The barristers are incredibly experienced and very able to handle complex commercial litigation.”

Chambers UK 2024, Commercial Disputes Resolution

Our Commercial team is one of the largest teams of specialist commercial barristers in the South West and South Wales and has considerable experience of representing clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes. Our barristers are highly skilled and versatile lawyers, committed to providing service of the highest quality and achieving the best outcomes for our clients. Many members of the team are ranked highly by Chambers UK and Legal 500.

We understand the importance of providing advice which is pragmatic, realistic, sensible and commercial, as well as accurate. We strive to be both effective and user-friendly. Our barristers are approachable and personable, used to communicating about legal and commercial matters with people from many different backgrounds.

We adapt our services to the demands of each case. We have barristers across the spectrum of seniority, and so we can provide the right level of expertise for the size of the dispute. Because of the size of our team, when work is urgent we can provide suitable barristers at short notice.

We have a strong collegiate ethos. Members of the team are happy to support their colleagues with advice and feedback whenever asked. This helps us to provide a high-quality service to our clients, ensuring that when one of our team is instructed, the client gets the benefit of our collective experience and expertise.

We act for commercial clients of all sizes, across many different industries, and from all parts of the South West and South Wales and beyond. Our clients range from large companies, such as Airbus, Dyson and Lloyds Bank, to SMEs, partnerships and private individuals. Our work covers all industrial sectors, including agriculture, construction, retail, manufacturing, transport, financial services and insurance. We are regularly instructed by law firms from across the South West and South Wales, including all of the largest commercial firms.

Members of our team have considerable experience of appearing in high-value disputes in the High Court, especially in the Business and Property Courts, as well as claims in the County Court. Our barristers regularly represent clients in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as in international jurisdictions; we have links in Bermuda, Hong Kong and Jersey. Our members also act for parties in specialist tribunals, arbitrations, adjudications and mediations.

We are frequently instructed to represent parties in applications for injunctions, freezing orders and search orders.

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.

Commercial Dispute Resolution Team

Richard Stead

  • Call: 1979

One of Chambers’ most senior barristers, Richard has considerable experience in the fields of commercial disputes. He is highly sought-after in construction and engineering matters as well as being highly recommended in professional negligence cases concerning architect, engineers...

View profile
James Pearce Smith

James Pearce-Smith

  • Call: 2002

James is the head of our commercial team and has over 25 years’ experience as a commercial litigator, including 8 years as a commercial litigation solicitor at two major law firms before transferring to the Bar in 2002....

View profile
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...

View profile
Mathew O'Reagan

Matthew O'Regan

  • Call: 2015

Matthew, a former Solicitor, is a specialist competition and regulatory lawyer. He was called to the Bar and joined St John’s Chambers in 2015, having previously been a Partner in the Competition Group of Burges Salmon LLP. He...

View profile
Christopher Jones

Christopher Jones

  • Call: 2004

Christopher acts for businesses in cases concerning all aspects of commercial and contract disputes, including sale of goods and services, restraint of trade, insolvency, partnership disputes and applications for interim relief. Recent examples of Christopher’s work include: A...

View profile
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...

View profile
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...

View profile
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...

View profile

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...

View profile

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...

View profile
Annie Sampson

Annie Sampson

  • Call: 2015

Annie has experience of a broad range of commercial matters, such as claims in respect of defective goods and services; misrepresentation; building disputes, including in the context of professional negligence; assigned debt; the repayment of loans; rectification; and...

View profile
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...

View profile

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...

View profile

Kayleigh Bloomfield

  • Call: 2021

Kayleigh joined Chambers in October 2022 following the successful completion of her specialist commercial and chancery pupillage. She accepts instructions across all main areas of this practice group. Kayleigh’s pupil supervisors were Charlie Newington-Bridges and Christopher Jones. Kayleigh...

View profile
Ben Harwood

Ben Harwood

  • Call: 2022

Ben joined Chambers in October 2023 following the successful completion of his specialist commercial and chancery pupillage. Ben’s pupil supervisors were James Pearce-Smith, Brittany Pearce, Christopher Jones and Charlie Newington-Bridges. Ben frequently represents clients at small claims and...

View profile
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...

View profile
Richard Gold

Richard Gold

  • Call: 2006

Richard specialises in commercial matters, and acts in contractual disputes of all kinds.  He advises on matters such as: the existence of a contract; the interpretation of the terms of a contract; setting aside a contract (e.g. on...

View profile
Nick Pointon

Nick Pointon

  • Call: 2010

Nick is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Exeter and an Associate Academic Member of St John’s Chambers. From 2010 – 2021, Nick practised as a specialist commercial and chancery law barrister. His particular areas...

View profile

Directory Quotes

St John’s Chambers’ ‘excellent‘ commercial team offers its expertise to both businesses and individuals in relation to a wide range of disputes.”

The Legal 500 2024, Commercial Litigation

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

Chambers UK 2024, Company

St John’s Chambers is a leading commercial set on the Western Circuit with a broad stable of commercial barristers. It is able to handle the full range of commercial matters, including shareholder, partnership and contractual disputes in addition to banking litigation and professional negligence cases. The set is also an excellent choice for commercial and agricultural real estate and chancery work.”

Chambers UK 2023, Commercial Dispute Resolution

The clerks are always very helpful and will always point you in the right direction if you are unsure.”

Chambers UK 2023, Commercial Dispute Resolution (Client Service)

The barristers offer significant expertise in a variety of company law matters, advising on a range of domestic and international clients.’ ‘They have some great individuals who are technically excellent.’ “

Chambers UK 2023, Company

St John’s Chambers provide an exceptional service”

2023 Chambers UK, Company (Client Service)

The very experienced Commercial team is regularly instructed by individuals and large companies in a wide range of contentious work.”

Legal 500 2023, Commercial Litigation

A robust commercial set on the Western Circuit with a broad stable of commercial practitioners. It is able to handle the full range of commercial disputes, including shareholder, partnership and contractual disputes in addition to banking litigation and professional negligence cases. The set is also an excellent choice for commercial and agricultural real estate and chancery work.”

Chambers UK 2021, Commercial Dispute Resolution

The clerking service is very efficient and the clerks are very pleasant. They respond quickly to enquiries. The set is totally focused on its clients.”

Chambers UK 2022, Commercial (Client Service)

St John’s Chambers is a leading commercial set on the Western Circuit with a broad stable of commercial barristers. It is able to handle the full range of commercial matters, including shareholder, partnership and contractual disputes in addition to banking litigation and professional negligence cases. The set is also an excellent choice for commercial and agricultural real estate and chancery work.”

Chambers UK 2022, Commercial

“I’ve always been impressed with the clerks at St John’s. They are helpful and have a good understanding of their barristers’ work.”

Chambers UK 2021, Commercial Dispute Resolution (Client Service)

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

Seminars & Events

Get in touch or request a callback

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.