XXIV Old Buildings > London, England > Set Profile
XXIV Old Buildings Offices
Chambers of Elspeth Talbot Rice KC
XXIV Old Buildings
24 OLD BUILDINGS, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UP
England
XXIV Old Buildings
24 OLD BUILDINGS, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UP
England
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XXIV Old Buildings > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Private wealth and probate Tier 1
XXIV Old Buildings is ‘the leading set for domestic and international contentious trust, probate and commercial disputes’. Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is heavily involved in complex and high-value contentious trust matters, including applications for addition and removal of beneficiaries, removal or substitute trustee and restructuring of the trusts. ‘A real intellectual giant of the chancery Bar’, Adam Cloherty KC, is currently acting for the beneficiary in a case concerning the structuring of trusts holding several UK companies, in a dispute over control of the structure. On the junior end, Daniel Warents garners praise for his ‘skilful and slick cross-examination’, and Elizabeth Weaver regularly acts for trustees, executors and beneficiaries and is known for ‘spotting the critical points for development in any case’.Rising stars
James Fennemore– XXIV Old Buildings 'James is a star in the making. He is very intelligent and able to come up with brilliant solutions.'
Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'Elspeth is a fearsome advocate and go-to silk for all heavyweight litigation. She cuts through the weight of evidence to get to the core issues.'
2023 Silks
Adam Cloherty KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Adam is incredibly talented. He is thoughtful, careful and methodical, and his advice is always rigorous and reliable.’
Leading Juniors
Andrew Holden –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Andrew is an absolute superstar and has an outstanding legal mind. His written work is first-rate and cuts through issues and finds solutions.’
Daniel Warents –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is a first-rate junior destined for higher things. He always has a fantastic grasp on the whole scope of a case, no matter how complicated, and works in a notably clear, methodical and persuasive.’
Elizabeth Weaver –XXIV Old Buildings 'Elizabeth is very thorough, easy to work with and willing to take a pragmatic approach when necessary. She is very good at assessing risk and helping to make balanced decisions in light of all the issues.'
Sarah Bayliss – XXIV Old Buildings 'Sarah is very insightful, grasps the key points quickly, and can give pragmatic and commercial advice.'
Helen Galley –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Helen is a tough negotiator and very good at translating complex legal concepts into client-friendly language.’
Bajul Shah –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Bajul has great commercial instinct and is a very astute judge of the merits and weaknesses of cases. He is a go-to barrister.’
Testimonials
‘James Ladbrook is extremely helpful and proactive.’
‘The clerks are user-friendly and always helpful. Tommie Drury, in particular, always brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to his work.’
‘The clerking team is great and led by Paul Horsfield, who is always a safe pair of hands. James Ladbrook, Tommie Drury and Perry Brown all deserve mention for their unfailingly helpful demeanour. They are service-oriented and helpful.’
‘Tommie Drury is one of the best clerks and is very responsive.’
‘Paul Horsfield leads a good clerks room in an approachable way. Perry Brown stands out as particularly easy to deal with.’
‘James Ladbrook is first class. He is polite, responsive and reasonable.’
‘James Ladbrook and Lyndon Tiller are very helpful and respond quickly.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is the leading set with counsel from top silks to juniors.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Aviation and Travel Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings‘s members take instructions spanning the full breadth of aviation matters, covering insurance disputes, leasing issues that range from non-payment of rents to redelivery matters, and other claims arising out of hull losses. Steven Thompson KC is noted for his expertise in matters tied to aircraft maintenance and leasing challenges. Edward Cumming KC is highly sought after by airlines in dispute with lessors regarding aircraft condition, appearing for the airline in Jet2.com v SmartLynx, concerning liabilities resulting from the delivery of allegedly poorly maintained aircraft. Bajul Shah is acting for a number of hull risk reinsurers facing claims in the wake of Russian aircraft seizures, also taking on product liability cases in the sector, while Tom Stewart Coats‘ growing aviation practice encompasses redelivery disputes, acting for major airlines in relation to maintenance obligations.Leading Silks
Edward Cumming KC – XXIV Old Buildings 'Very responsive and despite a very heavy workload is always on hand to advise. Brilliant advocate - always three steps ahead of the judge.'
