Set Profile > Chambers of Alan Steinfeld QC > London, England

Charities Tier 1

Offshore Tier 1

'A top set for trusts matters', XXIV Old Buildings has members involved in 'elite cases'. Alan Steinfeld QC and Edward Cumming QC were successful in assisting the defendant Carlyle companies in the Carlyle Capital Corporation v Conway litigation in Guernsey. Robert Levy QC  is instructed in numerous Cayman Islands section 238 cases. Also of note, the highly regarded Nicole Langlois, a former Carey Olsen partner, is a Jersey advocate.

Private client: trusts and probate Tier 1

XXIV OLD BUILDINGS is a ‘high-quality set of chambers’ with an established reputation in the areas of trusts, private client, and probate work, as well as Chancery and offshore disputes. In a recent instruction of note, Alan Steinfeld QC advised the trustees of a Cayman trust about potential claims against a third party and in relation to obtaining Beddoe relief from the Cayman Court.

Aviation Tier 2

XXIV Old Buildings is a set that is 'going from strength-to-strength' and is an 'excellent choice for aviation matters'. The leading case on economic duress, Times Travel Limited v Pakistan International Airlines Corporation, was a notable highlight for Philip Shepherd QC, where the airline was held to have used illegitimate pressure to force an IATA agent into agreement to abandon claims for commission.

Fraud: civil Tier 2

XXIV Old Buildings is 'very competitive on rates' and 'great on Chancery matters'. The set fields an impressive range of barristers, and its junior silks are particularly well regarded by instructing solicitors. Members also have an excellent track record in offshore and trust matters, which inevitably feed into the fraud work. Steven Thompson QC and Hugh Miall are representing the defendant in the high profile Arcadia Petroleum & Ors v Bosworth & Ors. Stephen Moverley Smith QC and Alexander Pelling also had signficant roles in RAK Investments v Bestfort Development.

Insolvency Tier 2

XXIV Old Buildings has members dealing with all aspects of international and domestic insolvency law. Multiple members, including Alan Steinfeld QC and Edward Cumming QC, are acting in Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation) and others v Conway & others. Stuart Adair is acting in Orexim Trading Limited v Mahavir Port and Terminal Limited, while, in Caymen Island proceedings, Robert Levy QC is acting for the liquidators in Re Caledonian Insurance.

Financial services regulation Tier 2

International arbitration: counsel Tier 2

International arbitration: counsel Tier 2

Charities Tier 2

Commercial litigation Tier 3

XXIV Old Buildings has an excellent reputation for acting on hard-fought offshore disputes, and is also a popular choice for commercial claims before the London courts. Recently, several members, including Alan Steinfeld QC  and Edward Cumming QC, acted on Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation) and others v Conway & others, while Stephen Moverley Smith QC and Hugh Miall acted on Société Générale v Goldas, a dispute relating to gold bullion consignments.

International arbitration: counsel Tier 3

Pensions Tier 3

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 4

XXIV Old Buildings has several barristers who have built up a strong reputation for banking work. The set is especially noted for its expertise in offshore banking and fund-related disputes and insolvencies. Notable highlights on this front include Michael Black QC and Marcus Staff's role in Al Sadik v Investcorp BSC in the Cayman Islands.

Construction Tier 4

Professional negligence Tier 4

XXIV Old Buildings handles a range of complex professional negligence cases involving lawyers, accountants, auditors, surveyors, valuers and trustees. The set is 'experienced' and has 'excellent individuals' for such disputes. Jackson & Money v Gershinson & Others was a key case for Francis Tregear QC, while Helen Galley appeared in Southwark Living v Cramer Pelmont, a claim against solicitors which alleged failure to protect the client's position.

Construction Tier 5

Mediators Tier 5

XXIV Old Buildings’ Michael King is 'always well prepared and a master at dealing with more difficult parties'. Since becoming an accredited mediator, King has been involved in over 130 mediations, and he has particular expertise in mediating trust-related disputes.

Company and partnership

XXIV Old Buildings is 'one of the standout sets for offshore company law work', which sits beside a strong Chancery practice, but members are also well-versed in partnership disputes, acting in cases domestically and abroad. Alan Steinfeld QC acted in Clean Power Properties Ltd v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd, where he is advising Network Rail on the terms and effects of an agreement with the claimant for the acquisition of sites intended to be used as power stations. On the partnership front, he is advising on a large LLP dispute for Boston Consulting. Also on the partnership front, Francis Tregear QC advised Cayman Islands-based Alcontrol LP on the structure and distribution of its equity interests. Meanwhile, Michael Black QC acted for the claimant in Akhmodova v Akhmodov, enforcement proceedings in a $600m divorce settlement across multiple jurisdictions that involved piercing the corporate veil over disputed assets.

Set overviews: England and Wales

A ‘terrific’ Chancery-commercial chambers, XXIV OLD BUILDINGS is ‘one of the standout sets for offshore trust work’ and ‘going from strength to strength’ when it comes to Middle East-related matters. Members have ‘a rare balance of intellectual excellence allied to an ability to explain complicated legal principles in simple terms’. In recent news, Steven Thompson QC has been appointed chair of the International Committee of The Bar Council. ‘Wonderful and formidable’ chambers director Sue Medder has announced her retirement, effective August 2019, after five years in chambers during which time she led a ‘fantastic, highly responsive, and approachable’ clerking team which ‘matches the quality’ of the set’s members. The team includes ‘impressive’ senior practice managers Paul Horsfield and James Ladbrook, who are ‘straightforward to deal with’ and ‘very competitive’ on fees. Offices in: London and Geneva