Our People

James specialises in all areas of commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on commercial disputes, insolvency, and professional negligence.

Stephen Davies KC is widely recognised as one of the most experienced litigators of issues relating to the law and practice of insolvency, also ranging into banking and finance and the disqualification of directors.

Hugo specialises in commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on civil fraud and tracing the proceeds of fraud. His cases often have an international dimension. He is currently working on several international legal disputes, involving foreign states and offshore companies. He has also acted as leading counsel in cases involving marine insurance, banking and aviation, and has conducted a large number of shipping and shipbuilding arbitrations.

Edward has practised since 1973 in the field of general commercial and chancery dispute resolution and advice.

Jonathan conducts a wide range of commercial and chancery litigation, with a particular emphasis on all aspects of contentious probate, including mental capacity, family provision, cross-border estates and conflicts, disputes on the validity of wills and estates and trusts.

Geoffrey Zelin has built a broad-based practice encompassing all aspects of commercial and chancery litigation, often appearing against silks.

Chris practices in all areas of personal and commercial insolvency.

Hugo has many years experience of dealing with insolvency related matters including those with an American and cross border element. He also deals with a broad range of company, partnership and commercial matters.

Neil specialises in banking litigation and advising on financial transactions. He has particular experience of domestic banking transactions, having worked as part of the Lloyds Bank in-house legal team from 1987 - 1992. His field of expertise also covers professional negligence in financial transactions, insolvency and commercial disputes. Neil has regularly presented seminars and written articles on banking and commercial law topics. He is a former contributor to Paget’s Law of Banking and Wadsley & Penn on The Law Relating to Domestic Banking. Neil is the editor of a website of case summaries relevant to finance litigation at www.banknotesuk.com.

Before she became a barrister, Marilyn taught on a postgraduate course in business computing at City University Business School, and also ran her own computer advisory company.

Jeremy specialises in commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on all aspects of contentious insolvency (corporate insolvency, LLPs, partnerships and bankruptcy), company law (including directors’ duties, shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice petitions), company directors’ disqualification proceedings and BROs, disciplinary, licensing and regulatory proceedings involving insolvency practitioners (acted for the ICAEW on boo.com) and bank recovery proceedings (charges, mortgages, guarantees and indemnities).

Stephanie is an incisive advocate, good with clients and judges alike. She is known for getting straight to the heart of a dispute and valued for her good judgment. Her main practice areas are property, wills, trusts and probate, partnerships and mediation.

Bridget specialises in commercial Chancery litigation with an emphasis on all aspects of company disputes.

Bruce specialises in property advice and litigation.

Ed is a leading property junior with expertise in all areas of real property and landlord and tenant.

Madeleine is a detailed and pragmatic commercial advocate specialising at trial and on appeal in commercial, insolvency, civil fraud, intellectual property, media and privacy litigation.

Celso De Azevedo (FCIArb) has over 20 years’ experience in complex and high value re/insurance, cyber, civil fraud, digital asset recovery, data theft and commercial disputes.

Having worked for over 23 years as an international litigation solicitor and partner in international UK and US law firms based in the City of London, Celso has extensive expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional arbitrations and court proceedings worldwide.

Celso is qualified as a New York Attorney and has a specialist practice in crypto-asset recovery, cyber extortion and data theft injunctive relief, including injunctions against publication of stolen data and freezing stolen crypto-assets.

Niall specialises in commercial law (including commercial fraud), offshore and international work (notably in the BVI as well as other jurisdictions), insolvency and restructuring and company law (with a particular emphasis on shareholder disputes). He regularly appears in the Commercial Court, the Chancery Division and in the BVI Commercial Court. He also regularly appears in arbitrations including inter alia ad hoc, LCIA.

Simon is ranked as a leading junior in company, partnership and insolvency matters, praised as “an outstanding Chancery barrister who is a QC and High Court judge in the making” who is “excellent at everything and should be a silk already” (Legal 500, 2018).

Ross practices in commercial, banking / financial services, property and company law. He has been ranked as a leading individual on the Western Circuit in his main practice areas by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 since 2010.

Kavan represents clients in disputes across the full spectrum of commercial-chancery litigation. He is ranked by the legal directories as a leading junior in several disciplines.

Cristín has a strong commercial chancery practice, with particular expertise in all aspects of insolvency law, commercial dispute resolution and property litigation.

Daisy specialises in all areas of contentious insolvency, company law, property and wills and trusts.

Emma’s expertise covers a wide range of commercial and chancery work. She accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ core practice areas with specific emphasis on property, company and insolvency, commercial and banking disputes, probate, trusts and charities, and professional negligence.

