Set Profile > Enterprise Chambers > Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Enterprise Chambers Offices
Enterprise Chambers
65 QUAYSIDE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 3DE
England
Enterprise Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Chancery, probate, and tax Tier 1
With 'a good crop of juniors', Enterprise Chambers offers 'a very good service and an array of counsel to assist with Chancery matters'. Instructed by leading law firms, members are experienced in the traditional fields of trusts and probate and Inheritance Act claims, as well as specialist areas like insolvency, real property, and company law, which benefit from their Chancery expertise. Among the team, the 'knowledgeable' Hugo Groves is a leading junior in this sector and has recently been involved claims arising out of tax avoidance/mitigation schemes. 'Always in-demand for a reason', Duncan Heath is a 'go-to junior'for contentious trusts and probate, and property matters, and Stephanie Jarron has 'an excellent reputation' in estate disputes. Christopher Buckingham appeared unled for the successful appellant in Lomax v Lomax in the Court of Appeal and is considered 'without a shadow of doubt amongst the best of the best. You want him on your side'.
Leading Juniors
Commercial litigation Tier 1
Enterprise Chambers has 'very high-quality practitioners' who cover the breadth of commercial dispute resolution, including shareholder disputes, banking, breach of warranty, and restraint of trade, as well as litigation concerning the sale, supply, and carriage of goods. In recent instructions of note, Cristín Toman acts for the Bank of Scotland in its claim to recover a sum in excess of £425,000, and for possession of a commercial property in Leeds. Duncan Heath acted for the defendant, a commercial agent, in Project Lower Ltd v Contract Natural Gas Limited, a multi-million-pound claim brought against it for unpaid commission, damages, compensation, and indemnity. Matthew Maddison is acting for a building services company against a company established by three of its former employees in an unjust enrichment claim. In the High Court, Margaret Griffin is being led in a complex unfair prejudice petition which follows over a decade of litigation between the parties.
Leading Juniors
Company and insolvency Tier 1
Bristol-based Enterprise Chambers offers 'City-standard counsel for the South West', with solicitors praising the collective work ethic of the set's members along with 'the strength in impressive juniors coupled with heavyweights', such as Stephen Davies QC, which 'leaves them unchallenged in the South West market in respect of insolvency work'. Jeremy Bamford is another draw for clients, due to his 'very strong knowledge of the insolvency legislation and underlying case law', as is Christopher Brockman thanks to his previous experience as a solicitor so he 'understands first hand' issues faced by instructing law firms. Also at the junior end, Daisy Brown has a 'very quick to grasp the issues, a fine grasp of detail, and is brilliant with people from all walks of life'. Recent cases of note for the set include Hellard & Anor v Graiseley Investments Ltd & Ors, Dickinson v NAL Realisations (Staffordshire) Ltd, and Guardian Care Homes (West) Ltd sub nom Hellard v Graiseley Investments Ltd.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Company and insolvency Tier 1
Enterprise Chambers is a 'fantastic set of chambers which is very wide-ranging and has strength in depth'. 'The set includes is a go-to for insolvency work with highly skilled and knowledgeable barristers within their ranks'. Members handle both personal and large company insolvencies and company matters. Former City solicitor Hugo Groves acted for the replacement insolvency practitioners in Re Varden Nuttall Limited (In Administration), successfully obtaining a multi-million-pound judgment against the defendant. Australia-qualified Cristín Toman has acted in a number of matters for administrators in relation to defects in their appointments, while Kelly Bond appeared for the successful liquidator in Re Reeson Homes Ltd, a three-day trial concerning a company which had transferred its only asset, a development site, to a connected company shortly prior to liquidation; the respondents alleged the property was held on trust, an argument that was rejected by the court.
Leading Juniors
Property and construction Tier 1
Enterprise Chambers' real estate practice has seen a growth in work relating to development projects and enforceability of leases and mortgage agreements. Christopher Buckingham appeared in the well-known early neutral evaluation case Lomax v Lomax, as well as acting in a complicated possession claim after an inheritance. Dominic Crossley acts both for individuals and property developers, with particular expertise of the First-tier Tribunal's Land Registration Division. Bruce Walker specialises in commercial property but also undertakes wills and probate work. He has acted for clients in high-value claims, including a £2m proprietary estoppel claim and a family land trust dispute worth £7m.
Leading Juniors
Commercial litigation Tier 2
At Enterprise Chambers, Ross Fentem is recommended for a wide range of commercial litigation instructions, including cross-border banking matters, contractual disputes and financial disputes, such as his recent work on behalf of Welsh rugby union team Scarlets in relation to the budgeting procedures and financial management of governing body Welsh Rugby. Neil Levy is another key figure within the set, and is highly focused on the banking sector, with several recent instructions on behalf of The Bank Of Scotland.
