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Catherine Newman KC*

Call: 1979 | Silk: 1995

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Overview

Catherine is a leading silk at the chancery and commercial bar. Clients rate her as, ‘a standout figure’, ‘fantastically clever, intellectually very agile and someone who really adds value as a silk.’ , 'Technically perfect’  and ‘ takes a robust, calm and measured approach.’.

She is one of the best cross examiners in practice today: ‘A fine exponent of trial advocacy and cross-examination’  and ‘Extremely clever and excellent at cross-examination.’. 

 

Her ‘formidable intellect’ ‘grasps complex financial situations easily.’  She relishes getting a deep understanding of the client’s business, and couples that with an astute understanding of human nature which enables her to get to the bottom of issues quickly. She is ‘great with clients, reliable, and very confident in her advice.’ ‘She can make complicated principles understandable to a lay party. She's also extremely impressive in terms of the volume that she can get on top of in a short space of time.’ ‘She really thinks very deeply. Her judgement and identification of the issues in a case really make a difference.’

She has never lost her commitment to being on top of the evidence and issues in a case herself: ‘A class act and a pleasure to work with, she displays great attention to detail and is extremely knowledgeable.’ ‘She's extremely responsive, gets to grip with the issues in minutes’

Well regarded by the judiciary, ‘Catherine's a superstar in the courtroom. She's incredibly well prepared.’ ‘Catherine has the ability to take the temperature of the situation and read the court. She is well regarded by the judiciary and easy to get on with. Clients really like her.  She really is a tour de force.’ She is not ‘arrogant. She also takes an inclusive approach and feels like part of the team.’

She has considerable experience of business disputes particularly those which may have equity aspects (contracts, warranties, tort, agency, fiduciary duties, restitution etc), civil fraud, insolvency, asset tracing, trusts, JVs,  partnership, LLPs, corporate and shareholder and investor disputes in many fields (including commodities, mining and many types of chemical and industrial processes), banking, hedge fund and private equity fund investments, foreign exchange and derivatives. Her work has included: acting for the successful Appellants in Smith and Others v Molyneux [2016] UKPC; acting for Shell Pension Fund in BVI litigation (ending in the Privy Council) brought by the Liquidators of a Madoff feeder, advising the UK arm of a US monoline insurer on its rights in relation to a suite of lending and bonds issued by a state owned utility in a failing Eurozone jurisdiction; litigation on behalf of an investor in Russian assets purchased from a Dutch bank alleged to be part of the insolvent estate of Mr Ablyazov; acting for an Italian commune claiming to have been mis-sold derivatives by international banks;  the first reported case on the duties of partners in a LLP; disputes concerning trading in metals and the ownership of residues, and their quality, from the smelting of copper ores;  litigation by a group of siblings in relation to the dividend policy of an investment company holding assets for charitable trusts and numerous disputes concerning the conduct of trustees and the construction of trusts and contracts.

She has acted in many well-known disputes including the UK local authority swaps litigation, BCCI, Maxwell and Madoff. She was Leading Counsel advising the Inspectors inquiring into the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers. In November 2005 she led the team acting for the English Creditors’ Committee of BCCI SA in the private application to the Chancellor which immediately preceded the discontinuance of the Liquidators’ litigation against the Bank of England.

She has appeared in all the divisions and levels of the UK courts, and is a member of the BVI bar. She has appeared in the courts of the Cayman Islands on several occasions.

Catherine has appeared as an advocate in several arbitrations, including those governed by ICC and LCIA rules, and is currently appointed as an ICC co-arbitrator in a Latin American dispute.

Catherine also takes appropriate pro bono work and is a Trustee of a major development charity.

She graduated from University College London with First Class Honours in Law, winning the Andrews Medal and Prize for the most outstanding performance in the final Law examinations in 1978.  A former scholar of the Middle Temple , she has chaired their Scholarship Fund Appeal.

Catherine is ranked as a Leading Silk in several categories in both the Chambers Directory and the Legal 500.

Terms of Business 

The clerks are happy to discuss the basis on which Catherine will act in any given matter. In the absence of express written agreement otherwise, the terms under which Catherine accepts instructions are The Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services By Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 (as updated from time to time) referred to in the BSB Handbook.

