Paul McGrath KC

Paul McGrath KC’s Biography

Paul McGrath is a leading KC barrister who specialises in international commercial and company law disputes. In addition to appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and Supreme Court in England and Wales, he has appeared before the courts of most of the offshore jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Isle of Man and, in an advisory capacity, the Channel Islands.

Since 1994, Paul has been instructed in most of the high-profile commercial fraud and asset recovery cases to be heard before the English Courts and offshore. He has a reputation as a “court-room bruiser” with the ability to think outside of the box on difficult legal issues across a broad spectrum of legal areas. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011. He has been described as “the doyen of civil fraud” in the peer review conducted by The Legal 500 2021.

His book, Commercial Fraud in Civil Practice, is regarded as essential reading for those practitioners and scholars interested in this area of the... Paul McGrath is a leading KC barrister who specialises in international commercial and company law disputes. In addition to appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and Supreme Court in England and Wales, he has appeared before the courts of most of the offshore jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Isle of Man and, in an advisory capacity, the Channel Islands.

Since 1994, Paul has been instructed in most of the high-profile commercial fraud and asset recovery cases to be heard before the English Courts and offshore. He has a reputation as a “court-room bruiser” with the ability to think outside of the box on difficult legal issues across a broad spectrum of legal areas. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011. He has been described as “the doyen of civil fraud” in the peer review conducted by The Legal 500 2021.

His book, Commercial Fraud in Civil Practice, is regarded as essential reading for those practitioners and scholars interested in this area of the law. Named as Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year in The Legal 500 Awards 2015, Paul was more recently recognised as Barrister of the Week by The Lawyer magazine. From March 2023 to March 2024 Paul was appointed Visiting Professor to the University of Oxford.

Paul is an avid fan, long-time season ticketholder and former shareholder of Liverpool FC. When he is not to be found at Anfield, he is likely to be on a flight to wherever the latest high-profile boxing match is being held. In 2019, he helped a former professional boxer renovate and re-open his local Waterloo Amateur Boxing Club in Liverpool. Together with his partner, Angela, Paul renovated and opened up a luxury dog hotel, training and hydrotherapy centre, The Pawfect Retreat.

Paul studied Jurisprudence at University College, Oxford and graduated with a first-class degree in both his BA (Law) and postgraduate BCL. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Paul McGrath KC’s Newsfeed

Foreign-seated arbitration agreement

Paul McGrath KC and Matthieu Grégoire act for the injunction claimant, instructed by Andy McGregor and James Freeman of Allen & Overy LLP.

Paul McGrath KC’s Background

Paul McGrath KC

Barrister KC

1994 - Present

London, UK

Paul is a leading practitioner in the field of international commercial Chancery litigation. He has a wide practice spanning company insolvency and commercial disputes.

Essex Court Chambers

Barrister KC

1994 - Present

London, UK

Essex Court Chambers leads the way in commercial and financial litigation, arbitration, public law and public international law.

Other Business Interests

The Pawfect Retreat

Owner

Hightown, UK

The Pawfect Retreat is a state-of-the-art dog hotel set in 13 acres near the Merseyside coast. The hotel can cater for up to 60 dogs and features six paddocks, an indoor training facility, and a hydrotherapy pool.

Philanthropy

Waterloo ABC

2019 - Present

Liverpool, UK

In 2019 Paul helped a former professional boxer realise his dream of providing local kids with a place to learn the skills of boxing and keep out of trouble by renovating and re-opening his local Waterloo Amateur Boxing Club in Liverpool.

Media

Essex Court Chambers Fraud Summit

Host

Apr 2021

London, UK

In April 2021 Paul hosted a series of webinars dealing with International Commercial Fraud.

Accreditation

DIFC Courts

Registered Practitioner

Dubai, AE

Situated in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the DIFC Courts is an independent English language judiciary with jurisdiction in commercial and civil disputes.

Publications

Commercial Fraud in Civil Practice (2nd Edition)

Author

Mar 2014

Oxford, UK

Paul's book provides a comprehensive reference tool for practitioners and scholars of commercial fraud, with a specific focus on civil law claims and solutions. The 3rd Edition is currently in preparation.

Awards & Recognition

The Legal 500 United Kingdom: Leading Silk

Leading silks are King’s Counsel considered to be market leaders in their respective practice areas and are recognised and endorsed by clients and peers alike.

Chambers and Partners

UK Bar Guide

Paul is described in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide as “a phenomenally clever man" with “an encyclopedic knowledge of the law on commercial fraud.” He is a Chambers 'Top Ranked' barrister.

Who's Who Legal

Leading Individual | Commercial Litigation 2022

Oct 2022

Who's Who Legal

Global Elite Thought Leader, EMEA | Asset Recovery 2022

Jul 2022

Who's Who Legal

Most Highly Regarded Silk | UK Bar 2022 - Civil Fraud

Feb 2022

The Lawyer

Barrister of the Week

Apr 2021

Paul McGrath KC has established one of the Bar’s most highly regarded cross-border fraud practices. He won Barrister of the Week for his success tackling elements of competition and insolvency law.

The Legal 500

Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year

Sep 2015

London, UK

The Legal 500 provides a guide to the best legal expertise in the UK after assessing the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions.

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Academic Appointments

University of Oxford

Visiting Professor

Mar 2023 - Mar 2024

Oxford, UK

Paul McGrath KC was appointed a Visiting Professor to the University of Oxford. The appointment, which was made on the recommendation of the University of Oxford Faculty of Law, began on 1st March 2023 and lasted for 12 months.

Speaking Engagements

St Petersburg International Legal Forum

Virtual

May 2021

In conjunction with Rybalkin, Gortsunyan & Partners of Moscow, Paul gave a talk at St Petersburg International Legal Forum.

Paul McGrath KC’s Education

University College Oxford

BCL (First)

1992 - 1993

University College Oxford

BA Law (First)

1989 - 1992

International Commercial Fraud & Asset Recovery

London, UK

Paul McGrath KC’s Biography

Paul McGrath KC’s Newsfeed

Paul McGrath KC’s Background

Other Business Interests

Philanthropy

Media

Accreditation

Publications

Awards & Recognition

Academic Appointments

Speaking Engagements

Paul McGrath KC’s Education

Company

Legal

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