Maria Mulla

Maria undertakes arbitration work either as sole counsel or junior counsel in international arbitrations across a range of different sectors, rules and institutions, including arbitrations conducted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

Maria is instructed on various ancillary court applications, including injunctions arising out of arbitral proceedings.

Recent arbitration work includes representing the Respondent in a high value LCIA arbitration arising out of a contract dispute between two well-known parties. Further advising upon and contesting jurisdiction.

Advising on whether an Arbitration Agreement is valid and enforceable (and advising on the applicable law), in the context of an arbitration clause which refers to the now defunct DIFC-LCIA Rules. Applications for a stay pursuant to s. 9 Arbitration Act 1996.

Dealing with a large ICC dispute concerning the supply of goods and materials between the UK and Brazil.

Instructed on two very high value ICC disputes concerning matters of insurance/reinsurance.

Maria has substantial experience dealing with all aspects of commercial litigation and frequently appears in high value matters representing an array of different clients including directors, partners, investors, high net worth individuals, companies, and technology start-ups representing their interests either at trial, or in interim applications (including heavy applications).

Commercial disputes constitute a large proportion of Maria’s practice and encompasses contractual disputes (UK, and overseas), advising shareholders in complex joint venture disputes, breach of share purchase agreements, and disputes where allegations of misrepresentation and fraudulent misrepresentation have been alleged.

Maria has considerable experience in interlocutory applications including injunctions which may be required urgently and frequently appears in the High Court dealing with the same.

This includes freezing injunctions, worldwide freezing injunctions, search orders, imaging orders, and prohibitory and mandatory injunctions.

Maria is frequently instructed on franchise disputes and matters where franchisees, business partners or employees have established a competing business. Maria acts frequently in obtaining urgent injunctive relief in respect of the same and acting on behalf of the clients in the underlying claims (which may be claims for breach of contract, economic torts, breach of confidence and intellectual property rights).

Notable 2024 case include:-

• Acting for the Defendants defending a £1.5 million pound claim for alleged breaches of warranty pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement and pursuing a counterclaim for payments due under the Share Purchase Agreement for £2.2 million (London Circuit Commercial Court).

• Acting for the Defendant in a claim alleging breach of warranty pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement arising out of the sale of a home and lifestyle company.

• Acting for a company director defending a £2.5 million pound claim for alleged breach of fiduciary duty and fraud (alleged falsification of accounts and related party transactions) and defending a worldwide freezing injunction. Advising on connected minority shareholder issues.

• Acting for multiple Defendants defending a £1.5 million claim for an alleged repudiatory breach of contract and that the Defendants are obligors pursuant to a guarantee and indemnity. Part 20 claim.

• Acting for multiple Defendants defending a multi-million pound claim for alleged sums due pursuant to a loan and guarantee agreement and pursuing a large multi-million pound counterclaim (Commercial Court).

• Defending a claim for alleged unpaid management fees against some former members of a well-known rock band.

• Advising on the recognition and enforcement of various multi-million-pound US judgments in the jurisdiction of England & Wales.

• Acting for the Claimant in their claim against the Defendants for breach of a Services Agreement, establishing a competing business, and breach of confidence and misuse of confidential information, where a springboard injunction and imaging order was also sought (led by Paul Nicholls KC).

• Representing the Claimant in his claim for a declaration and damages arising out of the disposal of a hard drive containing the private wallet key to his Bitcoin (valued at over £500 million pounds) in the household waste centre The case concerns the ownership of tangible property, intangible property, and cryptoassets (led by Dean Armstrong KC).

Maria is also registered as a Part II Practitioner in the DIFC, Dubai and is presently instructed on several high value matters in the DIFC in addition to advising on matters in the ADGM.

Recent matters in the DIFC and ADGM include the following:

• Successful in the matter of Eshraq Investments PJSC v Gargash [2021] DIFC CFI 077 following a five day trial.

• Acting for the Claimant in an urgent application for injunctive relief in the DIFC arising out of the Respondents allegedly establishing a competing business contrary to the terms of written agreements.

• Acting for the Defendants in defending an alleged breach of a Supply of Goods Agreement and in pursuing a counterclaim for loss of profit and future contracts.

