Guildhall Chambers is ‘a good set of chambers that provides a full range of services at varying levels’. Simon Passfield KC, appointed silk in 2024, acted as a liquidator in fraudulent trading and misfeasance claims against directors and is regarded as ’a confident, measured and thorough advocate who goes above and beyond for his clients’. Stefan Ramel represented a landlord creditor before the High Court in Re Fitness First Club Ltd, challenging the proposed restructuring plan under part 26A of the Companies Act 2006, while Hugh Sims KC specialises in corporate insolvency cases.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Guildhall Chambers has a fantastic clerking team which provides an excellent service, in particular Joe Stayte.'
- 'Joe Stayte is always at the end of a phone and can drop everything to help on urgent matters.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers has a great service across the board. Friendly, approachable and eager to help. Stephen Arnold and Joe Stayte deserve particular mention.'
- 'Joe Stayte is the go-to contact. He is very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.'
- 'Stephen Arnold has a good manner with clients and offers the expected level of service. Joe Stayte is very enthusiastic.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for insolvency and general chancery work.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers produces useful and thorough technical guidance on various aspects of insolvency law.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers is well known as one of the powerhouses for counsel in the South West. It has an excellent array of highly experienced barristers from the junior to KC level.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers has a good quality barrister and strength in depth. It has a good availability of counsel for complex and time-sensitive urgent matters.'
- 'Guildhall Chambers is a primary set of chambers - their insolvency barristers are incredibly knowledgeable.'
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.
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.
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.
Richard Ascroft
‘Richard is an excellent advocate and very good on his feet. He is very good with clients and provides clear advice focused on the client's aims. He is bright, attentive and confident.’
John Churchill
‘John is pragmatic and commercial when the circumstances dictate, which is an absolute must in insolvency matters. His advocacy is seamless; he is bold, tenacious and a formidable opponent in court.’
Holly Doyle
James Hannant
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James Wibberley
‘James is a highly able and professional barrister with strong advocacy skills and abilities to examine witnesses.’
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.
Govinder Chambay
'Govinder pays excellent attention to detail, and his technical legal skills are superb. He is great on his feet, really excelling in cross-examination.'