Set Profile > 4 Stone Buildings > London, England
4 Stone Buildings Offices
4 Stone Buildings
LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3XT
England
4 Stone Buildings > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Financial services regulation Tier 2
At 4 Stone Buildings, members have established strength in representing clients before the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Regulatory Decisions Committee. Charles Marquand is singled out for his expertise in advising a client base of major banks, funds and brokers. At silk level, Sharif Shivji QC, Jonathan Crow QC and John Brisby QC have solid track records in acting for defendant-side clients and regulatory bodies, including the FCA, in significant regulatory actions.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Clerking
‘The clerks are very approachable.’
London Bar > Insolvency Tier 2
4 Stone Buildings counts insolvency and restructuring matters among its core strengths and members include a number of the practice area's leading silks a juniors at various stages in their careers. Jonathan Crow QC is increasingly brought in at the appellate stage of major insolvency-related cases, including Fakhry v Pagden, which involved the liquidation of a venture capital trust. George Bompas QC had a standout year, successfully defending several of the former directors of Kids Company (including former BBC creative director Alan Yentob) in disqualification proceedings, culminating in an 11-week trial at the Insolvency and Companies List of the Business and Property Courts. Recent silk Sharif Shivji QC is rapidly building a renowned practice in this area, and at the junior level, Tiran Nersessian and Christopher Harrison continue to impress.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are my go-to set for insolvency and chancery work.‘
‘High quality throughout.‘
‘The set is very strong in contentious insolvency work, with technically astute barristers from senior silk through to mid-call juniors.‘
‘Great barristers, the next generation is also very strong.‘
‘Strong on insolvency/chancery/company matters.‘
Clerking
‘Ryan Tunkel is very accommodating and he has helped me out on a number of occasions to get the right outcome for my clients.‘
‘Ryan Tunkel stands out as on top of his barristers’ workload.‘
‘David Goddard is outstanding, it is a pleasure to work with him.‘
‘David Goddard is quite simply a legend at the Bar.‘
‘Very good, particularly Ellie Hecht and Ben Lashmar.‘
London Bar > Administrative and public law (including elections)
Leading Silks
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3
4 Stone Buildings brings a huge amount of experience to the table, with several top name silks and juniors. The set has excellent credentials for insolvency-related banking disputes, but also regularly acts on broader finance litigations, including cross-border and offshore claims. Notable highlights include Sharp & Ors v Blank & Ors in which Richard Hill QC acted for the claimant group of Lloyds bank shareholders in a trial that concluded in 2020 with judgment on a costs point. The highly-rated Sharif Shivji QC has a prominent role acting for Credit Suisse in Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, and is also leading two juniors in a major banking dispute before the DIFC. Juniors such as Christopher Harrison, Alastair Tomson and James Knott have also made a good impression on the market.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are a top notch Chancery set and over the years, I have instructed a number of barristers and they have all been of a high standard.’
‘They are a set I have used for many years and they have never let me (or the client) down.’
‘Extraordinarily consistent and good chambers – and the judges know that they always play with a very straight bat which always give valuable credibility and momentum.’
‘4 Stone Buildings has several excellent senior barristers to fill the shoes of Robert Miles QC, who has now joined the bench. They are particularly strong on chancery matters but are comfortable with commercial cases as well.’
‘4 Stone Buildings is the go to set at my former firm and my present firm.’
Clerking
‘David Goddard is the consummate professional.’
‘Always first rate.’
‘First rate – Ryan Tunkel and Ben Lashmar in particular.’
London Bar > Commercial litigation Tier 3
4 Stone Buildings is considered a 'leading commercial chambers with top tier juniors and some of the best silks at the commercial/Chancery Bar'. Clients also appreciate its ability 'to take instructions in a wide range of areas with particular strength in commercial company and fraud disputes'. Members regularly find themselves on the largest disputes to hit the market, such as Autonomy Corporation v Lynch in which Richard Hill QC, Sharif Shivji QC and Tom Gentleman are all involved for various parties - the matter sits against a broader backdrop of multiple civil and criminal cases concerning HP's takeover of Autonomy. George Bompas QC also achieved a notable decision on behalf of the appellant in the Supreme Court in Marex Financial Ltd v Carlos Sevilleja Garcia, a case re-examining the law on reflective loss.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings is a fantastic set to go to in the commercial litigation sphere. They are commercial and able to offer exceptional practitioners throughout the experience spectrum.’
