Patricia Edwards

Patricia advises and acts in a wide range of commercial disputes, from substantial and complex trials with leaders to smaller matters appearing alone. She has secured several urgent interim injunctions in the Commercial Court acting alone. She has been instructed in a number of cases arising out of the global economic downturn, including as junior counsel in several arbitrations raising issues of frustration and force majeure in this context.

Many of her cases raise both complex legal questions and technical factual and financial issues. For instance, she was junior counsel in a two week LCIA arbitration arising out of a share sale agreement in respect of a Russian company. The principal dispute turned on detailed reports by expert accountants concerning the value of the company.

More recently, she acted in a substantial trial of an off-shore oil drilling dispute, arising under a farm-in agreement and related production sharing contracts and joint operating agreements. The case raised novel issues of quantum and required extensive scientific expert evidence. (Case settled at court.)

In addition to working with technical and financial experts, Patricia has considerable experience of working with experts in a diverse range of foreign laws, including Thai, Indian, Nigerian and Dutch law. She also accepts instructions to act abroad. Recently, she settled an application for a freezing injunction and ancillary orders in the DIFC Courts relating to property in Dubai. In 2005, she worked on secondment in a US law firm in Portland, Oregon, where she was involved in a broad spectrum of commercial litigation and mediation.

Other cases include Berezovsky & ors v Edmiston & ors, 30 March 2010 (Teare J), which considered the grounds for adding parties under CPR r.19.2, and Stephen York v Hammonds Direct, 24 February 2010, a successful application to set aside a statutory demand for sums claimed on dissolution of a partnership.

Patricia acted as junior counsel in Dornoch Ltd & ors v Westminster International BV & ors [2009] EWHC 889 (Admlty) and [2009] EWHC 1782 (Admlty). The case raised a number of issues under the Marine Insurance Act 1906 in the context of underwriters seeking to take over ownership of a mega-size trailer hopper dredger, which was a CTL following a collision.

More recently she was instructed on behalf of insurers in an arbitration of a sue and labour dispute following the sinking of a vessel.

Patricia accepts instructions in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent disputes. She has acted and advised in relation to a number of urgent IP matters, and has particular experience of trade mark licence litigation. For example, she acted in an ICC arbitration between a leading brand and a licensee, which involved detailed evidence given by branding experts and accountants.

An increasing number of Patricia's cases are in the sports sector. She acted as junior counsel for the defendants in Group Lotus v (1) 1Malaysia, (2) Team Lotus Ventures, (3) Tune Group, (4) Tony Fernandes, (5) 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Ltd [2011] EWHC 1366 (Ch), a dispute relating to the use of the name Team Lotus in Formula 1 racing. She was subsequently instructed on behalf of those and other defendants in litigation arising out of the acquisition of the Caterham car company. Patricia has also acted in a number of cases concerning production and sale of sports apparel under licence, including Umbro v Global Brand Management Srl.

Patricia is Editorial Assistant of the European Trade Mark Reports (2005 to date) and previously held this role for the European Copyright and Design Reports (2005-6).