Commercial Disputes

1
South Square
2
3 Verulam Buildings
Serle Court
Wilberforce Chambers
XXIV Old Buildings
3
4 New Square Chambers
4 Stone Buildings
Brick Court Chambers
Erskine Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers
Maitland Chambers
Twenty Essex

Leading Silks

1
Jonathan Adkin KC – Serle Court ‘Jonathan is an incredibly effective advocate, unflappable in court, and develops a strong rapport with the bench.’
David Allison KC – South Square ‘David is a phenomenal advocate who instantly commands the respect of the bench. He masters the details but never fails to see the bigger picture.’

Richard Boulton KC – One Essex Court ‘Richard is absolutely excellent, and is unrivalled when cross-examining leading valuation experts.'

David Chivers KC – Erskine Chambers 'David possesses a fantastic combination of top-tier advocacy skills, elite insolvency expertise, and an amazing work ethic. He is extremely pleasant, hyper-intelligent and unflappable.’
Jonathan Crow KC  – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Jonathan is a fantastic barrister and a great person to work with. For leading a team on large, complex cases, you would struggle to do better.’
Justin Fenwick KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Justin is a doyen of the Bar. One of the most compelling advocates.’
Matthew Hardwick KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He rolls up his sleeves and does all of the work in preparing for each trial, and knows the issues and facts intimately. Most importantly, he can turn a seemingly hopeless situation into a winning situation and is always willing to go to the ends of the earth for the client in trying to achieve victory.’
Barry Isaacs KC – South Square ‘Barry is second-to-none at dealing with technical financial issues, particularly in respect of complex business valuations. His cross-examination is superbly incisive, and his written and oral advocacy is always perfectly measured and to the point.’
Elizabeth Jones KC – Serle Court
David Lord KC – Three Stone ‘David gains the ear of the court easily. A masterful tactician and cross examiner, yet possesses a relaxed and very user-friendly manner.’
Thomas Lowe KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Thomas’ experience and knowledge of offshore jurisprudence is second-to-none. He is an extremely articulate and engaging advocate.'
Hodge Malek KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Hodge is truly excellent. He is completely unflappable, calm and focused, he can analyse huge amounts of information very quickly, and he guides the client to the best result.’
Philip Marshall KC – Serle Court ‘Philip has fantastic knowledge of a very wide range of legal matters, and brings all that knowledge to get to the nub of complex issues.’

Paul McGrath KC – Essex Court Chambers

Richard Morgan KC – Maitland Chambers ‘Richard is one of the best advocates. He has a really excellent manner with the court and a keen eye for the weaknesses in the other side’s case.’
Stephen Moverley Smith KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stephen’s decades of experience operating in offshore jurisdictions makes him a go-to choice for high-value disputes.'
David Quest KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘David is a highly effective and ultra-prepared advocate who reads a courtroom very well. He has an admirable ability to digest and synthesise huge amounts of complicated information very quickly.'
Hefin Rees KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Hefin has a significant presence in the Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions and a terrific rapport with the local judges.’
Tom Smith KC – South Square ‘One of the leading insolvency-focused silks. He’s responsive, commercial, thoughtful and strategic in his thinking.’
Clare Stanley KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Clare is a fabulous courtroom advocate and it is a joy to watch her perform. She is relentless and fights her client’s corner like a tiger.'
John Wardell KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘A dedicated advocate who is always prepared to think outside of the box.’
2
David Alexander KC – South Square ‘David is personable, very responsive and a favourite with clients. He is bright and prepared and a real team player, and he responds well on his feet.’

