution. He is also regularly instructed to appear in the Commercial Court in arbitration claims. He has both prepared and advised on submissions on points of English law arising in complex disputes as well as appearing in arbitrations as counsel.

  Arbitration work is by its nature confidential, anonymised examples may be given on request. His recent arbitral experience includes disputes in the aviation and the oil and gas sectors as well as others involving commercial and commercial fraud issues.

• Aviation

  Steven has a well-established practice in aviation law and is one of only a handful of senior members at the Bar who can say that a very significant part of their practice is in aviation-specific disputes. The Legal 500 comments ‘he knows the aviation field better than almost anyone else at the Bar’. Clients in Chambers & Partners say of him: ‘he very effectively cross-examines and manages to keep the court’s respect whilst eviscerating the evidence of a particular witness’ and ‘he is very detail-orientated, but is also able to present complex details in a clear and comprehensive manner.’

  He has acted in many pieces of high-value litigation as well as in arbitrations both for and against major operators, maintenance organisations, manufacturers, owners, airports and air traffic control system engineers. He has developed a particular reputation for his understanding of technical manufacturing and maintenance issues in cases which involved consideration of the condition of aircraft or parts and the nature of manufacturing, maintenance and repair work.

  He has experience in dealing with disputes concerning the manufacture, purchase, sale and leasing of aircraft, including cases concerning return conditions. He has also appeared in contractual disputes, product liability cases and negligence actions against maintenance organisations, often following catastrophic failures in flight. Steven’s first degree in science means that he is comfortable dealing with the complex technical expert issues, including questions of loss and damage, which often arise in this field.

  During the pandemic, Steven advised operators, aircraft and engine lessors, airports and other industry players on their rights and obligations under agreements made before the industry was devasted by the travel restrictions. Since the resurgence of commercial air travel he has been engaged to advise on the fresh problems faced by the industry including delays in supply and interruptions to businesses as well the fall out from the war in Ukraine and the consequent Russian sanctions.

  His aviation experience includes:

  • Saudi Arabian Airlines v Sprite Aviation: Acting for the lessee in a dispute involving the reimbursement of maintenance reserves at the end of lease
  • Cathay Pacific v Lufthansa Technik [2020] EWHC 1789 (Ch): Acting for Cathay Pacific in a dispute over a 10-year jet engine maintenance agreement.
  • Confidential arbitration: concerning the manufacture in the Middle East of composite parts for commercial aircraft.
  • Confidential dispute: concerning the manufacture of electronic components for in-flight refuelling systems.
  • Cargologicair v WWTAI Airopco 1: Acting for the lessor in a dispute concerning the insolvency of a Russian-owned cargo airline and lease termination since the introduction of sanctions.
  • ZF Ireland v Saudi Gulf Airlines: Acting for the lessor in a claim to recover damages from a Saudi airline and its guarantors.
  • Short Brothers v AAR CORP: Acting in a claim on behalf of AAR CORP, a US component supply company, in a complex commercial dispute progressing in Northern Ireland, brought by one of the largest manufacturing companies in the country.
• Civil Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery

  Steven has particular experience in multi-jurisdictional civil fraud cases. He is recognised in this area by Chambers & Partners who record that ‘Steven has exceptional attention to detail and an analytical eye’, and as ‘a bright, punchy advocate with real expertise in cross-border fraud work’. The Legal 500 reports a client saying ‘Steven is real heavyweight in this area with a razor-sharp eye for detail and a no nonsense approach. He has a great advocacy style and his written work is excellent.’

  His civil fraud experience include:

  • Briefline v Falin: Steven was instructed in BVI court proceedings concerning the transfer of shares in underlying Russian businesses.
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria v Tibit: Instructed in an action in the BVI on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover funds allegedly stolen by corrupt former officials and used to purchase an executive jet.
  • Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse: Acting for the Swiss bank in a claim brought in Bermuda by the former prime minister of Georgia arising out frauds committed by a rogue employee.Steven appeared at trial and on appeal.
  • Larmag v First Abu Dhabi Bank [2019] DIFC CFI 054: Instructed in this trial in the DIFC concerning the transfer of corporate bonds.
  • Kazakhstan Kagazy v Arip: Steven was instructed by a defendant accused of knowing receipt of misappropriated funds in this large London fraud case.
• Commercial Litigation

  As well as the specialist civil fraud cases in which Steven is instructed, he is frequently instructed on more general commercial disputes both in England and abroad.

