Wilberforce Chambers is very highly regarded for its strength in handling commercial and Chancery matters, and continues to advise on disputes in the insolvency and banking and finance arenas. Contractual litigation is another key area of instruction, as well as cases involving allegations of fraud. Alan Gourgey KC is acting in Bourlakova & Ors v Bourlakov & Ors, an ongoing case concerning the ownership of assets worth nearly £3bn and claims of breaches of fiduciary duty and fraudulent activity. John Wardell KC is 'a heavyweight at the commercial Bar, a great strategist and a brilliant advocate'. Among the juniors,Emily McKechnie 'has the gravitas of a silk' and Bobby Friedman is 'an astute litigator'.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Bobby is, as described in the legal directories, a “rising star” who is “staggeringly clever” and “noted for his advocacy capabilities and the practical approach he takes to cases.”
He has a very busy practice focusing on commercial disputes, including civil fraud – with extensive experience of freezing injunctions, as well as Russian/CIS disputes; company and insolvency; commercial trusts; and pensions. Bobby appears frequently in both the Commercial and Chancery Courts as well as in arbitrations. He has substantial offshore experience and has been called to the bar in the BVI.
Bobby works well both as sole counsel and when being led as a junior. He frequently appears unled in the High Court, often against silks, in high-value and complicated matters, and has also acted in a junior in numerous difficult and high-profile disputes. Bobby recognises the importance of a detailed and analytical approach, and combines this with pragmatism and tenacity.
Career
Called 2011; Gray’s Inn. Visiting lecturer in Contract Law and European Law at City University (2010-11).
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association; Association of Pension Lawyers; Chancery Bar Association.
Education
Emmanuel College, Cambridge (BA (1st Class), MA); City University (GDL (Distinction, 1st in year), BPTC (Outstanding)). President, Cambridge Union (2004).
Content supplied by Wilberforce Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Tara Shah is very responsive and helpful.'
- 'Tara Shah is extremely responsive.'
- 'Excellent clerks, especially Arin Kalayci.'
- 'Clerks are responsive and keen to assist.'
- 'A very strong set with an excellent roster of high capable counsel.'
- 'A leading set for commercial litigation.'
- 'Wilberforce is a very strong set, with real strength in depth.'