Paul Lewis

Overview

I’m Counsel and an Advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey for our Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice.

I am an experienced advocate and have appeared before the Royal Court on several occasions in contentious matters. I’ve been involved in some of the largest and most complex trust proceedings in Jersey, most notably C. Crociani, A and B v E Crociani and Seven Others 2017 (2) JLR 303, where I appeared as a trial advocate for the successful Plaintiffs. I was also part of the team which succeeded in the Royal Court, the Jersey Court of Appeal and the Privy Council during a forum dispute earlier in the same proceedings.

In addition, I practised at the Bar of England and Wales from 2007 – 2012 and again from 2017 – 2021. In 2018, I was appointed to the Attorney General's Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. From 2019 to 2021, I was a committee member of the Chancery Bar Association. While at the Bar, I appeared regularly before the High Court, in a wide range of applications, case management hearings and trials. 

I have experience in a broad spectrum of litigation matters, including contentious trusts, company law, insolvency and restructuring and private client work.

I joined Mourant as Counsel in 2021.

Professional qualifications

• Advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey, 2014
• Barrister, England and Wales, 2007 (currently non-practising)
• LLM in Commercial Law, University of Bristol (Distinction)
• Jules Thorn Scholar of Middle Temple (GDL & BVC)
• BA (Joint Hons), History and Italian, University of Leeds (First class)

Memberships

• Jersey Law Society
• Middle Temple
• Chancery Bar Association
• Association of Contentious Trust & Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)

Work highlights

• C. Crociani, A and B v E Crociani and Seven Others 2017 (2) JLR 303: Paul appeared as a trial advocate for the successful Plaintiffs in a hard-fought breach of trust claim worth in excess of $150 million before the Royal Court. This three-month trial was the first ever 'paperless' trial conducted by the Royal Court in civil proceedings. 
• Crociani, A & B v Crociani & O'rs - [2016] JRC 026: Paul appeared for the Plaintiffs before the Royal Court in a successful application for further and better particulars in respect of the Defendants' amended answer and counterclaim.
• Crociani, A & B v Crociani & O'rs - [2016] JRC 112: Paul appeared for the successful Plaintiffs before the Royal Court to secure sanctions for non-compliance and indemnity costs orders against the Defendants who had breached various court orders in respect of their trial evidence.
• Crociani, A & B v Crociani & O'rs - [2016] JRC 216A: Paul appeared for the successful Plaintiffs before the Royal Court to secure the release to the parties of a private letter written by the Fifth Defendant to a Judge of the Court of Appeal in Jersey.
• Re the Liquidation of Anthony Investments (Esplanade) Ltd, Evreux Holdings Ltd & JCN Investments (Jersey) Ltd [2014] JRC 240B: Paul appeared for the Joint Liquidators in long-running winding-up proceedings involving three companies which included the successful sale of one of the most valuable pieces of Jersey commercial real estate ever to take place (£27 million).
• Crociani, A & B v Crociani & O'rs [2014] UKPC 40: Forum dispute which is now the leading authority on the effect of exclusive jurisdiction clauses in trust instruments. Paul was part of the team which successfully resisted an application for a stay on the ground of forum non conveniens before the Royal Court of Jersey, the Jersey Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.

What the directories say

'Charming and sensible.' Chambers and Partners, UK Bar.

'Sources praise his excellent grasp of the important issues and the practical nature of his advice.' Chambers and Partners, UK Bar.

'Fantastic Senior Associate.' Legal 500 UK.