Jessica Powers > New Square Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Jessica Powers

020 7419 8000 jessica.powers@newsquarechambers.co.uk View profile View profile

Position

Jessica “is fast developing a strong commercial chancery practice, with a focus on insolvency, and is certainly a name to note at the junior Bar” (Legal 500 UK 2021).

Jessica is a “superb advocate” (Legal 500 UK Bar 2022) who is “excellent on her feet” (Legal 500 UK 2021). She appears as sole counsel regularly in the High Court, and was successful in the Court of Appeal in the important case of Bell v Ide. She is well accustomed to conducting cases from pre-action advice through to trial, whilst throughout maintaining a pragmatic and commercial approach.

During her five-year appointment to the Attorney-General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (2017-2022), Jessica was frequently instructed by HMRC and the Official Receiver in insolvency cases, and by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in director’s disqualification proceedings.

In addition to domestic work, Jessica is developing a thriving offshore practice. She has received instructions from the Channel Islands, the UAE and Gibraltar, and has an ongoing consultancy arrangement with the dispute resolution department of a leading offshore firm in Jersey (assisting with trust, company and insolvency matters)

Jessica has contributed to Atkin’s Court Forms, and has also written for Lexis PSL, the Trusts and Estates Law and Tax Journal, the Corporate Rescue and Insolvency Journal, Insolvency Intelligence, and Estates Gazette.

Career

Called to the Bar 2012.

Awards

• Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader, Chambers & Partners Awards, 2023
• Diversity & Inclusion Rising Star finalist, Women, Influence & Power Awards, 2023
• BPTC Major Scholarship, Inner Temple, 2011
• BPTC Advocacy Scholarship, Kaplan Law School, 2011
• GDL Exhibition Award, Inner Temple, 2010
• GDL Scholarship, Kaplan Law School, 2010

Jessica accepts instructions from creditors, debtors and companies, and office holders in all areas of corporate and personal insolvency. She has a particular interest and expertise in antecedent recoveries.

Jessica has acted in numerous contractual disputes concerning the sale of goods and supply of services, including building disputes. She has particular experience and knowledge of consumer protection legislation, having assisted with the update to the Atkins Court Forms Sale and Supply of Goods and Services volume following the coming into force of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Jessica is instructed by both lenders and individuals in banking and finance matters. She has advisory and advocacy experience of claims arising out of guarantees, debentures, mortgages, and factoring and invoice discounting arrangements.

Jessica has acted in numerous contractual disputes concerning the sale of goods and supply of services, including building disputes. She has particular experience and knowledge of consumer protection legislation, having assisted with the update to the Atkins Court Forms Sale and Supply of Goods and Services volume following the coming into force of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Jessica is instructed by both lenders and individuals in banking and finance matters. She has advisory and advocacy experience of claims arising out of guarantees, debentures, mortgages, and factoring and invoice discounting arrangements.

Publications

“Validation orders and the change of position defence”, Corporate Rescue and Insolvency, 2023

“A Game of Two Halves: Petitions and Post-Winding Up Recoveries in Disguised Remuneration Tax Avoidance Cases”, Insolvency Intelligence, Issue 1, 2018 (joint author);

Atkins Court Forms Vol 35 Sale and Supply of Goods and Services, 2nd Ed., 2017 (joint contributor);

“Consumer Rights Act 2015: Right for Consumers?”, Estates Gazette, Issue 1529, 2015;

“Righting Wrongs, or Just Re-writing Rights?: The Consumer Rights Bill”, Estates Gazette, Issue 1441, 2014;

“Your Money at Stake”, Estates Gazette, Issue 1426, 2014 (joint author).

Memberships

Chancery Bar Association; Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR); R3 (Associate Member); Insolvency Lawyers Association (Associate Member).

Education

BPTC (Very Competent), Kaplan Law School, 2012; GDL (Pass with Distinction), Kaplan Law School, 2011; English and Related Literature BA (Hons) (First Class), University of York, 2010.