South Square, Company | Chambers UK Bar Profile

About

Provided by South Square

South Square barristers have great depth and breadth of experience in company law matters, strongly bolstered by their unrivalled expertise in corporate restructuring and insolvency, and civil fraud.

Both senior and junior members regularly appear in some of the most high-profile shareholder disputes in courts at all levels (including several in the Court of Appeal and Privy Council) both in England and Wales and offshore, as well as in most (if not all) creditor schemes of arrangement and restructuring plans before the English court.

Members and associate members of South Square author and edit “Company Directors, Duties, Liabilities and Remedies” the practitioners’ text on the law relating to company directors.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Company - London (Bar)

Band 3

What the Team is Known For

South Square continues to garner praise for its fine company practice. Barristers at the set receive instructions from the foremost corporate law firms and advise on a range of company matters, including schemes of arrangement, shareholder disputes and directors' duties. Many of the cases they handle have a cross-border element. The set enjoys a strong reputation for its company work as it arises within the context of restructurings and insolvencies. Notable matters recently handled by members include acting for the appellant in the Supreme Court case of Mitchell v Al Jaber, as well as advising Cineworld on breach of contracts with creditors arising from a corporate restructuring. A commentator notes: "South Square barristers have superb technical understanding, which they are able to marry expertly with strategy and commercial nous."

Dylan Playfoot is the senior clerk.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The clerks are very responsive and provide a good sense of diary management. I've had a very positive experience with them. They're always good with their availability and timescales.

Company respondent
UK Bar

All of the clerks are very willing and able to assist with any queries we have. They are very knowledgeable about the barristers.

Company respondent
UK Bar

The clerks are very professional and courteous. They're very good at dealing with the courts and managing counsels' diaries over a prolonged period.

Company respondent
UK Bar

South Square's clerks are well organised, responsive and good at finding out what's going on and then getting court dates.

Company respondent
UK Bar

Team leader Marco Malatesta and senior clerk Dylan Playfoot are both very good. They are very responsive, which is what's important from our perspective.

Company respondent
UK Bar

The clerks are very responsive and provide a good sense of diary management. I've had a very positive experience with them. They're always good with their availability and timescales.

Company respondent
UK Bar

All of the clerks are very willing and able to assist with any queries we have. They are very knowledgeable about the barristers.

Company respondent
UK Bar

The clerks are very professional and courteous. They're very good at dealing with the courts and managing counsels' diaries over a prolonged period.

Company respondent
UK Bar

South Square's clerks are well organised, responsive and good at finding out what's going on and then getting court dates.

Company respondent
UK Bar

Team leader Marco Malatesta and senior clerk Dylan Playfoot are both very good. They are very responsive, which is what's important from our perspective.

Company respondent
UK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Tom Smith

Band 1

Tom Smith KC receives instructions in insolvency-related company work, including cases concerning schemes of arrangement and company voluntary arrangements, and often acts for retail clients. He has a wealth of experience in the banking and financial sectors, and displays expertise in investment funds work. His work frequently involves offshore jurisdictions.

Tom is well prepared, thoughtful and a pleasure to work with. He presents his case methodically, being a very good, intellectual advocate.

Tom continues to be incredibly available and responsive. He is also highly strategic; he gives a big-picture view and delivers the strategy early on.

Tom Smith KC is extremely bright.

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David Alexander

Band 2

David Alexander KC receives routine instructions in contentious company matters, and appears in courts both domestically and in a number of offshore jurisdictions. His practice exhibits strength in insolvency and finance litigation.

David Alexander KC is real team player who is very responsive, bright and innovative. He makes large-scale litigation very easy due to his responsiveness and approachability.

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Barry Isaacs

Band 3

Barry Isaacs KC focuses on insolvency work and related company matters, and often handles high-profile claims and company restructurings. He has appeared in the House of Lords and the Supreme Court in a wide array of high-profile and high-value cases. His cross-border expertise includes experience in proceedings in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Hong Kong.

Barry Isaacs KC gets into the details and understands the numbers so quickly. He's so into the details that he cannot be caught out.

Barry is impressive in his written work and on his feet, and has a fantastic demeanour when in front of judges. He's calm and measured.

Barry has an incredible work ethic, an incisive mind and great client-handling skills.

Barry is really delightful to work with and has a tremendous work rate. He slots in beautifully as part of the team.

Barry provides an excellent service. He is very well prepared, self-sufficient and methodical.

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Daniel Bayfield KC

Band 3

Daniel Bayfield KC displays a high level of competency in company matters as part of his broad commercial chancery practice. He possesses additional expertise in banking and insolvency cases.

Daniel is an outstanding advocate and an incredibly smart and commercial individual. He has very good judgement, which we find incredibly helpful.

Daniel Bayfield KC is really good. He's extremely technical.

You don't get any shocks with Daniel, because he has seen everything and has thought it through. He's a good advocate who thinks tactically and strategically.

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David Allison

Band 3

David Allison KC is a highly regarded silk with a prominent offshore practice who has appeared in disputes in the Caribbean, Dubai, New York and Guernsey. Key areas of strength include schemes of arrangement, reductions of capital and contentious company law work. His company expertise is bolstered by his prominent financial services and restructuring practices.

David's very personable, and his advocacy is really strong. He's great at breaking down issues and bringing the judges along with him.

David Allison KC is highly respected and a really trusted pair of hands.

David is highly intelligent on the law but also highly commercial. He is always prepared to roll his sleeves up and be part of the team to find the right solution.

David is extremely bright and very user-friendly. He's calm, he remains in control and he adapts well to challenges.

David is direct, responsive and clear. He stands behind his advice and is an excellent advocate.

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Felicity Toube

Band 3

Felicity Toube KC is a respected name, both at home and in the Cayman Islands courts, who handles company dispute work. She has a great depth of experience in acting for banks and corporations, particularly in an insolvency context. Her company practice is complemented by additional skills in matters concerning civil fraud and the financial services sector.

Felicity is clever, practical, commercial and accessible. She is very good on her feet.

Felicity Toube KC is really smart.

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Mark Arnold KC

Band 3

Mark Arnold KC operates a strong company practice as part of his successful insolvency offering. His practice is international in scope and spans a vast range of industries.

Mark shows great attention to detail and is thoughtful and meticulous. He's also extremely hard-working.

Mark Arnold KC was thoughtful and thorough throughout the case.

I very much enjoy working with Mark. He's very bright and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. It's very enjoyable to exchange ideas with him.

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