Giles Maynard-Connor KC

Call 1992
Silk 2021

maynardconnorkc@exchangechambers.co.uk
Head of Business and Property Department and Head of Insolvency Team

"Giles is a heavyweight in the market. He is a clever, astute, and user-friendly commercial counsel, a team player, and he is a ferocious advocate with a winning mentality."

The Legal 500 2024
Photo of Giles Maynard-Connor KC

Commercial Fraud

Giles is recognised as a robust, thorough advocate and is consistently noted as a leader in his field. He is highly regarded for his ‘technical knowledge and commercial know-how’, and has a wealth of experience dealing with substantial commercial fraud litigation. Over the last 30 years he has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal; he has also acted outside the jurisdiction including in the Supreme Court of the Seychelles and in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar

Before taking Silk, Giles was Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional Panel A) and his work for the Secretary of State focused on contentious public interest winding up petitions, including the appointment of provisional liquidators and appropriate injunctive relief, and disqualification applications under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

In recent years he has successfully acted in a number of high profile high value corporate fraud cases, including representing over 300 claimants in a multi-million pound corporate fraud case in the Cayman Islands arising out of the CWM FX Ponzi scheme scandal, has regularly lead other junior Counsel, and has successfully acted as the leading Counsel for the Secretary of State in what was then the largest public interest petition brought by Companies Investigations.

His practice covers all aspects of commercial fraud with a particular emphasis on those frauds that take place in a corporate context.

His most recent work includes the successful defence of a £125M claim against a high-profile fashion and internet entrepreneur, which was dismissed as being fraudulent.

Commercial Fraud Cases

Significant reported cases include:

  • Clements v Frisby [2023] EWHC 320 (Ch)
  • Clements v Frisby [2022] EWHC 3124 (Ch)
  • David Hugh Carr & 16 Ors v Formation Group PLC & 5 Ors [2018] EWHC 3116 (Ch)
  • Ahmed and Others v Ingram and Others [2018] EWCA CIV 519 (void transaction)
  • Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills v Pawson [2015] EWHC 2626 (Ch) (directors disqualification)
  • Overfinch Bespoke Vehicles Ltd (in Liquidation) v Freddie White as Liquidator of
  • Lemma Europe Insurance Company Ltd [13/5/15] Gibraltar
  • Ultraframe v Fielding & Ors [2005] EWHC 1638 (Ch) (corporate fraud)