XXIV Old Buildings > London, England > Set Profile
XXIV Old Buildings Offices

XXIV Old Buildings
24 OLD BUILDINGS, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UP
England
XXIV Old Buildings > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Private client: trusts and probate Tier 1
XXIV Old Buildings is an ‘excellent set, with first-rate counsel and great strength in depth’ and the ‘first port of call’ for many clients when it comes to complex trust related matters. Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is experienced at handling many complex and high-value Chancery pieces of litigation, particularly those with an international angle. David Brownbill KC has extensive expertise in trust law and focuses mainly on private client cases. ‘Brilliant orator’ Edward Cumming ‘is the absolute best when it comes to commercial Chancery work’ and has experience of cases which reach the final level of appeals.Leading Silks
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a top class set, with excellent strength in depth.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a top quality set with ability across the board, good strength in depth and a user friendly approach.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is an excellent set, with first-rate counsel, great strength in depth and a user-friendly approach.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is an impressive and hard-hitting set, well-placed to advised on all manner of commercial trust disputes.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is an excellent set for complex trust and commercial cases.’
Clerking
‘XXIV clerks are the most easy and straightforward clerks to deal with. They have good systems in place e.g. in agreeing the terms of a retainer.’
London Bar > Aviation Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings is a ‘great aviation and commercial litigation set’ which frequently acts for aviation lessors, airlines and manufacturers. Steven Thompson KC is well-known for handling aviation maintenance, lease, sale and purchase agreements. Arshad Ghaffar is a popular choice for aircraft lessors, while Bajul Shah deals primarily with disputes relating to dry leasing, mortgages and forfeiture issues. Erin Hitchens has appeared in various interim matters in the Commercial Court and Tom Stewart Coats is instructed in regulatory matters.Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘XXIV has long been held in great regard for its aviation practice and I have always been impressed by the quality of advocates in this area.’
‘Good availability of high quality counsel, helpful clerks.’
‘Chambers are exceptionally good. There is a certainly a strength in depth when it comes to quality Counsel with expertise in aviation.’
‘Great aviation and commercial litigation set.’
Clerking
‘Always impressed by the clerks at XXIV who are flexible and happy to help. Paul Horsfield is excellent, as is Perry Brown.’
‘Paul Horsfield is doing an excellent job as their senior clerk.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Commercial litigation Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings is a ‘top-quality set with ability across the board, good strength in depth and a user-friendly approach‘. It is considered ‘a go-to for trust and fraud litigation‘ and is an undoubted leader for the full range of Offshore matters. Recent matters include Capital WW v Paysafe & Ors in which Robert Levy KC led Bajul Shahfor the claimant in its applications for Norwich Pharmacal relief concerning unpaid dividends from a gambling business. Several senior juniors regularly act unled in significant cases, including Adam Cloherty KC and Hugh Miall; the latter represented the claimant, a property consultancy company, in Burbage Realty Ltd v RJ 15 Ltd & Ors, a dispute over fees for the introduction, negotiation and development of a warehousing and logistics site next to the M1.Leading Silks
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Top quality set with ability across the board, good strength in depth and a user-friendly approach.’
‘Great annual training conference is a fixture in the calendar. Some pretty good fun social events too.’
‘XXIV have been one of my go-to sets for many years. The quality of many of the barristers, at an extremely competitive price point, makes them a great fit for a lot of work that I undertake.‘
‘Very good set – a go to for trust and fraud litigation.’
‘XXIV is an excellent chambers for Chancery work, always at the forefront of developing law.’
Clerking
‘Professional and easy to deal with – Perry Brown is an excellent practice manager who always seems in complete control.’
London Bar > Fraud: civil Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings has ‘considerable depth in civil fraud work‘ and ‘ heavy hitting leading counsels and very bright and knowledgeable juniors‘. A real strength is its Chancery expertise, ‘particularly onshore and offshore trust and probate work’. Edward Cumming KC and Timothy Sherwin are representing the former trustee in St John’s Trust Company (PVT) Limited v Watlington, a major dispute involving fraud, freezing injunctions and trust and corporate issues linked to allegations by the US Department of Justice that the multi-billion dollar trust was used to assist in the largest US tax evasion case against an individual taxpayer, the Texas billionaire Robert Brockman. Stuart Adair is representing a former director and shareholder of Emerald Meats (London) Limited over claims of misappropriated assets emerging from the company’s liquidation, in which Alan Steinfeld KC is acting as opposing counsel.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘XXIV Buildings are great at what they do, with a deep bench.’