Stephen Atherton KC – Twenty Essex

David Brownbill KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘David is very knowledgeable and very user-friendly.’
Graham Chapman KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Graham is a top-class advocate, in command of his brief and the pertinent facts, and able to find a persuasive tone before even the most challenging tribunals.'
Simon Davenport KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Simon is a detailed and analytical advocate.'
Edward Davies KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Edward is extremely commercial, and has an exceptional ability to distill to the smallest detail on which the case often rests.'
Anneliese Day KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Anneliese is a formidable opponent with a commanding advocacy style which is obviously underpinned by a phenomenal amount of preparation and strategy. When she speaks, the court as a whole really listens, as she’s simply compelling.’
Vernon Flynn KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Vernon is a powerful advocate who is great to have in your corner in the toughest of cases. He combines a spectacular ability on his feet with an incisive mind and a commercial approach, and he is definitely the silk for those big-ticket bruising battles where no punches are pulled.’
Jonathan Harris KC – Serle Court ‘Jonathan’s expertise in private international law and cross-border issues is unparalleled. He is spectacularly bright with a superb ability to distil very complex law into comprehensible advice, and if he is on your side you know you are getting the right advice.’
Mark Howard KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Mark’s advocacy is superb.'
Robert Levy KC  – Three Stone ‘Robert is a fantastic silk who embraces the art of being a thoughtful strategist, a tenacious advocate and a true team player who effortlessly forms part of the wider legal team without any pomp or arrogance.’
John Machell KC – Serle Court
Ewan McQuater KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
Jern-Fei Ng KC – 7BR ‘Jern-Fei is a strategist, and a very strong advocate who is good at delivering his submissions in an organised manner.’
Daniel Saoul KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Daniel approaches each case with a meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect is thoroughly examined and addressed. His analytical skills are complemented by his ability to think creatively and devise innovative solutions to complex legal challenges.’
Mohinderpal Sethi KC – Littleton Chambers ‘Mohinderpal is a phenomenal barrister: intelligent and never fazed by any issue. He is someone who thinks very quickly on his feet and can navigate a matter with extraordinary precision and calmness.’
Bankim Thanki KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Bankim is an outstanding advocate with an appealing manner that judges respond to. He is also calm and reassuring to clients, who are confident entrusting him with the most complex cases.’
Michael Todd KC – Erskine Chambers 'For difficult cases on complex points of law and before appellate courts in particular, he is a natural choice whom teams and clients alike love.’
Felicity Toube KC – South Square ‘You cannot say enough good things about Felicity. She is exceptionally sharp, quick-witted, and responsive, and her writing and advocacy style is clear, forceful, and succinct.'
Francis Tregear KC – XXIV Old Buildings
Ben Valentin KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Ben is a joy to work with. A superb advocate who provides top-quality advice, is unflappable under pressure, and provides the kind of leadership that is the hallmark of only the best silks.’
3

Adrian Beltrami KC – 3 Verulam Buildings

Christopher Boardman KC – Radcliffe Chambers
George Bompas KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Aidan Casey KC – South Square ‘Aidan has an excellent communication style, providing clients with not only outstanding advice but in a manner which is easily understandable. Always calm and very quick to spot options in difficult situations.’
Alain Choo Choy KC – One Essex Court ‘Alain is a delight to work with. Supremely intelligent, great judgement, and a very skillful advocate.’
Edward Cumming KC – XXIV Old Buildings
Jasbir Dhillon KC – Brick Court Chambers
Richard Fisher KC – South Square ‘Richard’s strengths include well-structured submissions and clarity of advocacy, good at thinking on his feet, and reads the court well. He is treated with respect by judges and opponents.’
Ben Hubble KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Ben is an extremely user-friendly, strategic, careful and considered silk who leads teams with a very sophisticated modern style which involves everyone, and gets the best out of all. His courtroom advocacy is winningly measured and well-judged, judges trust him and his submissions quickly, and clients love his naturally charming bedside manner in conference.’
Graeme McPherson KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Graeme is brilliant. Judges really listen to him, his strategic guidance has been invaluable, and he is an excellent advocate.’
Stephen Midwinter KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Stephen is a superb commercial silk. He is an extremely able barrister, and while he can think laterally when appropriate, he is excellent and distilling and arguing his main points in an attractive, concise and persuasive style.’
Richard Millett KC – Essex Court Chambers
Tom Montagu-Smith KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
Terence Mowschenson KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Terence is vastly experienced. Clients really appreciate how hard-working he is and judges really listen to what he has to say.’
Thomas Roe KC – 3 Hare Court ‘Thomas is excellent, extremely responsive and provides strategic, carefully considered and commercially astute advice. He is driven to achieve the best result for the client and works very hard for it.’
Stephen Rubin KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Stephen has long been one of the best-known silks of complex civil fraud work. A natural born advocate, cross-examiner, and strategist, with an uncanny feel for the right strategy, and critically how to tailor it according to the twists and turns of a case.’
Simon Salzedo KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Simon has an incredibly strong grasp of detailed and complex valuation issues and knows how to present them. An incredibly effective cross examiner, particularly in relation to these issues, and his written work is of the highest quality. Incredibly user friendly.’
Steven Thompson KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Steven is an outstanding advocate with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. He is very hands-on and great with clients.’
4
Andrew Ayres KC  – Twenty Essex ‘Andrew is a wonderful barrister with a very measured and effective style of advocacy. He delivers quality results every time.’
Daniel Bayfield KC – South Square ‘Daniel has an enviable ability to communicate complex legal and factual arguments in an engaging and pithy manner. He is also extremely charming and a pleasure to work with.’
Tony Beswetherick KC – Twenty Essex ‘Tony is a well-regarded silk. His advocacy skills are matched with an in-depth knowledge of his subject, and he gives well-thought-out and well-articulated advice.’
Hermann Boeddinghaus KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Paul Chaisty KC – Serle Court ‘Paul approaches matters in a deeply methodical way, and he balances measured consideration with forceful arguments. He commands the attention of the court.’
Matthew Collings KC – Maitland Chambers ‘Matthew has razor sharp advocacy skills, and possesses a formidable presence and gravitas in the courtroom. This is somebody that you want on your team.’
Timothy Collingwood KC – Serle Court ‘Timothy is detail-focused and reads everything. He is an expert on the law regarding shareholder rights and remedies, and he is a very skilled advocate, excellent on his feet.'
Glen Davis KC – South Square ‘Glen is extremely bright, very pleasant to work with, extremely hands-on and detail-oriented, and very user friendly.’
Orlando Fraser KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Jeremy Goldring KC – South Square ‘Jeremy is a compelling advocate who builds an excellent rapport with the judge.’
Thomas Grant KC – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Thomas is a fantastic advocate.'
Charles Hollander KC – Brick Court Chambers
Timothy Howe KC – Fountain Court Chambers
Blair Leahy KC – Twenty Essex ‘Blair is a brilliant barrister and advocate, and someone you want on your team. She has a great mind and is able to assist with navigating the most complex and difficult situations with ease.’
Paul Lowenstein KC – Twenty Essex ‘Paul is an extremely experienced and talented barrister. He is very thorough in analysing and preparing his cases.'
Bridget Lucas KC – Fountain Court Chambers
Duncan Matthews KC  – Twenty Essex ‘Duncan is a superb, persuasive advocate. He commands the courtroom: when he speaks, everyone listens. His preparation is immaculate, and his delivery is tremendous.’

