Overview

Giles is recognised as a robust, thorough advocate. He has a clear grasp of commercial issues and how best to overcome them. He works with his clients, favouring a team approach, particularly when faced with complex issues. With an in-depth understanding of the commercial world, he is adept at keeping his clients informed and aware of any issues that may arise at the earliest opportunity. Giles is a truly commercial litigator in terms of approach to his cases and his clients’ interests and needs. He recognises the importance of achieving his clients’ aims and objectives (whether at trial or through ADR) as quickly and as cost effectively as possible.

Giles is consistently noted as a leader in his field, is highly regarded for his ‘technical knowledge and commercial know-how’, and has a wealth of experience dealing with substantial commercial litigation. Over the last 28 years he has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal and even in the Supreme Court of the Seychelles and in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar.

His practice has a particular emphasis on civil and corporate fraud, company and contentious insolvency work, professional negligence (claimant and defendant) and banking.

Before taking Silk, Giles was Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional Panel A) and his work for the Secretary of State focused on contentious public interest winding up petitions, including the appointment of provisional liquidators and appropriate injunctive relief, and disqualification applications under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

In recent years he has successfully completed a number of high profile high value corporate fraud cases, leading other junior Counsel, and has successfully acted as the leading Counsel for the Secretary of State in what was then the largest public interest petition brought by Companies Investigations.

Giles has also recently appeared in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, where he successfully appealed against a decision of a liquidator of a foreign insurance company in order to confirm a substantial proof of debt based on a UK judgment; and has dealt with the high profile insolvency of the Redcar based steel business operated by SSI UK Ltd, now in liquidation.

He has also represented over 300 claimants in a multi-million pound corporate fraud case in the Cayman Islands.

Giles was appointed Queen’s Counsel in December 2020, with effect from 15 March 2021.

Client/solicitor testimonials recommendations

“I have worked with Giles for a number of years, and he is my first choice barrister for complex disputes. My clients always warm to him as he displays exceptional attention to detail and superb commercial awareness. On his feet, Giles is an extremely proficient advocate; and he is a great team player. I have no doubt that he will prove to be a great QC”.
Marc Yaffe Head of Commercial Litigation, JMW Solicitors LLP

“A fantastic advocate. Extremely bright and able to grasp the facts of the case quickly even when technically demanding. Tenacious. Commercially astute. Easy to work with and always impresses the client / business.”
Darren Hill, Head of Claims and Debt Recovery, United Utilities Legal Service

“I have known and used Giles over the last 10 years on a variety of high value and/or complex commercial disputes, including professional negligence, breach of contract and tort cases, and actions involving fraud. He has an insatiable appetite for work and will leave no stone unturned in his desire to do the best job possible for a client. At the same time, he is very much a team player and adopts a pragmatic, commercial approach to the matter at hand and never loses sight of the client’s stated goal.”
Steve Morris, Commercial Litigation Partner, JMW Solicitors LLP