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Insolvency

1
South Square
2
3 Verulam Buildings
4 Stone Buildings
Erskine Chambers
Maitland Chambers
Serle Court
Wilberforce Chambers
3
Enterprise Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers
XXIV Old Buildings

Leading Silks

1
Catherine Addy KC – Maitland Chambers
David Allison KC – South Square ‘David is the most experienced barrister in the market when it comes to schemes/restructuring plans. He is a leading authority and his views carry real weight in the courtroom. He combines his terrific legal brain with a very amenable personality and commercial mindset, which makes him very user-friendly.’
Peter Arden KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Peter is extremely approachable, very user-friendly and popular with clients. He is highly intelligent and has the confidence of the judges he appears before.’
Jonathan Crow KC – 4 Stone Buildings ‘He is a top-tier advocate with vast experience. His advocacy is exceptional.’
Lexa Hilliard KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Lexa really is one of the team. She is approachable and happy to get stuck in. Her advice is invaluable both from a legal perspective, but she is also extremely commercial. Lexa is just as comfortable in court – she delivers submissions with such ease and creates a rapport with judges.’
Philip Marshall KC – Serle Court ‘He is just the sort of barrister that you need in a tricky case. He takes no nonsense from the other side and he also has a good rapport with the judge. He has very good tactical sense, and is very client friendly.’
Ewan McQuater KC – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Ewan is a real heavyweight, with immense gravitas.'
Mark Phillips KC – South Square ‘Mark is at the top of the list for court-based complex work. He is an exceptional advocate with a great instinct of how to present a case to the court. He works well with a good junior and his honing into the issues and mind for solutions are first rate. He knows what a court wants to hear about a case and, more importantly, what it doesn’t.’
Felicity Toube KC – South Square
2
David Alexander KC –South Square ‘David is the perfect choice for contentious insolvency and fraud: he has all of the technical knowledge, but also has the robustness required for a serious fight.' 
Stephen Atherton KC –Twenty Essex
Daniel Bayfield KC – South Square ‘Daniel is excellent and is the obvious go-to KC for investment bank insolvencies and schemes of arrangement with anything unusual or difficult about them. He is an excellent advocate and can deal with whatever is thrown at him.’
Adrian Beltrami KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Adrian is frequently brought in to deal with complicated and difficult insolvency cases. A very talented lawyer.’
Simon Davenport KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Simon brings to the table enthusiasm and a razor-like focus and provides good, focused advice. Very commercial and easy to work with.'
Richard Fisher KC – South Square ‘A very impressive silk: Richard is very bright and knows insolvency like the back of his hand. An excellent choice for anything with a financial services angle, in particular.’
Peter Shaw KC – Selborne Chambers ‘Peter is an exceptionally talented and a brilliant advocate. He masters complex issues quickly and pinpoints the essential factual and legal matters.’
Marcia Shekerdemian KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Marcia’s knowledge is limitless and she can absorb facts instantaneously and deliver an effective strategy that no else considered. A firm favourite with the courts, clients and her peers alike. Commercial, client-friendly and a genuine team player.’
Tom Smith KC – South Square ‘The best restructuring and insolvency silk by some distance. Excellent advocate, excellent technical and tactical advice. Always available. Top class.’
Sonia Tolaney KC – One Essex Court ‘Very bright, tenacious and extremely effective advocate. A good rapport in court and with the team makes her also easy to work with.’  
David Wolfson KC – One Essex Court
3
Jonathan Adkin KC – Serle Court ‘Jonathan commands the court’s attention with deft and precise submissions, allied to an unerring ability to come up with a pithy phrase encapsulating the point he is seeking to make.’
Raquel Agnello KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Quite apart from Raquel’s charm and humour (which helps in stressful situations!) she is a perfect combination of the technical, strategic and practical. She hones in on the critical issues and gets straight to the point but while at the same time leading you there so as to leave no stone unturned.’
Mark Arnold KC – South Square ‘Mark is excellent and is one of my go-to barristers for insolvency and company work. He has an incredible knowledge of insolvency and company law and conveys a calm authority in the courtroom that gives the judge confidence in his submissions and in his client’s position.’
Lance Ashworth KC – Serle Court ‘Lance is a consummate professional. He is able to relay complex law in an understandable form. He is aggressive in the best way. Very responsive and personable with it. A joy to work with.’
Andrew Ayres KC – Twenty Essex ‘Andrew has an extremely effective advocacy style, he is very much on top of the detail and is incredibly eloquent.'  
James Bailey KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘James is a brilliant and highly persuasive advocate and strategic thinker. He is one of the most creative silks at the Bar and is not afraid to try new things to achieve his goals. He is able to combine a wealth of experience in company, insolvency and civil fraud matters to provide big-picture strategic thinking.’  
David Chivers KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Absolutely top-tier expertise in insolvency law, he commands the immediate attention of the court. His written advocacy is exceptional and his oral advocacy and skill as a cross-examiner are also at the same high level. The amazing thing about him though is that these attributes are matched by an equally extraordinary work ethic.’
Matthew Collings KC – Maitland Chambers
Edward Cumming KC – XXIV Old Buildings
Joseph Curl KC – South Square  ‘Joe is an outstanding chancery barrister, his expertise is second to none, his written work is of the highest quality and his advocacy skills are exceptional, both in cross-examination and when making legal submissions.’
Stephen Davies KC – Enterprise Chambers
Glen Davis KC – South Square ‘Literally wrote the book. Authoritative, friendly, a first choice for insolvency.’
Michael Gibbon KC – Maitland Chambers 'Michael is immensely intelligent and hard working. At the same time he is user friendly, and has an ability to devise novel solutions and approaches.'
Andreas Gledhill KC – Blackstone Chambers ‘Andreas is very approachable and responsive; his legal expertise is matched by his charm and commercial awareness. As an advocate, he is a tower of strength – methodical, persistent and persuasive.’
