South Square impresses with a considerable line-up of dedicated silks and juniors in this area, being widely regarded as ‘second-to-none in the field of restructuring and insolvency.‘ Members continue to be involved in major cross-border and offshore insolvency cases, including representation on both sides of ING Bank v Banco Santander (Felicity Toube QC and Marcus Haywood for ING Bank and Robin Dicker QC and Clara Johnson for Santander) – the litigation concerns claims that a syndicate of eight lenders, including ING, had against Marme Inversiones 2007 under a €1.5bn loan agreement and related swap agreements. Early insolvency work arising from the pandemic, as well as the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, also featured frequently, with Tom Smith QC and Richard Fisher QC acting for Debenhams in its Court of Appeal proceedings which confirmed that the administrators had adopted the contracts of employees furloughed on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Michael Crystal QC has retired.
Insolvency in
London BarSouth Square
Testimonials
Set
‘They are the leading insolvency set with a lot of brilliant barristers who literally write the book.‘
‘Excellent for insolvency work.‘
‘South Square remain the leaders in the field for insolvency barristers.‘
‘Undeniably the leading set of barristers for restructuring and insolvency.‘
‘Unrivalled breadth of talent in the insolvency and restructuring arena.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are good at fitting the right barrister to the right job.‘
‘The clerks are great, with particular mentions for Jim Costa and Dylan Playfoot.‘
‘Chris Filby is excellent. He is helpful, responsive and generally efficient in all he does.‘
‘Very good at getting urgent help.‘
‘Will Mackinlay, Mike Killick and Dylan Playfoot run a tight ship.‘
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings counts insolvency and restructuring matters among its core strengths and members include a number of the practice area's leading silks a juniors at various stages in their careers. Jonathan Crow QC is increasingly brought in at the appellate stage of major insolvency-related cases, including Fakhry v Pagden, which involved the liquidation of a venture capital trust. George Bompas QC had a standout year, successfully defending several of the former directors of Kids Company (including former BBC creative director Alan Yentob) in disqualification proceedings, culminating in an 11-week trial at the Insolvency and Companies List of the Business and Property Courts. Recent silk Sharif Shivji QC is rapidly building a renowned practice in this area, and at the junior level, Tiran Nersessian and Christopher Harrison continue to impress.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are my go-to set for insolvency and chancery work.‘
‘High quality throughout.‘
‘The set is very strong in contentious insolvency work, with technically astute barristers from senior silk through to mid-call juniors.‘
‘Great barristers, the next generation is also very strong.‘
‘Strong on insolvency/chancery/company matters.‘
Clerking
‘Ryan Tunkel is very accommodating and he has helped me out on a number of occasions to get the right outcome for my clients.‘
‘Ryan Tunkel stands out as on top of his barristers’ workload.‘
‘David Goddard is outstanding, it is a pleasure to work with him.‘
‘David Goddard is quite simply a legend at the Bar.‘
‘Very good, particularly Ellie Hecht and Ben Lashmar.‘
Erskine Chambers
'One of the top sets of barristers for company, restructuring and insolvency', Erskine Chambers members seek to handle an entire company lifecycle, from set-up to reorganisation, restructuring, merger or insolvency. Litigation resulting from large-scale insolvency has been a consistent feature of many members' practices, with Peter Arden QC and senior junior Ben Shaw acting in the last knockings of issues from the Lehman Brothers collapse. Both have also advised on high-profile CVA disputes, and Raquel Agnello QC is developing a strong practice in that area too. David Chivers QC successfully opposed a public interest winding-up petition against MB Vacant Property Solutions, a company described by the Court of Appeal as a business rates avoidance scheme.
