England and Wales Case Law

Ping Fai Yuen v Fun Yung Li & Anor

Claims in conversion are struck out as English law does not permit conversion of intangible property such as Bitcoin; trespass to goods is not struck out at this stage pending possible amendment; security for costs is refused due to overwhelming evidence, assets within jurisdiction, and unreliable cost estimates; substituted service is granted for Second Defendant.

Source excerpt

• Digital assets
• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Breach of confidence
• Misuse of private information

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Standish & Anor v Hill & Anor

Standish & Anor v Hill & Anor [2025] EWHC 2954 (Ch) (11 November 2025)

The court dismissed applications challenging service and jurisdiction, holding that acknowledgment of service without a CPR 11 application accepted jurisdiction and that Florida substituted service was valid.

• Service of process
• Jurisdiction
• Relief from sanctions
• Limitation periods
• Waiver of jurisdiction
• Substituted service

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Sachs v Snape & Ors

Sachs v Snape & Ors [2025] EWHC 1746 (Comm) (04 April 2025)

The High Court granted proprietary and freezing injunctions over alleged misappropriated cryptocurrency and funds, and permitted service out and substituted service.

• Freezing injunction
• Proprietary injunction
• Fraud
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Cryptocurrency
• Jurisdiction

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Mark Reynolds & Anor v Priyesh Parekh (Re SP Commodities Limited)

The High Court ordered the respondent to pay the costs of a freezing order application, substituted service, and the return hearing, applying Dos Santos to interlocutory costs.

• Freezing order
• Costs
• Substituted service
• Freezing-order
• Substituted-service
• Insolvency

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SP Commodities Ltd, Re

SP Commodities Ltd, Re [2024] EWHC 2747 (Ch) (29 October 2024)

The High Court held that the respondent should pay the costs of a freezing order, substituted service, and the return date hearing, with immediate assessment.

• Freezing injunctions
• Costs orders
• Substituted service
• Interlocutory applications
• Freezing-injunctions
• Costs-orders

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Jamal Jihazi v Stephen Yaxley Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson)

The High Court held that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was personally served, had no good reason to miss the hearing, and could face a bench warrant for the contempt hearing.

• Personal service
• Substituted service
• Permission for contempt application
• Bench warrant
• Directions hearing
• Contempt-of-court

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Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon

Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon [2024] EWHC 1991 (KB) (30 July 2024)

The High Court held that Mr Yaxley-Lennon was personally served with a contempt application, had no good reason to be absent, and could be proceeded against in his absence.

• Personal service
• Substituted service
• Bench warrant
• Permission for contempt application
• Directions hearing
• Injunction breach

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Cook UK Ltd v Boston Scientific Ltd & Anor

Cook UK Ltd v Boston Scientific Ltd & Anor [2022] EWHC 504 (Pat) (08 March 2022)

Ex parte interim application in a patent dispute. The court granted limited anti-suit-related notice relief, allowed alternative service on Boston Ireland, and listed the injunction hearing for next week.

• Patents
• Anti-suit injunctions
• Service out of jurisdiction
• Substituted service
• Comity
• Forum non conveniens

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Ardawa v Uppal & Anor

Ardawa v Uppal & Anor [2019] EWHC 1663 (Ch) (28 June 2019)

The High Court decided costs after an unsuccessful bankruptcy-annulment appeal, holding it could summarily assess estate costs and awarding reduced sums for both respondents.

• Bankruptcy costs
• Annulment of bankruptcy
• Costs assessment
• Trustee expenses
• Substituted service
• Bankruptcy-costs

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Hanson & Ors v Carlino & Anor

Hanson & Ors v Carlino & Anor [2019] EWHC 1366 (Ch) (01 May 2019)

The High Court issued a bench warrant to secure a defendant’s attendance for cross-examination, finding a pattern of non-engagement and false instructions.

• Bench warrant
• Compliance with court orders
• Misappropriation of funds
• Substituted service
• Bench-warrant
• Civil-procedure

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