Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery

4 Stone Buildings is an impressive chancery set, housing a strong bench of barristers at both senior and junior level who are well versed in high-profile and complex disputes. The team's expertise spans a wide range of areas, and its members routinely undertake cases involving financial services and banking, commercial contracts and insolvency law. Shareholder disputes are also a key area of strength for the team, drawing on the set's established expertise in company law. The set's barristers are regularly instructed in litigation arising in the oil and gas sector, and have experience of acting in both domestic and international matters. As testament to their skill they have recently been involved in some major cases including Re the Will of the late HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, and Marex Financial Ltd v Carlos Sevilleja Garcia. They have also had continued engagement in the high profile Autonomy Corporation v Dr Michael Lynch matter. Commentators say that "comprehensive, commercial and strategic advice is always received from this set. Its barristers are intelligent and highly approachable."

"Head clerk David Goddard knows everybody and everyone - he's one of the greats of that profession."

"The clerks provide a very personable, bespoke service."

"The clerks are always very efficient, helpful and friendly. If things go wrong, I know I can always phone them."

Jonathan Crow KC "Jonathan is first class and is probably the barrister with the most air miles at appeal level. He sits as a judge in Guernsey, so he has that perspective from the bench too. He has gravitas and judges listen to him in a way that they don't listen to other KCs." "The best thing about him is he is forthright in his views - he will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. He is a solid performer, who is top of his field." "If I needed someone to argue for my life, it would be Jonathan Crow."

George Bompas KC "A very intellectual barrister, who provides calm advice, and is very easy to work with." "A good advocate, who is extremely measured and highly experienced."

Gregory Denton-Cox "He's thorough, client friendly and good with technically complex issues." "100% reliable and will always meet deadlines. He does everything with the right attitude and fits into the team very well. A go-to senior junior for complex cases requiring depth of analysis and great drafting skills." "He is an absolute workhorse, who will leave no stone unturned in finding the best arguments and facts to advance the case. His advice is practical and commercial, and he is not afraid to say it how it is."

Richard Hill KC "A very good, analytical lawyer, who has bags of intellectual fire power. That's part of the reason why he is very persuasive."

Tom Gentleman "He has a thorough approach and is very good tactically. He thinks ahead and his drafting is concise." "Lovely to work with and against, he drafts beautifully and is really knowledgeable on the law." "A consummate gentleman, who's a delight to work with and the backbone of any team - he gets things done."

Christopher Harrison "His paperwork is excellent, with his skeletons reducing the most complex points to simple terms. Christopher is meticulous and thoroughly prepared at all stages. He inspires confidence, works seamlessly with the team and gets on brilliantly with the client. His advocacy is firm, precise and very effective, and in court he is calmness and professionalism personified." "So vastly experienced that he's seen and done it all. He provides clear and concise views at a very early stage of the case in order to help refine strategy." "A man of great judgment, and someone who is very good with clients and has a great eye for detail. He really rolls his sleeves up and gets into it."

James Knott "Such a reliable pair of hands, James punches above his level. His written work is exceptional and his advice both pragmatic and clear. He delivers work in a quick manner and is able to effortlessly grasp highly technical matters." "He is experienced beyond his years and is good at producing written material under pressure." "Very bright and has a lovely manner with clients. He is creative and his drafting is top notch."

John Brisby KC "An excellent advocate, who is very good at picking up points others miss." "John is a real bruiser, who performs best in a tough fight - he is not shy about anything and definitely has the ear of the court." "Excellent from a strategy perspective."

Sharif Shivji KC "Incredibly intelligent, ferociously hard-working, and well-respected. He talks the language of the clients and understands their business." "He has the ability to formulate a plan to deal with all issues in the dispute and bring in the key elements in submissions and hearings to illustrate the facts and consequences." "An absolute pleasure to work with. He provided excellent, out of the box advice that was very much appreciated by the client. Sharif has particular expertise in DIFC disputes and a massive roll call of experience."

Andrew de Mestre KC "Incredibly responsive, very personable, and someone who always gets on well with clients. He is very intelligent, so he can see issues that I frankly don't see. On top of this he's a team player, who treats everyone the same." "Excellent on paper and very good in court." "He's incredibly user friendly and a very bright man."

Donald Lilly "Down to earth, very approachable, and someone with a great bedside manner with the client, Donald will roll up his sleeves and get stuck in. His advocacy is spot on and his advice on point." "Exceptionally bright and a very reassuring barrister, who is just so thorough in his preparation." "A very clever, commercially savvy and hard working senior junior. His advocacy is calm, measured and persuasive, and his commercial judgement spot on."

Alastair Tomson "Has a great ability to read the clients and engage at their level in meetings and discussions. He helps us to get them to  see the most sensible choices to be made."

Eleanor Holland "Very diligent and thorough in her work, Eleanor is a nice person to work with." "Her research is excellent and she puts forward good skeleton arguments. She's very responsive and communicative." "A very strong junior barrister, who is bright and quick on her feet."

Hermann Boeddinghaus KC "He is able to advise on complex matters and is a formidable advocate who remains cool, calm and collected throughout."

Joseph Wigley "Very personable, a good fighter and someone who really gets on top of the detail in a case."

Nicola Timmins "Nicola has extraordinary attention to detail, is very responsive, and is someone who quickly gets to grips with key issues." "Nicola is responsive and strategic in her advice."

Tiran Nersessian "Has a nice way of crystalising a point and writes in an engaging and persuasive way." "He's very experienced and a very steady pair of hands."

Lara Hassell-Hart "Hugely experienced and knowledgeable, Lara is technically very strong, extremely hard-working and someone who always delivers what she promises." "She is very responsive and like a sponge in her absorption of information."

Alexander Cook KC "Incredibly efficient, works extremely hard and is very responsive to clients." "Alex is phenomenal. Not only is he technically brilliant, but also a real joy to work with. When he gives you work back, it is always in your house style, and, for an instructing lawyer, that makes such a huge difference. Not only is it technically perfect, but structurally it is spot on too." "He's a lovely opponent, who's really respectable and courteous in court, and excellent on the law."