Withers instructed on Clifford Chance negligence case

While formal action has not yet begun, Withers has informed Clifford Chance that it is preparing a legal action against it by the Lemos shipping family.

The Lemos brothers, Adonis and Filippos, had taken part in funding one side, Excalibur, in a dispute over the ownership of oil rights in Kurdistan. When Excalibur lost the case, the judge awarded costs against them on an indemnity basis. Clifford Chance had been instrumental in arranging the financing of the case for Excalibur by the Lemos family. The Clifford Chance partner involved, Alex Panayides, is the brother of a Lemos employee, George Panayides. The costs order regarding the Lemos brothers was for £13.75m - over and above the amount they originally put forward to fund the case. Source: Legal Business