The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit), South Square () is a second tier firm,

3-4 South Square has a superb reputation for insolvency work and this extends into major banking and finance matters. Robin Dicker QC ‘can be relied on to be fantastically well prepared and to identify all the arguments’. Dicker has been involved in numerous disputes arising from the Lehman Brothers collapse, including the ‘RASCALS’ trial. Antony Zacaroli QC is often ‘first choice on difficult financial restructurings’, and ‘an extremely effective advocate’. Barry Isaacs QC is ‘very user friendly’, and his ‘advancement to silk is richly deserved’. Ben Valentin is ‘technically excellent. He is also very client friendly, and well able to deal with a substantial matter without a leader’. The ‘extremely good’ Jeremy Goldring is ‘very hardworking and very personable’. David Allison has ‘excellent commercial understanding as well as legal knowledge, and his advice is always practical and decisive’.

Within Commercial litigation, South Square () is a third tier firm,

3-4 South Square is often first choice for insolvency-related matters and is also highly recommended for general commercial litigation. Antony Zacaroli QC is ‘incredibly bright, and any documents he produces are without exception faultless’. Robin Dicker QC is ‘a real brain and a very stylish advocate’. David Allison ‘is extremely responsive and never fails to deliver documentation or advice on time’. Tom Smith combines ‘excellent technical precision and knowledge with good commercial common sense’. Ben Valentin is ‘very intelligent, very hardworking and brilliant with clients’.

Within Company and partnership, South Square () is a third tier firm,

The quality of the clerks at 3-4 South Square is ‘excellent’, and while the set is seen is as ‘an industry leader’ for insolvency matters, its barristers are also extremely well regarded for company law and insolvent partnership matters. Gabriel Moss QC is a ‘wonderful strategist and a completely brilliant lawyer’, and Robin Dicker QC is a ‘real brain’ and a ‘brilliant advocate’. Michael Crystal QC provides advice of ‘an exceptional quality’ and the ‘incredibly bright’ Antony Zacaroli QC produces documents that are, ‘without exception, faultless’. Glen Davis QC is recommended for insolvency-related partnership work.

Within Energy,

Also recommended are Christopher Nugee QC at Wilberforce Chambers; Stuart Isaacs QC of 3-4 South Square; Hodge Malek QC of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square; Peter McMaster QC at Serle Court, who is ‘a strong performer on his feet’; and Andrew Newcombe QC from FTB, who has ‘in-depth knowledge of the energy sector’.

Within Fraud: civil, South Square () is a third tier firm,

Recommended silks at 3-4 South Square include Mark Phillips QC, Robin Dicker QC and Stuart Isaacs QC. Ben Valentin, Lloyd Tamlyn and Tom Smith are all recommended juniors.

Within Insolvency, South Square () is a first tier firm,

‘Pre-eminent’ set 3-4 South Square is ‘undoubtedly the leader in insolvency matters’, and plays host to many of the leading insolvency silks at the bar. Clients praise the ‘responsive’ clerks, who ‘leave no stone unturned in helping the client’. Foremost among the silks is Gabriel Moss QC, who is the ‘textbook of the sector’, and whose name is ‘worth a lot internationally’. Moss appeared with ‘top-drawer, razor-sharp intellect’ Robin Dicker QC and the ‘wonderfully measured and polished in court’ William Trower QC in Re Nortel; Re Lehman Brothers International (in administration). The ‘exceptionally bright, accessible and commercial’ Antony Zacaroli QC had a notably busy year on Lehman matters, and many have commented on his growing profile. Further highly recommended silks include Simon Mortimore QC, whom ‘judges are always prepared to take the law from’, and Robin Knowles CBE QC, who appeared with others in Barclays Bank v HHY Luxembourg Sarl. Three new silks came from the set in 2011: the ‘very best of this year’s silk crop’ Felicity Toube QC; Barry Isaacs QC, whose advancement to silk was ‘richly deserved’; and ‘thorough lateral-thinker’ Glen Davis QC. The many recommended leading juniors at the set include the ‘terrific, real star of the future’ contentious insolvency specialist Daniel Bayfield; ‘very thorough, feisty opponent’ Lloyd Tamlyn; ‘very impressive high-flyer’ David Allison; the ‘brilliant and unflappable’ Tom Smith; the ‘very pleasant’ Adam Al-Attar, whose ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’ is valued; the ‘very busy’ Jeremy Goldring; and Richard Fisher.

Within Insurance and reinsurance Insurance and reinsurance – Leading Silks

Within International arbitration International arbitration – Leading Silks

Within Media, entertainment and sport,

3-4 South Square’s Mark Phillips QC is well known for his vast experience in Formula 1 cases and heavyweight football disputes.

Within Treasury Panel Lists Junior Counsel to the Crown – A Panel