Testimonials
Set
‘Erskine have a number of excellent insolvency barristers ranging from junior to senior, all of which have an excellent command of the area.‘
‘Pre-eminent set with unrivalled strength in depth in all fields of corporate law and expertise in insolvency law.‘
‘Erskine is one of the top sets of barristers for company, restructuring and insolvency.‘
Clerking
‘Alex Calder is great to work with, he is personable and quick in responding to queries which makes moving urgent insolvency matters all the more efficient.‘
‘Mark Swallow is a responsive and well informed senior clerk who invests in solicitor / chambers relationships.‘
‘Excellent service, very responsive clerks.‘
Maitland Chambers
Maitland Chambers has continued to establish itself as a leading set for insolvencies and related matters, housing a mix of experienced juniors, highly-regarded silks and up-and-coming young barristers. Catherine Addy QC is representing Carillion, acting by the official receiver, in a high-profile case against the Financial Conduct Authority. Matthew Collings QC is acting for joint administrators Smith & Williamson in the notorious £237m London Capital & Finance insolvency. It was also another significant year for the chambers' juniors, with Oliver Phillips acting in the Motion Picture Capital Ltd v Clarance bankruptcy proceedings, and Rosanna Foskett advising in ongoing Lehmann Brothers fallout cases, as well as being sole counsel to various entities in the CPBE Group in a dispute against a a doctor over the private equity house’s investment in a UK fertility clinic.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland has become my default set for both straightforward and highly complex advice and applications.‘
‘We do an increasing amount of work with Maitland and find them to be of consistent quality and highly responsive.‘
‘Excellent strength in depth.‘
‘I always know that when I work with Maitland the technical quality of the advice will be of market leading standard.‘
‘Maitland is a premier set and I thoroughly enjoy working with their counsel and clerks.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks give us a first class service, special mention for the wonderful Danny Wilkinson.‘
‘The clerks are helpful, responsive, and very friendly.‘
‘I have always been impressed by Danny Wilkinson in particular.‘
‘Robert Penson is excellent. He is user-friendly and responsive.‘
‘Never been anything other than first class.‘
Serle Court
Serle Court houses a robust group of barristers for insolvency and restructuring work, particularly in offshore jurisdictions. Philip Jones QC continues to be involved in the Ocean Sino case Chu v Lau, appearing in a Privy Council appeal in July 2020 and continuing to act in a further dispute regarding the conduct of liquidation. Daniel Lightman QC represents one of four former directors of BHS that are respondents to £200m High Court claims brought by liquidators. Ruth Jordan, James Mather and Thomas Elias are among the names to note in a bench of 'continuously high-quality juniors'.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle Court has many talented individuals, and if the person we wanted is not available, it is highly likely we will instruct someone else from the set.‘
‘We are often surprised by the continuously high quality of their juniors.‘
‘Serle Court has a great pedigree and excellent commercial barristers.‘
‘Serle Court is a great set, one of the best in Lincoln’s Inn.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are always responsive and helpful.‘
‘The service from the clerks has always been good.‘
‘Steve Whitaker is a pleasure to deal with and always does what he promises.‘
‘The clerks room is the most efficient of the big commercial sets.‘
‘They seem slick.‘
XXIV Old Buildings
Members of XXIV Old Buildings handle the full breadth of insolvency instructions, both domestically and internationally. Chambers' most experienced insolvency silk Alan Steinfeld QC is instructed on complex and often highly confidential cases, recently acting for Carlyle related entities in Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation) and others v Conway & others, a $2bn claim in the Guernsey courts, moving to the Privy Council. Stephen Moverley Smith QC continues to act in varied international matters, including bankruptcy proceedings against a member of the Saudi royal family, while in Gorbunova v Berezovsky, Elspeth Talbot Rice QC acts for the trustees of Boris Berezovsky’s insolvent estate. At the junior level Stuart Adair and Edward Knight had notably busy years in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘Their insolvency expertise is growing and they represent excellent depth and breadth in that area.‘