‘4 Stone have set the standard of a modern commercial set – responsive and commercial.’
‘Have used this chambers on many occasions in the past, outstanding selection of leaders and juniors to choose from across all disciplines. Chambers have always supported the wider legal fraternity with outstanding lectures and training seminars. Much deserved recipients of awards and accolades.’
‘A go to set for corporate disputes with great strength in depth.’
‘4 Stone Buildings are a top flight set of barristers with real depth of quality and experience. They are consistently at the top end of reported cases and are a first port of call for almost all matters.’
Clerking
‘David Goddard runs a lean but mighty team – they are responsive, helpful, commercial and practical and makes solicitors’ lives easier. Ben Lashmar and Ellie Hecht were excellent to deal with.’
‘Ryan Tunkel is someone that you can do business with.’
‘Fast, efficient and effective on identifying the right counsel for the job.’
‘Great clerks who are always happy to consider funding options. Ryan Tunkel stands out.’
‘Ben Lashmar has been in the clerk’s room since I started working with this set. The clerks are helpful and I recently needed a barrister to assist on a written advice on short notice on a banking topic. I was impressed with the responsiveness given that everyone was working remotely.’
London Bar > Fraud: civil Tier 3
4 Stone Buildings' combined strengths in commercial and Chancery cases make it a compelling choice for major fraud trials. The overlap into areas such as offshore, insolvency, and company law also ensures its members offer clients a broad spread of relevant expertise. Testament to the strengths of its members are leading roles on major cases such as Autonomy Corporation v Lynch, a case concerning the Hewlett-Packard's purchase of the company, in which Richard Hill QC lead a team of three members on behalf of the defendant; the civil litigation sits against a backdrop of the US government's request for Lynch's extradition. Jonathan Crow QC was instructed by the Secretary of State for Health in Secretary of State for Health v Servier Laboratories Ltd, which went to the Supreme Court following the claim that Servier had overcharged the NHS, having allegedly wrongly secured extensions to its patents.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are a top flight set of barristers with real depth of quality and experience. They are consistently at the top end of reported cases and are a first port of call for almost all matters.’
‘Stone Buildings has several excellent senior barristers to fill the shoes of Robert Miles QC, who has now joined the bench. They are particularly strong on Chancery matters but are comfortable with commercial cases as well.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient and helpful.’
‘David Goddard runs a tight, responsive ship.’
‘Excellent. David Goddard has been ably assisted over more recent times and their clerking is both sensitive as well as pragmatic.’
‘Ben Lashmar is an excellent clerk and looks after us very well.’
London Bar > Offshore Tier 4
A long-standing notable chambers for offshore work, 4 Stone Buildings excels in cross-border contentious and advisory work, corporate and commercial disputes, and international trusts and funds. Orlando Fraser QC led 2021 silk Hermann Boeddinghaus QC in a 12 day BVI Zoom trial in June 2020, acting for the widow and executrix of the estate of a late billionaire in a complex family dispute. On the junior side, Alexander Cook acted as sole counsel in the BVI on a trial over the ownership of a BVI company holding a £2m property in Chelsea Harbour.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are riding high at the moment.‘
‘An excellent set of chambers with high quality counsel at the junior end as well as the senior end.‘
‘4 Stone Buildings is a super set.‘
Clerking
‘David Goddard is particularly outstanding as the head of chambers.‘
‘David Goddard is terrific, top notch and easy to work with. Old school in all the very best of ways.‘
‘David Goddard is the godfather of the clerks room (in a good way) and probably of the barrister’s clerks everywhere – he always knows what’s happening and manages to make things work.‘
‘Ryan Tunkel is incredibly responsive, pragmatic and commercial.‘
‘The clerks are very helpful and in particular they have strong contacts with solicitors firms in London.‘
London Bar > Company and partnership
4 Stone Buildings has an impressive reputation in company litigation relating to directors duties, shareholder disputes and breaches of fiduciary duty. Jonathan Crow QC is a go-to barrister for cases destined for the Supreme Court and Privy Council, with recent highlights involving complex issues at the cross-sector of charity and company law. Supported by Sharif Shivji and Tom Gentleman, Richard Hill QC represented Autonomy founder Michael Lynch, who is defending civil fraud claims of over $5bn, in litigation currently running in parallel with an extradition request from the United States. Mandates often incorporate multiple jurisdictions, regularly with significant offshore aspects; John Brisby QC is assisting EY Bermuda with various investigations and potential claims while Orlando Fraser QC led 2021 silk Hermann Boeddinghaus QC and Eleanor Holland in a 12-day trial in the BVI Commercial Court. Andrew De Mestre QC is sought out for high-stakes trials, having been instructed by the claimants in Travelport v WEX, an expedited trial arising from a $1.7bn takeover affected by Covid-19.
