Expertise

Ian’s expertise spans high value commercial, fraud (both criminal and civil), and employment disputes in the UK, Middle East and Asia. In the course of his career he has acted for a wide range of companies, financial institutions and individuals involved in domestic and international litigation and arbitration. Ian has also prosecuted several cases for the Serious Fraud Office.

Recognition

The Legal 500 praises Ian as a “great strategist and team player”, recommending him for his work across International Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Competition Litigation. They describe him as “top quality”, stating that “he is responsive, quick and accurate in what he does.”

He is described as “a superb lawyer who contributes immensely to a case’s successful outcome”, Ian is ‘recommended as “a very far-sighted thinker” and “The ‘ultra-responsive” Ian Gatt KC “has a good understanding of clients’ priorities”.

Experience

Ian has acted in numerous disputes and arbitrations including:

• In the matter of Gerald Smith [2017] EWHC 3332 (Comm) (Popplewell J.), in which the Court directed a modified “Pigott condition” leaving open the possibility that the Serious Fraud Office could be required to bear the costs of receivers appointed over assets subject to a confiscation order.
• Acting for Standard Life in relation to allegations of conspiracy and other economic torts against a property company.
• A number of cases involving allegations of conspiracy arising from partnership disputes across a number of sectors, including hedge funds.
• US$100m Commercial Court dispute against Pan Oceanic Chartering for Unipec Asia following the early termination by Unipec of a long term contract of affreightment.
• An ICC arbitration relating to the alleged fraudulent sale of a mine that involved the application of Turkish law.
• Acting as defence counsel in the trial (and subsequent appeals) of the “Guinness Four” concerning share trading fraud.

Career

Ian was previously Head of Advocacy at Herbert Smith Freehills, a team he founded in 2005. Prior to this, Ian was a barrister at Littleton Chambers. He studied Law at Hertford College, Oxford graduating with a first class degree.

Ian has written his career story and experience of Stewarts for our careers section, you can view his story here.

Accreditations and Memberships

Ian is an accredited mediator and has acted in over 100 mediation disputes. From 2000 to 2017 he sat as a Recorder.

Publications

• Ian is the co-author of Arlidge & Parry on Fraud (2^nd Edition) and the co-author (with John Bowers KC) of Procedure in Courts and Tribunals.
• Ian co-authored the European American Chamber of Commerce’s “Brexit, What’s Next?” Series with Karen Jacobs

Personal

Ian’s interests include walking, drumming, writing, tennis and rugby.