Barristers

Daniel Lightman KC

Daniel Lightman KC

Serle Court, London

Position

As part of a broad Chancery-Commercial practice, Daniel Lightman KC often engages with challenging and novel issues of law and civil procedure, in particular concerning shareholder disputes (he has appeared in a number of landmark unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims), company law (including in matrimonial proceedings), insolvency, civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence.

Shortlisted for Company/Insolvency Silk of the year for the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2024, and previously recognised as one of The Lawyer magazine’s “Hot 100 Lawyers”, he is described by Chambers & Partners as “always [seeking] to find solutions to issues. He does creative and clever work… A man with a brilliant mind, who is really knowledgeable in his field”.  Recent significant cases include Re Contingent and Future Technologies Ltd [2024] BCC 223; In re BHS Group Ltd (in liquidation) [2024] 1 BCLC 71; Re Klimvest plc [2023] 1 BCLC 388; Taylor Goodchild Ltd v Taylor [2022] 2 BCLC 27; Re Prospect Place (Wimbledon) Management Co Ltd [2022] BCC 1176; and King v Stiefel [2022] 1 All ER (Comm) 990.

He is a co-author of two leading practitioner textbooks, contributing two chapters (on derivative claims and unfair prejudice petitions) to Joffe et al., Minority Shareholders: Law, Practice & Procedure (OUP, 7th Ed, 2024) and three chapters to Lightman & Moss, The Law of Receivers and Administrators of Companies (6th Ed, 2017). Other recent publications include: ‘Non-members and s 994 petitions: a novel approach’ (NLJ, 31 May 2024), ‘The rule in Clayton’s Case: its application in non-banking relationships’ (BJIBFL, May 2024), ‘The light at the end of the tunnel and the last throw of the die: liquidators’ claims against former directors following Sequana’ (IIRR 2023-24) and ‘Pleading Issues: Pick Your Battles’ (NLJ, 27 January 2023).

Career

Called to the Bar 1995. King's Counsel 2016.

Memberships

ACTAPS; Chancery Bar Association; COMBAR; Family Law Bar Association; Insolvency Lawyers’ Association; PNBA.

Education

BA Lit. Hum. (First Class), Magdalen College, Oxford; Dip. Law (Distinction), City University, London. Hardwicke, Mansfield and Denning Scholar of Lincoln's Inn.

Leisure

Cricket - co-author of Cricket Grounds from the Air (2nd Ed. 2010) and has written articles on cricket for (amongst other publications) Wisden, the Cricketer, Nightwatchman, the Spectator and Majesty Magazine, as well as curating the current (and first ever) exhibition at the MCC Museum, Lord's, on Jews and Cricket.

Mentions

London Bar

Commercial litigation

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Daniel Lightman KC –Serle Court ‘Daniel is a highly effective advocate. Judges respect him and value his legal dexterity.’
London Bar

Company

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Daniel Lightman KC – Serle Court ‘Daniel is extremely bright, incisive and original in his thinking.’
London Bar

Family: divorce and financial remedy

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Daniel Lightman KC –Serle Court ‘Daniel is highly perspicacious and can explain issues in a very straightforward and accessible manner.’
London Bar

Fraud: civil

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Daniel Lightman KC –Serle Court
London Bar

Insolvency

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Daniel Lightman KC – Serle Court ‘Daniel is a major player in the insolvency sphere. He knows his stuff inside out. Clients love him because he is able to come up with solutions that no one else can think of. Judges trust his submissions because they are sound and learned. Daniel is excellent at thinking of points that no one else does.’
London Bar

Professional negligence

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Daniel Lightman KC –Serle Court ‘He is an extremely tenacious and compelling advocate. He is passionate about the law and passionate about his cases.’