James Morgan KC – Radcliffe Chambers

David Mumford KC – Maitland Chambers ‘David’s careful analytical approach brings clarity to complex situations. His measured advocacy style oozes credibility.’
Pavlos Panayi KC – 7BR
Lord Pannick KC – Blackstone Chambers
Christopher Parker KC – Maitland Chambers ‘Christopher is exceptional in complex company matters.’
Mark Phillips KC – South Square ‘Mark is a heavy-hitting and persuasive advocate, and really gets stuck in to a case.’
Rajesh Pillai KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Rajesh is a smooth but forceful advocate. A great blend of commercial nous combined with forensic analysis.’
Tom Poole KC – 3 Hare Court  ‘Tom is one of the most user-friendly barristers. He is super responsive, excellent with clients and tactically astute.’
Alex Potts KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Alex is a very committed silk, working successfully across an impressive range of offshore and commercial areas, fearless in court, and not afraid to stand up to a difficult judge and defend his client’s interests.’
Charles Samek KC – Littleton Chambers ‘Charles is the man you want with you in a fight- wholly committed, tactically astute, and extremely focused on getting the right result, even in very challenging circumstances. His advocacy is always clear, measured, and very precisely targeted.’
Adam Solomon KC – Littleton Chambers ‘Adam is an excellent commercial litigator, with an attractive but determined advocacy style. He is charming and works extremely diligently on his cases, which shows in his results.'
George Spalton KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘George is excellent on his feet and a delight to work with.’
Robert Weekes KC – Blackstone Chambers
Andrew Westwood KC – Maitland Chambers ‘Andrew is first-rate. He has an attractively concise advocacy style, and does not miss a point.’

Andrew Wheeler KC – 7BR ‘Andrew is very perceptive and strategically astute, and he tends to see round corners and spot the thorny problems ahead of time, and find a way to avoid them. As an advocate he is understated and calm, and judges and juries like him and trust him.’

James Willan KC – Essex Court Chambers

2023 Silks

Adam Cloherty KC – XXIV Old Buildings
Alexander Cook KC – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Alex is one of the best barristers you could ever work with. He is incredibly diligent, displays great creative thinking, and he is also phenomenal with clients, adapting to each one’s individual needs.’

2024 Silks

Adam Al-Attar KC – South Square ‘Adam has encyclopaedic knowledge of restructuring cases. He inspires absolute confidence in his reasoning and is a very persuasive advocate.’

