Cara has over a decade’s worth of experience acting for clients on large and complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, specialising in domestic and international commercial litigation, arbitration and investor-state dispute resolution. Her expertise includes arbitrating under the rules of various arbitral institutions and acting for clients in complex and high profile litigation in the UK, the US, Guernsey, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and Malaysia, primarily in the areas of construction projects, large corporate collapses and fraud.
Cara also has specific expertise in private international law, having worked as a consultant for the Hague Conference on Private International Law for five years and, prior to that, as a legal officer to the Hague Conference.
Cara has practiced in specialist disputes firms in London and Geneva, working on several international investment and commercial arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules, the Swiss Rules for International Arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce Rules and the American Arbitration Association Rules in the construction, petroleum and telecommunications sectors.
Cara has a Master of Laws degree specialising in International Dispute Settlement from the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and is a member of the ACICA45 Steering Committee and the Australian branch of the International Law Association. She regularly publishes and speaks on the topics of private international law and international commercial and investment arbitration.
Key deals
Banco Santander Totta v Companhia Carris De Ferro de Lisboa SA & Ors
Acting for four Portuguese transport companies in their dispute with a Portuguese bank in relation to nine interest rate ‘snowball’ swaps, working predominately on the issue of the application of article 3(3) of the Rome Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations.
Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited
Acting for the court-appointed liquidators of Carlyle Capital Corporation, a Guernsey company listed on Euronext, including investigations and litigation in Guernsey over the collapse of a US$22 billion hedge fund.
Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers (AHAB)
Acting for AHAB in their claim against Mr Maan Al Sanea and his Saad Group in the Cayman Islands concerning his role in an alleged fraud resulting in losses of at least US$9 billion.
Platinum Partners Feeder Funds
Representing the liquidators of the Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Feeder Funds including investigations and arbitration in the Cayman Islands. The Feeder Funds collapsed in 2016 owing nearly US$500 million to investors.