Year of call: 2011
Aidan Reay is a leading junior specialising in commercial and commercial chancery disputes and has been ranked for commercial dispute resolution for many years by the principal legal directories.
Known for his expertise in matters of legal complexity, Aidan combines a keen eye for detail and technical excellence with an easy, client-friendly manner with the directories also regularly mentioning his reputation for skilful advocacy that blends an engaging delivery with a robust approach.
Aidan appears regularly in the High Court in London, Manchester and the other district registries on his own and with leading counsel and has extensive experience of interim hearings, trial and appellate advocacy.
Aidan’s recent instructions include:
Aidan also has extensive experience dealing with a range of interim applications including:
Outside of work, Aidan enjoys lots of things but mainly finds himself at the command of a small child.
Aidan is regularly instructed in cases concerning banking and finance claims both on behalf of lenders and borrowers.
Aidan has particular experience of cases concerning unregulated lending and bridging finance, as well as cases concerning consumer credit regulations and matters FSMA-related.
Acting on behalf of the widow of the borrower in relation to a claim for possession in which the widow had been subject to a coercive and controlling relationship by her late husband resulting in the family home being charged for the late husband’s business debts.
Acting on behalf of the lender in numerous claims to enforce security and recover debts in the context of bridging loans obtained to support property development.
Acting on behalf of the borrower, led by Andrew Grantham KC, in a claim relating to the effect of the power of sale exercised by a receiver of land over the fish in a lake.
Acting on behalf of a borrower for a claim against receivers in negligence for failing to correctly market a charged property.
Aidan’s practice encompasses a range of commercial litigation including business sale agreements, supply agreements, sale of goods, agency disputes and commercial guarantees.
Aidan is also regularly instructed on cases involving jurisdictional issues including questions of forum, applicable law and enforcement of foreign judgments and has extensive experience of dealing with expert witnesses in the area of foreign law as well as experts in accountancy and business valuation.
Aidan also has experience of dealing with commercial disputes in:
Appearing at trial (lasting two weeks) and throughout the first instance litigation as sole counsel on behalf of the Defendant – a Polish real estate company – in a case concerning the entitlement of the claimant – a New York investment bank – to commission arising from a €143million refinancing exercise – Xtellus Capital Partners Inc v DL Invest Group PM SA [2025] EWHC 1989 (Comm)
Appearing at trial (listed for one week) and throughout the litigation in relation to a claim brought against NHS England for c.£22million.
Appearing as sole counsel on behalf of the Defendant at trial and throughout the litigation in a case concerning the sale of hand sanitiser during the pandemic – Electric Mania Ltd v Avron Trading Ltd [2025] EWHC 159 (Comm)
Appearing as sole counsel before the Court of Appeal and below in Pitalia v NHS England [2023] EWCA Civ 657
Appearing and advising led by Paul Chaisty KC in a dispute concerning the c.£12million acquisition of a medical aesthetics business and an unfair prejudice petition relating to matters arising after the sale.
Appearing at trial (listed for a week) and throughout the litigation as sole counsel in a claim for c.£800,000 of debt allegedly guaranteed by a successor company and its directors.
Appearing at trial (lasting 6 days) and throughout the litigation on behalf of the defendant to a claim made under the law of the UAE for a corporate debt guaranteed in the UAE.
A large proportion of Aidan’s practice is dedicated to contentious corporate matters. Aidan is regularly instructed on his own and with leading counsel on unfair prejudice petitions and other shareholder disputes and on disputes arising out of share purchase agreements (SPA).
Appearing and advising led by Paul Chaisty KC in a dispute concerning the c.£12million acquisition of a medical aesthetics business and an unfair prejudice petition relating to matters arising after the sale.
Appearing and advising along with Thomas Williams on an unfair prejudice petition concerning a UK aviation software company and its Spanish subsidiary.
Appearing on behalf of the defendant in a case concerning an alleged fraud relating to the sale of business assets and the transfer of the shares between two former business partners.
Representing the Claimant at trial (led by Mark Harper KC) in a shareholders’ dispute – McConomy v ASE [2017] EWHC 92 (Ch).
Aidan’s insolvency practice deals with both technical insolvency cases and contentious matters in the fields of corporate and personal insolvency.
Aidan has particular expertise in claims against directors relating to misfeasance and company property. Aidan acts for both professional insolvency clients and respondent directors.
Aidan is also regularly instructed on behalf of respondent directors in disqualification proceedings brought against them by the Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary State.
Aidan sits on the R3’s regional committee for the Midlands.
