A leading commercial set on the Western Circuit with very good quality 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.”

Chambers UK 2025, 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...

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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....

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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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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...

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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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Natasha Dzameh

Natasha Dzameh

  • Call: 2010

Natasha is ranked as a leading junior in commercial litigation by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.  She has a dynamic practice and is known for handling cases concerning breaches of fiduciary duty, civil fraud, insolvency, insurance (including...

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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

  • Call: 2014

Joss advises in a wide-range of complex commercial, contractual and insolvency matters. Joss has particular experience of partnership disputes (including farming partnerships), applications for urgent injunctions, and commercial matters with a property or professional negligence element. Recent cases...

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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...

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Daniel Soar

Daniel Soar

  • Call: 2016

Daniel has a broad commercial practice with particular expertise in contractual disputes, franchise agreements, insurance matters (including the impact of COVID-19 on business interruption insurance), commercial property, public procurement, insolvency and issues involving consumer rights. Daniel’s recent caseload...

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Charlie Schwenn

Charles Shwenn

  • Call: 2017

Charles has advised and represented enterprises in respect of prospective and ongoing proceedings in the County Court and High Court on a wide range of matters with a commercial element. In addition to being experienced in delivering direct...

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georgina-thompson

Georgina Thompson

  • Call: 2017

Georgina is an experienced junior barrister specialising in commercial law and wills and trusts disputes. She has a developed a practice focused on resolving complex legal disputes by providing clear, practical, and sensitive advice to a wide range...

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Jack Pankhurst

  • Call: 2021

Jack is a specialist commercial and chancery barrister and a trained mediator. His practice spans the breadth of commercial disputes, including company and insolvency; contractual disputes; offshore work; wills and trust litigation; professional negligence claims; property matters; and...

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Kayleigh Bloomfield

  • Call: 2021

Kayleigh’s commercial practice includes advising, drafting and / or appearing in cases involving: Consumer and business to business goods and services disputes Bailment and conversion Agency Misrepresentation Restitution Professional negligence Partnership disputes Questions of contractual construction Recent instructions...

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Nicole Hilton

Nicole Hilton

  • Call: 2021

Nicole is a barrister and trained mediator with a broad practice encompassing many areas of commercial and chancery law. Nicole accepts instructions in landlord and tenant disputes, contractual issues, consumer rights, property matters, building and construction disputes, professional...

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Ben Harwood

Ben Harwood

  • Call: 2022

Ben provides representation and advice in all main areas of commercial and chancery law. He frequently represents clients at small claims and fast-track trials, as well as for various interim, procedural and enforcement applications, including strike out, summary...

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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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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...

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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...

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Cases

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Resources

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Directory Quotes

A leading commercial set on the Western Circuit with very good quality 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.”

Chambers UK 2025, Commercial Dispute Resolution

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

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

Legal 500 2023, Commercial Litigation

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

Chambers UK 2024, Commercial Dispute Resolution

Seminars & Events

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