Download/Print CV
Talented beyond his call, Tom is a star in the making. A first-rate lawyer who is also incredibly hardworking and commercial in his approach. Legal 500 UK Bar 2026
Tom provides excellent advice. He is to the point, well researched, and commercially sound. Legal 500 The English Bar Offshore
Corporate disputes

Tom has a strong core practice in corporate disputes, particularly shareholder actions.

Recent led work includes:

  • Queenwood Golf Club Limited (High Court): Tom acts for the company in a between the board and “rebel” members of an exclusive golf club. The dispute has led to unfair prejudice and derivative claim proceedings in the High Court. Led by Andrew Thornton KC.
  • Aviva Plc v Litani LLC (High Court): Tom acted for Aviva in an application to prevent a company from accessing its register of members to make a discounted offer for the shares of retail shareholders. The judgment ([2025] EWHC 3134 (Ch)) clarified the circumstances in which the register of members can be accessed for commercial purposes. Led by Martin Moore KC.
  • Re Albury Land (Jersey) Limited (Royal Court of Jersey): Tom acts for the majority shareholders in a high-value shareholders’ dispute concerning a property management company. The case involves serious allegations of misconduct and novel questions concerning the circumstances in which a deceased’s shareholder’s personal representatives cease to be bound by a shareholders’ agreement. Led by Charles Sorensen.
  • Unfair prejudice claim (Royal Court of Jersey): Tom acts for a defendant to an unfair prejudice claim concerning allegations of the diversion of a substantial technology business. A four-week trial is listed in late 2026. Led by Danny le Maistre and Charles Sorensen.

Recent instructions as sole counsel include:

  • Buoyancy Aerospace Ltd v Meldrum & ors (Commercial Court): Tom acted for the purchaser of an aerospace manufacturing company in a breach of warranty claim alleging wide-ranging and serious failures. Settled on confidential terms after exchange of pleadings.
  • Harris v The Original Fit Factory Ltd (Circuit Commercial Court): Tom acts for the defendant to a claim to enforce a buyback agreement.
  • Acting for a substantial social care company in relation to a dispute over the composition of the board and a compulsory share transfer process.
  • Complex pro bono dispute concerning the composition of the register of members.
Corporate advisory/non-contentious

Tom has a strong advisory practice. As sole counsel, he has advised on a range of issues including defective buybacks, board removal processes and compulsory transfer provisions. Tom regularly advises on and is instructed to appear in applications concerning corporate registers.

As part of a team, Tom’s recent instructions include advising on:

  • Class composition issues in a proposed members’ scheme of arrangement (with Andrew Thornton KC).
  • Alleged non-compliance with Listing Rules by a premium-listed company (with Andrew Thornton KC).
  • The validity of a complex capital reduction demerger (with James Potts KC)
Restructuring & Insolvency

Tom has a varied R&I practice. Recent instructions include:

  • Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd (in liquidation) and others: Tom has acted since 2022 for the joint provisional liquidators of a large Bermuda financial services company (with Michael Todd KC and Philip Morrison). His instructions have included a series of novel and complex applications for directions before the Supreme Court of Bermuda concerning the meaning and effect of segregated accounts and client money legislation.
  • Simple Energy Limited (in administration): As sole counsel, Tom has acted on several occasions for the joint administrators of the parent company in the Bulb energy group, providing technical advice and representing the joint administrators in successive applications to extend their term of office.
  • Re a company: Acting as sole counsel, Tom represents a commercial lender in relation to a long-running dispute concerning its proof of debt in the administration of a sister company.
Offshore

A large proportion of Tom’s work is offshore, and he is familiar with the corporate laws and procedures of the major offshore jurisdictions. He is recognised by Legal 500 as a “Rising Star” in offshore commercial disputes. Recent highlights include:

Bermuda

  • Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd (Supreme Court of Bermuda, with Michael Todd KC and Philip Morrison) – Acting for the joint provisional liquidators of Northstar, a significant Bermudian financial services company. The case involved, for the first time, a comprehensive judicial examination of the client money legislation in Bermuda.
  • Acting for a multinational tech company in an independent adjudication concerning a director’s rights of indemnification under Bermuda law (with James Potts KC).

Jersey

  • Re Albury Land (Jersey) Limited (Royal Court of Jersey): Tom acts for the majority shareholders in a high-value shareholders’ dispute concerning a property management company. The case involves serious allegations of misconduct and novel questions concerning the circumstances in which a deceased’s shareholder’s personal representatives cease to be bound by a shareholders’ agreement. Led by Charles Sorensen.
  • Unfair prejudice claim (Royal Court of Jersey): Tom acts for a defendant to an unfair prejudice claim concerning allegations of the diversion of a substantial technology business. A four-week trial is listed in late 2026. Led by Danny le Maistre and Charles Sorensen.

BVI

  • Producing an expert opinion on BVI company law for a confidential arbitration (with David Chivers KC).

Turks & Caicos

  • Multiple corporate derivative claim concerning valuable offshore hospitality business.

St Vincent & The Grenadines

  • Advising on SVG law aspects of a multi-jurisdictional shareholder dispute between members of an ultra-high net worth family based in the Middle East.
Arbitration and other Alternative Dispute Resolution

Tom regularly appears as sole counsel at mediations, particularly in unfair prejudice disputes.

He also has considerable experience in the resolution of corporate and commercial disputes by arbitration and ad hoc dispute resolution processes, including:

  • LCIA arbitration (London seat): Shareholders’ dispute between holders of a £1bn family-owned business (with James Potts KC and Chantelle Staynings). Settled before a six-week trial.
  • Ad hoc arbitration (offshore seat): Dispute concerning interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement and repayment of a loan advanced by a minority shareholder.
Education & Publications
  • Bar Course (City St George’s) – Distinction
  • GDL (City St George’s) – Distinction, top in year
  • MPhil Classics (Cambridge) – Distinction
  • BA Classics (Oxford) – First Class, top in year BPTC (City, University of London) – Outstanding
  • Contributor to the forthcoming edition of Lightman and Moss on the Law of Receivers and Administrators
Recognition

Ranked in:
Legal 500
Company
The English Bar Offshore – Commercial Disputes

Quotes

“Talented beyond his call, Tom is a star in the making. A first-rate lawyer who is also incredibly hardworking and commercial in his approach.”

“Tom provides excellent advice. He is to the point, well researched, and commercially sound.”

Webinar

10@12 Series : The “reflective loss” defence: practice, pitfalls and recent developments

 

Ranked in

Legal 500 UK Bar 2026 –
Company

News

Article – Re: Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd and Omnia Ltd [2023] SC BDA 57 (civ)
Read article