Louis Castellani’s experience from over 20 years of practice covers a range of contentious work across different sectors.
He advises individuals, private offices and global businesses at Board level on different types of challenges, including pre-emptive and after-the-fact investigations, urgent injunctions, complex cases heading all the way to trial, appeals and arbitration under various rules. He co-ordinates cross-border litigation and enforcement against, and defence of, assets all over the world.
Louis supports his clients with early strategic risk management decisions and encourages a pragmatic approach to avoiding litigation where possible at the pre-action stage, focusing on negotiations and mediation. He also advises clients who are participating in public inquiries and inquests.
- Internal investigations into malpractice and misconduct
- Complex litigation including contractual claims, fraud and breach of fiduciary duties, break-ups of joint ventures, claims over assets and insurance policies, management and agency disputes, professional negligence, licence fee and royalty disputes
- Disputes in specific industries including music, film & TV, sports & e-sports and the live sector
(Clients are listed in italics)
Investigations
- UK Plc (internal investigation into financial malpractice)
- Nasdaq listed company (investigating secret commissions)
- NYSE listed company (investigating “syphoning” of confidential information)
- General Partner, private equity (investigation into underlying investments)
- UK regulated sector (investigating personal misconduct)
- Sportsperson “A” (defending an FA investigation)
- Persons “A & B” (defending an internal investigation into secret commissions)
Media, Entertainment & Sport
- Virtus Leisure v Universal Pictures VP Ltd (contractual and fraud dispute)
- Lucasfilm Ltd v Ainsworth (Supreme Court) (the “Stormtrooper helmet” case)
- LiveNation Music (UK) Ltd v Leighton-Pope & Homer (confidential information)
- Experience Hendrix LLC v Times Newspapers Ltd (breach of contract)
- Concert Promoters’ Association (PRS Tariff Consultation)
- Ticketmaster UK Ltd v Gaming International Ltd (contractual claim)
- Association of British Concert Promoters v PRS for Music (Reference to Copyright Tribunal)
- PRS for Music v Festival Republic Ltd (royalty claim)
- Xtravaganza Recordings Ltd v Modena Recordings Ltd pka “Chicane” (was an album contractually “delivered”?)
- British Association of Concert Halls (PRS Tariff Consultation)
- News Group Newspapers v Littlejohn (breach of contract)
- Cardiff City FC v Moody (search order)
- Sells Goalkeeper Products Ltd v Allan McGregor (breach of contract)
Commercial & Arbitration
- BNP Paribas v AHAB v Al-Sanea (jurisdiction challenge)
- Saad Investments Company Ltd (in liquidation) v Al-Sanea (Court of Appeal) (put-option claim)
- LCIA arbitration (breach of warranty claim under SPA)
- Victoria Beckham Limited v NJ Richards (professional negligence)
- Al-Muzein & Al-Subaihi v Al-Sanea (Court of Appeal) (contractual construction)
- LCIA arbitration (assessment of damages)
- Zennström v Barlow & others (professional negligence)
- Y v Attorney-General (acting for the trustees in Re Beddoe applications)
- Hyde & others v Tyshchenko (possession proceedings)
Civil law processes
- Representing a Core Participant in The Litvinenko Inquiry
- Acting for families and other Interested Persons in a number of coronial inquests
- Handling various public order issues including for live event promoters
Louis trained and qualified at Clyde & Co. before joining Harbottle & Lewis in 2001. He is a member of the British Association for Sport & Law and is admitted as a Solicitor Advocate (Civil).
He speaks French fluently with a working knowledge of Italian.
- Qualification date: May 2000
- Academic qualifications: LL.B. (Hons) 1995, LPC 1997
