XXIV Old Buildings has ‘a very strong insolvency, commercial and chancery practice, with barristers at all levels’. In Al-Thani & anr v Al Thani & ors, Stephen Moverley Smith KC and Edward Cumming KC were opposing on opposing sides of a case confirming that, at common law, company shares are transmitted, upon the death of a shareholder, in accordance with the law of the deceased’s place of domicile, in respect of the BVI Companies Act.
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Profile
Position
Stephen specialises in litigation and arbitration in the fields of commercial, company, trusts and business law.
With a background of high profile work for the DTI and Inland Revenue as junior counsel to the Crown (Chancery) prior to taking silk in 2002, Stephen has developed 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 off-shore practice, particularly in the British Virgin Islands (since 1995) 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.
Career
Called 1985, Middle Temple; junior counsel to the Crown, Chancery; called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean; Queens Counsel 2002.
Memberships
- Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
- Bar of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Chancery Bar Association
- COMBAR
- European Circuit
- Insolvency Lawyers Association
Education
- Pembroke College Oxford (MA)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'James Ladbrook, now stepped up to Chief Operating Officer, was the standout senior clerk. Paul Horsfield, Perry Brown and Lyndon Tiller are now the main clerks, and all do an excellent job.'
'The clerking team is responsive, efficient and will always does its best to accommodate the client's needs. They are acutely aware of the pressures of the legal industry and always go the extra mile. I would single out James Ladbrook for particular praise. He is diligent, affable and a joy to work with.'
'The clerks are personable and clearly care about their barristers. Led capably and conscientiously by Paul Horsfield, I have been impressed with both George Salvage and Ellie Sedgwick. Overall, part of the reason we instruct XXIV Old Buildings is that we are looked after by the clerks.'
'XXIV Old Buildings is an impressive set with tremendous strength in depth. Their lawyers are first-class at all levels of experience. XXIV is our go-to chambers on all chancery-related matters.'
- 'As a Restructuring and Insolvency team, we use XXIV Old Buildings across a diverse range of cases. At every level, the set has brilliant individuals.'