Matthew Hardwick KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Matthew is an excellent advocate with pin-point strategic insight and a calm and collected manner. He is able to get to the heart to the matter in a way which is often well received by the judge. Good client manners, taking a step back and viewing the client’s strategic goals as a whole is second nature.’
Richard Hill KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Louise Hutton KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Super smart and user-friendly, impactful advocate.’
Barry Isaacs KC – South Square ‘Barry is methodical in his preparation and analysis of all facets of the case, identifying potential issues before they arise and mitigating effectively with excellent commercial awareness to ensure the best outcome for the client.’
Philip Jones KC – Serle Court
Blair Leahy KC – Twenty Essex ‘Technically strong and very on top of detail as well as strategy. Clients love her.’
Daniel Lightman KC – Serle Court ‘Daniel is a major player in the insolvency sphere. He knows his stuff inside out. Clients love him because he is able to come up with solutions that no one else can think of. Judges trust his submissions because they are sound and learned. Daniel is excellent at thinking of points that no one else does.’
Stephen Moverley Smith KC – XXIV Old Buildings
James Pickering KC – Enterprise Chambers 'James is able to distill matters down to their key issues very quickly, and then provide commercially and strategic legal advice.'  
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Elspeth really knows her stuff, is clear in her advice, doesn’t overstate the merits and makes herself available at short notice when needed.’
Sharif Shivji KC – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Sharif is very clever, bouncy, positive and creative. He’s a strong and persuasive advocate. His skeleton arguments are very clear. He’s excellent on client calls and gets to the point.’
Clare Stanley KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Clare is a first-class barrister who consistently demonstrates exceptional advocacy, unwavering dedication and a deep understanding of the law. Her thorough approach to her advice and analysis, combined with her ability to articulate complex legal arguments, has consistently impressed our clients.’
Andrew Thompson KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Very intelligent with ability to cut through very complicated legal issues. Real team player and also makes himself available to assist. Proactively deals with his cases thinking outside the box.’
4
Tony Beswetherick KC – Twenty Essex ‘Tony is a brilliant asset to the team on any case. He is super bright and thoughtful but also commercial and understands and is mindful of the wider context of the case in which he is acting. Tony is accessible and user-friendly in a way that many KCs are not.’
Christopher Boardman KC – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Strong technical knowledge, ability to think laterally, proactive. Fast response times.’
George Bompas KC – 4 Stone Buildings
John Brisby KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Timothy Collingwood KC – Serle Court ‘Extremely able and responsive.’
Andrew de Mestre KC – 4 Stone Buildings 'A stand out practitioner.'
Jeremy Goldring KC – South Square
Hugh Jory KC – 4 New Square ‘Hugh’s main strength is his gravitas in the courtroom. He speaks with clarity and always gives the source of his authority – essential for any judge. This is closely followed with his legal knowledge, which is second to none. He is able to name authority off the cuff and react quickly to challenges.’
Robert Levy KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Robert is extremely responsive and always on hand to deal with queries, even when at trial on other matters. He is highly knowledgeable on the area of insolvency law and is skilled at breaking down complex issues into digestible advice. He is also very personable, approachable and is great with clients.’
David Mohyuddin KC – Radcliffe Chambers ‘David is one of the most trusted KCs on insolvency matters. Whilst also an impressive advocate, he can be counted on for robust, thoughtful technical advice that strikes the right balance with the commercial practicalities present in any distressed situation.’
Tom Poole KC – 3 Hare Court
Alex Potts KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Absolutely clever and spot-on. Great advocacy skills especially when he has a weak case to run. Calm personality and easy to work with.’
James Potts KC - Erskine Chambers
Jeremy Richmond KC – Quadrant Chambers ‘Jeremy is a tenacious, wily and compelling advocate. He gets his points across in a way which judges warm to. He is no pushover even when he has a weak case.’
Jamie Riley KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Jamie has the ability to use a turn of phrase to turn complexity into clarity within a single line. He is compelling and authoritative in advocacy, and excellent in written work and analytical advice, particularly pleadings and written argument. He is a go-to silk for best results.’
Andrew Sutcliffe KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
Francis Tregear KC – XXIV Old Buildings
Ben Valentin KC – Fountain Court Chambers 'A silk who combines intelligence, judgement, exceptional advocacy and hard work.'
Ian Wilson KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
5
Hermann Boeddinghaus KC – 4 Stone Buildings 'Hermann is a sharp and formidable advocate with a very good sense of the courtroom and his opponents. No brief is too challenging for Hermann and he is always one step ahead in his strategy and is able to anticipate and fully prepare for all arguments.' 
Orlando Fraser KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Adam Kramer KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Adam is a mastermind. He is able to argue a complicated claim in such a straightforward way that it makes it so much harder for the other side.’
James Morgan KC – Radcliffe Chambers ‘James is particularly strong on complex and very technical points. He is incredibly bright but also really gets into the detail and thinks around issues. Whilst being a deep thinker, he is also very alive to commercial agendas. Very user-friendly and responsive.’
Terence Mowschenson KC – Wilberforce Chambers
Thomas Munby KC – Maitland Chambers
Hugh Norbury KC - Serle Court
Christopher Parker KC – Maitland Chambers
Stephen Robins KC – South Square ‘Stephen is incredibly clever and able to absorb huge amounts of information in very short periods and deliver analysis that is pithy, solves problems and is commercially astute. Stephen is a brilliant tactician and excellent on his feet; setting traps for the unwary opponent.’
David Scorey KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘David is responsive, inciteful, and a straight shooter. You want him on your team and certainly not appearing on the other side.’
Hugh Sims KC – Guildhall Chambers
Matthew Weaver KC – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Matt has a great commercial approach to matters – he knows when to take a technical approach but, more importantly, he understands the bigger picture and so is a great member of the team to have when you need to find innovative commercial solutions for a tricky legal problem.’
Andrew Westwood KC – Maitland Chambers

