Commercial
- Acted for the defendants in the RBS Rights Issue litigation, a GLO action brought by some 40,000 claimants under s.90 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, in connection with the bank’s April 2008 rights issue prospectus
- Acted for Athena Capital Fund against Crownmark Ltd [2019] EWHC 1952 (Comm)
- Acted for the Watchstone Group (formerly Quindell) in relation to a dispute with its former Executive Chairman, Robert Terry [2018] EWHC 3082 (Comm) – settled prior to a Court of Appeal hearing
- Acted pro bono for the Appellants in Mohamed & ors v Abdelmamoud [2018] EWCA Civ 879 on the scope of the non-party intervention rule in CPR 40.9
- Acted for UBS AG in the successful defence of ISDA claims brought by Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander (in administration) in the Commercial Court [2014] EWHC 2450 (Comm) and the Court of Appeal [2016] EWCA Civ 319
- Acted for a private equity house on a multi-faceted dispute with the majority shareholder of a portfolio company
- Advised the purchaser of a publishing business on fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranty and tax covenant claims against the sellers
- Advised a specialist insurance brokerage firm in a team move dispute, bringing claims against its former directors and their new employer
- Advised one member of a family in a high value business ownership dispute between siblings
- Acted for a German insurance company on recovery of part of its liability under an SCC arbitration claim against co-defendants, through the English courts’ contribution regime and enforcement in other European jurisdictions
Selected Cases
View full profile »Awards
- LSE Hughes Parry Prize – Law of Obligations (2001)
- CIMA Leverhulme Prize – Management Accounting Applications (1997)
Articles
News
- Donny Surtani speaks on Decision Analysis in Fraud Disputes to International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators
- Donny Surtani joins Crown Office Chambers as Door Tenant
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
