XXIV Old Buildings

Stuart Adair

Stuart has an extremely successful commercial chancery practice which focuses on commercial litigation, company law, insolvency, fraud, breach of trust and asset tracing. He is a specialist advocate who is particularly effective in the context of highly contentious litigation. It is here that his excellent cross-examination skills prove most valuable and effective. Clients praise Stuart as “an incredible cross examiner, combining a calm forensic approach with a hard-nosed aggression” and state that he is “a formidable opponent” and a “a powerful advocate.”Stuart is recommended by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his work in the field of company law. He practises in all areas of contentious company law but has particular expertise in relation to minority shareholder actions (including unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims) and claims against directors. He was one of the authors of Blackstone’s Guide to the Companies Act 2006 (he wrote the chapter on derivative claims) and has lectured extensively on company law. He gave expert evidence on English company law in derivative proceedings brought against the directors of BP in the United States.Stuart is also recommended by both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for his work in the field of insolvency, where his expertise extends to all areas of corporate and personal insolvency. In addition to acting for private clients in this area, he has advised the DTI and appeared in the High Court and before Insolvency Practitioners Tribunals on behalf of the Insolvency Service.Stuart has particular expertise in the most contentious areas of insolvency litigation, including fraudulent trading, misfeasance and setting aside prior transactions.Stuart’s impressive court room skills are balanced by a clear understanding of the business context of litigation and the commercial imperatives of his clients. Chambers & Partners noted that he is “heavyweight and versatile” and “a robust, user-friendly and incisive barrister”, whilst Legal 500 records that he is “able, charming and incredibly responsive”. Clients praise him as “a KC in a junior’s clothing, he works like a Trojan.”In addition to appearing in the English courts, Stuart has a thriving international practice particularly in offshore matters and commercial disputes in the Middle East. He is called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and regularly appears in international arbitrations. Clients note that Stuart is “a truly excellent junior for offshore commercial litigation and company disputes.”

Max Archer

Max is recognised as a leading aviation, commercial and group litigation practitioner. Max is consistently involved in high profile, complex litigation across his fields of practice. He has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and often appears unled against silks in the higher courts.He is described by leading solicitors as ‘one of our go-to juniors for aviation claims and is fast becoming a next-generation specialist. He is incredibly helpful and always makes himself available’, and as being a ‘really strong advocate and commercial in his approach.’Max has unparalleled knowledge of aviation disputes and has become a go-to junior in this area with aviation work occupying a significant portion of his practice.Max often acts in group actions, both led and unled. He is adept at handling group cases including consumer actions, shareholder disputes, mass tort cases and environmental actions. He is currently instructed in some of the highest profile group claims being litigated in the jurisdiction. He is very experienced in the particular exigencies of group litigation, including group litigation orders and the jurisdiction and proper law issues that often occur in such claims,He has a substantial commercial practice, acting in a wide range of commercial disputes across various industries and fields. He has experienced in international arbitrations and has acted in a number of offshore jurisdictions. His work often has an international dimension, he has expertise in jurisdiction and conflicts of laws as well as public international law and human rights issues.

Oliver Assersohn KC

Oliver Assersohn KC is a leading financial services and commercial barrister.Oliver is called to the Bar of England and Wales, has undertaken a significant amount of offshore work and in Dubai is a registered DIFC (Part II) practitioner.Previous entries in the directories over the years have included the following descriptions: “first rate”, “clearly outstanding”, “an impressive advocate”, “a robust advocate when needed”, “highly personable and a dream to work with”, “a delight to work with” and that he “will work tirelessly in support of the client’s case”.

Sarah Bayliss

Sarah Bayliss has a well-established commercial and modern chancery practice in London and takes a particular interest in domestic trust / estate work, fraud – including in relation to cryptoassets – and company/insolvency cases. She also has a niche practice in art and media disputes.Sarah has extensive experience of complex offshore disputes in jurisdictions including Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the BVI, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and the DIFC.Sarah is co-author of the disputes chapter in Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation published by Sweet and Maxwell.

Kyle Bonnell

Kyle Bonnell joined XXIV Old Buildings in March 2025, following completion of pupillage. During pupillage, he gained experience across the full range of Chambers’ work and he is now building a broad Commercial and Chancery practice, including Trusts, Probate & Estates, Crypto & Digital Assets, Insolvency, Company & Partnership Law, Civil Fraud, Aviation and Commercial Litigation. Kyle is happy to be instructed as sole counsel or as part of a team.

James Bradford

James is a busy junior with a broad commercial chancery practice, which focuses on commercial disputes, civil fraud, arbitration, trusts & offshore litigation.He has a breadth of experience of very high-profile commercial litigation: he is regularly instructed in the Chancery Division and Commercial Court and has appeared (led) in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Privy Council. He also has experience of matters relating to a number of different offshore jurisdictions including The Bahamas, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.James is bilingual in Italian and a native speaker. As a barrister, he is regularly instructed in commercial matters involving Italian language and with Italian speaking clients. Previously, James has worked as a research assistant to leading Italian academics, Prof. Guido Alpa (La Sapienza Università di Roma) and Prof. Attila Tanzi (Università di Bologna).He has extensive academic experience, particularly in contract law. Before joining the Bar, James taught law at Oxford University, teaching a number of subjects including contract law to undergraduate students across different colleges. He regularly conducts training sessions and seminars for leading international law firms on a range of topics.

