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Ashley Pratt
Year of call: 2006
"He is straight-talking, gets to the heart of complex issues quickly and provides excellent client care.’’ The Legal 500
Ashley is a busy commercial practitioner. He regularly appears in the Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court and the Property Tribunals. Ashley is often instructed to advise on appeals and his cases are frequently reported. Ashley has appeared against silks and regularly leads teams of lawyers.
Ashley is instructed in international commercial cases, which have included arbitrations. Recent instructions have included acting for a Bharani bank based in Dubai, a well-known European airline, an international hotel chain and a Georgian cryptocurrency exchange. Ashley’s recent experience includes jurisdictions such as Dubai, Bahrain, Bahamas, the Balkans, BVI and America. His international work usually consists of jurisdictional issues, civil fraud, insolvency and enforcement.
Ashley regularly advises on urgent injunctive relief cases involving civil fraud.
In the construction and property fields Ashley has extensive experience in building safety cases. He is currently instructed in numerous large development disputes in the FTT and represented the respondent in the Upper Tribunal in the leading case of Lehner v Lant Street [2024] UKUT 135 (LC) which established the 7-step test for cladding remediation under the Building Safety Act 2022.
He is particularly well placed for instructions in respect of building safety cases because of his substantial cross-over experience with both property and commercial work. Ashley is also regularly instructed in adjudications.
Ashley was co-author of The Law of Net Zero and Nature Positive, London Publishing Partnership (2025) and wrote chapters 25 (Property-Based and Other Torts) and 26 (Property Legal Advice, Insurance and Climate Risk).
Ashley also has vast experience of professional negligence and insurance claims and co-authored the Professional Negligence Journal Review of the Year chapter for Bloomsbury Press in 2020.
Areas of expertise
Commercial
Cases of note:
- An International Airline v XY & Ors [2025] [Fordham J] (KB) – Ashley was instructed by a leading international law firm to act on behalf of an airline in an alleged civil fraud claim. He was instructed to advise and appear at an urgent (successful) injunctive relief application and at the return date.
- Cassandra Ltd v Malstrom Molecules [2025] (Ch) – Acting on behalf of the inventor of a pyrolysis reactor concerning the recovery of the reactor in Denmark. Ashley was instructed to advise with US and Danish Attorneys in respect of the recovery of the reactor and the associated IP rights. The claim concerns an alleged civil fraud in respect of the ownership of the pyrolysis reactor and IP rights.
- Crypto Path LLC v Tether [2025] (BVI) (Comm) - Ashley was instructed on behalf of a Georgian crypto currency exchange against Tether involving the recovery of USDT contained in frozen hot wallets.
- An American International Travel Agency v Various Claimants [2024] - Ashley was instructed by a travel agency based in Florida in relation to a group litigation civil fraud claim.
- GFH Capital v Haigh [2021] EWHC 3203, [2021] EWHC 1533 (Comm), [2022] EWHC 3110 (Comm) – Ashley was instructed by Gulf Finance House in this widely reported case. GFH are a Bharani Bank based in Dubai. This long-running litigation was brought by GFH against their former deputy CEO following his conviction in the Dubai Court for defrauding them. At the time of the fraud Mr Haigh was a qualified solicitor and had also been the managing director of Leeds United FC. Ashley has appeared in multiple divisions of the High Court in hearings involving complex issues concerning trusts, property, contract, fraud and asset-tracing, an extended civil restraining order, as well as advising on various appeals.
- ACM Investments LCC v Ronald Charles Finley & Ors [2023] (Comm) – Instructed by the Claimant company at late notice to assist in the drafting of documents and to appear as junior counsel at the return date to a world-wide freezing injunction in support of its continuance against the NCADS. Complex issues in the case concerned whether the NCADS could be served out of the jurisdiction. Following the ruling to set aside the injunction Ashley was instructed as part of a counsel team of four to draft the skeleton and appeal grounds for the PTA. The basis of the action concerns a judgment debt order obtained in the High Court and its enforcement in Bulgaria.
- Y v Z (2024) – Acting on behalf of the Respondent in respect of an arbitration concerning jurisdiction, sanctions and immediate payments.
- The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd v Segro [2022-2023] (Comm) – Ashley advised the Royal London Mutual on the disputed terms of a £120 million sale regarding a commercial property on a West London Retail Park. A dispute arose as to whether the terms of sale had been fulfilled. Royal London Mutual brought an injunction to enforce completion, the matter was settled and the transaction completed prior to the hearing.
