Profile
Annabel Thomas is an experienced commercial litigator with a strong background in corporate disputes and civil fraud. She represents clients on matters involving asset-tracing and injunctive relief; partnership disputes; competition law; and regulatory/disciplinary litigation. She also handles company and shareholder disputes (including unfair prejudice claims, breach of directors' duties, JV disputes, LLP disputes and breach of warranty and indemnity claims), as well as insurance disputes (including coverage, subrogated recovery and brokers' negligence). Annabel's practice covers litigation in the high court, as well as arbitral proceedings. She is experienced in both defending and bringing claims, often involving multiple jurisdictions and applications for interim relief, including freezing injunctions, search & seizure orders, disclosure orders and security for costs.
Annabel’s clients include UK and overseas-based high-net-worth individuals and corporates from a range of sectors including energy, media, finance, real estate, IT, manufacturing, and retail.
In The Legal 500 UK 2023, Annabel is recognised and referred to as “a calm presence when a fraud case becomes difficult”, and in Chambers UK 2023 as:
- "A wonderful litigator who is fully deserving of her reputation for intellectual brilliance and tactical nous."
- "She is a model of calm and distinction. Even in the most intense moments, she manages to get her message across with diplomacy."
She is also recommended as a Thought Leader by Who's Who Legal for Asset Recovery 2021-2023.
Capabilities
Experience
- Currently representing the main defendant in the Commercial Court in one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2020 against allegations of secret commissions in the Middle East and Europe.
- Defended Ukrainian businessman Alexander Yaroslavsky in a $380m civil fraud dispute brought by Russian energy giant Tatneft, following a 42 day fully virtual trial.°
- Acted for claimant retailer in a brand ambassador dispute against a high-profile celebrity, including obtaining emergency injunctive relief, resulting in settlement.°
- Defended an UNHNW individual in a multimillion-pound oil-related dispute, resulting in a strike-out of the claim and discharge of a worldwide freezing order.°
- Acted for claimant buyer in multimillion-pound alleged breach of warranty claim – resulting in settlement.°
- Acted for defendant seller in substantial breach of warranty claim.°
- Acted for defendant retailer in alleged breach of supply agreement – resulting in settlement.°
- Represented three BVI-based companies responding to an ex parte freezing injunction in relation to assets worth over £8m, resulting in the injunction and underlying Insolvency Act proceedings being voluntarily withdrawn, and 95% of the clients' legal costs being paid by the other side.°
- Obtained a worldwide freezing order on behalf of a leading model against a former partner.°
- Defended a company at trial in the Mercantile Court against allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and deceit in relation to a corporate acquisition and LTIP.°
- Acted for a Cypriot trust company in relation to LCIA proceedings, including overturning a worldwide freezing order obtained ex parte, and obtaining indemnity costs.°
- Acted for a high-net-worth family in relation to proceedings in the UK, Cayman, and Switzerland, including overturning via judicial review a search and seizure order obtained by the Metropolitan Police and obtaining indemnity costs from the Police, and dealing with asset seizure proceedings.°
- Acted for company against a regulatory body in relation to an alleged unauthorised collective investment scheme and illegal deposit taking – settled without any penalties being imposed on the company.°
- Acted for private investigators in relation to claims by the subject of an investigation under the Data Protection Act – resulting in settlement.°
- Acted for high-net-worth family based in the Middle East in relation to cross-border civil fraud proceedings and extradition proceedings.°
- Acted for insurers in relation to a fraudulent death in service claim, and in relation to fraudulent property damage claims.°
- Advised a media company in relation to reputational issues arising out of allegations of criminal conduct against a consultant.°
- Acted for a claimant company in relation to LCIA proceedings arising out of construction project in Africa.°
- Acted for claimant government bodies in relation to civil claims for price-fixing – resulting in settlement.°
- Acted for defendant IT company in relation to claims for price-fixing and abuse of dominant position.°
- Acted for a shareholder in relation to an unfair prejudice petition arising out of mis-stated accounts – resulting in settlement.°
- Acted for bankers in relation to concurrent FCA and SEC investigations.°
- Acted for companies and charities in relation to defamatory comments published online.°
- Acted for government bodies in relation to a vexatious litigant, successfully applying for an extended civil restraint order.°
- Loudmila Bourlakova & Ors v. Oleg Bourlakov & Ors [2022]EWHC 1269 (Ch)
- PJSC Tatneft v. Bogolyubov & Ors [2021] EWHC 411 (Comm).°
- PJSC Tatneft v. Bogolyubov & Ors [2019] EWHC 1400 (Comm).°
- PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Ors [2018] EWHC 2499 (Comm).°
- PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Ors [2017] EWCA 1581.°
- PJSC Tatneft v. Bogolyubov & Ors [2016] EWHC 2816 (Comm).°
- Parish & Anor v. Danwood Group Limited [2015] EWHC 940 QB.°
- Berezovsky v. Abramovich [2010] EWHC 647 (Comm).°
- Berezovsky v. Abramovich [2010] EWHC 2044 (Ch).°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Thomas prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Legal 500 UK, 2023-2024
- “Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail,” 2023
- “Fraud: Civil,” 2023-2024
- “Commercial Litigation Premium,” 2024
- Listed, Chambers UK Guide, Fraud: Civil, 2023-2024
- Listed, Who’s Who Legal
- Thought Leaders – GIR – Asset Recovery, 2021-2023
- Global Leader – Asset Recovery, 2021-2023
- Member, London Solicitors Litigation Association
- Member, Fraud Lawyers Association
- Volunteer River Warden
- School Governor
Credentials
- B.A. (Hons), Modern History, Worcester College, Oxford
- England and Wales