Five Serle Court members feature in The Lawyer’s ‘Blockbuster trials to watch out for in October’
Five Serle Court members are featured in The Lawyer’s ‘Blockbuster trials to watch out for in October’.
Daniel Lightman KC, Charlotte Beynon, and Tim Benham-Mirando were mentioned in relation to the BHS Group liquidation proceedings – Re BHS Group Ltd (in liquidation) – in which they are acting for the third respondent, Dominic Chandler.
The liquidators of four of the BHS group of companies have brought claims for alleged wrongful trading, misfeasance, breach of statutory and fiduciary duties against the companies’ former directors. The claims are alleged to be worth over £130m and are said to have arisen in the period following the sale of BHS by Sir Philip Green to Retail Acquisitions Limited for £1.
Earlier in the proceedings Edwin Johnson J gave an important judgment ([2022] Bus LR 1510) in which he allowed Mr Chandler’s appeal against the decision of Deputy ICC Judge Schaffer ([2022] 2 BCLC 145; [2022] BCC 457) reaffirming that causation and quantum are essential elements of a cause of action under section 214 of the Insolvency Act 1986, as they are for breach of duty claims under section 212, and that it is essential for liquidators to plead these elements. He further held that given the scale of the claims and complexity of the BHS litigation, it is not acceptable for a case on the date of knowledge for the purposes of a claim under section 214 to be left “at large” on the pleadings.
Jonathan Adkin KC and Zahler Bryan were mentioned in relation to the ‘tuna bonds’ litigation – Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and others – in which they are acting for the Republic of Mozambique.
This case concerns an alleged enormous international fraud said to have been perpetrated on the Republic to secure its entry into sovereign guarantees purportedly to secure funding for maritime protection and tuna fishing contracts. The alleged conspiracy included the payment of bribes by entities within the Privinvest group, with the loss caused by the alleged conspiracy having had a devastating impact on the Republic, the third poorest nation in the world.
Read the full article here (behind a paywall).
Related Barristers
Jonathan Adkin KC
Call: 1997
Silk: 2013
As part of a broad Chancery-Commercial practice, Daniel Lightman KC engages with challenging and novel issues of law and civil procedure, in particular concerning shareholder disputes (having appeared in a number of landmark unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims), company law (including in matrimonial proceedings), insolvency, civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence.
Shortlisted for Company/Insolvency Silk of the Year in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards in both 2026 and 2024 and shortlisted for Chancery Silk of the Year in the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2026, Daniel is recommended in Band 1 for Silks for Company by both Chambers UK, 2027 and the Legal 500, 2027 – and in Band 1 for Chancery Commercial by Chambers. Chambers UK, 2027 describes him as “A go-to silk for high value, complex disputes who leads the pack on shareholder disputes. He has great judgement and always furnishes reliable advice” and praises him for “constantly identifying innovative solutions to complex problems” and building “outstanding relationships with the wider legal team.”
Daniel has an extensive international practice, including current or recent shareholder litigation in the courts of Abu Dhabi, Bermuda, Cayman, Guernsey and Qatar, and a multi-shareholder arbitration in Hong Kong.
Daniel Lightman KC
Call: 1995
Silk: 2016
Zahler Bryan has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on contentious trusts, civil fraud and financial disputes.
She regularly advises on a wide range of matters, with considerable experience in large-scale commercial and trust disputes spanning an extensive range of jurisdictions.
Zahler also has a particular interest in appellate work and has appeared in the Supreme Court and the Privy Council.
Described as “razor smart and a great asset to any team“, Zahler was awarded ‘Chancery Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2023.
Zahler Bryan
Call: 2012
Charlotte Beynon has a commercial chancery practice encompassing contentious trusts, civil fraud, insolvency and commercial litigation.
Her clients say, “Charlotte is brilliant. A superstar in the making”, and they also commend her as “pragmatic, responsive and commercial.”
She frequently handles complex, high-value cases, onshore and offshore, often with international elements. She is particularly experienced in acting in high-value offshore trusts disputes and complex fraud claims – often raising issues of private international law.
Charlotte regularly appears in the High Court and County Court both led and as sole counsel. She also appears as specialist chancery counsel in matrimonial proceedings in the Family Division. Her legal writing has been published in Trusts & Trustees.
Charlotte Beynon
Call: 2015
Tim Benham-Mirando
Call: 2019
