Lydia Danon

Partner

Tel: +44 (0)20 7148 7805 

Email: lydia.danon@cyklaw.com

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Lydia, a solicitor-advocate and senior partner of the firm, specialises in high–value, complex domestic and international litigation and arbitration. She is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for civil fraud disputes and commercial litigation, she is ranked in Chambers & Partners as a top civil fraud lawyer, and a Global Elite Thought Leader by the Lexology Index. Her clients have described her as “very bright and client focused” being “known for her pragmatic, commercial advice.” Chambers & Partners writes that “Lydia is professional, always on point and has a very sharp mind” she is “a great lawyer who is easy to work with.”

Lydia’s practice focuses on civil fraud and asset recovery, fintech/hi-tech (including digital assets), partnership, corporate disputes and business divorce. She regularly advises and applies for orders in support of foreign and domestic disputes, including freezing injunctions, anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal orders, search and seizure orders. She is experienced in all matters relating to jurisdiction challenges, most notably having acted for the successful defendants in a US$14bn battle in the Commercial Court.

Her clients range from multi-nationals, ultra-high net worth individuals, investment funds, LPs, GPs and SMEs. Lydia’s has a substantial cross border practice, across the US, CIS, Asia and Central and South America.

Background

Lydia read History at Newcastle University before spending a year teaching English at a leading Chinese University. She undertook her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London. She qualified as a solicitor in 2007, joined CYK in March 2009 and has been a partner since 2017.

What the legal directories say

“She is no-nonsense and never gives up on finding a solution for the client.” “She’s super impressive, very knowledgeable and astute” (Chambers and Partners)

“Lydia has an easy and collaborative style which is a great catalyst to case preparation and strategising, and best positions the client for a successful outcome. She gives 100% to her clients and is not fazed by aggressive tactics during hostile litigation”

 “Lydia Danon has a clear and immediate insight into the points which really matter, and focuses on them with ruthless efficiently whilst also being a delight to work with” (Legal 500)

“Gutsy and straight-talking” (Legal 500)

 “Lydia Danon is a legend; totalling charming and totally on the ball.” (Legal 500)

Professional groups and appointments

Lydia is an officer of the International Bar Association’s Litigation Committee.

She is also a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, London Solicitor Litigation Association, the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association and the Commercial Litigators’ Forum.

Speaking engagements

  • “Digitalisation and AI – the borders of the revolution, the practice” (IBA Litigation Committee conference, Singapore April 2025)
  • “The Quincecare Duty” (The American Bar Association, Orlando, April 2024)
  • “Jurisdiction in a digital age – where to find cross border fraud claims involving digital assets or transactions” (Asset Recovery International, Dublin, February 2024)
  • “Defence Counsel Perspectives: Challenging Asset Freezes and Resisting Applications for Pre-Emptive and Interlocutory Relief” (C5 Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery Conference, Miami, January 2024)
  • “Litigating in and about the Metaverse” (IBA Annual Conference, Paris, October 2023)
  • “Navigating AI and Technology Disputes via Arbitration” (FICCE/ICA International Conference on Arbitration in the Era of Globalisation, Dubai, March 2022)
  • “Crypto Asset Fraud as an Existential Threat”, (C5 Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery Conference in Miami January 2022)

Recent articles

London Commercial Courts 2024/25: An Internationally Diverse Year
Read More››
CYK secures another decisive win for our clients in the Magomedov saga
Read More››
Navigating corporate fraud—remedies in England & India
Read More››

Cases of Note

  • Magomedov and Ors v TPG Group Holdings (SBS), LP [2023] EWHC 2655 (Comm); [2025] EWHC 59 (Comm); [2025] EWHC (Comm): acting for the successful Defendants in a US$14bn conspiracy claim, successfully defending an application for a US $8.8bn freezing injunction; securing an order for security for costs for a significant amount, successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the English Courts and obtaining an indemnity costs order for her client, obtaining a post judgment freezing order and disclosure order relating to the Claimants’ funding of the claim.

  • Sian Participation Corp. (In Liquidation) and Ors v Domidias Limited & Or [2024] EWHC 458 (Comm): acted for the successful Defendants in their application for reverse summary judgment regarding a substantial (US$2bn) contractual dispute.

  • Echosense Jersey Limited v Eric Lawrence Schleelein & Ors [2023] EWHC 2700 Comm): acting for the successful Defendants in a jurisdiction challenge surrounding the scope of jurisdiction clauses, service out of the jurisdiction, the utility of negative declarations, and abuse of legal process.

  • S&B Consultancy Services Limited v Bourn and Anor [2022] EWHC 2359 (Comm): acting for the claimant in a summary judgment application relating to novel point of law pursuant to s.26 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

  • Ang v Reliantco Investments Ltd [2019] EWHC 879 (Comm); [2020] EWHC 2529 (Comm); [2020] EWHC 3242 (Comm): acting for the Defendant in: (i) an application challenging the jurisdiction of the English Court to hear a claim relating to the alleged wrongful close-out of Bitcoin futures; and (ii) at trial.

  • Re Infund LLP: [2018] EWHC 1306 (Ch); [2019] EWCA Civ 1673: Proceedings ancillary to a US$2billion share dispute in Mexico. The English Court (to the Court of Appeal) considered for the first time the meaning of certain statutory provisions applying to both companies and LLPs in the context of an administrative restoration. The Court determined that it had the power to reverse the restoration of an LLP in certain circumstances.

  • Grove Park Properties Ltd v The Royal Bank of Scotland [2018] EWHC 3521 (Comm): acting for the successful Claimant in relation to claims that the Bank materially altered a substantial loan agreement without the Claimant’s consent/knowledge.

  • VTB Bank (Austria) AG v Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica AD [2015] EWHC 750 (Ch): acting for the successful respondent in an application to lift a stay of arbitration proceedings pursuant to the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006.

  • Wani LLP v Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and another [2015] EWHC 1181 (Ch): acting for the Claimant in an application for “late” amendments to its statements of case.

  • M&C Energy Group Ltd v St Cuthberts Mill Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 935: acting for the successful appellant in the Court of Appeal. The judgment provides guidance on what amounts to a compelling reason to bring a second appeal.

  • North Shore Ventures Ltd v Anstead Holdings Inc and Ors [2010] EWHC 1485 (Ch); [2011] EWCA Civ 230; and [2012] EWCA Civ 11: acting for high net worth Russian individuals in the High Court and Court of Appeal defending a multi-party action valued at $55 million in respect of the alleged breaches of a loan agreement, allegations of fraud, enforcement of personal guarantees, freezing injunctions and the disclosure of trust documents. The claims included issues arising Russia, Switzerland, the BVI and Nevis.

  • Lydia successfully acted for political risk insurers in the London Market successfully defending a complex and high value ($15million) arbitration claim brought by an international bank relating to a high profile Kenyan oil scandal.

     

  • For the Claimant against solicitors in respect of the misappropriation of monies held in escrow and the collapse of a Middle Eastern power project ($40million).

  • JSC BTA Bank v Solodchenko and Ors: acting for a successful Defendant in proceedings relating to one of the largest series of fraud claims brought before the High Court (approximately $5 billion when the claims are taken together) (2010/2011).

  • Edenbooth Ltd v CRe8 Developments Ltd [2008] ALL ER (D) 20 TCC; (2008) CILL 2592: acted for the successful Claimant in enforcing an adjudication decision when the Defendant failed to pay.

  • Renault UK Ltd v Fleetpro Technical Services [2007] EWHC 2541 (QB): acting for the Claimant in a claim for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation against the Defendant and its sole director and shareholder.