Leading Juniors

1
Robert Amey – South Square ‘Robert is a dedicated and skilled barrister, who can quickly analyse large and complex sets of information and turn it into razor sharp commercial advice.'
Andrew Blake – Erskine Chambers ‘Andrew is brilliant and insightful, offering excellent strategic input and advice on all aspects of the matter. He has a great mind.'
Toby Brown – South Square ‘Toby is the quintessential team player, and a very clever and diligent lawyer. He scours the haystack to find the winning argument needle.’
Peter Burgess  – South Square ‘Peter is unbelievably thorough. He has a very good analytical eye.’
Graeme Halkerston – Wilberforce Chambers
Nicholas Harrison – Serle Court
Andrew Holden – XXIV Old Buildings
Adil Mohamedbhai – Serle Court ‘Adil is an incredibly well-rounded junior. He turns difficult work around very quickly and has an excellent client manner.'
Matthew Morrison – Serle Court ‘Matthew is a tremendously astute lawyer. His advice is always of the highest quality, he is excellent with the court and tough in cross-examination.’
William Willson – South Square ‘William is a prodigious talent.'
2
Lucy Colter – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Lucy is a very able advocate who is able to convey issues clearly and succinctly.’
Joshua Folkard – Twenty Essex ‘Joshua is excellent. He has a friendly and pleasant manner in court which goes down well with judges and makes points forcefully but without coming across aggressively.’
Emma Hargreaves – Serle Court ‘Emma is extremely bright. She pulls together very complex defences under extreme time pressure.’
Marcus Haywood – South Square ‘Marcus is very clear and methodical, both on his feet and in his written work. Extremely user-friendly, commercial and pragmatic, he combines technical ability and commercial nous.’
Ruth Jordan – Serle Court ‘Ruth is responsive and extremely thorough in order to get to the bottom of a dispute.’
Ciaran Keller – Essex Court Chambers
Nico Leslie – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Nico is a whip-smart, energetic, hard-working and highly responsive senior junior destined for silk.'
Rowan Pennington-Benton – 3 Hare Court ‘Rowan has the ability to present the very complicated in a simple way, both in written and spoken advocacy.’
Anna Scharnetzky – Erskine Chambers ‘Anna is excellent to work with. Her input on strategic considerations is invaluable. She is prompt, responsive and thorough when her input is needed.’
Robert Strang – 3 Hare Court
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is an outstanding junior, thoroughly across the law and with a knack for presenting matters in a straightforward and sensible way. He blends serious intelligence with a very pleasant and down-to-earth manner.’
James Weale – Serle Court ‘James is an incisive advocate with a deep knowledge of commercial disputes. He provides clear and astute guidance in the most complex cases.’
3
Sarah Bayliss – XXIV Old Buildings ‘A very reliable junior.’
Zahler Bryan – Serle Court ‘Zahler is excellent, extremely responsive, and relates well to clients, offshore counsel, and instructing solicitors.'
William Buck – Monckton Chambers
Sparsh Garg – Serle Court ‘A diligent junior with a mastery of the facts.’
Alexander Heylin – No5 Barristers' Chambers ‘Alexander is ferociously intelligent, a master of his brief and first class on his feet. He quickly wins the trust of the judge and puts clients at ease with his experience and manner.’
Philip Hinks – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Philip has a silk’s sense of where to focus his energy, his drafts are refreshing as they cover the ground, but are not bogged down in incidental detail, and he is also very calm and confident on his feet.’
Clara Johnson – South Square ‘Clara is the best team member you could ever hope to add to your dispute. She is supremely capable, knows the law inside and out, has excellent judgement and is a pleasure to work with.’
Nicole Langlois – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Nicole is very personable, has strong knowledge of the relevant law and process, and is comfortable when dealing with a difficult judge.’
Edoardo Lupi – South Square ‘Edoardo is incredibly hard working. He has an ability well beyond his years of experience to grab and understand the important points in a case, and is very client friendly.’
Andrew Maguire – Littleton Chambers ‘Andrew is a pleasure to work with and clients love his style. He exudes confidence and is very reliable. A go-to barrister.’
Andrew McLeod – One Essex Court ‘A real black-letter lawyer who is approachable and easy to work with.’
James McWilliams – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘James is a strong advocate, who provides sensible advice in a measured and effective manner.’
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Hugh is a passionate and committed advocate who is fiercely loyal to his client’s cause. He is exceptionally articulate and clearly has the ear of the court.’
Henry Phillips – South Square ‘Henry is an exceptional advocate. He is incredibly intelligent and lightning-fast with his analytical skills, his advice is always first rate and expressed with tremendous care, and he is particularly good at breaking down very technical problems and producing a straightforward commercial strategy.’
James Potts – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘James is a great tactician, able to devise legal arguments even in the most challenging litigation, goes the extra 10 miles to deliver excellent legal service, and is definitely someone to have on your team in the most difficult cases.'
James Purchas – 4 Pump Court ‘James has an excellent analytical approach. He is not afraid to be robust in his opinions on which he is invariably correct.’
Charles Raffin – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Charles is extremely intelligent with a brilliant analytical mind and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law.'
Bajul Shah –XXIV Old Buildings
Tara Taylor – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Tara punches well above her weight, has an incredible eye for detail, and her no-nonsense approach is revered.’
Elizabeth Weaver – XXIV Old Buildings
4
Yash Bheeroo – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Yash is extremely knowledgeable, user-friendly and pragmatic. He is approachable, responsive, intelligent and thoughtful in his approach.’
Daniel Burgess – Blackstone Chambers
Rupert Coe – Three Stone ‘Rupert is a skilled litigator.’
Mark Cullen – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Mark is an outstanding junior. He is exceptionally bright, has a brilliant legal mind and is incredibly hard working.'
Rosanna Foskett – Maitland Chambers ‘Rosanna is diligent, hard-working and a pleasure to work with. Her drafting is excellent.’
James Gale – 3 Hare Court ‘James is a great advocate. He has a deep and sound appreciation of the law, he is analytical and thorough in his research, and he steps in at all levels to do what is required to advance the matter.’
Edward Ho – Brick Court Chambers
Jamie Holmes – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Jamie is fantastic, very hard-working, user-friendly and always available to offer assistance. A real asset to have him working on a case.’
Christopher Howitt – Three Stone ‘Christopher is a measured and well-paced advocate who wears his intellect lightly.’
Olivier Kalfon – Maitland Chambers
Sebastian Kokelaar – Three Stone ‘Sebastian is a very detail-orientated but commercial barrister. He is an excellent tactician with a phenomenal eye for detail. He is a calming influence on the court and his advocacy is understated but very powerful.’
Tom Mountford – Blackstone Chambers ‘Tom is an extremely diligent and knowledgeable barrister. His attention to detail and the commercial awareness of his advice is exceptional, and furthermore, he is very approachable and he is very prompt in addressing anything that arises.’
Guy Olliff-Cooper – 4 Stone Buildings
Naina Patel –Blackstone Chambers
Jamsheed Peeroo – The 36 Group ‘Jamsheed is one of the most knowledgeable barristers in his field. Clients are very satisfied with the way he takes every aspect of their needs into consideration.’
Jack Rivett – Erskine Chambers ‘Jack is an extremely user-friendly, whip smart junior who is particularly strong on legal research and detailed and difficult drafting.'
Tom Roscoe – Wilberforce Chambers ‘Tom combines a fierce intellect with an impressive work ethic and commitment to client service, and he is the one person you want with you in the trenches.’
Nicola Timmins – 4 Stone Buildings ‘Nicola impresses hugely with her ability to get to grips with very significant amounts of information and documents at high speed.’