David Brownbill KC

David Brownbill KC specialises in international trust, company and financial services disputes and advice. His experience covers international trust, corporate and commercial structuring; investment funds, commercial trusts and pensions; political risks, international sanctions, investment disputes and bilateral investment treaties.David’s litigation work covers all matters within these fields, in both the English and the Commonwealth courts. David has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, has appeared in the courts of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man and regularly advises on cases in Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Singapore.Clients value his ability to manage cases whose size, complexity and profile make them extremely difficult to handle. David has, accordingly, acted in numerous international and offshore trust, company and commercial disputes, including substantial fraud and asset recovery claims, both in England and overseas. David has also acted in various disputes concerning investment funds including a number of Madoff related matters.David advises on the transactional as well as the litigation aspects of investments funds and commercial trusts generally and is regularly instructed to advise on complex trust and corporate documentation. David is well known for his ability to devise innovative solutions to problems, particularly in cases where tax and other transactions have gone awry.David has for many years been concerned in the planning of international estates and family enterprise succession, including devising complex family governance and control structures.David has also assisted various jurisdictions on the drafting of trust and company legislation and, most recently, has been retained in the Bahamas to advise on and draft legislation to provide for the arbitration of trust disputes, to introduce new features to its trust law and to abolish perpetuities.David is an editor of International Trust Laws, and a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Rachel Carver

Described as “a star” by a client, Rachel Carver has a busy commercial chancery practice, spanning the full spectrum of Chambers’ practice areas. Her interests include trusts, probate and estates litigation, company law, commercial dispute resolution, and financial services.Rachel is an in-demand junior, with clients commenting that she is “[s]uch a help and a pleasure to have in the team”. She is also comfortable acting as sole counsel and welcomes instructions in any of her areas of expertise.Rachel has particular experience in offshore trust matters, having spent five months on secondment with a leading Jersey law firm, during which she advised and assisted on several complex, multi-million pound trust cases. Her recent work in this area has included matters in Jersey, Guernsey, the Bahamas, and the BVI, encompassing disputes about the appointment and removal of trustees, the validity of trust deeds, and the ownership of trust assets, and applications for accounts, trust information, leave to distribute, and Beddoe relief.Rachel graduated with a First-Class degree in History from the University of Oxford and achieved Distinctions in the GDL and BVS. She was awarded scholarships by her Oxford college and Gray’s Inn, as well as winning a number of academic prizes.Prior to coming to the Bar, Rachel worked as a professional harpist. She has performed at most of the country’s major concert venues, as well as making appearances as a soloist and in orchestras on BBC TV and classical music radio stations.

Bethanie Chambers

Bethanie is a “Rising Star” junior barrister with a broad practice spanning commercial and group litigation, both domestically and in international jurisdictions. She is known for her careful attention to detail, effective advocacy, and a collaborative, client-focused approach. She has appeared both led and unled in the High Court, and has acted in matters across a number of major offshore jurisdictions. Her work includes civil fraud, contractual and company law disputes, and aviation and she is regularly instructed on applications raising complex jurisdictional, procedural and interlocutory issues.Before coming to the Bar, Bethanie was a judicial assistant to Lord Justice McCombe and the Lady Chief Justice in the Court of Appeal. Most notably, she assisted in the case of Dargamo Holdings Limited v Avonwick Holdings Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1149 in which the Court addressed the interaction between the law of contract and the law of unjust enrichment as well as the operation of the ‘failure of basis’ ground of restitution.Bethanie graduated with a first-class honours in Law from Murray Edwards College, Cambridge and subsequently completed the BCL at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. During her studies, Bethanie was awarded the Blues Sporting Award for commitment to university tennis.

Adam Cloherty KC

“Extraordinarily intelligent [and] extremely responsive”, Adam Cloherty KC has a broad commercial chancery practice acting in and advising on commercial and private wealth disputes both at home and abroad. He is “a top-notch advocate”, “great on his feet and on paper”, who “impresses sources with his courtroom advocacy skills”. Adam’s cross-disciplinary approach across Chambers’ main ﬁelds of practice means his commercial nous is frequently brought to bear in the private wealth sphere, while his deep knowledge of equitable, trust and corporate principles is widely sought out in commercial matters. Described as “outstanding” and “an absolute star” with “a wealth of experience”, Adam’s work on the commercial side includes civil fraud, financial services, aviation, corporate, insolvency and contract disputes, both in court and arbitration. “Very clever and much sought after” and a “persuasive and formidable advocate” with a “thriving reputation in the market”, Adam’s work on the chancery side involves advising on, and disputes involving, complex and high value trust and corporate structures and estates. Much of Adam’s work is international in nature – whether representing overseas clients in litigation in England or in arbitration, appearing in courts abroad or coordinating multi-jurisdictional matters. He is “recognised for his ability to deal with particularly complex issues in large cross-border disputes” and it is said that he “knows the offshore world inside out”.

Edward Cumming KC

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.

Owen Curry

Owen specialises in commercial and traditional chancery litigation. He has regularly appeared in trials and interlocutory matters in the High Court and County Court. He has also been involved in off-shore litigation in both the Caribbean and the Channel Islands and has spent time assisting law firms in London and the Channel Islands. As a result he has gained a broad experience of contentious probate trust and estate disputes and well as document heavy commercial litigation and commercial litigation involving the application of traditional equitable principles in modern contexts.

Niamh Davis

Niamh Davis has a broad commercial chancery practice, both domestically and offshore, across all of Chambers’ core practice areas.She has appeared on behalf of clients before judges of all levels, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Her interests include, insolvency and commercial disputes, civil fraud including asset recovery claims under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, probate and estate claims, company law, aviation, and trust litigation.Recently, Niamh has assisted with significant cases at the highest levels including acting as junior counsel in the Supreme Court decision El-Husseiny v Invest Bank PSC [2025] UKSC 4 (the leading case on the interpretation of s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986) and both the sanction hearing (Thames Water Utilities Holdings Ltd, Re [2025] EWHC 338 (Ch)) and Court of Appeal decision Kingston S.A.R.L. and others -v- Thames Water Utilities Holdings and others [2025] EWCA Civ 475.Niamh is actively involved in various legal community programmes, including Lincoln’s Inn mentorship scheme and The 10000 Black Interns (10KBI) Programme, as well as speaking at events hosted by The Sutton Trust.Before coming to the Bar, Niamh worked as a research assistant to William Day and assisted him with his chapter on The Eleftheria (1969) in his book, Landmark Cases in Private International Law. Niamh has maintained this academic interest in the law since starting practice, most recently updating the Retention of Title and Receivership chapters in Tolley’s Insolvency Law Service (alongside Edward Cumming KC).Niamh graduated with triple ﬁrst-class honours in Law from Downing College, Cambridge and subsequently completed the BCL at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. During her studies, Niamh received several University and College scholarships. Niamh was awarded a Lord Mansﬁeld Scholarship and a Residential Scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn in respect of her Bar Practice Course, in which she obtained an Outstanding.

