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Paul McGrath KC

International Commercial Fraud & Asset Recovery

London, UK


Paul McGrath
Paul McGinley
Professional Golfer, Businessman & Sky Sports Presenter
Matthew McGrath
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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.
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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 appointed Visiting Professor to the University of Oxford

Paul McGrath KC has been appointed a visiting professor to the University of Oxford. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the University of Oxford Faculty of Law and will begin from 1st March 2023.

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Paul McGrath KC’s Background

Paul McGrath KC logo Paul McGrath KC logo
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.
 
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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

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