Top 15 most tracked High Court cases of H1 2025
Solomonic’s ranking of the most tracked cases in the first half of 2025 revealed.
Ahead of the forthcoming Half-Year Review, we have released an early insight into the top 15 most tracked High Court cases in the first half of 2025. Drawn from activity on the Solomonic platform, where almost 10,000 litigation professionals monitor ongoing disputes, the list highlights the cases attracting significant attention from the nation’s leading firms and practitioners.
The cases highlight major themes, touching on intellectual property, artificial intelligence and commercial contracts. Broader issues about institutional and corporate accountability are reflected, the Post Office scandal continues to draw significant attention as do environmental cases. The list also puts a spotlight on the law firms involved. These cases represent key developments that should be on everyone’s radar.
How Solomonic tracks the most followed cases
Solomonic’s market-leading case tracking insights are built on activity from thousands of litigation professionals who monitor disputes through the Solomonic platform. Each of the most tracked cases reflects sustained interest from across the legal market, pinpointing the matters that drive the highest levels of engagement, providing a unique, data-driven view of which High Court cases are commanding attention and which law firms are playing pivotal roles.
The top 15 most tracked High Court cases of H1 2025
Case #1 Feldman and another v Addleshaw Goddard LLP and another
Two former Entain directors, Lee Feldman and Kenneth Alexander, filed against the company itself and Addleshaws, who advised Entain in a £600+ million prosecution deal related to the firm’s former Turkish arm regarding failures to prevent bribery there. The claimants seek remedies including a declaration that the law firm was acting for them as well as for the company.
Quillon Law for the claimants. On the defendant-side, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer represents Addleshaw Goddard and McDermott Will & Schulte for Entain plc.
Case #2 AERCAP IRELAND LIMITED v AIG EUROPE S.A. and others
AerCap successfully sued its insurers for the loss of 116 aircraft and 23 engines leased to Russian airlines and not returned following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The claim was heard as part of a 12-week 'mega trial' before Mr Justice Butcher, involving multiple legal teams, witnesses and expert witnesses, highlighting the scale of aviation insurance disputes arising from the war. In a major win, the High Court awarded AerCap $1.035 billion, on top of substantial earlier settlements.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer represented the claimant, AerCap Ireland. On the defendant-side, HFW for AIG Europe SA, Kennedys for Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA, RPC for Fidelis Insurance Ireland DAC, Penningtons Manches Cooper for Swiss Re International SE and Clyde & Co representing Chubb European Group SE.
Case #3 Unilever PLC and others v Firmenich UK Limited and others
A competition lawsuit against major fragrance suppliers, Swiss companies Firmenich and Givaudan and Germany’s Symrise, over an alleged cartel that distorted markets for ingredients in household and personal care products. This follows a CMA investigation, launched in March 2023, into overcharging and other anti-competitive practices in the industry.
Scott+Scott represent the claimants. Defendant representation is not currently listed.
Case #4 GETTY IMAGES (US), INC. and others v Stability Al Ltd
Arguably one of the most important cases of recent years, this claim was poised to address critical issues at the intersection of copyright law and artificial intelligence technology. While the case initially involved multiple claims of copyright infringement, it was narrowed during trial to a single allegation of secondary infringement concerning the handling of infringing copies. At the time of writing, judgment is still eagerly awaited.
Fieldfisher represent the claimants and Bird & Bird for the defendant.
Case #5 Persons Identified in Schedule 1 v Standard Chartered Plc
FL-2020-000038, FL-2021-000011, FL-2022-000009, FL-2022-000023
Over 200 investors are suing Standard Chartered, alleging the bank misled markets about sanctions compliance between 2007 and 2019. The case invokes sections 90 and 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) and follows Standard Chartered’s $1.1 billion settlement with US and UK regulators in 2019 over sanctions breaches. In March 2025, the High Court dismissed the bank’s attempt to strike out certain claims, though Standard Chartered has been granted permission to appeal.
Signature Litigation and Brown Rudnick are acting for the claimants and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for the defendant.
Case #6 Bath Racecourse Company Limited and others v Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE and others
Bath Racecourse Company (part of Arena Racing Company) sued insurers including Liberty Mutual, Allianz and Aviva for over £80 million in Covid-19 business interruption losses. The case raises key questions on insurance cover, such as whether sports regulators count as “competent authorities”, how policy limits apply across multiple sites and whether government furlough payments should reduce payouts.
Stewarts for the claimants and DAC Beachcroft for the insurers.
Case #7 Aabar Holdings SARL and others v Glencore Plc and others
FL-2022-000024; FL-2022-000025, FL-2022-000026, FL-2022-000027, FL-2023-000004, FL-2023-000009, FL-2023-000024
Institutional investors, including Aabar Holdings, brought a claim against global natural resource company Glencore under sections 90 and 90A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). The claimants allege that Glencore, along with certain former directors, misled investors by concealing corruption and market manipulation in some African and South American countries. This case drew significant attention at the start of the year as Mr Justice Picken ruled that the “shareholder rule” does not exist in English law and that it should no longer be applied.
Pallas Partners, BCLP, Stewarts and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan are involved in representing claimants across the various claims. On the defendant-side, Steptoe for Mr Glasenberg, Hogan Lovells for Mr Kalmin and Travers Smith for Mr Hayward. Clifford Chance is acting for Glencore.