Applying to affirm the appointment of administrators where there had been a defect in the formal appointment process.
Representing the petitioner in a second petition seeking permission to continue the petition under the exceptional circumstances provisions within the Insolvency Practice Direction.
Representing a silent company director at trial in disqualification proceedings brought against him resulting from the company’s failure to file VAT returns.
Acting on behalf of a trustee in bankruptcy in response to a challenge to the trustee’s fees.
Resisting applications to set aside statutory demands on behalf of creditors.
Appearing in respect of applications for injunctions to prevent presentation and advertisement of winding up petitions.
Aidan is regularly instructed to advise and to represent parties in partnership disputes both in circumstances where there is a formal partnership agreement and those governed by the Partnership Act 1890.
Aidan also has particular experience in the field of medical and dental partnerships.
Acting in relation to a family farming partnership dispute dealing with matters including questions of capacity and the treatment of different farming assets within and outside the family partnership.
Acting in relation to a dispute between partners in a dentists’ practice.
Acting in relation to a dispute between partners in a GPs’ practice.
Aidan accepts instructions in a range of professional negligence situations and has particular expertise in the fields of solicitors’ negligence, accountants’ negligence, receivers’ negligence, insurance brokers’ negligence and energy brokers’ negligence.
Acting in on behalf of the client in a claim for brokers’ negligence arising from inadequate business interruption insurance in the face of Covid-19.
Acting on behalf of the former directors/shareholders whose business was sold in a pre-pack without proper advice being given.
Acting on behalf of a borrower in a claim against receivers for selling assets at an undervalue.
Advising in respect of solicitors’ negligence relating to planning permission over land.
Aidan’s property litigation practice primarily focuses on cases concerning non-domestic rates/business rates. He acts both for ratepayers and local authorities and has experience in respect of a number of different rates mitigation schemes, including those relating to heliciculture (snail farming).
Aidan’s expertise in corporate and insolvency matters of particular benefit to clients dealing with rates cases.
Aidan accepts instructions with sports connections across his range of commercial, corporate and insolvency expertise.
Aidan has extensive experience dealing with a range of construction disputes from consumer contracts for domestic building work to complex disputes in respect of industry standard form contracts and relating to the enforcement of adjudication awards.
Recent instructions have included successfully opposing a CPR part 11 application to stay proceedings pursuant to the terms of an NEC3 contract where the issue was whether clause W2 had been incorporated into the contract between the parties where there was ambiguity in the drafting of the contract data.
Legal 500 2026
Chambers UK 2026
“You can have confidence in his advice.”
Legal 500 2025
‘Aidan is an exceptionally clear thinker who combines technical detail with commercial acumen. As an advocate, he is organised, persuasive, and engaging, and he can be robust but has the magic touch of doing so without antagonising judges.’
Chambers UK 2025
“Aidan has fantastic understanding of contract points and his cross-examination is measured and well thought-out.”
“He is very popular with clients as he can speak their language, as well as being an excellent advocate.”
“He is very good with clients and impressively robust when it comes to advocacy.”
Legal 500 2024
‘Aidan does not shy away from delivering realistic advice to clients and he is adept at managing their expectations in conference. His drafting is always robust and concise.’
Chambers UK 2024
“Responsive, commercially insightful and an advocate of advanced skill.”
“Aidan’s advocacy skills are unbelievably great.”
“Aidan is very easy to work with, well prepared and good with clients.”
Legal 500 2023
“Aidan has exceptional knowledge of relevant case law and attention to detail. He has a highly effective litigation strategy and he is very responsive, personable and easy to deal with.”
Chambers UK 2022
“He is excellent at responding to arguments on his feet, which is a very good asset at the Bar. He is a very straightforward and very responsive barrister.” “Aidan is very analytical and responsive, and his written advocacy is persuasive.”
Legal 500 2022
“I find Aidan particularly client-friendly. The advice Aidan gives is always commercial and measured. I would often go to London if Aidan were not available and I consider him to be one of the standout junior barristers at the commercial bar in Manchester.”
Chambers UK 2021
“He is very strong on his advice, can relate to clients very well and gets a handle on the key issues very quickly.” “He is an excellent advocate.” “He is incredibly bright and astute.”
Legal 500 2021
‘Aidan balances a commercial and practical approach with razor sharp technical skills. He is an excellent advocate, who always performs well on his feet.’
Chambers UK 2017
“He’s very personable and you’d be comfortable giving him more weighty jobs – beyond his years of call.” “Tactically astute, he is also really good on technical contractual issues, explaining them so the court can deal with the matter properly.”
