Joe Cresswell
Joe Cresswell focuses his practice on commercial litigation and regulatory investigations and advises clients on a range of international commercial disputes with a particular focus on civil fraud and the financial services sector. He has acted for both claimants and defendants in a broad range of proceedings in the High Court and advised on regulatory actions appealed to the Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Cresswell trained with Clifford Chance and was a Senior Associate at another international law firm. He previously spent four months on secondment to the Chancery Division at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Key Matters
- A professional services firm in connection with the defense of a US$2.5 billion claim by the holding company of a Gulf-based healthcare group arising out of a fraud allegedly perpetrated by its majority shareholders and senior management.
- A major tech company in connection with the defense of a claim alleging abuse of a dominant position.
- An ultra-high net worth individual in connection with a jurisdiction challenge in the Commercial Court, involving consideration of the impact of the Ukraine war on the functioning of the Ukrainian legal system.
- A software entrepreneur in connection with the defense of a £3.4 billion claim in the High Court.
Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.
Commercial and Banking Litigation / Civil Fraud
- WWRT Ltd v Zhevago [2024] EWHC 122 (Comm): jurisdiction challenge in the Commercial Court, involving consideration of the impact of the Ukraine war on the functioning of the Ukrainian legal system.
- NMC Health plc v EY: one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2025, a $2.5bn claim by the holding company of a Gulf-based healthcare group arising out of a fraud allegedly perpetrated by its majority shareholders and senior management.
- PJSC Bank ‘Finance and Credit’ v Zhevago [2021]: stay of UK fraud litigation and avoidance of worldwide freezing injunction.
- Newstates v HBOS/Lloyds [2018]: acting for the Claimant, a substantial property company belonging to a high net worth private family office in claims concerning substantial derivatives, LIBOR misrepresentations and implied terms.
- Morris Group v. RBS [2018]: acting for one of the UK’s largest private house builders in relation to claims concerning GRG, LIBOR misrepresentations and implied terms.
- Re Evershine Travel Ltd (in liquidation) [2018]: investigation of directors’ conduct and antecedent transactions.
- FCA v Macris [2017] UKSC 19: Supreme Court appeal concerning the identification of an individual in an FCA enforcement notice and the operation of section 393 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
- Autonomy v Dr Lynch & Anor: defense of a £3.4 billion claim in the High Court arising out of the 2011 acquisition by Hewlett Packard of the FTSE-100 listed software company Autonomy. The largest civil fraud and misrepresentation claim ever filed in the UK.
- A major tech company in connection with the defense of a claim alleging abuse of a dominant position.
- Acting for a major financial institution in its defence of a $870m fraud dispute in the Commercial Court.
Advisory
- A high net-worth individual in securing recognition of a New York judgment in the English High Court.
- A bondholder group in relation to claims under FSMA 2000 arising from fraudulent statements made by an issuer on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
- The owners and management of a well-known London department store on a shareholder dispute.
- A major construction firm in a dispute relating to a collapsed joint venture.
- Secondment to HMCTS: Judicial Assistant to Mr Justice Michael Green and Mr Justice Morgan.
- Secondment to the Mary Ward Legal Centre in Holborn. Debt and welfare advisory team.
- Bethnal Green Free-law scheme.
- Liberty Human Rights Advice Hotline.
Services
-
- University of Liverpool, B.A., History, 2013, Upper Second-Class Honours, Candis II Prize: Economic History, Sir Henry Wade Deacon Derby Humanities Scholarship
- BPP University, GDL, 2014, Commendation
- BPP University, LPC, Business, 2015, Distinction
-
- England and Wales