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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Edward is a barrister specialising in most areas of chancery and commercial litigation. He particularly relishes advocacy, appearing frequently before a range of courts and tribunals, and has extensive experience of international and multi-jurisdictional disputes. This particular international emphasis was further enhanced when he was retained for a substantial period to advise a leading offshore firm on a number of business and trust matters involving Guernsey and the BVI. Edward’s breadth of expertise is recognised by the leading directories. He is not only recommended in the chancery sphere for traditional chancery litigation, private client disputes (trust and probate), company disputes and insolvency disputes, but also for commercial dispute resolution, banking and finance, and aviation.
Career
Call: 2006 | Silk: 2018
Edward read Law at Downing College, Cambridge where he was President of the Cambridge Union. After leaving Cambridge he was a Thouron Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, studying at both the Law School and Wharton Business School. He then became director of a group of engineering and property management companies, acquiring a practical understanding of the commercial realities of business and, in particular, company law, before completing pupillage at XXIV Old Buildings.
Languages
French, basic German.
Memberships
- Chancery Bar Association
- Commercial Bar Association
- Institute of Art & Law
- Guernsey International Lawyers Association
- Bar Pro Bono Unit
Education
- MA (Cantab)
- LLM (UPenn)
- Thouron Fellowship to the University of Pennsylvania
- Queen Mother’s Scholar and Harmsworth Exhibitioner of Middle Temple
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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.'