Company - Leading Silks
Company - 2020 Silks
Company - 2021 Silks
Company - Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
The excellence of their practitioners in company and insolvency law is second to none.
Very good advocates all round.
A leading company law set with deep bench.
The barristers have all been top-notch and easy to get on with.
Very strong in company law.
Clerking
The clerks are very responsive and easy to work with.
David Goddard runs an excellent team of clerks. They are committed, punctual, commercial and very user friendly.
Old school but the better for it.
Ryan Tunkel is responsive and helpful.
David Goddard is a stalwart of the commercial and chancery bar and is a truly great clerk.
4 Stone Buildings > Set Profile
4 Stone Buildings enjoys an enviable reputation in relation to company/commercial litigation and advice, and many other related areas of law.
The Chambers: Chambers currently consist of 38 members, including 9 silks. Four members are currently on the Treasury panels. Three members are appointed to sit as Deputy Judges of the High Court. One of the silks is Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster and another is Attorney General to the Prince of Wales. One member is on the board of the Charity Commission. Chambers belong to the Commercial Bar Association and the Chancery Bar Association.
Work Undertaken: Work covers all aspects of company and commercial litigation, including shareholders disputes, corporate fraud and asset recovery as well as commercial arbitration, banking, financial services and regulatory work, international trusts and public law. Since few business disputes or problems lend themselves to rigid categorisation, we cover a wide range of related legal specialisations in our core areas of expertise. Members of Chambers are just as likely to appear in the Commercial Court as in the Chancery Division, and we are also frequently instructed in cases overseas, particularly in the Caribbean and the Far East. Apart from our commercial clientele, we also have a strong regulatory tradition in the commercial and financial sectors.
Publications: Members of chambers have contributed to numerous publications in their specialist fields including Litigation in the Time of Covid-19, Annotated Companies Acts (Oxford University Press), Tolley’s Company Law, Atkin Court Forms 2nd ed., (volumes on companies, winding up and equitable remedies), Halsbury’s Laws of England 4th ed. (volumes on corporations and money); A Practitioner’s Guide to Directors’ Duties and Responsibilities (City & Financial Publishing).
International: Chambers undertake a substantial amount of work for overseas clients and members regularly receive instructions from the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, Central Asia and the Far East. In recent years, members have appeared in court in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Gibraltar, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Malaysia, Singapore, Nevis, Dominica, Seychelles and Trinidad. In addition certain members are full members of the Northern Ireland Bar, the Cayman Islands Bar and the Bar of the British Virgin Islands.
Recruitment: 4 Stone Buildings’ policy is to seek to have up to 2 pupils each year and to recruit each of those pupils that meet the required standard. Prospective applicants for pupillage will find further information including details of chambers’ awards in the Pupillage Pack which is available on request. Mini-pupillages are encouraged.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior clerk | GODDARD, David | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOMPAS QC, George (1975) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRISBY QC, John (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROW QC, Jonathan (1981) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HILL QC, Richard (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLUTTERBUCK QC, Andrew (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FRASER QC, Orlando (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOEDDINGHAUS QC, Hermann (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHIVJI QC, Sharif (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARMAN, Sarah (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARRISON, Christopher (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GREENWOOD, Paul (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COX, Nicholas (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MARQUAND, Charles (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MARKHAM, Anna (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | de MESTRE, Andrew (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DENTON-COX, Gregory (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NERSESSIAN, Tiran (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TOMSON, Alastair (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLLIMAN, Adam (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GENTLEMAN, Tom (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LILLY, Donald (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COOK, Alexander (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TIMMINS, Nicola (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KNOTT, James (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLLAND, Eleanor (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WIGLEY, Joseph (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VAN DEN BERG, Nienke (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROSSLEY, Edward (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROSE, Andrew (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SAMPSON, Albert (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HASSELL, Lara (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HORNER, Emma (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | OLLIFF-COOPER, Guy (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McGLONE, Zara (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ANDERSON, Karl (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KESSLER, Daniel (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHARAFI, Hossein (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WRIGHT, Nicholas (2019) |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mr Karl Anderson | Barrister specalising in commercial litigation; company law; civil fraud; insolvency; commercial chancery… | View Profile |
