Paul Johnson
Paul is an Of Counsel in our Fraud & Commercial Disputes team. His practice covers disputes of all kinds but predominantly in the civil fraud, asset tracing and insolvency spheres. Paul's cases frequently involve an international element and applications for pre-emptive and interlocutory remedies such as freezing injunctions, disclosure orders and other injunctions related to the preservation and protection of assets.
Paul has extensive experience of contentious insolvency assignments and litigation following corporate and personal insolvencies, particularly complex fraud and dishonesty claims against individuals, former directors and employees, associates of insolvent companies and other counter-parties.
Paul is recognised in the 2025 edition of Legal 500 as “an absolute standout star” and is acknowledged as a “leading associate” by his peers and clients in civil fraud and commercial litigation.
Paul's clients include large multinational corporations, funds, insolvency practitioners, banks, directors and ultra-high-net worth individuals.
Paul leads the team responsible for Insolvency Watch.
Case examples
Acted for 140 claimants in a complex multi-party tax fraud litigation known as “The Ingenious Litigation”, bringing claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy against the promotors of film investment schemes.
Advised central parties in a global multi-billion-dollar fraud and market abuse investigation, including the management of wide-spread global litigation and worldwide freezing orders.
Acted for a former director and shareholder in defending deceit and conspiracy claims in excess of £47 million brought by commercial lenders.
Acted for liquidators as claimants on a £30 million fraud claim relating to fictitious commodity investments, including successful worldwide freezing order proceedings and other complex matters spanning multiple jurisdictions such as the United States, UAE, Brazil and Panama.
Acted for liquidators as claimant in a £70 million claim against the Russian owner of a collapsed Latvian bank which included successful applications for worldwide freezing order and other interlocutory remedies.
Acted for the claimants in claims against former investment managers, directors, administrators and auditors arising out of the £330 million Arch Cru affair. Successfully obtained a £22 million judgment against a former investment manager and pursued post-judgment enforcement action.
Acting for the victims of a £9 million plus complex property fraud and obtaining extensive disclosure orders from third parties under the Bankers Trust, Norwich Pharmacal and pre-action disclosure jurisdictions.
Acted for the claimants in a complex and long running bankruptcy of a convicted fraudster which included successful freezing orders and proprietary freezing orders in the context of a payroll fraud.