UK Bar London (Bar) Restructuring/Insolvency

South Square is widely lauded as "the pre-eminent insolvency set." One interviewee notes: "Their ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters in this area is unparalleled." Chambers 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, including those involving CVAs and schemes of arrangement, and sophisticated insolvency litigation. The team is also well regarded for its adroit handling of the administration and liquidation of major corporations, and several of the set's tenants have been involved in the most high-profile cases of recent years. Recently, South Square has led on the CVAs of well-known names including New Look, Debenhams and Caffè Nero.

4 Stone Buildings is highly regarded for its expertise spanning a wide range of insolvency and restructuring matters. The set houses a strong bench of experienced barristers who are regularly called upon to handle complex insolvency litigation, and its members have considerable experience appearing in high-profile disputes. The set's appearance in Marex Financial v Carlos Sevilleja Garcia, heard at the Supreme Court, is a standout example. 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.

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, 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 engaged in high-profile CVAs including the challenge against the New Look CVA and the successful challenge of Re Regis UK. A team from Erskine also successfully opposed a restructuring plan proposed by Hurricane Energy. This was the first time that such a plan was rejected by the courts.

Maitland Chambers houses a strong bench of barristers experienced in the handling of 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 also offers considerable expertise in personal insolvency matters, and members are routinely instructed to represent insolvent individuals. One interviewee praises the set's depth of expertise as "excellent." Insolvencies involving complex issues concerning property are also a key area of strength for the set, and in recent years its members have been instrumental in developing the law surrounding the role of landlords in relation to CVAs. The past year has seen members act on a series of high-profile restructuring and insolvency proceedings, including those regarding Carillion.

3 Verulam Buildings has a growing expertise in restructuring and insolvency matters, drawing on the set's established strengths in banking and finance, civil fraud and general commercial litigation. The set 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. 3VB's representation of Lehman Brothers Holdings in ongoing disputes about the distribution of surpluses within the Lehman estate is one such example. Members were also instructed by the Vodafone Group in defence of a claim that they caused the collapse and subsequent insolvency of Phones 4u.

Enterprise Chambers is a highly regarded set for restructuring and insolvency matters, and is regularly instructed to appear in complex cross-border disputes. The set houses a strong bench of barristers at both senior and junior levels who are noted for their expert handling of all manner of claims arising from corporate insolvencies, from HMRC winding-up proceedings to high-value insolvency litigation. Additional areas of expertise for the team include directors' misfeasance and disqualification claims, and challenges to office holders' remuneration. Members act for a wide range of clients including administrators, liquidators, financial institutions and insolvency practitioners. Recent case highlights include acting for Sports Direct International and Frasers Group in Re Debenhams. Members also advised the landlord creditor in connection with the widely reported use of a restructuring plan procedure by the Virgin Active Healthclub group.

Radcliffe Chambers offers expertise spanning a wide range of restructuring and insolvency matters, including both corporate and personal insolvencies. The set houses a strong bench of barristers experienced in the handling of 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. Recently, the set was instructed to act for two directors of companies within the International Metal Industries group in respect of directors’ disqualification proceedings brought by the Competition and Markets Authority.

Serle Court is a highly regarded set for insolvency and restructuring matters, 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. Recently, members acted for Dr Vinjay Mallya in defending bankruptcy proceedings brought by State Bank of India arising out of banking litigation in India. Members also represent one of the former directors of BHS against claims brought by the liquidators of four of the BHS group of companies.

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. Areas of particular 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 Re Vireol, in which members acted for three directors of the company in a claim brought by liquidators for breaches of fiduciary duty. Wilberforce were also instructed on Marylebone Warwick Balfour Management v Richard Balfour Lynn and others, a claim against seven former directors for breach of fiduciary duty.

9 Stone Buildings offers expertise in both corporate and personal insolvency matters, and its barristers are highly regarded for their handling of insolvency litigation involving allegations of fraud or professional negligence. The set's barristers also have experience handling directors' misfeasance claims, while cases stemming from trusts or probate matters are also a key area of strength for the team. The set is regularly instructed in both domestic and cross-border claims, and its impressive client roster includes liquidators, creditors and government bodies such as HMRC. Members have recently been instructed on litigation arising from the sale of BHS to Dominic Chappell.

The barristers at Twenty Essex are noted for their expert handling of both complex restructuring schemes and contentious insolvencies, and are regularly instructed to act 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 matters of note include acting for State Bank of India in a bankruptcy case against Vijay Mallya, the man behind Kingfisher and Force India. Twenty Essex also acted for the joint trustees in the bankruptcy of Richard Yeowart and Robert Hopkinson, the directors of three companies which entered into administration in November 2021.

XXIV Old Buildings offers expertise in both domestic and international insolvency matters, and its 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.