Hugo is an Associate in HFW’s BVI office, specialising in complex, high value and cross-border commercial litigation.

Prior to joining HFW's BVI office, Hugo was an associate at Penningtons Manches Cooper and Stewarts in London.

He has worked on a wide range of disputes throughout his career, spanning from civil fraud claims (often with an offshore element), financial services disputes, professional negligence claims, contractual disputes, banking litigation, shareholder disputes, and securities litigation, amongst others.

Hugo has experience working on a broad range of disputes litigated in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, including both trials and interlocutory relief.

His clients include major domestic and international companies, individuals, insolvency practitioners, as well as acting for and against groups of claimants. He also has experience in off-shore jurisdictions, including the British Virgin Islands.

He is qualified in England and Wales and is in the process of qualifying in the BVI. Hugo speaks Portuguese (native), Spanish (advanced) and French (intermediate).

Recent work includes:

• Acted on behalf of 43 passengers of an international flight that crashed a few years ago in South America. Proceedings involved attempting to lift two interim anti-suit injunctions granted in England and Wales, against UK defendant entities, for enforcement purposes, in light of settlements secured in the USA for c. US$900m.
• Acted for a claimant Georgian company on a breach of contract claim against another Georgian entity (operating a TV station at the claimant’s studio) regarding a breach of rental agreements and failure to pay charges due. The contract between the parties contained a LCIA jurisdiction clause. Advised the client regarding pros and cons of engaging this arbitration clause versus pursuing a claim in Georgia’s local courts.
• Acted on a civil fraud claim, worth c. US$1m, for a Brazilian spread-betting investor against an international bank.