James Hannant > Chambers of Anna Vigars KC > Bristol, England > Barrister Profile
Guildhall Chambers Offices
Guildhall Chambers
23 BROAD STREET
BRISTOL
BS1 2HG
England
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James Hannant
Work Department
Insolvency, Commercial
Position
James has been a member of Chambers since 2014. He has a broad commercial practice with a particular emphasis on disputes arising out of corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy and is a member of Chambers’ insolvency and commercial teams. James appears in both the High Court and the County Court at court centres up and down the country. Before becoming a barrister, James had a previous career in the oil industry.
Career
Called 2013.
James is frequently instructed in a wide variety of insolvency related matters and has a particular interest in the area having studied the subject at postgraduate level. He has been instructed in relation to the following:
- Transaction avoidance claims under ss. 238 and 239 of the Insolvency Act 1986
- Misfeasance applications under s. 212 of the Insolvency Act 1986
- Winding up and bankruptcy petitions
- Going behind judgments in insolvency proceedings
- Contested possession and sale applications and in particular, those which raise issues of common intention constructive trusts and resulting trusts as well as the equity of exoneration
- Annulment Applications
- Financial remuneration of trustees in bankruptcy
- IVAs
- Administrations
- Applications under the information gathering provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986
- Acting on behalf of liquidators in claims by insolvent companies
- Applications to set aside statutory demands
- Applications relating to the Administration of Insolvent Estates of Deceased Persons Order 1986
James has acted for office holders, debtors/bankrupts, companies and company directors and frequently speaks at seminars and other events including those run by R3 and HMRC.
James has been instructed to both advise and appear in proceedings relating to a variety of commercial matters. These have included:
- Contractual disputes.
- Disputes arising out of the sale of goods and the supply of services.
- Banking and finance matters.
- Conversion and the wrongful interference with goods.
- Economic torts including conspiracy and causing loss by unlawful means.
- Pre-incorporation contracts.
- Bailment
James has acted for companies, private individuals and banks. He has appeared in a wide variety of procedural applications as well as trials in all three tracks in the County Court and also the High Court.
Education
- BCL, University of Oxford
- LLB Hons, University of Exeter (first class)
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Company and insolvency
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2James Hannant – Guildhall Chambers ‘James’ written and analytical skills are excellent. He is also responsive and collaborative.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Commercial litigation
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2James Hannant – Guildhall Chambers ‘James always has a good understanding of the substantive issues of a case. His drafting and cross-examination of witnesses during trial are impressive.’
Bristol-based Guildhall Chambers is one of the ‘go-to‘ commercial litigation sets on the Western Circuit. Hugh Sims KC is highly sought after for his expertise – he has recently led Jay Jagasia, with ‘unparalleled knowledge of financial services and banking law‘ and Lucy Walker, with ‘sound technical expertise‘, in the high-profile case of Philipp v Barclays Bank UK plc, concerning the liability under the Quincecare duty of the paying bank in respect of authorised push payment fraud. Richard Ashcroft’s broad practice includes claims involving misrepresentation and breaches of warranty, the supply of defective goods and services, and the enforcement of post-sale restrictive covenants. James Hannant tends to handle commercial work arising out of insolvency proceedings, while ‘great all-rounder‘ Stefan Ramel has a strong reputation for acting in cross-border proceedings and recently acted for the claimant in BW Legal Services v Glassdoor, who sought Norwich Pharmacal orders in respect of two anonymous reviews posted on the eponymous employer review site.