‘A set with no weaknesses.‘
‘As a whole, XXIV Old Buildings has always struck me as a set with a lot of depth and quality.‘
‘Extremely able barristers in complex, highly technical litigation.‘
Clerking
‘Paul Horsfeld is incredibly responsive and polite and has his finger on the pulse of the market.‘
‘They are ably led by Paul Horsfield.‘
‘Friendly, efficient and organised.‘
‘A first rate clerking team who are straightforward and easy to deal with.‘
‘Amenable and proactive.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
3 Verulam Buildings has its strengths and reputation in financial services but now marries that with the expertise of a number of commercial insolvency barristers. A recent standout case has seen Ewan McQuater QC lead counsel to Vodafone, defending a claim from the administrators of Phones 4U that it, along with other mobile network operators, caused the company's collapse into insolvency. Both Adrian Beltrami QC and 2021 silk Adam Kramer QC are instructed in matters resulting from the Lehman Brothers insolvency, while Philip Hinks was part of a team acting for the former party in Vneshprombank LLC v Bedzhamov, obtaining an ex parte worldwide freezing order for $1.34bn against a Russian oligarch. A further name to note is rising star William Day, who is involved in a number of fraud-infused cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘They are a very strong set in financial services but have also established a very strong offering in a broader range of disciplines.‘
‘A quality set, through and through.‘
‘Always responsive, communicative and helpful.‘
‘3VB is a go-to set for complex finance disputes.‘
Clerking
‘The joint senior practice managers, Steve Penson and Stuart Pullum, complement each other perfectly.‘
‘Richard Ansell stands out both for his loyalty to chambers and for his commitment to client service.‘
‘Ben Hart has been a very impressive clerk who would always be very efficient and keep you updated.‘
‘Stuart Pullum, head clerk, is very commercial and sensible.‘
‘Great service from Stuart Pullum and his team.‘
Enterprise Chambers
A number of the more high-profile insolvency cases of recent years have seen significant involvement from Enterprise Chambers‘ members, in particular, complex insurance insolvencies have been a forté. James Pickering QC had a very strong first year as silk, acting for the joint liquidators of Mintpal, a defunct cryptocurrency exchange, in what is thought to be the first provisional liquidation based on a debt in digital currency. The set boasts a strong pool of juniors, including Linden Ife, who has a niche expertise in recovering unlawful dividends paid pre-insolvency; and Kavan Gunaratna, an expert in cases with a commercial, property, or banking slant.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent, and a go-to for commercial & insolvency work.‘
‘Enterprise Chambers offer a fantastic service.‘
‘Good strength in depth and very good insolvency set.‘
‘A strong set for insolvency.‘
‘I have always found Enterprise to be a helpful and user-friendly set.‘
Clerking
‘Very impressed with their clerking abilities, particularly Raj Lamba.‘
‘Raj Lamba always provides an efficient and friendly service on all instructions.‘
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful. I would particularly commend Michael Ireland and Luke Clark.‘
‘Frazer Gale-Sinclair, Michael Ireland and Raj Lamba are always keen to assist and revert quickly.‘
‘A commercially savvy clerks team who are always keen to build relationships.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers, the new name for the set previously known as Hardwicke Chambers, has ’a great team across all levels‘ and its members’ work in insolvency is particularly notable for its international elements, including offshore jurisdictions. Wendy Parker‘s caseload reflects this, striking out a winding up petition for Bird Technologies being a recent highlight for her diverse practice. Cases at the crossroads of employment and insolvency litigation are a particular strength, with Alaric Watson advising the latter party in Woollven v Archant Community Media Ltd, a case concerning a company voluntary agreement. In COVID-related instructions, Phillip Patterson acted for Elite Legacy Education UK in an application for an injunction restraining advertisement of a winding-up petition, on the grounds that the debt was disputed and on the basis that the pandemic was hampering the ability of the business to raise revenue.