“She works relentlessly hard for her clients and is really determined.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“A fine advocate with a really good, measured style.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“She is a highly credible leader and a very dedicated barrister.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“She is excellent - an outstanding advocate who is very calm and collected.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“Fierce at cross examination with an ability to destroy expert and factual witnesses alike, sometimes without them even knowing it – a joy to behold.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

Expertise

Banking & Financial Services  

Overview

Civil Fraud & Asset Recovery  

Overview

Commercial Disputes  

Overview

Company, Partnership & LLPs  

Overview

Insolvency & Restructuring  

Overview

International & Offshore  

Overview

Private Client  

Overview

Notable Cases  

Overview

Catherine's notable cases include: 

Directory quotes

Chambers UK
Offshore

“She is a very effective advocate.” (2023)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“Excellent, very thorough and very highly thought of.” (2023)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“So experienced and so authoritative, she knows exactly what she's talking about.” (2022)

 

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“A solid operator who knows how the courts works really well.” (2022)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“A fine advocate with a really good, measured style.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“She works relentlessly hard for her clients and is really determined.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“She's incredibly quick, with a first-class mind." "She gets on top of huge volumes of documents and gives very measured advice. In terms of advice to clients, how she prepared the case, and on her feet, she’s a force to be reckoned with.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“I think she is a very clever, tactical lawyer who's very experienced. Her ability is to cut through a case, right down to the nub of the facts, and she's really great with clients.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“Everyone knows her. She is a punchy and tenacious litigator who is brilliant on the bigger dispute." "She has considerable presence and the ear of the judge.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“Has considerable presence, knows her stuff and is more than comfortable handling big cases." "She is just fantastically reliable and confident in her advice, without being arrogant. She also takes an inclusive approach and feels like part of the team.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Traditional

“She is very immersed in the world of both offshore and onshore trusts. She is extremely good in court and I've seen her make some very impressive and able arguments." "She is a very punchy advocate; she is very efficient and really on the ball. She really knows how to fight a case and you are wary of being against her as an opponent.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“One of the first women at the Chancery Bar to take silk, she's clever, she's tough and judges listen to her." "Extremely affable and great with clients, she's got a lot of experience, and it shows.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Chancery: Commercial

“Catherine is incredibly sharp. She's very good with clients and can make complicated principles understandable to a lay party. She's also extremely impressive in terms of the volume that she can get on top of in a short space of time - in a document-heavy case, she's able to understand and absorb information very quickly." "I always think that for a difficult case she's very good.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“She is a highly credible leader and a very dedicated barrister.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“A formidable force in court." "She's a clear thinker and is incredibly quick at getting on top of complex cases.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“She has got very good judgement.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“Fights very hard for her clients.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“Catherine's a superstar in the courtroom. She's incredibly well prepared." "Catherine has the ability to take the temperature of the situation and read the court. She is well regarded by the judiciary and easy to get on with. Clients really like her and she's extremely bright. She really is a tour de force.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Fraud: Civil

“A preferred choice of City and offshore firms for a range of commercial chancery matters.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Company

“Catherine is very easy to work with and inspires confidence. She is smart and has great attention to detail.” (2022)

Chambers UK
Company

“She is very easy to work with and extremely smart. What is good about Catherine is that she does not just advise on the law but will also give you a strong steer on strategy without prompting. She makes you feel that you are in very safe hands.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Company

“Catherine is delightful and incredibly smart. Her oral advocacy and cross-examination skills are among her greatest strengths. She is not easily intimidated and is very confident.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Company

“She really thinks very deeply. Her judgement and identification of the issues in a case really make a difference.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Company

“She's as bright as a button and an effective strategist. A very effective advocate who's like a steel hand in a velvet glove.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Company

“I was very impressed with her ability to get on top of the details quickly." "Totally on top of the material and very good at cross-examining.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Company

“She is an extremely robust litigator, well known for her determination. She grabs the case and pursues it right through.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“She is excellent - an outstanding advocate who is very calm and collected.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“She's extremely approachable, very thorough, very good at strategy and very commercially minded.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“Responsive, accessible, commercial and someone who knows how to put up a fight.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“A class act and a pleasure to work with, she displays great attention to detail and is extremely knowledgeable." "She's extremely responsive, gets to grip with the issues in minutes, and is extremely good on her feet and in cross-examinations.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“A great cross-examiner and an absolute delight.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Offshore

“She is phenomenally bright and capable.” (2017)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“A formidable advocate who's ferocious in cross-examination." "She's very effective and a very aggressive advocate.” (2022)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“Clients find her to be fantastic as she is so practical and pragmatic. " "She is all over the detail of every inch of the case." "Those that instruct her have enormous confidence in her judgement and abilities.” (2021)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“A very determined and, when the need arises, a very aggressive advocate." "A formidable force in court.” (2020)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“Charmingly formidable, fun to work with, and a real fighter." "As a top silk, she cuts through the issues. What you get from someone like Catherine is a clear view on issues without prevarication.” (2019)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“Very knowledgeable in this area of the law. She's clear, authoritative and decisive in her advice on partnership and LLP issues and is a strong trial advocate.” (2018)