Leading Juniors
Bajul Shah – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Bajul is intelligent with a calm demeanour – he is very responsive and good to deal with on every level – his advocacy and attention to detail in court are impressive.’
Heather Murphy – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Heather is extraordinarily bright and readily digests reams of technical information to get to the nub of the issue. Heather is a great advocate and litigator, has a fantastic strategic mind and is very client friendly.’
Erin Hitchens – XXIV Old Buildings 'Erin is one of the best aviation juniors out there. The quiet assassin.'
Max Archer – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Max is a fantastic barrister – he is great with clients, knows the law inside out, and never disappoints with case strategy. He is approachable, quick, and fiercely intelligent. Clients know they are lucky to have him.’
Tom Stewart Coats – XXIV Old Buildings 'Tom is fantastic to work with - he is very clever, strategic and creative. He has very good attention to detail and is of course a true expert in his field.'
Testimonials
‘Paul Horsfield and Lyndon Tiller are both standouts – their responsiveness is always appreciated.’
‘Special shout out to Lyndon Tiller. He goes out of his way to meet client expectations.’
‘Paul Horsfield is great.’
‘Probably one of the best clerking teams around. Paul Horsfield is second to none, and the rest of the team, including Perry Brown, and Tommie Drury are a class act.’
‘Perry Brown is an excellent all-round clerk. Responsive and honest.’
‘Perry Brown is a stand-out clerk. Never has to be asked twice.’
‘Clerks are great, very personable and ready to help.’
‘A very good clerking service.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Commercial litigation Tier 2
Renowned for its offshore offering, XXIV Old Buildings fields ‘a strong bench’ that is well-equipped to handle shareholder disputes, breach of contract, civil fraud allegations, and other commercial instructions. Steven Thompson KC, acting for Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, and Edward Cumming KC, defending Sprite Aviation No. 6 DAC, were instructed to appear on opposite sides of a dispute concerning the interpretation of an operating lease agreement between the two parties. At the junior level, Stuart Adair represents Alawwal Capital JSC in Dubai International Financial Centre proceedings against Rasmala Investment Bank Limited, alleging that Rasmala’s misrepresentations induced Alawwal to invest in an offshore trade finance investment fund. Oliver Assersohn KC was elevated to silk in March 2024. Previously a senior practice manager, James Ladbrook is now the set's COO.Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'Truly outstanding, one of the best barristers ever.'
Steven Thompson KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Steven has an excellent ability to see through complexity and bring focus and clarity to difficult problems. A rare combination of intellectual firepower and commercial savvy.'
Stephen Moverley Smith KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'A pleasure to work with and highly recommended.'
Francis Tregear KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘His advocacy and pleading drafting skills are exceptional.'
Edward Cumming KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Superb advocate and brilliant to work with.'
2023 Silks
Adam Cloherty KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Adam has excellent clarity of thought which manifests in beautifully tight and effective advocacy. He is a great team player and his ability to retain his humour even in times of significant pressure makes him a pleasure to work with.'
2024 Silks
Oliver Assersohn KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Oliver deals with very complex issues adeptly. His written work is clear and concise. He is a pleasure to deal with.'
Leading Juniors
Stuart Adair –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stuart is a good advocate in court and a pleasure to work with. He is good with clients and willing to get stuck into all aspects of a case if required.'
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings 'Hugh is a safe set of hands and brilliantly easy to work with. He is a calm and assured advocate who quickly establishes trust with the judge.'
Elizabeth Weaver – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Very sensible and absolutely clear in her thinking. Judges like her very much and clients feel truly represented.'
Edward Knight – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Great team player. He has his eye on the detail but doesn’t overlook the commercial aspects.’
Ben Waistell – XXIV Old Buildings 'Ben's advocacy is well-prepared, thoroughly researched, well-delivered, and measured. His written work is also excellent, including both pleadings and skeleton arguments.'
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is one of the best juniors in the chancery division, who has a particular talent when it comes to complex legal submissions. His cross-examination is skilful and slick, making him an obvious choice for junior-led trials. He also puts clients first and is always on hand in larger and more complex matters.'
Testimonials
‘Brilliant clerking led by Paul Horsfield.’
