Patrick Bourke

Head of Dispute Resolution and Litigation, EMEA
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

London
United Kingdom
T:+44 (20) 74442691
London
United Kingdom
T:+44 (20) 74442691
Patrick Bourke

Patrick Bourke

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Biography

Patrick Bourke is a dispute resolution lawyer based in London. Patrick is qualified in England as a Solicitor-Advocate holding Higher Rights (All Proceedings), and is also qualified in Hong Kong. He heads our London Corporate Disputes and Investigations team.

Patrick focuses on High Court commercial litigation, arbitration and ADR, acting on corporate, disputes, insolvency, fraud, banking, construction and real estate cases. He also advises on all aspects of corporate governance and risk management.  He has a broad experience of contractual and corporate disputes, including SPA, joint ventures, shareholder and supply disputes. 

He is said by clients to have a "pragmatic approach: he keeps in mind business needs and priorities," and further sources add that "he has a strong reputation in the market." Interviewees hail him as a "first-class litigator and also a very pragmatic problem solver". Clients appreciate that he "keeps in mind our business needs and priorities, and tailors his advice in a way that fits these business needs" (Chambers Global 2017 – Dispute Resolution).

Patrick is praised by one client as "exceptionally bright, a strong strategist and able to effectively manage numerous matters without getting lost in the detail" (Chambers Global 2019).

'Patrick Bourke and Ruth Cowley are standout individuals with considerable experience of high-profile and substantial fraud litigation. They are hugely impressive: excellent lawyers but also very good at tactics and popular with clients.' (The Legal 500 UK 2020 – Fraud: Civil).


Professional experience

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  • Solicitor, qualified in England & Wales
  • Solicitor, qualified in Hong Kong

Advising:

  • An international oil and gas company on the defence of post-SPA warranty claims worth in excess of US$100m and brought against it by the buyer
  • A Japanese conglomerate on its rights and obligations under a shareholders agreement relating to an underlying business asset valued at in excess of US$500m, and possible interim relief options from the English and Irish courts
  • An international client seeking to enforce a foreign judgment before the English High Court, including obtaining interim injunctive relief and successfully defending a discharge application
  • A sovereign wealth fund on very high-value English High Court litigation and concurrent international arbitration, including injunctive relief
  • A company in High Court proceedings in the defence of claims for non-payment under a contract for the sale of certain bio-fuel equipment, including securing the strike out of certain claims pursued against our client
  • A company, providing strategic advice on the departure of one of its executives and related local satellite litigation
  • A global financial institution, leading a team which successfully defended an arbitration brought against it in respect of a shareholder dispute involving complex issues of law and a multi-jurisdictional fact pattern.
  • 'Patrick Bourke is recognised for his investigations work in anti-bribery and regulatory compliance matters, among others.' (Chambers Global 2017 - Corporate investigations).
  • He is said by clients to have a "pragmatic approach: he keeps in mind business needs and priorities," and further sources add that "he has a strong reputation in the market." Interviewees hail him as a "first-class litigator and also a very pragmatic problem solver". Clients appreciate that he "keeps in mind our business needs and priorities, and tailors his advice in a way that fits these business needs" (Chambers Global 2017 – Dispute Resolution).
  • Patrick is praised by one client as "exceptionally bright, a strong strategist and able to effectively manage numerous matters without getting lost in the detail" (Chambers Global 2019).
  • 'Patrick Bourke and Ruth Cowley are standout individuals with considerable experience of high-profile and substantial fraud litigation. They are hugely impressive: excellent lawyers but also very good at tactics and popular with clients.' (The Legal 500 UK 2020 – Fraud: Civil).