Leading Juniors
Insolvency Tier 2
At Enterprise Chambers, insolvency is a key area for members, who act in high-value and often cross-border cases, arising from insolvencies, liquidations, restructurings and administrations. Linden Ife is a senior junior who often acts as leading counsel, with expertise in recovering unlawful dividends paid before insolvency, as well as in claims against directors and insolvency practitioners; exemplified by Clydesdale v Smailes where the administrators were successfully removed. Kavan Gunaratna is another well-regarded junior and has expertise in insolvency matters involving property, commercial and banking law. Elevated to silk in 2020, James Pickering QC acted in Re Mintpal, one of the first provisional liquidations based on a debt in digital currency. Also of note, Madeline Dixon is developing a strong insolvency practice, with experience in cross-border cases.
Rising stars
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Commercial litigation Tier 4
Enterprise Chambers is praised for its 'fantastic range of members' all of whom are 'personable and approachable'. Clients appreciate the set's 'very able barristers, particularly at the senior junior level'. The members are highly experienced in commercial chancery matters. Notable cases include Serious Fraud Office v Smith & Others, in which James Pickering QC (who just took silk) is representing the liquidators. Jennifer Meech represents fashion designer John Richmond, who faces claims for €54m by the liquidators of a company of which he was a director. Another highlight for Niall McCulloch was representing Brazil's state of Mariana in a £5bn claim against BHP following a dam collapse in Brazil.
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Social housing
Leading Juniors
Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
Leading Juniors
Property litigation Tier 4
At Enterprise Chambers, ‘the clerking is good and the barristers are approachable, accessible and available’. Members demonstrate a ‘strong range of expertise and seniority, primarily specialising in landlord and tenant, development, leasing, mortgage and insolvency disputes in addition to property-related professional negligence. Kavan Gunaratna was recently instructed by the defendants in the case of Davis v Mothersdale, a property fraud trial which alleged the dishonest concealment of substantial flooding at a high-value property.
Leading Juniors
Mediators Tier 5
Jonathan Arkush - Enterprise Chambers Jonathan Arkush at Enterprise Chambers has to date conducted over 350 mediations. Recent work has included a complex commercial matter involving financial claims, and disputes concerning breach of fiduciary duty and the beneficial ownership of shares. Arkush also recently mediated a minority shareholder's petition for unfair prejudice, as well as the disputed will of another shareholder.
Commercial litigation
Enterprise Chambers is home to former St Philips Chambers member Amit Gupta whose practice encompasses across a wide range of commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, investment disputes and fraudulent misrepresentation claims.
Leading Juniors
Company and insolvency
The 'personable, helpful and knowledgeable' Amit Gupta is a key name at Enterprise Chambers for insolvency work. In one recent wrongful trading and misfeasance claim, he represented claimant liquidators in a case arising out of the sale of a company which could not avoid bankruptcy, a fact which the sellers allegedly failed to disclose.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Commercial litigation Tier 2
Trinity Chambers is seen as 'a go-to set for commercial disputes', 'particularly since they recruited Jonathan Rodger from Enterprise Chambers'. On Rodgers, clients say: 'He is strong in court and in mediation and can use his skills efficiently in both.' Direct access qualified, Antoine Tinnion is considered a 'tenacious and robust advocate' who provides 'pragmatic and straightforward advice' and is a 'great communicator with the clients'. A 'very good advocate' who is 'diligent and thorough', Richard Stubbs is instructed in commercial and consumer disputes, sale of goods, restraint of trade, and commercial fraud, among other areas. His 'ability to put clients at ease and to connect with them in conference' is a particular draw for those instructing Simon Goldberg, who regularly appears in both the Chancery and Queen’s Bench divisions of the High Court. Recent instructions include acting for the claimant in action involving a claim for injunctive relief, specific performance, and damages against a company and one of its directors which arose from the taking of a confidential customer list. Chambers has several qualified mediators and is also able to be instructed in arbitrations.
Leading Juniors
Enterprise Chambers > Set Profile
Enterprise Chambers is a leading set of barristers, specialising in commercial, business and property related disputes.
The set: Enterprise Chambers is unique among commercial sets in offering a nationwide presence. It has established premises in London, Bristol, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne and fields barristers throughout England and Wales. The set values are robustly commercial. Members understand the needs of the solicitors who instruct them and their lay clients. They aim to meet those needs with rapidly delivered, high quality, commercially sound advice and representation. Members are familiar with and experienced in all courts and tribunals, including regulatory and property tribunals, and mediations and arbitrations.