‘Paul Horsfield has done an excellent job.’
‘The clerks are helpful and easy to deal with. Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown deserve particular mention.’
‘The XXIV clerks are a pleasure to deal with- Paul Horsfield leads an excellent team in an approachable way, from whom Perry Brown stands out as particularly good.’
‘The set has a strong bench and a number of impressive individuals.’
‘An excellent commercial Chancery set.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings have an extremely complementary blend of private wealth, offshore, corporate and commercial expertise which spans the private and corporate worlds. It is well suited to heavyweight litigation for clients who are ultra-high net worth individuals and corporations owned by such individuals.’
‘Good strength in depth with a handful of truly star performers.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Fraud: civil Tier 2
With an ‘excellent stable of civil fraud barristers’, XXIV Old Buildings offers representation on a variety of civil fraud claims, including asset tracing, misappropriation of funds, and the worldwide enforcement of awards. The set is particularly recognised for its expertise in offshore litigation. Stephen Moverley Smith KC, Steven Thompson KC and Ben Waistell acted for the defendant life insurance company in Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda), a claim by the former Prime Minister of Georgia concerning the allegedly fraudulent actions of a rogue employee. Stuart Adair is appearing in McCarthy v Marshall, where the claimant alleges that the defendant fraudulently breached fiduciary duties by misappropriating and misapplying company assets, leading to the subsequent liquidation of their meat trading and importation business Emerald Meats (London) Limited. In Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan, a case involving claims of over $800m alleging bribery and money laundering by the former director general and various international banks, Francis Tregear KC represents Banque Mirabaud SA.Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'Her formidable determination ensures she resolutely champions the client's position. She has an uncanny ability to see round corners and anticipate what the other side will do in the course of a case.'
Stephen Moverley Smith KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'Stephen is a go-to silk for all manner of offshore disputes.'
Steven Thompson KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'Steven is a ferocious and highly persuasive advocate who knows the law inside out. He is simply brilliant in court.'
Edward Cumming KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'An advocate who can go toe to toe with anyone and come out on top.'
Leading Juniors
Stuart Adair –XXIV Old Buildings 'A very robust advocate with a meticulous eye.'
Hugh Miall –XXIV Old Buildings 'Hugh has the ability to distil clarity from extreme complexity. He is brilliantly forensic.'
Edward Knight –XXIV Old Buildings 'Edward is an accomplished advocate who radiates confidence and competence. He is also really good with papers and very tolerant of difficult clients.'
Alexander Pelling –XXIV Old Buildings 'Alexander is a very industrious practitioner.'
Bajul Shah –XXIV Old Buildings ‘A cogent advocate with a brilliant mind.’
Ben Waistell – XXIV Old Buildings 'A junior with a robust and sensible style.'
Testimonials
‘Brilliant clerking led by Paul Horsfield.’
‘Excellent clerks – James Ladbrooke and Perry Brown in particular.’
‘Perry Brown and Tommie Drury are excellent and responsive clerks.’
‘Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown are very good.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is at the forefront of offshore litigation, consistently demonstrating a cutting-edge approach to complex international legal disputes.’
‘Fantastic Chambers – a go-to set.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a gem of a set, very much underappreciated but full of quality. The juniors are always keen and ready to roll up their sleeves and give a task their best.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is an excellent stable of civil fraud barristers, who have worked on some of the most challenging and complex cases of recent years.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Company Tier 2
At XXIV Old Buildings, ‘counsel are of an extremely high calibre', and clients remark on chambers' 'extremely complementary blend of private wealth, offshore, corporate and commercial expertise, which is well suited to heavyweight litigation'. Shareholder disputes, often involving allegations of fraud, form the backbone of the set's practice. Stephen Moverley Smith KC continues to handle a high volume of prominent, high-profile company law cases, often involving international elements. Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is a 'confident and experienced' silk, with a solid track record in advising on unfair prejudice claims and breach of duty issues. Stuart Adair is well versed in handling claims against directors and directors’ disqualification matters.Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC – XXIV Old Buildings 'Elspeth has a great court presence, which comes from self-confidence, experience, and thorough preparation.'
Stephen Moverley Smith KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stephen displays an uncanny ability to make just the right points at just the right moment.’
