Company | UK Bar

Erskine Chambers continues to justify its place as the foremost company set in London. Sources from across the market reach consensus when lauding it as the go-to set for the most sophisticated and prominent matters in this area of the law. Members of Erskine, both senior and junior, demonstrate market-leading capabilities in heavyweight contentious and non-contentious company matters, and receive routine instructions from the country's top solicitors. Barristers at Erskine possess a strong command of schemes of arrangement, M&A, partnership and shareholder disputes and general corporate advisory work, as part of an all-encompassing offering. Erskine's barristers have been active advising on the most significant corporate transactions of the past year such as the demerger of the consumer healthcare division of GSK to Haleon plc, and Nielsen Holding's USD16 billion acquisition by Elliot and Brookfield. Other work highlights include defending Carillion's non-executive directors against disqualification proceedings brought by the UK Government, and representing Jardine Strategic in one of the world's largest ever merger appraisals.

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. In recent times, 4 Stone members have handled major offshore appraisal actions relating to Jardine Matheson and Changyou.com, along with leading cases involving the intersection of company law and fraud. Examples include Autonomy Corporation v Michael Lynch, the largest fraud case against an individual ever tried in the UK, and Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse.

Maitland Chambers houses a number of highly regarded company law barristers and is well known as a set with significant capabilities in the area. It is engaged by prominent solicitor firms to assist with matters both contentious and non-contentious, and is particularly noted for its abilities in litigation involving offshore jurisdictions. The members' recent work includes Everest Alliance v Maslovskiy & others, a derivative claim regarding the Russian mining company Petropavlovsk, as well as Global Distressed Alpha Capital I Limited v Herman, Eddlestone, a significant offshore breach of duty claim.

Serle Court has a solid reputation for company law work, particularly as it pertains to contentious matters such as breach of duty claims, derivative claims and shareholder disputes. Members here are frequently engaged to advise on matters with significant cross-border dimensions, including those in the BVI, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. Significant recent examples of offshore company law instructions include Jardine Strategic Holdings, heard in the Bermuda Supreme Court, which concerned the valuation of a minority shareholding in the global conglomerate. Other matters handled include Nord Anglia Education, another appraisal case concerning shareholder claims worth over USD1 billion. Domestically, members have been active in notable cases such as Zedra Trust Company v The Hut Group, an unfair prejudice claim.

South Square continues to garner praise for its fine company practice. Barristers at the set receive instructions from the foremost corporate law firms to advise on a range of company matters, including schemes of arrangement, shareholder disputes and directors' duties. Many of the cases they handle have a cross-border element. The set enjoys a strong reputation for its company work as it arises within the context of restructurings and insolvencies. Shareholder litigation heard at the appellate level is a significant recent theme of members' instructions. Cases have included Ma v Wong, concluded at the Privy Council, and the Court of Appeal case of Re Incredible Power. Re Amigo Loans is an example of the set's notable scheme of arrangement instructions,

New Square Chambers is widely respected for its solid company law practice, and houses a number of highly rated specialists who are well equipped to act in both transactional and litigious capacities. Barristers at the set exhibit demonstrable capabilities in schemes of arrangement, breach of duty claims and unfair prejudice claims, among a number of other matters. Unfair prejudice claims have been a noteworthy source of prominent cases in recent years. Examples include Process Holdings v Lismore Capital - a particularly high value international arbitration enforcement project related to an unfair prejudice claim - and Re Compound Photonics, a matter where the respondents are investment vehicles of prominent Russian businessmen including Roman Abramovich.

Wilberforce Chambers represents an excellent choice of set for company matters. Its barristers frequently represent clients faced with domestic and cross-border shareholder disputes, issues of directors' duties and breaches of fiduciary duty, among other matters. Its reputation for handling offshore work is particularly strong. Notable recent instructions include the liquidators' claim of breach of fiduciary duties against the former directors of BHS, and a share dispute regarding Laboratoire XO, which was pursued in both the UK and Luxembourg.

Market sources are quick to highlight the strength of the company offering at XXIV Old Buildings, and reserve particular praise for the strength of its expertise in connection with offshore matters. A number of the market's leading barristers practise at the chambers and receive instructions in a variety of company matters. Recent highlights for the set include Everest Alliance v Petropavlovsk, and St John’s Trust Company v Watlington and others, company law proceedings arising in the context of the investigation of Robert Brockman, a billionaire accused of the largest tax fraud perpetrated by an individual in US history.