Restructuring/Insolvency

South Square is widely lauded as "the pre-eminent insolvency set." Chambers houses a deep bench of experienced barristers at both senior and junior levels, and remains the top choice for the most complex and high-profile cases arising in the UK and further afield. Members are instructed in the full gamut of cases and offer significant expertise in complex restructurings, where they are recognised as "the leading barristers for schemes of arrangement" and have recently advised in relation to Veon Holdings. The team is also well regarded for its adroit handling of the administration and liquidation of major corporations, and several of the set's tenants have been involved in the most high-profile cases of recent years, including the administration of Bulb Energy.

"Senior clerk Dylan Playfoot and others are always contactable and extremely helpful."

"They are very responsive, very service delivery focused and able to manage a high workload."

"The set has very responsive and user-friendly clerks."

Adam Al-Attar
Adam Al-Attar is a standout junior exhibiting great strength in bank and fund insolvencies. He regularly attracts instructions in headline cases and demonstrates notable skill in contested restructurings. He also has considerable experience in cases concerning trusts law, and banking and financial services. "Adam is a very strong advocate and an excellent member of bigger transaction teams." "He is very user-friendly and responsive. His drafting and analysis is also excellent." "He is a fantastic senior junior: super-smart, diligent and with a great manner." "His drafting and analysis is excellent."

Tom Smith KC
Tom Smith KC is a popular silk with an impressive caseload including substantial domestic and international matters. He stands out for his work on schemes of arrangement, and is considered particularly noteworthy for his responsiveness and efficiency on cases. He is also experienced in the handling of offshore fund liquidations. "Tom is a fantastic advocate - super-bright and user-friendly. He is a go-to for any company voluntary arrangement work and on many schemes and restructuring plans." "He is exceptional and at the top of his game." "Tom provides really creative insights and adds something extra over and above being just a barrister." "Tom is an absolute superstar. He's good on his feet and great in terms of coming up with strategy and getting into the details."

Daniel Bayfield KC
Daniel Bayfield KC attracts commendations for his strong knowledge of insolvency law and skilled handling of scheme work. His wide-ranging practice also encompasses banking, company and commercial litigation. "Daniel is helpful, thoughtful and commercial." "He is as good as it gets on company-side scheme representations." "Daniel has superb technical knowledge, having worked on many highly complex, novel cases."

David Allison KC
David Allison KC is an excellent silk who acts on behalf of a range of clients on both domestic and offshore matters. He regularly advises on formal insolvency cases and frequently appears in courts in the British Virgin Islands, New York, Dubai, the Cayman Islands and Guernsey concerning high-value and high-profile disputes. "His insights are great, and he's at his best when he's preparing for and in the courtroom." "David Allison is absolutely outstanding. He is incredibly smart, thoughtful and responsive. His advocacy skills are exceptional and he is a top pick for all restructuring and insolvency matters." "David is an impressive and authoritative advocate who inspires confidence in court. A very safe pair of hands for the largest and most complex contested cases."

Felicity Toube KC
Felicity Toube KC combines her vast experience and expertise in contentious insolvency cases, particularly those involving fraud, with an excellent courtroom presence. She frequently turns her hand to offshore disputes and is well recognised for her strength in international proceedings. "She is tenacious advocate who is willing to take on the difficult points." "She is at top of her game in insolvency, particularly where insolvency meets arbitration." "She's very definitive in her advice: she gets to the nub of the issue quickly and is very solutions-oriented."

Hilary Stonefrost
Hilary Stonefrost excels in matters involving schemes of arrangement as part of her wide-ranging practice, which encompasses both domestic and international insolvencies. "She is a very compelling advocate." "She isn't flustered by anything; she's very sensible and on top of what's going on."

John Briggs
John Briggs undertakes a diverse array of instructions, given his impressively broad expertise. He regularly handles insolvency cases concerning debtors, pensions, partnerships and professional negligence claims. He has a fine track record in both corporate and personal insolvency cases on a domestic and international scale. "He is a really fine advocate."

Lloyd Tamlyn
Lloyd Tamlyn divides his practice between corporate and personal insolvency cases. He routinely takes instructions from a diverse range of clients, including both private individuals and large organisations. His work is often international, and he has been called to the Bar in several offshore jurisdictions. He has particular experience advising on financial services-related insolvencies and insurance matters. "He would be a first choice for higher-value or complex cases." "He has a brilliant work ethic and attention to detail."