Francis Tregear KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘An statesman of the company Bar who commands respect from judges.’
Leading Juniors
Stuart Adair – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stuart's experience with and knowledge of case law is impeccable.’
Elizabeth Weaver – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Elizabeth is simply fantastic. She gets to the heart of the issue quickly and establishes a rapport with clients who trust her advice.’
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Hugh has excellent knowledge of corporate insolvency law, allied to commercial flair.’
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel has a tremendous talent for distilling legal propositions from complex caselaw and applying them to the facts.’
Edward Knight – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Edward is an accomplished advocate who radiates confidence and competence.’
Testimonials
‘James Ladbrook and Tommie Drury are a pleasure to work with. They are responsive and cooperative at all times. Their client care and regard for instructing solicitors is first rate.’
‘I enjoy working with James Ladbrook and the other clerks. They are always helpful and constructive.’
‘The clerking team are superb. They work really hard to support us in any situation, and put the hard work in behind the scenes to build a relationship that you can rely on under pressure.’
‘Tommie Drury is always available and highly responsive.’
‘The clerks are among the best we work with. They are helpful and proactive, and set a tone for what is clearly a very well-run set.’
‘A very strong set. Some of the top people in company law are there, including some unquestioned stars of the Bar.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a reliable set for Chancery matters.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3
Barristers at XXIV Old Buildings are regularly instructed to act for and against a range of clients, including commercial lenders, payment service providers, banks and financial institutions including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). Members act on cases related to financial matters such as mis-selling of financial products and structured investment vehicle work, with Edward Cumming KC experienced in banking and financial services disputes, both in retail and commercial. Stephen Moverley Smith KC specialises in fund and financial services work, both domestically and internationally. Oliver Assersohn KC was called as a silk earlier in 2024, and Alex Peplow is a name for the future.Rising stars
Alex Peplow – XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is very thoughtful, is across the detail, and good at drafting. He tries to find a way to cut through problems, but will also tell you honestly if he thinks something is a bad idea.’
Leading Silks
Stephen Moverley Smith KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stephen is an excellent commercial barrister. His advocacy is top-notch in complicated cases. He is also great at reading the court and figuring out which strategy will work.’
Edward Cumming KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Ed is absolutely superb and is destined for the very pinnacle of the London Bar. Superb advocate and brilliant to work with. The only problem is that many others have also now discovered this.’
Francis Tregear KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Very professional.’
2024 Silks
Oliver Assersohn KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Oliver was incredibly focused on achieving the right result for the client – tracking through all the detail, participating in in-depth discussions with the client, and ensuring that every care was taken to guide the client through a complex process.’
Leading Juniors
Sarah Bayliss – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Very easy to work with, relates to clients, is trusted by clients and very bright.’
Testimonials
‘Paul Horsfield is doing a superb job since taking over as senior clerk 3 years back.’
‘The clerks are great – in particular James Ladbrooke and Perry Brown.’
‘Great set with some really fantastic barristers.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings is a gem of a set, very much underappreciated but full of quality.’
‘The clerks at XXIV Old Buildings are quite responsive and user-friendly.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Insolvency Tier 3
Noted for having broad expertise in insolvency and restructuring cases, members at XXIV Old Buildings handle a range of matters, from corporate and personal insolvency work to contentious and non-contentious matters. Barristers are often instructed in cases involving offshore issues in the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. Edward Cumming KC specialises in corporate insolvency and bankruptcy, and Elspeth Talbot Rice KC acted for Barclays Bank in the case GTC v Zedra/Barclays which dealt with a claim in Jersey. Stuart Adair is noted for his ‘in-depth knowledge of insolvency law,’ while Jessica Lavelle and Alex Peplow are names to watch.Rising stars
Jessica Lavelle – XXIV Old Buildings ‘In court, Jessica is a strong performer for her call, with the natural and confident delivery of far more experienced barristers. She is good at focusing on the key issues and makes sure the clients know she is on their side. She is also a pleasure to work with. She has a bright future ahead of her.’
Alex Peplow – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Alex is a former solicitor and understands how solicitors work. He takes on board the points, he listens and works collaboratively when giving his opinions.’
Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Elspeth really knows her stuff, is clear in her advice, doesn’t overstate the merits and makes herself available at short notice when needed.’
Leading Juniors
Stuart Adair – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stuart’s particular strength is his in-depth knowledge of insolvency law, which he combines with civilised aggression in advancing his client’s case.’
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Strategic mastermind.’
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is an exceptional advocate, with an amazing talent when it comes to explaining complex legal issues. His cross-examination is also strong, with a superb instinct for knowing when to stop and when to press on. He always gives sound commercial advice in a way that clients understand.’
Edward Knight – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Edward’s USP is that he is also a trained accountant, so his skills with numbers and accounts are invaluable when it comes to complex insolvency claims.’
Testimonials
‘They are a great chambers.’
‘Brilliant clerking led by Paul Horsfield.’
‘Excellent set, many good barristers.’
‘Great clerks. Very personable and ready to help.’
‘Perry Brown is the glue that binds Chambers. His friendly and pragmatic approach combined with a keen desire to help Chambers professional clients is second to none. He’s a real jewel in Chambers already impressive arsenal.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Partnership Tier 3
XXIV Old Buildings covers a full spectrum of partnership disputes across a wide variety of industry sectors, from legal, to farming, film and finance. Members handle partnership and LLP cases both domestically and abroad, and for both commercial and family-owned structures. Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is a key silk from the set, while Hugh Miall covers all areas of partnership law, spanning traditional 1890 Act partnerships, LLPs and joint ventures. Helen Galley is noted for her advisory work in numerous partnership disputes, from small commercial partnerships to professional partnerships.Leading Silks
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘A fearsome advocate, but excellent with clients. A go-to silk for all heavyweight litigation. Elspeth cuts through the weight of evidence to get to the core issues with apparent ease.’
Leading Juniors
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Hugh is an accessible team-player who provides essential leadership and tactical acumen in high stakes commercial or corporate disputes.'
Testimonials
‘An excellent chancery set.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings have an extremely complementary blend of private wealth, offshore, corporate and commercial expertise which spans the private and corporate worlds. It is well suited to heavyweight litigation for clients who are ultra high net worth individuals and corporates owned by such individuals.’
Work highlights
Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 4
Lyndsey de Mestre KC – XXIV Old Buildings XXIV Old Buildings‘ Lyndsey de Mestre KC is ‘a calm, well-prepared and extremely hard-working mediator, who is prepared to be creative to resolve a dispute‘. De Mestre is an experienced commercial mediator, who has particular expertise in complex insolvency and probate matters. She is also an expert in directors’ disqualification.Work highlights
London Bar > Art and cultural property
Rising stars
James Fennemore – XXIV Old Buildings 'James is extremely bright and knowledgeable on the law but also knows how to deliver his advice in a manner which is practical, commercial and readily understandable to clients.'
London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators
Leading counsel as arbitrators
Michael Black KC –XXIV Old Buildings 'He is a highly experienced arbitrator with good judgement and is a very effective manager of hearings. He is also quick and responsive in his contribution to awards.'
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
Leading Juniors
Tom Stewart Coats – XXIV Old Buildings 'Tom is both very capable and has huge enthusiasm in his practice in this area - someone who brings real uplift to his matters.'
Arshad Ghaffar –XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is exceptionally gifted and knowledgably about his craft: arbitration.’
London Bar > Financial services and fintech regulation
2024 Silks
Oliver Assersohn KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Oliver is approachable and friendly. He is excellent on market abuse and financial crime.’
London Bar > Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
Leading Juniors
John Carl Townsend - XXIV Old Buildings 'John is unmatched with regards his knowledge of POCA.’
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
Leading Juniors
John Carl Townsend – XXIV Old Buildings ‘John has a superior intelligence unmatched by his peers. John can be relied upon for his sound strategic approach to the most complex business crime cases. John has a breadth of experience that is intimidating for any opponent. At the top of his game and a silk in the making. John is the creme da la creme of business crime advocates.’
London Bar > Public international law
Leading Juniors
Tom Stewart Coats – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Tom is a superstar – he is exceptionally bright, creative and his drafting skills are second to none. He is unfazed appearing in court against much senior opponents and silks – his submissions are compelling and clear. He is a superstar.’
