Exchange Chambers ‘has high-quality juniors’ and ‘is the chambers of choice for insolvency matters.’ Its members have expertise across a wide range of matters, including shareholder and partnership disputes, director disqualification, breaches of fiduciary duties, derivative claims, s994 unfair prejudice petitions, and corporate insolvency. The set is home to Giles Maynard-Connor KC, who represents clients in corporate and personal contentious work, and he has acted on cases in the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar. George Rowell has expertise in insolvency cases with a tax background, including claims against directors arising from failed tax avoidance schemes. Carly Sandbach is experienced in director disqualification proceedings and public interest winding up petitions, as well as breaches of directors’ duties – in Bona Vacantia Ltd v Noblett, she successfully obtained a summary judgment on behalf of the defendant, defeating an attempt to make a director personally liable using s217 of the Insolvency Act 1986. Richard Tetlow regularly acts for office holders, individuals, and companies, and has expertise in director disqualification proceedings. Recent growth for the set includes Graham Sellers arriving from Atlantic Chambers in June 2023.
Company and insolvency in
Regional Bar
Exchange Chambers
Testimonials
‘Joe Mawson is very approachable and is an asset to Exchange Chambers. Is he able to provide an option of junior counsel who are all very knowledgeable.’
‘The clerks are commercial, flexible, and they take the time to get to know their clients. Joe Mawson deserves particular recognition.’
‘The senior clerking and management is excellent, especially Nick Buckley and Jonathan I’Anson.’
‘Joe Mawson is an exceptional clerk and central to Chambers’ success.’
‘The clerking team is excellent; they are responsive and easy to deal with.’
‘A go-to set for insolvency needs. They cover everything from basic petitions to highly niche, technical international arbitration matters and always offer a Rolls Royce-level service.’
‘A go-to set in the North West. Their annual insolvency conference is excellent.’
‘Exchange Chambers are one of the premier commercial sets in Manchester. Exchange Chambers boasts a number of courses, and also a great variety of true specialists in their particular field. One has a real sense of collaboration with them.’
Kings Chambers
Kings Chambers ‘is the leading set for insolvency work in the North West’ and its members have expertise in handling complex and high-value unfair prejudice actions and shareholder disputes, as well as insolvency-related matters, acting for office holders, companies, directors and debtors. Lesley Anderson KC is head of the set’s business and property group, which also includes Andrew Grantham KC, who is active in matters regarding just and equitable winding-up petitions, derivative actions, and disputes concerning share sales and title to shares, and he acted for the respondent in PSV 1982 Ltd v Langdon, the leading case on two issues concerning s217 of the Insolvency Act. In Waldron v Waldron, David Casement KC successfully defended the respondent against allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty and unfair prejudice in a dispute between family shareholders in a construction company. Louis Doyle KC has a track record of offshore work, as does Paul Chaisty KC.
Testimonials
‘Gary Young is very experienced, gets messages across to counsel when needed, and ensures response times and follow-ups are as required.’
‘Harry Young and Paul Clarke are by far the best clerks at Kings Chambers.’
‘The Clerks are uniformly excellent, and Gary Young is the star of the show.’
‘Senior clerks Gary Young and Harry Young are very knowledgeable and keen to help.’
‘The clerks are fantastic. Gary Young is an incredible clerk.’
‘Kings Chambers is a first choice in the regions due to its selection of first-rate insolvency, company, and financial litigation barristers who are supported by a wonderful and dedicated clerks team. Due to the strength and depth of the Kings Chambers cohort of barristers, one is always able to find a barrister, often at short notice.’
‘Kings Chambers is a set offering good strength in depth in terms of insolvency and restructuring.’
‘Kings Chambers has excellent strength in depth and is comparable to London sets.’
18 St John Street Chambers
18 St John Street Chambers is praised for having ‘a number of highly-experienced business and property counsel involved in some very heavy litigation.’ The set is home to Richard Chapman KC, who is head of chambers, and Oliver Caplan, who is strong in insolvency litigation for both individuals and corporates. Jennifer Newstead-Taylor regularly acts on matters regarding complex claims for director disqualification arising from VAT fraud, bankruptcy restriction orders, applications for provisional liquidators, and public interest winding-up petitions. John Vickery adeptly handles contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters; he recently acted for the liquidators in Ltd v P & Others, a case concerning alleged misfeasance and wrongful trading. Elisabeth Tythcott is another notable name in the set, and she successfully acted for the claimant in Cheshire Estates (Oakglade) Limited v Daw and Cheshire Estates (Spenbrook) Limited, which involved a claim for £3m equitable compensation against directors for breach of fiduciary duty.
