Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.) ("QNB") has secured a decisive victory in proceedings brought against it in the Kings Bench Division of the English High Court concerning allegations – denied by QNB - that it was connected to certain unlawful acts in Syria.
The claim (KB-2023-001144 Basel Hashwah and Others v Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.) and Others), which was originally launched in July 2022, faced being struck out due to the Claimants' failure to comply with prior orders for, amongst other things, payment of security for costs and was ultimately discontinued by the Claimants on 10 October 2024. The Claimants have since been ordered to make substantial payments towards QNB's costs in defending the proceedings.
This marks the end of a four-year pursuit of QNB which began with a related set of proceedings issued by the same Claimants in June 2021 concerning similar allegations: Hashwah & Ors v Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C) & Ors [2022] EWHC 2242 (Comm). Whilst denying the allegations, QNB challenged the jurisdiction of the English Courts on grounds of state immunity and in October 2022 HHJ Pelling KC rejected the arguments advanced by the Claimants and concluded that the claim was barred by state immunity. The Judge also rejected an application for permission to appeal and an application for a certificate permitting the claimants to pursue a leapfrog appeal to the Supreme Court. See the full judgment here.
Dispute Resolution partners Rob Fell and Alice Childs led the Travers Smith team comprising Natalie Puddicombe, Alyce Lynch and Ophelia Chan. Daniel Toledano KC, Andrew McLeod and James Ruddell of One Essex Court appeared for QNB.
