Tom has a busy practice across the range of work in chambers, with a focus on general commercial litigation, arbitration, civil fraud, shareholders disputes, and competition law. Before coming to the Bar, Tom practised as a Solicitor Advocate and Associate at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP for four years in general commercial disputes and civil fraud.
Tom’s significant current and recent instructions include:
In 2015-16, Tom was Judicial Assistant to Lord Wilson and Lord Hodge at the Supreme Court. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, he completed secondments as a judicial assistant to the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, and as a legal adviser to BP Legal Dispute Resolution.
Tom graduated from the University of Oxford (Christ Church), where he was awarded the top first in his year in music, winning the University Gibbs prize. He completed a Master of Studies with distinction, before going on to achieve distinctions in the GDL and LPC. As a pupil, he received the Lord Reid Senior Scholarship from Gray’s Inn and a Phoenicia Scholarship from the Bar European Group.
Tom practises across the full range of commercial work in chambers. He is regularly instructed as part of teams in heavyweight commercial disputes, and has appeared with leading counsel before the Court of Appeal, High Court and Financial Reporting Counsel, and unled in the Commercial Court, Circuit Commercial Court and County Court.
Current and recent instructions include:
Tom obtained extensive experience of commercial litigation and arbitration in his previous role as a Solicitor Advocate at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Significant matters included:
As a trainee solicitor, Tom spent nine months working in transactional departments (Corporate Energy and Real Estate Finance and Restructuring), six months on secondment to BP Legal Dispute Resolution, and three months as a judicial assistant to the Commercial Court (Eder J) and Chancery Division (Proudman J and Asplin J)
Tom also worked on a wide range of commercial law matters as a pupil and judicial assistant to the Supreme Court, including:
Tom is instructed in Allianz Global Investors v. Barclays Bank and others, acting for HSBC in claims in relation to alleged FX manipulation (led by Helen Davies QC and Sarah Abram).
As a pupil and judicial assistant, Tom worked on a number of EU and competition cases, including follow-on damages actions, CMA investigations, pharmaceuticals litigation, and Brexit issues. Significant matters include:
Tom has worked on a wide range of public law matters as a solicitor, pupil, and judicial assistant, including illegality and irrationality challenges, EU-related judicial review, infrastructure contracts, and statutory claims. Significant matters include:
Professional experience
2017-2018: Pupillage, Brick Court Chambers
2017: Called to the Bar of England and Wales
2013-2015, 2016-2017: Solicitor Advocate and Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, London (Dispute Resolution)
2015-2016: Judicial Assistant to Lord Wilson and Lord Hodge, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
2013: Legal Assistant, BP Legal Dispute Resolution
2012: Judicial Assistant to the Commercial Court and Chancery Division
2011-2013: Trainee Solicitor, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Education
2014: Higher Rights of Audience, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (top of cohort)
2011: Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School (Distinction)
2009-2010: Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School (Distinction)
2007-2008: Master of Studies, Christ Church, University of Oxford (Distinction)
2004-2007: BA in Music, Christ Church, University of Oxford (First Class, top of year)
Scholarships and prizes
Pupillage
Lord Reid Senior Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2018)
Bar European Group Phoenicia Scholarship (2018)
As a Solicitor
City of London Solicitors’ Company Prize (2013)
Herbert Smith Freehills LPC Prize (2011)
University of Oxford
Arts and Humanities Research Council Award (2007)
University Gibbs Prize for top first (2007)
Christ Church Finals Prize (2007)
Clifford Smith Prize (2007)
Dixon Scholarship (2006)
Academic and Instrumental Exhibition Awards (2005-2006)