Testimonials
‘James Parks in particular is very efficient, dealing with queries promptly.’
‘Chris Heath and Eden Cobb have a willingness to assist counsel and instructing solicitors in filing documents and bundles.’
‘The clerks are always excellent.’
‘The set has a number of highly experienced business and property counsel involved in some very heavy litigation.’
Exchange Chambers
Testimonials
‘Joe Mawson is very approachable and is an asset to Exchange Chambers. Is he able to provide an option of junior counsel who are all very knowledgeable.’
‘The clerks are commercial, flexible, and they take the time to get to know their clients. Joe Mawson deserves particular recognition.’
‘The senior clerking and management is excellent, especially Nick Buckley and Jonathan I’Anson.’
‘Joe Mawson is an exceptional clerk and central to Chambers’ success.’
‘The clerking team is excellent; they are responsive and easy to deal with.’
‘A go-to set for insolvency needs. They cover everything from basic petitions to highly niche, technical international arbitration matters and always offer a Rolls Royce-level service.’
‘A go-to set in the North West. Their annual insolvency conference is excellent.’
‘Exchange Chambers are one of the premier commercial sets in Manchester. Exchange Chambers boasts a number of courses, and also a great variety of true specialists in their particular field. One has a real sense of collaboration with them.’
Kings Chambers
Kings Chambers ‘is the leading set for insolvency work in the North West’ and its members have expertise in handling complex and high-value unfair prejudice actions and shareholder disputes, as well as insolvency-related matters, acting for office holders, companies, directors and debtors. Lesley Anderson KC is head of the set’s business and property group, which also includes Andrew Grantham KC, who is active in matters regarding just and equitable winding-up petitions, derivative actions, and disputes concerning share sales and title to shares, and he acted for the respondent in PSV 1982 Ltd v Langdon, the leading case on two issues concerning s217 of the Insolvency Act. In Waldron v Waldron, David Casement KC successfully defended the respondent against allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty and unfair prejudice in a dispute between family shareholders in a construction company. Louis Doyle KC has a track record of offshore work, as does Paul Chaisty KC.
Testimonials
‘Gary Young is very experienced, gets messages across to counsel when needed, and ensures response times and follow-ups are as required.’
‘Harry Young and Paul Clarke are by far the best clerks at Kings Chambers.’
‘The Clerks are uniformly excellent, and Gary Young is the star of the show.’
‘Senior clerks Gary Young and Harry Young are very knowledgeable and keen to help.’
‘The clerks are fantastic. Gary Young is an incredible clerk.’
‘Kings Chambers is a first choice in the regions due to its selection of first-rate insolvency, company, and financial litigation barristers who are supported by a wonderful and dedicated clerks team. Due to the strength and depth of the Kings Chambers cohort of barristers, one is always able to find a barrister, often at short notice.’
‘Kings Chambers is a set offering good strength in depth in terms of insolvency and restructuring.’
‘Kings Chambers has excellent strength in depth and is comparable to London sets.’
18 St John Street Chambers
18 St John Street Chambers is praised for having ‘a number of highly-experienced business and property counsel involved in some very heavy litigation.’ The set is home to Richard Chapman KC, who is head of chambers, and Oliver Caplan, who is strong in insolvency litigation for both individuals and corporates. Jennifer Newstead-Taylor regularly acts on matters regarding complex claims for director disqualification arising from VAT fraud, bankruptcy restriction orders, applications for provisional liquidators, and public interest winding-up petitions. John Vickery adeptly handles contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters; he recently acted for the liquidators in Ltd v P & Others, a case concerning alleged misfeasance and wrongful trading. Elisabeth Tythcott is another notable name in the set, and she successfully acted for the claimant in Cheshire Estates (Oakglade) Limited v Daw and Cheshire Estates (Spenbrook) Limited, which involved a claim for £3m equitable compensation against directors for breach of fiduciary duty.
Testimonials
‘James Parks in particular is very efficient, dealing with queries promptly.’
‘Chris Heath and Eden Cobb have a willingness to assist counsel and instructing solicitors in filing documents and bundles.’
‘The clerks are always excellent.’
‘The set has a number of highly experienced business and property counsel involved in some very heavy litigation.’