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. Examples include the High Court LLP claimArmstrong v Taylor and Rockpool Investments LLP.Other recent cases handled include 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. 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. Solicitors say they are "real experts in partnership law." One case the set has handled recently is Khawaja v Stefanova, a partnership dispute concerning the exclusion of the claimant from the business.

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. Recent cases of note include Armstrong and others v Taylor and others, a High Court claim between members of an investment management business. The set has been representing the claimants, a group of partners who allege that other partners conspired to remove their influence and siphon profits away from them.

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, among other clients. Its members are to be seen in some of the most high-profile cases in the market. Examples include Tillman v Lloyds Bank & Better Capital LLP, a £150 million conspiracy claim brought against a bank and private equity fund following the acquisition of Jaeger and Aquascutum.

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.