Expertise

Tom has recovered an array of valuable assets for his clients over the years including cash, residential and commercial property, artwork, crypto, companies and aircraft.

Tom cases often involve an international element and applications for pre-emptive and interlocutory relief including freezing orders, disclosure orders and other interim injunctions. Tom also often acts alongside US Counsel on large multi-jurisdictional cases where he is appointed as UK/EU Counsel. He has significant expertise acting alongside local Counsel in jurisdictions including New York, Miami, Delaware, the Caribbean, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Experience

Past reported/high profile cases include:

  • Acting on behalf of a Guernsey liquidator to recover a multi-million pound loan book. The case included obtaining a worldwide freezing order in the London High Court, Chapter 15 proceedings in New York and the recovery of a $30m property in Miami
  • Acting for a private bank against private individuals in a multi-million pound debt claim in the London High Court. Successfully obtained a worldwide freezing order
  • Acting for a family office to recover substantial monies from bad actors.
  • Acting on the English aspects of the New York bankruptcy case of Re Norske Skogindustrier ASA, primarily examinations of witnesses pursuant to Section 2 of the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975
  • Acting for a liquidator of a Puerta Rican private bank to recover valuable art and cash deposits held by a third party in London
  • Acting for a group of office holders and corporates in a multimillion-pound group claim against Visa and Mastercard for alleged unlawful interchange fees. Claimant clients  included Alix Partners, Arnold Clark, Charles Tyrwhitt, Boden, THG plc, Watches of Switzerland Group, E & Y, Pret a Manger, Naked Wines Plc and The White Company
  • Advising a private equity fund on shareholder and corporate governance issues
  • Acting for eight corporate defendants in the $4bn bank fraud case of BTA Bank v Ablyazov
  • Assisting US Counsel in a US federal court case by obtaining a Norwich Pharmacal Order against an English bank in the London High Court
  • Acting for a Belarus businessman in a dispute with his business partner over the ownership of a car factory worth £20m in Minsk, Belarus. Successfully resisted an application to stay an unfair prejudice petition for arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996. (J & W Sanderson Ltd v Fenox (UK) Ltd)
  • Acting for the defendant in an alleged fraud claim concerning an iron ore mine in South America. Successfully resisted an application for an application seeking funds to be transferred by the defendant subject to a worldwide freezing order from out of the jurisdiction and paid into court Vitol (SA v Morley)

Recognition

Tom is recognised by the Legal 500 for his work in Commercial Litigation. The guide describes him as the “stand-out partner for complex litigation and asset recovery; he has excellent connections with similar lawyers in other jurisdictions to ensure asset recovery is dealt with swiftly and effectively.”

The Legal 500 2025 says “Clients love Tom Clark, who is extremely commercial and always attuned to his client’s needs. He has a very strong commercial litigation practice and a growing profile in the sector.”

Career

Tom started out in banking with J.P Morgan before moving to law in 2003. He started his legal career at Penningtons (now Penningtons Manches Cooper), before joining iLaw as a start-up law firm in 2011. Tom joined Stewarts as a partner in 2024.

Accreditations and Memberships

IBA Asset Recovery Committee