  The Legal 500 recommends him for commercial litigation work and quotes a client saying ‘Steven is a truly brilliant advocate. He is always meticulously prepared and is an immaculate court room performer. Exceptional in every way.’ Chambers & Partners also recommend him, saying ‘Steven is a reassuringly measured and experienced presence for both the solicitor and the client.’ Clients comment that ‘Steven is a punchy advocate with real expertise in cross-border work.’

  His experience includes:

  • Perrucci v Orlean Invest Holdings [2022] EWHC 2038 (Comm): Acting in this multi-faceted dispute concerning oil and gas port facilities in Nigeria.
  • Nest Investments v Deloitte & Touche [2021] DIFC CA 012 & 014 : a DIFC Court of Appeal claim against a Lebanese bank’s auditors.
  • Stormharbour Securities v Noor Bank: DIFC claim against a bank which settled on the morning of trial.
  • IGPL General Trading v Hortin Holdings [2021] DIFC CA 013 & 015: A DIFC Court of Appeal claim concerning the authority of shareholders to bind a company by informal acts.
  • Hanger Holdings v Perlake: Trial concerning the ownership of a gambling domain name and website.
  • Candy Ventures v Tamara Ralph : Acting in a claim against the founder and former director of a fashion company, now insolvent, for breaches of her duties to it as a director and employee.
• Company

  Steven’s company law experience is extensive, he is regularly involved in litigation resulting from disputes between joint venturers and shareholders. He also has particular experience advising on offshore company issues advising on, and appearing in, shareholder and company disputes proceeding in the BVI and Cayman Courts which have their commercial origins in the PRC, Hong Kong and the Middle East.

  • Ciban v Citco [2021] 1 AC 122: Defending claims of breach of fiduciary duty brought against a professional services company by a shell BVI Steven appeared at trial, before the Court of Appeal and in the Privy Council. The appellate courts addressed the law of ostensible authority and the Duomatic principle.
  • IGPL General Trading v Hortin Holdings [2021] DIFC CA 013 & 015: Acting in a DIFC Court of Appeal claim concerning the authority of shareholders to bind a company by informal acts.
  • Candy Ventures v Tamara Ralph: Acting in a claim against the founder and former director of a fashion company, now insolvent, for breaches of her duties to it as a director and employee.
• Insolvency

  Steven has a wealth of expertise in insolvency matters. His international experience and knowledge makes him particularly suitable in cross-border insolvencies. He has also acquired a strong reputation in aviation related insolvency matters. Many of his civil fraud and commercial cases include aspects of insolvency law and insolvency risks which Steven is comfortable to handle in the course of acting.

  Clients comment ‘Steven is highly experienced in this field and with his offshore expertise is a great asset on any case involving aspects of insolvency’ (Legal 500).

  His experience includes:

  • Finnan Developments v Finnan [2020] EWHC 1607 (Ch): Steven was instructed by a former member of an insolvent LLP in a claim brought by its liquidator for misfeasance. The case involved novel points of LLP insolvency law, in circumstances where members can also be creditors.
• International & Offshore

  Steven has particular experience in the first instance and appellate courts of the British Virgin Islands and the Dubai International Financial Centre having undertaken work continuously in those jurisdictions since 2000 and 2010 respectively.

  In addition, he has also appeared in the courts of Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Turks & Caicos Islands and assisted in other cases behind the scenes, particularly in large shareholder and fraud disputes.

  He has been instructed and heavily involved in disputes being litigated in Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Cyprus, the Bahamas, Hong Kong and Northern Ireland.

  Steven is also regularly instructed on international arbitrations and associated Court hearings, in the Middle East and the Far East.

  The Legal 500 recommends Steven for offshore work, clients state ‘Steven is exceptionally bright and a brilliant advocate who can always be relied on to get great results, even with a difficult case.’

