Particularly reputed as 'the go-to set for cross-border insolvency and commercial litigation', South Square's members continue to act in high-profile claims before all levels of the UK court system, as well as offshore forums. David Allison KC acted for Standard Chartered Bank in Katra v Standard Chartered Bank, a dispute concerning the setting aside of a statutory demand. In another matter, Tom Smith KC represented the defendant in NatWest Markets NV & Anr v CMIS Nederland BV & Anr, a high-profile dispute concerning the use of indemnity instruments and mortgage-backed securitisations.
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Profile
Position
Tom specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, banking and finance, corporate insolvency and restructuring and company law including investment funds (hedge funds and private equity) and civil fraud and asset recovery.
Tom is an experienced advocate in both court litigation and arbitrations. He has extensive experience of major commercial trials. He has also been involved in many of the major restructuring and insolvency cases in recent years, including significant Supreme Court and Privy Council decisions in the fields of banking, insolvency and restructuring and investment funds. Tom frequently appears as an advocate both in England and in other jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Dubai, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Gibraltar.
Tom is described as being very bright, quick-witted and very approachable. He is named by Chambers and Partners as a leading silk in seven areas (banking & finance, chancery: commercial, commercial dispute resolution, company, fraud: civil, restructuring/insolvency and offshore) and as a star individual in restructuring and insolvency.
Tom is Head of Chambers at South Square. He is also a member of the Financial Markets Law Committee and a Deputy High Court Judge, Chancery Division.
Career
Called 1999 (Middle Temple); QC 2014.
Memberships
COMBAR; Chancery Bar Association; Insolvency Lawyers’ Association; London Court of International Arbitration.
Education
Clare College, Cambridge (1997 MA Law, 1998 LLM).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Great set.'
- 'Excellent for commercial litigation.'
- ''South Square is a go to set for commercial litigation.'
- 'The South Square clerks are very knowledgeable and responsive.'
- 'The clerks are experts in getting things done.'
- 'Great responsiveness from clerks.'
- 'Friendly and commercial.'
- 'The clerks are friendly, professional and easy to deal with.'