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Lefteris Kallou

Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am an Associate within the Dispute Resolution department. I specialise in commercial litigation, director and shareholder disputes, contentious insolvency and fraud.

I have a strong track record of achieving favourable outcomes for my clients in a cost-effective manner, with many clients either returning or their professional advisers (whom I work alongside) recommending me to their clients. 

Clients want to understand where they stand early on including the risks, rewards and costs; I tailor a strategy to achieve their desired outcome whilst also advising on commercial considerations they may have overlooked. 

Prior to joining Lawrence Stephens I worked at a City boutique where I was involved in numerous matters which created case authority, and in HMRC’s Strategic Litigation department where I was involved in the £1bn Ingenious litigation.

Outside of the office I enjoy spending my time with my growing family, watching Arsenal, going to the gym and trying new restaurants. 

Experience highlights

  • Defending different categories of directors (de jure and de facto) against a liquidator’s claim for breach of duties, misfeasance, and dishonest assistance which created case law and was set for a cross-appeal before reaching a favourable settlement.
  • Pursuing bankruptcy against a solicitor under the Insolvent Partnership Order 1994 and making a full recovery of £150,000 plus legal costs.
  • Ensuring that the construction of a significant development in Europe was not interrupted following a dispute over the validity of a payment on demand clause in a funding loan agreement (worth over £100million).
  • Concluding HMRC’s enquiry into a Research & Development tax relief claim (worth £5.5million) without amendments to my client’s tax return after sending two letters.
  • Obtaining a freezing order on behalf of liquidators against various entities in a £14million art fraud.
  • Preventing an UHNW client’s rare car collection worth over £20million being sold at auction by receivers following a default on a loan repayment.
  • Concluding Insolvency Service investigations into directors regarding potential disqualification before proceedings are issued.
  • Obtaining a money judgment on behalf of a law firm and successfully defending a counterclaim for professional negligence following a five-day trial.
  • Acting for a defendant and obtaining a security for costs order against the claimant, striking out their claim, obtaining charging orders over the claimant’s properties, and applying for the claimant’s property be sold at auction so that the proceeds could be paid to the defendant.

Roberto Francis

Posted on: December 6th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

I am a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Disputes Department having joined Lawrence Stephens in December 2024.

I join the firm with extensive experience acting for bridging and alternative lenders with a primary focus on secured and unsecured recoveries, which includes but is not limited to possession claims, receivership, insolvency and professional negligence.

I like to take a down to earth approach and develop strong relationships with clients, thereby ensuring that their needs and expectations are at the forefront of my mind when progressing any given matter.

Outside of work, I am a fitness enthusiast and enjoy going to the gym and running.  Over recent years I have taken part in a number of runs. When I am not training I love all things food related and like eating out with friends and family.

Experience highlights

  • Successfully obtaining a vesting order in favour of a lender
  • Acting for a lender in the settlement of a professional negligence claim prior to the issue of proceedings

Dominic Holden

Posted on: November 12th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

I am a Director in the Dispute Resolution team, having joined Lawrence Stephens in November 2024. My practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes for businesses and high-net-worth individuals. My cases are frequently complex, document heavy and involve multiple parties as well as a cross-border element and the need for emergency relief (e.g. freezing orders).

I specialise in substantial civil fraud claims (notably data/computer hacking claims) and complicated multi-national, enforcement and asset tracing work. I also advise on breach of trust, professional negligence, contentious insolvency and director, shareholder and/or partnership disputes.

I have also developed a niche practice in art and collectibles disputes. 

Experience highlights

  • Farhad Azima -v- Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA), Neil Gerrard, Dechert LLP and James Buchanan. Acted for Mr Azima in his long-running dispute against the Ras-Al Khaimah sovereign wealth fund (and other alleged co-conspirators). The case involves allegations of computer hacking by RAKIA of Mr Azima’s confidential and privileged data. Further information on the case can be found here: https://www.brickcourt.co.uk/news/detail/judgments-in-favour-of-emirati-sovereign-wealth-fund-set-aside-on-grounds-of-fraud-by-the-fund and https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjarticle/uk-high-court-voids-judgments-amid-allegations-of-hacking-and-fraud
  • Advised a well-known catering company in relation to their rights, remedies and reporting obligations following a malicious breach of their email system whereby the malicious entity circulated confidential information and disparaging comments to members of staff which (in part) led to threatened trade union action.
  • Advised a wealthy businessman on his rights and remedies following the alleged hacking of his personal data and forging of documents by a firm of private investigators to support a substantial claim against him (and others) in the English High Court.
  • Acting for a fintech client in relation to their claims against a payment aggregator. Obtaining an emergency worldwide freezing order, proprietary injunction and disclosure orders concerning the misappropriation of a substantial sum.
  • Substantial fraud claim against a rogue builder following his gross over-charging of an elderly client. An emergency freezing order, proprietary injunction, third party disclosure order and an order for the delivery up of a number of high value vehicles obtained. Further assisted the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to bring a successful criminal prosecution against the rogue builder.
  • Successfully defended a fraudulent attempt to obtain adverse possession of land and obtained judgment that the documents later relied on in enforcement proceedings were a sham.

Abtin Yeganeh

Posted on: February 28th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens in March 2023 as a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution department. I was promoted to my current role as a Director and Head of Real Estate Disputes in August 2024.

I deal with a wide range of matters including but not limited to, secured recoveries, party wall and developer claims, trespass, rights to light claims, professional negligence, and all landlord tenant matters relating to breaches of covenant, possession, forfeiture, insolvency, debt recovery, contested lease renewals and dilapidation claims.

I have experience of taking matters to trial in the High Court and have also been involved in a number of successful appeals before the Court of Appeal.

My clients include lenders, investors, commercial landlords, local authorities, and insolvency practitioners.

I am married with three boys and live in South West London. Outside of work my interests include football, golf and going out with family and friends.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a developer and London Local Authority in a High Court Rights to Light Claim
  • Advising and acting for various lenders in connection with enforceability of security documents, out of court administration appointments, receivership, obtaining vacant possession and enforcing personal guarantees.
  • Obtaining an order from the Upper Tribunal (Land Chamber) discharging a restrictive covenant under s.84 of the Law of Property Act 1925
  • Advising a bank in respect of its occupation of premises at Tower 42 on Old Broad Street and dealing with a claim by the landlord for dilapidations
  • Legget & Ors -v-Giambrone Law LLP (In Liquidation) – €3.5m group litigation claim by 43 claimants against their former solicitors, Giambrone Law (“the Firm”) over its advice the clients in a failed property development that had alleged had links to the Mafia.  It had been alleged that the Firm was under a duty to warn investors of the risks involved in investing in a part of Italy associated with organised crime
  • Acting for a BVI entity (the Applicant) for an order by the Court approving the terms of a contested lease and for it to be executed by a Judge pursuant to section 39 of the Senior Courts Act 1981
  • Successfully obtaining a vesting order against the Crown estate
  • Acting for the successful claimants in various libel claims which have included, Al-Haddad -v- BBC, Sultan Choudhury -v- The Times Newspaper Limited, Huda Television Limited -v- The Henry Jackson Society.