Lyndsey De Mestre KC

Lyndsey de Mestre KC has been practising at the business and property Bar for over 20 years and was appointed a KC in February 2018. She is a full-time arbitrator and mediator works both domestically and in offshore jurisdictions (notably the BVI and the DIFC).Her expertise is in business related disputes of all types (including shareholder disputes, joint ventures (in both a corporate and partnership context), breaches of NDAs and SHAs, unfair prejudice, quasi-partnerships, material non-disclosure, misrepresentation, rescission of subscription agreements, forfeiture of leases) with particular experience in insolvency, company and contract related disputes. As a result of over 15 years’ appointment representing the UK government (primarily the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) for the Attorney General and appointment as standing counsel to the Association of Chartered andCertified Accountants in insolvency matters, she developed a specialisation in a range of work involving public interest aspects, corporate governance, directors’ fiduciary and non-fiduciary duties and responsibilities to shareholders and stakeholders. Lyndsey has experience under the rules of UNCITRAL, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA and ad-hoc arbitrations.

James Fennemore

James has a broad commercial and private wealth disputes practice. His work encompasses civil fraud, trusts, commercial and company disputes, banking and financial services, art and cultural property, and contentious probate and estates.James is recommended as a leading junior in the legal directories, in which he is identified as “everything you’d want in a junior barrister” and “very much one to watch”. Described as “fantastically clever and hard-working” he is “able to come up with brilliant solutions”, and “knows how to deliver his advice in a manner which is practical, commercial, and readily understandable to clients”.He acts for an extremely wide range of clients, including individuals, businesses, and office-holders from all over the world. He is experienced in acting as sole counsel in cases across his areas of specialism, and regularly appears in court, both at interim hearings and at trial. He also very frequently acts as part of a larger team in substantial and complex disputes. Many of his cases involve working with lawyers and clients from other jurisdictions. He has particular recent experience of disputes taking place in Guernsey, Jersey, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar.

Helen Galley

Helen has an established reputation as a well-respected Commercial and Chancery practitioner with an emphasis on property and trusts related issues. She is flexible and practical in approach and focuses on obtaining a commercially acceptable result for her clients. Clients comment “Helen delivers no-nonsense advice and takes a practical approach to resolving matters” and that “she isn’t just technically brilliant; she also understands how to handle clients sensitively and carefully.”She has built up extensive and wide-ranging expertise in both non contentious and contentious property matters ranging from small scale cases to multi-million-pound developments. Helen has experience in leasehold enfranchisement cases, lease renewals under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and restrictive covenant issues. Helen has also acted in a wide range of commercial and business disputes in sectors as diverse as travel, hotels, hire purchase, the media, entertainment, IPR, IT and e-commerce.Contentious and non-contentious trusts matters, both on and offshore, are a regular feature of her case load. Her busy practice includes regular court appearances with clients commenting “she is superb in court”. Helen drafts trust deeds and associated documentation and wills. She is frequently involved in disputes relating to Wills and succession generally including claims under The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, challenges to the validity of Wills, Estoppel claims etc. She has frequently appeared in Court of Protection cases and was the first to obtain on behalf of her client an order for costs against the Office of the Public Guardian

Arshad Ghaffar

Arshad Ghaffar is a highly regarded and trusted commercial dispute resolution lawyer. His experience encompasses the full spectrum of the business cycle.His clients are based in numerous jurisdictions, earning him unrivalled experience of cross-jurisdictional matters as well as different, and often challenging, bodies of law. He represents his clients in a broad array of resolution forums, from the English commercial chancery high court and appellate courts through to domestic and international arbitrations, and frequently receives nominations to sit as an arbitrator and as a mediator in areas of his expertise.In addition to his persuasive oral advocacy skills, Arshad is renowned for his commendable written advocacy. His pen is said to be mightier than a sword, and he uses it precisely to state in writing the basis of his arguments, subsequently to be brought to life before a court or arbitration panel. His clients regard him as “exceptionally proactive” during the life of a dispute resolution process and “remarkable” in his ability to identify and present solutions that are intellectually creative, legally robust and commercially sound. Whilst maintaining a firm grasp of the strict legal aspects of a case, Arshad ensures he also works to achieve his clients’ ancillary commercial and strategic objectives.The disputes in which he is instructed often involve the interplay between the interpretation of complex commercial contracts and their technical underpinnings, such as is the case with large infrastructure projects, and involve the laws of multiple jurisdictions. With arbitration becoming the prevailing forum to address such disputes, his more recent instructions have built up a catalogue of experience in international and domestic commercial and corporate disputes through the process of arbitration at both institutional and ad hoc levels. He has conducted arbitrations under most of the most frequently used institutional rules, including those of the ICC and the LCIA and is also familiar with the UNCITRAL rules.Arshad also has a non-contentious branch to his practice in which he is often called upon to opine on questions concerning the interpretation of laws and regulations in various jurisdictions and the application of treaties and laws with extra-territorial reach such as trade treaties, AML and sanctions.

Catherine Hartson

Catherine Hartston maintains a busy practice across Chambers’ core practice areas, with particular expertise in civil fraud, commercial disputes, trust law, financial services, insolvency and company law.Catherine appears regularly in the High Court and the County Court as sole counsel and as part of larger counsel teams, and she is frequently instructed in complex and high-value disputes. She has considerable international experience and has acted in proceedings concerning various Caribbean and other offshore jurisdictions. She has spent time on secondment at a leading law firms in London and in Guernsey and is called to the bar of the BVI.

Erin Hitchens

Erin is described in the legal directories as “a brilliant senior junior” who is “totally at home in the Commercial Court”. She has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on aviation, civil fraud and asset recovery, shareholder disputes as well as private client matters. She regularly appears in the higher courts, in England and offshore, both led and as sole counsel, at all stages of the litigation process.Clients and solicitors have praised her combination of intellect, legal judgment and commerciality, commenting that she is “sharp and practical”, with “a great eye for detail” and the ability to “come up with creative legal arguments”. She is described as being tenacious in court with a “hugely-effective” and “tough” style of advocacy – “the quiet assassin”.Erin is ranked as a leading junior in aviation and is recognised as “one of the most experienced aviation juniors around”. She is praised for her technical knowledge and experience in complex aviation disputes, representing various contractual parties including lessors, vendors, airlines and maintenance facilities.