Sarah Tresman – Twenty Essex ‘Sarah is extremely clever and prodigiously hard working. Very detail oriented.’

Andrew Trotter – Blackstone Chambers ‘Andrew’s drafting ability is first class. He is extremely proficient at preparing proceedings and legal submissions in complex commercial matters.’
Ben Woolgar – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ben is incredibly bright and hardworking. He is beyond his year of call in terms of his experience and advocacy ability, and a go-to for tough cases where you need the best counsel team you can get.’

Leading Associates

James Fennemore – XXIV Old Buildings ‘James is very responsive and spots issues and potential pitfalls before they are even on the horizon.'
Philip Morrison – Erskine Chambers
Alex Peplow – XXIV Old Buildings ‘A junior with very good legal research skills.’
Aaron Taylor – Fountain Court Chambers
Thomas Wong – Twenty Essex ‘Thomas has strong research skills and good tactical awareness. An asset to any team.’
James Woolrich – Three Stone ‘An extremely user-friendly, reliable junior who is always available and very responsive.'

Commercial disputes in The English Bar Offshore

South Square

For the members of South Square, offshore mandates surrounding the financial services, insolvency and company law, and fraud-related disputes are key pillars of practice. The set boasts a strong bench of reputable silks, including David Allison KC, who is representing Aston Martin in a case surrounding a just and equitable winding up petition in the Jersey courts. Barry Isaacs KC has substantial knowledge of insolvency and banking and finance work, while Tom Smith KC is a specialist in offshore and funds work in the Cayman Islands; he acted for the claimants in Primeo Fund v HSBC, a $2bn claim regarding allegations of fraud and negligence against a former administrator and custodian. Felicity Toube KC has expertise in international proceedings and is especially experienced in major corporate restructurings. David Alexander KC is skilled in civil fraud cases, Glen Davis KC has notable expertise in litigation proceedings arising out of Gibraltar, and Richard Fisher KC frequently handles insolvency and commercial matters in the BVI, Cayman Islands, and Channel Islands. Jeremy Goldring KC is another key silk at the set handling banking and finance and company law matters. Making silk in the 2024 round, Adam Al-Attar KC is a key name to note in the insolvency and restructuring space. Amongst the set’s juniors, Clara Johnson has a particular strength in disputes with cross-border elements, especially those involving injunctive relief. She represented the joint liquidators in a case surrounding the collapse of a global construction company that had debts of $2bn (Joannou and Paraskevaides (Overseas) Limited (In Liquidation) v Dakis Joannou and others).

Les références

‘Dylan Playfoot is probably the best clerk in the business.’

‘South Square’s clerks are always easy to deal with and highly commercial; particular shout out to Tom Gibbons.’

‘I have worked with Luke Barefoot for a number of years. He is very responsive and pleasant.’

