Celebrity lawyer accused of participating in ‘outright plundering’ of BHS before its collapse

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Edward Parladorio, a lawyer who advised Dominic Chappell during the controversial acquisition and collapse of British Home Stores, is being sued for more than £10 million over allegations that he breached fiduciary duties and misappropriated company funds. The ongoing High Court trial focuses on claims that Parladorio acted as an unregistered director involved in improper financial transactions that contributed to BHS’s downfall and significant pension deficits.

A lawyer who advised Dominic Chappell, the serial bankrupt behind British Home Stores’s (BHS) controversial purchase and collapse, is facing legal claims of breaching fiduciary duties linked to the retailer’s downfall. Edward “Eddie” Parladorio, known for representing celebrities such as Hugh Grant and Ulrika Jonsson, is being sued for more than £10 million in a trial currently underway at the High Court in London.

BHS, once a well-known high street chain, went into administration in 2016 after Chappell’s consortium acquired it from Sir Philip Green for £1 in 2015. The collapse resulted in the closure of numerous stores and the loss of approximately 11,000 jobs. Green subsequently agreed in 2017 to pay £363 million toward addressing BHS’s £571 million pension deficit amid considerable political and media scrutiny. In 2024, the High Court ordered Chappell and other former directors to pay tens of millions of pounds to cover pre-collapse losses.

The liquidators allege Parladorio acted effectively as an unregistered director of Retail Acquisitions Limited (RAL), the entity used to buy BHS, playing a central managerial role. They maintain he siphoned millions through improper loans, fees, and property transactions. According to Joseph Curl KC, representing the liquidators, Parladorio was deeply involved in BHS’s operations, working full-time at its headquarters, attending 39 board meetings, and receiving monthly payments exceeding that of the chief executive. Curl accused Parladorio of exercising significant influence by directing payments and instructing other directors.

Specific irregular transactions flagged by the liquidators include alleged misappropriation of £7 million from the sale of BHS’s headquarters, £2 million from a credit facility, £600,000 in VAT related to an Oxford Street property deal, and £749,000 in finance fees. They describe the actions as “outright plundering” of company assets and contend the key issue before the court is Parladorio’s responsibility for these misappropriations.

Parladorio’s legal team, led by Michael Gibbon KC, denies the allegations. They argue that Parladorio was a “dedicated and very hardworking adviser” whose involvement does not equate to fiduciary responsibility or directorial status. Gibbon described the accusations as based on a biased and exaggerated portrayal of events and asserted it was “totally implausible” that Parladorio directed Chappell’s decisions. The defence also highlighted the detrimental impact the lawsuit has had on Parladorio given the significant lapse of time since BHS’s collapse and noted that relevant insurance policies had been exhausted by prior proceedings.

In related developments, Chappell was sentenced to six years in prison in 2020 after a tax evasion conviction connected to his tenure at BHS. Former BHS general counsel Dominic Chandler, who gave evidence at the trial, stated he did not view Parladorio as a superior or decision-maker within the company. However, Curl urged caution in weighing Chandler’s testimony, noting his long-standing friendship with Parladorio.

The court case remains ongoing.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.