Set, Band 2
4 Stone Buildings is a standout set whose company law abilities are the subject of widespread praise. At both the senior and junior levels, its barristers provide high-quality advice on substantial matters. Within its broad company offering, the set enjoys an especially good reputation for its work concerning shareholder disputes and breaches of fiduciary duty. Recent cases handled include Lëhtimaki v Cooper, a significant Supreme Court decision which established that the members of charitable companies are in a fiduciary relationship with respect to the purposes of their organisation. The set has also been involved in Secretary of State for Health v Servier Laboratories Ltd, a multimillion-pound claim against a pharmaceutical company for overcharging the NHS through wrongly securing extensions to its patents. Sources comment: “This is an excellent set full of very strong barristers, who provide precise and high-quality advice.”
“The clerks are brilliant at providing alternative counsel where necessary and you can have absolute confidence in them.”
“Great to work with, they are very approachable and return calls immediately.”
Senior clerk David Goddard is ably assisted by high-quality individuals, who are “commercial, responsive and pragmatic. They are exactly what you want.”
Jonathan Crow KC, Star Individual
Jonathan Crow KC enjoys a leading position at the forefront of the Chancery Bar, and earns widespread acclaim for his litigation skills. He is regularly instructed in a full range of company, commercial and public law cases, and is a regular in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He is often involved in proceedings in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including the BVI, the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. Recent activity includes a leading role in heavyweight shareholder disputes and directors’ disqualification matters.
George Bompas KC, Band 1
George Bompas KC is regularly instructed in high-profile company disputes, and is particularly active in international jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Singapore and the Caribbean. Solicitors call on him for his skills in both advisory and contentious work. He displays particular strength in cases concerning contractual interpretations, shareholder disputes and corporate reorganisations.
Richard Hill KC, Band 1
Richard Hill KC is an established practitioner with an excellent reputation for large and complex disputes, particularly with regard to City-based litigation. He regularly takes instructions in banking, commercial, company and insolvency disputes. Hill possesses additional expertise in the representation of bond trustees and bondholders in securities and other capital markets litigation.
Sharif Shivji KC, Band 2
Sharif Shivji KC is often instructed in high-value shareholder disputes and financial services-related claims. His technical expertise is bolstered by prior experience as a derivatives trader, which he applies to a range of banking and insolvency law matters.
Andrew De Mestre KC, Band 3
Andrew de Mestre KC enjoys a strong reputation across a broad range of company-related litigation matters, and has particular skill in disputes concerning securitisation transactions and bond issues. He is also notably experienced in unfair prejudice petitions and shareholder disputes. De Mestre frequently represents investment banks, corporate trustees, issuers and bondholders.
Hermann Boeddinghaus KC, Band 3
Hermann Boeddinghaus KC has a focus on corporate and commercial disputes, and has appeared in the Chancery Division, the Commercial Court and a range of international arbitration tribunals. He is experienced in the representation of leading banks, FTSE 100 companies and entrepreneurs, and is frequently instructed in shareholder claims.
“Hermann is very responsive and extremely commercial in his approach.”
“Incredibly precise and very thorough, he’s a tough but nice opponent, who is well respected.”
“Hermann is very concerned to make sure the points he makes are good points, which is why his success rate is so good.”
“Hermann has a very, very good bedside manner which is rare among counsel at his level. He is a joy to deal with, is always approachable and has a razor-sharp intelligence.”
“He is great, and will go a very long way.”
John Brisby KC, Band 3
John Brisby KC is a highly respected silk who handles a range of company work, including cases heard before offshore courts. He is experienced in issues such as shareholder disputes, reductions of capital and schemes of arrangement, and regularly acts in proceedings in the Chancery Division and Commercial Court. He is experienced in proceedings before courts in the BVI, the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar.
Gregory Denton-Cox, Band 1
Gregory Denton-Cox is a highly respected barrister with a broad commercial chancery practice. He is particularly active in shareholder, director and investor disputes, and also has recognised skills in civil fraud, banking disputes and wider commercial litigation.
Christopher Harrison, Band 2
Christopher Harrison is an experienced senior junior who advises on company, civil fraud, finance and insolvency matters. He is well regarded for his handling of big-ticket claims, particularly shareholder disputes, and regularly tackles large cross-border matters, particularly those involving the Caribbean and CIS regions.
James Knott, Band 2
James Knott handles a range of company, insolvency and commercial litigation cases. He takes instructions in non-contentious matters as well as disputes, and is experienced in Companies Court and High Court claims. Areas of notable strength include unfair prejudice cases, derivative actions and matters concerning breaches of fiduciary duty.
Tiran Nersessian, Band 2
Tiran Nersessian is a well-regarded junior with a strong reputation in company law, as a part of his broader commercial and insolvency practice. Noted for his strong advocacy, he is regularly instructed by both private and government clients to assist in matters involving directors’ disqualification, directors’ duties and public interest petitions against companies.
“Tiran produces really incisive analysis. He is user-friendly and the perfect junior, who is also able to step up as and when to lead.”
“He is incredibly thorough and clients love him.”
“Tiran is fantastic to work with. He is clever, client-focused and a barrister who delivers messages with incredible clarity.”
“He’s the perfect junior who is also able to step up and lead when necessary.”
“Tiran provides really incisive analysis on case law.”
Tom Gentleman, Band 2
Tom Gentleman specialises in shareholder disputes and directors’ disqualification matters, and regularly appears in High Court disputes as well as arbitrations, often acting unled. He is also experienced in cross-border and international disputes, particularly those with proceedings in the Cayman Islands, the BVI and Bermuda.
Alastair Tomson, Band 3
Alastair Tomson maintains a busy commercial chancery practice, as part of which he regularly handles contentious and non-contentious company work. His areas of expertise include acting in unfair prejudice petitions, for both respondents and petitioners, and advising on transactional work. He regularly acts unled.
Alexander Cook, Band 3
Alexander Cook commands a strong company practice, with a particular focus on director liability and disqualification disputes. These matters include offshore claims in the BVI as well as other jurisdictions. He is also a talented advocate, having appeared in proceedings in the High Court of Justice.
Donald Lilly, Band 3
Donald Lilly is an experienced junior with a deep knowledge of litigious company cases, most notably shareholder disputes. Regularly appears unled in court proceedings, and demonstrates strong expertise in matters concerning derivative claims.
