• Arbitration

  Alan has extensive experience, both as counsel and arbitrator, of large scale, high value and often high profile arbitrations usually of an international nature. An acknowledged leader of the Bar, the scale and variety of his experience makes him a natural choice, particularly in those areas in which he is a recommended expert, namely: commercial disputes and civil fraud; trust and probate work; company and partnership; insolvency, pensions and professional negligence.

  The majority of his matters are necessarily confidential but the following give a flavour of the types of arbitration in which he has acted both as arbitrator and counsel:

  • Alan is the Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal appointed under the LCIA rules in an arbitration concerning a dispute between the parties to a  joint venture agreement involving Russian property.
  • Alan sat on an arbitral tribunal in a complicated and bitterly fought dispute between two major computer software companies.
  • A case in which the Court of Appeal held that a party who had brought an application for a stay of proceedings pending an arbitration had not taken a step in the action within the meaning of s.9(3) Arbitration Act 1996 if, either simultaneously or subsequently, he invoked or accepted the court’s jurisdiction by bringing an application for summary judgment, provided that he only did so conditionally on his stay application failing.
  • Alan has acted as arbitrator and counsel in several partnership disputes.
• Banking and Financial Services

  Alan is a trusted and popular adviser and advocate in relation to banking and finance disputes where he is able to draw on his considerable expertise in commercial litigation, company, partnership, trusts and insolvency as well as his pre-eminent international experience

  • In the Matter of Lloyds TSB: Acted for shareholders against former directors for breach of duties regarding takeover of Lloyds by RBS involving heavy dilution of shares on the grounds of material non-disclosures.
  • Carlyle Capital Corporation Ltd & ors v Conway & ors:   Advised the Defendants (Carlyle related entities) in a US$1 billion claim arising out of the failure of a US hedge fund incorporated in Guernsey. Claim was dismissed at first instance and on appeal and an appeal to the Privy Council was withdrawn. .
  • BTA Bank: Proceedings in the BVI and the UK by a Kazakstan bank against (inter alia) the majority shareholder and a director for assets alleged to have been improperly obtained by fraud.
  • Kaupthing disputes: Various disputes relating to a £500m shareholding in Somerfield supermarket held through an offshore trust.  Kaupthing had security over the shares in the BVI company which held those shares.  The shareholding had been transferred to another BVI company.
  • Madoff related dispute: Alan advised in relation to US3.2 billion of assets invested in Madoff related funds.
  • Architects of Wine v Barclays [2007] EWCA Civ 239: This important case established that you could not necessarily find that a bank was negligent in authorising the payment of cheques drawn in favour of a company into the bank account of an associated company with a near identical name where the company’s sole director had acted in a fraudulent manner in relation to the company owning the cheques.
• Civil Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery

  Alan is recommended for civil fraud in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500; Legal 500 commenting that he is “one of the leading lights“. He has been involved in some of the largest fraud cases in recent times and his acknowledged expertise in areas such as trusts and company means he adds considerable value to the cases entrusted to his care. He is known for his ability to think creatively, his ability as an advocate and his relentless determination to achieve the best possible result for clients.

  Some of his cases include:

  • Trust dispute: a case concerning the validity of a trust involving complicated claims of fraud and money laundering.
  • Collapse of large BTA Bank: this complex case involves very substantial fraud allegations.
  • Multi-million pound international dispute: This dispute ranged over a number of jurisdictions including the UK, New York, Florida and Monaco
  • Icelandic bank dispute: Dispute concerning shareholding in Somerfield supermarket chain held by a major trust over which Kaupthing held security.
  • Billion dollar litigation in Gibraltar in which the allegations of fraud played a central role.
  • Multi-million pound dispute relating to a very substantial Bahamian trust.
  • Diva Sports Ltd v Carnegie Group Ltd (2008): Breach of warranty under a share sale agreement.
  • Phillips v Symes: This widely reported litigation principally concerned International asset tracing and subsequent asset recovery in relation to a very successful partnership trading in high value antiquities. The value of the claim was estimated to be well in excess of $150m. Litigation was conducted in the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, USA, Greece, Switzerland (Geneva, Zürich and Aargau), Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and Germany and in the UK involved numerous decisions at first instance, numerous appeals to the Court of Appeal, one appeal to the House of Lords and two appeals to the Privy Council
  • Architects of Wine v Barclays [2007] EWCA Civ 239: This important case established that you could not necessarily find that a bank was negligent in authorising the payment of cheques drawn in favour of a company into the bank account of an associated company with a near identical name where the company’s sole director had acted in a fraudulent manner in relation to the company owning the cheques.
• Commercial Litigation

