Partnership | UK Bar

Serle Court is a pre-eminent set with a deep bench of barristers who act for law firms, financial services companies and other professional services clients in connection with a variety of partnership issues. Members also represent property developers and individual partners, and regularly handle matters concerning partnerships between high net worth individuals. The set is known for having developed strong arbitration and mediation practices, and for being home to barristers who appear in the leading cases of the day, such as Re Bell Pottinger LLP, in which the set acted for several former members of an LLP, defending claims for the recoupment of drawings subsequent to the breakdown of the LLP. Other recent cases include Husein v Dentons, where the set acted for Dentons & Co in relation to a claim in the English High Court brought by a former partner.

Nicholas Hockney and Daniel Wheeler are the practice directors at the set.

Ten Old Square is highly regarded for its comprehensive coverage of partnership matters on both the contentious and non-contentious sides. Its members are instructed by solicitors' firms, property developers and financial services clients, among others, and also involve themselves with farming and medical partnership disputes. They regularly appear in court, in arbitration and in mediation, handling all the varied aspects of partnership law one could care to mention, including disputes relating to restrictive covenants, team moves and lateral hires, and partner exits. One interviewee notes: "Ten Old Square houses barristers who provide forensic legal analysis and show excellent attention to detail. They are also highly commercial in their approach." One case the set handled recently is Knipe v Paine, a matter concerning multiple partnerships between the parties and third parties, involving hundreds of UK properties operating as estate agents, financial services firms and wealth

management firms,

Keith Plowman is the senior clerk.

Littleton Chambers is a prominent employment set that has real strength in cases where partnership and employment issues overlap. Its members act for both individual partners as well as professional firms on a variety of matters, and are particular experts in partner departures and team moves. Other areas of specialism include cases involving allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct in partnerships. One solicitor notes: "Littleton barristers provide considered and practical advice, backed up by a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant law. They are a go-to set for complex and tricky legal matters." A recent case of note was Webb v Anglian Windows Ltd, an important case in the employment/partnership crossover. The case concerned a claimant who had contracted with Anglian as a partner but then asserted that they could subsequently claim worker rights.

Jason Drakeford is the senior clerk.

Maitland Chambers offers outstanding capability in partnership disputes and partnership-related matters. The set is often instructed by law firms, financial services clients, property developers and family partnerships, amongst others. Its members are to be seen in some of the most high-profile cases in the market. One solicitors states: "Maitland barristers have deep knowledge of company and commercial law matters. I always have faith in their ability to map out a pathway through complex matters." An example of recent work is Commission Recovery Limited vs Marks and Clerk LLP. This was a significant dispute involving allegations of secret commissions received by a firm of patent attorneys. The case involved issues relating to partnership law, bribery and knowing receipt.

John Wiggs is the director of clerking.

XXIV Old Buildings is a set that offers a strong bench of partnership practitioners on both the contentious and non-contentious sides. Its members act for financial services clients, property developers and traditional family-owned partnership structures, among others, and have particular strength in partnership cases in offshore jurisdictions. Key recent cases include Bugden v Grosvenor Partners LLP, where the set successfully defended a substantial damages claim following the breakdown of an accounting partnership. Members also appeared in Bahia v Sidhu & Anor, in which the Court of Appeal overturned a previous decision by the High Court concerning a dispute over the distribution of assets after dissolution of the partnership. A solicitor says of the chambers: "XXIV Old Buildings is a high-quality set with barristers who offer good value for money. They are easy to get on with."

Paul Horsfield is the Head of Clerking.