Seen as ‘the leading restructuring and insolvency set in the country’, South Square excels across the spectrum of insolvency litigation, with silks and juniors acting at all levels of domestic and international proceedings. The chambers also maintains particular expertise in restructuring plans. Acting for the company in Re Thames Water Utilities Holdings Ltd, Tom Smith KC appears opposite Adam Al-Attar KC, David Allison KC and Mark Phillips KC, each acting for the different creditors, in this high-profile restructuring plan concerning Britain’s largest water utility company. Going to the Court of Appeal, Felicity Toube KC and Daniel Bayfield KC appeared in Re Adler, another restructuring plan that clarified the law on cross-class cram down, a mechanism to impose a plan on dissenting classes of creditors. Henry Phillips was led in Re Cine UK Limited, acting for a group of cinema operating companies in resisting an injunction which sought to restrict the group from breaching the terms of their agreement.

‘A leading set with serious strength in depth’, barristers at 3 Verulam Buildings regularly pivot between domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes, advising insolvency practitioners, liquidators, corporates, insurers and banks. The set is well-versed in all aspects of insolvency litigation, including disputes raising elements of fraud. With a hearing scheduled in the Court of Appeal in 2025, Ewan McQuater KC represents the claimant in Crescent Gas Corporation v National Iranian Oil Company, a case concerning the transfer of property allegedly done to avoid the enforcement of judgments made following disputes over the supply of Iranian gas. Ian Wilson KC is leading Philip Hinks, James McWilliams and William Day for the liquidators in a major commercial fraud claim, Harrington & Charles Trading Co v Jatin Mehta, which relates to the alleged misappropriation and laundering of the proceeds of gold bullion loans.

Noted for its ‘cohesive approach between clerks and barristers’, 4 Stone Buildings offers comprehensive support in contentious insolvency, with the ability to draw on its broader company law expertise when necessary. The chambers is also well-versed in advising the government on insolvency matters, with numerous juniors sitting on Attorney General’s panels. Leading another silk, Jonathan Crow KC acts for in a case going to the Supreme Court concerning the disposition of a hotel portfolio from a company in liquidation: Mitchell v Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber. Christopher Harrison stood as sole counsel in Re Fraher, which concerned the ownership of a cross-border investment with Allied Irish Banks following the Irish banking crisis. Donald Lilly KC took silk in March 2025.

With ‘incredible insolvency and restructuring talent’, Erskine Chambers excels in insolvency disputes that overlap with the banking & finance and civil fraud sectors. Its members advise on corporate restructuring schemes and the pursuit of delinquent owners and directors.  Peter Arden KC was instructed alongside Ben Shaw KC in Re Cine-UK Limited, a case concerning the restructuring of Cineworld group’s UK cinema businesses. Matthew Parfitt acts unled in Westcountry Truffles Ltd (in liquidation) v Frost and Anor, a follow-up litigation attempting to recover funds on behalf of investors who lost money in a truffle tree pension scheme. In Re Zaum UK Limited, Ben Griffiths represents the majority shareholders of a video games company in opposing a winding-up petition.

‘Excellent in every way’, Maitland Chambers combines expertise in civil fraud and offshore disputes to support clients at every level of litigation and arbitration. Members act on a wide range of cases, including judgments and arbitral awards enforcement and urgent interim relief applications. Catherine Addy KC appears in Core VCT plc (in liquidation) v Soho Square Capital LLP, a dispute surrounding the dissolution and subsequent restoration of three venture capital trust companies. In Bilta v Tradition Financial Services, Andrew Westwood KC and Christopher Parker KC act for liquidators in fraudulent trading claims relating to VAT fraud. Rosanna Foskett appears for the respondent in Raier v Correa, a shareholder dispute over a Latin American banking business.