• Acting for the Appellant in an appeal in relation to the jurisdictional challenge to the jurisdiction of the DIFC where a contract specifically excluded the same.

• Advising on winding up proceedings in the ADGM.

• Advising on a freezing injunction in the ADGM.

• Maria also advises on and assists with matters proceeding in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Maria is able to deal with all costs issues arising out of the above including at detailed assessment.

Maria is Public Access registered and is happy to be instructed on a Public Access basis by clients directly, where appropriate.

Maria is ranked in Band 2 for Commercial Litigation in the Legal 500 Regional Bar.

Maria is registered as a Part II Practitioner in the DIFC, Dubai and is presently instructed on several high value matters in the DIFC in addition to advising on matters in the ADGM.

Recent matters in the DIFC and ADGM include the following:

• Successful in the matter of Eshraq Investments PJSC v Gargash [2021] DIFC CFI 077 following a five day trial: https://www.maitlandchambers.com/resources/news-view/maria-mulla-succeeds-in-defending-all-claims-on-behalf-of-her-clients-shehab-gargash-daman-investments-psc-and-daman-real-estate-capital-partners-limited-against-claims-advanced-by-eshraq-investment.

• Acting for the Claimant in an urgent application for injunctive relief in the DIFC arising out of the Respondents allegedly establishing a competing business contrary to the terms of written agreements.

• Acting for the Defendants in defending an alleged breach of a Supply of Goods Agreement and in pursuing a counterclaim for loss of profit and future contracts.

• Acting for the Appellant in an appeal in relation to the jurisdictional challenge to the jurisdiction of the DIFC where a contract specifically excluded the same.

• Advising on winding up proceedings in the ADGM.

• Advising on a freezing injunction in the ADGM.

• Maria also advises on and assists with matters proceeding in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man and has recently advised on a large multi-million-pound contractual dispute in the Isle of Man.

• Assisting on a high-profile case in the Royal Court of Guernsey arising out of an unfair prejudice petition, alleged breach of fiduciary duty, and an alleged derivative claim pursuant to Guernsey Company Law, which was successful following a five-day trial.

Maria is an accredited Mediator and mediates a large variety of disputes including those in her practice area but also in other practice areas.

Maria is known for her approachable but straight-talking manner when acting as Mediator to ensure the parties achieve the outcomes they desire.

Maria mediates disputes remotely and in -person in the UK and in other jurisdictions if needed.

Maria has experience of dealing with a wide range of media, entertainment, and intellectual property matters.

Maria was junior counsel in Lloyd v Kruger [2018] 2011 (Comm) and played a key role in the success of the case representing the Defendant Howard Kruger against allegations of deceit and fraudulent misrepresentation in relation to the quantity and quality of audio- and audio-visual assets within the TKO and Elm Street Media Catalogues.

Maria also has experience of dealing with disputes concerning unpaid royalties and in particular has acted for Channel Zero (TV company) dealing with a breach of contract claim for unpaid royalties which was settled successfully without proceeding to trial.

Maria has also acted for the family of a reggae artist in their unpaid royalties claim.

Maria has experience of intellectual property and copyright issues and has brought and defended claims for breach of intellectual property rights and unpaid royalties.

Maria also advises and is instructed to draft contractual documentation and this year advised on the Deed of Assent and Copyright of Royalties for two well known ballet productions.

Maria has experience of defamation cases and is able to deal with all aspects of these cases including pleadings and preliminary issue hearings, to Trial. Maria has advised on a number of defamation cases and has an interesting case ongoing in the Media and Communications List presently.

Maria also has experience of dealing with malicious falsehood cases. This year she successfully represented a legal professional in his malicious falsehood claim to trial.

Maria is part of the legal team representing a large number of survivors in their proposed legal actions against Mohammed Fayed and Harrods (and other associated entities). This is a case that Maria is very passionate about and has appeared on various TV and radio programmes discussing the same.

Maria is part of the legal team representing James Howells in his legal action against Newport City Council for the recovery and/or a proprietary declaration of his Bitcoin. Proceedings are presently ongoing in the Cardiff High Court.