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Ceri Bryant

Called: 1984

 

 

Profile

Specialist in company law and corporate insolvency (contentious and non-contentious), with a particular emphasis on advice on corporate and capital reorganisations, takeovers, members' and creditors' schemes of arrangement, schemes for the transfer of insurance business and capital reductions. Advises on all aspects of the operation of companies, such as construction of articles of association and shareholders' agreements, directors' duties and powers and shareholders' rights, meetings and resolutions.

Litigation experience includes claims for breach of fiduciary duty, claims for breach of warranty and section 459 petitions. Has acted for directors defending insolvency proceedings and contesting applications for disqualifications orders.

Practice Review

Ceri has advised and appeared on schemes of arrangement for (amongst others):

• Tradus plc on its acquisition by Naspers Limited’s MIH Internet BV
• Linton Park plc on the acquisition of its minority shareholders by Camellia plc
• Soho House plc on its buyout of founder shareholders and fundraising
• Jarvis plc on its debt for equity swap
• Drax Group plc on its restructuring and re-entry into the Official List
• Pan-Ocean Energy Corporation Limited on its acquisition by Addax Petroleum Corporation
• Interflora on the reorganization of its membership and its company structure
• T&N Limited’s administrators in relation to the establishment of a fund to meet employees’ asbestos liability claims against the T&N group’s insurers;
• Sovereign Marine & General Insurance Company Limited and its subsidiaries on their closing schemes for the WFUM Pool
• Opus International Group plc on its restructuring as a company with a Malaysian holding company
• Tribune Tracker UK plc on its merger with Edinburgh UK Tracker Trust plc
• Spark Networks plc on the migration of its holding company to the US
• US hedge funds on their challenge to the legality of the Eurotunnel restructuring
• Findexa Limited on its acquisition by Eniro AB
• Retail Decisions plc on its acquisition by RD Card Limited
• La Mutuelle du Mans Assurances IARD and Scottish Eagle Insurance Company Limited on their closing schemes
• Two mutual insurance companies (Structural Engineers Professional Indemnity Association Limited and Mutual Accountants Professional Indemnity Company Limited) on their closing schemes
• Merrydown plc on its acquisition by SHS Group plc
• MacQuarrie European Infrastructure plc on its restructuring as a company with a Bermuda-domiciled holding company

Ceri has advised and appeared on several schemes for the transfer of insurance business under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 for (amongst others):

• RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited on the transfer of general insurance business from 13 insurance companies
• The transfer to Tenecom Limited from “Winterthur” Swiss Insurance Company of the general insurance business written through H.S. Weavers Underwriting Agencies Limited
• Ecumenical Insurance Company Limited on its transfer of general insurance business to Ansvar Insurance Company Limited
• Direct Line Insurance plc on the transfer of the general insurance business of Privilege Insurance Company Limited
• Pinnacle Insurance plc on the reorganization of its Scandinavian business
• The XL Re group of companies on the restructuring of their European operations
• Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc on intra-group transfers of general insurance business from 5 insurance companies
• Global General and Reinsurance Company Limited on the transfer of its long term insurance business to Sterling Life Limited
• Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc on the transfer of general insurance business from Bradford Insurance Company Limited
• Legal & General Assurance Society Limited on the transfer from Skandia Life Assurance Company Limited of its in-payment pension annuity business

Ceri is recommended as a Leading Junior for company law by Chambers’ 2008 UK and Global guides and as a Leading Junior for both company law and insolvency law by the 2007 Legal 500. Ceri is said by the 2007 Legal 500 in its section on company law to possess “a wealth of experience in major restructurings and schemes of arrangement” and to be an “excellent junior”, and she is referred to in the insolvency section of the 2007 Legal 500 as “a technically accomplished restructuring lawyer”. Ceri is described by Chambers in their 2008 guides as “wonderfully bright”.

Case List

• Re Linton Park plc
  (2008) BCC 17
• Re T&N Ltd & others (No. 3)
  (2007) 1 BCLC 563
• Re Altitude Scaffolding Ltd, Re T&N Ltd
  (2007) 1 BCLC 199
• Re Continental Assurance of London plc (in liquidation) (No. 4)
  (2007) 2 BCLC 287
• La Mutuelle du Mans Assurances IARD
  (2006) BCC 11
• Re Pinecord Ltd (in liquidation)
  (1995) 2 BCLC 57
• Re Cimex Tissues Ltd
  (1994) BCC 626
• Re Melcast (Wolverhampton) Ltd
  (1991) BCLC 288
• Re Lonrho plc (No 4)
  (1990) BCLC 151
• Re Virgo Systems Ltd
  (1989) BCLC 34
• Re Corbenstoke Ltd
  (1989) BCLC 496
• Lonrho plc v Bond & others (No. 2)
  (1989) BCC 776

Education

Girton College, Cambridge (MA, LLM), with first class honours in each part of the Law Tripos and in the LL.M.

Called to the Bar

1984 Lincoln's Inn

Practice

Joined Erskine Chambers in 1986.

Publications

Contributor to “Hannigan and Prentice: The Companies Act 2006 – a commentary” published by LexisNexis Butterworths and to "Company Directors: Law and Liability" published by Sweet and Maxwell.

Professional Organisations

COMBAR, Chancery Bar Association, South Eastern Circuit, R3.