‘Undoubtedly top of the league in company law, from the silks down to the juniors‘, Erskine Chambers are the standout set, housing members that cover the range of both litigation and transactional matters. The set were unsurprisingly a key player across various of the market trends this year, one notable area being contested schemes of arrangement. A particular highlight in that respect saw David Chivers KC leading Andrew Blake in hedge fund HBK’s opposition to Caesars Entertainment’s acquisition of William Hill. Martin Moore KC acted on the opposite side in that case and is, along with Chivers, routinely instructed on the highest stakes cases spanning multiple jurisdictions. Michael Todd KC specialises in contentious and transactional advice on company law in the UK and internationally, whereas Peter Arden KC‘s practice has more of an insolvency and restructuring focus. Experienced company and finance litigation expert David Mabb KC is another name to note, and Andrew Thompson KC has a standout practice in both LLP law and shareholder disputes, including representing the five non-executive directors of Carillion in defending directors disqualification proceedings. Experienced senior junior Catherine Roberts also has vast experience in shareholder disputes in England and offshore, and Nigel Dougherty is another highly regarded senior figure.
Company in
London BarErskine Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘They have a great range of excellent counsel, particularly in the company law field.’
‘Erskine Chambers are the go-to Chambers for company law advice.’
‘Erskine are absolutely top drawer when it comes to corporate matters. A first port of call for complicated corporate type litigation.’
‘Erskine are undoubtedly top of the league in company law, from the silks down to the juniors, and exceptionally well clerked.’
‘The leading company law set with unrivalled strength in depth – a wealth of talent and experience.’
Clerking
‘Very good indeed. Exceptional service from Chris Reade and Michael Shillingford.’
Serle Court
A wealth of talented barristers at Serle Court excel across the breadth of company law cases but it is in offshore litigation that the set has a particularly stellar reputation. Philip Jones KC is one of the most sought-after names formatters arising in China and Hong Kong; he currently acts for Trina Solar in a Cayman litigation concerning its de-listing from the New York Stock Exchange. Jonathan Adkin KC is a further key figure in offshore company litigation, while Dan McCourt Fritz KC had a standout 2021 in the English courts courts with successful court of appeal appearances. Giles Richardson KC took silk in March 2022, his practice involves complex aspects of company law within Company Court cases and wider, related litigation before the High Court and internationally.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle Court’s barristers are brilliant.’
‘The quality of their juniors are a consistent credit to Serle Court’s wider membership.’
‘Serle Court consistently delivers excellent quality and availability of counsel.’
‘Fantastic set – full of talent.’
‘Serle Court are renowned for company and partnership work. They are a go-to set in those areas and have a wealth of options.’
Clerking
‘Clerks service is generally excellent, responsive and commercial in approach. Nick Hockney and Dan Wheeler in particular are always a pleasure to deal with, although that extends to the clerks as a whole.’
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings has ‘carved out a place in the market where it is known for quality‘ and has been a regular fixture at the top of the company law litigation market for a number of years. Head of Chambers George Bompas KC continues a renowned practice involving both advisory work and heavyweight litigation and dispute resolution for a wide range of clients. Jonathan Crow KC was instructed in Avonwick Holdings Ltd v Azitio Holdings Ltd, a substantial case at the appellate level involving complex allegations of deceit, issues of causation, and disputes over choice of law. Orlando Fraser KC, Herman Boeddinghaus KC and Eleanor Holland have continued to act in Ma v Incredible Power Limited and others in the BVI, which has now progressed to that jurisdiction’s Court of Appeal.
Testimonials
Set
‘Some excellent practitioners, especially at the very top. Carved out a place in the market where it is known for quality.’
‘The go to set for all company and shareholder disputes.’
‘Responsive, have a wide range of experience and personable and talented barristers.’
‘The set is excellent across the board for chancery company / commercial work. The junior barristers are good value for money and punch above their weight.’
‘They are one of the leading sets for commercial litigation.’
