Thomas W.Besant (Tom)

Tom Besant represents large corporations and individuals in various contentious matters, including fraud, contractual, shareholder/joint venture, and antitrust disputes. The Legal 500 describes him as a "superb drafter and surefire partner of the future" (2021) and as a "future star" (2022).

Tom's recent experience includes representing: a Kazakh bank in proceedings in the High Court relating to a significant fraud perpetrated against it involving successful applications for Norwich Pharmacal relief; a large private equity fund in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration proceedings relating to an investment in the Nigerian pensions sector involving numerous complex regulatory and currency conversion issues; Mastercard in proceedings in the High Court, Competition Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court relating to allegations that its interchange fees and certain network rules are anticompetitive; a large refiner of precious metals in London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) proceedings relating to the purchase of precious metal involving allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation; and an ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI) in a complex dispute relating to a joint venture for the redevelopment of a Caribbean island involving various litigation (both civil and criminal) and arbitration proceedings across multiple jurisdictions.

In 2018 and 2019, Tom spent seven months seconded to the litigation and regulatory team at Goldman Sachs in London where he advised on a range of matters across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).