Testimonials
Set
‘We instruct a number of barristers at Gatehouse and all are technically excellent, very personable and impress with the speed and diligence of their work.‘
‘They have a broad range of talents available to tackle contentious insolvency issues, from complex litigation to simply arranging a junior to attend a routine hearing.‘
‘My firm’s go-to chambers on all commercial and insolvency matters.‘
‘I am impressed by the strength in depth they have across a variety of areas, but in particular on insolvency matters.‘
‘Gatehouse are a very good set, with a number of excellent practitioners across a variety of practice areas.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are approachable and friendly and have excellent knowledge of Chambers’ skill set.‘
‘The clerks are of the highest standard. All of the little things are done and you never have to chase.‘
‘The clerks at Gatehouse are are responsive and will accommodate where urgent advice is required.‘
‘Adam Blades is always very friendly and helpful.‘
‘The clerks are easy to get on with and readily available.‘
Radcliffe Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers has a strong presence in insolvency related work, with 2020 silk Christopher Boardman QC and a host of juniors of varying experience featuring in some of the markets significant cases in 2020. Catherine Doran and Christopher Buckley both represented five former trustees of Kids Company against the official receiver. Christopher Boardman QC's recent caseload has included two complex disputes in the medical sector, and deputy insolvency and companies court judge Tina Kyriakides acted as sole counsel in a number of High Court cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘They have built a strong set for restructuring and insolvency matters.‘
‘Technically very good and excellent training sessions delivered throughout the pandemic.‘
‘They offer a lot of first rate Counsel in the area of banking and insolvency.‘
‘Radcliffe Chambers have a strong set of insolvency barristers and are my go to chambers when I need to instruct counsel.‘
‘A very impressive set now, particularly strong in restructuring and insolvency with good quality counsel at all levels.‘
Clerking
‘Lee Wright is very helpful. He is always responsive and very good to deal with.‘
‘The clerks are excellent, special praise to Lee Wright who is incredibly responsive and goes above and beyond to help.‘
‘Lee Wright and Bradley Edwards are always incredibly helpful and proactive.‘
‘The insolvency clerks are extremely helpful and responsive. If your chosen barrister is not available – which doesn’t happen often – the clerks offer up alternatives.‘
‘Bradley Edwards is helpful and efficient.‘
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers‘ insolvency group is specialised in both personal and corporate insolvency advice and related litigation. Recent highlights for members include Lexa Hilliard QC‘s involvement in the lucrative, multi-party trial arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers; and Marcia Shekerdemian QC representing a consortium of Indian banks, seeking former Force India Formula One team owner Vijay Mallya’s bankruptcy for a £1bn. 2019 silk James Bailey QC had a busy year working on both onshore and offshore matters, and Rachael Earle stood out among the very active crop of juniors at chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Growing reputation for insolvency mandates and the property expertise of the set makes them particularly good in restructurings where there are significant landlord liabilities involved.‘
‘They are a first class set.‘
‘The strength in depth of barristers is good.‘
Clerking
‘Clerks do fine job – responsive.‘
‘Harvey Scott is easy to liaise with and responsive.‘
‘Overall service and clerking is good. Fraser Geddes is always super helpful as are Stewart Cameron, Nancy Lee and Antonia Matthew.‘
‘Fraser Geddes is one of the best clerks around. He knows his barristers and is always willing to go the extra mile to find the right counsel for a new instruction.‘
‘Very impressive – streets ahead of other clerking teams. They have the mentality of a law firm delivering consistent quality across the board. Mark Rushton runs a tight ship.‘
South Square
Testimonials
Set
‘They are the leading insolvency set with a lot of brilliant barristers who literally write the book.‘
‘Excellent for insolvency work.‘
‘South Square remain the leaders in the field for insolvency barristers.‘
‘Undeniably the leading set of barristers for restructuring and insolvency.‘
‘Unrivalled breadth of talent in the insolvency and restructuring arena.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are good at fitting the right barrister to the right job.‘
‘The clerks are great, with particular mentions for Jim Costa and Dylan Playfoot.‘
‘Chris Filby is excellent. He is helpful, responsive and generally efficient in all he does.‘
‘Very good at getting urgent help.‘
‘Will Mackinlay, Mike Killick and Dylan Playfoot run a tight ship.‘
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings counts insolvency and restructuring matters among its core strengths and members include a number of the practice area's leading silks a juniors at various stages in their careers. Jonathan Crow QC is increasingly brought in at the appellate stage of major insolvency-related cases, including Fakhry v Pagden, which involved the liquidation of a venture capital trust. George Bompas QC had a standout year, successfully defending several of the former directors of Kids Company (including former BBC creative director Alan Yentob) in disqualification proceedings, culminating in an 11-week trial at the Insolvency and Companies List of the Business and Property Courts. Recent silk Sharif Shivji QC is rapidly building a renowned practice in this area, and at the junior level, Tiran Nersessian and Christopher Harrison continue to impress.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are my go-to set for insolvency and chancery work.‘
‘High quality throughout.‘
‘The set is very strong in contentious insolvency work, with technically astute barristers from senior silk through to mid-call juniors.‘
‘Great barristers, the next generation is also very strong.‘
‘Strong on insolvency/chancery/company matters.‘
Clerking
‘Ryan Tunkel is very accommodating and he has helped me out on a number of occasions to get the right outcome for my clients.‘
‘Ryan Tunkel stands out as on top of his barristers’ workload.‘
‘David Goddard is outstanding, it is a pleasure to work with him.‘
‘David Goddard is quite simply a legend at the Bar.‘
‘Very good, particularly Ellie Hecht and Ben Lashmar.‘
Erskine Chambers
'One of the top sets of barristers for company, restructuring and insolvency', Erskine Chambers members seek to handle an entire company lifecycle, from set-up to reorganisation, restructuring, merger or insolvency. Litigation resulting from large-scale insolvency has been a consistent feature of many members' practices, with Peter Arden QC and senior junior Ben Shaw acting in the last knockings of issues from the Lehman Brothers collapse. Both have also advised on high-profile CVA disputes, and Raquel Agnello QC is developing a strong practice in that area too. David Chivers QC successfully opposed a public interest winding-up petition against MB Vacant Property Solutions, a company described by the Court of Appeal as a business rates avoidance scheme.
