Chambers & Partners 2018

Chancery Commercial

Serle Court has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for commercial chancery work and is regarded as a go-to set by a number of solicitors. Members are described as "top-class barristers who are ahead of the game for chancery work." They are admired for their "ability to balance technical, commercial and client care considerations." The set offers expertise in a wide range of major commercial chancery disputes, and its recent work highlights include Re Spartan Capital, Avonwick v Shlosberg and the RBS Rights Issue litigation. 

Client service: "The clerks make a real effort to get to know their solicitors. Matters are always promptly attended to – if you ask for things, you get them the same day." The head clerk, Steve Whitaker, leads the team. 

SILKS

Jonathan Adkin QC
A popular silk with a substantial commercial chancery practice. He has a significant international element to his work, and is regarded as a capable advocate and cross-examiner. 
Strengths: "A very robust advocate who is good on paper, and very powerful and persuasive when on his feet." "He's very charming, and people who instruct him just love working with him."

Lance Ashworth QC
An efficient and effective silk who works particularly in the areas of civil fraud and insolvency, and often has matters with an international flavour. He is respected for his ability to handle large cases with lots of factual detail.
Strengths: "Very thorough and very meticulous in his cross-examination. He's good at those document-heavy cases and dealing with those experts you have to chip away at over a couple of days."

David Blayney QC
Has a growing reputation in silk as a highly technically capable banking lawyer, who is involved at the centre of some of the most significant cases in the field. He is also noted for his expertise in relation to commercial chancery, company law and partnership disputes. Blayney receives plaudits for his significant trial experience and is appreciated for his imaginative and persuasive arguments.
Strengths: "David has an extraordinarily creative and lateral mind. He's able to see lines of argument others miss."

Alan Boyle QC
A powerful advocate and a leading figure of the Commercial Chancery Bar, who is head of chambers. He has a broad practice that takes in company law, fraud and insolvency matters.
Strengths: "He is magisterial and offers exceptional client service. One of his key strengths is his ability to get quickly to the heart of an issue, and to present complex advice in a clear and impressively structured way." "He takes no hostages and is the go-to silk at the Chancery Bar if you want an aggressive advocate." 

Dominic Dowley QC
Popular with solicitors, he has a strong fraud practice, and is also adept at handling large trust cases with important commercial implications. He is described as a measured advocate who interacts well with commercial clients.
Strengths: "Incredibly hands on and very approachable. He has a unique ability to identify the key issues from the noise that surrounds a case." "Dominic is incredibly fast working, efficient and incisive." 

Dakis Hagen QC
Has a broad commercial chancery practice, and a very good reputation in the marketplace. Sources particularly highlight him for his combination of client care skills with technical and commercial intelligence.
Strengths: "Because he's such a human barrister, he is absolutely fabulous to work with, and the clients find him wholly engaging." "He is technically excellent, and can deal with some very difficult fine points of law, but is also very commercial and doesn't get bogged down in the detail."

Elizabeth Jones QC
An excellent litigator, praised both for her formidable courtroom presence and for her ability to run a case. She has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular focus on company law.
Strengths: "Very good at strategy; she knows what she's doing, she moves the pieces and she wins." "She is a very clever and forthright opponent, who is a steely advocate." "When she walks into a room, people shut the hell up. She just has an aura." 

Philip Jones QC 
A considered and technically excellent QC, described by one source as "a chancery all-rounder." He has "encyclopaedic" legal knowledge, and is noted for his direct and effective advocacy. 
Strengths: "Philip Jones is proof that you can dominate with quiet submissions that are clear and thoughtful." "He has an enormous amount of knowledge, great advocacy skills, is someone who's very easy to communicate with - doesn't shy away from talking to the client."

Daniel Lightman QC
A very clever lawyer with particular expertise in company law. He is singled out by barristers and solicitors as an excellent choice for technically complicated matters.
Strengths: "Has an unparalleled grasp of the law and is technically superb." "If you've got something really complicated, undoubtedly you want him." 