3 Verulam Buildings

3 Verulam Buildings is praised as ‘a go-to set for commercial litigation and civil fraud work’, and other areas of expertise for the members of the set include banking and finance, insolvency and restructuring, and insurance-related disputes. Freezing and disclosure orders, as well as injunctive relief mandates, are also areas of activity for the set. Among its strong roster of silks, Hodge Malek KC is a key name; called to the Bar in the BVI, he has also represented clients before courts in the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. David Quest KC is particularly skilled in handling contentious offshore mandates with financial elements, while Hefin Rees KC frequently appears before the BVI and Cayman Islands Privy Council and Courts of Appeal, as well as the Grand Court in Cayman. Matthew Hardwick KC represented a number of defendants in Joint Stock Company ‘BTA Bank’ v 54 defendants, defeating allegations of fraud made by the Kazakh bank against, among others, members of its former leadership. Turning to the juniors, Philip Hinks is strong in commercial, civil fraud, financial services, and insolvency-related disputes. James Potts is reputable for his expertise in large fraud cases, and of recent note, he acted for the claimant in Morina v McAleavey, a dispute over the ownership of shares that requires expert evidence on the history of the BVI.

Les références

‘Shout out to Lucy Burrows, James Kelly, Jack Wheeler, Ed Tolfts and Florence Sharpe.’

‘3VB is a top-tier set of chambers with an outstanding reputation.’

‘A very reputable set with talent that is both wide and deep.’

Serle Court

The members at Serle Court have wide ranging expertise across chancery commercial litigation; this offering includes representation in international fraud, asset tracing, insolvency, company and shareholder, professional negligence, and financial services disputes. Among the silks at the set, Elizabeth Jones KC boasts a thriving commercial and private client practice, while Philip Marshall KC has substantial experience appearing before the courts of the BVI and Bermuda in civil fraud proceedings and cases surrounding the freezing and disclosure of assets. He is acting for the claimant liquidators of an international construction company in a claim for $1bn concerning fraudulent trading and conspiracy to defraud (Joannou Paraskavides Overseas Limited v Joannou). John Machell KC frequently handles offshore company and partnership disputes, and Jonathan Adkin KC is a highly sought after silk for large minority shareholder disputes, as well as share appraisal actions, in the BVI, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. Ruth Jordan and Emma Hargreaves are both notable juniors; Jordan has expertise in challenging large development and infrastructure projects, while Hargreaves is acting for the claimant in Wong v Grand View Private Trust Company Ltd, who is seeking to recover company shares worth $22bn. Adil Mohamedbhai is representing various dissenting shareholders in a case involving compulsorily acquired shares after the merger of numerous companies that form part of the Hong Kong-headquartered Jardine Matheson conglomerate.

Les références

‘Nicholas Hockney, Daniel Wheeler and Arron Snipe are excellent and extremely responsive, offering a 24/7 service.’

‘Clerks are always quick and easy to deal with, particularly Daniel Wheeler, Colin Bunyan and Georgina Affor.’

‘They understand commercial imperatives for the matters and never have any issue with them.’

Wilberforce Chambers

Wilberforce Chambers boasts ‘a very strong bench of experienced offshore barristers, both junior counsel and silks‘, who frequently represent clients in high-profile cases in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the BVI, the Cayman Islands, and the Channel Islands. For Thomas Lowe KC, offshore merger litigation is a key area of practice, while Clare Stanley KC is skilled in commercial Chancery matters surrounding issues of fraud, insolvency, and asset tracing. John Wardell KC is strong in disputes concerning joint ventures, company law, and breaches of fiduciary dates, and he is representing the defendant in a case regarding allegations of unlawful means conspiracy through a group restructuring attempt against a company with shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Raiffeisen International Bank v Scully Royalty). Business-related matters, including litigious mandates surrounding banking and financial services, are a notable strength of Terence Mowschenson KC. The set also has a strong bench of juniors, including Graeme Halkerston, who is a specialist in offshore mandates, especially those from the BVI and the Cayman Islands, as is Tara Taylor, another active member of chambers. Taylor is acting for one of the defendants in an application that is part of a larger piece of litigation involving allegations of misappropriated funds totalling $4.4bn against the former chairman of one of Kazakhstan’s largest banks, along with several other associates (JSC ‘BTA Bank’ v Ablyazov and others). 

Les références

‘The service and responsiveness of the Wilberforce clerks is second-to-none. Special mentions to Andrew Barnes, Tara Shah and Antonia Matthew.’

‘Very professional and easy to deal with. Nicholas Luckman and Andrew Barnes know the market very well.’

‘Andrew Barnes is brilliant and is very personable.’