London Bar > Personal injury
Personal injury - Leading Juniors
Max Archer – XXIV Old Buildings ‘An up and coming junior. Max has confidence and technical ability far beyond the number of years call.’
London Bar > Professional negligence
London Bar > Property litigation
Leading Juniors
Helen Galley – XXIV Old Buildings ‘She is a formidable advocate who knows the law inside out. A specialist in her field.’
The English Bar Offshore > Trusts and private wealth Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings is sought after by clients to handle work originating from Gibraltar, Bermuda, BVI, the Cayman Islands, and the Crown Dependencies. Stephen Moverley Smith KC is a key silk at the set and has appeared before the Supreme Court of the Bahamas, the Bermuda Court of Appeal, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and the Privy Council, and has recently been acting alongside Francis Tregear KC for the trust beneficiaries in a case concerning the division of a trust into several, and the related opposition application. Tregear KC is called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean, as is Elspeth Talbot Rice KC, who continues to act for the appellants in the Wong v Grand View case, which concerns the validity and transfer of five purpose trusts, as well as the related use of powers of addition and exclusion. Among the set’s strong bench of juniors, Nicole Langlois is dual qualified to act in England and Jersey, and Bajul Shah is notable for his trust disputes work; he represented the defendant in Pilatus (PTC) Limited v RBC Trutsees (Guernsey) Limited, which concerns a breach of trust claim following the resignation of the trustee. Andrew Holden is another key junior at the set.Leading associates
Jessica Lavelle – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Jessica is undoubtedly one of the best junior juniors. Intelligent and dedicated to her craft with the ability to inject a healthy dose of reality into any situation, she picks up technical points very quickly.'
James Fennemore – XXIV Old Buildings ‘James is extremely user-friendly and consistently brilliant.’
Leading Silks
David Brownbill KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘David has excellent global knowledge and is very user friendly.’
Leading Juniors
Andrew Holden – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Andrew’s technical skills are truly excellent and his work product is always fantastic. He is very good at taking in the big picture in terms of analysing all strategic issues.’
Sarah Bayliss – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Sarah is a reliable and safe pair of hands, who quickly focuses on what really matters in a case and invariably produces very high-quality work.’
Nicole Langlois – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Nicole is exceedingly clever, sharp and strategic. Her advocacy is brilliant: she reads the room and tailors her approach accordingly.’
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is an outstanding junior. He blends serious intelligence with a very pleasant and down-to-earth manner.’
James Bradford – XXIV Old Buildings ‘James is very clever, thorough, diligent, bright, and a delight to work with.’
Testimonials
‘This is one of the best clerking teams. Always willing to accommodate and go the extra mile. James Ladbrook is the pick of the bunch – charming, helpful and willing.’
‘The clerks room are always professional and responsive. Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown stand out.’
‘Paul Horsfield, James Ladbrook and Perry Brown are a formidable team and ensure that every instruction is dealt with efficiently and seamlessly.’
‘Undoubtedly one of the top London sets for offshore disputes work.’
‘XXVI are out go-to set. All of the barristers are top of their game.’
The English Bar Offshore > Commercial disputes Tier 2
The members of XXIV Old Buildings are well-equipped to handle corporate, commercial, and finance-based disputes, including fraud and insolvency matters, before the courts of Gibraltar, Bermuda, BVI, the Cayman Islands, and the Crown Dependencies, including Jersey and Guernsey. Stephen Moverley Smith KC specialises in restructuring, fraud, and insolvency work, as well as cases surrounding allegations of corruption. He represented the successful respondent in the Cayman Court of Appeal in a case which saw, for the first time, an appellant decision confirming the jurisdictional power and scope of the Grand Court when considering injunctions in support of foreign arbitrations (Minsheng Vocational Education Company Limited v Lead Education Holding Limited and Others). Francis Tregear KC has recently been active in major liquidation cases in Cayman, and David Brownbill KC is skilled in fraud and asset recovery claims. He is representing the defendant in the Gibraltar-based case of Ambra and Others v Fiman Limited and Others, which concerns allegations of breaches of statutory, fiduciary, and tortious duties which are said to have caused substantial losses to several offshore companies. International disputes specialist Steven Thompson KC is active in the BVI, where he has appeared before the Court of Appeal and Privy Council. A key junior, Bajul Shah boasts company, commercial, and insolvency expertise.Leading associates
James Fennemore – XXIV Old Buildings ‘James is very responsive and spots issues and potential pitfalls before they are even on the horizon.'
