Jon Felce

Jon has wide-ranging experience of commercial disputes including contractual, shareholder, corporate, banking and insolvency matters. He has particular expertise in matters involving civil fraud, enforcement and asset recovery (including both commercial and sovereign debt), and he has obtained a number of ground-breaking orders in this regard.

Jon is regularly instructed on claims involving deceit, breach of trust, conspiracy and misrepresentation, including in relation to management/employee fraud and cyberfraud. He is experienced in dealing with jurisdiction issues and questions of foreign law, as well as interim relief including freezing, search and disclosure orders. He has recognised and enforced judgments and arbitral awards from a number of jurisdictions including in cross-border insolvency matters and undertaken many asset tracing exercises. His work in relation to sovereign disputes in this regard has involved both commercial and investor-state arbitration awards (including in relation to the consequences of the CJEU’s decision in Achmea).

Jon has an international practice with clients including sovereigns, financial institutions, corporate clients, high-net-worth individuals and insolvency practitioners, and has acted on a number of complex and high value Russian/CIS cases.

Jon has also been appointed by the Court as a Supervising Solicitor.

Background

Jon graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2001 with a first class degree in History (and M.A. in 2005) before studying law at Nottingham Law School where he obtained a distinction on his Legal Practice Course.

Jon trained at global law firm Jones Day, joining the disputes department upon qualification in March 2006. In May 2014 he joined civil fraud boutique PCB Litigation LLP (subsequently renamed PCB Byrne LLP), where he became a Partner in 2017. In April 2022, Jon joined Cooke, Young and Keidan LLP.

What the legal directories say

Who’s Who Legal recognises Jon as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Asset Recovery (2023-2024), one of only 70 lawyers worldwide, and Commercial Litigation (2023), one of only four lawyers in England (and one of only two Partners under 45) recognised as such. He is also recommended as a ‘Future Leader’ for Commercial Litigation (2021-2023) and ranked as a Thought Leader for Asset Recovery in WWL’s GIR report (2024).

Chambers & Partners (2024) ranks Jon amongst the top 20 practitioners for Asset Tracing & Recovery globally, referring to his leading many of the firm’s “most complex asset tracing mandates”. Clients describe him as “a good professional with extensive knowledge and experience in various aspects of the English law and procedure”, “calm under pressure in difficult cases”, and having “demonstrated high level of engagement, responsiveness and professionalism. He was able to explain the intricacies of the English enforcement rules and suggest the best way forward.”

Chambers & Partners (2024) also ranks Jon for civil fraud, with clients describing him as “incredibly impressive”, “really clever, a very good technical lawyer and also very practical” and “diligent in chasing down all areas and is prepared to push the envelope – he is also an incredible tactician”. He is also recommended as “a truly creative thinker with absolutely first-rate knowledge of fraud and asset recovery law. He is great to bounce ideas off and find new angles to a case.”

The Legal 500 (2024) recognises Jon as a leading individual for civil fraud (having consistently recognised him as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ (2020-2023)). He is also recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ for banking litigation (2019-2024), and also recommended for premium commercial litigation, international arbitration and commodities disputes.

The Legal 500 (2024) describes Jon as “an outstanding partner with a wealth of experience”, an “excellent litigator with a close eye to detail, a strong strategic sense and very strong analytical skills”, “technically excellent and very approachable” and a “highly experienced solicitor with great judgement”.’

The Legal 500 (2023) describes Jon as “a hire that every boutique would have liked to have made” and as having a “deserved reputation for his drive, legal knowledge and quiet, steely, effective drive for successful results”.

Who’s Who Legal (2023) describes Jon its guide for Asset Recovery as “a cracking lawyer – he is always looking for a new angle”.

The Legal 500 (2022) describes Jon as “headed for the very top” and that there is “complete trust and faith in Jon’s advice and his expertise”. It also recommends him for having “a great legal mind and an eye for detail”, being “proactive in offering innovative solutions to his clients”, “very thoughtful and creative” and “extremely responsive, all over the detail and punchy in his advice. Always willing to get in the trenches and he does what needs to be done.”

The Legal 500 (2021) describes Jon as a “rising star” and “a bright young gun with a shrewd mind and calm approach” who is “technically excellent, tactically savvy and hard-working” and has “outstanding analytical skills and adds a sprinkling of tactical gold-dust where necessary”.

Who’s Who Legal (2021) recommends Jon for being “quick to respond” and “always commercial and pragmatic” and his “extensive knowledge of various jurisdictions”.

Jon was also shortlisted by Client Choice Awards for its Asset Recovery and Arbitration in the UK awards (2021 and 2024 respectively).

Professional groups

Jon is a founding committee member of a community for next generation asset recovery practitioners, ThoughtLeaders4’s FIREStarters, and he was on the initial editorial committee of the Tech Disputes Network.  His professional memberships include the IBA Committee for Asset Recovery, Law Society of England and Wales, Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association, and the London Solicitors Litigation Association.

