Restructuring/Insolvency
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 4
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7842 1200Chambers Review
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.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks are always very responsive and easy to get hold of."
"Their clerks are very good and easy to talk to. They can have multiple barristers against each other and they just handle everything so well and professionally. They cover your back."
"The clerks at Twenty Essex are incredibly responsive and always really helpful. Will Inkin, assistant practice manager, has been fantastic."
"The clerks are always very responsive and easy to get hold of."
"Their clerks are very good and easy to talk to. They can have multiple barristers against each other and they just handle everything so well and professionally. They cover your back."
"The clerks at Twenty Essex are incredibly responsive and always really helpful. Will Inkin, assistant practice manager, has been fantastic."
Notable Practitioners
Stephen Atherton KC is a highly experienced silk who routinely tackles both domestic and cross-border matters. He excels in cases containing fraud elements and is a familiar face in offshore jurisdictions. He counts trustees, liquidators and administrators among his varied clientele.
"Stephen is able to find a needle in a haystack. He has a compelling intellectual power, coupled with sound commercial sense."
Blair Leahy KC has a practice centred on international and domestic insolvencies. She remains popular among clients for cases involving allegations of fraud and breach of duty. Shefrequently features inhigh-profile cases in the Supreme Court and Privy Council,and has appeared as sole counsel inmajor misfeasance trials.
"Blair's client service is exceptional. She responds promptly and fully engages in matters. She is down to earth and takes time to offer thoughts on developments before responding becomes necessary."
"Blair provides pragmatic and honest advice, and is an excellent strategist."
"Blair is strong in contentious insolvency work and shareholder disputes. She is all over the law and is able to see the bigger picture, take a commercial view and proactively engage with strategy."
Tony Beswetherick KC concentrates his busy practice on corporate and personal insolvency cases, demonstrating particular prowess in those containing a fraud element. He counts administrators, liquidators and lenders among his clients.
"Tony is an incredibly bright lawyer who quickly grasps the key issues in complex fraud and insolvency cases. He gets the best results for clients and is well liked."
"Tony is unrivalled in his ability to distil a complex issue to what really matters for the client. His advocacy is excellent and he is particularly astute in the art of knowing what to say."
Ranked Barristers at
Twenty Essex
Silks (KC)
London (Bar)