Profile
Christian Balderstone is a Partner at Newstone Law and Head of Litigation. He leads its litigation and dispute resolution practice, advising on complex commercial disputes, civil fraud, asset recovery and shareholder disputes.
With over seven years’ experience, Christian advises companies, directors, shareholders and high-net-worth individuals on high-value and often commercially sensitive disputes. His experience spans the full litigation process, from pre-action strategy and urgent interim applications through to trial, enforcement and appeal.
Christian has acted in proceedings before the High Court, including the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division (now the Business and Property Division), the Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court, as well as the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) and the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber). His experience includes disputes involving claims exceeding £500 million, cross-border litigation and cases requiring extensive documentary and expert evidence.
He has particular expertise in civil fraud and asset recovery, including worldwide freezing injunctions, criminal restraint orders, Norwich Pharmacal orders and the enforcement of foreign judgments. Before joining Newstone Law, he represented clients facing complex allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, directors’ misconduct and contractual wrongdoing.
Christian combines detailed legal analysis with a commercially focused approach to dispute resolution. In his previous roles he worked closely with leading King’s Counsel and junior counsel and managed substantial litigation, developing strategies that reflected his clients’ commercial objectives.
Christian previously headed litigation at Chancery Court Tax Chambers, Gray’s Inn, working directly with the Head of Chambers. He began his legal career at Richard Slade & Partners LLP, where he trained and qualified as a solicitor.
Selected experience
Christian’s representative matters, all undertaken before he joined Newstone Law, include:
VTB Bank PJSC v Kuanyshev [2026] EWHC 591 (Comm)
Acted as lead solicitor, alongside leading King’s Counsel and junior counsel, in Commercial Court proceedings concerning the variation of a worldwide freezing order affecting a third-party property valued at approximately £20 million, including related appellate work.
Stevens v Hotel Portfolio II UK Ltd (In Liquidation) [2025] UKSC 28
Acted for the respondent in Supreme Court proceedings concerning remedies for dishonest assistance in a breach of fiduciary duty, arising from litigation involving a judgment of approximately £160 million. Also involved in the preceding Court of Appeal proceedings, reported at [2023] EWCA Civ 1120.
London Capital & Finance plc v Thomson [2024] EWHC 2894 (Ch)
Represented the former chief executive in substantial High Court litigation involving allegations of breach of directors’ duties, wrongful trading and fraud. The proceedings included a 20-week trial and applications to vary civil freezing and criminal restraint orders to enable the funding of the client’s defence.
Yodel Delivery Network Ltd v Corlett [2025] EWHC 1435 (Ch)
Acted for Yodel’s former chief executive and associated companies in High Court proceedings concerning alleged breaches of directors’ duties and contractual claims arising from the acquisition of Yodel, including the associated companies’ applications for interim injunctive relief.
High-value international shareholder dispute
Acted for a shareholder claimant in a derivative claim valued at the equivalent of more than £500 million, involving cross-border proceedings and service of proceedings in the United Arab Emirates.
Newstone Law LLP is not a law firm and is not authorised or regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Christian Balderstone [SRA: 7007432] and Rory Newman [SRA: 7019400] are solicitors regulated by the SRA, but the services of Newstone Law LLP are not regulated legal services. You will not have access to the SRA Compensation Fund, and Newstone Law LLP is not required to hold SRA-compliant professional indemnity insurance. We do not undertake reserved legal activities, including the conduct of litigation or rights of audience, and we do not hold client money.