Ryan Hocking

Ryan has a busy, broad-based commercial and civil fraud practice which sits alongside, and is complemented by, his specialist practice in company law and insolvency practice. He is a sought-after trial and appellate advocate, and is often trusted with high-stakes litigation involving wider commercial or reputational significance for the client. Ryan’s tactical acumen, robust advocacy, and user-friendly approach make him an invaluable member of any legal team. Ryan’s expertise in relation to cross-border work and his experience of work in offshore jurisdictions is of particular assistance in fraud and asset tracing cases – he is called to the Bar in the British Virgin Islands and additionally has had experience of litigation in the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, the Bahamas, and Antigua (amongst other places). Ryan’s insolvency and restructuring practice includes both personal and corporate insolvency, acting for office-holders as well as creditors, individuals and directors. He advises and acts in respect of (amongst other things) antecedent transactions, misfeasance, disputed proofs of debt, litigation brought by office-holders, restructuring plans, and voluntary arrangements. Ryan’s commercial practice encompasses complex contractual disputes, civil fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, partnerships and LLPs, unjust enrichment, emergency injunctive relief, and cases with an international dimension (including jurisdictional disputes and cross-border insolvencies). Ryan’s company law experience bridges the divide with his specialist insolvency practice, and includes a variety of shareholder disputes: unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up petitions, and misfeasance proceedings.

Andrew Holden

Andrew Holden is a commercial chancery specialist. His highly-regarded practice encompasses traditional chancery work (trusts, probate, estates, and other specialist chancery work); commercial disputes (including business litigation, fraud, and asset tracing); and international arbitration.In the United Kingdom, Andrew enjoys a busy and broad-based commercial chancery practice. He is well known for his traditional chancery work. Andrew is also a leading commercial disputes practitioner, with a particularly busy and successful practice in complex fraud, asset-tracing, and jurisdiction and enforcement litigation.Andrew also has an extensive international practice. He has particular experience acting for the settlors, trustees, beneficiaries, and protectors of private trusts, as well as for the custodians, directors and professional advisers of companies, funds and other complex offshore structures. Andrew also has a high-profile international commercial litigation and arbitration practice, including cross-border fraud and asset-tracing and connected matters engaging principles of international jurisdiction and enforcement.Andrew is the author of Trust Protectors, the first specialist practitioners’ text on the subject of protectors, and writes and publishes regularly in his fields of expertise. He is an Academician of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL), a full member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and the draughtsman of several pieces of offshore legislation, including the Trustee Amendment Act 2014 and the Trusts (Special Provisions) Amendment Act 2020 of Bermuda.

Jessica Hughes

Jessica was called to the bar in 1997 and has had a broad commercial chancery litigation and advisory practice, encompassing domestic and international litigation, arbitration and mediation of business and private client disputes.Her strengths lie in her analytical skills and eye for detail, clients comment she is “ferociously clever”, “has an absolutely first-rate brain” and she “shows incredible attention to detail”.Jessica is qualified as an accredited mediator. She balances her litigation and advisory practice alongside her mediation practice where she excels in building trust, solving problems creatively, and handling challenging discussions. With a broad commercial chancery background and effective mediation skills, Jessica is well-equipped to mediate disputes across any practice area.Jessica’s cases have often had an international or offshore element. She has often been involved in the leading trust and inheritance disputes of the day. In addition to the core areas of her practice, a number of her cases have involved aspects of insolvency, company and partnership law, and she has experience of ﬁnancial services, hedge funds litigation and professional negligence as well.

James Kane

James regularly appears in the High Court and the County Court and has developed a busy commercial chancery practice, in particular in company and insolvency, real property and trust, estates and probate disputes. He welcomes instructions across Chambers’ areas of specialism and is happy to work both as sole counsel and as part of a wider team. James has built a strong company and insolvency law practice. He has acted in a long-running multi-million pound unfair prejudice petition under section 994 of the Companies Act involving the responsibility of directors to scrutinise their co-directors’ actions (Re Solid Star [2023] EWHC 93 (Ch); [2023] EWHC 2277 (Ch); [2024] EWHC 1816 (Ch); [2024] EWHC 2139 (Ch)). He also acted as junior counsel for a solicitor in a novel claim for breach of partnership duties. He regularly acts for both creditors and debtors in company and personal insolvency proceedings and appeared recently as sole counsel at the three-day hearing of a bankruptcy petition involving complex questions of law and contested factual evidence. James’s real property practice is also extensive. He has recently advised on a novel and interesting case involving the liability of trustees facing a claim for a cladding remediation order under the Building Safety Act 2022. He appears for both claimants and defendants in possession claims, ranging from acting for a commercial landlord seeking to forfeit a tenancy for breach of covenant to representing a homeowner in a claim based on an allegedly forged mortgage deed. James also has a busy practice in the trusts and probate ﬁeld, where his current and recent work includes acting for the administrators of an intestate estate in an interest claim involving assets situated in multiple jurisdictions and complex questions of foreign adoption law, as well as acting (with Elspeth Talbot Rice KC) for beneﬁciaries bringing a claim for breach of trust against current and former trustees in multiple jurisdictions. He regularly advises on claims in relation to testamentary capacity, undue influence and under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.

Michael King

Michael is an accredited mediator and has mediated over 200 disputes. He regularly sits as the appointed mediator and has received recognition for his contribution in mediations concerning business, partnership and commercial issues. In addition the legal he is recognized directories have also picked up on the excellent reputation he has developed as mediator in the complicated and specialist area of trust, probate and estates disputes. Until 2017 Michael was an experienced commercial and traditional chancery barrister, whose expertise is recognised by the legal directories. His main areas of practice included commercial disputes, partnership disputes, trusts, probate and estates, property litigation and advice, and charity law. Michael also dealt with cases within his core expertise that involve claims for professional negligence.

Edward Knight

Edward Knight’s practice centres on commercial, company and insolvency disputes, both in litigation and arbitration.Edward has particular skill in dealing with fraud cases and financial issues, having formerly qualified as a chartered accountant in 1995. His expertise enables him to approach matters with an understanding of the practical realities of business and is applicable to a wide range of commercial disputes. Edward is recommended for commercial litigation, fraud, insolvency and professional negligence calling him “very bright”, “with a keen eye for detail and … able to marshal a morass of evidence” and “a formidable cross-examiner”.In addition to appearing in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, Edward has appeared in the High Court in Anguilla, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and the Privy Council and in the DIFC Courts in Dubai. He has also been involved in litigation in other off-shore jurisdictions and in Africa.Edward has also acted as lead counsel in an ICSID Investor-State arbitration in Paris and previously in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, both in claims relating to the expropriation of foreign investments by state organs.Edward is a DIFC (Dubai) Part II registered practitioner.

