Patrick is a highly experienced civil dispute resolution solicitor with a wide-ranging international litigation and arbitration practice. His cases are conducted under numerous procedural and substantive laws and forums, including ICC, LCIA, ad hoc and local courts and he has acted for many high profile individuals and world-leading corporations/entities.
Patrick qualified as a barrister before becoming a solicitor.
Expertise
- Complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes
- Defamation and related issues – claimant and defendant
- Contentious employment and contract for services disputes, both international and domestic
- Advocacy in international and domestic arbitration
- Injunctive and related emergency relief and remedies, both international and domestic
- Claimant professional negligence
Experience
- Acting for senior QCs as claimants against Lloyd’s of London, mediated by Lord Woolf
- Acting for Earl Spencer in proceedings against a High Court Judge and others
- Acting for defendants in well-known Prince Radu of Hohenzollern/Romania Defamation action and related issues; also involving Michael ex-King of Romania and the Romanian Royal House, the House of Hohenzollern in Germany, His Excellency Ambassador Carlson (one time “Voice of America”), Prince Paul and Princess Lia of Romania, for whom he has also acted
- Numerous involvements for claimants (high profile and otherwise) in defamation and related press intrusion and libel matters
- Acting for internationally recognised banker in connection with proceedings involving one of world’s biggest ship owners
- Acting for Korean construction group against Formula 1, in relation to proposed Korean Grand Prix
- Acting for numerous private individuals worldwide in confidential (arbitration) disputes, and in overseas jurisdictions (domestic courts)
- Acting for corporations in confidential (arbitration) international disputes in relation to complex Oil and Gas Projects including world’s biggest gas transmission project and platforms and subsea equipment in Norway, North Sea, Philippines, elsewhere – fabricators, constructors, suppliers, engineers
- Numerous Eastern European matters involving in particular Russia, Poland and Romania, for a very wide range of individuals and corporations; including giving evidence to the UK High Court as to practical aspects of enforcement of UK judgments in such places
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025 for Commercial Litigation
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation: Mid Market (2023-2024)
Recognised by The Legal 500 2021 for Commercial Litigation
Recognised by the Legal 500 2020 for Commercial Litigation
Recognised by the Legal 500 2018 for Commercial Litigation
Patrick Pennal is recognised by the Legal 500 2017
Career
Patrick qualified as a solicitor in 1989. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2012, he worked at the following firms:
- Blake Lapthorn
- Taylor Wessing
- Boodle Hatfield
- Freshfields