Mr Edward Cumming KC KC > Chambers of Elspeth Talbot Rice KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
XXIV Old Buildings Offices
XXIV Old Buildings
24 OLD BUILDINGS, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3UP
England
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Mr Edward Cumming KC KC
Position
Edward is a barrister specialising in most areas of chancery and commercial litigation. He particularly relishes advocacy, appearing frequently before a range of courts and tribunals, and has extensive experience of international and multi-jurisdictional disputes. This particular international emphasis was further enhanced when he was retained for a substantial period to advise a leading offshore firm on a number of business and trust matters involving Guernsey and the BVI. Edward’s breadth of expertise is recognised by the leading directories. He is not only recommended in the chancery sphere for traditional chancery litigation, private client disputes (trust and probate), company disputes and insolvency disputes, but also for commercial dispute resolution, banking and finance, and aviation.
Career
Call: 2006 | Silk: 2018
Edward read Law at Downing College, Cambridge where he was President of the Cambridge Union. After leaving Cambridge he was a Thouron Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, studying at both the Law School and Wharton Business School. He then became director of a group of engineering and property management companies, acquiring a practical understanding of the commercial realities of business and, in particular, company law, before completing pupillage at XXIV Old Buildings.
Languages
French, basic German.
Memberships
- Chancery Bar Association
- Commercial Bar Association
- Institute of Art & Law
- Guernsey International Lawyers Association
- Bar Pro Bono Unit
Education
- MA (Cantab)
- LLM (UPenn)
- Thouron Fellowship to the University of Pennsylvania
- Queen Mother’s Scholar and Harmsworth Exhibitioner of Middle Temple
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Private wealth and probate
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > Insolvency
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Noted 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.
London Bar > Aviation and Travel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Edward 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.’
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.
London Bar > Company
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4London Bar > Commercial litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 5Edward Cumming KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘Superb advocate and brilliant to work with.’
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.
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Edward Cumming KC –XXIV Old Buildings ‘An advocate who can go toe to toe with anyone and come out on top.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Edward 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.’
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.