Tim Koch

Tim Koch specialises in commercial and private client disputes. He has experience in all of Chambers’ core practice areas, including trusts, civil fraud, financial services, insolvency, art and cultural property, and offshore disputes. He welcomes instructions as sole counsel or as part of a wider team.Tim completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Distinction from the BCL in 2020. Prior to commencing practice, Tim supervised tutorials as a Stipendiary Lecturer at New College, Oxford and worked as a Research Assistant on the Digital Assets Project at the Law Commission of England and Wales.

Nicole Langlois

Nicole Langlois has a broad commercial Chancery practice with a particular focus on cases which have a multi-jurisdictional aspect. Her main areas of specialisation are contentious trust matters, company and shareholder disputes, contract claims and professional negligence. She has particular experience of advising in relation to the complex conflicts of laws issues which often arise in cases involving multiple jurisdictions. Her recent and on-going cases involve jurisdictions as diverse as the Isle of Man, the ADGM, Canada, Hong Kong and the Channel Islands.Nicole is one of only a small number of barristers practising at the Bar in London who is also called to the Bar in Jersey. Her background in Jersey law has been said to be of “great assistance in the offshore field” and she has been described as “very bright and perfect for anyone dealing with issues that straddle English and Jersey law.”By reason of Nicole’s qualification as a Jersey Advocate she is also often instructed to provide expert evidence on Jersey law for use in foreign proceedings. Recent examples include: instructions from the Viscount of Jersey to provide evidence on trust law in proceedings before the English High Court; instructions from the directors of a Jersey property investment fund to provide evidence on the law of contract and on company law in a Hong Kong arbitration; and instructions from a UK plc to provide evidence on a variety of Jersey law issues in proceedings taking place before the Moscow City Arbitrazh Court. In 2026 Nicole was appointed as the Commissioner for Commercial Law at the Jersey Law Commission.

Jessica Lavelle

Jessica Lavelle is a commercial chancery barrister whose busy practice spans chambers’ core areas, with interests in civil fraud and asset tracing, commercial disputes, trusts litigation, company law, and insolvency law. She is instructed regularly in both domestic and offshore matters.A Legal 500 “Rising Star”, Jessica has been described as “a pleasure to work with” and someone who “is good at focusing on the key issues and makes sure the clients know she is on their side”.Jessica has appeared both led and unled in the High Court and appears regularly in the County Courts as well as working as part of a larger team on complex multi-national disputes.She regularly carries out pro bono work and was a Chancery Bar Association Pro Bono Champion awardee in 2023.

Christopher Loxton

Christopher’s practice encompasses a broad range of civil work, namely:Aviation and TravelCommercialCivil FraudInsolvencyInsuranceArbitrationHe frequently appears in the High Court’s Chancery and King’s Bench Divisions, the Commercial Court, the TCC, the Business and Property Courts, and a multitude of county courts in and out of London.

Ian Meakin

Ian Meakin has extensive experience in dispute resolution, international business law, including fraud, and trusts and estates.Ian acts as an advocate in international commercial arbitration as well as before the English courts. He also sits as an arbitrator. Ian has been involved in some of the largest and most high profile arbitrations around (e.g. IPOC).He is also known as an expert in sports law, advising and appearing in sports arbitrations, including the International Court of the Appeal of the FIA (Formula One) as well as FIFA, CAS and other arbitral tribunals where he has acted for teams, athletes and drivers, sponsors and sporting federations.Ian is based in Geneva where he has practiced for the last twenty four years. He is available for English and off-shore court and advisory work. He accepts instructions both in English and in French.

Hugh Miall KC

Hugh is a standout commercial chancery silk specialising in high‑value civil fraud, complex commercial litigation, insolvency, company law and trusts litigation. Known for his mastery of intricate factual and legal issues, commanding advocacy and commercial approach, he is frequently instructed in the most demanding disputes – often involving multi‑jurisdictional asset tracing, offshore structures and urgent, high‑stakes applications.Ranked across all his core areas by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, Hugh is praised for his “terrific advocacy”, “superb strategic judgment” and as having the “Midas touch”. He is recognised for immaculate written work and legal analysis, his powerful, precise and persuasive advocacy and his ability to cut through complexity with clarity and precision.Clients and solicitors have praised his blend of intellectual acuity, grasp of the detail, commercial instinct and approachability. He is described as “super bright, down to earth and approachable”, “extremely commercial” and “highly collaborative”, with a reputation for going the extra mile and being exceptionally available and supportive. Clients value his incisive judgment and his ability to distil intricate issues into clear and practical advice, whilst focussing on achieving commercial outcomes.Hugh continues to lead major cases, manage complex litigation teams and shape strategy in disputes of significant importance, both as sole counsel and as part of a wider team. He enjoys working closely with his instructing solicitors and is noted for his work ethic and his ability to turn around substantial work at speed.Hugh has extensive experience in offshore litigation, and is called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. His practice spans major global financial centres, and he is trusted to handle the most sensitive and complex international disputes for businesses, professionals and private individuals alike.

Stephen Moverley Smith KC

Stephen Moverley Smith KC specialises in litigation and arbitration in the fields of commercial, company, trusts and business law. Clients refer to him as “as astute as they come, excellent with clients and has a reassuring manner”.With a background of high profile work for the DTI and Inland Revenue as junior counsel to the Crown (Chancery) prior to taking silk, Stephen has an extensive practice in the fields of hostile corporate and trust litigation, insolvency, civil fraud and joint venture disputes (in both a corporate and partnership context), often for private clients.Stephen has practiced in the regulatory field for many years and was appointed a Joint Inspector by the DTI (now BERR) to investigate allegations of market abuse. His on-going regulatory work includes cases is in the area of collective Investment schemes and land banking.Stephen has an extensive offshore practice, particularly in the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. He is regularly involved in multi-jurisdictional disputes, advising on global strategy, interim remedies, conflicts of law and asset recovery and appearing before courts and arbitral tribunals in a wide variety of jurisdictions.