‘XXIV has considerable depth in civil fraud work. I have encountered members of XXIV throughout my career and consider them to be a leading set for this work.’
‘Top quality set with ability across the board, good strength in depth and a user-friendly approach.’
‘XXIV are a go to set for Chancery work particularly onshore and offshore trust and probate work. A number of heavy hitting leading counsels and very bright and knowledgeable juniors.’
‘Great set of Chambers with a real breadth of experience.’
Clerking
‘Excellent. Highly responsive and personable.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Insolvency Tier 2
‘Strong chancery and insolvency chambers‘ XXIV Old Buildings has a particularly notable presence offshore where Stephen Moverley Smith KC is among the most active lead counsels in standout insolvencies. Head of chambers Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is instructed in the high profile insolvent estate of Boris Berezovsky, as well as recently acting in proceedings arising from the liquidation of Stanford International Bank in Antigua.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Strong chancery and insolvency chambers, brilliant minds, real strength across the board.’
‘Top quality set with ability across the board, good strength in depth and a user friendly approach.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a highly-regarded set for members’ calibre of work and work ethic.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings are a very good set and one of the go-tos for this type of work.’
‘Good reputation for offshore work.’
Clerking
‘Excellent. Highly responsive and personable.’
London Bar > Company Tier 2
‘An excellent set with well rounded experience‘, XXIV Old Buildings includes barristers with experience at the High Court in some of the market’s leading company law disputes, as well as being capable of providing teams of counsel in matters that cross several areas of the Chancery Bar. Stephen Moverley Smith KC is noted for cases with international elements and continued to be instructed on matters in the BVI and Cayman Islands, while Edward Cumming KC has provided sole counsel on several disputes arising from acquisitions. 2014 call Timothy Sherwin is fast building a notable company law practice and has a focus on disputes relating to section 994 petitions concerning companies held in trust structures.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A go-to set for company and insolvency work.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings are an excellent set with well rounded experience.’
‘Very strong.’
Clerking
‘Excellent clerks.’
‘The clerks, particularly James Ladbrook, are a real pleasure to deal with.’
‘Paul Horsfield is doing a great job as senior clerk.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3
XXIV Old Buildings is ‘a strong set for banking‘, offering ‘brilliant minds and real strength across the board‘. The set’s members have particularly good expertise in offshore, fraud and insolvency related banking disputes. A major ongoing case is Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) before the Bermuda Commercial Court, in which Stephen Moverley Smith KC and Sarah Bayliss are acting for the defendant life insurance company, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse, in a claim linked to an alleged investment fraud brought by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former president of Georgia. Edward Cumming KC is representing the claimants in Elite Property Holdings v Barclays Bank Plc regarding an alleged unlawful means conspiracy between Barclays and a leading accountancy firm to place the claimants into administration. Members such as Alexander Pelling and Francis Tregear KC have good expertise in Middle Eastern related banking disputes.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They are a strong set for banking.’
‘Strong chancery and insolvency chambers, with brilliant minds and real strength across the board.’
Clerking
‘Paul Horsfield is doing a great job as senior clerk.’
‘Extremely helpful, go above and beyond to provide excellent service.’
London Bar > Partnership Tier 3
XXIV Old Buildings‘ general Chancery prowess leads it to have a solid standing in partnership law, fielding ‘lots of seasoned practitioners‘. Both Elspeth Talbot Rice KC and Alan Steinfeld KC are seasoned counsel in various types of disputes involving partnerships, a recent highlight seeing them both leading Hugh Miall at different stages acting for 50 separate former partner claimants against Medivet.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent leading set with strength in many areas.’
‘XXIV is very strong on partnership – lots of seasoned practitioners.’
‘Strong Chancery chambers and therefore expert in partnership matters.’
Clerking
‘Excellent,’
‘Very good – easy going and commercial.’
‘Easy to deal with – commercial and charming.’
Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 4
Lyndsey de Mestre KC - XXIV Old Buildings XXIV Old Buildings' Lyndsey de Mestre KC's 'USP is her empathy and her ability to communicate that empathy to the client. She is incredibly diplomatic, as well as hugely knowledgeable - a key combination of skills for a mediator'. De Mestre has broad company and insolvency law experience, and is a specialist in directors’ duties and disqualification.Michael King – XXIV Old Buildings Michael King at XXIV Old Buildings ‘has impressive soft skills, combined with a clear focus on how the mediation should advance and the ability to challenge parties' stances in a constructive way'. King frequently mediates high-value trust, probate, estate and inheritance claims.London Bar > Art and cultural property
Rising stars
London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Charities
Leading Silks
London Bar > Professional negligence
London Bar > Financial services regulation
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Property litigation
Leading Juniors
The English Bar Offshore > The English Bar Offshore Tier 1
XXIV Old Buildings are well regarded for this ‘historical strength in overseas work,‘ with a number of leading silks among its ranks who engage with various major offshore disputes in a wide variety of regions such as the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. Members of chambers engage in a selection of different areas, such as corporate and commercial matters, trust related work and financial based cases. Alan Steinfeld KC is regarded as a ‘true star of the Bar‘ and is a popular advocate, with cases such as Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors whereby he acted for the opposing counsel in a significant case on the law of equitable mistake in the Cayman Islands. Stephen Moverley Smith KC 's recent highlights include Al Thani v Al Thani, an attempt to enforce a Qatari judgment, validiating an oral will, in the BVI despite the BVI not permitting oral wills. Sarah Bayliss is noted for her strong presence in appearance in high value cases in Gibraltar, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and the BVI including complex offshore trust and investment structures, fraud, banking and insolvency.Testimonials
Set
‘Simply the best.’
‘I have the highest regard for XXIV Chambers.’
‘They have a historical strength in overseas work.’
‘Good chambers. Strength in depth.’
‘Good chambers for offshore work.’
Clerking
‘Terrific clerks room with strength and depth and a can do attitude. Nothing is too much trouble.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings is well regarded for its expertise advising on matters throughout the Middle East region, with a particularly strong presence in Dubai. Steven Thompson KC acted for the defendants in Credit Europe Bank v New Medical Centre, which concerns a bank debt claim before the DIFC Courts against the backdrop of a major alleged fraud in the UAE. Before the same forum, he has also acted for the claimants in StormHarbour v Noor Bank, a dispute concerning the agreement of the sale and purchase of aircraft financing bonds, which saw a rare case of a bank seeking rectification of a written contract it signed. Other standout names include Elizabeth Weaver, Arshad Ghaffar and Edward Knight. Key changes in the set include Michael Black KC being appointed as judge in the DIFC Court of Appeal.Leading silks
Leading juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks at all levels are excellent.’
‘Helpful and accommodating clerks that responsive.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a go-to set of chambers. Excellent for all commercial litigation and arbitration.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
XXIV Old Buildings > Set Profile
Based in London with an annexe in Geneva, the members of XXIV Old Buildings provide advocacy and specialist legal advice in a wide range of commercial litigation and chancery matters concerning domestic and international disputes for individuals, companies, corporations, charities, regulators and institutions.
Members frequently act as counsel in litigations and arbitrations for commercial matters and are particularly strong in disputes concerning banking and finance, company, insolvency, civil fraud and asset tracing/recovery. There is a strong aviation disputes practice within the set relating to complex product liability, leasing, negligence and insurance claims. Our expertise in commercial contracts extends to complementary practice areas such as cultural heritage/art law and property disputes.
Within the traditional chancery sphere our specialist members provide expertise in trusts, probate and court of protection as well as commercial chancery business disputes, drawing on our established strengths in these areas.
The depth and breadth of the whole set at XXIV Old Buildings means we are uniquely placed in our ability to provide teams of counsel for advisory and advocacy services within both the chancery and commercial courts for complex, cross-border, and multifaceted disputes.
Members not only act as advocates before arbitral and judicial tribunals throughout the world, but are also regularly appointed as arbitrators, adjudicators and mediators.
Cross-border contentious and advisory work represents a defining aspect of XXIV Old Buildings’ practice and the set has an unrivalled reputation for offshore matters. Barristers are full members of, or have been called, ad hoc, to, various offshore and foreign jurisdictions such as; the Bars of Jersey, the BVI, Bermuda, St Vincent, the Cayman Islands, Dubai (DIFC), and other leading international financial centres such as the ADGM Abu Dhabi, and the courts in DIFC and AIFC in a judicial capacity. XXIV Old Buildings’ international presence is enhanced and supported by its highly effective office in Geneva.
