About

Provided by South Square

South Square is a world-renowned leading commercial chancery set with Members frequently instructed in the most high-profile disputes, both domestically and internationally. It is routinely instructed by magic circle firms and those ranked in Band 1, and Members frequently appear against opposing counsel ranked in Band 1.   

 

Chambers’ expertise in this field spans an impressive range of areas, including banking, funds and shareholder disputes, fraud and asset tracing (often arising out of high-profile global insolvencies, in which Members are routinely instructed). Members are regularly instructed to appear in offshore jurisdictions and at the highest appellate levels


Some notable examples of recent cases involving Members of South Square are: AGPS Bondco plc (also known as Re Adler), Avanti Communications, Bulb Energy Ltd, Greensill; Credit Suisse v Softbank; Citibank v Speciality Steel UK, London Capital & Finance Plc, NMC Healthcare, Port Fund.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chancery: Commercial - London (Bar)

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

In addition to offering significant strength in insolvency law, South Square is also highly regarded for its expertise in a wide range of commercial chancery disputes. The barristers here are noted for their "supreme ability to handle complex, sophisticated matters" and are well versed in the handling of both contentious and non-contentious cases. Members are regularly called upon to act in claims brought against accountants and professional service firms, and in complex cases involving derivatives and securitisation transactions, among other commercial matters. The team is known for its expert handling of both domestic and international disputes. Recent examples include Credit Suisse v SoftBank Vision II Fund, a high-profile claim by a Credit Suisse sub-fund. Members also appeared in Mitchell v Al Jaber, a Supreme Court case deciding whether a company's director continues to owe fiduciary duties after its liquidation, and Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan, a USD1 billion fraud case arising from alleged bribery of the claimant's former director general. Dylan Playfoot is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Felicity Toube
1
Band 1

Felicity is very learned in her approach; she really knows the law. You always get a quick but well-supported answer.

Felicity is great fun and really smart.

Felicity is the go-to KC. She is clever, practical, commercial and accessible. She is very good on her feet; not a shrinking violent in front of the judge.

1
Tom Smith
1
Band 1

Tom is brilliant at distilling complex issues into digestible advice.

Tom is one of the leading silks in the City, especially for insolvency and restructuring work. He is a first rate advocate who gives robust, commercial and succinct advice.

Tom is very impressive in court.

3
David Allison
3
Band 3

David is an excellent advocate, litigator, academic and tactician. He is the best combination of all of those factors.

David gives excellent, clear and commercial advice and is excellent with clients. He is a fantastic advocate who invariably has the trust of the court.

David is incredibly calm and reassuring. He manages clients very effectively.

3
Rory Brown
3
Band 3

A really powerful advocate who understands that sometimes less is more. He's great at understanding what will work in court. In times of high stress, he's reassuring and confident.

Rory produces excellent written work, all presented in tip-top order. His advocacy is amongst the best I've seen. He really enjoys the art of advocacy and legal persuasion.

Rory Brown offers an excellent service and is a joy to work with. He's always prepared to go the extra mile.

Rory Brown's advocacy is very good and he gets his points across well.

A calm and humble man, Rory is erudite, very articulate and very discerning. His drafting skills are excellent.

4
Adam Al-Attar
4
Band 4

Adam is super smart. His strength is his ability to present submissions which are well grounded and concerned with practical commercial reality.

Adam is very user-friendly and good at talking through the issues.

Adam is a brain on legs. He is exceptionally bright.

Adam is a great team player. He's very bright, and he drafts incredibly well in a very crisp and precise manner.

4
Daniel Bayfield KC
4
Band 4

Daniel is an excellent advocate who handles judges' questions with great skill.

Daniel will always tell you honestly what the vulnerabilities are in your plan, and is very clear about how to navigate round them. He thinks tactically and strategically.

Daniel is an incredibly smart and commercial individual. He has very good judgement.

Daniel doesn't mind getting his hands dirty despite being one of the top operators in the insolvency space. He's very easy to work alongside.

4
Mark Phillips
4
Band 4

Mark thinks fast on his feet, and is very assured when dealing with judges. Both well liked and well connected, he produces really impressive arguments.

Mark reads the court well, and I love working with him as he's very proactive.

Mark is very hands-on. He's always available if I need him at short notice, which is rare for someone of his seniority.

4
Richard Fisher
4
Band 4

When it comes to instructing an insolvency silk, he's top of my list. Richard is a really polished advocate who's easy to work with. He is all over the detail.

Richard has great instincts and is really liked by clients. He is very nimble and flexible in his thinking.

Richard has incredible commercial feel. As an advocate, he is careful and thoughtful, and he persuades the judge from fundamentals.

Richard is technically very proficient and very experienced in insolvency matters.

Richard is a great team player who is very thoughtful in his approach. He identifies angles that others don't pick up on and proves very successful.

Ranked Barristers at
South Square

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Chancery: Commercial

1
Felicity Toube KC
1
Band 1
1
Tom Smith KC
1
Band 1
3
David Allison KC
3
Band 3
4
Adam Al-Attar KC
4
Band 4
4
Daniel Bayfield KC
4
Band 4
4
Mark Phillips KC
4
Band 4
4
Richard Fisher KC
4
Band 4

Juniors

London (Bar)

Chancery: Commercial

3
Rory Brown
3
Band 3