  Alan has a well-deserved reputation for the excellence of his advice and advocacy on all manner of business dispute, often involving fraud. As Chambers & Partners says: “he is never rattled by large scale instructions” commenting that his “exceptionally good legal mind” provides a fertile breeding ground for “case winning arguments“. Legal 500 comments that he “commands a strong sense of calm to a case and is respected for taking good points“.

  Listed below are some of the business disputes in which he has recently or is currently involved:

  • A claim in excess of $50 mil. being brought by the liquidators of the Moulin Group against a Hong Kong solicitor who was a non-executive director of the holding company. The trial is due to be heard in Hong Kong.
  • Fiduciary Management Services: This dispute concerned the battle for ownership of Freeport in Grand Bahama.
  • Collapse of BTA Bank: Alan was involved in the complex litigation arising out of the demise of a leading Eastern European bank.
  • Multi-million pound international dispute This dispute ranged over a number of jurisdictions including the UK, New York, Florida and Monaco
  • Major litigation in Bermuda involving substantial Bermudian trust
  • Billion $ claim concerning a failed investment fund established as an offshore company.
  • Billion $ dispute in Gibraltar following wide-ranging allegations of fraud.
  • Kaupthing dispute: Dispute involving holding in Somerfield supermarket chain held by a major trust over which Kaupthing held security.
  • Multi-million pound dispute relating to a very substantial Bahamian trust.
  • Templeton Insurance v Booth (PC)(2010): This high level insurance business dispute looked at various issues such as breach of fiduciary duty and reviewed the law on ex turpi causa.
  • Trident Trust: claim involving action to recover funds moved from England to Germany.
  • Diva Sports Ltd v Carnegie Group Ltd (2008): Breach of warranty under a share sale agreement.
  • Oxus Mining plc v Templeton Insurance (2008): £2.5m claim over whether the defendant was entitled to exercise warrants and whether the warrants were a reward for services which the defendant had in fact notcarried out.
  • Architects of Wine (2008): Dispute concerning the way in which all banks clear cheques and whether that process is inherently negligent.
  • Land Securities & Ors v Fladgate Fielder [2009] EWHC 577 (Ch): a firm of solicitors succeeded in striking out a claim brought by a property development company on the basis that the firm’s prior commencement of judicial review proceedings against the grant of planning permission in favour of the company in relation to its proposal to redevelop 2 sites constituted the tort of abuse of process.
  • Phillips v Symes: This widely reported litigation principally concerned International asset tracing and subsequent asset recovery in relation to a very successful partnership trading in high value antiquities. The value of the claim was estimated to be well in excess of $150m. Litigation was conducted in the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, USA, Greece, Switzerland (Geneva, Zürich and Aargau), Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and Germany and in the UK involved numerous decisions at first instance, numerous appeals to the Court of Appeal, one appeal to the House of Lords and two appeals to the Privy Council.
  • Trust fund fraud action: This is an action to recover funds which were moved from England to Germany amidst allegations of fraud.
• Company

  Company law instructions form an important part of Alan’s practice and he has been recommended in the legal directories for many years. Examples of his cases set out below show, he advises on some of the most high profile, high value and complicated company issues around.

  Chambers & Partners says Alan is “incisive, creative and down-to-earth…and very much on top of things“. He is also recommended as “concise, confident and authoritative” by Legal 500.

  Alan is the editor of Blackstone’s Guide to the Companies Act 2006.

  Some examples of this work are set out below:

  • In the Matter of Lloyds TSB (ongoing): Acted for shareholders against former directors for breach of duties regarding takeover of Lloyds by RBS. Involving heavy dilution of shares on the grounds of material non-disclosures.
  • A claim in excess of $50 mil. being brought by the liquidators of the Moulin Group against a Hong Kong solicitor who was a non-executive director of the holding company. The trial is due to be heard in Hong Kong.
  • Carlyle Capital Corporation Ltd & ors v Conway & ors (ongoing): Advised the Defendants (Carlyle related entities) in a US$1 billion claim arising out of the failure of a US hedge fund incorporated in Guernsey. Claim was dismissed at first instance and on appeal and an appeal to the Privy Council was withdrawn.
  • Atrium Training Services Ltd: Acting for four liquidators of company seeking relief against sanction of their claim that had been struck out for failure to comply with disclosure obligations.
  • Fiduciary Management Services: This large scale litigation concerned the battle for ownership of Freeport in Grand Bahamas
  • Green v Exista HF: Represented an Icelandic company which was the majority shareholder in an Icelandic bank.
  • Lincoln Castings v Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: A high value directors’ disqualification case.
  • Diva Sports Ltd v Carnegie Group Ltd: Heavy weight multi-million dollar breach of warranty claim under a share sale agreement.
  • Oxus Mining plc v Templeton Insurance [2006] EWHC 864 (Comm) (2007): £2.5m claim over whether the defendant was entitled to exercise warrants and whether the warrants were a reward for services which the defendant had in fact not carried out.
• Insolvency

  Alan is regularly recommended in this area in the legal directories, including the current editions of Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, drawing praise as “an intelligent and focused practitioner“.

  Set out below are details of some of his cases. However, the sensitivity of his cases (many of which result from the credit crunch) is such that details of the majority of his cases cannot be published so those interested in Alan’s experience should contact his Senior Practice Manager, Paul Horsfield, directly.

  • A claim in excess of $50 mil. being brought by the liquidators of the Moulin Group against a Hong Kong solicitor who was a non-executive director of the holding company. The trial is due to be heard in Hong Kong.
  • Kaupthing dispute: Dispute relating to a holding by a major trust in Somerfield supermarkets over which the insolvency Icelandic bank, Kaupthing, held security.
  • BTA Bank: Proceedings in the BVI and UK by a Kazakstan bank agains the majority shareholder and a director for assets alleged to have been improperly obtained by fraud.
  • Claim concerning a failed investment fund established as an offshore company.
  • Claim by pension scheme for priority in relation to the collapse of a Bahamian insurance company.
• Mediation

  Alan is a CEDR qualified mediator.  He has taken part in numerous mediations and other settlement negotiations where his extensive experience across a wide range of practice areas is particularly valued.

• Partnership and Joint Ventures

  Alan is an acknowledged expert on partnership law, attracting accolades in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Legal 500 comments that he is “a force to be reckoned with in the area of partnership law“. Much of his caseload in this areas is by its nature confidential. However, those cases in the public eye have included:

  • Shiraz Boghani v Bashir Nathoo [2011] EWHC 2101: A dispute concerning a dissolved partnership in relation to London property developments.
  • Hammonds v Danilunas [2009] EWHC Ch 216: a high profile partnership dispute concerning the recovery of over-drawings from former partners.
  • Drake v Harvey [2010] EWHC 1446 (Ch), Mann J: the construction of a clause in a partnership deed which provided for a dying partner’s share automatically to accrue to the surviving partners subject to them paying for such share by reference to the last annual accounts, the question being whether those last annual accounts should reflect a fair value of the partnership’s assets or only their book value.
  • BBGP Managing General Partner Ltd v Babcock & Brown [2010] EWHC (Ch) 2176: dispute between partnership formed under Limited Partnerships Act 1907 as investment vehicle and former managing general partner and its associates. Also concerned questions of disclosure and access to partnership documents and legal professional privilege as well as whether the fraud iniquity exception applied.
• Pensions

  Regularly recommended as expert in pensions in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Prs, Alan Steinfeld is said to be “superb and possessed of fantastic judgement“. He is seen as “a very ballsy advocate who is unwavering when under fire” with an “ability to provide incisive legal advice without being overly technical“.