Mark Phillips KC
Mark Phillips KC is a respected silk offering deep expertise across the full spectrum of insolvency law. He excels in areas such as schemes of arrangement and multi-jurisdictional disputes. "He has really seen it all and is able to marshal his experience to be devastating in court." "A strong advocate who is adept in his craft."

Marcus Haywood
Marcus Haywood is well respected in the restructuring and insolvency field, and he regularly features in high-profile cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He exhibits pronounced capability in both domestic cases and sophisticated international liquidations. "Marcus is brilliant in providing great support on difficult matters." "Marcus is an extremely bright lawyer with a sense of calm. He is very commercial and understanding of client needs."

Mark Arnold KC
Mark Arnold KC focuses his practice on restructuring and insolvency cases both in the UK and further afield. He places particular emphasis on clients in the financial services sector as part of his wider practice. He also has considerable experience handling restructurings in the oil and gas, telecommunications and shipping sectors. "He knows his stuff extremely well and is very user-friendly."

Adam Goodison
Adam Goodison is a well-established practitioner who frequently acts in restructuring and business disputes on behalf of an impressive range of clients. He is habitually instructed by state governments and office holders in addition to corporations and trustees. "He is an all-round superstar."

Charlotte Cooke
Charlotte Cooke is a respected insolvency barrister who routinely receives instructions in major disputes which often contain an offshore element. She is singled out as a junior who is well equipped to handle sophisticated cases on behalf of both private individuals and large corporations. She frequently appears before the courts at all levels, up to and including the Supreme Court, and has experience acting unled in the Court of Appeal. "She's across all the details, super efficient, has great insights and is a pleasure to work with." "Charlotte is a subtle operator; she is calm and methodical in her approach."

David Alexander KC
David Alexander KC stands out for his provision of expert counsel to clients in major litigation proceedings, both at home and further afield. He has a wealth of experience appearing in the UK courts at all levels, in addition to frequently appearing in courts in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey and Gibraltar. He also has a substantial company, banking and finance, and contentious trusts practice. "He provides sound advice and is good to work with." "He has a very good bedside manner - he's very approachable for the clients and legal team."

Georgina Peters
Georgina Peters receives extensive praise for her restructuring and insolvency practice. She has expertise in litigation arising out of the collapse of major banks and financial services companies. She also offers expertise in schemes of arrangement concerning foreign companies. "She is very user-friendly, smart and thoughtful."

Jeremy Goldring KC
Jeremy Goldring KC has substantive experience in commercial litigation, restructuring and insolvency, and company law. He has a sterling reputation for his adroit handling of offshore matters, and is frequently called to the Bar in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. He regularly appears before UK courts at all levels, with experience in the Supreme Court and Commercial Court. "He has a great style and knows his stuff."

William Willson
William Willson is a well-regarded junior with a broad restructuring and insolvency practice. He is experienced in the handling of complex schemes of arrangement, CVAs and trials of liquidator claims, and frequently appears as sole counsel in proceedings before the High Court and Court of Appeal. "He is very well regarded in complex fraud and insolvency matters." "He is exceptional - very hard-working, intelligent and a good team player." "William Willson has obvious star quality."

Barry Isaacs KC
Barry Isaacs KC is highly recommended for his insight into reconstruction and insolvency law, and for his complementary expertise in the areas of company and commercial litigation, and banking and finance. His broad practice consists of both domestic and international work. He frequently advises on cases in New Zealand and New York in addition to offshore jurisdictions such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. "He is very much a go-to in challenging cases." "He is an outstanding advocate - very thorough and user-friendly." "He has great attention to detail and a good manner with clients. He can present core arguments clearly and concisely in court."

Clara Johnson
Clara Johnson is a junior with a flourishing practice who is well acquainted with the full gamut of insolvency cases. She regularly handles instructions on behalf of office holders, directors, bankrupts and creditors, among others. Her corporate insolvency expertise encompasses cases concerning wrongful trading claims, misfeasance and breach of fiduciary duty. She is experienced in the handling of cases that involve obtaining injunctive relief, freezing orders and orders for disclosure. She is also adept at handling suspension of discharge issues in personal insolvency cases. "Clara is clever and technical, with great client-handling skills." "She is very good on her feet, has really good delivery in court and is quick to see the angles of opportunity." "She's very good at cutting through the noise to get to the finer detail."