2023 Silks

Alexander Cook KC – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Alex is very slick – he seems to tick every box for a modern barrister. His advocacy is cool, calm and collected, and he never seems to lose his nerve! He is good on the law, and also very client-friendly, with a good commercial sense.’
Ben Shaw KC – Erskine Chambers
Ruth den Besten KC – Essex Court Chambers

Leading Juniors

1
Stuart Adair – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stuart’s particular strength is his in-depth knowledge of insolvency law, which he combines with civilised aggression in advancing his client’s case.’
David Eaton Turner – New Square Chambers ‘Very thorough in preparation and very good advocate.’  
Tiran Nersessian – 4 Stone Buildings
Georgina Peters – South Square ‘Georgina is a very capable junior. She is really clever and thorough.’
Henry Phillips – South Square 'Henry is a brilliantly technical lawyer; he understands all of the detail and nuances of an issue and is able to distil complex analysis in a way that is easily communicated to clients.'
William Willson – South Square ‘William is passionate about his work and is extremely engaging to work with. He helped us achieve great results in difficult circumstances.’
2
Matthew Abraham – South Square ‘Matthew is an excellent barrister with strong analytical skills, deep knowledge of restructuring and insolvency law and calm and composed manner. He is excellent in court, quick-witted and commands the respect of the judge as well as opposing counsel. A KC in the making.’
Alex Barden – Fountain Court Chambers
Rosanna Foskett – Maitland Chambers
Hugo Groves – Enterprise Chambers
Christopher Harrison – 4 Stone Buildings
Marcus Haywood – South Square ‘Marcus is extremely bright, user-friendly, personable and commercial. Marcus also has a calm and methodical manner when on his feet.’
Tina Kyriakides – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Tina has great attention to detail picking up on the most minor issues that could affect the case. She is thorough, articulate, and very approachable. She has a great ability to explain complex issues very simply to a lay client.’
James Mather – Serle Court ‘Good advisor, team player with prompt and sensible advice. Written work is good.’
Niall McCulloch – Enterprise Chambers ‘Niall is incredibly commercial and pro-active, with a desire to win that is unparalleled.’
Matthew Parfitt – Erskine Chambers ‘Matthew has a calm, thoughtful presence which reduces the client’s stress in any situation. He is also very capable in working through complex information and summarising the position for the court in a simplified and clear way.’
Tom Shepherd – 4 New Square ‘Tom is very user friendly and responsive. He has an excellent grasp of the technical detail and he is a great advocate.’
3
Robert Amey – South Square ‘Robert is calm, bright, well-prepared and tenacious. He lends his experience to situations well and is a barrister to whom a client listens (which is more rare than you would expect).’
Sri Carmichael – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Sri is fantastically talented at identifying the critical issue to be addressed in any situation. She can absorb a huge amount of technical information quickly, sifting the wheat from the chaff and getting to the heart of a dispute. She is decisive and focused, but incredibly approachable and responsive with it. She is formidable as counsel, but a pleasure to have as a professional acquaintance.’
Sarah Clarke – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Sarah is very hardworking and tenacious. Her advocacy is calm and methodical. She ensures that she sees a point through to its conclusion, even when it appears that a judge seems to be with her, in order to ensure that a thorough approach is taken. Sarah is extremely commercial and willing to understand our clients’ needs, constraints, and decision making processes.’
Charlotte Cooke – South Square ‘Charlotte is an extremely competent and reliable senior junior. She has a calm and authoritative manner and is never wrong. Judges like her understated yet firm style.’
James Couser – Three Stone ‘James is a go-to barrister for insolvency-related matters. He is intelligent, commercial and highly strategic. He is also a pleasure to work with.’
William Day – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Very responsive, very bright, willing to get hands dirty.  Punches above his weight.’
Adam Deacock – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Adam is very experienced in insolvency matters. He is very user-friendly.’
Ben Griffiths – Erskine Chambers
Kavan Gunaratna – Enterprise Chambers ‘Breadth of understanding. Extremely good on both paper and on his feet. Very clear with clients.’
Patrick Harty  – One Essex Court ‘Patrick is smart and capable of finding an effective remedy in thickets of factual complexity. His drafting is very good. Professional and lay clients like his confidence and willingness to get off the fence.’
Peter Head – Blackstone Chambers ‘Peter is great to work with – responsive, intelligent and user-friendly.’
Philip Hinks – 3 Verulam Buildings
Clara Johnson – South Square  ‘Clara is a specialist in world-class drafting. She routinely turns in word-perfect briefs that balance comprehensiveness and conciseness. She also boasts an impressively strategic mind.’
Ruth Jordan – Serle Court ‘Ruth is incisive and can assimilate a large amount of information quickly and efficiently. She is good with clients and has a quite confidence about her that they appreciate.’
Olivier Kalfon – Maitland Chambers
Luka Krsljanin – Blackstone Chambers ‘He is an intelligent barrister with a good grip of the law and a nice and positive style. He works well in a team and produced clear advice.’
Nico Leslie – Fountain Court Chambers 'Concise and timely written advice which hits all the key points. Very good manners with clients in conference.'  
Edoardo Lupi – South Square ‘Edoardo is a pleasure to work with, produces consistently excellent work and is a brilliant addition to any counsel team. He is a star of the future.’
Morwenna Macro – Five Paper ‘Morwenna gives clear and commercial advice that focuses on reaching an early and amicable resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached then she is a strong advocate who frequently delivers positive results for clients.’
Dawn McCambley – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Dawn is extremely user-friendly and quickly understands the issues in complex litigation.’
Jennifer Meech – Serle Court ‘Jennifer is a very experienced and able junior, who is a great choice for any insolvency dispute.’
Philip Morrison – Erskine Chambers ‘Exceptionally clever. A superb, technical lawyer but also very pragmatic, with excellent judgement, way beyond his years.’    
Elaine Palser – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Elaine is always able to get to grips with the most complex of matters. She has a calm and measured approached which always go does well with clients. There are some counsel that when you instruct them you feel reassured to have them on your side – Elaine is one of them.’
Charles Raffin – Gatehouse Chambers
Alexander Riddiford – Essex Court Chambers