Testimonials
Set
‘Erskine have a number of excellent insolvency barristers ranging from junior to senior, all of which have an excellent command of the area.‘
‘Pre-eminent set with unrivalled strength in depth in all fields of corporate law and expertise in insolvency law.‘
‘Erskine is one of the top sets of barristers for company, restructuring and insolvency.‘
Clerking
‘Alex Calder is great to work with, he is personable and quick in responding to queries which makes moving urgent insolvency matters all the more efficient.‘
‘Mark Swallow is a responsive and well informed senior clerk who invests in solicitor / chambers relationships.‘
‘Excellent service, very responsive clerks.‘
Maitland Chambers
Maitland Chambers has continued to establish itself as a leading set for insolvencies and related matters, housing a mix of experienced juniors, highly-regarded silks and up-and-coming young barristers. Catherine Addy QC is representing Carillion, acting by the official receiver, in a high-profile case against the Financial Conduct Authority. Matthew Collings QC is acting for joint administrators Smith & Williamson in the notorious £237m London Capital & Finance insolvency. It was also another significant year for the chambers' juniors, with Oliver Phillips acting in the Motion Picture Capital Ltd v Clarance bankruptcy proceedings, and Rosanna Foskett advising in ongoing Lehmann Brothers fallout cases, as well as being sole counsel to various entities in the CPBE Group in a dispute against a a doctor over the private equity house’s investment in a UK fertility clinic.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland has become my default set for both straightforward and highly complex advice and applications.‘
‘We do an increasing amount of work with Maitland and find them to be of consistent quality and highly responsive.‘
‘Excellent strength in depth.‘
‘I always know that when I work with Maitland the technical quality of the advice will be of market leading standard.‘
‘Maitland is a premier set and I thoroughly enjoy working with their counsel and clerks.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks give us a first class service, special mention for the wonderful Danny Wilkinson.‘
‘The clerks are helpful, responsive, and very friendly.‘
‘I have always been impressed by Danny Wilkinson in particular.‘
‘Robert Penson is excellent. He is user-friendly and responsive.‘
‘Never been anything other than first class.‘
Serle Court
Serle Court houses a robust group of barristers for insolvency and restructuring work, particularly in offshore jurisdictions. Philip Jones QC continues to be involved in the Ocean Sino case Chu v Lau, appearing in a Privy Council appeal in July 2020 and continuing to act in a further dispute regarding the conduct of liquidation. Daniel Lightman QC represents one of four former directors of BHS that are respondents to £200m High Court claims brought by liquidators. Ruth Jordan, James Mather and Thomas Elias are among the names to note in a bench of 'continuously high-quality juniors'.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle Court has many talented individuals, and if the person we wanted is not available, it is highly likely we will instruct someone else from the set.‘
‘We are often surprised by the continuously high quality of their juniors.‘
‘Serle Court has a great pedigree and excellent commercial barristers.‘
‘Serle Court is a great set, one of the best in Lincoln’s Inn.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are always responsive and helpful.‘
‘The service from the clerks has always been good.‘
‘Steve Whitaker is a pleasure to deal with and always does what he promises.‘
‘The clerks room is the most efficient of the big commercial sets.‘
‘They seem slick.‘
XXIV Old Buildings
Members of XXIV Old Buildings handle the full breadth of insolvency instructions, both domestically and internationally. Chambers' most experienced insolvency silk Alan Steinfeld QC is instructed on complex and often highly confidential cases, recently acting for Carlyle related entities in Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation) and others v Conway & others, a $2bn claim in the Guernsey courts, moving to the Privy Council. Stephen Moverley Smith QC continues to act in varied international matters, including bankruptcy proceedings against a member of the Saudi royal family, while in Gorbunova v Berezovsky, Elspeth Talbot Rice QC acts for the trustees of Boris Berezovsky’s insolvent estate. At the junior level Stuart Adair and Edward Knight had notably busy years in this area.
