Restructuring/Insolvency | UK Bar

South Square is widely lauded as "the number one set for insolvency." 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 handling "complex matters in a commercial fashion" and have recently advised in relation to the Lehman Brothers. 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, including a case arising from the administration of Sova Capital.

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 "excellent at handling complex and sophisticated matters." 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 continued to advise on high-profile CVAs including for Snoozebox Limited in a case considering the question of whether a CVA can compromise and release a company from liability. Members also advised the company in Re Digicel Group Holdings Limited in connection with a scheme of arrangement.

Phil Reeves is the senior clerk at Erskine Chambers.

Maitland Chambers is recognised as "a go-to set for complex insolvency matters" housing 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 act in high-profile restructuring and insolvency proceedings, including Re BlockFi and the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

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 "it is a leading set with some very bright minds who are very capable of taking on the most complicated and sophisticated cases," with particular areas of strength for the set spanning 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 the Lehman Brothers litigation, and Halabi v Equity Trust (Jersey).

Nicholas Luckman is practice director at Wilberforce Chambers.

3 Verulam Buildings is noted as having "good strength in depth and fantastic credentials in financial services". 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. The set is described as "an established set with superior capability on an individual and collective level". Recent standout work for members includes Harrington & Charles Trading Co and others v Jatin Mehta and others.

Steve Penson and Stuart Pullum are the senior clerks.

4 Stone Buildings is a "premier set for restructuring advice in London". The set houses a strong bench of experienced barristers who have considerable experience appearing in high-profile disputes. The set's appearance in Byers v Saudi National Bank, heard in the Supreme Court, is a standout matter. 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, as well as prominence in the market for "an excellent ability to handle commercial litigation and insolvency matters which involve a cross-border element and are extremely complex". 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.

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 is noted for its "strength in depth ranging from good junior barristers to the more senior end who have the capability of providing counsel that is most tailored to the job". 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. The set has recently represented the liquidator of Hotel Portfolio II in a commercial litigation arising out of a commercial fraud. Members of chambers also continue to act for a class of sub-postmasters in the Post Office Horizon IT scandal.

Mark Ireland is senior clerk at Enterprise Chambers.

Radcliffe Chambers is lauded as a set with "barristers at every level capable of dealing with all levels of complexity" offering expertise spanning a wide range of restructuring and insolvency matters, including both corporate and personal insolvencies. The set houses a strong bench of barristers with experience 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. Recent instructions include acting for the administrators of Avro Energy.

Gatehouse Chambers is a "solid commercial set with broad offering" and "excellent depth and breadth of expertise in restructuring and 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. Standout recent work highlights include defending a British-born businessman against a petition based on debts arising under a guarantee. Members also represented the trustees in Re Mendelson.

Serle Court is a "very well-established set" in 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. The set's barristers are described as "outstandingly intelligent and able to pick things up with grace and speed". 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 proceedings arising from the collapse of BHS.

Twenty Essex is noted as "a go-to set for complex personal insolvency matters", regularly advising on both complex restructuring schemes and contentious insolvencies. The set 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. The set has continued to attract high-profile, international instructions including representing the State Bank of India in a high-profile bankruptcy case in the commercial court.

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

XXIV Old Buildings is "very capable in the insolvency and restructuring arenas", 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. Over the past 12 months, barristers at the set acted for an Irish businessman in Re Emerald Meats (London) Limited, which is in liquidation following fraudulent claims and breach of fiduciary duties.