Andrew Rose – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Excellent powers of legal analysis; drafts compelling skeleton arguments.’
Justina Stewart – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Justina has a keen eye for detail and is very pragmatic and commercial. She spots problems but also has the solution on hand. Due her to direct nature she is well liked by big lender clients.’
Lloyd Tamlyn – South Square ‘Lloyd is a very technical barrister, with a very detailed knowledge of insolvency and associated law. He drafts well and is clear and concise in his advice. He wins his cases by being brighter and more knowledgeable than his opponents. His advocacy is convincing.’
Jonathan Titmuss – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Jon is approachable, gives punchy advice and genuinely cares about the outcome of the case.’
4
Nicola Allsop – Quadrant Chambers ‘Nicola is absolutely fantastic. Her advocacy is succinct, clearly articulated and compelling.’
Jessica Brooke – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Sound legal knowledge. Commercially minded and has excellent attention to detail. Able to process evidence and hone in on the detail.’
Rory Brown – South Square ‘Very user-friendly. Able to turn to matters quickly. Great manner with judges. Very helpful, commercial strategic input.’
William Buck – Monckton Chambers
Maxim Cardew – Maitland Chambers
Adam Chichester-Clark – Three Stone ‘He is a tenacious, meticulous, well-researched and skilful advocate. He gives no quarter but adopts a measured and sensible approach in court and in discussions with his opponent. A silk in all but name.’
Francis Collaço Moraes – Three Stone ‘Francis is one of the few barristers to combine an expertise in property and insolvency law. He is also a thoroughly nice man, who has seen it all. Very responsive and user-friendly.’
Reuben Comiskey – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Reuben is one of the smartest insolvency barristers in the game.’
Catherine Doran – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Catherine is brilliant on her feet and articulate in her presentation.’
Rachael Earle – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Very user-friendly and good on calls with clients.’
Thomas Elias – Serle Court ‘Thomas is astonishingly clever. He also has terrific judgement and appears to command enormous respect from the judiciary.’
Joseph England – Quadrant Chambers ‘Joe is extremely knowledgeable, is always willing to go the extra mile for clients and has an ability to come up with ingenious solutions and arguments. He is also brilliant on his feet in court.’
Amit Gupta – Enterprise Chambers ‘Very responsive; excellent communication. Good advocate.’
Graeme Halkerston – Wilberforce Chambers
Katherine Hallett – Three Stone ‘Katherine is a calm, measured and careful junior. She is very good at separating the real issues in the cases quickly and developing a strategy to assure success. Katherine is very accessible, very available and a great team player. Very easy to work with.’
Alexander Heylin – No5 Barristers' Chambers ‘Confident, clear advice, a good strategist and problem-solver. Very thorough.’
Oliver Hyams – South Square ‘Engaging and approachable with a technical eye for detail while aware of the overall strategic objectives of a case.’
Philip Judd – South Square ‘Very user-friendly and an expert in insolvency.’
Faith Julian – Maitland Chambers
Wilson Leung   – Serle Court ‘Wilson has a great knowledge of insolvency law, and is a clever and resourceful barrister.’
Daniel Lewis – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Daniel is friendly, capable, and always understands the issues.’
Donald Lilly – 4 Stone Buildings ‘An excellent all-rounder – his written work is exemplary, and he is a confident advocate. Donald is very popular with clients.’
Anna Lintner – Maitland Chambers ‘Incredible team member. Able to understand complex matters quickly.’
Jonathan Lopian – New Square Chambers ‘Jonathan thoroughly researches his area and is always well prepared for all of his hearings, whether for directions or full blow contested final hearings.’
Sarah McCann – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Sarah is hard-working, conscientious and intelligent. She always makes herself available as and when necessary.’  
Giselle McGowan – Serle Court ‘Giselle is extremely knowledgeable and a very safe pair of hands. She gives comprehensive advice in a timely fashion.’
Conor McLaughlin – Erskine Chambers ‘The perfect junior! He’s one of those walk through walls barristers who will just get the job done.’  
Gabriella McNicholas – Maitland Chambers
James McWilliams – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘James delivers straightforward advocacy over complex issues with authority. James also offers very clear views in consultations with clients, and does not sit on the fence.’
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Strategic mastermind.’
Matthew Morrison – Serle Court ‘Matthew is extremely thorough in his preparation for hearings and is a safe pair of hands in the courtroom. He is also personable and approachable.’
Martin Ouwehand – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Martin is very detailed and thorough in his trial preparation. When at trial Martin is impressive. He advocates concisely and clearly and is very good at adroitly getting his point across.’
Rebecca Page – Maitland Chambers 'Rebecca is an excellent strategist.'
Rowena Page – Maitland Chambers 'Extremely smart, analytical and quick thinking. Excellent on her feet.'
Wendy Parker – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Wendy brings a great deal of experience, which really shows in her advocacy. She is a team player and knows how to work as part of a wider team.’
Samuel Parsons – Erskine Chambers ‘Sam is excellent – very good judgement and his drafting is excellent. He is a creative thinker and his advocacy is excellent – concise and to the point.’
Justin Perring – New Square Chambers ‘Justin achieves results beyond instruction. No matter the size or urgency of the instruction, Justin will get the job done whether that being extensive drafting or preparing meticulously for a lengthy trial.’
Isabel Petrie – Selborne Chambers ‘Isabel’s advocacy is extremely impressive.’
Oliver Phillips – Maitland Chambers
Jessica Powers – New Square Chambers ‘Excellent technical lawyer and advocate – very effective, at home in the detail, and big picture strategy.’
Helen Pugh – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very technically strong.’
Kate Rogers – Radcliffe Chambers ‘A very safe pair of hands in drafting insolvency proceedings.’
Albert Sampson – 4 Stone Buildings ‘A strong performer both on paper and on his feet. Albert is always on top of the detail and more than able to go toe-to-toe with more senior colleagues at the bar.’
James Saunders – New Square Chambers ‘James is incredibly quick and efficient, extremely knowledgeable in this area, a master of the detail. Strongly recommended as an up-and-coming junior on insolvency and directors’ duties.’
Anna Scharnetzky – Erskine Chambers 'Extremely effective, incisive, thorough, inspires complete confidence and always delivers.'
Andrew Shaw – South Square ‘Andrew is a great team player and always makes himself available to discuss the many and various issues that arise.’
