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Catherine Addy

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Catherine Addy QC

Call 1998
Silk 2017

clerks@maitlandchambers.com

Catherine has a busy and varied commercial and chancery litigation practice and has long been highly recommended by the various legal directories.  She is currently described by Chambers UK and Chambers Global (2021 - Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery), as "one of the cleverest people at the Bar” and as someone who "has a brilliant, encyclopedic knowledge of the law and is great to work with”.

She has a particular (but not exclusive) interest in insolvency related work, both corporate and personal, being described by Legal 500 as an “insolvency powerhouse”. In 2020, Catherine was named Insolvency Silk of the Year by Legal 500 and shortlisted by Chambers UK for Company/Insolvency Silk of the Year.  She is also recognised by Who’s Who Legal as a ‘thought leader’ in Restructuring & Insolvency.  She was appointed as a Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge in 2016 and has been a member of the Insolvency Rules Committee since 2013 (appointed pursuant to s413 of the Insolvency Act 1986 following an open competition).  

Catherine has been instructed to advise and appear for a variety of different interests (including officeholders and various government departments) in relation to numerous high profile insolvencies, including Barings, Spectrum Plus, Northern Rock (advising HM Treasury and the Bank of England), Lehman Brothers, Farepak, ‘Blockbusters’, GAME, Cambridge Analytica, Regis, Debenhams and Carillion.  She has also acted for the Secretary of State and Official Receiver in a number of director disqualification claims concerning companies in the public eye.  In addition, she is an ongoing contributor to Gore Browne on Companies and continues to be an appointed member of the Bankruptcy and Companies Court Users’ Committee.

In addition to her insolvency related practice, she has much experience of other company and commercial litigation (including financial services and other disputed contractual claims, property and trust law matters, breach of director’s duties, other asset recovery claims, shareholder disputes and conflicts of laws issues).  In recent years she has acted for LBBW in the long-running Swaps litigation concerning UBS and the Leipzig Water Company and for HMRC in the substantial Ingenious film finance scheme litigation (as well as successfully representing HMRC in the Lehman Brothers litigation which reached the Supreme Court).  She has also previously been instructed by the FCA and, in 2020, acted for the Competition and Markets Authority in its first claim for a competition disqualification order to reach trial.

Prior to taking silk, Catherine was a member of the Attorney General’s 'A' Panel, having first been appointed as Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2003, and has regularly advised and acted for a number of government departments as well as a wide variety of private and commercial interests.  In 2015, she was named 'Company/Insolvency Junior of the Year' at the Chambers UK Bar Awards having previously been shortlisted for Chancery Junior of the Year (2014) and Insolvency Junior of the Year (2012). 

Catherine is currently recommended by Chambers Global in the fields of Restructuring/Insolvency and Dispute Resolution (Commercial Chancery), by Chambers UK in relation to Company, Chancery:Commercial and Restructuring/Insolvency and by Legal 500 for Insolvency and Company & Partnership.

Catherine has been elected as a Bencher of the Middle Temple (2014) and is one of the Inn’s Accredited Advocacy Trainers.  She was formerly an elected member of the Bar Council (2001-2007) and the Chancery Bar Association representative on the Bar Council (2010-2012) and was a long-standing co-opted member of the Bar Council’s Ethics Committee.  She was Chairman of the Young Barristers’ Committee in 2004, the Chairman of the Bar Conference (Human Rights – Taking Liberties) in 2007 and the elected Treasurer of the Chancery Bar Association from 2008-2012.

Catherine read law at Cambridge and went on to read the LLM in which she achieved a first. She was a Queen Mother Scholar and a Harmsworth Entrance Exhibitioner and has been in practice at Maitland Chambers since completing pupillage in 1999.

The clerks are happy to discuss the basis on which Catherine will act in any given matter. In the absence of express written agreement otherwise, the terms under which Catherine accepts instructions are The Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services By Barristers to Authorised Persons 2012 (as updated from time to time) referred to in the BSB Handbook. 

Catherine is also happy to accept instructions in relation to offshore litigation.

