People

Timothy Frith

Head of Offshore Practice

Tim is a highly experienced barrister who acts in domestic, international and offshore cases. He is called to the bar of England & Wales, Bermuda and BVI and has a strong Commercial, Chancery and Insolvency practice with expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional high value work. He has represented international and local clients in a wide range of jurisdictions in Court, Arbitration and Mediation. Tim is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a CEDR accredited mediator.

He has worked in law-firms in Singapore, Bermuda and BVI and understands that good client skills and effective team- work are essential in achieving the best results for a client whether in collaboration with international firms on large scale projects or by simply having a good effective working relationship with an instructing solicitor or in house counsel in Domestic work. Tim has a wide experience of all areas of civil work which he brings to bare in achieving pragmatic, business orientated and cost effective results for his clients.

Practice Areas

Commercial: Agency, Agriculture, Banking & Finance, Business Disputes, Commercial Contracts for Sale of Goods and Services, Construction,  Insurance, Joint Ventures, Partnership, Sport, Telecommunications, Wet & Dry Shipping

Chancery & Insolvency: Contentious Probate, Trust Disputes   Personal and Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring.

Common Law: Defamation, Professional Negligence, Economic Torts, Tortious claims Involving Businesses and Individuals.

 Disciplinary Tribunals: Involving Professional Regulation and Sport

Client Testimonials

“Tim is a Class Act”

Principal Client in long running joint venture dispute valued at $300m

“At all times I found Tim intimately connected with the case, prompt, professional and his advice to the Trust was near-flawless. I have encountered many dozens of lawyers in a long law enforcement career and now private sector career and it was refreshing to experience Tim who at all times exuded confidence, care, diligence and professionalism-something I have rarely seen.”

Former Commissioner of Police in Bermuda regarding High Value Bermuda Trust Case

“My Canadian Counsel has had reason to be in regular contact with Tim. In all of his and my dealings with Timothy Frith we have found him to be very professional and are particularly impressed with his ability to collaborate with other co-defendants.”

Global Chairman of Asset Manager in dispute linked to control of a corporation with $200 billion under management.

“At all times I consider that Tim acted very effectively and in our best interest and it was clear to us both that he was an accomplished barrister and lawyer.”

Client in dispute concerning sale of Hedge Fund to US investors.

Examples of Recent work

2024

  • Represented the Respondent in LCIA arbitration in a Russian Commercial dispute concerning the oppression of minority shareholders involving issues of Cypriot, English and Russian law.
  • Represented the Claimant in SCIA arbitration concerning construction work in Saudi Arabia governed by Saudi law.
  • Advised in SIAC arbitration concerning company listing in Singapore
  • Acted in Contentious Probate trial involving issues of Undue Influence.
  • Acted in Telecommunications case involving installation of telecoms mast and associated wayleaves.
  • Appointed expert in Hong Kong case involving Director’s liability under Bermuda law.
  • Produced expert report on the validity of a will under the law of England and Wales in French contentious probate case.

Reported Cases

Bermuda:

  • Gleeson v MDM Ltd [2015] (CA) (Bda) Gleeson v MDM Ltd [2014] (SC) (Bda)
  • Ribaroff v Williams & Ors [2014] (SC) (Bda) 11 Civ Cockwell v Flatt [2014] (SC) (Bda) 85 Civ
  • Fifth Street Finance v Dobbin [2013] (SC)(Bda)

UK:

  •   Chapper v Jackson (2012) (ChD)
  •   Byrne v Gubbins (2011) (CA) [2011] EWCA Civ 1345
  •  Lindsey Anne Beard v Azur Villas & Ors [2009] EWHC 1716 (QB) LTL 20/7/2009 All ER(D)148
  •  Datafind Services Ltd v Sugden & Ors [2007] (ChD) All ER (D)180
  •  Quest 4 Finance Ltd v John Maxfield & Ors [2007] EWHC 2313 (QB) 2 CLC 706
  •  Broadway Investments Hackney Ltd v Lowell Gerald Grant (2006) (CA) LTL 20/12/2006 (2007) HLR 23
  • (2007) L&TR 11
  •  Smiths Detection Watford Ltd v Berriman (2005) EAT LTL 27/9/2005 All ER (D) 56
  •  Wadsworth v Nagle [2005] EWHC 26 (QB) LTL 6/4/2005 All ER (D) 216
  •  Re A Debtor sub nom Valder v Durrant & Anor (2003) LTL 10/7/2003 All ER(D) 177
  •  Scancom International A/S v RWH Enterprises Ltd [2003] (QBD) All ER (D) 89
  •  Brent London Borough Council v Douglas Reynolds (CA) (2001) 50 EG 89, Times December 18 2001