Angharad Start – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Angharad is a very persuasive advocate, has a pleasant and attractive speaking voice and is able to inject humour into her oral submissions at the appropriate time which always goes down with Judges who then warm to her and her case.'
Hilary Stonefrost – South Square
Hannah Thornley – South Square ‘Hannah is a strong tactician who pro-actively manages the case each step of the way through to the final hearing. She complements her forensic advocacy with strategic advice in case management.’
Alastair Tomson – 4 Stone Buildings
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is an exceptional advocate, with an amazing talent when it comes to explaining complex legal issues.  His cross-examination is also strong, with a superb instinct for knowing when to stop and when to press on. He always gives sound commercial advice in a way that clients understand.’
Alaric Watson – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Deep expertise in insolvency, technically excellent but also experienced enough to cut to the commercial reality.’
Jack Watson – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Jack is very knowledgeable, has lots of experience and, importantly, is commercially sensible. He easily understands and meets the client’s expectations. His advocacy is very effective, sharp and committed to advocating the client’s best interest. Highly recommended.’
Joseph Wigley – 4 Stone Buildings
5
Karl Anderson – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Karl’s knowledge in the insolvency space is exceptional. In addition, he is very personable and has a keen commercial and economic eye.’
Andrew Blake – Erskine Chambers 'He is a very impressive junior.'
Andrew Brown – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Very clever and insightful. Easy going and good with clients.’
Christopher Buckley – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Chris is a true sector specialist with a mastery of the area of law and direct experience of the leading cases. He is hugely knowledgeable on all areas of law and procedure and so is able to guide a case from start to finish without too much drama.’
Benjamin Channer – 3 Hare Court ‘Ben is exceptional both in his written advice and in his advocacy. He is meticulous and possesses a profound wealth of knowledge in insolvency making him a formidable opponent.’
Thomas Cockburn – Selborne Chambers ‘Thomas is very knowledgeable and fantastic to work with. He is very approachable and proactive and offers specialist advice with a pragmatic approach.’
Darragh Connell – Maitland Chambers
James Davies – Enterprise Chambers
Bobby Friedman – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Excellent communicator. Gives clear and incisive advice.’  
Phillip Gale – Enterprise Chambers 'Phillip is an extremely user-friendly barrister, who is a pleasure to deal with and has great technical acumen.  He is very clear and concise, produces excellent pleadings and skeleton arguments and is a highly skilled advocate.'
Amanda Hadkiss – Maitland Chambers 'Amanda is extremely personable, bright, articulate and approachable.  A pleasure to work with.'
Ryan Hocking – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Ryan is a solid junior, very commercial minded and quick to understand all the issues/points in play.’
Sophia Hurst – Essex Court Chambers ‘Sophia is an excellent junior with a superb eye for detail. Her written work is excellent and her instincts are great. She thinks outside the box and is able to present creative, workable ideas to problems.’
Hannah Ilett – Maitland Chambers 'Great team player and excellent advocacy skills.'
Simon Johnson – Enterprise Chambers ‘Simon has a smooth, understated manner, he is intelligent, hardworking and user-friendly.’
Edward Knight – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Edward’s USP is that he is also a trained accountant, so his skills with numbers and accounts are invaluable when it comes to complex insolvency claims.’
James Knott – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Absolutely outstanding in terms of the advice provided but also the strategic approach to solving issues. James has an uncanny knack of being able to make all the right calls and all at the right time.‘
Lara Kuehl   – Serle Court  ‘Lara is very thorough and precise. She comes across as very reliable and trustworthy. She is not easily thrown and is a strong and careful advocate.’
Oberon Kwok – Selborne Chambers ‘Oberon is always meticulously prepared. He is articulate and persuasive.’
Katie Longstaff – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Katie is incredibly talented, knowledgeable, approachable, an excellent advocate and clients love her. She constantly challenges herself and works really well under pressure – keeps a calm and cool head. She is one of the very few go-to barristers.’
Katrina Mather – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Katrina has a friendly but robust style, which is conducive to effectively managing client expectations. She gives firm but measured advice when approaching a case.’
Tim Matthewson – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Very clever, thorough and a no-nonsense advocate.’
Aileen McErlean  – Gatehouse Chambers
Zara McGlone – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Extremely helpful, always going above and beyond, so she is totally reliable. Technically excellent and very approachable.’
Maria Mulla – Maitland Chambers
Paul O’Doherty – Forum Chambers ‘Paul is very user-friendly – he is a very approachable and engaging member of the team. It is always a pleasure to work with Paul.’
Phillip Patterson – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Philip is very effective on his feet. His cross-examination style is thorough and he does not move on until his point has hit home with the judge, but he measures this well.’
Georgia Purnell – 3 Hare Court ‘Punchy, bright and is not afraid to get stuck in.’
Thomas Robinson – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Tom is incredibly bright, well-prepared, eloquent, calm, but tenacious and fearless when the need arises. He works incredibly well within a team.’
Rachel Sleeman – Five Paper ‘Absolute command of insolvency law and caselaw tempered with a commercial reality favoured by her peers and clients alike. Very personable and rare in the field as always makes time to have a 5 minute chat on a case, which can prove inciteful and effective.’
Niranjan Venkatesan – One Essex Court ‘Niranjan is one of the most impressive advocates, without doubt. He is exceptionally astute and technically excellent, as well as meticulously detailed-orientated.’
Mark Watson-Gandy – Three Stone ‘Mark is hugely knowledgeable of insolvency. He is great at putting clients at their ease, is a strong advocate and a good cross-examiner.’
Nathan Webb – Forum Chambers ‘Superb attention to detail and an innate ability to anticipate the queries that judges might raise.’
Paul Wright – Selborne Chambers ‘Paul’s written advice is always clear and concise and he presents his cases in a way that is clear for a judge to quickly understand the issues that need to be determined, and what the case of Paul’s client is.’
Geoffrey Zelin – Enterprise Chambers