Amit has a strong commercial and chancery practice with a heavy emphasis on contentious insolvency (corporate insolvency, LLPs, partnerships and bankruptcy), commercial disputes, company law (including directors’ duties, shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice petitions), company directors’ disqualification proceedings and bank recovery proceedings (charges, mortgages, guarantees and indemnities).

Duncan has an impressive all-round Chancery practice covering both traditional and commercial work with a particular focus on insolvency and commercial disputes, as well as property and contentious trust issues.

Jennifer specialises in commercial Chancery litigation with a particular emphasis on insolvency, company and property disputes. She is particularly adept at dealing with cases where those areas intersect.

Phillip specialises in commercial, insolvency and property litigation. Called in 2008, he has a busy court and advisory practice with an established track record in reported cases.

James is a leading junior in the field of commercial Chancery work, with a particular emphasis on contentious insolvency, company law and property work.

Richard Cherry undertakes a wide range of chancery, commercial and property cases, with particular expertise in landlord and tenant issues.

Matthew has a broad commercial chancery practice, covering both traditional chancery and commercial disputes. He has a meticulous eye, and a commercial perspective. He is noted for his insolvency experience, and has been described as a “steely advocate”.

Simon Newman engages in a full range of commercial and chancery litigation, in particular commercial, insurance, insolvency and financial matters. Simon has been appointed by the Attorney General as Junior Counsel to the Crown (C Panel). In 2020 he was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Louise has a broad and busy commercial chancery practice with particular expertise in insolvency and property matters. In addition to advisory work and drafting, Louise appears regularly in the High Court, County Court and Tribunals, and has appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal.

Louise is especially adept at quickly getting to grips with complex or unusual disputes. She is highly adaptable, having recently spent year on secondment with a leading law firm in Dubai acting in a variety of substantial and often high profile commercial and property disputes (including arbitrations) throughout the Middle East.

Madeline has a busy commercial Chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on insolvency and company law. She frequently appears in both the High Court and the County Court and is equally comfortable acting as junior counsel or appearing in her own right.

Simon
Simon has appeared as sole counsel before the Court of Appeal, High Court, Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), and has been led on high-value commercial cases. Simon also appears before the Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulatory Decisions Committee. He is frequently instructed on high-value, complex litigation.

Christopher is a commercial, property and insolvency barrister with related expertise in professional negligence and financial services. His work has a commercial and contractual focus but he is frequently instructed in cases which involve overlapping issues across his other areas of expertise.

Christopher has substantial advocacy experience across the High Court, County Court and various Tribunals, both as sole counsel and as part of a team as well as regular experience of alternative dispute resolution. He maintains a busy paperwork practice and has been praised for his efficient turnaround of high quality work.

Christopher was appointed to the Attorney General’s C-Panel in 2021.

Claire spent her first three years practicing from Chambers’ London branch but has recently re-located to Chambers’ Bristol branch. Claire continues to regularly appear in London, as well as now having an emphasis on work in Bristol and South Wales.

Since completing her pupillage in 2016, Fiona has quickly developed a reputation among judges and solicitors as a reliable and user-friendly practitioner.

Chris joined the Leeds centre of Chambers in October 2017, and is developing a broad commercial and chancery practice. His experience includes general commercial disputes, company, partnership and insolvency law, trusts, probate and estates litigation, conflicts of law and jurisdiction, and property and real estate litigation.

Mairi has a busy commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on cases with an insolvency or property element. She is an experienced advocate who regularly appears in the High Court and County Court in the areas in which Chambers is renowned.

Samuel is a member of Chambers’ London branch. He has a strong commercial chancery practice, and regularly deals with cases which have insolvency and property aspects, and which involve fraud and high-value asset tracing.
Samuel regularly appears (led and unled) in the High Court and the County Court, and has a busy paper practice. He accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas.
Samuel was called to the Bar in 2018, and achieved the highest mark out of the Lincoln’s Inn cohort. Before undertaking pupillage at Chambers, Sam obtained a Distinction and a prize on the BCL at the University of Oxford, and graduated top of his year in Law at Queen Mary University of London.

Kirsty became a member of Chambers in October 2020 after successfully completing her pupillage under the supervision of Stephanie Jarron, Matthew Maddison and Hugo Groves. She was called to the Bar in 2018 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn after achieving an Outstanding on the BPTC at Manchester BPP. During pupillage, Kirsty gained experience across all areas of Chambers’ work, including assisting in a two week disclosure review.

Kirsty accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas.

Ella has a broad commercial chancery practice with a particular emphasis on cases with a property or insolvency element. She accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas.

Ella regularly appears in both the County Court and the High Court, both led and unled. She predominantly acts as sole counsel and, as such, her advocacy experience is well beyond her level of call.

