Kiran Unni advises investment funds, private equity firms, financial institutions, individual investors, companies and insolvency practitioners on high-stakes disputes arising from special situations, restructuring and other complex transactions. He acts for and against creditors, debtors, sponsors and other participants across the capital structure, reflecting Kobre & Kim's conflict-free model.
Mr Unni's practice spans English High Court litigation and international arbitration, with substantial experience in disputes involving distressed debt, restructuring (including liability management exercises, or LMEs), insolvency, banking, civil fraud, energy and technology. He has significant experience in international asset recovery and the cross-border enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, including against sovereigns. He also acts for clients defending such claims. His work includes devising and executing strategies to identify, preserve, recover and protect assets across litigation, arbitration and insolvency proceedings.
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr Unni practised at Baker Botts LLP, where he litigated complex commercial disputes. Earlier in his career, he served as a judicial assistant to Lord Mance, Lord Brown and Lord Carnwath at the UK Supreme Court.
Admissions
- Barrister, England & Wales
- Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts
Education
- St Edmund Hall, Oxford, BCL
- Queens’ College, Cambridge, BA, LLM (First Class)
- College of Law, London, Legal Practice Course
Select Engagements
- Andrew Stafford KC and Kiran Unni Unpack Challenges and Opportunities in International Arbitral Enforcement at Istanbul Arbitration Week
- Kobre & Kim Ranked by The Legal 500 UK for White-Collar Crime Defense and Reputation Management
- Andrew Stafford KC and Kiran Unni on Turning a Claim into Cash During Istanbul Arbitration Week
- Vasu Muthyala, Nick Cherryman, Kiran Unni, Jef Klazen in Legal Era: How Indian Debtors Can Stand Up to Aggressive Global Lenders
- Kiran Unni Discusses Litigation Privilege in Corporate Fraud Investigations with C5
- Hunkemöller: A Significant English Decision for Liability Management Exercises
- How Offshore Trustees and Beneficiaries Can Mitigate Serious Risks of a Sanctions Violation
- Defensive and Counteroffensive Strategies in Delaware for Business Disputes that Turn Personal
- Investors Should Be Mindful of New Aggressive South Korean Crypto Regulation and Enforcement
- 5 Ways Cryptocurrency Traders in EMEA Can Plan Ahead for U.S. Government Scrutiny
- South Korea’s Escalating Crypto Enforcement Raises New Risks for Investors
- How Non-U.S. Creditors Can Reach Delaware Trust Assets
- Mitigating Sanctions Risks For Individuals and Their Cyprus-Based Assets
- Shifts in U.S. Crypto Enforcement May Spark Wave of Private Lawsuits
- Private Credit Lenders Face Rising Default Risk and Enforcement Challenges
- A Strategic Playbook for Managing Risk in Private Credit Investments
- Achieving High Returns from Sovereign & States Disputes
- Cross-Border Kobre & Kim Team Succeeds in Recovering Stolen Crypto Assets Worth Over US $400 Million
- Kobre & Kim Successfully Enforces Hundreds of Millions of US Dollars of Cross-Border Judgments and Awards
- Kobre & Kim Strengthens its Commitment in Greater China
Professional & Community Involvement
- Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Co-author, “UK Supreme Court Shows Flexibility in Enforcement of International Arbitral Awards: Taurus Petroleum Ltd v State Oil Marketing Co of the Ministry of Oil, Iraq [2017] UKSC 64” (Lexology, 29 November 2017)
- Co-author, "English Courts Provide Guidelines to Address Inconsistent Jurisdictional Provisions in Related Agreements" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 19, Issue 4, August 2016)
- Co-author, "When is Referral to a Dispute Adjudication Board a Precondition for Court or Arbitration Proceedings?" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 19, Issue 1, February 2016)
- Author, "Case Note: Diag Human SE v Czech Republic [2014] EWHC 1639 (Comm)" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2015)
- Author, "Case Note: BDMS Ltd v Rafael Advanced Defence Systems [2014] EWHC 451 (Comm)" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2015)
Credentials
Admissions
- Barrister, England & Wales
- Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts
Education
- St Edmund Hall, Oxford, BCL
- Queens’ College, Cambridge, BA, LLM (First Class)
- College of Law, London, Legal Practice Course
Engagements
News
- Andrew Stafford KC and Kiran Unni Unpack Challenges and Opportunities in International Arbitral Enforcement at Istanbul Arbitration Week
- Kobre & Kim Ranked by The Legal 500 UK for White-Collar Crime Defense and Reputation Management
- Andrew Stafford KC and Kiran Unni on Turning a Claim into Cash During Istanbul Arbitration Week
- Vasu Muthyala, Nick Cherryman, Kiran Unni, Jef Klazen in Legal Era: How Indian Debtors Can Stand Up to Aggressive Global Lenders
- Kiran Unni Discusses Litigation Privilege in Corporate Fraud Investigations with C5
- Hunkemöller: A Significant English Decision for Liability Management Exercises
- How Offshore Trustees and Beneficiaries Can Mitigate Serious Risks of a Sanctions Violation
- Defensive and Counteroffensive Strategies in Delaware for Business Disputes that Turn Personal
- Investors Should Be Mindful of New Aggressive South Korean Crypto Regulation and Enforcement
- 5 Ways Cryptocurrency Traders in EMEA Can Plan Ahead for U.S. Government Scrutiny
- South Korea’s Escalating Crypto Enforcement Raises New Risks for Investors
- How Non-U.S. Creditors Can Reach Delaware Trust Assets
- Mitigating Sanctions Risks For Individuals and Their Cyprus-Based Assets
- Shifts in U.S. Crypto Enforcement May Spark Wave of Private Lawsuits
- Private Credit Lenders Face Rising Default Risk and Enforcement Challenges
- A Strategic Playbook for Managing Risk in Private Credit Investments
- Achieving High Returns from Sovereign & States Disputes
- Cross-Border Kobre & Kim Team Succeeds in Recovering Stolen Crypto Assets Worth Over US $400 Million
- Kobre & Kim Successfully Enforces Hundreds of Millions of US Dollars of Cross-Border Judgments and Awards
- Kobre & Kim Strengthens its Commitment in Greater China
Professional & Community Involvement
- Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Co-author, “UK Supreme Court Shows Flexibility in Enforcement of International Arbitral Awards: Taurus Petroleum Ltd v State Oil Marketing Co of the Ministry of Oil, Iraq [2017] UKSC 64” (Lexology, 29 November 2017)
- Co-author, "English Courts Provide Guidelines to Address Inconsistent Jurisdictional Provisions in Related Agreements" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 19, Issue 4, August 2016)
- Co-author, "When is Referral to a Dispute Adjudication Board a Precondition for Court or Arbitration Proceedings?" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 19, Issue 1, February 2016)
- Author, "Case Note: Diag Human SE v Czech Republic [2014] EWHC 1639 (Comm)" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2015)
- Author, "Case Note: BDMS Ltd v Rafael Advanced Defence Systems [2014] EWHC 451 (Comm)" (International Arbitration Law Review, Volume 18, Issue 4, August 2015)