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
He has a predominantly litigation-based practice with a particular emphasis on company, commercial, banking, insolvency and restructuring, civil fraud and contentious trust work. He has appeared regularly in courts in England, including the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Privy Council. David has also acted extensively in relation to international cases including in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Jersey and Gibraltar.
Over the course of the more than 30 years that David has been at the Bar (11 of which have been in silk) David has been instructed in relation to many of the major insolvencies that have taken place since the late 1980s, including BCCI, Maxwell, Parmalat, TXU, Madoff, Enron, Lehman, MF Global and Landsbanki.
A specialist and highly recommended trial lawyer David has appeared in many major, lengthy trials including in relation to the Maxwell saga, the KWELM litigation, New Gadget Shop and the Thyssen litigation in Bermuda. More recent significant trials include Smithson v Naggar (breach of duty/misrepresentation claim), LBI hf v Stanford (claim for repayment of £20 million), International Consolidated Minerals Limited, Moses v Fry (breach of duty claim against former administrators), Marrache & Co v Jyske Bank (dishonest assistance/knowing receipt claim in Gibraltar) and Ma v Wong (unfair prejudice claim in BVI).
Career
Called 1987; QC 2006; called ad hoc to the Bars of Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Memberships
COMBAR; Chancery Bar Association.
Education
Magdalene College, University of Cambridge (MA).
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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.'