The barristers at St John’s Chambers offer significant expertise in a variety of company law matters, including unfair prejudice petitions and shareholder disputes, and have strong skills and expertise.”

Chambers UK 2022, Company

Our Company team have considerable experience of acting for companies, directors and shareholders in a wide range of disputes relating to company law. Various barristers are listed in the top rankings of Chambers UK, Legal 500 and other law directories.

We are regularly instructed in shareholder disputes, including unfair prejudice petitions (under section 994 Companies Act 2006) and disputes concerning Share Purchase Agreements, including warranty claims and claims about restrictive covenants.

Our barristers regularly act in cases concerning directors’ duties, including claims for breaches of statutory or fiduciary duties, and for breach of restrictive covenants. We are also instructed in derivative actions.

We have represented companies in claims of great importance and complexity, including bribery and secret commissions, and the stealing of confidential information and trade secrets. Our team members also advise on insolvency issues, and on matters of company administration such as issues relating to general meetings.

Our barristers enjoy an excellent reputation for their pragmatic legal advice, working with clients to achieve the best solutions to their commercial and business goals. We recognise the importance of providing advice which is not only technically accurate, but is also commercially-focused, intelligible and on time.

We act for companies, directors and shareholders for all sizes of business, from SMEs to FTSE-100 companies, and across a wide range of industries. We are instructed by law firms of all sizes from the South West, South Wales and beyond, including all of the major commercial law firms in the region.

We have considerable experience of representing clients in all levels of the courts, and in all types of company dispute, including applications for freezing orders, search orders and injunctions.

Whatever aspect of company law you need advice on or representation, we should be able to help.

Mediation

As the number of cases being dealt with by way of mediation increases, our mediation team is on hand to help, as advisers, advocates and mediators. Our facilities are specifically designed to meet with clients’ needs for a mediation venue. Read more.

Public Access

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, as well as commercial and non-commercial organisations, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.

Training

The team delivers workshops and seminars in Chambers and regional centres. We also provide training on behalf of local Law Societies and in conjunction with solicitors firms. In addition we can give tailored in-house training for particular firms. If you would like any further information please contact Robert Bocock.

Company Team

Leslie Blohm QC

Leslie Blohm KC

  • Call: 1982
  • Silk: 2006

Leslie is one of the Western Circuit’s leading commercial and chancery silks, and works across a whole spectrum of commercial issues including company, partnership, insolvency and banking matters. Leslie advises and appears in cases concerning all aspects of...

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John Blackmore

John Blackmore

  • Call: 1983

John is a specialist commercial litigator with a wide practice in dispute resolution, company law, shareholder matters, partnership disputes, civil fraud, restraint of trade, intellectual property law and professional negligence. John enjoys a reputation as a leading advocate...

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James Pearce Smith

James Pearce-Smith

  • Call: 2002

James has over 20 years’ experience as a commercial litigator, including 8 years as a commercial litigation solicitor prior to his transfer to the Bar in 2002. He regularly advises and represents parties in company disputes, including unfair prejudice...

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John Dickinson

John Dickinson

  • Call: 1995

John is a barrister specialising in commercial, banking, company, insolvency and chancery law. His commercial practice includes local authority procurement claims, breach of contract, restraint of trade, sale of goods, consumer credit and fraud. John has been involved...

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Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke

  • Call: 2009

Michael regularly acts and advises in commercial disputes for both corporate and individual clients. His recent work has included: Acting for a claimant sales director for breach of covenant by the company. Acting for a claimant manufacturer and...

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Oliver Wooding

Oliver Wooding

  • Call: 2009

Oliver had a broad commercial practice encompassing both advisory and advocacy work, at trial and using alternative dispute resolution. His recent workload includes: Advising and appearing in a claim for unpaid invoices involving issues of contract formation. Obtaining...

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Natasha Dzameh

Natasha Dzameh

  • Call: 2010

A significant amount of Natasha’s practice consists of commercial/commercial chancery matters. She has acted in a variety of contractual disputes (carriage, consumer credit, equine, guarantees, hire, IT, NHS etc.) including complex collateral contracts. She is regularly instructed in...

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Charlie Newington Bridges

Charlie Newington-Bridges

  • Call: 2011

Charlie is a well regarded barrister for his commercial and financial services expertise, which is supported by 15 years’ prior experience as an investment banker. He is also regularly instructed in cases concerning partnership law and insolvency. Charlie...

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Adam Boyle

  • Call: 2012

Adam is a very experienced commercial barrister who is regularly instructed in complex and high value cases. Adam began life at the Bar advising and assisting a hub of Welsh Local Authorities in relation to public procurement contracts...

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Joss Knight

Joss Knight

  • Call: 2014

Joss advises in a wide-range of complex commercial, company and insolvency matters. He recently appeared for the applicant in Housemaker Services Ltd v Cole & Anor [2017] EWHC 753 (Ch) in which the court considered the circumstances in...

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Georgina Thompson

Georgina Thompson

  • Call: 2017

Georgina is a commercial and chancery practitioner and a qualified mediator. She accepts instructions in all of the main areas of commercial and chancery law. Her main areas of expertise lie in commercial litigation, insolvency matters and contentious...

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Jack Pankhurt

Jack Pankhurst

  • Call: 2021

Jack joined Chambers in April 2022 following the successful completion of his specialist commercial and chancery pupillage. He accepts instructions in all of the main areas of commercial and chancery law. Jack’s pupil supervisors were Nick Pointon, Charlie...

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Guy Adams

Guy Adams

  • Call: 1989

Guy is a respected barrister with a strong commercial practice that covers complex cases across this field. He has acted in cases up to the Supreme Court level and has had many reported cases. Guy has recently been...

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Cases

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Directory Quotes

The barristers at St John’s Chambers offer significant expertise in a variety of company law matters, including unfair prejudice petitions and shareholder disputes. Sources note that the barristers at St John’s Chambers have ‘strong skills and expertise’.”

Chambers UK 2022, Company

The clerking team is excellent and very approachable. They are quick to come back to you.”

Chambers UK 2022, Company (Client Service)

The ‘very strong‘ St John’s Chambers has been kept busy handling an ongoing, steady workflow of instructions involving unfair prejudice petitions, enforcement of restrictive covenants and shareholder/director disputes.”

Legal 500 2022, Company and Insolvency

The barristers offer significant expertise in a variety of company law matters, including unfair prejudice petitions and shareholder disputes. The members advise a range of domestic and international clients. Sources note that the set has ‘strong expertise in the company and commercial arena’ and highlight that it has ‘good strength and depth in this area’.”

Chambers UK 2021, Company

St John’s Chambers remains one of the strongest commercial forces in the western circuit, with ‘a good range of Barristers to cover most matters and levels of experience’.”

Legal 500 2021, Commercial

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