Heather Murphy

Heather is an experienced advocate with a rich and varied commercial chancery practice. Her core areas of practice are aviation disputes, commercial litigation, including insolvency, civil fraud, company and private wealth litigation. She appears regularly in the High Court as sole counsel.

Alexander Pelling

Alexander Pelling has very substantial experience in commercial and business disputes of all kinds. His cases frequently have an international and/or offshore element and have been before the courts and arbitrators.Alex has particular expertise in banking and bank payment cases (including debt factoring cases), in civil frauds and asset-recovery, and in cases involving the breach of fiduciary obligations. He is regularly involved in obtaining freezing orders and related disclosure orders against banks and other third parties.He has also for many years acted in cases involving financial/capital markets. He has substantial experience of cases that turn on the contractual, fiduciary and regulatory duties relevant to firms and individuals operating in them. Another major area of expertise is financial derivatives (including spread bets and other contracts for differences), foreign exchange and hedge funds. He has drafted terms and conditions for spread betting and forex trading businesses.His other areas of expertise include insolvency and related property disputes, product liability cases and all kinds of contractual disputes.

Alex Peplow

Alex has a wide-ranging commercial chancery practice encompassing insolvency and commercial disputes, civil fraud, company law, trusts, and probate litigation. A significant portion of his work involves international elements, including claims concerning offshore trust and company structures. He also has a particular interest in the legal and practical challenges associated with civil fraud and asset recovery cases.Alex appears regularly in the High Court and the County Court, and several of his cases are cited in leading practitioner guides on a variety of topics.Before coming to the Bar, Alex practised as a solicitor in a Commercial Litigation team. Clients note that “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”.

Steven Reed

Steven is a specialist commercial barrister with a substantial, heavyweight litigation and arbitration practice in company, civil fraud, media, sport and insolvency disputes. He regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts and has extensive experience dealing with everything from procedural and interim applications, including freezing injunctions, search and seize orders, interim injunctions, strike outs and disclosure issues, to multi-day trials.Steven is an effective advocate in court and is in demand for litigation. Client’s comment “Steven excels in oral advocacy, making his points firmly and succinctly. His advice is tailored to maximise the chances of success at hearings”, he is valued for his collaborative approach “He is great to work with and clients love him”.

Harry Samuels

Described in the directories as “a brilliant advocate”, “a star” and a “go-to at the junior end”, Harry is a specialist in commercial and chancery litigation.With experience of trial advocacy, appeals, interim applications, asset tracing and enforcement both onshore and offshore, Harry is well-equipped to handle the most complex and high-value litigation whether led or unled. He is ranked in the 2025 Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide – the only barrister of his year of call to be listed – where he was praised for “having the ear of the judge” and “constructing very persuasive arguments which he delivers very tenaciously”, with his written advice and drafting being described as “of a very high standard”. He has also been appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.Before coming to the Bar, Harry won multiple prizes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and received Gray’s Inn’s top merit-based scholarships for all three of the GDL, Bar Course and pupillage years. He is now a By-Fellow in Law at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, where, in addition to his practice, Harry has taught private law papers – including company, land, equity, and contract – for several years.

Bajul Shah

Bajul is an experienced junior who has a commercial and chancery practice specialising in aviation, commercial litigation, civil fraud, company and insolvency disputes, and trusts and probate disputes.The magnitude of the cases that he works in means that he has a truly international practice acting on disputes centred across the globe, clients comment that “Bajul makes light work of sophisticated, cross-jurisdictional litigation. Clients love the way he translates complex legal issues into sage, commercial advice”. He has had particular experience of disputes arising from the BVI, Anguilla, Cayman, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.Bajul has an excellent reputation, strong market profile and an impressive and loyal client base. Praised for his “very measured advocacy style” clients state that “with Bajul, you get silk-level advocacy, drafting and skills”.Highly commended for his all-round ability as an advocate clients state “Barristers need to be good thinkers and good talkers, and Bajul has both of these qualities in spades. He’s got tremendous intellectual capacity and encyclopaedic knowledge of cases and of the law”.

Timothy Sherwin

Timothy Sherwin is a chancery barrister with a busy practice in private client and business litigation. He specializes in cases which involve a number of overlapping areas of law.Timothy has detailed experience of handling heavy applications, multi-day trials, and appeals. Timothy very frequently appears unled against KCs, sometimes multiple KCs.

Tom Stewart Coats

Tom Stewart Coats has a broad commercial and chancery practice. Tom’s experience includes general commercial disputes (both litigation and arbitration), banking and financial services disputes, aviation, trusts and estates litigation, company and insolvency law, and public international law. Tom has a particular interest in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, whether for companies, private clients or states, which involve multiple forums and different systems of law.Tom appears in both court proceedings (in the UK and offshore) and in arbitration. He is happy to be instructed on his own or as part of a larger team. Tom has appeared unled against KCs in numerous significant hearings in the English High Court and in the DIFC Courts.Tom regularly appears in applications for urgent injunctive relief, including for pre- and post- judgment freezing orders, proprietary injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust orders, and passport orders.Prior to joining XXIV Old Buildings, Tom was an associate at a boutique law firm, Omnia Strategy LLP, where he specialised in arbitration (both investment treaty and commercial) and public international law. Tom is registered to appear as an advocate before the DIFC Courts and has a busy practice before those courts. Tom has also recently acted or advised in relation to matters in the BVI, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Bermuda, the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, the onshore UAE courts, and in ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICSID, DIFC-LCIA, ADGM and AAA arbitrations.

Charles Strachan

Charles Strachan has a busy commercial chancery practice that covers the range of Chambers’ core areas of specialism, in particular civil fraud and commercial disputes both domestic and international. He is a co-author of the disputes chapter in Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation and has a keen interest in group/mass litigation.The international element of Charles’ practice extends from Singapore to the Middle East and the Caribbean. Charles has particular experience of disputes in the DIFC, ADGM and QIFC having spent six months seconded to a large international law firm’s Dubai office and is DIFC Part II Registered.Charles is often instructed to appear as a sole advocate in multi-day trials. In addition to being instructed as sole counsel he is very happy to (and regularly does) work as part of a wider team.Prior to joining Chambers, Charles spent a year at the Court of Appeal as the Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice David Richards (now Lord Richards), tutored trusts to undergraduate law students at UCL and worked as a research assistant to the editors of the current edition of Underhill and Hayton: Law of Trusts and Trustees.

