“Very diligent and a great oral advocate”
Tom Shepherd is ranked as a leading junior in the fields of (i) Commercial/Chancery litigation, (ii) Restructuring/Insolvency and (iii) Professional Liability. His cases often have a fraud angle and he has experience of Company, Partnership and Financial Services disputes. Tom sits as a Recorder (Civil: South Eastern Circuit) and is a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. Tom’s attributes have been recognised in the legal directories since 2012:
Tom is an experienced trial advocate who is not afraid to back his judgment. He enjoys working as part of a team and is currently involved in a number of high-profile, high-value pieces of litigation. Tom also appears in his own right in the Court of Appeal, High Court, before professional regulatory panels and offshore courts (most recently the ADGM Courts). Tom is a sophisticated negotiator who is frequently instructed to act at mediation and in other forms of ADR. Tom is currently involved in a number of high-profile claims against professionals, involving allegations of fraud, dishonesty and professional negligence.
Further details of Tom’s practice areas can be found via the links at the bottom of this page. Recent highlights include:
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Tom is available to accept instructions on a public access basis in each of his listed areas of expertise, where appropriate. Please see the Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients on the Bar Standard’s Board website by clicking here.
Tom is ranked as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners for Commercial Chancery Litigation (2024): “A robust, fearless and naturally gifted advocate who is really at home in court. Tom can be counted on to never give up and will fight hard for the client every time.” “Gives down to earth, sensible advice and produces strong written work.” “Clever and extremely personable.”.
Tom’s practice covers all aspects of commercial and corporate litigation. His practice draws on his experience in the fields of insolvency and company law, professional liability, civil fraud and banking / financial services. He has recently acted as junior counsel in several high-value pieces of litigation but also has considerable experience of trial advocacy on his own account. Some of his more recent cases have focused on the pharmaceutical and information technology sectors but have also involved more traditional actions including unfair prejudice petitions, derivative claims and claims between shareholders.
Reported cases
Other Commercial Litigation cases
Tom is regularly instructed in claims for and against a wide range of professionals. He has experience of actions involving auditors, accountants, investment advisors, insolvency practitioners, solicitors and IT professionals.
He is ranked as a leading junior in the directories:
Featured Professional Negligence cases
Tom is ranked as a leading junior in the directories:
Tom is frequently instructed in high-value, contentious insolvency matters, often with elements of fraud. Tom has appeared before the Court of Appeal (as sole counsel) and in numerous High Court trials and contested applications. Tom has experience of dealing with a wide range of corporate insolvency matters, including winding-up petitions, administrations, CVAs, injunctions to restrain presentation and advertisement of winding-up petitions, validation orders, and disputes involving transactions at an undervalue and preferences. He has particular expertise of cases involving cross-border fraud and acting in defence of claims against insolvency practitioners.
Tom was appointed as Junior Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s A Panel) in August 2021 and has significant experience of acting for and against the Secretary of State in directors’ disqualification proceedings.
Featured Corporate Insolvency cases
Tom is ranked as a leading junior in the directories:
Tom acts for and advises private individuals and insolvency practitioners on all aspects of the bankruptcy process and regularly appears before the Insolvency and Companies Court Judges. His experience includes applications to set aside statutory demands, claims for transaction avoidance, IVAs, rescission, annulment and associated applications.
Featured Personal Insolvency cases
Tom has vast experience of bringing and defending claims across the full spectrum of civil fraud: from highly sophisticated corporate/investment schemes and cross-border fraud in the context of a large-scale insolvency to the alleged misappropriation of hard cash (in an arcade gaming business) and physical assets (in the form of hundreds of tonnes of by-products from the steel manufacturing process at a plant in South Wales).
Tom has regularly obtained (and defended applications for) urgent freezing injunctions and search orders (including applications to discharge and vary such orders) and related interim measures.
Featured Civil Fraud cases
Tom frequently appears on behalf of major banks and financial institutions in relation to the enforcement of guarantees, loan agreements, hire purchase agreements, claims for possession and other applications. He also has substantial experience acting for and against the Financial Conduct Authority.
Featured Banking & Finance cases
Tom is ranked as a leading junior in the directories:
Tom has considerable expertise in Chancery litigation and Chancery-related professional negligence claims.
Featured Chancery cases
Tom has experience of IT-related disputes (both as sole and junior counsel).
Featured Information Technology cases
4 New Square maintains a very strong sports practice and continues to be widely recognised and regarded for offering expertise in the field of sports law – both in the sub-specialities of sports disciplinary law and commercial sporting disputes. Tom is willing to consider instructions on a pro bono basis where appropriate.
Featured Sports Law cases
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Tom is a member of the Chancery Bar Association and of COMBAR.
Tom read Law and French at Bristol University and graduated with First Class Honours in 2006. He then undertook the BCL at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. During his undergraduate studies, he won the Stephenson Harwood prize for the best performance in Contract Law and also won the ESU National Mooting Competition and the University of Bristol Mooting Competition. He was awarded major scholarships by Lincoln’s Inn and graded ‘outstanding’ on the Bar Vocational Course.
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