Offshore | UK Bar

Serle Court is highly renowned for its extensive expertise in offshore trust matters, and has comprehensive knowledge of an ensemble of jurisdictions including the Channel Islands, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. The set offers further expertise in Asian jurisdictions. Its barristers are frequently instructed by firms from across the globe. A source reports: "Serle Court has an extremely strong bench of talent, who often feel more accessible than some of their competitors." Another adds: "Serle Court barristers are renowned for their deep legal knowledge and strategic approach. They deliver results in the most complex and challenging cases."

Nick Hockney and Daniel Wheeler are practice directors.

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.

Wilberforce Chambers offers significant strength and depth in all the major offshore jurisdictions, including those in the Channel Islands, the Caribbean and Asia. An instructing solicitor reports: "Wilberforce Chambers has extensive experience and deep talent at all levels." Another source says: "It is a go-to for cases involving large complex trust structures, particularly where there is an offshore element." Members of the set are instructed to act in matters such as trust litigation, high-value commercial disputes, fraud claims and insolvency matters. Its barristers continue to appear in a number of high-profile cases, such as FamilyMart Holding v Ting Chuan.

Nicholas Luckman is the practice director.

XXIV Old Buildings maintains a superb reputation for its handling of an array of offshore work, with members frequently appearing in trusts, funds, fraud and restructuring disputes. The set is able to offer significant expertise in the Channel Islands, the BVI and the Cayman Islands, as well as in Middle and Far Eastern jurisdictions. A source notes: "XXIV Old Buildings is a go-to set for insolvency and contentious trust matters, particularly with an offshore element." Another adds: "The set has a considerable array of top talent at all levels."

Paul Horsfield is head of the clerking team.

3 Verulam Buildings offers noteworthy expertise across a range of offshore work including trusts, insolvency, civil fraud, restructuring and commercial cases. Its barristers are experienced in appearing in high-value disputes, and members are frequently called before the courts in the Caribbean, the Channel Islands, Dubai and Hong Kong. An instructing solicitor comments: "3 Verulam Buildings has really embraced this field and provide thought leadership in the space." Another source adds that the set is "highly professional" and "top quality."

4 Stone Buildings is a highly regarded set able to offer particular expertise in the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and the Channel Islands, while sustaining praiseworthy capability in the DIFC and the Far East. Members of chambers are frequently instructed to act in a variety of matters including trusts, liquidations and shareholder action fund disputes. This year the set has acted in Proman Holding v CL Financial, a very large scale claim related to the validity of a sale and purchase agreement. One instructing solicitor says: "4 Stone Buildings is built to deal with complex chancery matters." Another source adds: "Everyone at the set is incredibly approachable and available."

Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel are the joint senior clerks.

Essex Court Chambers offers substantial expertise in a variety of offshore commercial disputes including fraud, shareholder actions, contentious liquidations and complex civil fraud matters. Its barristers continue to act in some of the most high-profile and high-value offshore disputes, including such matters as PJSC National Bank Trust v Shishkhanov & Ors. Members have experience in several key offshore jurisdictions, including the Caribbean, the Channel Islands, Singapore and Dubai, and further jurisdictions such as Belize. An interviewee comments: "Essex Court Chambers is known for the strength of its chancery practice as well as being consistently high quality across the set."

Maitland Chambers is well respected for its broad offshore practice and has significant capability in the Caribbean, the Channel Islands and East Asia. Members have particular expertise in trust matters, contentious liquidations and general commercial litigation. Clients include trustees, financial institutions and other corporate entities. An instructing solicitor says: Maitland is distinguished from other sets by having excellence at every levels."

Robert Penson and Luke Irons are joint senior clerks.

Brick Court Chambers offers a broad range of international commercial expertise, with notable prowess in the fields of shareholder disputes and appraisal rights matters. Its barristers practise across the gamut of traditional offshore jurisdictions, most notably in the BVI and the Cayman Islands. Certain members offer additional expertise in offshore locales further afield, such as Mauritius and Hong Kong. The bench is frequently called to act in many high-profile commercial disputes. In the past year, members have appeared in Alpine Partners v Sumitomo Pharma, a merger appraisal action. An interviewee reports: "Brick Court Chambers is an excellent set with substantial involvement in a number of very substantial matters offshore."

Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess are the senior clerks.

Members of Erskine Chambers frequently appear before courts in the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the DIFC, Hong Kong and the Channel Islands. Its practitioners regularly act in shareholder disputes, civil fraud, banking matters and insolvencies. Members continue to represent clients in prominent cases such as IGlobe v Sinovac, an appeal to the Privy Council from Antigua. One interviewee comments that the set provides "first-class practical, commercial advice with a meticulous eye for detail and outstanding lateral thinking on knotty legal issues." Another source adds: " Erskine Chambers has an excellent reputation for chancery and commercial lawyers."

Michael Shillingford and Alex Calder are joint senior clerks.

New Square Chambers is sought after for its work in a variety of offshore matters such as contentious insolvencies, fraud, general commercial disputes, trusts litigation and asset tracing claims. Members are regularly seen in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Caribbean, and have appeared in significant matters recently including IOMFSA v Montpellier Services, a liquidation case taking place in the Isle of Man. One instructing solicitor says: "The set delivers high-quality work and is a trusted partner on complex matters." Another adds: "New Square Chambers is excellent at quickly grasping what is required of offshore lawyers."

Michelle Green is the senior clerk.

4 New Square Chambers has a solid bench of offshore practitioners working in a wide array of jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the BVI, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. The set is highly experienced at handling very complex commercial disputes and are frequently sought to act in such matters as shareholder disputes, trust claims, sanctions matters and fraud related litigation. A highlight matter for the members of the chambers this year was Perry v Lopag, a multi-jurisdictional case related to a high value trust. An interviewee praised the set as having: "expertise and a number of advocates called in a variety of jurisdictions." Another source adds: "4 New Square Chambers is a modern, very commercial set."

Lizzy Stewart is the senior clerk.

Fountain Court Chambers's members are well-versed in the offshore space. The set has been involved in some of the most high profile offshore matters in the banking and finance sphere, professional negligence and civil fraud, among numerous others and is regularly instructed by the top offshore solicitor practices from around the world. Members of the set have recently been involved in such matters as Fan v Aquapoint, a corporate dispute related to the winding up of a limited partnership. An interviewee notes: "Fountain Court Chambers has a terrific reputation." Another adds: "The counsel we used were at the absolute top of their game."

Alex Taylor is the senior clerk.

Twenty Essex has a well-rounded bench of offshore practitioners able to act in high stakes litigation and arbitration around the globe. The set brings to bear its vast experience in such areas as banking and finance, insurance and shipping to bear in matters, as well as its enviable public international law expertise. Members at the set are admitted to various jurisdictions including Isle of Man, BVI, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Guernsey and area also called on to act in matters in Hong Kong and the UAE. An interviewee notes that the set provides "an excellent, user-friendly service at competitive rates." Another source adds: "Twenty Essex offers superior depth and breadth of expertise."

Anthony Carroll, Christopher Theobald and Arron Zitver are the practice directors.