Further information

Publications

  • The International Comparative Guide to Insurance and Reinsurance (2015)
  • The International Lending and Secured Finance Review (2013-2015)
  • Telecommunications and Media (2013-15) (GTDT) (edited by Freshfields)
  • “The Measure of Charity”: Bermuda and the Parametric Reinsurance of African Drought Relief (2013) (ICG I&R)
  • Asset Finance & Secured Lending (2013-14) (PLC)
  • Dispute Resolution Multijurisdictional Guide (2013) (PLC) edited by Lord Philips
  • Investment Opportunity & Telecommunication Reform (Law Society Gazette) (2012)
  • Insuralex Review (2014)
  • Contributing Editor to Butterworth’s Law of Limitation
  • Regular contributor to MJM law blog, circulars and reviews

Qualifications

Licensed by BSB to Provide Direct Access and Litigation Services (2021)

Senior Lecturer the University of Law (2018-2019)

Called to the BVI Bar (October 2015)

Called to the Bar of Bermuda (September 2013) 

Registered Associate Bermuda Bar (September 2012)

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2008)

Lecturer (Part-Time) (BPP Law School) (2004-5)
Direct Public Access Certification (College of Law) (2004)
CEDR Accredited Mediator

(Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) (2004)

Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2004)
Diploma in International Arbitration (2003)

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators [Malaysia]

Bristol University (2000-2003)

LLM (Commercial Law)

Subjects Taken:

Commercial Law, Company Law, Employment Law, Credit Security and Insolvency

Dissertation on Insurance law:

“Subrogation: The Development of Conceptual Unity”

Pegasus Scholarship (Singapore) 1999
Called to the Bar of England & Wales: November 1996 (Middle Temple)

The Bar Vocational Course (1995-6)

The Inns of Court School of Law

The Common Professional Examination (1994-5)

The College of Law (Guildford)

St Andrews University

MA (Hons) IIi History (1987-1991)

Memberships

  • Bermuda Bar Association
  • Contra Contentious Trusts Association
  • ComBar
  • R3 Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals
  • Chancery Bar Association
  • IBA (International Bar Association) Middle Temple
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Past: CLA (Country Land & Business Association)
    •  Legal and Parliamentary Committee (2009- 2012)
    •  Chairman, Surrey Branch (2010-2012)
    •  Vice Chairman, Surrey Branch(2007-2010)

Examples of Marketing Activities

  • ConTra Conference Budapest (2024)
  • Contra Conference Birmingham (2024)
  • Combar Conference Boston (2023)
  • Client visits Bermuda (2021-2022)
  • Client visits and attendance at firms in Canada, Bermuda, London and BVI (2015-2016).
  • Planned and organised Insuralex Convention in Bermuda (2013).
  • Organised and attended marketing events and client visits for MJM in London (2012) and New York (2012).
  • IBA Conferences in Boston (2013), Madrid (2010) and Singapore (2007).
  • Marketing activities at major Equestrian Events (2006-2008) for Casalier Chambers.
  • International Client visits in Jordan and Dubai (2008-2010).
  • Organised and lectured in a three day Advocacy Workshop to the Kuala Lumpur Bar Council in Malaysia 2005 & 2007.
  • Organised and attended one week Marketing initiative in Singapore 1999.
  • Organised and participated in a wide range of seminars and marketing activities for the commercial groups of Devereux and Lamb Chambers in the UK.

Languages

  • Spanish

Interests

  • Travel: Travelled extensively in Europe, Middle and Far East, Asia, North & South America and Australia. Worked in Bermuda (4yrs) Chile (3 years), Singapore (5 months), BVI (4 months) USA (4 months).
  • American and European Literature and History, Cinema, Theatre, Music, Sailing, Fencing, Carriage Driving and Rural Life
  • Clubs
  • Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Bosham Sailing Club, Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club, Lansdowne Club, The Worshipful Company of Basket Makers

Publications

  • The International Comparative Guide to Insurance and Reinsurance (2015)
  •  The International Lending and Secured Finance Review (2013-2015)
  •  Telecommunications and Media (2013-15) (GTDT) (edited by Freshfields)
  • “The Measure of Charity”: Bermuda and the Parametric Reinsurance of African Drought Relief (2013) (ICG I&R)
  • Asset Finance & Secured Lending (2013-14) (PLC)
  • Dispute Resolution Multijurisdictional Guide (2013) (PLC) edited by Lord Philips
  • Investment Opportunity & Telecommunication Reform (Law Society Gazette) (2012)
  • Insuralex Review (2014)
  • Contributing Editor to Butterworth’s Law of Limitation
  • Regular contributor to MJM law blog, circulars and reviews

Direct Access

Tim is authorised to accept instructions directly from lay clients, under the Bar Council’s direct public access scheme and is licensed to provide litigation services by BSB. He will accept direct instructions from Insolvency Practitioners and Corporate in house Counsel.

News & Resources

*This barrister is authorised to practice in England & Wales. Click here to search on the Bar Standards Board Barristers’ Register.

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