Radcliffe Chambers has ‘good strength and depth across its chancery practice’ and frequently acts in multi-jurisdictional matters and urgent interlocutory relief. The set’s members appears in administrations, liquidations, receiverships and company voluntary arrangements. Christopher Boardman KC acts for the investors in Infinity Developments Propco Ltd v Infinity Developments Holdings Ltd, a claim concerning a sizable failed property development. James Morgan KC acted in a Privy Council appeal, Sian Participation Corp v Halimeda International Ltd, that tested when a stay of insolvency proceedings may be brought where there is an underlying arbitration clause. Adam Deacock acted unled in Re Lion House Portfolio, a misfeasance claim against the director of an investment company.

Praised for its ‘excellent bench strength’, Serle Court fields barristers at all levels of experience who represent the gamut of stakeholders in insolvency contexts across multiple jurisdictions. Philip Marshall KC acts in State Bank of India v Mallya, defending bankruptcy proceedings for a claim of over £1bn. In East Riding of Yorkshire Council v KMG SICAV-GB, Daniel Lightman KC appeared in this case, now going to the Court of Appeal, concerning the striking out of a winding-up petition. James Mather was instructed in Invest Bank PSC v El Husseini, an enforcement claim brought by a UAE commercial bank for a judgment debt of around £20m. Jennifer Meech is acting in Re Greensill Bank for a German financial institution seeking to recover sums from a UK company for the money it paid out following the collapse of the German bank. In March 2025, Matthew Morrison KC took silk.

Offering a ‘second to none’ service, Wilberforce Chambers has strength across the spectrum of corporate and personal insolvency litigation. Members of chambers act on office holder claims, directors’ disqualifications and disputes under EU regulation and the cross-border insolvency regulations. Lexa Hilliard KC supports the joint liquidators in an application for directions following the collapse of three companies which facilitate peer-to-peer lending for car purchases. Clare Stanley KC is acting in Mitchell v Al Jaber, a misfeasance claim now going to the Supreme Court which examines the scope of a director’s fiduciary duties over a company’s assets post-liquidation. Jessica Brooke acts in Re Odyssey BBHP and Re Explorer BBHP, which concern the seizure of two luxury cruise ships seized following the collapse of the vessels’ charterer. Thomas Robinson KC became a King’s Counsel in March 2025.

Containing members seen as ‘great quality, commercial and easy to work with’, Enterprise Chambers is well-versed supporting clients in a wide range of industries, including in the banking, sports and construction sectors. The set contains experience at all levels, with juniors frequently acting in HMRC winding-up proceedings. James Pickering KC acts in a high-value case, featuring allegations of fraud, concerning the sale of a portfolio of hotels, Hotel Portfolio II UK v Marlborough Developments, in which he leads Samuel Hodge. Stephen Davies KC continues to assist the class of sub-postmasters on the fall out of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. Also of note, Kavan Gunaratna is supporting an investor in contested insolvency proceedings following the failure of a group of property development companies.

Noted for its construction expertise, Gatehouse Chambers ‘punches well above its weight’ in the insolvency sector with particular expertise in insurance-related matters. The set’s members act across jurisdictions in shareholder disputes, director misfeasance claims and disputed winding up petitions. Jonathan Titmuss recently acted for the trustees in bankruptcy of an individual who was accused of fraudulently sheltering a number of assets. Wendy Parker acted as sole counsel in a case concerning a disputed petitioner that raised issues around the Braganza test on the rational use of contractual discretion. Sarah McCann has acted in claims before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and in the English courts for Enterprise Insurance, a large insurance company that became insolvent in July 2016.

XXIV Old Buildings is well-versed across a wide array of insolvency matters, be they contentious or non-contentious, across multiple jurisdictions. Chambers’ members appear in cases raising issues of civil fraud and insolvencies in the aviation sector. Going to the Privy Council, Stephen Moverley Smith KC acted in Wide v Stefanovich, a recovery claim relating to a Ponzi scheme that raised the issue of who may challenge the decision of a liquidator to admit a proof of debt. Edward Cumming KC is currently representing the trustee of a Guernsey trust in the Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan case against the estate of the former director general of a Kuwaiti public institution, who was accused of dishonestly diverting over $1bn from the institution. Stuart Adair acts on a long-running dispute between two former business partners of a meat trading business in which the opponent is accused to have fraudulently misappropriated assets.