Testimonials
Set
‘Their insolvency expertise is growing and they represent excellent depth and breadth in that area.‘
‘A set with no weaknesses.‘
‘As a whole, XXIV Old Buildings has always struck me as a set with a lot of depth and quality.‘
‘Extremely able barristers in complex, highly technical litigation.‘
Clerking
‘Paul Horsfeld is incredibly responsive and polite and has his finger on the pulse of the market.‘
‘They are ably led by Paul Horsfield.‘
‘Friendly, efficient and organised.‘
‘A first rate clerking team who are straightforward and easy to deal with.‘
‘Amenable and proactive.‘
3 Verulam Buildings
3 Verulam Buildings has its strengths and reputation in financial services but now marries that with the expertise of a number of commercial insolvency barristers. A recent standout case has seen Ewan McQuater QC lead counsel to Vodafone, defending a claim from the administrators of Phones 4U that it, along with other mobile network operators, caused the company's collapse into insolvency. Both Adrian Beltrami QC and 2021 silk Adam Kramer QC are instructed in matters resulting from the Lehman Brothers insolvency, while Philip Hinks was part of a team acting for the former party in Vneshprombank LLC v Bedzhamov, obtaining an ex parte worldwide freezing order for $1.34bn against a Russian oligarch. A further name to note is rising star William Day, who is involved in a number of fraud-infused cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘They are a very strong set in financial services but have also established a very strong offering in a broader range of disciplines.‘
‘A quality set, through and through.‘
‘Always responsive, communicative and helpful.‘
‘3VB is a go-to set for complex finance disputes.‘
Clerking
‘The joint senior practice managers, Steve Penson and Stuart Pullum, complement each other perfectly.‘
‘Richard Ansell stands out both for his loyalty to chambers and for his commitment to client service.‘
‘Ben Hart has been a very impressive clerk who would always be very efficient and keep you updated.‘
‘Stuart Pullum, head clerk, is very commercial and sensible.‘
‘Great service from Stuart Pullum and his team.‘
Enterprise Chambers
A number of the more high-profile insolvency cases of recent years have seen significant involvement from Enterprise Chambers‘ members, in particular, complex insurance insolvencies have been a forté. James Pickering QC had a very strong first year as silk, acting for the joint liquidators of Mintpal, a defunct cryptocurrency exchange, in what is thought to be the first provisional liquidation based on a debt in digital currency. The set boasts a strong pool of juniors, including Linden Ife, who has a niche expertise in recovering unlawful dividends paid pre-insolvency; and Kavan Gunaratna, an expert in cases with a commercial, property, or banking slant.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent, and a go-to for commercial & insolvency work.‘
‘Enterprise Chambers offer a fantastic service.‘
‘Good strength in depth and very good insolvency set.‘
‘A strong set for insolvency.‘
‘I have always found Enterprise to be a helpful and user-friendly set.‘
Clerking
‘Very impressed with their clerking abilities, particularly Raj Lamba.‘
‘Raj Lamba always provides an efficient and friendly service on all instructions.‘
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful. I would particularly commend Michael Ireland and Luke Clark.‘
‘Frazer Gale-Sinclair, Michael Ireland and Raj Lamba are always keen to assist and revert quickly.‘
‘A commercially savvy clerks team who are always keen to build relationships.‘
Gatehouse Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers, the new name for the set previously known as Hardwicke Chambers, has ’a great team across all levels‘ and its members’ work in insolvency is particularly notable for its international elements, including offshore jurisdictions. Wendy Parker‘s caseload reflects this, striking out a winding up petition for Bird Technologies being a recent highlight for her diverse practice. Cases at the crossroads of employment and insolvency litigation are a particular strength, with Alaric Watson advising the latter party in Woollven v Archant Community Media Ltd, a case concerning a company voluntary agreement. In COVID-related instructions, Phillip Patterson acted for Elite Legacy Education UK in an application for an injunction restraining advertisement of a winding-up petition, on the grounds that the debt was disputed and on the basis that the pandemic was hampering the ability of the business to raise revenue.
