A civil trial between the Joint Administrators of the now failed investment company London Capital & Finance PLC, and those said to have unlawfully benefitted from the misappropriation of funds started on 19th February 2024 and is expected to last 20-weeks. The defendants deny any accusations of wrongdoing.
The mouseinthecourt is exclusively publishing documents from the trial. You can see how we’ve been able to do this by reading “High Court approves substantial open justice request in LCF trial“.
You can also read our write-up of the issues in the case here – “London Capital Finance Trial begins“.
This site is financed by donations to the ‘Cheese Fund‘
Reporting by Daniel Cloake
The Rolls Building – location of the trial
Court Documents
A document detailing the full extent of the civil claims can be read here.
| The Claimants | Written Opening Submissions |
| (1) London Capital & Finance Plc (in Administration) (2) Finbarr O’Connell, Adam Stephens, Henry Shinners, Colin Hardman and Geoffrey Rowley (Joint Administrators of London Capital & Finance Plc (in Administration)) (3) London Oil & Gas Limited (in Administration) (4) Finbarr O’Connell, Adam Stephens, Colin Hardman and Lane Bednash (Joint Administrators of London Oil & Gas Limited (in Administration)) | Link to the PDF |
| The Defendants | |
| (1) Michael Andrew Thomson | Link to the PDF |
| (2) Simon Hume-Kendall (10) Helen Hume-Kendall | Link to the PDF |
| (3) | N/A |
| (4) Spencer Golding | |
| (5) Paul Careless (6) Surge Financial Limited | Link to the PDF |
| (7) John Russell-Murphy (9) Grosvenor Park Intelligent Investments Limited | |
| (8) Robert Sedgwick | Link to the PDF |
Daily Transcripts
Opening submissions for the Claimants:
Day 1 – 19th February 2024
Day 2 – 20th February 2024
Day 3 – 21st February 2024
Day 4 – 22nd February 2024
Day 5 – 26th February 2024
Day 6 – 27th February 2024
Day 7 – 28th February 2024
Day 8 – 29th February 2024
Day 9 – 4th March 2024
Day 10 – 5th March 2024
Day 11 – 6th March 2024
Day 12 – 7th March 2024
Opening submissions for the Claimants concludes &
Opening submissions for Simon Hume-Kendall (D2) & Helen Hume-Kendall (D10) begins:
Day 13 – 11th March 2024
Day 14 – 12th March 2024
Opening submissions for Paul Careless (D5) and Surge Financial Limited (D6):
Day 15 – 13th March 2024
Procedural matters:
Day 16 – 18th March 2024
Opening submissions for Michael Andrew Thomson (D1):
Day 17 – 20th March 2024
Cross-examination of Henry Anthony Shinners (Joint Administrator of C1) &
Cross-examination of Finbarr Thomas O’Connell (Joint Administrator of C1&C3) &
Cross-examination of Clare Lloyd (Director of Evelyn Partners, insolvency specialists) &
Cross-examination of Joseph Anthony Pitt (Chartered surveyor) &
Cross-examination of David Hudson (insolvency practitioner assisting the administrators) &
Submissions for the Claimants:
Day 18 – 21st March 2024
Reply submissions for Paul Careless (D5) and Surge Financial Limited (D6) &
Reply submissions for Michael Andrew Thomson (D1) &
Further submissions for the Claimants &
Ruling by Mr Justice Miles &
Procedural matters (Inc reporting restriction application) &
Cross-examination of Michael Andrew Thomson (D1):
Day 19 – 25th March 2024
Day 20 – 26th March 2024
Day 21 – 27th March 2024
Day 22 – 10th April 2024 [Awaiting judgment]
Day 23 – 11th April 2024
Day 24 – 15th April 2024 [Awaiting judgment]
Day 25 – 16th April 2024
Day 26 – 17th April 2024
Day 27 – 18th April 2024 [Awaiting judgment]
Cross-examination of Paul James Careless (D5):
Day 28 – 29th April 2024
Day 29 – 30th April 2024
Day 30 – 1st May 2024
Day 31 – 2nd May 2024
Cross-examination of Kerry Venn
Day 32 – 7th May 2024
Day 33 – 8th May 2024
Cross-examination of Dr Chudozie Okongwu (Expert)
Cross-examination of Paul Timothy Grainger (Expert)
Day 34 – 13th May 2024 [NEW]
Cross-examination of Christopher Osborne (Expert)
Day 35 – 14th May 2024 [NEW]
Witness Statements
For the claimants
David Hudson (insolvency practitioner assisting the administrators)
Witness Statement of David Hudson 3/12/2021
Second Witness Statement of David Hudson 9/12/2021
Third Witness Statement of David Hudson 19/05/2023
Henry Anthony Shinners (Joint Administrator of C1)
Witness Statement of Henry Shinners 27/4/2023
Second Witness Statement of Henry Shinners 11/10/2023
Finbarr Thomas O’Connell (Joint Administrator of C1&C3)
Witness Statement of Finbarr O’Connell 28/4/2023
Clare Lloyd (Director of Evelyn Partners, insolvency specialists)
Witness Statement of Clare Lloyd 11/10/2023
Second Witness Statement of Clare Lloyd 5/03/2024
Joseph Anthony Pitt (Chartered surveyor)
Witness Statement of Joseph Anthony Pitt 11/10/2023
For the defendants
Michael Andrew Thompson (D1 – Former CEO of LCF)
Witness Statement of Michael Andrew Thompson 24/11/2023
Paul James Careless (D5)
Witness Statement of Paul James Careless 14/09/2023
Forth Witness Statement of Paul James Careless 18/04/2024
Fifth Witness Statement of Paul James Careless 26/04/2024
Kerry Grace Venn
Witness Statement of Kerry Grace Venn 14/09/2023 [NEW]
Second Witness Statement of Kerry Grace Venn 18/04/2024 [NEW]
Expert Reports
Expert report of Dr Chudozie Okongwu 29/9/2023 [NEW]
Supplementary expert report of Dr Chudozie Okongwu ??/??/202?
Expert report of Chris Osborne 29/9/2023 [NEW]
Supplementary expert report of Chris Osborne 03/11/2023 [NEW]
Expert report of Paul Grainger 27/7/2023 [NEW]
Joint expert report of Paul Grainger & Dr Chudozie Okongwu 27/7/2023 [NEW]
Please note: Copies of the witness statements deployed by those cross-examined will be uploaded in due course
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