Elspeth Talbot Rice KC

Elspeth Talbot Rice KC has strength and depth right across the spectrum of commercial chancery matters. “An exceptional barrister with a stellar reputation” her expertise and experience straddles complex international trust, succession and probate disputes, and business-based litigation and arbitration including fraud, company, partnership, insolvency and contractual disputes.Elspeth has an extremely loyal client base, she wins the confidence of her clients with her clear, practical and straight forward analysis of issues and their solutions; “Her formidable determination ensures she resolutely champions the client’s position.” She is highly sought after for her incisive legal analysis, the depth of her experience, her ability to present complicated law and facts in a simple and clear way, the energy and zest she brings to the cases with which she deals, her strong court presence and her superb advocacy. Clients praise her as “‘A top barrister, who is extremely analytical, and both straightforward and strategic in her advocacy”, as having “a great court presence, which comes from self-confidence, experience, and thorough preparation” and comment “She’s just outstanding in terms of advocacy and client handling.”Many of her cases have overseas and international elements. She has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean and has appeared in the British Virgin Islands on a number of occasions. She has also been licensed to appear, and has appeared a number of times, as an advocate in the Courts of the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Additionally, she has advised on many matters relating to the jurisdictions of Guernsey, Jersey, the USA, the Bahamas, other islands of the Caribbean, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Steven Thompson KC

Steven Thompson KC has a commercial chancery practice with a particular emphasis on civil fraud, company and joint venture disputes, insolvency and aviation matters. He regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts at the Rolls Building, principally in the Commercial Court, as well as before courts and tribunals overseas.Steven is known for his clear, pragmatic advice and collaborative approach, working closely with clients, solicitors and the wider legal team throughout the course of a dispute. Clients have said “Steven is very good with clients, he has a very accessible manner, and he is real pleasure to work with”. He is recognised as a persuasive advocate and accomplished cross-examiner, combining careful preparation with powerful courtroom advocacy, with clients reporting “Steven is terrific as he’s strategically astute, very thoughtful and really creative when handling difficult issues. He has a clarity of expression that makes difficult concepts seem straightforward.”He has particular experience in the first instance and appellate courts of the British Virgin Islands, the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Cayman Islands, where he has appeared regularly since being first admitted in 2000, 2010 and 2014 respectively.He also appears before the courts of Bermuda and the Abu Dhabi Global Market in substantial shareholder and fraud disputes, and has advised and assisted in matters in Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Hong Kong and Northern Ireland.Steven is regularly instructed in international arbitrations and related court proceedings in the Far East, Dubai and London. He has also been nominated, appointed and sat as sole arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration that proceeded to a full hearing and final award.For over a decade, Steven served on the International Committee of the Bar Council, including as Chair from 2019 to 2021. He was formerly Chair of the Bar’s China Interest Group.

John Carl Townsend

John Carl Townsend has been described in the major legal directories, as “extraordinarily knowledgeable on the crossover of commercial and criminal fraud practice”, “hard-working, technically brilliant”, and as having a “great ability to think outside of the box in difficult cases”.He is recognised for his particular expertise in complex financial and reputational disputes where there is the potential for civil, regulatory and criminal liability and is frequently instructed for his ability to advise and represent corporate clients in all three forums.His practice encompasses a variety of commercial chancery disputes, with a particular focus on claims that derive from allegations of financial misconduct and misrepresentation (including claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unlawful means conspiracy, deceit, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt). John Carl’s practice in asset forfeiture and seizure includes applications for international freezing orders, search orders and applications for Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust relief in civil fraud claims and all proceedings connected to the freezing and forfeiture of assets under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (including High Court Asset Forfeiture under Part 5 and Tax Proceedings under Part 6). He is described by the Legal 500 as having “superb technical knowledge of all POCA related issues and litigation” and as “an outstandingly clever lawyer”. His practice in this area frequently includes the representation of corporates claiming proprietary rights over funds that have been seized under POCA’s civil freezing and forfeiture regime.John Carl also has extensive experience of appearing in the criminal courts for companies and directors in high value, cross-border, financial investigations relating to allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, and money laundering, that have been initiated by the SFO and the FCA. He is ranked in this area by both major directories and is described by Chambers & Partners as having “extensive knowledge, expertise and personality” and a barrister who “is regularly called upon to provide insight into a range of different financial crime matters, especially those that involve commercial aspects”.He has acted for clients in judicial review proceedings, for government agencies and for companies and individuals exposed to allegations of regulatory breach (including FCA regulated corporates and individuals in the financial services industry, corporates regulated by the HSE, law firms dealing with AML compliance, investigations and enforcement by the CMA and sports regulators). His sanctions practice includes international law firms and large corporate entities facing cross-border compliance issues where there is an intersection of European, UK and US sanctions regimes (particularly in respect of Russia).

Francis Tregear KC

Francis Tregear KC is a high-regarded and very experienced silk who is “a fountain of knowledge” and “a pleasure to work with, he’s charming, unflappable under pressure, good with clients and someone who has the ear of the court.” A specialist chancery commercial barrister, Francis’ experience spans all commercial litigation, including banking and finance, company, insolvency and civil fraud as well as complex international trust disputes.“Francis is renowned for possessing a formidable intellect and has a really good way of putting across complicated arguments in simple terms”. He is valued by clients for his comprehensive and detailed understanding of the commercial issues and realities of a case. He is very good at identifying the issues that really matter and finding the quickest and most effective path to the best result. He is acknowledged as an extremely effective advocate both in court and on paper. This has made him a popular choice for all types of business disputes and civil fraud claims involving complex issues of fact, law and forensic accountancy; “Francis is very thorough and gets the result required.”A very significant proportion of his work is international in nature, and he has a sterling reputation for his international expertise. The international character of his practice involves not only appearing in jurisdictions outside England & Wales but also conducting proceedings in England & Wales alongside proceedings in other jurisdictions and providing expert evidence in foreign courts. He has acted and advised in many offshore jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, BVI, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Cyprus and the Isle of Man. He is called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean. He has also conducted proceedings in England & Wales alongside proceedings in the Russian Federation, Nigeria and Switzerland. His pre-eminence in multi-jurisdictional disputes involves him in overall strategy decisions, interim remedies including freezing injunctions, conflicts of law, asset tracing and recovery. He has also provided expert evidence of English law for proceedings in the United States and arbitration proceedings.

