Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery - UK
What the Team is Known For
Enterprise Chambers is an impressive set noted for its expertise in high-value commercial litigation as well as complex insolvency, company and property matters. A source reports the chambers "really got to grips with the facts and the law, and formed a clear view on the legal position and appropriate way to proceed". The team is particularly well regarded for its handling of shareholder disputes, and its members are regularly instructed in both domestic and international matters. Recent cases handled by the set include Hotel Portfolio II UK Ltd v SMA, a matter arising out of a commercial fraud valued at £220 million deriving from the sale of 37 Thistle Group hotels. Members also appeared in Royal London v Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, a rent arrears claim relating to the withholding of rent for a cinema during the COVID-19 pandemic, and GLAS (London Branch) v European TopSoho S.À.R.L. and others, a case concerning the non-performance of bonds worth £250 million. Michael Ireland is the senior clerk.
Strengths
The clerks are extremely helpful; they will move heaven and earth to have your work covered.
The clerks provide regular catch-ups on fees, work and timing. They are reasonable, proactive and good at liaising with the court.
The clerks are really approachable They are flexible and do concessions on costs if needed.
Clerking has long been a strength at Enterprise; the clerks are responsive, unstuffy, commercial and sensible.
The clerks are always incredibly responsive.
Notable practitioners
In terms of turnaround, Ed is a machine. Accurate and thorough, he will pick up obscure points we may have missed. He is excellent on his feet and builds a really good rapport with the judge.
Ed's work is meticulous and clear, and his advocacy is second to none.
Edward is very sensible, very good at legal analysis and someone who gets out and fights his corner in court. He's persuasive, strong and a barrister who takes good points.
Ed is a real brainbox and always a good choice to go to if you have obscure or esoteric matters.
Kavan Gunaratna is meticulous in his preparation, and his attention to detail is second to none.
Kavan is an absolutely fantastic, very hard worker who thinks things through well. He's a strong advocate.
Kavan is very intellectual and an artful creator of arguments who makes his case well. He's also user-friendly and inspires great trust in both instructing solicitors and clients alike.
Niall was brilliant at dealing with pressure and staying ahead of the issues as they developed. He is a clear thinker who really makes life easier for those that instruct him.
James Davies is an absolute rising star. His written work rarely needs any correction; it's spot on analytically. He's an advocate you can really trust, and he fights hard for you.
James is a commanding and calming presence. Direct and robust in his advice, he's a man who gets clients to sit up and take notice.
James is very charming and very good on his feet. He's good and decisive, and he's very helpful in working as part of a team. His written work is very good as well.
James is hugely experienced and a very smooth operator in court. There's no nonsense with him.
Mairi is very thorough with her research and advice, pleasant to work alongside and easy to get on with. Her advocacy is impressive, and she's both thorough and likeable.
Mairi is a really great junior who's very conscientious and hard-working. She's dealt with some difficult cases that could have overwhelmed a lot of people, but she coped with them well.
Mairi Innes is fiercely bright and excellent with clients. She works non-stop and collaborates well with the team.
Mairi is a brilliant junior. She's fierce, robust and sharp in her drafting, but she's also incredibly approachable. She's not afraid to get stuck in.
Simon is a barrister with a deep intellect who works tirelessly and knows the paperwork in depth. He's strong across the board.
Simon doesn't miss a trick. He listens to everyone in the team, which is something you don't always get with senior barristers. Then, when it comes to pleadings, he's so compelling.
Simon is a very clever and technical lawyer as well as a fantastic team player. He is really good on his feet.
Simon is an excellent advocate, who's a pragmatic and trusted adviser. He's very, very good. His attention to detail is second to none and he has an incredible work ethic.
Simon is highly intelligent, quick to pick up the core points (including those missed by others) and a man with huge amounts of energy. He has an appetite to get involved in the detail of the matter.