Mark Phillips KC
‘Mark is a wonderful mixture of charming and combative. He is a fighter that all clients feel comforted by having in their corner, rather than against them.'
Seen as ‘the leading restructuring and insolvency set in the country’, South Square excels across the spectrum of insolvency litigation, with silks and juniors acting at all levels of domestic and international proceedings. The chambers also maintains particular expertise in restructuring plans. Acting for the company in Re Thames Water Utilities Holdings Ltd, Tom Smith KC appears opposite Adam Al-Attar KC, David Allison KC and Mark Phillips KC, each acting for the different creditors, in this high-profile restructuring plan concerning Britain’s largest water utility company. Going to the Court of Appeal, Felicity Toube KC and Daniel Bayfield KC appeared in Re Adler, another restructuring plan that clarified the law on cross-class cram down, a mechanism to impose a plan on dissenting classes of creditors. Henry Phillips was led in Re Cine UK Limited, acting for a group of cinema operating companies in resisting an injunction which sought to restrict the group from breaching the terms of their agreement.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Chris Filby is extremely proactive and will always endeavour to find alternative solutions and counsel.'
- 'South Square is the go to set for cross-border insolvency and commercial litigation.'
- 'South Square is the leading restructuring and insolvency set in the country.'
- 'The clerks typify the barristers with their professionalism. They are responsive and approachable.'
- 'South Square are undoubtedly the "go-to" set for insolvency. Top notch across the board.'
- 'They are the best in the market, by far. I've not come across a barrister there who I don't rate highly.'
Lawyers
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
David Allison KC
‘David is a master tactician, brilliantly organised and an amazing advocate. He is the leading insolvency silk at the bar.'
Tom Smith KC
‘Tom is in a league of his own in the London restructuring market. He is a go-to barrister for any complex matter.’
Felicity Toube KC
'Felicity has a huge level of knowledge and experience in this area and is very strong at providing strategic advice.'
David Alexander KC
‘David is bright, engaged and personable so a real client favourite. He is a well-prepared advocate and enjoys being on his feet.'
Daniel Bayfield KC
‘Daniel is a strategic thinker and a first class advocate who is well liked by the judiciary.'
Richard Fisher KC
‘Richard is a go-to silk. He is thorough and thoughtful, while also being commercial and clear.’
Barry Isaacs KC
'Barry is impressively meticulous. No point goes unconsidered. This is also reflected in his advocacy, which is polished and incisive.'
Mark Arnold KC
'Mark is an exceptional KC for company and restructuring and insolvency work.'
Joseph Curl KC
‘Joe is always excellent whether advising, drafting or on his feet. His legal skills are outstanding and he combines these with keen commercial awareness.'
Glen Davis KC
Stephen Robins KC
'Provides clear advice, client friendly and very enthusiastic.'
Jeremy Goldring KC
2024 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Adam Al-Attar KC
'Adam is a phenomenal advocate. If you have a really tricky point which the judge critically must understand, he is just about the best person for the job.'
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Georgina Peters
‘Really knows her stuff on tricky and detailed issues of insolvency law, responsive and really nice to work with.'
Henry Phillips
William Willson
Matthew Abraham
'Matthew is a superb advocate, an excellent strategist and is great with clients. He is highly technical and has a deep understanding of the law.'
Charlotte Cooke
‘Very capable.'
Marcus Haywood
‘Marcus is extremely bright, excellent on his feet, very user-friendly and commercial.'
Edoardo Lupi
'Edoardo is brilliant. He is an elegant advocate who mobilises simple but effective narratives to drive home winning points.'
Robert Amey
'Robert is clever, commercial and with a great eye for detail.'
Clara Johnson
‘Clara is extremely commercial and ensures her advice is tailored to the commercial requirements of the client as well as being the legally preferred solution.'
Philip Judd
‘Philip is extremely responsive, client-friendly and able to focus on the important points in the matter, while covering all relevant scenarios.’
Oliver Hyams
‘ Exceptionally knowledgeable and a strategic thinker – Ollie consistently delivers clear and pragmatic advice.’
Andrew Shaw
Calm, eloquent, intelligent and seems to read a court room well - he is destined for great things.'
Rory Brown
Madeleine Jones
‘Madeleine is exceptionally technically sound, with a sharp legal mind and a thorough grasp of complex issues.'
Lloyd Tamlyn
‘Excellent insolvency knowledge, first-rate judgement and enormous brain.’
Kira King
'Kira is extremely knowledgeable of the relevant case law and able to explain it clearly and succinctly for a foreign audience. Clients would not hesitate to instruct her again.'
Hannah Thornley
Hilary Stonefrost
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Paul Fradley
'Paul's strengths include his first rate legal analysis and his clear written advocacy in his draft skeleton arguments.'
Daniel Judd
'Daniel is an extremely bright and capable barrister who has a remarkable ability to readily analyse and assess complex cases.'
Rabin Kok
'He excels in his years. He is super bright and easy to deal with.'