- X v Bahamas Building Company (2022) – Instructed by a Silk at a leading Bahamas law firm in respect of high value dispute under the American Institute of Architects rules. Ashley acted on behalf of a HNWI against a construction firm on a point in the contract which affected the way the works and the final valuation and developments costs were calculated.
- Elias v Mamistvalov & Soda Holdings Ltd [2022] EWHC 1930 (Ch) – Instructed to act for the appellants Mamistalov and Soda Holdings Ltd for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal. The Court was ultimately asked to decide which party beneficially owned the single share in Soda Holdings. Issues in the case concerned whether the SPA was a sham, the unwinding of a swap agreement and the basis of ownership. The PTA application focussed on the admitted failure of Elias to properly disclose documents and the impact it had on Fancourt J’s decision.
- Simwood e SMS v GovData [2022] 1 WLUK 359 – Acting for Simwood in successfully resisting an application in a high value telecommunications dispute to strike out its claim prior to trial. Ashley appeared alone against leading counsel. The case concerned an alleged failure to have Simwood appointed to a government telecommunications panel. The dispute involved complex factual and legal issues concerning loss of chance in a breach of contract dispute.
- R. (on the application of Bembridge Harbour Trust) v Bembridge Harbour Improvement Co Ltd [2023] 6 WLUK 357 – Acting for Bembridge Harbour Trust, a charity, in its judicial review concerning the distribution of finances of the statutory harbour authority. Led by Thomas Hill KC.
- A v B (Confidential) (2021) – Acting on behalf of a HNWI on a potential injunction and disclosure arising out of matrimonial dispute. It was alleged that $120m of crypto currency was being dissipated to various jurisdictions to avoid being caught by the ancillary relief proceedings.
- Kazakhstan Kagazy v Arip [2021] EWHC 521 (Comm) – Advised the defendants leading up to the trial in a civil fraud claim worth more than $100m. Led by Richard Spearman KC.
- Atkinson v Varma [2021] 3 WLUK 240 (Comm) – Acting for the defendant following the theft of monies from investors arising out of the purported development of the Grosvenor Hotel in Bristol. Ashley was subsequently instructed to defend the contempt proceedings in the Commercial Court.
- Outfox the Market v Dong Energy SALG [2021] – Advising Outfox the Market on a contractual hedge that was set to expire. Had the hedge expired under the agreed terms, it would have cost the energy company £96million. The matter settled prior to the expiration of the contractual hedge.
Civil Fraud
Cases of Note
- An International Airline v XY & Ors [2025] [Fordham J] (KB) – Ashley was instructed by a leading international law firm to act on behalf of an airline in an alleged civil fraud claim. He was instructed to advise and appear at an urgent (successful) injunctive relief application and at the return date.
- Lazpro v London Borough of Bexley [2025] (KB) – Ashley is currently instructed by the local authority, led by Thomas Hill KC, in respect of a claim currently in the High Court concerning the validity of affordable housing scheme contracts. It is alleged that the scheme is a sham.
- Cassandra Ltd v Malstrom Molecules [2025] (Ch) – Acting on behalf of the inventor of a pyrolysis reactor concerning the recovery of the reactor in Denmark. Ashley was instructed to advise with US and Danish Attorneys in respect of the recovery of the reactor and the associated IP rights. The claim concerns an alleged civil fraud in respect of the ownership of the pyrolysis reactor and IP rights.
- An American International Travel Agency v Various Claimants [2024] - Ashley was instructed by a travel agency based in Florida in relation to a group litigation civil fraud claim.
- GFH Capital v Haigh [2021] EWHC 3203, [2021] EWHC 1533 (Comm), [2022] EWHC 3110 (Comm) – Ashley was instructed by Gulf Finance House in this widely reported case. GFH are a Bharani Bank based in Dubai. This long-running litigation was brought by GFH against their former deputy CEO following his conviction in the Dubai Court for defrauding them. At the time of the fraud Mr Haigh was a qualified solicitor and had also been the managing director of Leeds United FC. Ashley has appeared in multiple divisions of the High Court in hearings involving complex issues concerning trusts, property, contract, fraud and asset-tracing, an extended civil restraining order, as well as advising on various appeals.
- Kazakhstan Kagazy v Arip [2021] EWHC 521 (Comm) – Advised the defendants leading up to the trial in a civil fraud claim worth more than $100m. Led by Richard Spearman KC.