Rising Stars

Tim Benham-Mirando – Serle Court ‘Tim is very intelligent, conscientious and strategic. He demonstrates real depth to his legal analysis, as well as the ability to assimilate huge volumes of factual information, from which he identifies what is core to the issues in dispute.’
James Fagan – Radcliffe Chambers ‘James is approachable, calm and self-assured barrister.’
Samuel Hodge – Enterprise Chambers
Daniel Judd – South Square ‘Daniel is very bright. His written work is very good. He is nice to deal with.’
Maria Kennedy – Twenty Essex ‘She is very responsive and delivers excellent and thorough written advice on complex areas of law. Her advocacy was measured and precise.’
Daniel Kessler – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Daniel is very hard-working. His work rate and the standard he produces is exceptional.’
Alexander Kingston-Splatt  - Radcliffe Chambers 'Alex is easy to work with and delivers clear, effective written advice and pleadings. On his feet, Alex builds good rapport with the judiciary and delivers arguments in a firm yet amenable manner.'
Rabin Kok – South Square ‘Rabin is simply a remarkable junior. He is extremely accurate, sensible and hard-working.’
Lauren Kreamer – Radcliffe Chambers
Jessica Lavelle – XXIV Old Buildings ‘In court, Jessica is a strong performer for her call, with the natural and confident delivery of far more experienced barristers. She is good at focusing on the key issues and makes sure the clients know she is on their side. She is also a pleasure to work with. She has a bright future ahead of her.’
Emma Loizou – Radcliffe Chambers ‘Emma is very easy to work with. She is responsive and has good attention to detail. She appears in court regularly and therefore has a good feel for what the judges will do or how they will respond.’
Matthew McGhee – Twenty Essex ‘Matt is a good junior, clear thinker and all-round pleasant individual to work with. He is hardworking and thinks outside of the box. He is a clear communicator which works well when carrying out advocacy work.’
Alex Peplow – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Alex is a former solicitor and understands how solicitors work. He takes on board the points, he listens and works collaboratively when giving his opinions.’
Daniel Petrides – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Daniel is very bright diligent and hardworking he is good on his feet for someone who is relatively junior.’
Nicholas Wright – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Excellent technically, personable, clients really rate him, always willing to go the extra mile.’