Many members of XXIV Old Buildings have appeared in some of the most important cases in the UK and abroad in recent years, including in the Court of Appeal, Privy Council and Supreme Court.
We pride ourselves on our capacity for working hard with solicitors and lawyers to find effective and efficient strategic solutions to create the best possible outcomes for our clients. Clients value the practice management team’s adaptability, commercial awareness and user-friendly approach.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Practice Management | Clerks | clerks@xxiv.co.uk | +44 (0) 20 7691 2424 |
Practice Management | Paul Horsfield, Head of Clerking | paul.horsfield@xxiv.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7419 6201 |
Practice Management | James Ladbrook, Senior Practice Manager | james.ladbrook@xxiv.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7419 6204 |
Practice Management | Perry Brown, Senior Practice Manager | perry.brown@xxiv.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7419 6206 |
Members of Chambers | TALBOT RICE KC, Elspeth (1990) | ||
Members of Chambers | STEINFELD KC, Alan (1968) | ||
Members of Chambers | BLACK KC, Michael (1978) | ||
Members of Chambers | MOVERLEY SMITH KC, Stephen (1985) | ||
Members of Chambers | TREGEAR KC, Francis (1980) | ||
Members of Chambers | BROWNBILL KC, David (1989) | ||
Members of Chambers | THOMPSON KC, Steven (1996) | ||
Members of Chambers | DE MESTRE KC, Lyndsey (1999) | ||
Members of Chambers | CUMMING KC, Edward (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | CLOHERTY KC, Adam (2005) | ||
Members of Chambers | KING, Michael (1971) | ||
Members of Chambers | WEAVER, Elizabeth (1982) | ||
Members of Chambers | GALLEY, Helen (1987) | ||
Members of Chambers | MEAKIN, Ian (1991) | ||
Members of Chambers | GHAFFAR, Arshad (1991) | ||
Members of Chambers | STAFF, Marcus (1994) | ||
Members of Chambers | ADAIR, Stuart (1995) | ||
Members of Chambers | PELLING, Alexander (1995) | ||
Members of Chambers | SHAH, Bajul (1996) | ||
Members of Chambers | HUGHES, Jessica (1997) | ||
Members of Chambers | LANGLOIS, Nicole (2008) | ||
Members of Chambers | KNIGHT, Edward (1999) | ||
Members of Chambers | BAYLISS, Sarah (2002) | ||
Members of Chambers | ASSERSOHN, Oliver (2003) | ||
Member of Chambers | REED, Steven (2005) | ||
Members of Chambers | HITCHENS, Erin (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | HOLDEN, Andrew (2007) | ||
Members of Chambers | CURRY, Owen (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | WARENTS, Daniel (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | MIALL, Hugh (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | MURPHY, Heather (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | KING, Kira (2011) | ||
Members of Chambers | SHERWIN, Timothy (2014) | ||
Members of Chambers | STEWART COATS, Tom (2014) | ||
Members of Chambers | GERASIMENKO, Alina (2015) | ||
Members of Chambers | WAISTELL, Ben (2015) | ||
Members of Chambers | FENNEMORE, James (2017) | ||
Member of Chambers | HARTSTON, Catherine (2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | PEPLOW, Alex (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | LAVELLE, Jessica (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | STRACHAN, Charles (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | CHAMBERS, Bethanie (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | SAMUELS, Harry (2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | CARVER, Rachel (2021) | ||
Member of Chambers | KANE, James (2021) | ||
Members of Chambers | VIRGO KC, Professor Graham* | ||
Members of Chambers | CONAGLEN, Professor Matthew* | ||
Members of Chambers | * Door tenant |
Staff Figures
Practice Management & Chambers Administration : 13- Private client: trusts and probate
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Aviation
- Commercial litigation
- Fraud: civil
- Insolvency
- Company
Set Rankings
- Art and cultural property
- International arbitration: arbitrators
- International arbitration: counsel
- Charities
- Professional negligence
- Financial services regulation
- Property litigation
- The English Bar Offshore > The English Bar Offshore
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial