Lloyd v Hayward & Another [2025] EWHC 2226 (Ch)

Natasha Dzameh represented the Claimant in a 5-day trial concerning an oral joint venture. The purpose of the joint venture was the development and management of an industrial site of significant size. This involved the construction and letting of industrial or commercial units. The Second Defendant was a Jersey company which was effectively owned by a discretionary trust of which the First Defendant was one of the principal beneficiaries along with his family members. The Defendants brought counterclaims for reimbursement of the cost of vehicle leasing arrangements. The Court was required to determine:

• The parties to the joint venture;
• The terms of the joint venture;
• Whether the joint venture also constituted a partnership;
• When the joint venture was terminated and, if so, how;
• Whether the Claimant was entitled to an account of profits from the joint venture or damages for breach of the joint venture or whether his claim was statute barred;
• Whether the First Defendant was entitled to reimbursement for the cost of leasing vehicles on the basis of implied terms or restitution;
• Whether the Second Defendant was entitled to reimbursement for the cost of leasing vehicles within the taking of any account or whether this was statute barred along with the claim.

The trial also involved an allegation as to fabrication of invoices, resulting in cross-examination of an additional witness located abroad.

The case may be familiar to some due to an earlier stage of the litigation in which Natasha successfully defended against a strike out application regarding allegations of warehousing litigation, namely Lloyd v Hayward [2024] EWHC 2033 (Ch).

• View the full judgment here.
• View the article concerning the warehousing application here and the corresponding judgment here.

Details of Natasha’s practice can be found here with more in depth information available on each sub-area. She is a commercial and chancery barrister and mediator with a particular interest in matters involving breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty, dishonesty and fraud. She is Panel Counsel for the BVI and is also on the Attorney General’s Regional B Panel.

The legal directories currently describe Natasha as:

“really tenacious and experienced, incredibly user-friendly and a really good team player”; someone who “has a great eye for detail” and “will go the extra mile for clients and instructing solicitors”; “very astute and quickly grasps the issues at hand. She is a strong advocate and a quick thinker. She provides considered and thorough advice”; “always thinks outside the box”; “incredibly well-prepared and knows her cases back to front. She is relatable and provides thorough advice to her clients. Her advocacy is strong, and she presents her arguments clearly and succinctly.”

If you would like to instruct Natasha please contact her clerks on: c[email protected] or 0117 923 4740.