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Spackman Tom

Tom Spackman

Managing Associate

Tom is a commercial litigator specialising in civil fraud and asset recovery and is experienced in guiding clients through complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes.

D +44 20 7809 2478
M +44 7920 366 088

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Awards and Recognition

"Tom is really clever and has excellent judgement. He's the sort of person you want on your side in a complex matter."

Chambers UK 2025 - Civil fraud: Associate to watch

“Tom Spackman - one of the cleverest lawyers you will meet, who is a partner in the making and is a standout of his generation.”

The Legal 500 2025

"He is extremely hard-working, thorough and excellent."

Chambers UK 2024 - Civil fraud: Associate to watch

“Very bright, keen, diligent and creative lawyer with an excellent nose for solutions to asset tracing.”

The Legal 500 2024

"Tom is across all the detail and drafts clearly and concisely. He is a real star to watch for the future"

Chambers UK 2024 - Civil fraud: Associate to watch

Biography

Language - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales

Tom is a managing associate in the fraud and asset recovery team where he advises on high value, multi-jurisdictional disputes. He has experience in a wide range of commercial and financial disputes before the English courts across a variety of sectors. Chambers & Partners UK has ranked Tom as an 'Associate to watch' in civil fraud for the last three years reporting that he is "the sort of person you want on your side in a complex matter".

Tom's practice is focussed on civil fraud, judgment enforcement and asset recovery. Most of his matters are international and often involve parallel litigation in multiple jurisdictions. Tom's clients include financial institutions, corporates, shareholders and high net worth individuals. His current cases include acting for the former shareholders of Yukos Oil Company in relation to the enforcement in England of a US$50+ billion arbitration award against the Russian Federation.

Prior to joining Stephenson Harwood, Tom trained and worked at a magic circle law firm in London for ten years. During that time, he did a client secondment to the dispute resolution team at an international bank in London and an internal secondment to the firm's Dubai office.

Experience

  • Defence to an unlawful means conspiracy claim

    Acted for a Dutch corporate and four individuals in relation to an unlawful means conspiracy claim brought against them and ten other defendants by a foreign bank and its shareholders.

  • Global enforcement of a US$100 million Jersey judgment

    Acted for an international bank in the enforcement in multiple jurisdictions of a US$130 million Jersey judgment and worldwide freezing order.

  • Part 71 examination of a judgment debtor

    Acted for an investment fund in relation to the global enforcement of an English judgment that included a part-71 examination of a judgment debtor.

  • Defence to a Privy Council appeal in respect of a breach of trust

    Acted for an international bank in its defence of an appeal to the Privy Council in relation to a breach of trust claim in excess of US$100 million.

  • Defence to a mis-selling claim

    Acted for an international bank in its defence of a high value mis-selling claim brought by a family trust.

  • Successful rectification claim

    Acted for a private equity company in a successful claim for rectification of a private equity transaction concerning a care home business, the judgment for which was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

  • Enforcement in England of a US$50 billion arbitral award

    Advising the former shareholders of Yukos Oil Company in respect of the enforcement in England of a US$50+ billion arbitration award against the Russian Federation.

EXPERTISE

NEWS AND INSIGHTS

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Fraud & Asset Recovery

Stephenson Harwood has definitively defeated Russia's state immunity defence in England

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Fraud & Asset Recovery

State Immunity Act 1978 does not exclude issue estoppel in enforcement proceedings, Court of Appeal rules

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