Types of work undertaken: Members carry out work across a wide range of commercial, business and property problems encountered by private individuals, small- and medium-enterprises, large corporations and public authorities alike. The set can field individual barristers at any level or a team of barristers able to take on the largest and most complex litigation. The sets core specialisms are commercial chancery, including commercial, company, insolvency, banking & financial services, property/landlord and tenant both commercial and residential and professional negligence.
The sets expertise within insolvency and property uniquely places it to deal with disputes which involve both.
Insolvency covers international and cross-border insolvency and all matters appertaining to liquidations, receiverships, administrations, voluntary arrangements, schemes of arrangement and bankruptcies, with members frequently acting for and against insolvency practitioners engaged in the adjustment of prior transactions.
Commercial work covers all legal and strategic issues facing individuals, businesses and public authorities today. These include contract, restraint of trade, loans, guarantees and other securities, sale of goods, insurance, competition law, civil fraud and tax.
Company and partnership problems, including directors liabilities and disqualification, shareholder and partner disputes, unfair prejudice, derivative actions, dissolution claims and quasi-partnerships
Banking & Finance covers mortgages and charges, guarantees and indemnities, receivership and administration, negligent investment advice, product mis-selling, payment fraud and misdirected payments, project finance, hire-purchase and asset finance
Property/landlord and tenant covers all aspects of business, residential and agricultural tenancies, mortgages, conveyancing, easements, covenants, adverse possession, environmental law, housing, sale of land, legal and beneficial interests in land, and registration of land.
Members additionally cover professional negligence involving accountants, architects, barristers, insolvency practitioners, engineers, solicitors and surveyors. All aspects of licensing and regulation increasingly faced by individuals and businesses are addressed, including environmental, water and waste licensing, building regulation and remediation, as well as the licensing of alcohol, entertainment, betting, gaming, lotteries, firearms and taxis.
Many of the sets members are recognised in the major directories as leaders in their fields and all are known to their clients for their approachability, expertise and commercial acumen.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Clerk | Michael Ireland | ||
| Chambers Administrator | Tracey Collins | ||
| Clerk | Luke Clark | ||
| Clerk | Raj Lamba | ||
| Clerk | Frazer Gale-Sinclair | ||
| Clerk | Kenya Mendoza | ||
| Clerk | Jade Farrow | ||
| Clerk | Justin Emmett | ||
| Clerk | Joanne Caunt | ||
| Clerk | Ellen Mcinall | ||
| Clerk | Michelle Carson | ||
| Members of Chambers | PICKERING QC, James (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVIES QC, Stephen (1983, QC 2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PAGE QC, Hugo (1977, QC 2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COHEN, Edward (1972) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ARKUSH, Jonathan (1977) | ||
| Members of Chambers | IFE, Linden (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ZELIN, Geoffrey (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BARKER, James (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROCKMAN, Christopher (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GROVES, Hugo (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEVY, Neil (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KENNEDY-McGregor, Marilyn (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAMFORD, Jeremy (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JARRON, Stephanie (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMSON, Bridget (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALKER, Bruce (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FRANCIS, Edward (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ILYAS, Shaiba (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McCULLOCH, Niall (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSON, Simon (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FENTEM, Ross (2003) | ||
| Member of Chambers | BLACKMORE, Sally-Anne (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GUNARATNA, Kavan (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TOMAN, Cristin (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRIFFIN, Margaret (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GUPTA, Amit (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Daisy (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROSSLEY, Dominic (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | READ, Emma (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOND, Kelly (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HEATH, Duncan (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MEECH, Jennifer (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GALE, Phillip (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVIES, James (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LINTNER, Anna (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BUCKINGHAM, Christopher (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROYLE, Chris (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MADDISON, Matthew (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROOKE, Jessica (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DIXON, Madeline (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMPSON, Claire (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TODD, Fiona (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DUNK, Chris (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | INNES, Mari (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HODGE, Samuel (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRAHAM, Otis (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PURNELL, Georgia (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MALLOCH, Kirsty (2018) | ||
| VACANI, Ella (2019) | |||
| Members of Chambers | LANGAN QC, HH Peter* | ||
| Members of Chambers | KAYE QC, HH Roger | ||
| Members of Chambers | MARKANDYA, Susannah (2005)* |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Stephanie Jarron | Commercial litigation involving contracts, sale of goods, loans, consumer credit, construction; mortgages,… | View Profile |
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Matthew Maddison | Insolvency – all aspects of both corporate and individual insolvency, including all… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Rodger | General chancery, including (but not restricted to) personal and corporate insolvency, commercial… | View Profile |
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Matthew West | Barrister specialising in company law (including corporate insolvency); property law (including landlord… | View Profile |