Michael Uberoi KC

Michael Uberoi KC is a leading commercial / chancery and regulatory barrister. He has particular expertise in contentious trust law (in relation to both pension schemes and other commercial trusts), commercial disputes involving the financial services sector, and financial services regulation (Michael is also ranked in the directories as a leading barrister in fintech regulation). In 2025, Michael won the award for Legal 500’s ‘Financial Services and Insurance Junior of the Year’.Allied to the above, his practice encompasses breach of director’s duties claims and shareholder disputes, professional negligence actions, and civil fraud.The legal directories describe him as “a first-rate barrister who blends legal skills with a great client-focused approach”, who is “technically brilliant but also a pleasure to work with.” An “exceptional advocate” who is “great on his feet”, and “very dynamic and bright”.Michael’s practice encompasses offshore work, including instructions from the Dubai International Financial Centre, Jersey, and ongoing disputes involving the regulation of Dubai financial services providers.

Graham Virgo KC

Graham read Law as an undergraduate at Downing College, Cambridge and the BCL at Christ Church, Oxford. He is Professor of English Private Law at the University of Cambridge. He is also the 19th Master of Downing College, Cambridge and an Academic Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. His academic interests include the law of restitution, equity and trusts, contract law and criminal law. Graham was appointed Queen’s Counsel honoris causa in 2017 for service to legal education and private law. His work has been frequently cited in the English courts, including in the Supreme Court, and has shaped the direction of the law of unjust enrichment, mistake, and other related areas of restitution, as well as the law of trusts and Equity.

Ben Waistell

Ben is an experienced commercial and chancery junior with particular experience in civil fraud and asset recovery exercises, commercial litigation (including aviation, telecoms, international sale of goods, and energy), shareholder and partnership disputes, international arbitration, and financial services. In recent years Ben has also developed a strong media practice in music, entertainment, and related IP disputes. A large proportion of Ben’s work has an international or offshore element, and he has a particular interest in the conflict of laws and enforcement issues these raise. Notably he acted in Ivanishvili & Ors v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) Limited [2023] CA (Bda) 13 Civ (led by Lord Falconer KC, Steven Thompson KC, and Sebastian Isaac KC), a leading common law authority addressing the applicable law for misrepresentation claims and various aspects of the doctrine of renvoi. He has been instructed to advise and/or act in relation to the DIFC, the Astana International Financial Centre, the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Court, Bermuda, Cayman, Jersey, Guernsey, BVI, the Singapore International Commercial Court, and LCIA, DIFC, LMAA, ICC, ICSID, and ad hoc arbitrations. Ben is a robust advocate who relishes trials and heavy interlocutory applications, both led and unled. He is regularly instructed against far more senior opponents. Ben has repeatedly succeeded in crafting and obtaining unusual or ambitious relief, where required by the client. This has included unusual orders for interim declarations of beneficial ownership, an order for immediate repayment of the fruits of a fraud on an interim injunction application, bespoke injunctive relief in relation to social and digital assets, and the recent obtaining of summary judgment on the issues in a US$3.8m unjust enrichment claim where a set-off was found to be the only viable defence. Adept at suiting his advocacy style to the situation and the tribunal, Ben is known for fearlessly representing his clients’ interests and presenting bold submissions as straightforward solutions.

Daniel Warents

Daniel practises in most areas of chancery and commercial work both in England and in a number of offshore jurisdictions. He has a particular interest in civil fraud, shareholder and joint venture disputes, as well as trust matters, and insolvency.Daniel is recommended as a leading junior in the most recent legal directories across his primary areas of practice, being ranked in Chambers and Partners UK Bar for Chancery: Commercial, Chancery: Traditional, Company, and Offshore, and by The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation, Company, Insolvency, Private wealth and probate, and Trusts and private wealth. The directories note that he is “an exceptional advocate, with an amazing talent when it comes to explaining complex legal issues” and that he “blends serious intelligence with a very pleasant and down-to-earth manner” and “always goes the extra mile“. It is said that he “is good at the academics but can also link it to what it means in the real world. He’ll find a solution if there is one in most cases”. He is described as being “very pragmatic” and it is said that he is “good with judges and clients alike”.Daniel has appeared in some of the most significant cases in his areas of expertise in recent years including El-Husseiny v Invest Bank PSC [2026] AC 1 (the leading case on the interpretation of s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986), Chu v Lau [2020] 1 WLR 4656 (the leading case on just and equitable winding up on the ‘deadlock’ ground), and Investec v Glenalla [2019] AC 271 (the leading case on trustee liability to third party creditors). Daniel is also a barrister member of the Insolvency Rules Committee.Unusually for one of his call, Daniel also has substantial experience of appellate advocacy and has appeared unled in the both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He has appeared in six appeals before the Supreme Court or Privy Council.Daniel also has substantial experience of trials and dealing with applications raising complex legal and factual issues including jurisdiction and forum challenges, applications for injunctive relief, and summary judgment and strike-out applications.He also has had significant experience working on cases in the BVI, Cayman, Bahamas, Bermuda, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey. Daniel is one of only a small number of junior barristers called to the BVI bar so that his fees are recoverable as a disbursement following the decision of the BVI Court of Appeal in Shrimpton v Scriven & Ors BVIHCMAP 2016/0031.

Elizabeth Weaver

Elizabeth Weaver is an “eminent junior” with a broad commercial Chancery practice focusing on private wealth and business disputes. Her range of work and wealth of experience means that she has the technical knowledge needed to analyse cases where corporate and equitable principles overlap and the ability to give commercial and strategic advice and ensure the effective and efficient presentation of a client’s case. Described as “a very articulate and impressively persuasive barrister” Elizabeth is frequently instructed to appear unled against silks and also to work as a part of a team in large-scale private wealth disputes and commercial claims (both High Court litigation and arbitration).