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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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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Loudmila Bourlakova & Ors v The Estate of Oleg Bourlakov & Ors

The High Court refused D7-D8’s bid to expand disclosure and further information, holding that partnership accounting and asset tracing should follow trial on liability.

• Disclosure
• Case management
• Partnerships
• Unjust enrichment
• Foreign law claims
• Asset tracing

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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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Bourlakova & Ors v Bourlakov & Ors

Bourlakova & Ors v Bourlakov & Ors [2026] EWHC 926 (Ch) (24 April 2026)

The High Court refused defendants’ bid to expand disclosure and further information orders, holding the proposed exercise was premature, disproportionate, and too close to an account.

• Disclosure and case management
• Partnership accounting
• Nominee and custodianship claims
• Unjust enrichment
• Specific performance
• Tracing and account

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Felicite Terrill Perez De La Sala & Anor v Maria-Christina De La Sala & Ors

The Court of Appeal upheld setting aside a consent financial remedy order for deliberate non-disclosure and rejected an intervenor’s bid to recover gifts from the husband.

• Financial remedy proceedings
• Non-disclosure
• Consent orders
• Mistake in gifts
• Failure of basis
• Unjust enrichment

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Yuen v Li & Anor

Yuen v Li & Anor [2026] EWHC 532 (KB) (10 March 2026)

Interlocutory judgment in a Bitcoin misappropriation claim. The court struck out conversion, allowed amendment, and deferred decision on trespass to goods pending further pleading.

• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Proprietary restitution
• Constructive trust
• Breach of confidence

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Timokhin v Timokhina

Timokhin v Timokhina [2026] EWHC 439 (KB) (27 February 2026)

High Court recognition and enforcement case concerning two Russian judgments arising from a post-nuptial agreement dispute between former spouses.

• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
• Post-nuptial agreements
• Public policy defence
• Unjust enrichment
• Contractual interpretation
• Natural justice

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Alexander Valeryevich Timokhin v Anna Anatolyevna Timokhina

High Court Part 8 claim to recognise and enforce Russian judgments about a post-nuptial agreement. Public policy, abuse of process, and natural justice objections failed.

• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
• Post-nuptial agreements
• Public policy
• Abuse of process
• Unjust enrichment
• Contractual interpretation

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Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd & Anor

Musst Holdings Ltd v Astra Asset Management UK Ltd & Anor [2026] EWHC 357 (Ch) (20 February 2026)

The High Court held that Crown II and Crown III were Eligible Investments under the Octave Contract and that Astra was liable for management and performance fees.

• Novation
• Breach of contract
• Misrepresentation
• Unjust enrichment
• Limitation
• Good faith

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