Insolvency in London Bar

South Square


Noted as being one of the ‘leading restructuring and insolvency sets,’ South Square barristers specialise in high-profile matters, with experience both in domestic and cross-border cases across a range of services including litigation, special administration and restructuring plans. Mark Phillips KC has appeared on numerous cross-border cases including Nuoxi Capital Lt v Peking University Founder Group, which saw him act for the liquidator of Nuoxi Capital and argued that the liabilities under the Keepwell deeds are contractual liabilities, giving rise to a right to prove in PUFG’s reorganisation. Felicity Toube KC appears regularly in restructuring and litigation cases in the Cayman Islands, BVI, Bermuda and ADGM, and Georgina Peters acts on high value schemes of arrangement and restructuring plans. Charlotte Cooke  is noted for her cross-border practice, with expertise of financial services issues arising in insolvencies. Adam Al Attar KC was appointed silk earlier in 2024, while Joseph Curl KC and Rory Brown joined the set from 9 Stone Buildings, prior to that set’s collapse.

Les références

‘South Square are the leading restructuring and insolvency set. They have terrific quality across the board in that area.’

‘The clerks are extremely helpful, and always willing to listen to clients’ views.’

‘Marco Malatesta is dependable, supportive to the set\’s clients and a great leader of the clerks’ room.’ 

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3 Verulam Buildings


With a ‘strong bench in insolvency’ 3 Verulam Buildings' members cover a broad range of cross-border and domestic insolvency cases for a variety of clients, including insolvency practitioners, liquidators and administrators. Many of the set’s practitioners have cross-over experience, with insolvency cases having elements from banking and finance, financial services, dispute resolution and fraud. Ewan McQuater, alongside James McWilliams, Philip Hinks and William Day, acted for the liquidators of Grant Thornton in Harrington & Charles Trading Co and Others v Jatin Mehta and others, who alleged that the family and their associates had carried out a fraud by obtaining gold bullion from Indian banks. Angharad Start has acted on a variety of domestic and cross-border cases, while Jamie Riley KC is a key silk from the set.

Les références

‘Extremely strong bench in insolvency work with numerous available counsel with expert knowledge and practical experience of a variety of high profile cases.’

‘Stuart Pullum and Stephen Pension are extremely user friendly and responsive. Happy to discuss client needs and conscious of client-driven cost pressures.’

‘3VB’s clerking team is amongst the best. Particular kudos must go to Steve Penson, James Kelly and Richard Ansell – who are approachable, responsive and great in a crisis.’ 

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4 Stone Buildings


4 Stone Buildings houses barristers specialising in a number of insolvency and restructuring services, with members experienced in cases ranging from directors’ disqualification, to CODA cases and insolvency litigation. Jonathan Crow KC has been involved in a number of high-value and high-profile cases, including Byers v Saudi National Bank, where liquidators brought a multi-million dollar claim of two insolvent companies against a bank for knowing receipt of funds paid in breach of trust. Tiran Nersessian is experienced in litigation, and has acted for the government and for private litigants, while Christopher Harrison has niche expertise in insolvency cases in the financial sector. Nicholas Wright and Zara McGlone are also key names at the set.

Les références

‘4 Stone is an excellent chambers. My go-to chambers. Top Silks and really good, hungry juniors.’ 

‘Excellent. Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel are particularly good.’ 

‘This is an excellent set with some similarity to my own in terms of size and focus. It is neatly balanced and has an excellent and well-deserved reputation.’

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Erskine Chambers


Erskine Chambers handles both contentious insolvency and corporate restructurings, with members acting on litigation arising from large insolvencies in the wake of the financial crisis, with Peter Arden KC having been instructed by a creditor in Re Project Lietzenburger Strasse Holdco S.A.R.L to oppose a restructuring plan proposed by a Luxembourg company, covering aspects of German law. Raquel Agnello KC has been involved in a number of high-profile cases, and covers restructuring based matters, including CVAs and acting for various businesses. Matthew Parfitt sits as a deputy insolvency judge and has a focus on public interest winding up, and the appointment of provisional liquidators, and Anna Scharnetzky is frequently instructed in contentious restructurings and claims brought by or against office-holders.

Les références

‘Michael Shillingford is consistently excellent, Alex Calder is extremely helpful and diligent, Seamus Nixon is responsive and effective, and Jake Taylor is always quick to assist.’

‘Alex Calder always responds quickly and efficiently.’

‘The clerks provide an excellent service.’





Maitland Chambers


Insolvency and restructuring remains a key area of focus for Maitland Chambers, with members of the set involved in high-profile and high-value domestic and cross-border instructions involving civil fraud, asset recovery and enforcement. Catherine Addy KC has been involved in a number of notable insolvencies and related litigation, including The Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, in which she was instructed to provide specialist insolvency advice on a range of issues concerning bankruptcy and its impact upon existing and potential compensation arrangements for affect sub-postmasters who had been made bankrupt. Darragh Connell represented the trustees in bankruptcy of media personality Katie Price, gaining an incoming payments order against her OnlyFans account; Price was also arrested under a warrant at Heathrow Airport after fleeing the jurisdiction in August 2024. Matthew Smith KC took silk and Anna Lintner joined the team in 2024.

