Christopher Boyne is a partner based in the London office, where he works in the Litigation Department and Special Situations Group. Mr. Boyne’s practice focuses on complex litigation and he has broad commercial litigation experience across a wide variety of industries including acting for private equity funds, banks, multinational corporations and high-net worth individuals.

He has represented clients on a variety of high-profile litigation matters including large-scale corporate disputes, parent-company liability claims, shareholder/joint venture disputes and civil fraud claims. He has extensive experience of applications to challenge the jurisdiction of the English Courts as well and advising on interim and protective measures in both English and foreign courts. This experience includes successfully obtaining and defending billion-dollar freezing injunctions. He has also advised on a wide range of banking and insolvency related matters, including in respect of some of the most significant cases arising out of the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Mr. Boyne is recommended for corporate and commercial litigation by Chambers Global (2024), Chambers Europe (2024) and Chambers UK (2024), where clients note that he has “excellent judgement” and “a laser-sharp view” and describe him as “an exceptional team leader.” He also receives praise for his “exceptionally strong legal and analytical skills tempered with an astute understanding of the commercial background.” Sources have said he is “very good at unpicking complex issues” and that he provides advice that is “straightforward, helpful and very commercial but also legally robust.” He is said to be “very intelligent, hard-working,” with “first-rate judgement” and receives further praise for his ability to keep “his eye on the complicated moving parts on a case and can always see the wood through the trees.” Previous editions of the guide have described him as “a very impressive litigator” with an ability to “apply legal principles with deftness and practicality.” He is also ranked as a Next Generation Partner for Commercial Litigation in The Legal 500 UK (2024), where clients note that he is “a brilliant commercial litigator who punches well above his weight in terms of seniority.” He is said to be “super bright and very sensible in his judgement.” Clients have also praised him as “a top-notch commercial litigator [who is] extremely bright, cuts immediately to the heart of the case, has excellent litigation instincts and never loses sight of how best to achieve the client’s commercial objectives.” In previous editions of the guide, he has been described as someone with the ability to take charge of the most difficult disputes. “He handles - and wins - heavy, complex commercial disputes matters and is a hit with clients - one to watch.” He receives further praise for being “incredibly hardworking” and “a smart, commercial and pragmatic litigator.” Mr. Boyne is also recommended for his commercial litigation practice by Who’s Who Legal (Commercial Litigation – England (2023)) and Benchmark Litigation Europe (2021).

Mr. Boyne received his LL.B. (First Class) in 2003 from Kings College London. He is admitted to practise in England & Wales (2007). He joined Debevoise in 2014, prior to which he trained and practised as a managing associate at a magic circle law firm.

Recent reported cases:

Normann & Anor vs. Xio (UK) LLP & Ors [2023] EWHC 2862 (Comm)
Okpabi & Ors v Royal Dutch Shell Plc & Anor [2022] EWHC 2509 (TCC)
Pisante & Ors v Logothetis & Ors [2022] EWHC 161 (Comm); [2022] EWHC 2575 (Comm)
Surkis v Poroshenko [2021] EWHC 2512 (Comm)
VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery [2021] EWHC 1758
The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Royal Dutch Shell Plc & Anor [2020] EWHC 1315 (Comm)
Hinduja v Hinduja [2020] EWHC 1533 (Ch)
Province of Balochistan v Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited [2020] EWHC 938 (Comm)
Gruber & Ors v AIG & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 31
United Company Rusal Plc v Crispian Investments Ltd and Whiteleave Holdings Ltd [2018] EWHC 2415 (Comm)
Nikolay Viktorovich Maximov v Open Joint Stock Company ‘Novolipetsky Metallurgichesky Kombinat’ [2017] EWHC 1911 (Comm)
BAT Industries Plc v Sequana SA and Windward Prospects Limited [2016] EWHC 1686 (Ch)
BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana AS & Ors [2016] EWHC 1686 (Ch)
Snoras Bank v Antonov [2013] EWHC 131 (Comm)
Re Lehman Brother International Europe [2012] UKSC 6
Lomas & Ors v JFB Firth Rixson, Inc. [2011] 2 BCLC 120; [2012] Lloyd’s Rep 548