Clerking
‘David Goddard is brilliant. Ben Lashmar is a senior clerk in waiting.’
Maitland Chambers
Praised for its bench strength and ‘highly technical barristers‘, Maitland Chambers holds company law work as a mainstay of its overall practice. Among its silks, Catherine Addy KC in 2021 was appointed as Standing Counsel to the CMA to lead their efforts in pursuing company director disqualification orders. Head of chambers Christopher Pymont KC leads counsel to the latter party in Tugushev v Orlov, a high-valued dispute referred to as the “final act” in a long-running shareholder litigation in respect of a series of Russian, Hong Kong and English companies between two Russian businessmen over the Norebo Group fishing company. In this case, Pymont KC leads Benjamin John, one of an impressive crop of juniors that also includes Rebecca Page who stands out in the crossover matters with insolvency law.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland have true bench strength and are an exceptional set which improves each year.’
‘Maitland is a strong set with high quality professional and support staff.’
‘Great strength in depth.’
‘Maitland’s service levels are outstanding and the responsiveness and engagement from the team is superb.’
‘Highly technical barristers who are easy to deal with and work well in teams.’
Clerking
‘Superb. John Wiggs is a real leader and a knowledgeable and helpful port of call.’
South Square
‘Strong across the bench in all things company and insolvency related‘, South Square has a foundation in insolvency related instructions but also real strength in shareholder litigation, as well as the recently popular area of schemes of arrangement. One of the highlights in that area was a scheme to compromise mis-selling claims against Provident Financial plc, one of the largest ever schemes of arrangement, with more than 428,000 creditors voting at the scheme meeting. Barry Isaacs KC led Adam Goodison and Ryan Perkins advising Provident, with Tom Smith KC acting for the FCA on the opposite side. Members of chambers have also been involved in some of the market-leading shareholder disputes, including Ma v Wong, where David Alexander KC led Perkins for the latter party.
Testimonials
Set
‘Wonderful selection of counsel all operating at the top of their game. Great depth of experience and in particular solid court room experience.’
‘They have a very deep bench of leading advocates from silks to junior level.’
‘The go-to set for restructuring and insolvency matters, though clearly there is material overlap with company law matters and their barristers have a strong and broad range of experience.’
‘Strong across the bench in all things company and insolvency related.’
Clerking
‘Responsive, adaptable and easy to deal with. Accommodating to any requests and try to find solutions where any issues arise.’
‘Excellent service, very responsive clerks.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers furthered its ‘excellent strength in depth across all practice areas‘ with the recruitment of Sri Carmichael and Jessica Brooke in November 2021. The set remains a particularly strong choice for matters involving several crossover Chancery practice areas. Clare Stanley KC acts for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Issa Al Jaber defending a £3.5 billion claim for breach of directors’ duty, conspiracy and tracing in a High Court trial to complete in October 2022. Max Mallin KC has a broad commercial and company law practice covering a range of contractual and other business disputes, often with an international element. Carmichael is another member of the team with a broad practice but is frequently instructed on s.994 unfair prejudice petitions and breach of directors’ duty claims.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent strength in depth across all practice areas.’
‘Wilberforce Chambers are one of the preeminent sets in London and the globe. They offer an array of services aimed at sophisticated users looking for a premium service and product.’
‘Excellent set.’
Clerking
‘Andrew Barnes is a pleasure to deal with. Goes the extra mile for clients and solicitors.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent. One of the attractions to using others from Wilberforce is the support and responsiveness of the clerks.’
‘Fraser Geddes is outstanding. The service, clarity and responsiveness provided is best in class. He is always willing to go the extra mile and can always find a counsel to take an urgent instruction.’