Ella also maintains a busy paper practice. She is regularly instructed at a pre-litigation stage and follows her cases through to conclusion, at trial or otherwise. Ella prides herself on providing advice which, as well as being legally incisive, addresses the commercial and practical needs of the client.

Pearse became a member of Chambers in January 2022 following his successful completion of a third-six pupillage. Pearse secured a first-class degree from the University of St Andrews before completing the GDL and BPTC as a Lincoln’s Inn Scholar.

Prior to joining chambers Pearse gained extensive advocacy experience from a year spent as a solicitor’s agent and is comfortable dealing with a wide range of matters from applications for summary judgment to Landlord & Tenant proceedings. Pearse completed pupillage at a leading insolvency chambers and has experience across the full range of Chambers’ work.

Pearse accepts instructions in all of Chambers’ main practice areas.

Bertie developed a broad commercial chancery practice during pupillage and accepts instructions across the range of Chambers’ areas of work.

Jonathan conducts a wide range of commercial and chancery litigation, with a particular emphasis on all aspects of contentious probate, including mental capacity, family provision, cross-border estates and conflicts, disputes on the validity of wills and estates and trusts.

Chris practices in all areas of personal and commercial insolvency.

Stephanie is an incisive advocate, good with clients and judges alike. She is known for getting straight to the heart of a dispute and valued for her good judgment. Her main practice areas are property, wills, trusts and probate, partnerships and mediation.

Celso De Azevedo (FCIArb) has over 20 years’ experience in complex and high value re/insurance, cyber, civil fraud, digital asset recovery, data theft and commercial disputes.

Having worked for over 23 years as an international litigation solicitor and partner in international UK and US law firms based in the City of London, Celso has extensive expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional arbitrations and court proceedings worldwide.

Celso is qualified as a New York Attorney and has a specialist practice in crypto-asset recovery, cyber extortion and data theft injunctive relief, including injunctions against publication of stolen data and freezing stolen crypto-assets.

Claire spent her first three years practicing from Chambers’ London branch but has recently re-located to Chambers’ Bristol branch. Claire continues to regularly appear in London, as well as now having an emphasis on work in Bristol and South Wales.

Peter retired from the circuit bench in 2013 and joined chambers as a door tenant in January 2014. He provides an alternative dispute resolution service, including the three forms of ADR mentioned above.

Michael joined Chambers in 2004 and was appointed Senior Clerk in 2019.
He is responsible for the management of the clerking team in Chambers, as well as the strategic management and development of members practices and Chambers as a whole.

Tracey joined Chambers in March 2018 and is responsible for Chambers long-term operational strategies

Luke joined Enterprise Chambers in September 2019 as a Practice Manager. Luke clerks the senior members of Chambers and is responsible for diary management, fee negotiations, managing client relations, practice development, allocation of instructions and listing.

Raj joined Chambers in February 2018 as a Practice Manager, Raj is responsible for diary management, fee negotiation and practice management of members

Morgon joined Enterprise Chambers in December 2021 as an Assistant Practice Manager. Morgon assists Raj in clerking the junior members of Chambers and is responsible for diary management, fee negotiation, and practice management of members.

Morgon sat on the IBC CDC committee for several years, which helps creates and organise educational and social events around the year for members and non-members of the IBC.

Morgon has also been studying the Russian language for several years.

Kenya joined Chambers in October 2018 as Junior Clerk. Kenya is responsible for assisting our barristers to and from court, lodging documents with court, and assisting members of the clerks’ room with the day-to-day management of barristers’ diaries and client relations.

Amber joined Chambers in November 2021 as Junior Clerk. Amber is responsible for assisting our barristers to and from court, lodging documents with court, and assisting members of the clerks’ room with the day-to-day management of barristers’ diaries and client relations.

Justin joined chambers in July 2018 and, with over 20 years clerking experience, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the legal market.

Joanne joined chambers in 1993 and is primarily responsible for our Leeds branch. She also assists Michael Ireland with the general day-to-day running of chambers.

Ellen joined chambers in 2006 and assists Joanne in Leeds.

She is based at our Newcastle branch and is responsible for the general day to day running of the Chambers in Newcastle.

Shuvra was called to the Bar in 2007 and practises in all matters relating to insolvency, company and commercial chancery law.

Jeremy undertakes work in all areas in which Chambers specialise. His particular interests are property and commercial litigation and advice, insolvency law, corporate recovery, trusts and probate.

Pulkit specialises in civil litigation with a particular interest in contentious insolvency, fraud and asset tracing, avoidance, corporate restructuring, minority oppression, mergers and amalgamations, commercial and property disputes, banking, and public law.