McKillen renews bid to move next Barclays battle to Ireland

Paddy McKillen is appealing against a Master’s ruling that the next stage of his battle with the Barclay brothers for control of the £1bn Maybourne Hotel Group should be heard in London. McKillen is seeking to persuade Judge Behrens QC to overturn Master Bowles’ decision that a bid to force McKillen to sell his shares in Maybourne parent company Coroin should be heard in London rather than Ireland. The judge is to reserve his judgment on the issue, with McKillen ultimately hoping to have the UK proceedings stayed in order to allow the issue to be dealt with in Ireland In these proceedings, Misland and Quinlan allege that pre-emption rights in respect of McKillen’s 36.2% share in Coroin – the company that owns trophy hotels The Berkeley, The Connaught and Claridge’s – have in effect been triggered, and that a meeting of Coroin’s directors should be held to determine whether McKillen’s stake should be offered for sale to the other shareholders. John Macdonald QC, representing McKillen, told the judge that they form part of the “continuing and perhaps never-ending struggle” between McKillen and Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay over the control of Coroin. McKillen & anr v Misland (Cyprus) Investments Ltd & ors Chancery (Judge Behrens QC) 14 November 2014 John Macdonald QC for the appellant Kenneth MacLean QC for the respondent