Call: 1989
Jeffrey’s principal areas of practice are commercial, insolvency and employment disputes in the field of what he terms ‘commercial divorce’. He also has significant experience in professional negligence, professional discipline and sport. Jeffrey has appeared in all forums in the UK (High Court/employment tribunal/Appeal Courts) as well as in the DIFC first instance and Court of Appeal. He has appeared several times at the Sports Resolutions tribunal.
"Jeff has been one of our preferred Counsel for a decade. He works collaboratively to navigate complex legal issues – often multi-jurisdictional – for our biggest and most high-profile clients, who praise his clarity and friendly approach."
Email: jbacon@virtuechambers.com
Commercial and Insolvency Litigation
Jeffrey advises and appears regularly in personal and corporate insolvency disputes. – business disputes between the owners of businesses (shareholder, partnership, joint venture) and disputes between a business and its directors, shareholders, joint venturers, franchisees and employees (restraint of trade, s.994, fiduciary duties) or between or insolvency practitioners running the businesss and directors, creditors etc. Medium size business deadlock cases are a regular feature in his practise
He is regularly instructed in such in the insolvency and commercial fraud fields (including present litigations seeking to set aside a judgment obtained by fraud); in litigation relating to commercial contracts (Sale and Purchase Agreements, Shareholders Agreements, sale and carriage of goods, franchising), claims in fraud Jeffrey has enormous experience in relation to interim relief applications of all descriptions (restraint of trade/freezing and search orders/Protection from Harassment) including in the insolvency field (misfeasance, wrongful/fraudulent trading, preference etc).
Commercial Contracts/ Company & Partnership
Jeffrey has advised many businesses or individuals on commercial contracts. These include multiple instructions on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and confidentiality claims, and advising on the contracts required in relation to the set up of a business or an IPO or investment round. Recent examples include acting direct access for David Lloyd, ex-Davis Cup tennis player and founder of David Lloyd Leisure and (Susie Cave (ex face of Vivian Westwood, L’Oreal and others and wife of Nick Cave the well-known singer-songwriter) and advising on the regulatory issues in setting up an ABS in the legal field. He has advised Turkish clients though KPMG Istanbul to (a) set up a joint venture between a Turkish airline and US airline. (b) advise on the GDPR implications for a potential Turkish start up in the dental and cosmetic treatments field
Partnership and joint venture disputes are also a regular feature of Jeffrey’s practice He has acted for and against professional firms relating to the proposed expulsion or other exit of a partner.
International / offshore work
He has appeared in the DIFC Courts in both the first instance and DIFC Court of Appeal
Jeffrey has advised a series of offshore companies as to their potential exposure as a result of having shareholders subject to sanctions.
He has many cases past and present which cross international boundares including cases in the Cayman Islands and BVI.
Employment / Restraint of Trade
Jeffrey spent many years at Littleton Chambers and his practice continues in particular in the commercial field of restraint of trade and discrimination. He has been involved in some of the leading cases in the field
Professional Negligence and Discipline
For many years Jeffrey has acted both in professional negligence and in a variety of capacities in professional discipline matters (as chair of a panel, as adviser to a university board, as advocate for those accused of professional discipline and in the fit and proper aspects of those engaged in finance.
Jeffrey is regularly asked to advise or act in relation to international and offshore work.
Appointments & Memberships
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Commercial Bar Association
Employment Lawyers Association