Louis Doyle
Practice Areas:
Practice Area CVs:
Year of Call: 1996
Practice:
Commercial chancery with a particular emphasis on insolvency, company law and commercial litigation, especially shareholder, director and financial disputes.
Profile:
Louis' practice encompasses all aspects of the above areas which extends to both contentious and non-contentious work, contractual and commercial disputes, capital reconstructions, s.459/994 petitions, directors duties and director disqualification, shareholder disputes, fiduciary, trust and restitutionary claims, injunctions, interim and equitable remedies (including freezing and search orders), banking law (including guarantees and security) and partnerships. He also has experience in professional negligence work relating to the above, disciplinary tribunal work on behalf of insolvency practitioners, regulatory appeal work within his practice area, arbitration and mediation and Treasury work. Louis is also used to dealing with court applications at very short notice. Louis' reported cases and published work is detailed below.
In recent times Louis' clients have included Kerry Katona, the administrators of Leeds United Football Club, KwikSave Group, Zavvi, the UK subsiduiries of the Klaussner Group, Lloyds' names, a US incorporated sports stadia developer, clearing and secondary lenders, actor William Roache, high profile £22m bankrupt Paul "the plumber" Davidson, numerous insolvency practitioners and corporate and private debtors.
Louis is co-author (with Professor Andrew Keay) of "Insolvency Legislation: Annotations and Commentary" (3rd edn, 2009, Jordans), a leading guide to the insolvency legislation which is commonly used in and by the courts.
Louis is also the author of three other books, Administrative Receivership: Law and Practice (1995, Sweet & Maxwell) and Insolvency Litigation (1998, Sweet & Maxwell), the second edition at which will be published in 2011. In 2010 he produced the second edition of Company Voluntary Arrangements and Administrations (Jordans, with G Weisgard and M Griffiths). He has also sat on the editorial boards of Insolvency Intelligence and The Insolvency Lawyer.
Outside of work Louis' interests include his family, literature, pyrotechnics,running, gym and cycling. He was formerly an officer in 4 Para.
Significant Reported Cases:
Re Power Builders (Surrey) Ltd [2009] I BCLC 250 (Lewison J; Creditors' meetings; Liquidation; Proof of debt; Voting; proper approach to admission of proofs under r.4.70 and equivalent provisions)
Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Cassells [2009] BPIR 284; annulment; discretionary powers in annuling under s.282 and reviewing under s.375)
Simpson v Bowker [2008] BCC 781; [2007] Costs LR 850 (Court of Appeal; Claims; Company voluntary arrangements; Costs; Debtors; Fees; Funding arrangements)
Stanley J Holmes & Sons Ltd v Davenham Trust plc [2007] BCC 485 (Court of Appeal; administration; proper basis for valuation of third party hp goods on application for sale by administrators under Schedule B1, para 71)
Kingsley IT Consulting Ltd v McIntosh [2006] BCC 875 (directors' duties; secret profits; quantification of director's liability to account to complainant company)
Smurthwaite v Simpson-Smith [2006] All ER (D) 368 (IVA; meaning of "reputed wife"; treatment of creditor by chairman; setting aside of arrangement; personal costs liability of office-holder)
Re Ultramotorhomes International Limited [2006} All ER (D) 227 (Patten J; EC Regulation; applicable law; proper construction of CVA; effect of German security; delivery up of arrangement assets)
Akhtar v Rafiq [2006] I FLR 27 (Bodey J; appearing for the Crown (Queen's Proctor); effect of fraud/defective service in Middle East on court process)
Oakley v Ultra Vehicle Design Ltd (In Liquidation) [2006] BCC 57; noted at [2005] IL4P 55 (Lloyd J; appropriate jurisdiction; conflict of law; EC Regulation; English court to deal with dispute subject to German law)
Rio Properties Inc v Amer Mouaffac AI Midani [2003] BPIR 128 (bankruptcy; whether $2.8m gaming debt incurred in US capable of founding English bankruptcy petition)
Commissioners of Customs & Excise v Allen [2003] The Times, 20 March (disputed block transfer orders)
Palgrave Brown v Stinnes Logistics AG [2002] All ER (D) 241 (Court of Appeal; interpretation of contractual agreement; liability of vendor to meet due diligence costs of prospective purchaser)
Doyle v Saville [2002] BPIR 947 (successful appeal against findings of transactions-at-undervalue and preferences)
Re Salmet International Ltd (in administration) [2001] BCC 796 (ranking of office-holder's remuneration as expense in administration where shortfall)
Industrial Diseases Compensation Ltd v Marrons [2001] BPIR 601 (charging orders; setting aside; CPR r.40.9)
Harris v Gross [2001] BPIR 586 (IVAs; standing of supervisor to petition after expiration of fixed term arrangements)
Re Julie O Sullivan [2001] BPIR 534 (jurisdiction of court to interfere with nominee's fee as fixed by creditors)
Fuller v Cyracuse [2001] 1 BCLC 187 (striking out just and equitable winding-up in the face of complex offer to buy-out petitioner)
Cork v Rawlins [2001] 3 WLR 300, CA (Court of Appeal; bankruptcy; vesting of contractual claim)