- Atkinson v Varma [2021] 3 WLUK 240 (Comm) – Acting for the defendant following the theft of monies from investors arising out of the purported development of the Grosvenor Hotel in Bristol. Ashley was subsequently instructed to defend the contempt proceedings in the Commercial Court.
Construction
Cases of Note
- Sovereign Network v HEB Assets [2025] – Ashley was instructed to appear at trial against leading counsel on behalf of HEB Assets involving two substantial developments at Olympic Way, London in respect of building safety issues arising out of applications for Building Remediation Orders and assessment of insurance costs.
- Marden v Coventry City Council [2025] – Instructed on an urgent basis on behalf of the freeholder in an application under s.77 Building Act 1984. Ashley was then instructed to advise on a complex dispute following an order to vacate tenants of the building in respect of building safety issues and the consequential effects of the Building Safety Act 2022.
- Lehner v Lant Street Management [2024] UKUT 135 – Acted for the Respondent in the leading case in relation to the 7-step test in respect of payments for cladding remediation.
- G & D Brickwork Contractors Ltd v Marbank Construction [2021] EWHC 3009 (TCC) [2021] 10 WLUK 523 – The case concerned the relationship between strike out in the County Court, subsequent adjudication and enforcement in the TCC.
- Italian KBB Co Ltd v Boutros [2021] 196 Con. L.R.224 – Ashley appeared on behalf of a defendant in this complex construction dispute concerning breach of contract, the right to insist upon an account and the law concerning penalty interest clauses.
- X v Bahamas Building Company (2022) – Instructed by a Silk at a leading Bahamas law firm in respect of a high value dispute under the American Institute of Architects rules. Ashley acted on behalf of a HNWI against the construction firm. The dispute surrounded interpretation of the building contract and valuation.
- A v Pension Development Company (2023) – Acting on behalf of a national land purchaser in a dispute surrounding the completion terms of a large development of retirement properties in South London. Led by Thomas Hill KC.
Property
Cases of note:
- Lazpro v London Borough of Bexley [2025] (KB) – Ashley is currently instructed by the local authority, led by Thomas Hill KC, in respect of a claim currently in the High Court concerning the validity of affordable housing scheme contracts. It is alleged that the scheme is a sham.
- Sovereign Network v HEB Assets [2025] – Ashley was instructed to appear at trial in the FTT (property) against leading counsel on behalf of HEB Assets involving of two substantial developments at Olympic Way, London in respect of building safety issues arising out of applications for Building Remediation Orders and assessment of insurance costs.
- Marden v Coventry City Council [2025] – Instructed on an urgent basis on behalf of the freeholder in respect of an application under s.77 Building Act 1984. Ashley was then instructed to advise on a complex dispute following an order to vacate tenants of the building in respect of building safety issues and the consequential effects of the Building Safety Act 2022.
- Lehner v Lant Street Management [2024] UKUT 135 – Acted for the respondent in the leading case in relation to the 7-step test in respect of payments for cladding remediation.
- A International Hotel Chain v UK Government department [2024]- Ashley acted on behalf of a well-known hotel chain in respect of a high value breach of contract dispute arising out of significant dilapidations during Covid.
- GFH Capital v Haigh [2021]- [2024]] (KB) – Acting on behalf of Gulf Finance House in the recovery and transfer of multiple properties including a hotel and apartments held on constructive trust. Ashley has represented GFH in multiple hearings on the case which eventually led to a debarring order against the defendant and an order for the transfer of the properties to GFH.
- HNWI v Bahamas Developer (2023) – Acting on behalf of a HNWI in the Bahamas following the destruction of various trees and habitats after the developer of a neighbouring property had built a road without the owner’s consent.
- Cambridge County Council v A Residents Association (2023) – Acted for Cambridge County Council in defeating arguments surrounding the conversion of property from business use to a residential development.
- Davies v Zoom Properties (2022) – Successfully acted on behalf of Mr Davies in obtaining a freezing injunction to prevent the legal transfer of his property which had been fraudulently acquired by a third party.
- Local Authority v 220 Residents (2022) – Advising a local authority on a failure to provide proper notice to various residents about charges that had been made under leases without serving the requisite notice.
Recommendations
‘’He is straight-talking, gets to the heart of complex issues quickly and provides excellent client care.’’ The Legal 500