XXIV Old Buildings
‘An excellent set with well rounded experience‘, XXIV Old Buildings includes barristers with experience at the High Court in some of the market’s leading company law disputes, as well as being capable of providing teams of counsel in matters that cross several areas of the Chancery Bar. Stephen Moverley Smith KC is noted for cases with international elements and continued to be instructed on matters in the BVI and Cayman Islands, while Edward Cumming KC has provided sole counsel on several disputes arising from acquisitions. 2014 call Timothy Sherwin is fast building a notable company law practice and has a focus on disputes relating to section 994 petitions concerning companies held in trust structures.
Testimonials
Set
‘A go-to set for company and insolvency work.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings are an excellent set with well rounded experience.’
‘Very strong.’
Clerking
‘Excellent clerks.’
‘The clerks, particularly James Ladbrook, are a real pleasure to deal with.’
‘Paul Horsfield is doing a great job as senior clerk.’
New Square Chambers
Barristers at New Square Chambers ‘have excellent strength and depth in chancery matters‘ with a company law offering that covers both contentious and advisory matters. In Al Assam and nine others v Tsouvelekakis, Simon Adamyk is instructed by the former party in a case involving a number of different systems of law, novel legal issues and complex issues of jurisdiction and enforcement. Mark Hubbard is another experienced junior whose recent highlights include cases in Singapore, the Isle of Man and Guernsey.
Testimonials
Set
‘New Square Chambers have excellent strength and depth in chancery matters, with a good spread of expertise in traditional chancery trusts, company, insolvency, property and increasingly off shore capabilities.’
Clerking
‘Michelle Greene is exceptional. Responsive, commercial and supremely well organised, it is fantastic that she is now the new senior clerk and the first female, non-white senior clerk at the Chancery Bar.’
‘Very good. Commercial, understanding and able to provide flexibility on fees which is always important to clients. Also highly responsive.’
Enterprise Chambers
A robust team of juniors at Enterprise Chambers is recommended for its ‘great variety of specialisms and call’ in company law where chambers is frequently seen in a broad spectrum of matters. Niall McCulloch has built impressive impressive experience in high-profile matters, receiving a slew of insurance sector instructions following his involvement in cases regarding Eagle Star Insurance. Edward Cohen‘s recent caseload has covered the popular area of shareholder disputes, advice on technical issues of company law, and breach of duty claims against directors.
Testimonials
Set
‘Responsive and good communicators, counsel availability is excellent and any reason for delay is clearly explained.’
‘The set is one of the go-to sets, great variety of specialisms and call. Definite strength in depth.’
‘A go-to chambers, particularly with property matters. The quality of the work and depth of expertise is good.’
Clerking
‘Raj Lamba provides an excellent service.’
‘Luke Clark stands out.’
Erskine Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘They have a great range of excellent counsel, particularly in the company law field.’
‘Erskine Chambers are the go-to Chambers for company law advice.’
‘Erskine are absolutely top drawer when it comes to corporate matters. A first port of call for complicated corporate type litigation.’
‘Erskine are undoubtedly top of the league in company law, from the silks down to the juniors, and exceptionally well clerked.’
‘The leading company law set with unrivalled strength in depth – a wealth of talent and experience.’
Clerking
‘Very good indeed. Exceptional service from Chris Reade and Michael Shillingford.’
Serle Court
A wealth of talented barristers at Serle Court excel across the breadth of company law cases but it is in offshore litigation that the set has a particularly stellar reputation. Philip Jones KC is one of the most sought-after names formatters arising in China and Hong Kong; he currently acts for Trina Solar in a Cayman litigation concerning its de-listing from the New York Stock Exchange. Jonathan Adkin KC is a further key figure in offshore company litigation, while Dan McCourt Fritz KC had a standout 2021 in the English courts courts with successful court of appeal appearances. Giles Richardson KC took silk in March 2022, his practice involves complex aspects of company law within Company Court cases and wider, related litigation before the High Court and internationally.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle Court’s barristers are brilliant.’
‘The quality of their juniors are a consistent credit to Serle Court’s wider membership.’
‘Serle Court consistently delivers excellent quality and availability of counsel.’