Speaking engagements

Jon‘s speaking engagements have included:

• “Catch me if you can – new opportunities for pursuing fraudsters and recovering assets” (June 2024)
• Co-chairing the ThoughtLeaders4 FIREStarters Global Summit for asset recovery practitioners (February 2024)
• Co-chairing the ThoughtLeaders4 Sovereign & States Disputes and Enforcement Summit (February 2024)
• Co-chairing the ThoughtLeaders4 FIREStarters Global Summit for asset recovery practitioners (February 2023)
• “Sovereign disputes and enforcement post-Achmea” (January 2023)
• “What do you want, really really want: the ultimate client’s objectives” (August 2022)
• “How new technology has made banks vulnerable to litigation” (April 2022)
• Co-chair of ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE UK Summit (September 2021)
• “Acting for the Defendant: Defeating the Queen’s Gambit – How to Play Your Opening Moves” (July 2021)
• “Acting for the Defendant: To Hear or Not to Hear, That is the Question – Challenging Jurisdiction and Service: The Defendant’s Toolkit” (May 2021)
• “The Art of Fraud” (March 2021)
• “Sovereign States – a Rorschach Test” (February 2021)
• “Fraud and Asset Recovery in England – Building an Effective International Strategy” (February 2021)
• “How to secure your fighting fund” (October 2020)
• “Private Prosecutions and Committal Applications” (October 2020)
• “Banks: Fraud Claims arising out of Anti-Money Laundering and other Obligations” (June 2020)
• “Obtaining information in fraud and asset recovery litigation” (November 2018)

Publications

Jon is a member of Lexis PSL’s Case Analysis Expert Panel on Dispute Resolution and co-edits the England and Wales chapter of ‘Enforcement of Foreign Judgements’ (published by Kluwer Law International). Topics on which he has written include:

• “Guarantees of non-performing loans and other liabilities – guaranteed success?” (Financier Worldwide, December 2024)
• “State Immunity Case Highlights UK’s Creditor-Friendly Stance” (Solicitors Journal, December 2024)
• “Key takeaways from the Supreme Court’s decision in UniCredit v RusChemAlliance” (Solicitors Journal, November 2024)
• “Anti-suit injunctions and related relief” (The Law Society Gazette, October 2024)
• “Good arguable case – no longer arguable in freezing order cases? (Dos Santos v Unitel)” (Lexis Nexis, October 2024)
• “The Life of Riley?  Does fraud always unravel all?” (Lexis Nexis, September 2024)
• “The reimbursement burden in the wake of incresased authorised push payment fraud: are tech companies the new target in town?” (Solicitors Journal, August 2024)
• “Is there financial fair play for sporting superstars” (Wealth Briefing, June 2024)
• “Fraud Victims: Light at the end of the tunnel?” (New Law Journal, May 2024)
• “Mitigating Risk in Times of Trouble” (CEO Insight, March 2024)
• “Zimbabwe Ruling Bolsters UK’s Draw As Arbitration Enforcer” (Law360, February 2024)
• “Five litigation trends to look out for in 2024” (Law Society Gazette, January 2024)
• “Asset recovery in times of turmoil” (Solicitors Journal, January 2024)
• “Sanctions, control and contractual disputes: The Litasco case“ (Solicitors Journal, December 2023)
• “Contracts with Russian and Russian-related parties – disputes about disputes“ (Business Reporter, December 2023)
• “English Enforcement Efforts Proceed“ (ThoughtLeaders4 Disputes Magazine, November 2023)
• “Parallel legal expenses exceptions in proprietary and non-proprietary freezing orders“ (LexisNexis, October 2023): “Security for costs in times of conflict and crisis” (July 2023)
• “All is not lost: Dealing with a business compromise fraud” (Insurance Edge, May 2023)
• “Cottoning on to arbitration time limits“  (April 2023)
• “Staying “Best in Class”: Proposed changes to the Arbitration Act 1996”  (New Law Journal, March 2023)
• “Transparency torpedoed by CJEU” (Law Society Gazette, January 2023)
• “A Perestroika Moment for Non-Party Disclosure?” (ThoughtLeaders4 Disputes Magazine ‘Year in Review’, December 2022)
• “The rise and rise of business compromise fraud: a victim’s toolkit“ (Financier Worldwide Magazine, December 2022)
• “More insolvencies equate to more fraud” (Accountancy Daily, December 2022)
• “Enforcement post-Brexit: bin win for arbitration“ (IBA, October 2022)
• “Fraud Claims: Don’t Bank On It?” (New Law Journal, October 2022)
• “Section 423 Insolvency Act 1986: Opportunities for Victims” (September 2022)
• “Are you being served? Seising jurisdiction via section 1140 Companies Act 2006” (June 2022)
• “Fraud on a company: which route to take – Insolvency or Civil Fraud?” (CFO, June 2022)
• “Proprietary interests, proprietary freezing injunctions, and legal and living expenses” (May 2022)
• “The Lord Tenterden’s Act defence to fraud claims” (April 2022)

• “Enforcing against sovereigns – the state of play” (September 2021)
• “Hot Topics in enforcement in England and Wales (not just Brexit-related)” (June 2021)
• “Developments in contempt proceedings – a get out of jail free card?” (November 2020)
• “Searching times for search orders?” (September 2020)
• “English courts: At the forefront of fighting fraud” (July 2020)
• “COP that! Will the new Confirmation of Payee system reduced Authorised Push Payment fraud” (June 2020)
• “Defeating Dissipation: recent legal developments” (Financier Worldwide, February 2018)

Languages

Italian (conversational)