Anya is an experienced litigator with particular expertise in Chancery and Commercial Court litigation, with a notable reputation in all aspects of contentious property work, and a history of considerable success in the resolution of disputes at mediation and other forms of ADR. She also has significant experience in tax cases and international arbitrations. She brings over 25 years’ experience from a practice that has been founded upon the close relationship that she develops with her clients and her availability to them at all times.
In addition to her litigation practice, Anya provides non-contentious advice in the dedicated areas of property and shareholders’ agreements. She also provides advice and support within the recruitment sector and in respect of which she is a ‘preferred supplier’ to industry organisations such as Elite Leaders.
Expertise
Commercial Litigation
- Contractual disputes
- Contentious probate
- Insolvency and bankruptcy
- Misrepresentation
- Shareholder disputes
- Restrictive covenants
Commercial Property Litigation
- 1954 Act lease renewals
- Dilapidation disputes
- Service charges
- Landlord and tenant disputes
- Enforcing security for lenders
Fraud
- Multi-jurisdiction
- Freezing orders
- Search orders
- Committal proceedings (civil)
- Living Expenses Applications
Tax
- HMRC disputes
- Court and tribunal representation
Experience
Tax
- Acted for large groups of LLP Members in actions at LLP level (rather than individual level) in challenging assessments by HMRC arising out investments in schemes designed to attract BPRA relief. Successfully sought an Order for the issue of Closure Notices from HMRC in circumstances where HMRC resisted the making of an Order on grounds that additional and extensive further enquiries were justified:
- TC/2016/05028: Beneficial House (Birmingham) Regeneration LLP v. HMRC
- TC/2016/05030: Clackmannanshire Regeneration LLP v. HMRC
- TC/2016/05031: Inverclyde Property Renovation LLP v. HMRC
- TC/2016/05029: Stanley Dock (All Suite) Regeneration LLP v. HMRC
- Thereafter acted in the FTT Appeals against the Closure Notices. Substantial issues arose in respect of the operation of the BPRAs and the extent of allowable expenditure in TC/2018/1854: Beneficial House (Birmingham) Regeneration LLP v. HMRC and TC/2018/03472: Stanley Dock (All Suite) Regeneration LLP v. HMRC.
- Challenge to HMRC’s ability to issue PPNs and APNs, framework agreements reached with HMRC in respect of interim injunctive relief preventing enforcement by HMRC of sums demanded pending outcome of JR:
- CO/1327/2015: (1) Eamonn Dunne (2) Vincent Gray (Inverclyde) v. HMRC;
- CO/1277/2015: William Stockler & Ors (Stanley Dock) v. HMRC;
- CO/1816/2015: William Stockler & Ors (Beneficial House) v. HMRC;
- CO/2084/2015: Geoffrey Clarkson & Ors (Clackmannanshire) v. HMRC
- CO/5272/2016: Neil Everitt & Ors v. HMRC
- Successfully obtained finding from the FTT that enquiries raised by HMRC were not valid enquiries under the Finance Act 1998 Sch 18 Para 24 (TC/2017/2838 and 2839: (1) Inverclyde Property Renovation LLP and (2) Clackmannanshire Regeneration LLP v. HMRC). This case is the subject of an Appeal by HMRC.
- FTT Appeal, being a representative action in respect of investments made via Enterprise Zone Schemes. (TC/2016/0325 and 03241: (1) Peter Nichols and (2) Colin French v. HMRC).
Fraud
- Acted for a high-net-worth individual from Germany, living in Dubai with interests in Geneva, France, Italy and Morocco. Engaged in multi-jurisdictional proceedings with a value of £80m following complex arrangements put in place between various parties in respect of sums originally invested in pension schemes. Civil proceedings in the UK, Geneva, Dubai and France. Achieved a 3-way settlement following a 3-day mediation in London.
- Acted for a party to substantial loan documentation brought into existence in respect of various corporate offshore companies. Challenged the bona fides of documents in a Geneva-seated Arbitration.
- Committal proceedings resulting in the successful committal of a former solicitor following failure to comply with disclosure obligations.
- Acted on behalf of a Russian bank in respect of the recovery of £1.5 bn from an individual in London, in the Court in London, in a claim deriving from Russian law.
- Acted for a professional individual who had, as a consequence of fraudulent misrepresentation, entered into a deed requiring substantial payments to be made. Challenged the deed and secured a very substantial reduction in the sum payable as a consequence of mediation.
- Acted in a challenge against an application by a defendant in a fraud claim to substantial Living Allowance provision following a worldwide freezing order. The allowance ordered by the court was substantially less than that sought and is the subject of an Appeal in the Court of Appeal.
Landlord and tenant/property
- Acted in opposition to a claim by Soho Estates for possession of premises of the historic iconic nightclub Madam Jojo’s for the purposes of redevelopment.
- Successfully obtained a possession order for against a last remaining Rent Act protected tenant in a substantial development site in Knightsbridge.
- Secured possession of residential property on behalf of lenders where consumer credit act issues were in issue.
- Acted in respect of disputes arising in relation to a substantial property portfolio vested in Guernsey trustees arising out of complex institutional and private lending arrangements.
- Secured vacant possession on behalf of commercial developers in respect of development land occupied by trespassers/licences.
- Acted for a partner in respect of a substantial historic property portfolio in the breaking up and division of partnership assets to take account of all matters including restrictions, refinancing capabilities, valuations, historic accounts relating to development, rent receipts, repairs and all income and expenses over a 15-year period.
- Acted for substantial Danish companies investing in properties in the UK to take advantage of tax reliefs and successfully challenging lenders’ claims to substantial penalties on early termination.
- Acted for well-known bridging finance lenders in securing recovery of sums advanced, appointment of receivers and ultimate sale of properties.
- Acted for landlords in respect of breaches of lease including failure to repair, unauthorised alterations, unlawful sublettings and non-payment of rent.
- Acted for a vendor of land in a claim that it had failed to transfer all of the land the subject of the contract.
General disputes
- Opposed anti-suit injunction in respect of Moroccan jurisdiction for a commercial claim in the telecoms sector where the value of the claim was £10m.
- Interim relief sought to prevent sale of property by Bank of Ireland.
- Acted for a company specialising in the hiring of industrial land diggers in respect of a substantial contract with the contractors of the Olympic park, where the contractors sought early termination of the contract.
- Acted for a cable business in a dispute with its external IT provider following a complete failure of a migration programme and website launch.
- Acted for estate agents and recruitment consultants in recovery of fees.
- Acted for a former employer enforcing restrictive covenants following his leaving the business and attempting to establish a business in competition. Obtained an injunction and issued a claim in damages which concluded with the bankruptcy of the individual concerned.
- Acted for a hotel group in matters arising following termination of a hotel management agreement. Achieved a resolution through ADR.
- Recovered fees for professional advisors where the client asserted breach of professional rules, misrepresentation, breach of foreign obligations, and negligence and brought associated claims in America.
- Acted for beneficiaries under a will in a contentious probate action concerning a substantial property portfolio in London and issues of domicile and dependants. Settled at mediation.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in The Legal 500 2019 for Commercial Litigation
Career
Anya qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, she worked at Cubism Law.