Tim Koch

: +44 (0)20 7691 2424
: tim.koch@xxiv.co.uk
: Contact Clerks
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Tim Koch specialises in commercial and private client disputes. He has experience in all of Chambers’ core practice areas, including trusts, civil fraud, insolvency, art and cultural property, and offshore disputes. He welcomes instructions as sole counsel or as part of a wider team.

Examples of Tim’s recent and ongoing instructions include:

Acting for beneficiaries in wide-ranging breach of trust proceedings, comprising allegations of undue influence and dishonest assistance (led by Edward Cumming KC);
Advising on the doctrine of renvoi and other probate issues in a dispute concerning the devolution of real property situated in Poland (as sole counsel);
Acting on a contentious blessing application concerning the proposed restructuring of a Manx Trust (led by Brian Green KC, Andrew Holden, and Anna Littler);
Acting in a substantial fraud claim seeking to recover monies allegedly misappropriated by the former manager of an estate agency business (as sole counsel);
Acting on an application to discharge an anti-suit injunction granted by the Cayman Grand Court ([2024] CIFsd 16) to restrain receivership applications brought in Hong Kong breach of trust proceedings (led by Elspeth Talbot Rice KC).

Tim completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at University of Oxford, graduating with a Distinction from the BCL in 2020. Tim formerly supervised tutorials as a Stipendiary Lecturer at New College, Oxford. He has also worked as a Research Assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales, where he contributed to the Digital Assets Project.

Expertise

Art, Cultural Property & Luxury Assets

Tim has a particular interest and experience in art and cultural property disputes. His experience includes:

Acting on an art related LICA arbitration (as sole counsel).
Advising on various fraud related claims by investors against their art advisors.
Advising on professional negligence claims in the context of a provenance / restitution dispute.
Advising on a dispute between buyer and auction house concerning ﬁnancing arrangements.
Drafting statements of case in claim for recovery of a spoliated painting looted during the Nazi occupation of France (as a pupil, with Edward Cumming KC).
Advising on fraud related claims against an agent involving the sale of a valuable watch collection (as a pupil, with Edward Cumming KC).
Eva Green v White Lantern [2023] EWHC 930 (Ch): Assisting with the written closings in the high-proﬁle trial between the ﬁlm star Eva Green and a production company over the wrongful termination of a sci-ﬁ thriller (as a pupil, with James Goodwin).

Aviation & Travel

Re LaMia Flight 2933: assisting with ongoing litigation arising out of the loss of LaMia flight 2933 in Colombia in 2016.
Acting for defendant airlines in EU Regulation 261/2004 claims (as sole counsel).
Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp v Sprite Aviation No.6 DAC [2024] EWHC 797 (Comm): assisting with the trial of a preliminary issue in a dispute concerning the construction of an aircraft leasing agreement (as a pupil, with Edward Cumming KC).
Advising on options to resist the enforcement of a judgment for monies owed by the lessors pursuant to an aircraft lease (as a pupil, with Erin Hitchens).
Drafted a request for arbitration relating to aircraft conversion contracts (as a pupil).

Banking & Financial Services Disputes

Acting on a dispute involving assets held in joint bank accounts (as sole counsel)
Acting in dispute relating to a financial consultancy services contract (as sole counsel)
CPF One Limited v Ortus Secured Finance I Limited [2023] EWHC 2102 (Ch): successful application to strike out claims against a senior lender and security trustee for the alleged breach of syndicated loan agreement (as a pupil, with Zoë Barton KC).

Civil Fraud & Asset Recovery

Acting in a claim seeking to recover monies misappropriated by the former manager of an estate agency business (as sole counsel)
Acting as sole counsel on a CPR Part 71 Application for the cross-examination of a judgment debtor (as sole counsel, acting pro bono via Advocate).
Lim v Ong [2023] EWHC 321: assisted with the enforcement and contempt proceedings in a wide-ranging commercial fraud claim (as a pupil, with James Goodwin).
Assisted with jurisdiction challenge in a Georgian conspiracy claim (as a pupil)
Drafted defence to an alleged ‘Umbrella Company’ fraud (as a pupil).
Advised on collateral use of documents obtained pursuant to a post-judgment freezing order to assist enforcement of Arbitral Award (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).

