James Bradford successful in High Court Trial for Claimants seeking repayment of CHF 6 million loan

On 2 August 2021, His Honour Judge Jarman QC handed down judgment in Gabriele Volpi & Delta Ltd v Matteo Volpi [2021] EWHC 2143 following a four day hearing in the Chancery Division.

The case concerned the nature of the funding which had been provided by the Claimants in 2012 to purchase an apartment near Lugano Switzerland. A key question was whether there was a valid loan or whether the funds were provided by way of a gift. The Defendant denied signing a loan agreement for CHF 6 million and both sides served expert handwriting evidence in relation to the authenticity of this signature. After considering the various factual circumstances in the case, His Honour Judge Jarman QC concluded that the balance of probability lay firmly in favour of there being a loan, noting that the preponderance of the expert evidence suggested that it was likely that the Defendant signed the loan agreement.

James Bradford was led by Andrew Holden (XXIV Old Buildings Chambers) and instructed by Grimaldi Studio Legale LLP to act on behalf of the Claimants. For a link to the judgment click here.