Chris Christofi

Chris is a highly experienced dispute resolution solicitor with particular expertise in commercial litigation and commercial property . His specialisms include building disputes, contractual claims, and contentious probate.

He also specialises and Cyprus-related matters, in which he is widely regarded as the UK’s foremost specialist, having been interviewed  by outlets such as ITV , BBC and The Times among others. Chris has been dealing with Cyprus matters since 1999.

Chris has acted on a wide range of high-value, complex disputes, drawing on his dual expertise in litigation and contract law. Chris is regularly instructed in matters involving the Republic of Cyprus, including Cyprus probate, succession issues, transfer of land in the occupied areas there, purchases, sales and resolving problems faced by clients with their existing Cyprus lawyers.

Clients value Chris’s balanced, open, and personable approach, which combines detailed legal analysis with practical, commercially-focused advice.

Work highlights – UK:

• Green and Green v Edward Marshall and Co and others (2024)- High Court moved to Central London CC Business and Property List- successfully acted to obtain recovery of sums paid for a property by Claimants in a case where the seller and sellers solicitors acted fraudulently and involving Dreamvar v Mischon De Reya type principles. 
• Panteli v Panteli (2022) – Central London CC – contested probate – successfully acted to defeat a claim by executor that the Defendant had taken loans from the deceased. 
• Pilgrim Rock Ltd (Gibraltar)  v Iwaniuk  2017  Case value in excess of £1.5 million- Consumer Credit Act transaction – meaning of “connected party. Successfully acted to obtain judgment  and recover loans made to developer ; to include the sale property owned by the developer  for recovery 
• 2016 – Chan v ( a Firm of Solicitors)  High Court  Queens Bench  HQ14X02269 – for claimant -solicitors negligence successfully acted in a case involving Cyprus Popular Bank and Marfin Bank – former solicitors insurers (Balva) in liquidation; FSCS refused to indemnify. 
• Capitalbond Ltd v Golban [2014] 435/SD/2013; High Court Bankruptcy – successfully acted for the Debtor  relating to  loan to individual; high rate of interest- interest rate declared to be penal; interest unenforceable; claimants attempt to enforce dismissed with costs. 
• Crompton v Woodford Scrap Metal [2014] EWHC (QB) High Court (noted on LAWTEL 17 March 2014) –Commercial Property Litigation; Christofi Law acting for Defendant tenant Woodford Scrap . Landlord Crompton sought a possession order in the High Court -Civil Procedure Rule 55.- only ‘exceptional circumstances’ justify starting claim in the High Court. The Claimants application was dismissed and Claimants ordered to pay Defendants costs. 
• Innovator – Class action (UK) – failed movie tax investment scheme – solicitors and accountants responsibility- acted for parties  pursuing accountants  
• Versani v Relfo Limited in Liquidation – [2008/09] HC09C00186 – High Court Chancery – international ; multi-jurisdiction issues (Singapore) ; freezing orders and injunctions. 
• Shariff v Butt – 2008/0777/0774 – HM Land Registry Adjudicator – contested probate -Declaration of Applicant’s beneficial interest in properties held by daughter; Deed of Gift procured by undue influence and misrepresentation. 
• R (A Firm ) v S [2007] High Court – acted successfully in Defamation case  – Damages secured for firm of solicitors against estate agents; allegation by agents that solicitors had “lied” – alleged not answering calls etc. Agents’ motives related to paid referral arrangements with other solicitors 
• Clark Smith Partnership v Leyton Football Club [2006] All ER (d) TCC – Court of Technology and Construction – building contract – court held that notification of additional works was not a condition precedent to payment under the ACE Conditions of Contract. 
• Sophocleous v Enfield Town Football Club [2003] – High Court – Defamation – lone director of football club successfully sues group of club executives for defamation of character. 
• Leyton Football Club v The Football Association and others [2002] – High Court Chancery – sports law – successfully acted for  Claimant football club  for restoration of history name and trophies ; membership to the Football Association restored. 
• Glanville v Glanville [2002] EWHC 1271 (Ch), [2002] All ER (D) 249 – Chancery –contentious probate – undue influence – second wife accused of influencing husband to transfer property into his name prior to his death. 
• Deen v Grant [2002] All ER (d) 527 – High Court Chancery – contract – property purchase – court held that a seller could not forfeit a deposit and restrict a purchaser’s right to raise a requisition. 
• Christofi v Barclays Bank [1998] 2 All ER 484 – High Court Chancery – Banking Law – breach of a bank’s duty of confidentiality. Acted for the claimant; historic case, frequently cited but often misunderstood banking confidentiality case. Barclays’ application to strike out refused by a Chancery Master, who considered that important factual issues required determination at trial, including whether the Bank had accepted a specific instruction not to disclose information concerning the warning-off of a caution which the Trustees solicitor at the time, in the underlying factual events,  had not responded to. Barclays successfully appealed that decision to Lawrence Collins QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, whose decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal. Interesting fact. An interesting but rarely reported aspect of the Christofi v Barclays case is that the late John Andrew Simmonds, solicitor for the Trustee in Bankruptcy during the underlying factual events, had by the Appeal become a Bankruptcy Registrar of the High Court. Moreover, the Master’s original reasoning and the unresolved factual issues received insufficient consideration in subsequently reported decisions. Finally, it is not a known fact that Barclays solicitors were fearful that the outcome on the Appeal would be against Barclays. In the event, the Appeal Court did not hear any representations by any of the parties, having prepared its decision in writing  in advance.

Work highlights – Cyprus:

• Marshall v Bank of Cyprus  (Cyprus) 2013 – Cypriot Court rules it has jurisdiction on Cyprus mis-selling claims”
• R v Alpha Bank (Cyprus) 2011 – Republic of Cyprus Bank – missold mortgage – numerous other cases