Set Profile > Chambers of George Bompas QC > London, England

IT and telecoms Tier 1

Financial services regulation Tier 2

4 Stone Buildings houses members with experience representing a broad range of parties affected by the UK's financial services regulatory framework. The set's barristers also have strong expertise advising on regulatory issues in other key jurisdictions, including Dubai, where Sharif Shivji is experienced. In the UK, notable mandates include appearing before the Supreme Court in FCA v Macris, where Jonathan Crow QC represented the Financial Conduct Authority.

Insolvency Tier 2

4 Stone Buildings' members have developed strong practices in insolvency and restructuring work, including representations of the UK government. Jonathan Crow QC recently appeared in PST v OW Bunker; a major case for the shipping industry that raised issues including the application of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 to any contracts which include a retention of title clause and a licence to consume. Tiran Nersessian is also recommended, and has a broad practice of private and government instructions, including acting as sole counsel to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before the Court of Appeal in Botleigh Grange v HMRC. Andrew de Mestre QC took silk in 2019 and recently acted for the liquidators of Hellas Telecommunications. Meanwhile, Sharif Shivji acted for the claimants, the liquidators of various BVI companies, in Stephen Akers v Deutsche Bank AG, winning a €200m settlement for the clients following accusations that Deutsche Bank sold toxic and complex credit derivative instruments.

Proceeds of Crime Act and asset forfeiture Tier 2

Administrative and public law (including local government) Tier 2

Commercial litigation Tier 3

4 Stone Buildings has 'excellent barristers across the board' with 'very sharp minds combined with a user-friendly and commercially minded clerking team'. For some, the set is often the 'first-choice chambers for all commercial Chancery work' and boasts several superstar silks. Recent highlights include Autonomy Corporation v Dr Michael Lynch, in which Robert Miles QC, Richard Hill QC and Sharif Shivji are representing Dr Michael Lynch, and Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Limited and others.

Fraud: civil Tier 3

4 Stone Buildings is a popular destination for high-end fraud work, and the set's top silks are regularly instructed on some of the City's largest cases. Recent cases have included Autonomy Corporation v Dr Michael Lynch, in which   is leading a team of three members on behalf Michael Lynch. Another highlight is Danilina v Chernukhin in which Jonathan Crow QC is representing the claimant.

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 4

4 Stone Buildings houses a strong complement of highly experienced banking silks and juniors. The set can often be found on complex mandates, usually with an insolvency or regulatory bent. Notable cases included Singularis Holdings Limited v Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited, in which Robert Miles QC and Andrew de Mestre QC represented the claimant, and Jonathan Crow QC the respondent. Richard Hill QC, Sharif Shivji and Alastair Tomson also represented the claimaint in Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen before the DIFC.

Company and partnership

A 'go-to set', 4 Stone Buildings covers all aspects of company law, including formations and dissolutions, M&A, corporate finance, regulatory issues, directors' duties, and shareholder rights. Autonomy Corporation v Michael Lynch (Hewlett Packard's litigation against the former CEO of Autonomy, over its $18bn acquisition of the company), continues to occupy a number of members, most notably Robert Miles QC and accomplished senior-junior Sharif Shivji. Gregory Denton-cox is another junior to note, with significant experience in shareholder and investor disputes. He is acting for a shareholder in a joint venture company incorporated in Singapore in arbitration and court proceedings against another shareholder regarding an option over the company's principal asset.

Set overviews: England and Wales

A ‘first-choice chambers’ for commercial Chancery work, 4 Stone Buildings is a ‘go-to’ set for company, insolvency, and financial services disputes, with junior barristers who have ‘very sharp minds’ and are ‘uniformly good’. Andrew de Mestre QC took silk in 2019 strengthening chambers at the senior end. Led by senior clerk David Goddard, the clerking team is described as ‘responsive, helpful, user friendly, and commercially minded’. First junior Jason Doyle and clerks Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel are highly regarded by instructing solicitors. Offices in: London