  Particularly in respect of Middle Eastern work, The Legal 500 reports ‘Steven is one of the leading authorities on DIFC litigation at the English Bar. Incredibly hard-working, a brilliant advocate and highly intelligent.’.

  His recent international and offshore experience includes:

  Caribbean

  • re Point Investments Ltd: Steven was involved in litigation in Bermuda concerning the assets of the late Robert Brockman who was, before his death, accused of the largest US tax fraud in history.
  • Ciban v Citco [2021] 1 AC 122: Steven was instructed in BVI litigation to defend claims of breach of fiduciary duty brought against a professional services company. Steven appeared at trial, before the Court of Appeal and in the Privy Council. The appellate courts addressed the law of ostensible authority and the Duomatic principle.
  • Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse [2021] SC (Bda) 14 Civ; [2023] CA (Bda) 13 Civ: Steven acts for the Swiss bank in claim brought in Bermuda by the former prime minister of Georgia arising out frauds committed by a rogue employee.
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria v Tibit: Steven is instructed in an action in the BVI on behalf of Nigeria to recover funds allegedly stolen by corrupt former officials and used to purchase an executive jet.
  • Briefline v Falin: Steven was instructed in BVI court proceedings concerning the transfer of shares in underlying Russian businesses.

  He also appeared in and advised on: RGI International v Synergy (Guernsey), Attorney-General v Robinson (Turks & Caicos Islands), Gudavadze v Carlina (BVI), BTA v Ablyazov (BVI), Renova v Emmerson (BVI), Mahi v RAGOF (part of the Wang and Floreat litigation; BVI), Asia Cement v China Shanshui Cement (Cayman) and Re Mongolian Mining Corp (Cayman).

  Middle East

  • IGPL General Trading v Hortin Holdings [2021] DIFC CA 013 & 015 (March 2022): Steven was instructed in the DIFC Court of Appeal in a claim concerning the authority of shareholders to bind a company by informal acts.
  • Stormharbour Securities v Noor Bank: Steven was instructed in this claim in the DIFC against a bank which settled on the morning of trial.
  • Nest Investments v Deloitte & Touche [2021] DIFC CA 012 & 014 (February 2023): Steven was instructed in the DIFC Court of Appeal in this claim against a Lebanese bank’s auditors.

  In the DIFC his other reported cases include: Egan v Eava [2013] DIFC ARB 002; Fiske v Firmin [2014] DIFC ARB 001; Fletcher v Florance Logistics [2015] ARB 002; Fidel v Felecia [2015] DIFC CA 002; Brookfield v DIFC Investments [2016] DIFC CFI 20; AF Construction v Power Transmission Gulf (reported only in the JJC as Cassation no. 8 of 2019).

Other information

• Recommendations

  Aviation

  Chambers & Partners

  ‘A real team player, who assimilates information very well and gives new direction as to how to approach a case.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is very impressive on his feet and particularly excellent on the details.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven is very good with clients, he has a very accessible manner, and he is real pleasure to work with.’ (2024)

  ‘He is very able to handle witnesses, he very effectively cross-examines and manages to keep the court’s respect whilst eviscerating the evidence of a particular witness.’ (2023)

  ‘He is very detail-orientated, but is also able to present complex details in a clear and comprehensive manner.’ (2023)

  Legal 500

  Steven was ranked as a leading silk in 2025.

  ‘Steven has superb judgement and there is no one better at the Bar for aviation work. He is also great to work with and is willing to stick his neck out to predict outcomes.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven has a strong intellect and gives clear and robust advice. He knows the aviation field better than almost anyone else at the Bar.’ (2023)

  ‘A great barrister for any commercial or fraud case, Steven has a particular specialism in aviation, and it shows. One of the absolute best that you can instruct on an aviation case.’ (2022)

   

  Fraud: Civil

  Chambers & Partners

  ‘He has an amazing skill to eat papers. The amount of work and heavy law he gets through is quite incredible. His procedural and substantive law of other jurisdictions is incredible.’ (2025)

  ‘He is excellent – he’s sensible and knows his stuff.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is a good strategic thinker and a passionate advocate. He has an impressive command of a vast amount of technical information.’ (2024)

