Perseus Ventures Limited v David Foskett & Ors

Facts

The claimant, Perseus Ventures Limited, is a British Virgin Islands company owned and directed by Martin Walsh, who conducted the litigation on its behalf having been granted rights of audience by Freedman J in July 2024. The dispute originates in a 2006 legal charge granted by Mr Walsh over a property at 94 Rope Street, Surrey Quays in favour of Barclays Private Bank Limited; in 2008 he transferred the legal title to Perseus for no consideration, and a 2011 facility of £600,000 was supported by his personal guarantee. Following demands in 2017 for £457,349.85 and non-payment, the Bank appointed Mr Foskett and Mr Alford as receivers, who obtained possession in September 2023 and sold the property in September 2024. Perseus issued Part 8 proceedings in June 2024 alleging a conspiracy between the receivers, the Bank and its solicitors Addleshaw Goddard. Master Brown struck out much of the claim on 5 June 2025 and imposed unless orders with which Perseus failed to comply, so that the claim stood struck out. Perseus made further applications in June and October 2025, which Soole J dismissed on the papers on 17 December 2025 as totally without merit, making an extended civil restraint order. Perseus applied to vary or set aside that order under CPR 23.8(3).