Notable Cases

In the Matter of The Financial Conduct Authority v Carillion Plc (in liquidation) [2020] EWHC 2146 (Ch)

In the Matter of The Competition and Markets Authority v Michael Christopher Martin [2020] EWHC 1751 (Ch)

Green & Newman (as Joint Administrators of each of the Respondent companies) v SCL Group Ltd (2019)

Joint Administrators Of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration) v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (2019)

Commissioners for HMRC v Joint Administrators of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (“LBIE”) (in administration) (2017)

UBS AG v Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig GMBH (2017)

In the Matter of Lehman Brothers International v Revenue & Customs (2016)

UBS AG (London Branch) & Ors v Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg & Ors (2014)

Pillar Denton Ltd v GAME Retail Ltd (2014)

Mynt Ltd v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (2013)

John Green & Paul Rowley v Royal Bank of Scotland Plc (2013)

E-Clear (UK) Plc v Elias Elia & Ors (2013)

In the Matter of UKLI Ltd; Secretary of State v Baljinder Chohan (2013)

E-Clear (UK) Plc (In Liquidation) v Elias Elia, Ian Defty (2012)

In the Matter of Instant Access Properties Ltd v Maria Gifford (2011)

In the Matter of Lehman Brothers Int (Europe) (In Admin) (2010)

In The Matter Of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration) (October 2009)

Revenue & Customs Commissioners v Alan Blackburn Sports Ltd (2008)

Revenue & Customs Commissioners v (1) Shaun Cassells (2) Nicholas Reed (2008)

Halton International Inc & Anor v Guernroy Ltd (2006)

Monks v Revenue & Customs Commissioners (2006)

Halton International Inc (Holding) Sarl and Mohtaram Kaddoura v Guernroy Ltd (2005)

National Westminster Bank Plc v Spectrum Plus Ltd & Ors (2005)

McCullough (HMIT) v Gurcharan Singh Ahluwalia (2004)

National Westminster Bank PLC v Spectrum Plus Ltd (2004)

National Westminster Bank PLC v Spectrum Plus Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation) (2004)

Memberships
Chancery Bar Association
COMBAR
Insolvency Lawyers Association (full member)
R3 (full member)
American Bar Association (International Associate)

Qualifications
MA, LLM (Cantab)

Testimonials

The Legal 500 UK Awards, 2020

Insolvency
'Silk of the Year'

L500AwardsWinner2020.png

Chambers UK

Chancery: Commercial/ Treasury Counsel
"One of the cleverest people at the Bar - she is extremely hard-working and has incredible attention to detail." "She has a brilliant, encyclopedic knowledge of the law and is great to work with." (2021)
"The most erudite and sophisticated lawyer I've come across. She has a manner with judges that I've rarely seen with other counsel." "The quality of advice and commitment to service are outstanding and engender absolute confidence in the client and those instructing." (2020)
"When she speaks, judges listen as she has absolute confidence and certainty in what she says. When she says something, she is right. She really knows her stuff, is incredibly well prepared and is incredibly good at the law as well as the facts." (2019)
"Has encyclopaedic knowledge when it comes to company law. She's a very clear drafter, who produces high-quality advocacy, and isn't afraid to put in a long shift and burn the midnight oil if necessary." "Very pleasant to deal with, she's very friendly and enthusiastic without being over the top." (2018)
"She is excellent and highly experienced. A barrister with a broad practice, she keeps plates spinning and speaks in a straightforward manner which clients can understand."  (2017)

"She is very good technically and very good with clients in conference. In court she is thorough and measured." (2016)

"A highly regarded advocate who is particularly involved in insolvency and company disputes in the Chancery Division."

"She is excellent in court and always seems to adopt the right tone with the bench." (2015)

"An accomplished chancery litigator, who is renowned for her prowess in insolvency cases." "She is exceptionally bright and quick to identify the real issues. She is pragmatic in the sense that she identifies what is not possible, and is realistic in her advice."

"She manages to handle complex matters and lead the court through them in a calm and controlled manner." (2014)

"Fabulous and will go far." (2013)

""Bloody hell, she's clever" from one interviewee." "Extremely hard-working, and masters difficult briefs quickly, always displaying superb judgement." (2012)

"Forthright, diligent and ambitious," (2010)

Chambers UK

Company
"Technical, extremely knowledgeable and great to work with. She gives you a lot of confidence." (2021)
"Catherine is a very erudite, sophisticated and clever lawyer. She's very reasonable and measured, and gets on the same wavelength as the judge." (2020)
"Catherine is fantastic. She's an institution." "Very smart, very straightforward, very hard-working, and very easy to work with." (2019)
"She's incredibly knowledgeable and practical, and is trusted by the bench." (2018)
"She is very analytical, very strong on her feet and very focused and realistic in her advice." (2017)

"I've never met anyone who is a quicker thinker. When you've got a really complicated matter and look at an issue five or ten times, she will look at it once and get the answer."

