Restructuring/Insolvency | UK Bar

South Square is widely lauded as being "by far the best set for restructuring and insolvency work". The set houses a deep bench of experienced barristers at both senior and junior levels, and remains the top choice for the most complex and high-profile cases arising in the UK and further afield. Members are instructed in the full gamut of cases and offer significant expertise in complex restructurings, where they are praised for being "exceptionally good at contentious insolvency matters and are hard to beat in terms of the experience all of the barristers across chambers." Recent instructions for the set include acting for Cineworld in relation to its restructuring using a Part 26A restructuring plan.

Dylan Playfoot is the senior clerk.

Erskine Chambers is highly regarded for its broad expertise spanning the full range of insolvency and restructuring matters. Drawing on the set's recognised strengths in banking and finance, the set is noted as being able to "excel in navigating intricate legal and regulatory issues with confidence and precision, providing well-reasoned, commercially sound advice." It is considered a top choice in the market for complex cases arising out of the collapse of financial institutions, and members are regularly instructed to act on behalf of bondholders and security holders in high-value disputes. Additional areas of expertise for the team include retail CVAs, international corporate restructurings and cross-border insolvencies, including those involving difficult jurisdictional issues. The set's tenants are frequently instructed in the most high-profile cases in the market, and have experience appearing before the Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and the Supreme Court. In the past year, members have been involved in the restructuring of the bulk of the Cineworld group’s business conducted from its UK cinemas.

Michael Shillingford and Alex Calder are joint senior clerks at Erskine Chambers.

Maitland Chambers are noted for having "a stable of brilliant people" and the set houses a strong bench of barristers experienced in a wide range of restructuring and insolvency matters. Members are regularly instructed in major domestic and cross-border corporate insolvencies, liquidations and administrations, and act for a diverse client base including both secured and unsecured creditors, insolvency practitioners and corporations. The set also offers considerable expertise in personal insolvency matters, and members are routinely instructed to represent insolvent individuals. Over the past year, members of chambers have continued to be instructed by the liquidators of the UK group which formerly traded as Cambridge Analytica.

John Wiggs is the director of clerking.

Wilberforce Chambers is noted for its impressive work tackling both corporate and personal insolvency matters. Members are frequently called upon to undertake cases arising both in the UK and further afield, and offer significant expertise in the handling of complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Market commentators note that "Wilberforce Chambers is a hard hitting set, and with its members in your corner, you know that you are in safe hands." Particular areas of strength for the set include administrations, CVAs, restructurings and schemes of arrangement. The team is also regularly instructed in cases involving complex pensions and property elements, owing to the set's established strengths in these areas. An enviable client list includes creditors, debtors and insolvency office holders. Recent cases of note include acting in FTX Bahamas Limited, which concerns the collapse of a crypto currency exchange based in the Bahamas.

Nicholas Luckman is the practice director.

3 Verulam Buildings is well regarded for its handling of contentious commercial insolvencies, and its tenants are regularly called upon to act for insolvency practitioners in high-value, cross-border recovery actions. Members are noted for their "excellent specialist knowledge," and recent standout work includes Crescent Gas Corporation v National Iranian Oil Company and others.

Stuart Pullum is the director of clerking.

4 Stone Buildings houses a strong bench of experienced barristers who have considerable experience appearing in high-profile disputes and sources note the set's "strength in depth at all levels as well as being flexible in their approach to delivering solutions." Drawing on the set's established strength in company law, members are also well regarded for their adroit handling of non-contentious restructurings and complex directors' disqualification cases. The set is routinely instructed to act for and advise the government on an array of insolvency-related matters, and several of its junior members are on the Attorney General's A Panels. Recent instructions for the set include representing the appellant in Katra Holdings Ltd v. Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) Ltd in the Privy Council, regarding insolvency issues concerning the recoverability of bank loans and alleged unlawfulness of loan arrangements in foreign jurisdictions.

Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel are joint senior clerks.

Enterprise Chambers is a highly regarded set for restructuring and insolvency matters, and is regularly instructed to appear in complex cross-border disputes. Areas of expertise for the team include directors' misfeasance and disqualification claims, challenges to office holders' remuneration, corporate insolvencies and HMRC winding-up proceedings. Members act for a wide range of clients including administrators, liquidators, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners. One source notes that the set is "my go-to for all complex matters as they have barristers who are both knowledgeable but also pragmatic and commercial".

Radcliffe Chambers is "well-renowned for its barrister’s knowledge and experience in the restructuring market." Members offer expertise spanning a wide range of restructuring and insolvency matters, including both corporate and personal insolvencies. The set houses a strong bench of barristers who regularly handle matters concerning liquidations and administrations, as well as CVAs and directors' disqualification matters. The team is regularly instructed in both domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes, and its broad client base includes government bodies, financial institutions, major corporations and private individuals. Recent instructions for the set include acting in HSBC v Newocean (Shenzhen) Energy Investment Limited (1) & Sound Hong Kong Limited (2), concerning contested applications for the appointment of liquidators over companies incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

John Clark is the head of clerking.

Gatehouse Chambers offers "reliability and awareness of the ever-changing world of insolvency." The set's barristers are routinely instructed on behalf of creditors, limited companies and trustees in administrations, bankruptcies and liquidations. The set is very well versed in director misfeasance, winding-up petitions and unfair prejudice matters, among numerous others. Recent instructions for the set include acting on behalf of a liquidator of an insolvent investment fund. The claim was for misfeasance and breach of duty against the fund’s directors.

Elliot Langdorf is the practice director.

Serle Court boasts a strong insolvency and restructuring practice, and is well positioned to handle cases arising in offshore jurisdictions such as the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean. Members are regularly instructed in both contentious and non-contentious matters, and are well versed in corporate and personal insolvencies. Insolvency litigation involving allegations of fraud is also a key area of strength for the Set, drawing on the Set's enviable reputation in civil fraud matters, and its barristers have experience appearing before both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Members have recently appeared in State Bank of India v Mallya, defending bankruptcy proceedings for a claim arising out of banking litigation in India. Sources note that "the range of counsel available and the knowledge from Senior Counsel to Junior counsel is impressive".

Nicholas Hockney and Daniel Wheeler are practice directors.

Members of Twenty Essex is noted for its "excellent ability to absorb and distil factually complex matters." The set regularly advises on both complex restructuring schemes and contentious insolvencies and acts for a diverse client base which includes administrators, liquidators, trustees and lenders. Cross-border insolvencies are a key area of strength for the team, and its members have experience appearing before the courts in several offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands. Recent instructions for the set include acting in Greensill Limited, a high-profile liquidation matter.

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

XXIV Old Buildings are noted for its bench of "insightful barristers who really understand and are willing to get to grips with complex matters." Members are highly regarded for their handling of cases arising in offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man. Areas of expertise for the team include complex administrations, liquidations and both company and individual voluntary arrangements. The set's barristers are also well versed in directors' disqualification proceedings and asset tracing and recovery matters.

Paul Horsfield is the senior clerk.