Commercial Litigation

Successfully resisted jurisdiction challenge in USD1.5m + claim relating to the termination of joint venture (led by Steven Reed).
Acting in a dispute relating to a financial consultancy services contract (as sole counsel).
Successfully represented a firm of solicitors in a fee dispute (as sole counsel).
Advised on issues arising out of a reservation of title clause in the context of a claim under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (led by Steven Reed).
Advised on application for injunctive relief to restrain termination of a services agreement for the provision of tele-medicine services (as a pupil, with Edward Cumming KC).
Advised on the termination of a JVA for the construction of a hotel complex (as a pupil).
Assisting in defending £30m+ claims for conspiracy and dishonest assistance for diversion of a valuable business opportunity (as a pupil, with Zoë Barton KC).

Company

Drafted an unfair prejudice petition in the context of a family dispute over a Singapore company (as sole counsel).
Advised on claims relating to the rectiﬁcation of the register of members (as a pupil).
Advised on the validity of share buyback (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).
Prepared an application for a vesting order under s.51 of the Trustee Act 1925 (as a pupil).
Assisted with claims for breach of warranty in a share purchase agreement (as a pupil).

Crypto & Digital Assets

Tulip Trading Ltd v Van der Laan [2023] EWCA Civ 83: assisted with successful appeal concerning the application of ﬁduciary concepts to crypto-assets (as a pupil).
Tim has previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales, where he contributed to the Digital Assets Project.

Group Litigation

Tim has experience of group litigation and representative claims, including in relation to actions brought pursuant to s.90A FSMA.

Insolvency

Tim regularly acts as sole counsel on various winding-up and bankruptcy petitions and related matters, including office holder claims. He was awarded the Corporate Insolvency Prize on the BCL and previously worked in the Insolvency and Restructuring Team at a leading US law ﬁrm.

Successfully resisted a bankruptcy petition (as sole counsel, acting pro bono)
Drafted an application to restrain the presentation of a winding-up petition of a BVI Company on jurisdictional grounds (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).
Advised on the enforcement of US Judgments obtained by a Chapter 7 Trustee in Bankruptcy in Gibraltar (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).
City Gardens Ltd v DOK82 Ltd [2023] EWHC 1149 (Ch): successful appeal considering availability of a winding-up order where petition debt arises out of a contract subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of a foreign court (as a pupil, with Bobby Friedman).
Advised on issues arising out of the Privy Council’s decision Equity Trust (Jersey) Ltd v Halabi [2022] UKPC 36 (‘Z Trusts’) (as a pupil, with James Goodwin).

International & Offshore

Tim has experience in a diverse range of international litigation, including in jurisdictions such as the Channel Islands, the BVI, Cayman, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, the DIFC, and Cyprus.

Acted on an application to discharge an Anti-Suit Injunction granted by the Cayman Grand Court ([2024] CIFsd 16) to restrain receivership applications brought in Hong Kong breach of trust proceedings (led by Elspeth Talbot Rice KC).
Wide-ranging breach of trust proceedings and associated claims for dishonest assistance and undue influence (led by Edward Cumming KC).
A contentious blessing application concerning the proposed restructuring of a Manx Trust (led by Brian Green KC, Andrew Holden, and Anna Littler).
Advised on the prescription of a Jersey law Loan Agreement and an application to discharge related security interests governed by English law (led by Nicole Langlois).
Advising the trustees of an offshore trust on their compliance obligations pursuant to the Russia Regulations (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).

Media, IP & Sporting Disputes

Tim has experience in defamation law and media disputes. He is currently instructed in relation to a dispute concerning a defamatory website published by persons unknown (led by Steven Reed).