  ‘He is down to earth and responsive, creative in difficult arguments and good in front of clients.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven has exceptional attention to detail and an analytical eye.’ (2023)

  ‘A real performer in this space – he’s fantastic on his feet and is an impressive advocate.’ (2022)

  ‘A very bright barrister who is great at strategy and lovely to work with.’ (2022)

  The Legal 500

  ‘Steven is a ferocious and highly persuasive advocate who knows the law inside out. He is simply brilliant in court.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is an exceptional advocate who argues the most difficult cases very persuasively, pitching his submissions at exactly the right level for the judge and delivering excellent results every time. He has proved himself in highly complex cases at both first instance and appellate level.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven is real heavyweight in this area with a razor sharp eye for detail and a no nonsense approach. He has a great advocacy style and his written work is excellent.’ (2023)

  ‘Hard working, a team player and great fun, Steven is highly intelligent and enthusiastic too.’ (2022)

   

  Commercial Dispute Resolution

  Chambers & Partners

  ‘Steven is really good in court, very persuasive on his feet and just great to work with.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is highly technical and very good on factual matters.’ (2025)

  ‘Very smart and easy to work with, he’s a man who brings genuine knowledge and enthusiasm.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven is extremely bright and fights very hard.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven is a reassuringly measured and experienced presence for both the solicitor and the client.’ (2023)

  ‘Great at handling witnesses, he very effectively cross-examines and manages to keep the court’s respect whilst eviscerating the evidence of a particular witness.’ (2023)

  ‘Hard-working and motivated, he is someone who is just as keen as you are to win. He is very smart and great to work with.’ (2022 – UK and Global)

  The Legal 500

  ‘Steven has superb judgement and there is no one better at the Bar for aviation work. He is also great to work with, and is willing to stick his neck out to predict outcomes.’ (2024)

  ‘Steven is a truly brilliant advocate. He is always meticulously prepared and is an immaculate court room performer. Exceptional in every way.’ (2023)

  ‘An awesome talent. Provides excellent advice and does not sit on the fence.’ (2022)

   

  Offshore

  The Legal 500

  ‘Steven is exceptionally bright and a brilliant advocate who can always be relied on to get great results, even with a difficult case. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the law ad so it particularly suited for appellate work, but he is equally good at interlocutory skirmishes.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is exceptionally bright and a brilliant advocate who can always be relied on to get great results, even with a difficult case. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and so it particularly suited for appellate work, but he is equally good at interlocutory skirmishes.’ (2024)

  ‘Robust advocacy, not easily fazed, makes difficult concepts simple to understand, stands up well under pressure even at the highest levels of the court system.’ (2023)

  ‘He balances a direct no-nonsense approach, with full awareness of legal and strategic nuance.’ (2022)

  ‘Very good at reading judges, he always pitches it just right.’ (2021)

   

  Middle East: The English Bar – Commercial

  The Legal 500

  ‘Steven is one of the leading authorities on DIFC litigation at the English Bar. Incredibly hard-working, a brilliant advocate and highly intelligent.’ (2025)

  ‘Steven is an excellent advocate. He is very detailed-oriented, and is happy to roll up his sleeves and get stuck into the case. He is also a pleasure to work with.’ (2023)

  ‘Steven is supremely knowledgeable and has excellent analytical skills. He is creative, commercial and always gets the very best result for his clients.’ (2022)

   

  Restructuring/Insolvency

  Chambers & Partners

  ‘A hugely experienced, very powerful and persuasive advocate.’ (2021 – Global)

  Legal 500

  ‘Steven is highly experienced in this field and with his offshore expertise is a great asset on any case involving aspects of insolvency.’ (2023)

  ‘Has an excellent knowledge of insolvency law and a mastermind in this area.’ (2022)

   

• Academic history
  • BA (Hons) St. John’s College, Cambridge University (Natural Science)
  • Dip. Law City University, London
• Appointments & Professional Memberships
  • Chancery Bar Association
  • COMBAR – The Commercial Bar Association
  • Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Virgin Islands)
  • Advocate of the Dubai International Financial Centre