• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Alston Asquith

Leading Technology & Commercial Law Firm

  • Home
  • Services
    • Commercial
    • Commercial Property
    • Construction
    • Corporate
    • Data Protection
    • Dispute Resolution
    • Employment
    • Insolvency
    • Intellectual Property
    • Tax
    • Technology
  • People
  • News
  • Insights
    • Commercial Law
      • Shareholders Agreements
      • What is a Partnership Agreement?
      • What is a promissory note?
    • Corporate Law
      • What is an Asset Purchase Agreement?
      • What is a Share Purchase Agreement?
    • Dispute Resolution
      • Estoppel: a guide on the facts and uses
      • Unmasking the anonymous with Norwich Pharmacal orders
      • The Law of Tracing
    • Injunctions
      • Springboard Injunctions
      • Freezing injunctions: a practical guide
      • Injunctions
    • Insolvency
      • How to issue a winding up petition
      • What is a statutory demand?
  • About Us
  • Join Us
    • Join Us
    • Careers
  • Contact Us
    • London Office
    • Hertfordshire Office
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Hacking claim retrial ordered between City firm and airline tycoon

Tuesday, 16 March 2021, 16:29 By Alston Asquith

A hacking claim involving City of London firm Dechert and an airline tycoon has been resurrected having previously been dismissed after the Court of Appeal remitted the claim for retrial as new evidence became apparent.

In Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) v Farhad Azima [2020] EWHC 1327 (Ch) the Emirati investment fund had successfully argued its case in May 2020 against the airline tycoon for both fraudulent misrepresentation and unlawful means conspiracy. Azima, meanwhile, had his counter-claim against RAKIA rejected after he accused them of hacking to attain the documents on which the claim was based on. Azima had claimed that he was hacked by RAKIA and that they had published on the dark web.

The initial judgement from Andrew Lenon QC stated there was not ‘sufficiently cogent evidence’ of any conspiracy between the witnesses including retired Dechert partner Neil Gerrard. However, this counter-claim has now been remitted for retrial but did not comment on whether RAKIA was responsible for the claimed hacking. Also of note was that RAKIA’s successful judgement would stand regardless of whether the hacking claim is proven.

The court said that there are “at least two mutually inconsistent accounts of how the hacking came about” and therefore evidence would need to be re-examined before a final conclusion could be made with regards to the claim. The barrister for Azima indicated that Gerrard and the other witnesses who had previously given evidence would be recalled to the High Court to provide fresh accounts.

In the 2020 ruling the judge stated that ‘I can well believe that Mr Gerrard conducted the meeting in a forceful and even aggressive way.’ but was unable to come to a conclusion with regards to unlawful interrogations nor were there attempts to extort money. Dechert and Gerrard had been accused of torture by a Jordanian Lawyer during the course of their investigations.

A spokesperson for RAKIA has stated that they will continue to defend against the hacking claims and maintained that the initial judgement was correct with regards to the actual hacking as well as the release of the data onto the dark web. Azima’s spokesperson stated that he “continues to investigate the hacking and to pursue the full range of legal options available to him.”

Do you have a hacking claim? Alston Asquith has offices in London and Hertfordshire and can arrange a call to provide some initial advice on the steps to take.

We pride ourselves on our relationship with our clients as well as the service we provide. View some of our feedback on Trustpilot.

hacking claims from airline tycoon against city firm

Visit our contact page to find out how we can help.

Read similar topics to hacking claims

Tackling hackers with injunctions against persons unknown
The great ‘work from home’ debate: government guidance to remain until June but should flexibility remain afterwards?
Amazon Fresh launches checkout free store in London: Dangerous tech or the future of shopping?

Filed Under: Corporate News, Court News, Dispute Resolution News, Front Page, Tech News Tagged With: appeal, court news, hacking, technology

Primary Sidebar

Latest Legal News

First reported successful judgement on COVID-19 commercial rent claim for a premises in Westfield Shopping Centre, West London

First reported successful judgement on COVID-19 commercial rent claim

Wednesday, 21 April 2021, 15:34 By Alston Asquith

European Super League set for mammoth legal dispute with UEFA

European Super League set for mammoth legal dispute with UEFA

Tuesday, 20 April 2021, 16:57 By Alston Asquith

Marks & Spencer take on Aldi over Colin the Caterpillar trademark infringement

M&S takes on Aldi over Colin the Caterpillar trademark infringement

Monday, 19 April 2021, 16:47 By Alston Asquith

Follow Alston Asquith

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • RSS
  • Twitter
45 Moorfields
Moorgate
London
EC2Y 9AE
Get Directions
+44 (0)20 3950 3538
info@alstonasquith.com

Alston Asquith Limited Copyright © 2023

  • Navigation
  • Home
  • Services
  • People
  • News
  • Insights
    Legal and Regulatory
  • Accessibility
  • Legal Notices
  • Cookies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Engagement
  • Modern Slavery Act
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • About Us
  • Contact Us