  Pension work is invariably confidential and few cases are taken to court. We therefore recommend that those interested contact Paul Horsfield, Alan’s Senior Practice Manager, to learn more of Alan’s experience. The following are some of his reported cases:

  • Advice in relation to pension claims and insolvency matters concerning a large group of companies.
  • A case involving renumeration for a trustee following their removal.
  • BT Pensions Trustees v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2010): This case concerned the scope of the obligations of the employer under the pension scheme’s rules and the scope of the statutory guarantee by the Crown of those obligations.
  • Pilots National Pensions Fund (2009): Alan advised on this multi-million pound dispute.
  • In the Matter of K & J Holdings Ltd – Capital Cranfield Trustees Ltd -v- Pinsent Curtis [2004] EWHC : On the construction of the provisions of a company’s pension scheme, once the company purported to terminate its liability to contribute to the scheme, the trustee still had the power to demand from the company a contribution in a sum equal to any shortfall in the scheme’s funds needed to enable the trustee to secure members’ benefits by the purchase from an insurance company of policies in accordance with the rules of the scheme.
  • Bank of New Zealand -v- Bank of New Zealands Officers’ Provident Ass [2003] UKPC 58 Privy Council : The Court of Appeal of New Zealand had been right to hold that the power to amend the rules of the Bank of New Zealand superannuation scheme, under which benefits were generally taken as tax-free lump sums, permitted amendments intended to increase benefits to members including persons who had been members but had left the bank’s employment at any time after 1 November 1995.

  Alan has also been advising on the construction and effect of a statutory guarantee; allegations of negligence concerning a pensions scheme; the extent to which employers are liable to top up certain pensions and on an alleged failure to advise properly on a pensions scheme.

• Professional Negligence

  Recommended in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Prs for his professional expertise, Alan is an acknowledged expert in this field.

  Some of Alan’s cases include:

  • A claim in excess of $50 mil. being brought by the liquidators of the Moulin Group against a Hong Kong solicitor who was a non-executive director of the holding company. The trial is due to be heard in Hong Kong.
  • Dispute concerning the way in which all banks clear cheques and whether that process is inherently negligent.
  • Claim against a silk for allegedly negligent tax advice.
  • Claim concerning an alleged failure to advise properly regarding a pension scheme.
  • Claim over failure to meet a time limit in a company liquidation, as a result of which the claimant lost the ability to prove in the insolvency.
• Real Estate Litigation

  Property issues and instructions have always formed a staple part of Alan’s practice. He is well versed in dealing with both landlord and tenant as well as more general property litigation, often in relation to trusts assets (see the trusts section).

  Some cases in which he has been involved are:

  • Baxter v Mannion [2010] EWHC 573 (Ch): An appeal against the Land Registry adjudicator in relation to the registration of a person claiming adverse possession. An appeal has been lodged.
  • Crest Nicholson v Regional Investments Guildford (2010): a claim for the return of a deposit as the sale conditions required vacant possession but the land contained a lease of an electrical substation. The defendant claimed rectification and unsubstantiality. It has now settled.
  • Midill (97PL) Ltd v Park Lane Estates & Gomba International Investements Ltd (2008) case. The judgment in this case was that, in order for the court to exercise its discretion under section 49(2) Law of Property Act 1925 to order repayment of a deposit, there needed to be something special or exceptional to justify overriding the ordinary contractual expectations of the parties that the seller could retain the deposit if the buyer defaulted.
  • Land Securities & Ors v Fladgate Fielder [2009] EWHC 577 (Ch): A firm of solicitors succeeded in striking out a claim brought by a property development company on the basis that the firm’s prior commencement of judicial review proceedings against the grant of planning permission in favour of the company in relation to its proposal to redevelop 2 sites constituted the tort of abuse of process.
  • Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Ayres & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 52: A supplemental deed limiting the liability of an assignee of an underlease to partnership assets related only to the assets against which recourse could be had by the tenant in the event of default and did not operate to alter the terms of the relationship between the tenant and the subtenant established under a licence to assign, which provided that the tenant was entitled to recover from the subtenant any losses arising from the assignee’s default without limitation.
• Trusts, Probate & Estates

  Alan has built up an impressive practice in trusts, probate and estates work. He “bestrides the Chancery courts like a colossus” states Chambers & Partners which recommends Alan for both traditional and commercial Chancery work as well as commercial litigation. He is also recommended in Legal 500 which comments that he is “unquestionably a star of the Chancery Bar”. His cases illustrate his experience:

