Joseph Wigley

Areas of Practice

Litigation and advice in the fields of insolvency litigation, commercial litigation, company law, corporate fraud, asset recovery and public law.

Joseph became a tenant in October 2011 following the successful completion of pupillage, during which he gained experience of the full range of work undertaken across Chambers.  Joseph intends to develop a broad commercial chancery practice in line with Chambers' practice areas.

Specific work for members of chambers during pupillage has included the following:

• Assisting Sharif Shivji in a two week trial in the Commercial Court concerning claims in negligence and contract arising out of the close-out of an investment fund by an investment bank.
• Assisting Richard Hill and Robert Miles QC in the preparation for Deutsche Trustee Co Ltd v (1) Fleet Street Finance Three Plc (2) Party A [2011] EWHC 2117 (Ch), a hearing seeking directions as to the correct interpretation of terms and conditions of an issue of commercial mortgage-backed securities.
• Assisting Richard Hill in Heather Killen v (1) Horseworld (2) Horseworld (UK) Ltd (3) Toby Vintcent (4) Richard Worrall [2011] EWHC 1600 (QB), an appeal against judgments dismissing applications to strike out a quantum meruit claim of the respondent.
• Assisting Paul Greenwood and George Bompas QC in advising and drafting particulars of claim in respect of the application of ‘market value reductions' on the encashment of with-profits investment bonds.
• Assisting Christopher Harrison in advising and drafting pleadings in respect of a shareholder dispute arising out of a management buy-out.
• Assisting Andrew Clutterbuck in advising and drafting a defence to claims of alleged breaches of fiduciary duty allegedly arising out of a joint venture.

In addition to the above, Joseph has gained experience of drafting statements of case both in relation to the above, as well as simple and complex claims in both contract and tort. Joseph also has experience of numerous aspects of company and insolvency law including:

• s.994/459 petitions
• shareholder disputes
• wrongful trading claims and attacking antecedent transactions
• various injunctions
• the various company insolvency procedures

Joseph was recently instructed by the Treasury Solicitor to assist with the preparation of a multi-million pound contractual dispute for arbitration and is currently instructed in relation to claims of alleged breaches of fiduciary duty allegedly arising out of a joint venture. Recent appearances in the High Court and County Courts have included successfully setting aside a judgment in default and successfully resisting an application for an order restraining the presentation of a winding-up petition.

Since commencing practice, Joseph regularly appears in court in relation to both corporate insolvency and bankruptcy, advising and acting for both petitioners and debtors in winding up and bankruptcy proceedings, including in relation to potential claims against former directors under the IA 1986.

Academic

BA, Oriel College, Oxford
GDL, City University, London

Scholarships & Awards

Middle Temple: Lord Diplock Scholarship (2008) Queen Mother's Scholarship (2009)
Oriel, Oxford: Academic Scholarship
Harrow School: Entrance Scholarship

Professional

Member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Chancery Bar Association