‘Fantastic set – full of talent.’
‘Serle Court are renowned for company and partnership work. They are a go-to set in those areas and have a wealth of options.’
Clerking
‘Clerks service is generally excellent, responsive and commercial in approach. Nick Hockney and Dan Wheeler in particular are always a pleasure to deal with, although that extends to the clerks as a whole.’
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings has ‘carved out a place in the market where it is known for quality‘ and has been a regular fixture at the top of the company law litigation market for a number of years. Head of Chambers George Bompas KC continues a renowned practice involving both advisory work and heavyweight litigation and dispute resolution for a wide range of clients. Jonathan Crow KC was instructed in Avonwick Holdings Ltd v Azitio Holdings Ltd, a substantial case at the appellate level involving complex allegations of deceit, issues of causation, and disputes over choice of law. Orlando Fraser KC, Herman Boeddinghaus KC and Eleanor Holland have continued to act in Ma v Incredible Power Limited and others in the BVI, which has now progressed to that jurisdiction’s Court of Appeal.
Testimonials
Set
‘Some excellent practitioners, especially at the very top. Carved out a place in the market where it is known for quality.’
‘The go to set for all company and shareholder disputes.’
‘Responsive, have a wide range of experience and personable and talented barristers.’
‘The set is excellent across the board for chancery company / commercial work. The junior barristers are good value for money and punch above their weight.’
‘They are one of the leading sets for commercial litigation.’
Clerking
‘David Goddard is brilliant. Ben Lashmar is a senior clerk in waiting.’
Maitland Chambers
Praised for its bench strength and ‘highly technical barristers‘, Maitland Chambers holds company law work as a mainstay of its overall practice. Among its silks, Catherine Addy KC in 2021 was appointed as Standing Counsel to the CMA to lead their efforts in pursuing company director disqualification orders. Head of chambers Christopher Pymont KC leads counsel to the latter party in Tugushev v Orlov, a high-valued dispute referred to as the “final act” in a long-running shareholder litigation in respect of a series of Russian, Hong Kong and English companies between two Russian businessmen over the Norebo Group fishing company. In this case, Pymont KC leads Benjamin John, one of an impressive crop of juniors that also includes Rebecca Page who stands out in the crossover matters with insolvency law.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland have true bench strength and are an exceptional set which improves each year.’
‘Maitland is a strong set with high quality professional and support staff.’
‘Great strength in depth.’
‘Maitland’s service levels are outstanding and the responsiveness and engagement from the team is superb.’
‘Highly technical barristers who are easy to deal with and work well in teams.’
Clerking
‘Superb. John Wiggs is a real leader and a knowledgeable and helpful port of call.’
South Square
‘Strong across the bench in all things company and insolvency related‘, South Square has a foundation in insolvency related instructions but also real strength in shareholder litigation, as well as the recently popular area of schemes of arrangement. One of the highlights in that area was a scheme to compromise mis-selling claims against Provident Financial plc, one of the largest ever schemes of arrangement, with more than 428,000 creditors voting at the scheme meeting. Barry Isaacs KC led Adam Goodison and Ryan Perkins advising Provident, with Tom Smith KC acting for the FCA on the opposite side. Members of chambers have also been involved in some of the market-leading shareholder disputes, including Ma v Wong, where David Alexander KC led Perkins for the latter party.
Testimonials
Set
‘Wonderful selection of counsel all operating at the top of their game. Great depth of experience and in particular solid court room experience.’
‘They have a very deep bench of leading advocates from silks to junior level.’
‘The go-to set for restructuring and insolvency matters, though clearly there is material overlap with company law matters and their barristers have a strong and broad range of experience.’
‘Strong across the bench in all things company and insolvency related.’
Clerking
‘Responsive, adaptable and easy to deal with. Accommodating to any requests and try to find solutions where any issues arise.’