Real Estate Litigation

Tim regularly appears as sole counsel on a wide range of possession related hearings.
Successfully acted in one-day trial regarding defective building works completed at a residential property (as sole counsel, instructed pro bono via Advocate).
Assisted with urgent injunction restraining landlord from re-entering cinema premises (as a pupil, with Benjamin Faulkner).
Drafted particulars of claim to rescind acquisition of a commercial property for fraudulent misrepresentation (as a pupil, with Benjamin Faulkner).
Advised on the termination of a JVA for the construction of a hotel complex (as a pupil).

Trusts, Probate & Estates

Tim’s trusts related experience includes:

Acting on a confidential trust arbitration (led by Elspeth Talbot Rice KC, Andrew Holden, and James Bradford).
Acting for the former executors in long running proceedings concerning the administration of a high value estate (as sole counsel).
Advising PTCs on the administration of Insolvent Estates.
Acting on wide-ranging breach of trust proceedings and associated claims for dishonest assistance and undue influence (led by Edward Cumming KC).
Acting on contentious blessing application concerning the proposed restructuring of a Manx Trust (led by Brian Green KC, Andrew Holden, and Anna Littler).
Acting on an application to discharge an Anti-Suit Injunction granted by the Cayman Grand Court ([2024] CIFsd 16) restraining receivership applications brought in Hong Kong breach of trust proceedings (led by Elspeth Talbot Rice KC).
Drafting pleadings alleging that assets are held on trust and/or the breach of such trusts.
Advising on issues arising out of the Privy Council’s decision Equity Trust (Jersey) Ltd v Halabi [2022] UKPC 36 (‘Z Trusts’) (as a pupil, with James Goodwin).
Advising the trustees of an offshore trust on their compliance obligations pursuant to the Russia Regulations (as a pupil, with Adam Cloherty KC).

Tim’s probate related experience includes:

Advising on the doctrine of renvoi and other probate issues arising out of a dispute concerning the devolution of real property situated in Poland (as sole counsel).
Successfully acted for the executors/trustees of a will trust in a possession claim of a high value property (as sole counsel).
Acted for personal representatives on a claim for the reimbursement of Inheritance Tax payable on a (failed) potentially exempt transfer (as sole counsel).
Various claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Advising on and applying for directions as to the proper construction of wills.

: +44 (0)20 7691 2424
: tim.koch@xxiv.co.uk
: Contact Clerks
: Add to portfolio
: Download CV (PDF)
: Download vCard

Publications

Butler-Sloss v The Charity Commission: the pursuit of charitable purposes through ESG investing (July 2022, Oxford Property Law Blog)
Enacting ECHR compliant measures to confiscate property: imposing sanctions on Russian oligarchs for the invasion of Ukraine (March 2022, Oxford Property Law Blog)
Another Look at Connected Party Pre-Packs (October 2020, Oxford Business Law Blog)
Fearn v Tate Gallery Board of Trustees in the Court of Appeal: Curtains for Article 8 rights in the Tort of Private Nuisance? (April 2020, Edinburgh Private Law Blog).
Direct Action for Divestment and the Right to Peaceful Protest on Private Property (March 2020, Oxford Property Law Blog)

Academic History

Bar Training Course, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (Outstanding)
Bachelor of Civil Laws, St Cross College, University of Oxford (Distinction)
BA Jurisprudence, Jesus College, University of Oxford

Professional Memberships

COMBAR (The Commercial Bar Association)
ConTrA (The Contentious Trusts Association)
ChBA (The Chancery Bar Association)
Art Lawyers Association

Languages

German (native fluency)
French (moderate)

Scholarships and Prizes/ Awards

BCL Corporate Insolvency Prize (Oxford University)
Sankey Scholarship (Jesus College)
Kennedy Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)
Open Scholarship (Jesus College)
First Year Law Prize (Jesus College)

Business Details

VAT number:: 457 0720 93
Registered name:: Tim Koch

Call 2022

Lyndon Tiller

George Salvage

Ellie Sedgwick