John Machell QC
A strong commercial chancery silk with an excellent reputation for his partnership work. He carries out both advisory work and litigation, and is regarded as a hard-working and technically astute practitioner.
Strengths: "Works tremendously hard and has a good brain." "A very experienced advocate at all levels, he has a very wide and deep legal understanding." 

Philip Marshall QC
Highly experienced silk with a wide-ranging practice centred on commercial matters heard in the Chancery Division. He focuses on complex disputes turning on issues of company law, civil fraud and insolvency, as well as banking and finance. Marshall also appears regularly in complex and substantial arbitrations, particularly before the ICC and LCIA.
Strengths: "Philip is a superb advocate who balances aggression with excellent judgement."

Hugh Norbury QC
Focuses on cases involving fraud or breach of fiduciary duty. Sources single out his client skills and technical abilities for particular notice.
Strengths: "Hugely impressive technically and has a supreme ability to engage with clients. Hugh cuts straight through issues and provides very practical and focused advice." "He's got a very calm, unflappable style in court." 

Rupert Reed QC
A respected silk who is described by sources as pleasant, polished and smooth. His commercial chancery practice has an international thread running through it, and he has a particular specialism in work with a Middle Eastern aspect to it.
Strengths: "Destined for great things, and clever enough to make the work look easy." "He's someone who makes sure he gets the law and the facts right in advance, so that he's totally in control in court."

JUNIORS

Timothy Collingwood
Works in all areas of commercial chancery, especially those with a company law element. Sources describe him as being technically sharp and an effective advocate.
Strengths: "Highly engaging and is quick to work out strategies." "A guru because he's involved in writing the book on shareholder rights and remedies. He knows everything and is a very collaborative barrister to work with." 

David Drake
A senior junior whose commercial chancery practice includes fraud and breach of fiduciary duty matters. Sources highlight his experience acting in cases involving pharmaceuticals companies.
Strengths: "Displays excellent technical skill and the ability to quickly and succinctly drill down into the detail of a case." "He is in the top handful of juniors for fraud-related matters."

Nicholas Harrison
Acts in large and complicated matters, frequently focusing on one case at a time for long stretches. His practice sees him handle substantial frauds and commercial trusts, many of which have an international flavour.
Strengths: "Excellent to work with, he efficiently prepares first-rate written submissions and masters complex factual patterns." 

Simon Hattan
Enjoys a growing reputation as an accomplished banking junior and has a practice that has seen him appear in a number of headline cases in recent years. He is particularly well versed in civil fraud, trusts litigation, disciplinary proceedings and disputes arising out of breaches of fiduciary duties. Hattan has further noted expertise in contentious financial regulatory matters. 
Strengths: "Very thorough and very level-headed."

Justin Higgo
A personable and effective junior who is regarded as a sensible and capable litigator. He has a broad practice and acts on valuable, high-profile commercial chancery cases.
Strengths: "Very responsive and can really be relied upon to provide pragmatic and sensible commercial advice." "He's a good man, who rolls his sleeves up and is user-friendly." 

James Mather
As well as fraud and insolvency matters, Mather works on partnership and company law, and general commercial chancery litigation. He is well liked among solicitors for the contribution he brings to a team, and is especially praised for his written work.
Strengths: "Incredibly easy to talk to and very accessible. If I need a question answered, he will get back to me, and when you're involved in fast-paced litigation, that's what you need." "James has great skill and always stays calm and measured."

Matthew Morrison
Concentrates on company, partnership and insolvency law. He is regarded as a helpful and intelligent junior, who is easy to work with and put in front of clients.
Strengths: "Commercial in his understanding of how solicitors have to operate and the constraints they have." "He's a clever bloke, who is very nice and very hard-working." 

Giles Richardson
Does good work in fraud and company law cases, and also has a strong trusts practice. His work often has an international or offshore element. 
Strengths: "Very, very bright and very easy to deal with." "He is incredibly bright, responsive and commercial."

James Weale
A capable junior who wins approval from those who have worked with him. He is  strategically capable and a good advocate, who is praised for his interactions with clients.
Strengths: "The client has a huge amount of trust in his judgement, which is hugely deserved." "Both understanding and sympathetic," he's "a hard worker, who can think outside the box and always gets the best result for the client."

