Department profile
Wilberforce Chambers

Commercial Dispute Resolution

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Wilberforce Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Commercial Dispute Resolution - London (Bar)

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

Wilberforce Chambers has at its disposal a strong bench of commercial barristers, with particularly impressive capability at silk level. Its members are capable of handling a wide spectrum of commercial matters, including cases arising out of company law, insolvency and civil fraud. The set's barristers are well known for their ability to represent clients in international disputes and regularly appear in a range of jurisdictions, such as Hong Kong, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Recently, its members have appeared in Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan and others, a high-value fraud claim; Steenbok & Anr v Formal Holdings and others, a case arising from a major South African public sector accounting fraud scandal; Invest Bank v El-Husseini, a claim seeking relief under Section 423 of the Insolvency Act; and Bourlakova & Others v Bourlakov & Others, a USD3 billion family dispute concerning alleged fraud. Its members also continue to act on Tulip LLP v Bitcoin Association, a very high-profile case from the crypto sector. One interviewee commented: "If a matter is extremely complicated, then Wilberforce is the first choice."

Nicholas Luckman is the practice director.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Wilberforce has very effective practice managers.

    Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks run a very well-oiled machine. They are.very responsive and happy to answer questions.

    Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Senior practice manager Antonia Matthews is responsive and proactive. She is a pleasure to work with.

    Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • I have been particularly impressed by senior practice managers Fraser Geddes and Stewart Cameron in the clerks room. They always anticipate my needs before I have voiced them.

    Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1John Wardell
    Band 1John Wardell

    John Wardell

    • John is a creative thinker and a measured advocate who is very persuasive. He does not distance himself from the day-to-day work.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • John is very brave and probably the best advocate I have worked with. He is intellectually very strong and happy to become part of the team.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • He is ruthless at cross-examination.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Alan Gourgey
    Band 2Alan Gourgey

    Alan Gourgey

    • Alan Gourgey is thorough, quick-minded and willing to argue difficult legal arguments for the benefit of the client.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Alan is a complete all-rounder, loved by clients, who makes every member of the team feel valued. He's a man with a brilliant legal mind and a ferocious cross-examiner.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • He is just incredibly good at devising strategy and working with everyone to pull things together. I've never seen such leadership. He instils confidence in both solicitors and clients.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Thomas Grant
    Band 2Thomas Grant

    Thomas Grant

    • A very smart, very incisive and very robust litigator, who enjoys the chase and is the option for a client who loves a fighter. He turned a losing case into a winning case - what more could you ask?

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Ian Croxford KC
    Band 3Ian Croxford KC

    Ian Croxford KC

    • A man who produces fluent advocacy. He is delightful to listen to when he's in court.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • He is one of the best trial lawyers around.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • His advocacy alone can make the difference between winning and losing.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Sri Carmichael
    Band 3Sri Carmichael

    Sri Carmichael

    • Sri Carmichael is very talented and one to watch.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • I was incredibly impressed by Sri's time management and her work ethic.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Tim Penny
    Band 3Tim Penny

    Tim Penny

    • Tim is a superb silk and an excellent cross-examiner. He is very smooth and reads judges well.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Tim is excellent at dealing with clients. He is also responsive and leads his team of juniors really well.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Tim is the king of resolving knotty issues. You can present him with the most shocking of cases and he'll find a way through.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • He is a hard-working, bright silk.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Tim is thorough, knowledgeable, persuasive and exceptionally personable.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Marcia Shekerdemian
    Band 4Marcia Shekerdemian

    Marcia Shekerdemian

    • There is nothing Marcia doesn't know about insolvency. She thinks about tactics five or six steps ahead.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Superb in terms of her legal analysis, brilliant with clients and someone who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to bear.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • She is always available, affable and disarmingly candid.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Emily McKechnie
    Band 5Emily McKechnie

    Emily McKechnie

    • Emily has a no-nonsense approach to work, which is refreshing. She is very smart and a pleasure to deal with.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Emily McKechnie is great and very reliable. She's a collaborative senior junior who is great for cases where there is a lot of heavy detail involved.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5James Bailey
    Band 5James Bailey

    James Bailey

    • James is super bright and can review and analyse huge amounts of documents very quickly. He also has broad knowledge, can advise strategically and is a brilliant advocate.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5James Walmsley
    Band 5James Walmsley

    James Walmsley

    • James has this inherent ability to have incredibly difficult discussions with clients in a way that leaves them feeling confident and that they've got the best advice out there. He's excellent.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • James Walmsley has extraordinary brain power, which is only matched by his extraordinary eye for detail. He is also a delight to work with on a personal basis.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • You can leave James to run a case happily. He is a very careful barrister whose skeleton arguments are really a work of perfection.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Max Mallin
    Band 5Max Mallin

    Max Mallin

    • Max Mallin is a former investment banker who is very numerate and good at picking up detail in cases involving banking or accountancy issues. His advocacy style is very compelling.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Incredibly user-friendly, commercial and sensible, he will find solutions to matters.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Tim Matthewson
    Band 5Tim Matthewson

    Tim Matthewson

    • Tim displays precision and is extremely detail-oriented. He is a compelling advocate who got us what we wanted; he really covered all the bases.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Tim has very good drafting skills and is all over the detail. His ability to get through a huge amount of work is amazing.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Tim Matthewson's attention to detail is superb. He never misses the important, finer points while considering the bigger picture.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Stephen Brown
    Band 6Stephen Brown

    Stephen Brown

    • An excellent barrister who is all over the detail. He is creative as well in terms of coming up with new options and workarounds.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Stephen Brown is astute, commercially minded and someone who has great international knowledge.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Stephen is excellent. He has the benefit of years of experience as a solicitor. His USP is that he knows exactly what a solicitor needs.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Terence Mowschenson
    Band 6Terence Mowschenson

    Terence Mowschenson

    • Terence has a very fine reputation in the commercial litigation space.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • A man with a first-class brain who is excellent on his feet.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksBobby Friedman
    New SilksBobby Friedman

    Bobby Friedman

    • Bobby is a tenacious and extremely impressive barrister who is highly commercial in his mindset and excellent on his feet.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Bobby Friedman is a delight to instruct. He is a very smart and intuitive lawyer.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Bobby Friedman is a very good advocate and is very good at coming up with creative solutions.. His written work is exceptional.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksJack Watson
    New SilksJack Watson

    Jack Watson

    • I liked Jack Watson a lot. He was out to impress and did impress. He was hard-working, his pleadings were good, and he was both accessible and personable.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar
    • Jack is exceptional across the board, including in his written work.

      Commercial Dispute Resolution respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Wilberforce Chambers (16)

London (Bar)

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