For the members of South Square, offshore mandates surrounding the financial services, insolvency and company law, and fraud-related disputes are key pillars of practice. The set boasts a strong bench of reputable silks, including David Allison KC, who is representing Aston Martin in a case surrounding a just and equitable winding up petition in the Jersey courts. Barry Isaacs KC has substantial knowledge of insolvency and banking and finance work, while Tom Smith KC is a specialist in offshore and funds work in the Cayman Islands; he acted for the claimants in Primeo Fund v HSBC, a $2bn claim regarding allegations of fraud and negligence against a former administrator and custodian. Felicity Toube KC has expertise in international proceedings and is especially experienced in major corporate restructurings. David Alexander KC is skilled in civil fraud cases, Glen Davis KC has notable expertise in litigation proceedings arising out of Gibraltar, and Richard Fisher KC frequently handles insolvency and commercial matters in the BVI, Cayman Islands, and Channel Islands. Jeremy Goldring KC is another key silk at the set handling banking and finance and company law matters. Making silk in the 2024 round, Adam Al-Attar KC is a key name to note in the insolvency and restructuring space. Amongst the set’s juniors, Clara Johnson has a particular strength in disputes with cross-border elements, especially those involving injunctive relief. She represented the joint liquidators in a case surrounding the collapse of a global construction company that had debts of $2bn (Joannou and Paraskevaides (Overseas) Limited (In Liquidation) v Dakis Joannou and others).
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Profile
Position
Tom specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, banking and finance, corporate insolvency and restructuring and company law including investment funds (hedge funds and private equity) and civil fraud and asset recovery.
Tom is an experienced advocate in both court litigation and arbitrations. He has extensive experience of major commercial trials. He has also been involved in many of the major restructuring and insolvency cases in recent years, including significant Supreme Court and Privy Council decisions in the fields of banking, insolvency and restructuring and investment funds. Tom frequently appears as an advocate both in England and in other jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Dubai, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Gibraltar.
Tom is described as being very bright, quick-witted and very approachable. He is named by Chambers and Partners as a leading silk in seven areas (banking & finance, chancery: commercial, commercial dispute resolution, company, fraud: civil, restructuring/insolvency and offshore) and as a star individual in restructuring and insolvency.
Tom is Head of Chambers at South Square. He is also a member of the Financial Markets Law Committee and a Deputy High Court Judge, Chancery Division.
Career
Called 1999 (Middle Temple); QC 2014.
Memberships
COMBAR; Chancery Bar Association; Insolvency Lawyers’ Association; London Court of International Arbitration.
Education
Clare College, Cambridge (1997 MA Law, 1998 LLM).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Dylan Playfoot is probably the best clerk in the business.'
- 'South Square's clerks are always easy to deal with and highly commercial; particular shout out to Tom Gibbons.'
- 'I have worked with Luke Barefoot for a number of years. He is very responsive and pleasant.'
- 'South Square's clerks are always easy to deal with and highly commercial; particular shout out to Luke Clark.'
- 'Excellent service. Luke Clark and Lewis Madle are very efficient and quick to respond.'
- 'Since I started to work with South Square, the set has grown considerably, but the level of service that you receive from the clerks, Dylan Playfoot in particular, has never faltered.'
- 'The South Square clerk team, lead by Dylan Playfoot, is very knowledgeable, professional and easy to deal with.'