Alex Peplow – XXIV Old Buildings ‘A junior with very good legal research skills.’
Leading Silks
Stephen Moverley Smith KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Stephen’s decades of experience operating in offshore jurisdictions makes him a go-to choice for high-value disputes.'
David Brownbill KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘David is very knowledgeable and very user-friendly.’
Steven Thompson KC – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Steven is an outstanding advocate with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. He is very hands-on and great with clients.’
Leading Juniors
Daniel Warents – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Daniel is an outstanding junior, thoroughly across the law and with a knack for presenting matters in a straightforward and sensible way. He blends serious intelligence with a very pleasant and down-to-earth manner.’
Nicole Langlois – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Nicole is very personable, has strong knowledge of the relevant law and process, and is comfortable when dealing with a difficult judge.’
Sarah Bayliss – XXIV Old Buildings ‘A very reliable junior.’
Hugh Miall – XXIV Old Buildings ‘Hugh is a passionate and committed advocate who is fiercely loyal to his client’s cause. He is exceptionally articulate and clearly has the ear of the court.’
Testimonials
‘Very good. Paul Horsfield, Perry Brown, and Tommie Drury are excellent.’
‘The clerks room are always professional and responsive. Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown stand out.’
‘Very responsive and flexible. Paul Horsfield in particular often goes the extra mile to build and maintain relationships with instructing counsel.’
‘Paul Horsfield, Perry Brown and James Ladbrook are a formidable team. They are organised and responsive and make for a seamless experience when instructing members.’
‘Paul Horsfield, head of clerking, is excellent. Very approachable, always prepared to be commercial on fees, has an in-depth understanding of the work of chambers and looks to build relationships and make introductions wherever possible.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial Tier 2
XXIV Old Buildings’ team is well-versed in representing governments, financial institutions and high net worth individuals in complex commercial financial litigation and arbitration proceedings, particularly commercial contracts, fraud and asset recovery cases in the Middle East. Arshad Ghaffar has been instructed in arbitration cases involving public policy issues. Tom Stewart Coats maintains an active Middle East-based practice and continues to act in arbitrations and the enforcement of foreign arbitration awards.Work highlights
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
Barrister Profiles
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Mr Stuart Adair | Stuart has an extremely successful commercial chancery practice which focuses on commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Max Archer | Max is recognised as a leading aviation, commercial, private international law and… | View Profile |
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Mr Oliver Assersohn KC | Oliver is a “truly excellent barrister” and “skilled advocate” who relishes trial… | View Profile |
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Ms Sarah Bayliss | Sarah has a well-established commercial and modern chancery practice and takes a… | View Profile |
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Mr Michael Black KC | Michael Black KC is an advocate and arbitrator in international commercial disputes.… | View Profile |
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Mr Kyle Bonnell | Kyle Bonnell joined XXIV Old Buildings in March 2025, following completion of… | View Profile |
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Mr James Bradford | James is a busy junior with a broad commercial chancery practice, which… | View Profile |
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Mr David Brownbill KC | David Brownbill KC specialises in international trust, company and financial services disputes… | View Profile |
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Ms Rachel Carver | Described as “a star” by a client, Rachel is building a broad… | View Profile |
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Ms Bethanie Chambers | Bethanie has a busy commercial chancery practice, both domestically and offshore, across… | View Profile |
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Mr Adam Cloherty KC | Adam has a broad commercial chancery practice acting in and advising on… | View Profile |
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Mr Edward Cumming KC | Edward is a barrister specialising in most areas of chancery and commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Owen Curry | Owen specialises in commercial and traditional chancery litigation. He has regularly appeared in… | View Profile |
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Miss Niamh Davis | Niamh has a broad commercial chancery practice, both domestically and offshore, across… | View Profile |
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Ms Lyndsey De Mestre KC | Lyndsey has been practising at the business and property Bar for over… | View Profile |
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Mr James Fennemore | James specialises in commercial and private client litigation. His practice encompasses commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Helen Galley | Helen has built up a reputation as a well-respected commercial Chancery practitioner… | View Profile |
