Christopher Stead

Christopher is the Deputy Head of the Commercial team within chambers.

His experience and knowledge across the range of commercial matters allows him to advise on, and appear in, cases involving multi-faceted issues across the commercial spectrum.

He undertakes work in a range of commercial disputes, and has had experience of many of the usual issues involved in connection with such litigation, including contractual formation and interpretation, franchise agreements and post-termination restrictive covenants, sale of goods and supply of services, banking and finance, guarantees, all in addition to aspects related to civil procedure. He has represented major companies as well as smaller traders and individuals, and he has appeared at all stages of proceedings, as well as being involved from the very beginning of a party’s involvement in the dispute resolution process. He is happy to accept last-minute instructions for urgent injunctions across the range of commercial matters.

Recent cases by way of example include assisting leading counsel in advising on and drafting pleadings for a complex high-value contractual dispute centring around issues of agency and authority, as well as fraud; assisting leading counsel in advising on conflict of laws and anti-suit injunctions; advising on a six-figure construction dispute; advising on and drafting for a six figure guarantee dispute; and he has drafted pleadings for injunctions restraining breach of covenants and retention of documents. He has a keen interest in cases involving allegations of fraud, and was recently called upon to assist a firm in a large disclosure exercise in a high-value claim involving allegations of commercial fraud.

Christopher’s work in commercial litigation has of course included issues arising in relation to director’s duties and shareholder’s rights, and he has advised on partnership disputes. He is happy to receive instructions in all matters relating to company and partnership law.

Christopher understands the need to bring a sense of commercial pragmatism to each case, and is sensitive to what it is that the client wants and is best served in obtaining.

Christopher receives instructions to act in matters of personal and corporate insolvency. He has acted for debtors and creditors in bankruptcy and winding-up proceedings, including complicated disputes and injunctions, and is able to receive urgent instructions in applications to restrain the presentation or advertisement of winding-up petitions, as well as applications to set aside statutory demands against individuals.

He has experience of administration applications, and experience of cases involving the issues and claims that arise during the insolvency process, including involvement in cases brought by insolvency practitioners, and has assisted in several recent cases involving high-value claims against former directors.

Christopher has been involved in the preparation and presentation of training on insolvency matters, including a seminar on the ‘Phoenix’ provisions in sections 216 and 217 of the Insolvency Act 1986 delivered by leading counsel, and recently wrote an article for the Pump Court website on the recent change to the law on arbitration agreements and disputed debts in the context of winding-up petitions.