"She's a super advocate. She always seems to be one step ahead and anticipates lines of argument and questions from the bench." (2016)

"She's very punchy in her style and always very busy." (2015)

Chambers UK

Insolvency/ Corporate Recovery
"Technical, extremely knowledgeable and great to work with. She gives you a lot of confidence." (2021)
"She is really clever and very well respected – a real insolvency guru." "She is a superb advocate, and is very pleasant and approachable as well as highly intellectual and pragmatic." (2020)
"Her attention detail is excellent." "She is very well prepared, knowledgeable and calm." (2019)
"She is the government's go-to person. She has a very calm head and is very impressive." "She's a superb advocate - pleasant and approachable as well as highly intellectual and pragmatic." (2018)
"Catherine is a superb advocate, extremely approachable, highly intellectual and pragmatic." "What she doesn't know about insolvency could be written on a postage stamp. She's absolutely superb on her feet, really impressive." (2017)

"She is always very clear and good in court; the judges really listen to her." (2016)

"She is highly regarded for her courtroom skills and for her tireless analysis of the most thorny cases."

"Thorough, precise and highly practical when on her feet."

"She has superb analytical skills, and a user-friendly manner." (2015)

"Garners praise from clients and peers alike, who highlight her problem-solving nature and analytical approach. A notable favourite amongst government bodies." "Very clever, user-friendly, incredibly effective and solution-focused." "She is happy to get her hands dirty and really get into the paperwork." (2014)

"Her ability to consume and digest huge amounts of information and pick up on every detail." “She is, by the account of multiple interviewees, "outstanding."" (2013)

"Relishes complex matters and is someone who masters difficult briefs very quickly." "A pleasure to work with, she displays superb judgement at all times." (2012)

"Is hugely respected for her accurate and reliable advice." "She is extremely industrious." (2011)

Chambers Global

Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery
"She is excellent and highly experienced. A barrister with a broad practice, she keeps plates spinning and speaks in a straightforward manner which clients can understand." (2018)
"She is very good technically and very good with clients in conference. In court she is thorough and measured." (2017)

"She is exceptionally bright and quick to identify the real issues."

"She is pragmatic in the sense that she identifies what is not possible, and is realistic in her advice."

"She manages to handle complex matters and lead the court through them in a calm and controlled manner." (2014)

Chambers Global

Restructuring/Insolvency
"Catherine is a superb advocate, extremely approachable, highly intellectual and pragmatic." "What she doesn't know about insolvency could be written on a postage stamp. She's absolutely superb on her feet, really impressive." (2018)
"She is always very clear and good in court; the judges really listen to her." (2017)

"Very clever, user-friendly, incredibly effective and solution-focused."

"She is happy to get her hands dirty and really get into the paperwork." (2014)

Legal 500 UK

Insolvency
"A go-to insolvency silk." (2021)
"On her feet she is measured and assured, and clearly has the confidence of the bench." (2020)
"An experienced insolvency litigator." (2018/19)
"She establishes a good rapport with judges." (2016)

"One of the obvious star juniors of the insolvency Bar." (2015)

"Incredibly erudite, clever and easy to work with." (2014)

"Recommended" (2013)

"A really hard worker." (2012)

"Has great attention to detail." (2011)

"Is a superb advocate." (2010)

Legal 500 UK

Company & Partnership
"She gives advice that is concise, clear and commercial." (2021)
"She is a brilliant technical lawyer who adds in a huge dollop of practical judgement and persuasive advocacy." (2020)
"An experienced company litigator." (2018/19)
"An expert in disqualification proceedings." (2016)

"Bright, technically very able and a fine advocate." (2015)

"Incredibly erudite, clever and very easy to work with." (2014)

""Exceptionally bright, erudite, and user friendly", and "her legal and commercial judgement is excellent."" (2013)

"Is deemed a ‘ definite rising star’, with appeal and first instance experience alike." (2009)

“Catherine Addy is "increasingly popular with clients" and is singled out as a "real star for the future."”(2008)

Legal 500

Commercial Litigation

"Is also recommended for her insolvency work." (2009)

“One to watch.” (2008)