Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Offshore (Bar) - UK
What the Team is Known For
South Square offers great capability across a range of areas, with particular strength in offshore insolvency matters as well as trusts, fraud and general commercial disputes. A commenter says that South Square is "technically the best." Members are frequently instructed across the range of both traditional and emerging offshore jurisdictions. One instructing solicitor comments: "The set has a very strong offshore presence with an excellent reputation for capable members who appear to immerse themselves in the matter they are dealing with." Barristers at the set continue to act in some of the highest profile matters including Royal Park Investments v Standard & Poors.
Dylan Playfoot is the senior clerk.
Strengths
The clerks are very good as they take time to get to know the solicitors and are very responsive.
The clerks are excellent at reviewing your needs and allocating appropriate seniority levels to your matter.
Very professional clerking.
Notable practitioners
David Allison KC is a seasoned litigator with considerable strength in company and insolvency law, who often handles high-value claims with multi-jurisdictional implications. His thriving offshore practice has seen him handle cases in Dubai, Guernsey, the Cayman Islands, the BVI and Hong Kong. He frequently appears in liquidation and restructuring cases, and is instructed on behalf of international corporations as well as private individuals.
David Allison is a star of the bar; totally top of his game. He has an amazing ability to build rapport with a judge and has a very simple and persuasive style.
David is immensely charming, smooth and charismatic.
He is phenomenal for complex issues.
Tom Smith KC is a leading commercial litigation expert with experience of investment funds disputes and liquidation matters involving a number of offshore jurisdictions. He regularly appears in the BVI, the Cayman Islands and the Middle East, Smith acts in several high-profile offshore cases, including major appeals to the Privy Council.
He is at the pinnacle of his career. Tom is an extremely competent counsel, an impressive advocate, well prepared, thoughtful and a pleasure to work with.
Tom gets how to make the matter appear easy to all - including importantly the judge.
He presents his case methodically and is a very good, intellectual advocate.
Tom Smith is bright, clever, accessible, down to earth and a team player.
Barry Isaacs KC has extensive experience in offshore insolvency, banking litigation and corporate company disputes. He continues to be instructed in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda in particular.
Barry has a tremendous work rate, slots in as part of the team and we work hand in hand throughout the case.
Barry has a fantastic demeanour with judges - calm and measured.
David Alexander KC is an impressive silk with a broad offshore practice who handles company, restructuring, trusts and general commercial work. He has been involved in major insolvency and shareholder litigation. His practice takes him to the Caribbean, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. He regularly acts on behalf of liquidators and other financial institutions.
He is a real client favourite, gets on well with the clients and is a real team player.
Felicity Toube KC is frequently instructed by highly regarded offshore firms to advise and represent them in complex insolvency matters. She is particularly active in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Her offshore practice also extends to fraud-related litigation.
Felicity is unbelievably clever, extremely hardworking, diligent, unbelievably thorough and quick.
Felicity is a very tenacious advocate and highly experienced.
Richard Fisher KC boasts an impressive commercial disputes and insolvency practice in the offshore arena. He advises clients on complex issues, including novel digital asset-related disputes. He has experience leading in significantly high-profile global disputes. He is called to the Bar in the BVI and frequently appears before courts in the Cayman Islands. His expertise extends to the Channel Islands.
Richard is incredibly impressive and he is a particularly effective advocate.
Richard Fisher is very thoughtful in his approach. He identifies angles that others don't pick up on that, in the end, prove to be very successful.
Adam Al-Attar KC is very well regarded for his handling of insolvency and contested restructuring matters, alongside his expertise in commercial and financial services. He is frequently instructed by clients in the Middle East and the Cayman Islands.
Adam Al-Attar takes chances and if very effective.
Marcus Haywood offers extensive skill in cross-border commercial litigation and is particularly adept at insolvency and restructuring. He has been called to the Bar of the Cayman Islands and also regularly handles disputes in Gibraltar and the BVI.
He's technically surefooted and inspires complete confidence on cases.
Tony Beswetherick KC has a widespread offshore practice that sees him regularly instructed in the BVI, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and DIFC. He is extremely well-versed in a broad array of matters such as banking, fraud and insolvency.
Tony is analytical and his advocacy is second to none.
He is a great adviser and good at working through all the steps in a claim.
William Willson is an experienced junior who specialises in high-value offshore commercial disputes. His practice has a predominant focus on insolvency, while also holding expertise in banking and finance, and fraud. Willson is called to the Bar in the Cayman Islands, the BVI and Gibraltar. He appears as both junior and sole counsel in the Caribbean, as well as offering advice in the Channel Islands.
His drafting and analysis are excellent. William is good at breaking down complex things to make them simple.