Glen Davis KC
Glen Davis KC attracts instructions from a diverse range of clients and offers specialist insight into commercial issues involving an insolvency aspect, particularly in the financial services sector. His diverse client base includes regulators, creditors and liquidators. He is routinely called upon to assist with fund collapses and international shipping insolvencies. He is also an accredited mediator, sitting on the INSOL panel of specialist insolvency mediators. "He's very approachable and will take the client through things in good detail." "He knows his insolvency law inside and out."

Hannah Thornley
Hannah Thornley is a litigation expert who receives instructions from a broad range of clients, among whom she is able to count the Secretary of State. She is highly commended for her technical aptitude and pragmatic approach. "She is a very impressive advocate."

Henry Phillips
Henry Phillips is a respected junior experienced in the handling of both domestic and cross-border insolvency and restructuring matters. He has particular expertise in advisory work concerning IVAs and CVAs, as well as cases involving complex schemes of arrangement. Recently, Phillips has advised on a number of high-profile administrations and liquidations including energy companies and large retailers. "Henry is a really able junior whose oral and written work is strong." "He is incredibly efficient at cutting through complex, novel areas of law."

Martin Pascoe KC
Martin Pascoe KC is frequently sought out to handle complex insolvency disputes. Commentators draw particular attention to his adroit handling of international deals. He has experience representing clients in cases concerning fraudulent trading, CMBS securitisations and pension fund deficits. "He digs down to find a way out of a situation and produces some very good work."

Richard Fisher KC
Richard Fisher KC is an accomplished silk active on behalf of an impressive client base including major banks and hedge funds. He is held in high esteem by market sources for his persuasive advocacy, and is noted for his expertise in the use of schemes of arrangement and voluntary arrangements in significant international restructurings. "Richard is an excellent advocate. He is robust, clear and quick on his feet." "He is an impressive operator, across all the detail but with a constant eye on strategy." "He is a go-to on the complex insolvency matters. He is just brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable and charming in court."

Ryan Perkins
Ryan Perkins has a growing reputation in the restructuring and insolvency field. He is regularly instructed in corporate insolvencies as well as commercial trials, and has been involved in several high-profile administrations and liquidations. His broader expertise encompasses banking, general commercial litigation, company law and contentious trusts matters. "Ryan is an absolute rising star in the insolvency and restructuring world." "He knows the scheme and restructuring plan case law inside out and thinks outside the box." "He is phenomenally clever and has the quality of good judgement." "He has encyclopedic knowledge of case law but is also very commercial."

Matthew Abraham
Matthew Abraham is a junior barrister noted for his expert handling of complex and high-profile restructurings and bankruptcies. He has experience acting for a range of clients in proceedings relating to both corporate and personal insolvencies. "Matthew is very easy to work with and is highly responsive." "He provides sound advice and is good to work with." "He is very impressive on his feet."

Oliver Hyams
Oliver Hyams is a commercial barrister with noted expertise in fraud and insolvency. Hyams is frequently instructed by insurers, lenders and officeholders in relation to breach of duty and wrongful trading. "His dedication and enthusiasm when working on complex matters is second to none." "Oliver is really bright and on the ball."

Robert Amey
Robert Amey impresses for his practice encompassing personal and corporate insolvency proceedings. He is often instructed in matters relating to household names and cross-jurisdictional issues. "He is able to provide actionable, practical advice in relation to the transaction at hand." "The quality of his intellect, analysis and extensive knowledge of insolvency law across many jurisdictions is hugely impressive."

Stephen Robins KC
Stephen Robins KC is a well-regarded barrister who regularly appears before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in high-profile cases. His broad client base includes winding-up boards, administrators, and Chapter 11 and foreign trustees. His broad expertise also encompasses banking and finance, civil fraud and commercial dispute resolution. "His insolvency knowledge is spectacular." "He is really good across the board in terms of general advice, written products, formulating how to pursue an argument and looking at a case in the wider perspective." "He is the perfect balance of technically on point yet also commercial. He understands the client's needs and helps to achieve them."

Edoardo Lupi
Edoardo Lupi is an up-and-coming junior with an impressive restructuring and insolvency practice. He is known for his work in domestic and cross-border proceedings. "Edoardo is a very promising junior." "He is very knowledgable on everything to do with insolvency, and his written work is excellent." "He is a real rising star in the field."