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Hermann Boeddinghaus | Hermann Boeddinghaus has over 20 years’ experience as a specialist in corporate… | View Profile |
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George Bompas | Head of Chambers. Areas of practice: company (including shareholder disputes), insolvency, banking,… | View Profile |
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John Brisby | John Brisby is a seasoned litigator, with substantial experience of heavy trials… | View Profile |
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Andrew Clutterbuck | Andrew Clutterbuck’s practice covers many areas of commercial, trust and company activity.… | View Profile |
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Alexander Cook | Barrister with a litigation-focused commercial Chancery practice, with a significant emphasis on… | View Profile |
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Nicholas Cox | Nicholas Cox is an exceptionally versatile senior junior with a silk-level commercial… | View Profile |
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Edward Crossley | Edward specialises in commercial and company litigation and arbitration. Edward’s work frequently… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Crow | Jonathan’s practice straddles a broad range of litigation, largely in the appellate courts… | View Profile |
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Gregory Denton-cox | Gregory’s practice focuses on commercial and chancery litigation. He has particular experience… | View Profile |
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Orlando Fraser | Orlando’s practice is at the commercial end of the Chancery Bar, with… | View Profile |
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Tom Gentleman | Tom is a leading commercial chancery junior. His practice covers the full… | View Profile |
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Paul Greenwood | Recent cases include a unfair prejudice petition concerning a company owning hotels… | View Profile |
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Sarah Harman | Barrister specialising in company and commercial litigation and advice, bankruptcy and insolvency,… | View Profile |
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Christopher Harrison | Commercial and Chancery disputes lie at the heart of Christopher’s practice and… | View Profile |
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Ms Lara Hassell-Hart | Lara was Called to the Bar in 2014. She has a busy… | View Profile |
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Richard Hill | Richard Hill QC is a litigation specialist focusing on commercial, capital markets and… | View Profile |
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Eleanor Holland | Called 2010, Lincoln’s Inn; tenant 4 Stone Buildings 2011 to date, following… | View Profile |
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Adam Holliman | Adam has a broad commercial chancery practice. He often works as junior… | View Profile |
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Emma Horner | Emma’s specialises in commercial chancery litigation and arbitration with particular interests in… | View Profile |
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Daniel Kessler | Daniel accepts instructions across the full spectrum of work undertaken by Chambers,… | View Profile |
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James Knott | James has a broad commercial and company-based practice. His work encompasses advice,… | View Profile |
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Donald Lilly | Barrister specialising in corporate insolvency, commercial, company and trust litigation, with a… | View Profile |
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Anna Markham | Anna Markham is a specialist in company, commercial, financial services and insolvency… | View Profile |
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Charles Marquand | Barrister specialising in financial services law and regulation. Regularly advises on application… | View Profile |
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Zara McGlone | Barrister | View Profile |
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Tiran Nersessian | Tiran is highly regarded for his courtroom advocacy and has particularly extensive… | View Profile |
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Mr Guy Olliff-Cooper | Guy has a broad commercial Chancery practice with particular emphasis on civil… | View Profile |
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Mr Albert Sampson | Albert has a busy practice as an advisor and advocate embracing commercial… | View Profile |
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Sharif Shivji | Formerly a derivatives trader in London and Hong-Kong, now Queen’s Counsel specialising… | View Profile |
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Nicola Timmins | Nicola is a litigation specialist focusing on commercial and commercial chancery litigation,… | View Profile |
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Alastair Tomson | Litigation-focussed international practice with experience of High Court and appellate proceedings, and… | View Profile |
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Joseph Wigley | Barrister with a litigation-focused commercial chancery practice across 4 Stone Buildings’ practice… | View Profile |
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Nicholas Wright | Barrister specialising in commercial and commercial Chancery litigation, particularly company law and… | View Profile |
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Andrew de Mestre | Andrew’s practice covers the full range of work done in Chambers, spanning… | View Profile |
Top Tier Set Rankings
Set Rankings
- London Bar Financial services regulation
- London Bar Insolvency
- London Bar Administrative and public law (including elections)
- London Bar Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
- London Bar Commercial litigation
- London Bar Fraud: civil
- London Bar International arbitration: counsel
- London Bar Offshore
- London Bar Company and partnership