Donny Surtani specialises in commercial and financial disputes, with a focus on international arbitration. Prior to being called to the Bar, he spent 15 years at Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was a partner in its London office. His time at HSF included an in-house secondment to a large conglomerate business based in Mumbai, India, with interests in energy, power, shipping and construction. While a partner at HSF, his practice included a number of large scale disputes, including the RBS Rights Issue litigation and a $1.3 billion insurance coverage claim brought by Single Buoy Moorings against a number of insurers relating to a mobile offshore production unit under construction in the Norwegian North Sea.
Donny accepts instructions to act as an arbitrator or mediator. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the ICC Canada Arbitration committee. He also serves as a Senior Adviser to the Investment Committee of a well-known litigation fund based in London, and a guest lecturer at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University University of London. He is co-author of Class Actions in England and Wales (Sweet & Maxwell, 2018).
Prior to his legal career, Donny was a chartered management accountant, and worked for an energy major in Sri Lanka and in London. As such, his practice includes disputes involving accounting issues and matters with complex quantum aspects.
Donny is dual-qualified in England and Ontario.
View full profile »Awards
- LSE Hughes Parry Prize – Law of Obligations (2001)
- CIMA Leverhulme Prize – Management Accounting Applications (1997)
News
- Donny Surtani becomes an approved DIAC Arbitrator
- Donny Surtani speaks on Decision Analysis in Fraud Disputes to International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators
Articles
Qualifications
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) professional examinations all stages (1997 – 1999)
- LLB (Hons), London School of Economics (2000 – 2003)
- LPC, BPP Law School (2003 – 2004)
- Solicitor, England & Wales (2006)
- Solicitor-Advocate, England & Wales (2008)
- Accredited Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (2017)
Articles
- Developments in the law on bankers’ duties (with K. Kilgour) – Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, 2018, 33(7)
- When should a prospectus’ jurisdiction provision bind a secondary purchaser of securities? (with N. Chapman) – Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, 2016, 31(8)
- Where in the world? (with N. Chapman) – New Law Journal, 2016, 166
- Claims against directors under the Brussels Regulation (with A. Taggart and A. Pertoldi) – Employment Law Journal, 2015/16, 166
- Prospectus Liability: bracing for parallel claims in multiple jurisdictions – Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, 2015, 30(5)
Memberships
- ICC Canada Arbitration committee
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre List of Arbitrators (2021)
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Recommendations
“Donny has a very crisp style in both his written and oral advocacy. He cuts to the core of the issues in dispute and presents them in a concise yet persuasive manner.”
Leading International Arbitration Silk
“He really excels in dealing with financial matters for which he has a natural aptitude far beyond the reach of most lawyers”
Leading International Arbitration Silk
“A first rate advocate with a modern, solutions-oriented outlook: clever, responsive and commercial in his approach.”
Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
“An extremely bright and able lawyer: always in control even in the most difficult cases, Donny’s calm and measured approach always inspires confidence.”
Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
“… an excellent junior … He is exceptionally bright and hard-working … He has the ability to take a case and analyse the issues clearly, succinctly and with insight and judgment. He is particularly strong on matters where his numeracy and analytical skills can be brought to bear. I would not hesitate to recommend him as junior counsel on a matter”
Partner, Stewarts
“Donny is that rare breed of advocate who can jump seamlessly between big picture strategy and key technical detail whilst always having an eye on damages/quantum and client objectives. Donny is also great to work with.”
Managing Partners, Global Litigation Funder