Testimonials
Set
‘We instruct a number of barristers at Gatehouse and all are technically excellent, very personable and impress with the speed and diligence of their work.‘
‘They have a broad range of talents available to tackle contentious insolvency issues, from complex litigation to simply arranging a junior to attend a routine hearing.‘
‘My firm’s go-to chambers on all commercial and insolvency matters.‘
‘I am impressed by the strength in depth they have across a variety of areas, but in particular on insolvency matters.‘
‘Gatehouse are a very good set, with a number of excellent practitioners across a variety of practice areas.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are approachable and friendly and have excellent knowledge of Chambers’ skill set.‘
‘The clerks are of the highest standard. All of the little things are done and you never have to chase.‘
‘The clerks at Gatehouse are are responsive and will accommodate where urgent advice is required.‘
‘Adam Blades is always very friendly and helpful.‘
‘The clerks are easy to get on with and readily available.‘
Radcliffe Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers has a strong presence in insolvency related work, with 2020 silk Christopher Boardman QC and a host of juniors of varying experience featuring in some of the markets significant cases in 2020. Catherine Doran and Christopher Buckley both represented five former trustees of Kids Company against the official receiver. Christopher Boardman QC's recent caseload has included two complex disputes in the medical sector, and deputy insolvency and companies court judge Tina Kyriakides acted as sole counsel in a number of High Court cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘They have built a strong set for restructuring and insolvency matters.‘
‘Technically very good and excellent training sessions delivered throughout the pandemic.‘
‘They offer a lot of first rate Counsel in the area of banking and insolvency.‘
‘Radcliffe Chambers have a strong set of insolvency barristers and are my go to chambers when I need to instruct counsel.‘
‘A very impressive set now, particularly strong in restructuring and insolvency with good quality counsel at all levels.‘
Clerking
‘Lee Wright is very helpful. He is always responsive and very good to deal with.‘
‘The clerks are excellent, special praise to Lee Wright who is incredibly responsive and goes above and beyond to help.‘
‘Lee Wright and Bradley Edwards are always incredibly helpful and proactive.‘
‘The insolvency clerks are extremely helpful and responsive. If your chosen barrister is not available – which doesn’t happen often – the clerks offer up alternatives.‘
‘Bradley Edwards is helpful and efficient.‘
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers‘ insolvency group is specialised in both personal and corporate insolvency advice and related litigation. Recent highlights for members include Lexa Hilliard QC‘s involvement in the lucrative, multi-party trial arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers; and Marcia Shekerdemian QC representing a consortium of Indian banks, seeking former Force India Formula One team owner Vijay Mallya’s bankruptcy for a £1bn. 2019 silk James Bailey QC had a busy year working on both onshore and offshore matters, and Rachael Earle stood out among the very active crop of juniors at chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Growing reputation for insolvency mandates and the property expertise of the set makes them particularly good in restructurings where there are significant landlord liabilities involved.‘
‘They are a first class set.‘
‘The strength in depth of barristers is good.‘
Clerking
‘Clerks do fine job – responsive.‘
‘Harvey Scott is easy to liaise with and responsive.‘
‘Overall service and clerking is good. Fraser Geddes is always super helpful as are Stewart Cameron, Nancy Lee and Antonia Matthew.‘
‘Fraser Geddes is one of the best clerks around. He knows his barristers and is always willing to go the extra mile to find the right counsel for a new instruction.‘
‘Very impressive – streets ahead of other clerking teams. They have the mentality of a law firm delivering consistent quality across the board. Mark Rushton runs a tight ship.‘