XXIV Old Buildings

The members of XXIV Old Buildings are well-equipped to handle corporate, commercial, and finance-based disputes, including fraud and insolvency matters, before the courts of Gibraltar, Bermuda, BVI, the Cayman Islands, and the Crown Dependencies, including Jersey and Guernsey. Stephen Moverley Smith KC specialises in restructuring, fraud, and insolvency work, as well as cases surrounding allegations of corruption. He represented the successful respondent in the Cayman Court of Appeal in a case which saw, for the first time, an appellant decision confirming the jurisdictional power and scope of the Grand Court when considering injunctions in support of foreign arbitrations (Minsheng Vocational Education Company Limited v Lead Education Holding Limited and Others). Francis Tregear KC has recently been active in major liquidation cases in Cayman, and David Brownbill KC is skilled in fraud and asset recovery claims. He is representing the defendant in the Gibraltar-based case of Ambra and Others v Fiman Limited and Others, which concerns allegations of breaches of statutory, fiduciary, and tortious duties which are said to have caused substantial losses to several offshore companies. International disputes specialist Steven Thompson KC is active in the BVI, where he has appeared before the Court of Appeal and Privy Council. A key junior, Bajul Shah boasts company, commercial, and insolvency expertise.

Les références

‘Very good. Paul Horsfield, Perry Brown, and Tommie Drury are excellent.’

‘The clerks room are always professional and responsive. Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown stand out.’

‘Very responsive and flexible. Paul Horsfield in particular often goes the extra mile to build and maintain relationships with instructing counsel.’

4 New Square Chambers

The members at 4 New Square Chambers boast expertise in handling contentious work across the Caribbean, Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man in shareholder disputes, contentious liquidations, and civil fraud matters. Justin Fenwick KC specialises in onshore and offshore commercial litigation, with an emphasis on fraud cases. Graeme McPherson KC has been notably busy in the Cayman Islands with expertise in insurance litigation and professional liability claims. He is acting for the claimant in The Armand Hammer Foundation Inc v Hammer International Foundation in the Cayman Financial Services Division which concerns substantial assets that were allegedly misappropriated through impermissible corporate resolutions, and their subsequent recovery. Ben Hubble KC is another key silk with significant offshore experience in the Caribbean, while Graham Chapman KC is skilled in Cayman-based proceedings. Business disputes with a financial element are a particular strength of Daniel Saoul KC, and he is representing the claimant in Privatbank v Kolomoisky, Boglyubov and Others, a $2.6bn claim against shareholders and directors based on allegations of a series of frauds. George Spalton KC‘s practice has an emphasis on complex civil fraud. Lucy Colter and Mark Cullen are notable juniors at the set.

Les références

‘Clerks are exceptional. They understand what is needed and what the fees should be for an offshore job. Dennis Peck is exceptional.’

‘Dennis Peck and Lizzy Stewart do a great job.’

‘Always quick to respond and assist. Look for alternatives when there are conflicts. Very helpful. James Barrass is a star clerk.’

4 Stone Buildings

4 Stone Buildings is increasingly active in cross-border contentious and non-contentious commercial matters, especially in the Caribbean. Company and commercial litigation are strong areas of expertise for Jonathan Crow KC, who regularly appears before Courts of Appeal and Supreme Courts. Hermann Boeddinghaus KC specialises in corporate and commercial disputes, with a particular focus on shareholder disputes, the recovery of assets, and cross-border enforcement. Alongside Orlando Fraser KC, Boeddinghaus KC acted for a Liberian company seeking the restitution of $6m, which it alleges it was defrauded of by BVI companies. George Bompas KC, in addition to BVI work, and has also appeared before the courts of Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands. Alexander Cook KC is frequently instructed to handle disputes in the BVI, and he is representing the claimant in a $43m commercial fraud claim (Von der Heydt Invest SA v Mex Securities S.a.r.l and Others). Among the set’s juniors sits Nicola Timmins, who is especially active in Bermuda, BVI, and Cayman proceedings, and Guy Olliff-Cooper is another key name.

Les références

‘We have a very good relationship with Clerks in 4SB. In particular, Ryan Tunkel and Ben Lashmar. They have been proactive in finding innovative solutions to client requirements on fees and visibility of counsel.’

‘Top-notch commercial chancery set.’

‘Great set. Some excellent juniors and good clerking team.’

Brick Court Chambers

Brick Court Chambers is home to numerous reputable silks who regularly conduct a wide range offshore commercial disputes. Vernon Flynn KC is a notable commercial silk at the set who is representing the Government of Pakistan in BVI litigation concerning the enforcement of an ICSID award in favour of Tethyan Copper Company. Mark Howard KC has substantial experience in handling cases in offshore jurisdictions, especially the BVI, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands - he is representing CL Financial Limited in a case concerning allegations that the sale of shares from his client to Proman Holding (Bermuda) Limited was done without authority, and also at a major undervalue (Proman Holding (Bermuda) Limited v CL Financial Limited). Stephen Midwinter KC frequently represents clients in the BVI Commercial Court, while Simon Salzedo KC is especially skilled in Cayman Island appraisal litigation and representing dissenting shareholders. Among its juniors, Edward Ho and Ben Woolgar are particularly active.

Les références

‘The clerks are professional, hardworking, readily available and above all friendly and easy to get on with. They are always willing to work with you to accomplish what the client needs.’

