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Erskine Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

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Erskine Chambers

Rankings

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Restructuring/Insolvency - London (Bar)

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Erskine Chambers is highly regarded for its broad expertise spanning the full range of insolvency and restructuring matters. Drawing on the set's recognised strengths in banking and finance, the set is noted as being able to "excel in navigating intricate legal and regulatory issues with confidence and precision, providing well-reasoned, commercially sound advice." It is considered a top choice in the market for complex cases arising out of the collapse of financial institutions, and members are regularly instructed to act on behalf of bondholders and security holders in high-value disputes. Additional areas of expertise for the team include retail CVAs, international corporate restructurings and cross-border insolvencies, including those involving difficult jurisdictional issues. The set's tenants are frequently instructed in the most high-profile cases in the market, and have experience appearing before the Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and the Supreme Court. In the past year, members have been involved in the restructuring of the bulk of the Cineworld group’s business conducted from its UK cinemas.

Michael Shillingford and Alex Calder are joint senior clerks at Erskine Chambers.

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Strengths

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  • The clerks are extremely responsive. Michael Shillingford, in particular, is very quick to respond and provide assistance and the fees clerk, Samantha Rouse, is also pleasant to interact with.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

  • Practice manager Seamus Nixon and joint senior clerk Michael Shillingford are both excellent.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

  • The clerking is very good and they are good at putting people into bat quickly.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

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  • Peter Arden
    Peter Arden

    Peter Arden

    Peter Arden KC is a prominent insolvency silk who excels in international insolvency matters. He is highly popular with a range of clients, notably those in the financial sector. He is noted for his handling of cases involving sophisticated company law issues, such as corporate governance and capital maintenance. He is also adept at handling matters involving issues relating to complex financial instruments and securities.

    • Peter has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the authorities.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • He is able to summarise and explain complicated issues to clients in a really simple and very inclusive way.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • He is polished and willing to take suggestions on board.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Andrew Thompson
    Andrew Thompson

    Andrew Thompson

    Andrew Thompson KC is recognised for his expertise in director misfeasance and contentious insolvency matters. He has experience appearing in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    • He has some of the best advocacy I've ever seen and he is absolutely the authority in this area.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • A team player who is not scared of any case.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew is a top class advocate. He is clear and concise in his reasoning, and commercial in his outlook.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew is truly impressive to witness on his feet; he has the ear of the court and is slick, eloquent and persuasive.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • James Potts
    James Potts

    James Potts

    James Potts KC is a highly respected dispute resolution specialist who focuses his practice on insolvency and company law. His busy caseload features both contentious and non-contentious work, and he is particularly well versed in the area of misfeasance claims. He is also regularly instructed in administrations, winding-up petitions and voluntary arrangements. He has a fine track record in overseas litigation while regularly appearing in domestic courts.

    • James Potts is very impressive.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Benjamin Shaw
    Benjamin Shaw

    Benjamin Shaw

    Benjamin Shaw KC is held in high regard for his corporate insolvency and restructuring expertise, with additional strengths in company law and general commercial litigation matters. He is regularly instructed in high-profile and large-scale insolvencies, with experience handling both contentious and non-contentious matters.

    • Ben is a great advocate.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Ben was excellent and incisive in his advocacy but also very helpful in managing the client's expectations.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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  • Matthew Parfitt
    Matthew Parfitt

    Matthew Parfitt

    Matthew Parfitt carries out substantial work in the restructuring and insolvency space, handling matters involving restructuring plans, transactions and winding-up petitions. He also frequently appears unled, which has given him significant advocacy experience.

    • His written work is first-rate and he is persuasive and authoritative on his feet.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Matthew Parfitt is a highly skilled and experienced barrister known for his exceptional advocacy, meticulous legal analysis and strategic approach to complex litigation.

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  • Samuel Parsons
    Samuel Parsons

    Samuel Parsons

    Samuel Parsons earns excellent praise for his specialised insolvency practice. Much of Parsons' work involves company law aspects and he regularly receives instructions that bring him before County Courts and the Privy Council.

    • Sam is excellent and has an incredible eye for detail, fantastic written work and is impressive on his feet. He is the whole package.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • He explains often technical areas of law in a simple and clear manner and clients often comment on how easy he is to get along with.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Sam is an outstanding junior who displays incredible attention to detail. He is a formidable advocate capable of dealing with a range of disputes.

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  • Conor McLaughlin
    Conor McLaughlin

    Conor McLaughlin

    Conor McLaughlin's restructuring and insolvency practice covers a wide variety of matters relating to winding-up petitions, freezing orders and liquidations. He is instructed as part of large teams but also has experience acting as sole counsel.

    • Conor’s great strength is his absolute dedication to helping clients. He is incredibly approachable and excellent with clients who appreciate his down to earth attitude.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • A very tenacious advocate.

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  • Ben Griffiths
    Ben Griffiths

    Ben Griffiths

    Ben Griffiths has a broad insolvency practice featuring both litigious and advisory work. He specialises in corporate insolvency and, in recent years, has appeared in some of the highest-profile cases in the market. He regularly appears in the High Court, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council.

    • Ben is very much across the detail of the case, the documents, the facts and the law, and his written work is truly excellent.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar

    • Ben is extremely experienced and has the depth of knowledge.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Erskine Chambers (8)

London (Bar)

Erskine Chambers has rankings in the following guides

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