Case #8 Building Design Partnership Limited v Kingspan Insulation Limited and others
BDP, the UK’s largest architecture practice, is suing building materials giant Kingspan for up to £1.8 million over alleged breaches of statutory duty and deceit, linked to defective cladding and insulation. Relying on the findings from the Grenfell Inquiry, the case alleges Kingspan, one of the companies that manufactured the insulation used on Grenfell Tower, acted “dishonestly” in marketing its insulation, and highlights broader concerns over building safety and product certification.
Weightmans for the claimant and Fenwick Elliott for Kingspan.
Case #9 Luke John Mandasix and others v Associated British Foods plc
The people of Kanseche, a village in Malawi, are suing Associated British Foods alleging its sugar plantation caused floodwaters that devastated their village and killed seven people. The case raises questions of corporate accountability for environmental damage, with claims for loss of property, farmland, crops, livestock and profit. The villagers seek damages in nuisance and/or for losses resulting from the defendant’s alleged negligence.
Leigh Day represent the claimant group and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for the defendant.
Case #10 Thurrock Borough Council v Kavanagh and another
Thurrock Council issued a £130 million claim against businessman Liam Kavanagh and Rockfire Capital after being driven to the brink of bankruptcy by a multi-million-pound investment, secured against a portfolio of solar farms. Shortly after the investment, Mr Kavanagh wound up the business and used the investment for personal use. Even after the sale of the farms, the council faces a £200 million deficit. The council is alleging they were purposely misled in the contract and the case is ongoing.
Birketts represent Thurrock Council, Hogan Lovells for Mr Kavanagh and HCR Law for Rockfire Capital.
Case #11 The Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan and others
One of the largest fraud and corruption cases, now valued at over $800 million, the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security alleges that “illicit commissions” and secret payments were received by Kuwaiti banker Fahad Al-Rajaan. The trial kicked off in March and is expected to run for almost a year.
Stewarts represent the claimant. PCB Byrne act for the primary defendants, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Fladgate, Latham & Watkins, RPC, Mishcon de Reya, Dechert, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, A&O Shearman, Seladore Legal, Slaughter and May, Milbank, Hogan Lovells are representing clients on the defendant-side.
Case #12 EFG BANK AG v Al-Wazzan and others
One of the defendants in the immediately above case, Swiss bank EFG, initiated a claim in March against individuals including Mr Al-Rajaan’s widow, Muna Al-Wazzan. At time of writing, no documents have been made public on the court electronic filing system.
A&O Shearman represent EFG Bank. Defendant representation is not currently listed.
Case #13 LLC EuroChem North-West-2 v Societe Generale S.A. and others
EuroChem is demanding a bond payment of over €280 million issued by Societe Generale and others which the banks refused to pay on the grounds of preventing a breach of EU sanctions imposed on the firm’s founder, Andrey Melnichenko. At time of writing, the High Court dismissed the claim, holding that payments would be unlawful under the Ralli Brothers principle. EuroChem announced plans to submit an appeal in September.
Vinson & Elkins represent LLC EuroChem and Omnia Strategy represent EuroChem Group. On the defendant-side, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer represent Societe Generale, Clifford Chance for ING Bank, McDermott Will & Schulte for Tecnimont SpA and LLC MT Russia.
Case #14 Castleton v Post Office Limited and others
Years after the Horizon scandal and the landmark 2019 court case, Lee Castleton has launched an almost £4 million legal claim against the Post Office Ltd and Fujitsu, seeking justice through the High Court after being prosecuted. In an effort to gain vindication from the court and obtain compensation, he is requesting to set aside both the civil judgment and bankruptcy order previously imposed on him.
Simons Muirhead Burton for the claimant, Pinsent Masons for the Post Office and Morrison & Foerster for Fujitsu.
Case #15 Magomedov and others v TPG Group Holdings (SBS) LP and others
In one of the largest claims in Commercial Court history, jailed Russian tycoon Ziyavudin Magomedov sought $15.9 billion, alleging his assets, including stakes in major Russian transport businesses FESCO and the Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port, were unlawfully seized while he was in prison. In January 2025, Mr Justice Bright dismissed the case after a three-week hearing, ruling there was no serious issue to be tried, no jurisdictional basis for the claims and that England & Wales was not the appropriate forum.
Seladore Legal acted for the claimants.
On the defendant-side: Mishcon de Reya for Mr Kuzovkov; Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle for Transneft PJSC; Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for TPG; Fox Williams for Ms Mammad-Zade; Fieldfisher for Felix Group, Mr Rabinovich and Ermenossa Investments; Candey for Halimeda International; Quillon Law for PJSC Far-Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO); Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan for DP World Russia FZCO; Cooke, Young & Keidan for Domidias and Mr Severilov; PCB Byrne for State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom; Gresham Legal for Mr Garber and Garber Hannam & Partners LLC.
The law firms behind the most followed cases
The list of the top tracked cases not only highlights the disputes themselves but also shines a light on the law firms driving them. Several firms appear more than once, underscoring their prominence in high-stakes litigation and their ability to attract and be trusted by clients with some of the year’s most complex issues. Notably, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer appeared across 6 of the top 15 cases. Hogan Lovells, Quinn Emanuel and Stewarts all appeared in 3.
This reflects broader market dynamics, from the dominance of established litigation powerhouses to the growing visibility and demand for specialist teams in emerging areas such as AI.
Staying ahead of High Court litigation with Solomonic
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