  • A case concerning the validity of a trust involving complicated claims of fraud and money laundering.
  • Dispute between high net worth Hong Kong family with assets in BVI and Hong Kong trusts.
  • Multi million pound dispute in the Bahamas relating to a dispute between brothers about the proceeds of a quasi partnership operated through a trust.
  • Large scale trust dispute in Bermuda relating to a major trust.
  • Major litigation in Gibraltar between oligarchs where there are wide-ranging allegations of fraud.
  • Multi million pound dispute relating to the administration of an offshore trust and calls into question the administration of the trust by the Protectors.
  • Major trust litigation in Gibraltar relating to a multi billion pound trust resulting from a dispute between two brothers as to how the assets of the trust should be distributed between then and their respective families.
  • Family trust dispute: which occasioned in 2009 the longest ever Beddoes application.
  • Walbrook Trustees (Jersey) Ltd & Ors v William Fattal & Ors [2009] EWHC 1446 (Ch): The judge was held to have erred in striking out of a claim by trustees as an abuse of process on the basis that it could have been brought in earlier proceedings between the parties. In the earlier proceedings, the trustees did not have all the information necessary to bring their claim. Also [2009] EWHC 1446 (Ch): the court made declarations in relation to the complex trust arrangements by which four families owned equal shares in an investment property.
  • Olins v Walters [2008] EWCA Civ 782: Where there was ample evidence that codicils executed by the defendant and his deceased wife satisfied the conditions for the establishment of mutual wills, the judge had been entitled to declare that they bound the deceased’s estate in the hands of the defendant and his personal representatives.
  • Gregson v HAE Trustees & Ors [2008] EWHC 1006 (Ch): The claims that a trust company had against its directors for various breaches of duty could not, in the circumstances, be transposed to the beneficiary under that trust to pursue in her own right so her claim was struck out.
  • Vadim Schmidt -v- Rosewood Trust Ltd [2003] AC 709 Privy Council : The right to seek disclosure of trust documents was an aspect of the court’s inherent jurisdiction to supervise and if necessary to intervene in the administration of trusts and did not depend on the right or claim of a beneficiary to a proprietary interest in the trust property.
  • Routier v HMRC [2019] 3 W.L.R. 757 : Acted for successful appellant to the Supreme Court establishing that the charity exemption from Inheritance Tax applied to a will trust for charitable purposes governed by Jersey law.

Other information

• Recommendations

  Lifetime Achievement Award – Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019

  Insolvency ‘Silk of the Year’ 2018 – The Legal 500 Awards

  Chancery Silk of the Year 2008 – Chambers UK Bar Awards 2008 Shortlisted in 2010 and 2011.

  International Trust Barrister of the Year: UK – Acquisition International Legal Awards 2013

  Company & Partnership

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC is an impressive practitioner who is frequently involved in high-profile cases. He has a wealth of experience in shareholder disputes, having made appearances in all the UK courts and those of the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the BVI and the Channel Islands. His broad practice also takes in a host of commercial chancery and partnership matters. Strengths: “Creative, proactive and good value.” (2022)

  Alan Steinfeld QC commands tremendous respect as one of the London Bar’s most active and redoubtable commercial and chancery silks, being particularly well known for his handling of partnership matters with a strong commercial or financial services aspect. He regularly acts in complex partnership issues considered in the courts of a number of British offshore territories. Strengths: “Alan is brilliantly good, very bright and an accomplished all-rounder.” “He is a formidable courtroom performer who impresses judges greatly.” (2022)

  An impressive practitioner who is frequently involved in high-profile cases. He has a wealth of experience in shareholder disputes, having made appearances in all the UK courts and those of the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the BVI and the Channel Islands. His broad practice also takes in a host of commercial chancery and partnership matters. Strengths: “Alan is brilliant and achieves exemplary end results.” (2021)

  Strengths: “A leading counsel with extensive knowledge and experience of partnership and LLP law. ” “He is confident, authoritative and decisive.” “Clients feel they are in safe hands.” (2021)

  Legal 500

  ‘Fantastic. Well respected by peers and clients.’ (2022)

  ‘Garners respect and loved by clients. Very impressive and knowledgeable in partnership law.’ (2021)