‘Excellent service, very responsive clerks.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers furthered its ‘excellent strength in depth across all practice areas‘ with the recruitment of Sri Carmichael and Jessica Brooke in November 2021. The set remains a particularly strong choice for matters involving several crossover Chancery practice areas. Clare Stanley KC acts for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Issa Al Jaber defending a £3.5 billion claim for breach of directors’ duty, conspiracy and tracing in a High Court trial to complete in October 2022. Max Mallin KC has a broad commercial and company law practice covering a range of contractual and other business disputes, often with an international element. Carmichael is another member of the team with a broad practice but is frequently instructed on s.994 unfair prejudice petitions and breach of directors’ duty claims.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent strength in depth across all practice areas.’
‘Wilberforce Chambers are one of the preeminent sets in London and the globe. They offer an array of services aimed at sophisticated users looking for a premium service and product.’
‘Excellent set.’
Clerking
‘Andrew Barnes is a pleasure to deal with. Goes the extra mile for clients and solicitors.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent. One of the attractions to using others from Wilberforce is the support and responsiveness of the clerks.’
‘Fraser Geddes is outstanding. The service, clarity and responsiveness provided is best in class. He is always willing to go the extra mile and can always find a counsel to take an urgent instruction.’
XXIV Old Buildings
‘An excellent set with well rounded experience‘, XXIV Old Buildings includes barristers with experience at the High Court in some of the market’s leading company law disputes, as well as being capable of providing teams of counsel in matters that cross several areas of the Chancery Bar. Stephen Moverley Smith KC is noted for cases with international elements and continued to be instructed on matters in the BVI and Cayman Islands, while Edward Cumming KC has provided sole counsel on several disputes arising from acquisitions. 2014 call Timothy Sherwin is fast building a notable company law practice and has a focus on disputes relating to section 994 petitions concerning companies held in trust structures.
Testimonials
Set
‘A go-to set for company and insolvency work.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings are an excellent set with well rounded experience.’
‘Very strong.’
Clerking
‘Excellent clerks.’
‘The clerks, particularly James Ladbrook, are a real pleasure to deal with.’
‘Paul Horsfield is doing a great job as senior clerk.’
New Square Chambers
Barristers at New Square Chambers ‘have excellent strength and depth in chancery matters‘ with a company law offering that covers both contentious and advisory matters. In Al Assam and nine others v Tsouvelekakis, Simon Adamyk is instructed by the former party in a case involving a number of different systems of law, novel legal issues and complex issues of jurisdiction and enforcement. Mark Hubbard is another experienced junior whose recent highlights include cases in Singapore, the Isle of Man and Guernsey.
Testimonials
Set
‘New Square Chambers have excellent strength and depth in chancery matters, with a good spread of expertise in traditional chancery trusts, company, insolvency, property and increasingly off shore capabilities.’
Clerking
‘Michelle Greene is exceptional. Responsive, commercial and supremely well organised, it is fantastic that she is now the new senior clerk and the first female, non-white senior clerk at the Chancery Bar.’
‘Very good. Commercial, understanding and able to provide flexibility on fees which is always important to clients. Also highly responsive.’
Enterprise Chambers
A robust team of juniors at Enterprise Chambers is recommended for its ‘great variety of specialisms and call’ in company law where chambers is frequently seen in a broad spectrum of matters. Niall McCulloch has built impressive impressive experience in high-profile matters, receiving a slew of insurance sector instructions following his involvement in cases regarding Eagle Star Insurance. Edward Cohen‘s recent caseload has covered the popular area of shareholder disputes, advice on technical issues of company law, and breach of duty claims against directors.
Testimonials
Set
‘Responsive and good communicators, counsel availability is excellent and any reason for delay is clearly explained.’
‘The set is one of the go-to sets, great variety of specialisms and call. Definite strength in depth.’
‘A go-to chambers, particularly with property matters. The quality of the work and depth of expertise is good.’
Clerking
‘Raj Lamba provides an excellent service.’
‘Luke Clark stands out.’