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Serle Court


Serle Court‘s members handle a broad range of cross-border and domestic insolvency cases, having been involved in bringing innovation to the practice area, with cases ranging from dealing with the first ever winding up of a listed PLC on the just and equitable ground, to challenging excessive administrator remuneration in an energy insolvency. Daniel Lightman KC, alongside Tim Benham-Mirando, has been involved in Re BHS Group Limited, defending a claim for wrongful trading and misfeasance. Philip Marshall KC is active in insolvencies in offshore jurisdictions, particularly those involving asset tracing and fraud, while Jennifer Meech has appeared as sole counsel in a number of insolvency cases.

Les références

‘Serle Court is an excellent set in Commercial Chancery, and also in offshore work.  They have great strength in depth.’

‘Nicholas Hockney runs a very good clerks room, and is a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Responsive and commercial service provided by the clerking team.’

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Wilberforce Chambers


The insolvency group at Wilberforce Chambers specialises in a wide range of corporate and personal insolvency litigation cases, both domestically and internationally. Barristers at the set are often involved in high-profile insolvency matters, as well as work connected to restructurings, in particular where issues cross-over with other practice areas including property and pensions. Lexa Hilliard KC, alongside Tom Roscoe, were involved In the matter of Lehman Brothers Holdings PLC where they successfully advised the client, LBGP No 1, on a second issue concerning interest in the wake of the Lehman Brothers’ collapse. Marcia Shekerdemian KC specialises in personal and corporate insolvency, including restructuring, while Daniel Petrides is a name to watch.

Les références

‘Wilberforce benefit from an extensive and experienced clerks room. Danny Smillie knows everything there is to know about the role, while Stewart Cameron and Fraser Geddes are dynamic, responsive and always commercial. Tara Shah is fantastic and a welcoming, engaging member of the team.’

‘Wilberforce are a stellar commercial set, with a particularly strong reputation in issues such as fraud, pensions, trusts and other complex financial matters. The building out of their insolvency offering has been a relatively recent development, but a welcome one and something that they have done quickly and comprehensively. They have experience at all levels and a sophisticated, responsive clerks room.’

‘All the clerks are brilliant.’

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Enterprise Chambers


Enterprise Chambers has been involved in high-profile insolvencies, both in the UK and internationally, with a key focus placed on insurance insolvencies, as well as volume HMRC winding-up proceedings. Head of chambers James Pickering KC is active in commercial insolvencies, and, alongside Samuel Hodge, has been instructed on behalf of the liquidator of Hotel Portfolio II in the case of Hotel Portfolio II UK Ltd v SMA, which combines issues of commercial fraud and commercial litigation Pickering was successful in obtaining a judgement against a fraudulent director and his dishonest assistant. Hugo Groves is experienced in insolvency cases involving a US or cross-border element, having previously qualified as a New York attorney, while Madeline Dixon is noted for her work on cases as a sole advocate.

Les références

‘Extremely helpful clerking team. Flexible.’

‘Enterprise chambers is the go to set for insolvency related matters. They have considerable strength in depth and possess some of the finest insolvency specialists in the city.’

‘The Clerks are commercially minded and incredibly helpful, always willing to go the extra mile.’

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Gatehouse Chambers


Gatehouse Chambers houses a number of barristers with experience in insolvency cases, ranging from issues with director misfeasance, cross-border shareholder disputes, as well as disputed winding up petitions and unfair prejudice petitions. Within insurance insolvency, Sarah McCann is involved in a variety of cases, including a cross-border dispute that emerged as a result of Enterprise Insurance Company's insolvency in Gibraltar. Sarah Clarke represents high-profile clients in a variety of claims, while Jonathan Titmuss is involved in multiple insolvency disputes. Charles Raffin and Ryan Hocking are also key names at the set.

Les références

‘Gatehouse have a wide range of exceedingly good quality Counsel.’ 

‘Gatehouse Chambers are brilliant at providing skilled barristers who can provide a first class service.’

‘Good, efficient service from the clerks.’ 

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Radcliffe Chambers


With ‘great strength in depth at the junior end‘ who ‘carry their weight against the other banded sets,’ Radcliffe Chambers' members are experienced in all aspects of insolvency litigation, as well as legal advisory work and corporate insolvency cases. David Mohyuddin KC specialises in commercial litigation, as well as asset recovery, while Tina Kyriakides focuses on cases that are linked to insolvency, commercial fraud and company law. Zachary Kell represents a mix of IPs, individuals and companies in distress, and both James Fagan and Lauren Kreamer are further key juniors at the set.

Les références

‘The service provided is unparalleled.’ 

‘Good clerking service – particularly Lee Wright.’

‘Radcliffe have an impressive array of talent at all levels. I really enjoy their annual insolvency conference and always get a huge amount of it.’  

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XXIV Old Buildings


Noted for having broad expertise in insolvency and restructuring cases, members at XXIV Old Buildings handle a range of matters, from corporate and personal insolvency work to contentious and non-contentious matters. Barristers are often instructed in cases involving offshore issues in the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. Edward Cumming KC specialises in corporate insolvency and bankruptcy, and Elspeth Talbot Rice KC acted for Barclays Bank in the case GTC v Zedra/Barclays which dealt with a claim in Jersey. Stuart Adair is noted for his ‘in-depth knowledge of insolvency law,’ while Jessica Lavelle and Alex Peplow are names to watch.

Les références

‘They are a great chambers.’

‘Brilliant clerking led by Paul Horsfield.’  

‘Excellent set, many good barristers.’

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