‘The set offers a formidable line up of heavy hitting Barristers, at all levels. Huge strength of depth, readily available and always able to accommodate even the busiest timetable.’

‘Brick Court remains one of the leading commercial sets. Probably the first choice for big-ticket competition follow-on actions.’

Erskine Chambers

Praised as a ‘very strong commercial’ chambers, Erskine Chambers is a ‘go-to set for complex company law and insolvency and restructuring matters’. Other areas of expertise for its members include corporate transactions and the financial services sector. Michael Todd KC is a notable silk at the set with expertise in company law mandates, as well as corporate finance, capital markets, and corporate insolvency disputes. Todd KC is acting for the defendant in Athene Ltd v Siddiqui, a case concerning allegations of misusing confidential information, which will be heard before the Supreme Court of Bermuda. For David Chivers KC BVI restructuring and insolvency form key areas of practice, while Edward Davies KC is also called to the Bar in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Turning to the juniors, Andrew Blake is acting for Jardine Strategic Limited in a case surrounding a $5.5bn restructuring, in which more than 80 plaintiffs are seeking compensation. Anna Scharnetzky is another key junior in this case.

Les références

“Alex Calder is excellent. He is very helpful and provides timely responses which is important.’

‘Alex Calder and Seamus Nixon have been extremely helpful and very user-friendly.’

‘The clerks at Erskine chambers are an excellent team; quick to respond, helpful and pragmatic, and understanding of the challenges faced by instructing solicitors. They are polite, professional and hard working.’

Fountain Court Chambers

Lauded as a ‘a leading commercial set’, Fountain Court Chambers‘s members are highly adept at handling a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes, banking and finance matters, civil fraud cases, and professional negligence mandates. Anneliese Day KC has been recently active in the Cayman Islands and Trinidad, and both she and Nico Leslie are representing the defendants in a case surrounding a $440m conspiracy claim in the Cayman Islands (Equis Special LP, Equis Special GP v George Allen Cowan). Ben Valentin KC has a focus on the Western hemisphere's offshore jurisdictions, and is acting for the defendants in a case that is challenging the jurisdiction of the Bermuda Court to hear a claim that relates to a Sierra Leone-based mine (AML v Madison Pacific and Others). Stephen Rubin KC is another key name at the set specialising in offshore commercial fraud.

Les références

‘Very responsive. Alex Taylor and Katie Szewczyk are first-rate senior clerks.’

‘Alex Taylor is a superb senior clerk who delivers exactly what instructing solicitors want. Trustworthy, loyal and easy to deal with.’

‘The clerks are responsive, accommodating and approachable. Adam Collins and Alfie Sweeney were particularly helpful.’

Maitland Chambers

The members of Maitland Chambers have substantial experience in representing clients before all levels of court, including before the Privy Council, in commercial, shareholder, and joint venture disputes, fraud cases, and cross-border insolvency matters. Among its strong bench of silks, Richard Morgan KC is a key name for handling cases regarding high-value fraud; he represented the claimant in Ivanishvili and Others v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) Limited, a defence of an appeal brought by the defendants regarding a $607.5m judgment regarding a fraud committed by Credit Suisse employees. Andrew Westwood KC handles cases arising out of the BVI, Cayman, and Jersey, while David Mumford KC is acting for the defendants in a case surrounding claims that they fabricated a trust in the BVI and subsequently utilised it to seize control of very high-value assets (Ieremeieva v Estera, Lagur and Others). Turning to the juniors, Olivier Kalfon specialises in commercial litigation and predominately acts for clients in BVI and Cayman Island proceedings.

Les références

‘John Wiggs is very helpful and responsive.’

‘I rate the clerks highly, in particular John Wiggs and Luke Irons.’

‘Excellent service. The clerks are superbly led by John Wiggs.’

Twenty Essex

For the team at Twenty Essex, commercial chancery work, company law issues, and commercial offshore litigation are key areas of strength. Duncan Matthews KC boasts a significant international arbitration practice, and Andrew Ayres KC is a BVI and Cayman advocate, regularly appearing before the Court of Appeal and Privy Council. Tony Beswetherick KC is especially skilled in advising on civil fraud, asset recovery, and company and insolvency-related disputes. Joshua Folkard has acted in numerous cases in the BVI and the Cayman Islands, and is particularly strong on Eastern Caribbean civil procedure. In recent matters, he acted for the joint liquidators in a USD1bn claim following the collapse of one of the world’s largest Ponzi schemes. Sarah Tresman is another key junior at the set, with expertise in handling banking and financial services mandates.

Les références

‘Very responsive and helpful practice management and clerking team. Particularly Arron Zitver and Robert Wheeler.’

‘Absolutely top-notch service with kudos to Christopher Theobald in particular.’

‘Christopher Theobald leads a responsive clerking team.’