Chancery Traditional

Serle Court "fields a lot of very talented barristers" who are regularly involved in very significant and high-profile traditional chancery cases. Individuals here are particularly noted for their expertise in contentious and non-contentious trust matters, and regularly handle cases in international and offshore jurisdictions. Their broad diet of traditional chancery work also includes wills and probate and charity cases. Members of the set act for clients at all levels of the court system, including the Supreme Court, and are noted for their deft handling of sprawling pieces of litigation. The set as a whole "continues to bring in strong names year on year," as evidenced by the arrival in recent times of Richard Wilson QC and Constance McDonnell, who joined from a rival chancery set. 

Client service: "The clerks are all very accommodating and very professional; it's a very slick operation there so it is a pleasure to instruct the set." John Petrie is chief executive and Steve Whitaker is head clerk. 

SILKS

Alan Boyle QC
Senior silk and head of chambers who is known for his long-standing experience at the Chancery Bar. His practice focuses on trusts and probate litigation and he is noted for his involvement in some of the most high-profile cases in recent times.
Strengths: "A real heavyweight of the Chancery Bar, who has massive courtroom presence and is an extremely serious advocate. He has seen it all and done it all in every jurisdiction imaginable, and is a big gun you roll out for special occasions." 

Dakis Hagen QC
Focuses his practice on cases concerning trust disputes, wills and estates. He also acts in divorce matters which feature property or trust law, and is further noted for his expertise in offshore disputes.
Strengths: "Knows everything there is to know about trust law, and is very good at strategising and winning arguments. He is very thoughtful and comes up with these great and inventive solutions." "Very lively and energetic, he is very appealing in court and is further known for producing absolutely outstanding skeleton arguments."

Frank Hinks QC 
Traditional chancery specialist with decades of experience in trust and probate matters. He provides advice and handles litigation both domestically and offshore, and is known for representing some very high-profile clients.
Strengths: "Top, top drawer and the most experienced counsel you could meet. He handles some of the biggest clients and handles matters with incredible savvy." "Has incredibly quick turnaround time and is very user-friendly. He always gives practical advice and is a good strategist."

Elizabeth Jones QC
Has a long-established practice in contentious trust and probate work, and is particularly good in cases concerning issues of fraud, asset tracing and insolvency. She has a wealth of international experience, having many cases in overseas jurisdictions.
Strengths: "Phenomenally clever as well as phenomenally effective, she is an extremely forceful advocate. She's also acquired a really strong reputation as a mediator for trust and estate matters." "A class act who is incredibly well trusted by both her clients and opposing counsel. She has the utmost integrity and people have confidence in her."

John Machell QC
Well-regarded barrister with wide ranging expertise in chancery matters. He is often instructed in cases involving issues connected to trusts, partnerships and commercial contracts. He also has significant offshore experience.
Strengths: "His legal expertise is exemplary and his brain works very logically. He can process and understand very complex matters and explain them to the client well." "A fabulous, thoughtful and considerate advocate, who is very commercially aware and takes his roles and duties very seriously. He ensures he achieves equitable results and is a pleasure to work with."

Richard Wilson QC
Has a strong traditional chancery practice involving a substantial amount of international work. He frequently advises landed estates and institutional trustees and is further recognised for his expertise in offshore trusts.
Strengths: "A very good advocate who is excellent at legal analysis, and whose written work is always of a high standard." He is very engaging and the epitome of a modern barrister as he is not stuffy, is au fait with social media and really knows the marketplace." 

JUNIORS

James Brightwell
Well-established traditional chancery barrister with recognised expertise in trust and offshore matters. He is highly rated for his in-depth knowledge of obscure trust law.
Strengths: "Has very insightful knowledge of trust law and is involved in many high-profile proceedings." "Without doubt he is held in extremely high regard by the clients. He has consistently dealt extremely diplomatically with some very difficult situations and has never faltered in his approach."

