SILK PROFILE
Daniel Lightman KC

Daniel Lightman KC

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 6 practice areas

About

Provided by Serle Court

Practice Areas

As part of a broad Chancery-Commercial practice, Daniel Lightman KC often engages with challenging and novel issues of law and civil procedure, in particular concerning shareholder disputes, company law (including in matrimonial proceedings), insolvency, civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence.

Recent significant cases include: East Riding of Yorkshire Council v KMG [2025] EWCA Civ 1137; In re BHS Group Ltd (in liquidation) [2025] Bus LR 1639; Re Contingent and Future Technologies Ltd [2024] 2 BCLC 358; Re Klimvest plc [2023] 1 BCLC 388; Taylor Goodchild Ltd v Taylor [2022] 2 BCLC 27; and King v Stiefel [2022] 1 All ER (Comm) 990.

Career

Called to the Bar 1995. King's Counsel 2016.

Professional Memberships

ACTAPS, Chancery Bar Association, COMBAR, Family Law Bar Association and Insolvency Lawyers' Association.

Publications

Contribute chapters on derivative claims and unfair prejudice petitions to Joffe, Minority Shareholders: Law, Practice & Procedure and chapters on duties and liabilities of administrators and receivers to Lightman & Moss, The Law of Receivers and Administrators of Companies. Recent publications include: ‘Non-members and s 994 petitions: a novel approach’ (NLJ, 31 May 2024), ‘The rule in Clayton’s Case: its application in non-banking relationships’ (BJIBF, May 2024); ‘The light at the end of the tunnel and the last throw of the die: liquidators’ claims against former directors following Sequana’ (IIRR 2023-24).

Personal

Magdalen College, Oxford (BA Hons, Double First, Literae Humaniores); City University (Dip Law with Distinction). Hardwicke, Mansfield and Denning Scholar of Lincoln's Inn. Co-author of Cricket Grounds from the Air (2nd Ed. 2010).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax Experts - London (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Daniel Lightman KC has an impressive practice advising on highly complex company and trust law matters in matrimonial cases. He is incredibly well-versed in shareholder issues in particular.

Company - London (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Daniel Lightman KC often acts in company law cases and is an expert in minority shareholder cases. His areas of expertise also cover derivative claims and Section 994 petition proceedings, and he has wider experience in corporate insolvency work.

Restructuring/Insolvency - London (Bar)

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Daniel Lightman KC is widely admired for his vast experience and adept representation of all parties in bankruptcy and insolvency cases. He has experience representing litigants in disputes with insolvency office holders and is noted for his expertise advising on cases involving a novel or unusual point of law.

Professional Negligence - London (Bar)

Band 4
Band 4

Individual Editorial

Daniel Lightman KC offers experience in major professional negligence matters across a broad range of professions, including barristers, solicitors and financial services. He combines this with academic activity, contributing to several reference texts.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Daniel's advocacy is very strong and he is very technically strong and great on strategy.

    Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax ExpertsUK Bar
  • Daniel has encyclopaedic knowledge of company law. He is a very good advocate, who is excellent in cross-examination.

    Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax ExpertsUK Bar
  • Daniel is a very good advocate who is excellent at cross-examination. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of company law.

    CompanyUK Bar
  • Daniel Lightman KC is extremely bright and effective, and he works very hard. He is an effective advocate.

    CompanyUK Bar
  • Daniel Lightman KC has a massive brain.

    CompanyUK Bar
  • Technically, Daniel is at the top of his field and spots arguments that others do not. He is equally adept on his feet.

    CompanyUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Serle Court (158)

All Circuits

London (Bar)

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