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XXIV Old Buildings - Leading Commercial / Chancery Barristers

Barristers at XXIV Old Buildings have a strong reputation for company and partnership law work, which typically arises from their highly regarded practices in Chancery and offshore matters. Members regularly feature in the Court of Appeal and in the Privy Council on leading and landmark judgments.

We are experienced in acting for companies of all sizes, ranging from start-ups, unicorn companies, multinational companies and conglomerates, and have considerable experience acting for companies, directors, trustees and shareholders alike.

Shareholder disputes, often involving allegations of fraud, form the backbone of the set’s practice, whether in the form of unfair prejudice petitions, derivative actions or beyond. Many of our cases are at the very forefront of developing the law in these areas.

In addition to our litigation practice in this area, members are also comfortable advising boards and shareholders on corporate issues, including on rectification applications, share buybacks and reductions in capital, schemes of arrangement (including schemes under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006), applications to extend the time within which to register a company charge, and more.

Company & Partnership Law Experience

  • boardroom disputes
  • breach of warranty
  • claims against directors and directors’ disqualification matters
  • company charges (including extensions of time)
  • derivative claims
  • fraud and breach of fiduciary duty
  • issue and transfer of shares
  • maintenance and reduction of capital
  • mergers and acquisitions
  • offshore company law disputes
  • rectification of the register (including under s. 125 or s. 1096 of the Companies Act 2006)
  • schemes of arrangement under Part 26 or Part 26A
  • share buybacks and share splits
  • share sale agreements
  • shareholder disputes
  • unfair prejudice petitions
  • winding up claims
  • The true construction of partnership deeds, including restrictive covenants
  • Termination and dissolution
  • Accounts
  • Insolvent partnerships
  • Limited liability partnerships
  • The true construction of joint venture agreements and the rights and obligations arising out of the same
  • International joint ventures such as direct foreign investment projects, including use of offshore vehicles
  • Offshore and cross-border Joint Venture disputes including ones involving arbitration agreements, fiduciary duties, insolvency and fraud issues
  • Property development and construction Joint Ventures
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Contact the practice management team

For more information on our members’ expertise or to discuss a particular matter, please contact us.
+44 (0)20 7691 2424
[email protected]

“A very strong set. Some of the top people in company law are there, including some unquestioned stars of the Bar. ”

Related Areas of Expertise

Notable Company & Partnership Law Cases

Court of Appeal overturned a previous decision by the High Court following a dispute over the distribution of partnership assets following dissolution.

Actingformer director of SSL in an unfair prejudice petition brought by a former joint venture partner.

Defending directors from allegations of breach of statutory duty in this complex derivative claim. Members of XXIV Old Buildings successfully appeared in the Court of Appeal in this matter, which overturned a High Court decision to enter summary judgment against the defendant directors.

Privy Council (on appeal from the BVI) judgment concerning the proper approach to determining beneficial ownership of company shares.

Defending claims of breach of fiduciary duty brought against a professional services company in the Court of Appeal and in the Privy Council. The appellate courts addressed the law of ostensible authority and the Duomatic principle.

Acting in the DIFC Court of Appeal in a claim concerning the authority of shareholders to bind a company by informal acts.

FSD 145 of 2022: The first case in the Cayman Islands to consider section 64 of the Companies Law relating to the appointment of company inspectors.

to represent a group of shareholders of Petrofac Limited (a Jersey company formerly listed and headquartered in London) to bring a claim against Petrofac for compensation under s.90A and Schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”).

Acting in a dispute concerning a Bahamian Trust which owns very valuable Hong Kong corporate assets, and which carries out its activity through companies in the BVI and Hong Kong.

High Court/Business and Property Court unfair prejudice petition brought by a shareholder and former partner.

 Important commercial-chancery litigation which centres on a US$300 million transfer made by the director of a company in liquidation to the defendant bank.

Company & Partnership Law Barristers

image of Elspeth Talbot Rice , barrister

Elspeth Talbot Rice KC

Call 1990 | Silk 2008

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image of Michael Black, barrister

Michael Black KC

Call 1978 | Silk 1995

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image of Stephen Moverley Smith KC, barrister

Stephen Moverley Smith KC

Call 1985 | Silk 2002

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image of Francis Tregear, barrister

Francis Tregear KC

Call 1980 | Silk 2003

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image of Steven Thompson KC, barrister

Steven Thompson KC

Call 1996 | Silk 2015

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image of Lyndsey de Mestre KC, barrister

Lyndsey de Mestre KC

Call 1999 | Silk 2018

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image of Edward Cumming, barrister

Edward Cumming KC

Call 2006 | Silk 2018

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image of Adam Cloherty, barrister

Adam Cloherty KC

Call 2005 | Silk 2023

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image of Helen Galley, barrister

Helen Galley

Call 1987

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image of Stuart Adair, barrister

Stuart Adair

Call 1995

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image of Bajul Shah, barrister

Bajul Shah

Call 1996

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image of Steven Reed, barrister

Steven Reed

Call 2005

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image of Owen Curry, barrister

Owen Curry

Call 2009

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image of Hugh Miall, barrister

Hugh Miall

Call 2009

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image of Ben Waistell, barrister

Ben Waistell

Call 2015

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image of Alex Peplow, barrister

Alex Peplow

Call 2019

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image of James Kane, barrister

James Kane

Call 2021

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image of Niamh Davis, barrister

Niamh Davis

Call 2022

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image of Tim Koch, barrister

Tim Koch

Call 2022

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image of Kyle Bonnell barrister

Kyle Bonnell

Call 2023

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