Emma Hargreaves
Instructed in a number of substantial high-profile trust cases, both in the UK and offshore. She also deals with civil fraud, commercial and company disputes and is further noted for her international experience.
Strengths: "Provides very detailed and technical legal advice. Her written advice is excellent and confident, and she has a full understanding of the issues in a case." "She gets things done very quickly and is always very thorough and very organised."

William Henderson
Highly esteemed practitioner who is praised for his work with private clients, trustees and trust companies. His practice typically involves trusts, probate, estate administration, charities and professional negligence matters. 
Strengths: "Very understated but hugely intelligent and thoughtful. He is particularly excellent on charity points and is a go-to person on such matters." "William is technically phenomenal and clients are enamoured by him."

Constance McDonnell
Her practice focuses on contentious trusts and probate cases and she also handles 1975 Act claims and Court of Protection matters. Other areas of interest include claims relating to the administration of estates and the removal of personal representatives.
Strengths: "A consummate performer on her feet, she really knows her stuff and you can't get one over on her." "She is very in-demand, is incredibly bright, and has great commercial instincts."

Giles Richardson
Has a particularly strong focus on restructuring, insolvency and company law, and also a very active trusts practice. He handles large cases both domestically and internationally.
Strengths: "Has the ability to master a vast range of documents in a very short space of time and come up with some very effective arguments to strengthen claims." "He is very bright and very articulate."

Glenn v Watson [2018] EWCH 2016 (Ch):

Elizabeth Jones QC, Justin Higgo, Gareth Tilley, Paul Adams, Zahler Bryan and Oliver Jones continue to act for Sir Owen Glenn and his company, Kea Investments Limited in their dispute with New Zealand businessman Eric Watson, following the judgment in Glenn v Watson [2018] EWCH 2016 (Ch) in which Kea suceeded in establishing its entitlement to set aside agreements relating to a joint venture etween Sir Owen and Eric Watson on the baiss of (i) fraudulent misrepresentations made on behalf of Mr Watson, (ii) breach of Mr Watson's fiduciary duty to Kea. The court gave an important decision on equitable interest, awarding interest of 6.5% compounded annually, at [2018] EWCH 2016 (Ch). Litigation continues as Kea seeks to enforce its judgment againts Mr Watson's assets in the UK and internationally. 

Please click here to view the judgment. 

Bidzina Ivanishvili & Ors v Credit Suisse & Ors:

Sophie Holcombe continues to be instructed as junior counsel on behalf of the former Prime Minister of Georgia and his family as beneficiaries of two trusts which suffered multi-million dollar losses due to the mismanagement of an investment portfolio said to be worth over USD 1 billion in Bidzina Ivanishvili & Ors v Credit Suisse & Ors. Litigation has now been commenced in New Zealand, Bermuda and Singapore. In August 2018 Credit Suisse Life unsuccessfully attempted to strike out part of the beneficiaries claim in the proceedings taking place in Bermudqa (see the judgment of the Supreme Court of Bermuda [2018] SC (Bda) 67 Civ)

Instant Access Properties v Rosser [2018] EWHC 756 (Ch):

Lance Ashworth QC and Matthew Morrison secured judgment secured judgment for the First Defendant , Mr Rosser in Instant Access Properties v Rosser successfully defeating a fraudulent trading and breach of fiduciary duty claim of £35 million.

Please click here to view the judgment. 

Bestfort Developments LLP and Ors v Ras Al Khaimah Investment [2016] EWCA Civ 1099:

Philip Marshall QC and James Mather were successful in the Court of Appeal establishing the correct rest to be applied by the courts under CPR 25.13(2)(1) for an order for security for costs against a defendant resident outside the jurisdiction and the EU/Lugano Convention area.

Please click here for the judgment.

Grupa Ozarow v Clean Energy Trading CL:

Professor Jonathan Harris QC (Hon.) and Sophie Holcombe acted for the defendant company trading in Carbon Credits in successfully discharging an ex parte injunction obtained in support of Polish proceedings on the basis, inter alia, that the relevant EU jurisdiction rules were arguably infringed.

Please click here for the judgment.