  Restructuring/Insolvency

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC stands out for his active practice in offshore jurisdictions, notably the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. He also routinely advises clients in significant domestic litigation. Strengths: “He’s amazingly insightful and an absolute delight to work with – a marvellous advocate.” (2022 – UK and Global)

  Stands out for his active practice in offshore jurisdictions, notably the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. He also routinely advises clients in significant domestic litigation. Strengths: “He’s one of the great brains of the English Bar.” “He is fantastic – incredibly intelligent and absolutely charming.” (2021 – UK and Global)

  Legal 500

  ‘Fabulous. Respected by peers and admired by clients.’ (2022)

  ‘An absolutely superb silk.’ (2021)

  Chancery: Commercial

  Chambers & Partners

  “A really stellar silk with a brain the size of a planet, who is confident in lots of areas. ” “Excellent. He is just incredibly bright and must have swallowed whole books.” (2022 – UK and Global)

  “He is a real class act and a top-class trust litigator. He has a well-deserved reputation and his knowledge is superb.” “He is incredibly intelligent and absolutely charming.” (2021 – UK and Global)

  Fraud: Civil

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC is a respected silk well known for his work in the fields of offshore trusts, company law and civil fraud. He has conducted actions in a host of jurisdictions beyond the UK for many years. Strengths: “Very experienced in this space.” (2022)

  Strengths: “An excellent barrister who is charming in court and well received by judges.” (2021)

  Legal 500

  ‘It is great to be able to be put in such a safe and experienced pair of hands.’ (2022)

  ‘Absolutely excellent and I would recommend him unhesitatingly for chancery and trusts work.’ (2021)

  Chancery: Traditional

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC is frequently instructed in the most high-profile and complex traditional chancery matters, and someone with extensive experience of trust cases. He is also highly sought after for offshore work. Strengths: “He is a star of the Bar – a real heavyweight who has the ear of the court.” (2022)

  Strengths: “He knows everything there is to know.” “A very smooth advocate and a very nice chap.” “He is a real class act,” and “a top-class trusts litigator. Clients single him out; he has a great reputation and it is well deserved. His knowledge is superb.” (2021)

  Alan Steinfeld QC brings a vast amount of experience to high-value international trusts matters. “He just has so much experience, and his instincts for the right answers are just unparalleled,” says a solicitor, adding: “He is absolutely steeped in chancery law and knows every case inside out. He is a truly great senior advocate.” Sources also describe Steinfeld as “the cleverest of the clever” and “the oracle of this practice area.” (2021 – High Net Worth)

  Offshore

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC has wide commercial and traditional chancery expertise and a profound knowledge of trust disputes. He has broad offshore experience across the Channel Islands, the Caribbean and Hong Kong. Steinfeld is well versed in hedge fund, investment fund and property disputes. He is also active on behalf of private clients in family and estate disputes. Strengths: “Alan is one of the grandees of the Chancery Bar. His advice is incredibly insightful and he’s also a marvellous advocate.” (2022 – UK and Global)

  Strengths: “He has great analytical skills.” (2021 – UK and Global)

  Legal 500

  ‘A very skilled advocate who commanded the respect of the Cayman court.’ (2022)

  ‘Very clever and makes difficult concepts approachable.’ (2021)

  Commercial Dispute Resolution

  Chambers & Partners

  “Very, very good and extremely patient even with the trickiest of clients. He’s so clever you can almost hear his brain whirring.” (2022 – UK and Global)

  “Incredibly intelligent and absolutely charming, he is a fantastic barrister.” (2021 – UK and Global)

  Legal 500

  ‘Alan commands the court room – he is incredibly intelligent and sparkly.’ (2022)

  ‘Phenomenally bright, great court room manner, garners respect and clients love him.’ (2021)

  Trusts

  Chambers & Partners

  Alan Steinfeld QC is active across a wide array of practice areas and has a substantial focus on trust law. He is experienced in offshore, as well as domestic, trusts disputes, and is recognised for his familiarity with international arbitrations in connection with contentious trust matters. Strengths: “A class act who is everything you want in a very senior silk.” “He’s very direct and straightforward in the advice he gives. His opinions are always well expressed and well thought through.” (2022)

  Strengths: “A top-class trusts litigator, who is a real class act. Clients single him out for his superb knowledge of the law.” (2021 – UK and Global)

  Legal 500

  ‘A persuasive advocate.’ (2021)

  Pensions

  Legal 500

  ‘His advocacy is tremendous and he really does have the ear of the court.’ (2021)

  Professional Negligence

  Legal 500

  ‘He is first rate.’ (2021)

  Alan is ranked in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2020 for traditional chancery. He is described as “a top-class trusts litigator” and that “he has a great reputation and it is well deserved. His knowledge is superb.”

