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).
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Richard has a commercial dispute focused practice with a particular specialism in domestic and cross-border reconstruction and insolvency, banking, fraud and financial products/derivatives litigation. He regularly acts in relation to multi-jurisdictional and complex commercial disputes, and is a member of the BVI bar.
In recent years Richard has appeared in various substantial and high-profile cases in England at all levels of tribunal up to the Supreme Court, including disputes arising out of the Lehman Bros insolvency (Waterfall I and IIproceedings, and Firth Rixson), Eurosail, Snoras Bank, Federal Mogul (reinsurance recoveries) and the Servaas state immunity litigation.
He has acted in relation to many of the major recent UK and international insolvencies/restructurings, including Lehman Brothers, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Noble Group, Codere SA, Co-Op Bank, Deutsche Annington, Telecolumbus and Cattles, and has been involved in several long commercial trials in the UK and Cayman Islands (including the Federal Mogul, Primeo v HSBCand the Fortuna shareholder disputes).
Career
Called 2000; (QC 2020) called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court 2009.
Languages
French.
Education
University College London (1998 LLB, First Class); Oxford University (1999 BCL, First Class).
Content supplied by South Square
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.'