Ord v Upton [2000] Ch 352 [2000] 2 WLR 755, CA (Court of Appeal; bankruptcy; nature of cause of action; vesting of personal injury claim)
Lombard North Central plc v Brook [1999] BPIR 710 (CVA; liquidated damages/penalty clause; treatment of creditor for voting purposes
Publications:
In addition to his three books Louis has also published various articles on his areas of interest. These include:
Brook of Rules: Comi and cross-border insolvency - The Lawyer, 21 Sep 2009
Bankruptcy and matrimonial ancillary relief orders - Insolv. L. 1999, 7(Dec), 296-300
Administration - can a landlord forfeit a lease by peaceable re-entry? - Insolv. L. 1999, 4(Jun), 167-168
A practitioner's guide to bills of sale - Insolv. Int. 1998, 11(1), 6-7
Amendments to voluntary arrangements: A response - Insolv. Int. 1997, 10(8), 60-61
The receiver's duties on a sale of charged assets - Insolv. Int. 1997, 10(2), 9-11
Varying preferential rights in a voluntary arrangement - Insolv. L. 1997, 20(Jul), 3-5
Preferences: a question of desire - Insolv. L. & P. 1997, 2(3), 10
Bank investigations: some practical observations - Insolv. L. & P. 1997, 2(2), 10-12
Set-off and counterclaim on summary judgment applications - Litigator 1997, Sep, 315-319
Misfeasance proceedings in insolvency litigation: Parts 1 & 2 - Litigator 1997, Mar, 137-141, Jan 48-56
Set-off or counterclaim? - S.J. 1997, 141 (14), 326-327
The Spouse's equity of exoneration - S.J. 1997, 141(10), 230-231
Change in the wind on common law defective-prospectus liability - Comp. Law. 1996, 17(9), 279-281
The residual status of directors in receivership - Comp. Law. 1996, 17(5), 131-138
Ten years of wrongful trading - Insolv. L. 1996, 18(Oct), 10-15
Funding the action: maintenance, champerty and conditional fee agreements - Insolv. L. & P. 1996, 1(4), 3-10
The receiver as trespasser - I.L. & P. 1995, 11(4), 107-111
The continuing problem of the independent pension trustee - P.L.C. 1995, 9(Oct), 1-3
Borrowing under the influence - Bus. L.R. 1994, 15(1), 6-8
Contemporaneous administrative receivership and liquidation, subordination and subrogation - a practical approach to problems and preferential and office holder entitlements - I.L. & P. 1994, 10(5), 134-142
The insolvent company's pension scheme: pitfalls for the office holder - Insolv. L. 1993, 9(Oct), 2-5
The preferential subscription rights of equity shareholders - Lit. 1993, 13(2), 54-60
Company administration: the role of the company secretary - Bus. L.R. 1992, 13(11), 263-264,281-282
Financial services: recouping loss under the Act - Bus. L.R. 1992, 13(4), 87-88
Anomalies in the wrongful trading provisions - Comp. Law. 1992, 13(5), 96-99
Company directors: insuring against personal liability - S.J. 1992, 136(1), 16-17
Index Betting: gaming contract or investment? - N.L.J. 1991, 141(6533), 1746-1747
Hello DOLI: defining the scope of directors' indemnity insurance - S.J. 1991, 135(33), 957, 959
Insolvency, directors and asset stripping - S.J. 1991, 135(30), 868
Trustee investment: a survey of current law - Tru. L.I. 1991, 5(4), 138-142
Recommendations:
Louis has been ranked as a leading junior variously in insolvency, chancery and commercial litigation in both the Legal 500 and in Chambers UK guides to the legal profession since 1999.
Chambers UK 2010:
Top-ranking junior Louis Doyle boasts "extraordinary advocacy skills and great technical knowledge." He is well liked by clients as he combines "good commercial understanding with bags of enthusiasm."
Chambers UK 2009:
Based in Leeds, Louis Doyle "is thorough and precise and has quite a presence in court."
Leading junior Louis Doyle specialises in insolvency litigation and is considered "technically strong, with moments of sheer brilliance." His advocacy skills are applauded along with his "practical, hands-on approach and commercial perspective."
An energetic litigator who "is always willing to challenge established views," his knowledge of insolvency law is considered "second to none."
Market sources describe him as highly enthusiastic: he "gets stuck in and always delivers great results."
Chambers UK 2008:
Louis Doyle has "a growing profile in the area" and is best known as an insolvency expert, although this part of his practice feeds into more "classic" company and chancery areas.
Legal 500 2007:
"is extraordinarily bright but clear and direct too"
Previous recommendations include:
"His intellectual capability makes him a match for any London barrister"
"Great on his feet, a good supply of experience and advice, a direct and straightforward approach, and clients love him"
"Taking on an increasing amount of cross-border work"
"Well read, well informed and very thorough in court"
"Widely regarded as sensible and client friendly with a winning combination of ability and common sense"
"The extremely busy ex-solicitor receives much positive peer comment"
"Great technical brain"
"Safe pair of hands"
Memberships:
R3 (full member)
Chancery Bar Association
Northern Chancery Bar Association
Professional Negligence Bar Association
North Eastern Circuit
Panels:
Provincial Panel, Treasury Counsel (Civil Litigation) (primarily disqualification and Revenue work)
(Appointed 2000, re-appointed 2003, retired 2007)
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Degree:
Year of Call: Joined Chambers: |
LLB (CNAA), LLM (Birmingham) Admitted as a solicitor in 1994 1996 (Lincoln's Inn) 1999 |