  Legal 500 2020 describes Alan as having a ‘fantastic range and depth of experience which sets him apart from other silks’ and recommends him for commercial litigation, company and partnership, civil fraud, insolvency, offshore, pensions, private client (trusts and probate) and professional negligence. Clients praise his ‘fantastic depth of knowledge in complicated and esoteric areas of law‘ and say that ‘he has the ear of the court, and is imaginative in his arguments and his deployment of them‘ as well as being ‘excellent with clients – concise, confident and authoritative‘. Alan is also said to be ‘down to earth and practical, and has no airs or graces‘, ‘brilliant in court‘ and ‘highly skilled and very thorough‘.

  Chambers & Partners for many years has given Alan “Star of the Bar” status for his impressive tally of recommendations in 10 categories: commercial and traditional Chancery, commercial dispute resolution, company and partnership, fraud, insolvency, offshore, pensions, professional negligence, restructuring and insolvency, and trusts. Noted as ‘A leading silk at the Chancery Bar who’s confident, authoritative and decisive‘, Alan is said to be ‘Brilliant – he’s very, very bright and you can feel his brain whirring. He is very good, very patient and communicates well with very bright clients.’ Clients praise him for being ‘incisive and down-to-earth’, Alan ‘delivers advice in a very authoritative and understandable manner‘. Other commented saying ‘He has an uncanny ability to make the extraordinarily complicated seem perfectly straightforward.’ ‘A heavyweight. If you really need a big gun, you’re not going to get better than Alan. He commands the utmost respect in the court, has an incredible brain and his manner and presentation in court is excellent. He can pull rabbits out of hats’. 

  Alan is also recommended in Chambers Global 2020 for dispute resolution (commercial chancery), offshore and private wealth (trusts). Described as ‘the Godfather of offshore work‘ with a ‘mega brain‘ and ‘experience of appearing in every court imaginable‘, instructing solicitors recognise his ‘tenacity and enthusiasm‘. One client comments: ‘Alan has a razor-sharp intellect and can cut right to the heart of the matter. Every word he utters is perfectly measured’.

  The Citywealth Leaders List 2019 recommends him as a Prominent Barrister for Contentious Trusts, saying he is ‘one of the “giants” in the field of trust litigation‘ and ‘an immensely charming and courteous individual‘. He is endorsed for being ‘able to respond to tricky legal questions from the bench with a consummate ease as he really knows his stuff‘ and ‘Alan is an old pro who still has the energy for a fight. The distinctive Steinfeld qualities are speed and instinct and, on hard trust and company matters, one learns to trust Alan’s penetrating glance above hours of others’ reflection’.

  He is recommended as a leading lawyer for company and partnership, civil fraud, insolvency and restructuring and private client work by Who’s Who Legal 2020. He is recognised for his “vast experience“, “encyclopedic knowledge” and “vision and gravitas“. He is considered “one of the big names in the area” for civil fraud and has a “formidable reputation in the market” for insolvency and restructuring.

• Academic history

  Downing College, Cambridge (BA Hons LLB)

• Appointments

  1994: Deputy High Court Judge (Chancery and Queens Bench Division)
  1996: Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn
  CEDR qualified mediator

• Professional memberships
  • Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists
  • Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Commercial Bar Association
  • European Circuit of the Bar of England and Wales
  • Hong Kong Bar Association
  • Insolvency Lawyers Association
• Publications
  • Chambers Legal Practice Guides – Litigation (2014): Editor of the UK section
  • Consultant Editor of Palmers Company Law Manual
  • Contributor to LLP’s Professional Negligence and Liability
  • Editor of Blackstone’s Guide to the Companies Act 2006 (OUP)

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