England and Wales Case Law

Sahara Energy Resource Limited v Societe Nationale de Raffinage SA

The Joint Report was a binding legal agreement covering the 2013 Outstanding on Principal, Reconciled Claims, and the Undisputed Claims (Incremental Interest and FX Differential). There was no express or implied condition that Government of Cameroon approval was required for the agreement to be binding. Clause 26 did not cover the claim for Penal Charges, as its scope was limited to losses arising from the exercise of remedies under that clause, not general indemnity for external charges.

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• Contractual interpretation
• Damages for breach of contract
• Indemnity clauses
• Limitation of actions

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South Bank Hotel Management Company Limited v Galliard Hotels Limited & Ors

Section 21(1)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980 applies to South Bank's claim against Mr Conway as a director/trustee because the grant of the Lease and Underlease constituted a conversion of trust property to his use, so the claim is not statute-barred; clause 9 of the Room Leases imposed a continuing obligation on Hotels, which was breached on a continuing basis, entitling South Bank to damages; section 44(5) of the Companies Act 2006 does not validate the Lease and Underlease because the purchasers were not in good faith, and South Bank is not estopped from denying due execution; the issues of…

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• Directors' duties
• Limitation of actions
• Execution of deeds by companies
• Breach of lease
• Estoppel
• Equitable remedies

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Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd (formerly called Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd) & Ors

Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd (formerly called Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd) & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 583 (12 May 2026)

The Court of Appeal held that unregistered sub-licensee losses could not be recovered under s.30(6) Trade Marks Act 1994 and were statute barred.

• Trade marks
• Licensing
• Limitation of actions
• Summary judgment
• Damages
• Trade-marks

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Ellen Kay v Martineau Johnson (A firm)

Ms Kay had constructive knowledge of the facts necessary to bring a claim by 2009, or at the latest by 2018, and did not take all reasonable steps to obtain expert advice; impecuniosity did not excuse the delay. Therefore, the claim is statute-barred under section 14A of the Limitation Act 1980.

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• Limitation of actions
• Solicitor negligence
• Constructive knowledge
• Section 14a limitation act 1980

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Voltaire Capital Holdings Ltd & Ors v Watson & Ors

Voltaire Capital Holdings Ltd & Ors v Watson & Ors [2026] EWHC 1103 (Comm) (24 April 2026)

The High Court refused a late application by William Gibson to add six counterclaims in a commercial fraud case, finding serious delay, prejudice, and weak pleading.

• Amendment of pleadings
• Counterclaims
• Fraud
• Estoppel
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Knowing receipt

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Voltaire Capital Holdings Limited & Ors v Eric Watson & Ors

The High Court refused a late application by William Gibson to add six counterclaims, holding they were too late, inadequately pleaded, and would jeopardise the trial date.

• Amendment of pleadings
• Counterclaims
• Limitation of actions
• Fraudulent misrepresentation
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Knowing receipt

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Mitchell Winehouse v Naomi Parry & Anor

The High Court dismissed a claim over Amy Winehouse items, finding most were owned by or validly gifted to the defendants, and no fiduciary duty arose.

• Conversion
• Gifts of chattels
• Limitation of actions
• Fiduciary duties
• Abandonment of property
• Gifts-of-chattels

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Cynthia Niruka Tooley v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Anor

Relief from sanctions was granted for the TMG claim as the claimant's default was inadvertent and the interests of justice favoured reinstatement. The limitation period for ANL1 was not disapplied because the claimant failed to provide a clear, adequate, and satisfactory explanation for delay; thus, ANL1 was dismissed. Interim injunctions were refused as the statements were not unarguably defamatory, defences were available, and the applications were overly broad. The Norwich Pharmacal order was refused as no arguable wrongdoing by the source was established and the strong public interest in…

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• Limitation of actions
• Relief from sanctions
• Interim injunctions
• Norwich pharmacal orders
• Freedom of expression
• Journalistic source protection

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LtCol Ian Foxley v Ministry of Defence & Ors

The summary judgment and jurisdiction applications must be adjourned because the PII and confidentiality applications consumed almost two days, leaving insufficient time for the complex factual and legal issues raised. All parties ultimately agreed adjournment was inevitable. The applications require a wide-ranging inquiry and cannot be fairly or realistically heard within the remaining time. Adjournment is consistent with the overriding objective and interests of justice.

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• Summary judgment
• Jurisdiction
• Limitation of actions
• Public interest immunity
• Confidentiality
• Misfeasance in public office

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Morris v Knights Professional Services Ltd & Ors

Morris v Knights Professional Services Ltd & Ors [2026] EWHC 524 (Ch) (11 March 2026)

The High Court struck out a professional negligence claim after finding serious non-compliance with an extended disclosure order and refusing relief from sanctions.

• Relief from sanctions
• Disclosure obligations
• Strike out for non-compliance
• Abuse of process
• Limitation of actions
• Relief-from-sanctions

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