Profile
David Chivers' practice encompasses both litigation and
advisory work in the fields of company law and corporate
insolvency. He advises on all aspects of the Companies
Acts including questions of financial assistance on
acquisitions of shares and other maintenance of capital
issues. David has considerable experience of acting on
behalf of directors facing disqualification and is author of
the chapter on directors' disqualification in "The Practice
and Procedure in the Companies Court" published by
Lloyds of London Press.
His litigation experience includes section 459 petitions, diversion of corporate opportunites,
professional negligence claims and insolvency proceedings. He has experience of multiparty
litigation including the Atlantic Computers proceedings where he advised and
appeared in court on behalf of Atlantic in various claims and was subsequently part of the
core mediation team in the £150m settlement of the litigation.
Education
David Chivers was educated at Downing College, Cambridge and was called to the Bar in 1983.
Expertise
He specialises in company law, which he practices from Erskine Chambers. His practice is
divided between advisory work and litigation. Non-contentious work includes advice on all
aspects of companies' legislation but commonly relates to questions of capital
restructuring, financial assistance and corporate governance. A strong litigation practice
crosses over from company law to more general commercial work and includes a good
deal of corporate insolvency.
Publications
Publications include contributions to Gore Browne on Companies (Jordans) and Practice
and Procedure in the Companies Court (LLP).
Organisations
David Chivers was also a member of the Chancery Working Group reporting to Lord Woolf
on Access to Justice.
Case List
Re: Amway Ltd
Ref: 2008 EWHC 1054 (ch)
Public interest winding up petition – trial.
Re: Neath Rugby Club Ltd
Ref: 2007 EWHC (ch)
Section 459 Petition – trial.
NBH -v- Hoare
Ref: 2006 EWHC 2999 (ch) 2006 2BCLC 649
Conspiracy to defraud, s320 CA 1985 – trial
Creque -v- Penn
Ref; 2007 UKPC 44
Privy Council Appeal
Re Nottingham Forest Plc
Ref: [2001] 1 All ER 954
Companies Act 1985 s.459 - trial
Philip Morris v. Rothmans
Ref: (C.A.) Times 5/8/2001
Construction of licence agreement - Change of control - City Code - trial and appeal
Taylor Sinclair Capital
Ref: [2001] 2 BCLC 176
Transactions at undervalue; I Act 1986 ss 238, 240, 432. - trial
Lloyd v. Popely
Ref: [2000] 1 BCLC 19 and C.A.
Share transfer - malicious falsehood - trial and appeal
Migration Services International Limited
Ref: [2000] 1 BCLC 666
Directors' disqualification - appeal - scope of Act and length of disqualification
ASRS Establishment Limited
Ref: [2000] 1 BCLC 727, and [2000] 2 BCLC 631 C.A.
Construction of debenture - fixed and floating charges - Preliminary issue and
appeal
Benfield Greig
Ref: [2000] BCLC 488
Companies Act 1985 s. 459 - strike out
Brownlow v. Marshall
Ref: [2000] 2 BCLC 655
Companies Act 1985 s.459 - trial
Re Atlantic Computers Plc
Ref: [1998] BCC 200
Insolvency Act 1986 s.236 - exercise of Court's discretion. Discovery - Privilege -
Public interest
Secretary of State for Trade & Industry v. Rogers
Ref: [1996] 1 WLR 1569 (C.A.)
Directors' Disqualification - Disqualification proceedings based on agreed facts -
findings of dishonesty - whether finding of dishonesty to be set aside
Re Polly Peck International Limited (No.3)
Ref: [1996] 2 All ER 433
Insolvency Act 1986 - Corporate personality - lifting the veil - rule against double
proof.
Re Pamstock
Ref: [1996] BCC 341 C.A.
New Bullas Trading Limited
Ref: [1994] BCC 36 C.A.
Re Elgindata (No 2) Ltd
Ref: [1992] WLR 1207 C.A.