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Mr Arshad Ghaffar | Arshad Ghaffar is a highly regarded and trusted commercial dispute resolution lawyer.… | View Profile |
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Ms Catherine Hartson | Catherine maintains a busy practice across Chambers’ core practice areas, with particular… | View Profile |
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Ms Erin Hitchens | Erin has a broad commercial chancery practice and welcomes instructions in all… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Holden | Andrew is a chancery and commercial specialist, whose highly-regarded practice encompasses trusts,… | View Profile |
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Ms Jessica Hughes | Jessica has a broad commercial chancery practice encompassing domestic and international litigation,… | View Profile |
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Mr James Kane | James regularly appears in the High Court and the County Court and… | View Profile |
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Mr Michael King | Michael is an accredited mediator and has mediated over 200 disputes. He… | View Profile |
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Mr Edward Knight | Edward is a specialist commercial barrister with particular experience of company and… | View Profile |
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Mr Tim Koch | Tim specialises in commercial and private client disputes. He has experience in… | View Profile |
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Ms Nicole Langlois | Nicole has a flourishing international practice and is regularly instructed in cases… | View Profile |
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Ms Jessica Lavelle | Jessica is a commercial chancery barrister whose busy practice spans chambers’ core… | View Profile |
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Mr Ian Meakin | Ian L. Meakin has extensive experience in dispute resolution, international business law,… | View Profile |
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Mr Hugh Miall | Described as a “a star in the making”, Hugh is a specialist commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Moverley Smith KC | Stephen specialises in litigation and arbitration in the fields of commercial, company,… | View Profile |
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Ms Heather Murphy | Heather is an experienced advocate with a rich and varied commercial chancery… | View Profile |
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Mr Alexander Pelling | Alexander Pelling has very substantial experience in commercial and business disputes of… | View Profile |
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Mr Alex Peplow | Alex has a broad commercial chancery practice, including insolvency and commercial disputes,… | View Profile |
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Mr Steven Reed | Steven has a substantial, heavyweight commercial and chancery practice in line with… | View Profile |
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Mr Harry Samuels | Described by a partner in a Tier 1 Legal 500 firm as “a… | View Profile |
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Mr Bajul Shah | Bajul has a broad commercial Chancery practice with an emphasis on aviation,… | View Profile |
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Timothy Sherwin | Timothy is a chancery barrister with a practice in private client and… | View Profile |
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Mr Tom Stewart Coats | Tom’s experience includes general commercial disputes (both litigation and arbitration), banking and… | View Profile |
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Mr Charles Strachan | Charles Strachan has a busy commercial chancery practice that covers the range… | View Profile |
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Ms Elspeth Talbot Rice KC | Elspeth Talbot Rice KC has a broad commercial Chancery practice and an… | View Profile |
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Mr Steven Thompson KC | Steven is an experienced commercial barrister who specialises in civil fraud, company/joint… | View Profile |
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Mr John Carl Townsend | John Carl is recognised for his particular expertise in complex financial and… | View Profile |
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Mr Francis Tregear KC | Francis Tregear KC is valued for his comprehensive and detailed understanding of… | View Profile |
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Prof Graham Virgo KC | Graham read Law as an undergraduate at Downing College, Cambridge and the… | View Profile |
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Mr Ben Waistell | Ben is an experienced commercial and chancery junior with particular experience in… | View Profile |
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Mr Daniel Warents | Daniel specialises in most areas of chancery and commercial work both in… | View Profile |
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Ms Elizabeth Weaver | Elizabeth Weaver is an “eminent junior” with a broad commercial Chancery practice… | View Profile |
- Private wealth and probate
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Aviation and Travel
- Commercial litigation
- Fraud: civil
- Company
Set Rankings
- Art and cultural property
- International arbitration: arbitrators
- International arbitration: counsel
- Financial services and fintech regulation
- Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
- Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- Public international law
- Personal injury
- Professional negligence
- Property litigation