Tony Peto KC is a highly rated commercial silk, widely recognised as one of the leading silks for Civil Fraud currently in practice at the Bar. He has also acted in a wide range of public law and human rights matters.

Tony has been involved in many of the most complex and high profile disputes of recent years. He acts as Lead Counsel in complex, high value fraud cases in all the higher courts  involving civil fraud, abuse of intellectual property, theft of confidential information or similar forms of commercial dishonesty, often leading multi-disciplinary teams of barristers, solicitors, investigators, foreign lawyers, computer experts and forensic accountants and involving world wide freezing orders, search orders, disclosure orders and committal. 

His practice has recently included multi-billion dollar claims in the following fields; corruption in the oil industry; conspiracy to defraud in the Indian and American steel industries, alleged Russian state backed “raider attacks” against  the factories of exiled industrialists, fraudulent expropriation of wind farm assets from political dissidents in Thailand and claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars in cases involving misappropriation of assets from European banks. He has also acted for the government in multi-million civil recovery cases, including a leading case in the Supreme Court and in cases for and against foreign states or their officials. 

Tony was co-head of Blackstone Chambers from January 2012 to October 2022. Prior to his appointment to Silk, Tony was counsel to the Crown on the Attorney General's 'A' Panel.

He is recognised by latest editions of both the leading independent legal directories, Chambers UK and Legal 500, for his expertise in commercial litigation and civil fraud. Key recent quotes include:

  • "Anthony is a great strategist and great on his feet, one of the go-to silks.", "At the top of his game. He knows the playbook inside out."- Chambers UK, 2024
  • "One of the most instinctive civil fraud silks around. Dogged in his attitude and superb judgement, both on his feet and while providing advice."- Legal 500, 2024
  • "Tony is not only a very experienced and highly thought-of barrister who understands the subject matter extremely quickly and gives sound and experienced advice and solutions." - Legal 500 2023
  • "He is able to grasp important, complex issues very quickly and is impressively committed to the cause and his clients."- Chambers and Partners, 2023

Experience

Shortlist

Civil Fraud, Asset Recovery & Injunctive Relief

Tony is widely recognised as one of the leading silks for Civil Fraud currently in practice at the Bar and has been involved in many of the most complex and high profile disputes of recent years. He acts as Lead Counsel in complex, high value fraud cases in all the higher courts  involving civil fraud, abuse of intellectual property, theft of confidential information or similar forms of commercial dishonesty, often leading multi-disciplinary teams of barristers, solicitors, investigators, foreign lawyers, computer experts and forensic accountants and involving world wide freezing orders, search orders, disclosure orders and committal. 

His practice has recently included multi-billion dollar claims in the following fields; corruption in the oil industry; conspiracy to defraud in the Indian and American steel industries, alleged Russian state backed “raider attacks” against  the factories of exiled industrialists, fraudulent expropriation of wind farm assets from political dissidents in Thailand and claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars in cases involving misappropriation of assets from European banks. He has also acted for the government in multi-million civil recovery cases, including a leading case in the Supreme Court and in cases for and against foreign states or their officials. 

Cases

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Commercial

Tony is widely recognised as a leading commercial silk, with a wide-ranging commercial and civil fraud practice. He appears as leading counsel in a range of substantial and complex international commercial disputes in the English Courts both at first instance and appeal.

Tony has particular experience of acting in commercial cases with a civil fraud element. His practice has recently included multi-billion dollar claims in the following fields; corruption in the oil industry; conspiracy to defraud in the Indian and American steel industries, alleged Russian state backed “raider attacks” against the factories of exiled industrialists, fraudulent expropriation of wind farm assets from political dissidents in Thailand and claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars in cases involving misappropriation of assets from European banks. He has also acted for the government in multi-million civil recovery cases, including a leading case in the Supreme Court and in cases for and against foreign states or their officials. 

Cases

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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Tony’s commercial and fraud work often overlaps with public law and human rights.

Cases

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Achievements

Publications

  • Neither Just Nor Secure: The Justice and Security Bill by Anthony Peto QC and Andrew Tyrie MP.  Published by the Centre for Policy Studies (January 2013).  
  • In June 2013 Anthony won the Prospect Think Tank Publication of the Year award for ‘Neither Just nor Secure’.

Research / Lecturing

Tony has had considerable experience in providing continuing education courses approved by The Law Society, especially courses on pre-emptive remedies, fraud law and practice, human rights in civil fraud cases and in advanced advocacy. He was also a part-time tutor at Churchill College, Cambridge 1984-7.

Memberships

  • COMBAR
  • ALBA

Selected earlier reported cases

Civil Fraud, Asset Recovery & Injunctive Relief

  • Serious Organised Crimes Agency v Gale [2009] EWHC 1015 (QB), [2010] EWCA Civ 759, [2011] UKSC 49
  • Rybak & ors v Langbar International Ltd. [2011] EWHC 452 (Ch)
  • JSC Bank v Ablyazov and others (2011) 
  • 3i Group plc v Holyoake (2010)
  • AB v XY & Others (Ch D) (2009 – 10)
  • Treasury Solicitors v Doveton Ch.(2006-2008) 
  • Secretary of State v R (2007) 
  • ESur v Rahman (2006-7) 
  • WestLB v Yacub QB (2007)
  • Cinar Corporation v Panju (2006) 
  • Electrolux v Rumble (2006) 
  • Daraydan v Solland [2004] 3 WLR 1106
  • Medina Dairy v Nijjav (2004) 
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria v Abacha (2001– 2003) 
  • Defended ex-company Directors in relation to a £30 million VAT fraud.
  • Defended a US$100 million claim arising out of alleged complicity in a “prime bank guarantee” fraud.
  • Defended Jersey Trustees from allegations of complicity in a £20 million fraud.

Commercial

  • Meinl Bank (2011)
  • Rusal & Anor v Corbiere & Anor (2011)
  • Izodia Plc v (1) Edward Vandyk (2) Corporate Synergy Holdings Ltd (Chancery Division, 2010 -2011)
  • Counsel to Microsoft (2000-2008) in over a dozen anti-counterfeiting and IP abuse actions in which the claims amounted to over US$100 million.
  • Counsel to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (2007-2008) in three multi-million pound actions; one involving corruption in the pharmaceutical industry and the other against a group dealing in counterfeit drugs. 
  • K v X QB (2007) Lead counsel for USA party to US$400 million litigation. 

Civil Liberties & Human Rights

  • Shell International v Greenpeace [2012]  
  • SOCA v Gale [2011] UKSC 49
  • Campaign against the Arms Trade (CAAT) v BAE Systems and Mercer QB (2007)



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