Wilberforce Chambers's Lexa Hilliard KC represented the defendant in BHS Group Limited & Ors v Chappell, Henningson and Chandler, a liquidators’ claim against former directors of BHS for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and wrongful trading. Terence Mowschenson KC acted for the respondents in O’Keefe and another v Caner and others, in which joint liquidators of Jersey companies brought claims alleging breach of directors’ duties and misfeasance. Thomas Grant KC handled very high-value s.238 proceedings in the Cayman Grand Court concerning the value of the minority shareholdings in Chinese social media company Weibo, while, turning to the set's juniors, Sri Carmichael recently acted as sole counsel defending a £50m fraud claim arising out of the liquidation of the Thomas Cook Group.
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Profile
Position
Thomas practises mainly in the Chancery Division and Commercial Court, as well as in the BVI and Cayman Islands, and has particular experience in heavy multi-party disputes. Regarded as one of the leading advocates at the commercial chancery Bar Thomas was awarded Chancery Silk of the Year 2021 by Chambers and Partners. He spends a good part of his professional life in the courtroom and has appeared in a very large number of reported decisions (over the last four years alone Thomas has appeared in over 40 reported cases). Thomas also has a substantial international arbitration practice.
Thomas has a particular interest in fraud claims and is well known for his expertise in obtaining and defending freezing and related interim orders, including Norwich Pharmacal orders. He is also well known for his experience in committal applications arising out of fraud claims, having appeared in some of the most significant cases in this area over the last 10 years. He is also instructed to provide chancery and company law input in very high value matrimonial disputes and has appeared on a number of occasions in leading cases in the Family Division.
His advocacy has been commended by the Court of Appeal as “lucid and compelling” (Zinda v BOS) and as “engaging and very able” (Platform Home Loans v BOS).
Career
Call: 1993
KC: 2013
Education
- BA (Hons) First Class
- Dip Law, Distinction
- Called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands (2015)
- Called to the Bar of Cayman Islands (2022)
- Visiting Professor of Politics and Law at Gresham College for 2020-2022
- Visiting Professor of Law (in Practice) at the London School of Economics 2022-2025
- Bencher of Middle Temple
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Nick Luckman is standout - commercially astute, he has worked cleverly to develop this chambers as a leading disputes practice.'
- 'Antonia Matthew is a standout individual within the set, known for being highly responsive and consistently delivering exceptional service.'
- 'The clerks are proactive on cases and are responsive to enquiries. I have been particularly impressed by Antonia Matthew.'
- 'Excellent service. Stewart Cameron is standout.'
- 'This set is excellent, the clerks are very switched on and the experience of the whole set from the juniors to the seniors is brilliant.'