Chambers UK
Partnership

“An excellent, very diligent advocate and cross-examiner who's also able to speak to clients in plain English, which is very helpful in the throes of a trial." "An absolute delight and a great cross-examiner.” (2017)

Chambers Global
Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery

“Has considerable presence, knows her stuff and is more than comfortable handling big cases." "She is just fantastically reliable and confident in her advice, without being arrogant. She also takes an inclusive approach and feels like part of the team.” (2019)

Chambers Global
Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery

“Catherine is incredibly sharp. She's very good with clients and can make complicated principles understandable to a lay party. She's also extremely impressive in terms of the volume that she can get on top of in a short space of time - in a document-heavy case, she's able to understand and absorb information very quickly." "I always think that for a difficult case she's very good.” (2017)

Chambers Global
Offshore

“Responsive, accessible, commercial and someone who knows how to put up a fight.” (2019)

Chambers Global
Offshore

“A great cross-examiner and an absolute delight.” (2017)

Legal 500 UK
Banking and Finance

“A strong leader and strategist.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Banking and Finance

“She’s forthright, hardworking, able, and great fun to work with.” (2020)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

“Fierce at cross examination with an ability to destroy expert and factual witnesses alike, sometimes without them even knowing it – a joy to behold.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

“Incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and one of the best oral advocates at the Bar.” (2020)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

“A go-to silk – great with clients, reliable, and very confident in her advice.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

“A lovely barrister to instruct, her hunger is as evident as ever.” (2017)

Legal 500 UK
Company & Partnership

“Gets to the heart of things quickly.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Company & Partnership

“She gives clear, decisive and authoritative advice.” (2020)

Legal 500 UK
Company

“She excels in Chancery cases.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Partnership

“A highly respected senior silk.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Company

“She is very authoritative and clients really like her.” (2017)

Legal 500 UK
Partnership

“She is extremely clever and excellent at cross-examination.” (2017)

Legal 500 UK
Insolvency

“A leader in the insolvency field.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Insolvency

“She is a leader in her field and is very talented.” (2020)

Legal 500 UK
Insolvency

“A responsive insolvency expert.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Offshore

“An exceptional lawyer.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Offshore

“Superb on her feet.” (2020)

Legal 500 UK
Offshore

“She has a track record of offshore company disputes.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Private Client: Trusts and Probate

“A very clever silk.” (2021)

Legal 500 UK
Private Client: Trusts and Probate

“A very clever silk.” (2019)

Legal 500 UK
Commercial Litigation

“Not afraid to mix it up, which is important in hard-fought litigation.” (2022)

Legal 500 UK
Insolvency

“A very good cross-examiner with steely nerve in court.” (2022)

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • COMBAR
  • ACTAPS
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association

Judicial Appointments

  • Deputy High Court Judge (KB & Chancery Divisions)
  • Recorder of the Crown Court (authorised to hear appeals and serious sex cases)
  • Lieutenant-Bailiff of the Royal Court of Guernsey (2001-10th June 2014)

Qualifications

  • LLB Hons (Lond) First Class

Articles

 clerks@maitlandchambers.com                                                                  

  +44 (0)20 7406 1200

Catherine Newman KC*

Call: 1979 | Silk: 1995

cnewman@maitlandchambers.com

“She works relentlessly hard for her clients and is really determined.” (2021)

Chambers UK

Chancery: Commercial

Overview

Catherine is a leading silk at the chancery and commercial bar. Clients rate her as, ‘a standout figure’, ‘fantastically clever, intellectually very agile and someone who really adds value as a silk.’ , 'Technically perfect’  and ‘ takes a robust, calm and measured approach.’.

She is one of the best cross examiners in practice today: ‘A fine exponent of trial advocacy and cross-examination’  and ‘Extremely clever and excellent at cross-examination.’. 

Her ‘formidable intellect’ ‘grasps complex financial situations easily.’  She relishes getting a deep understanding of the client’s business, and couples that with an astute understanding of human nature which enables her to get to the bottom of issues quickly. She is ‘great with clients, reliable, and very confident in her advice.’ ‘She can make complicated principles understandable to a lay party. She's also extremely impressive in terms of the volume that she can get on top of in a short space of time.’ ‘She really thinks very deeply. Her judgement and identification of the issues in a case really make a difference.’

She has never lost her commitment to being on top of the evidence and issues in a case herself: ‘A class act and a pleasure to work with, she displays great attention to detail and is extremely knowledgeable.’ ‘She's extremely responsive, gets to grip with the issues in minutes’

Well regarded by the judiciary, ‘Catherine's a superstar in the courtroom. She's incredibly well prepared.’ ‘Catherine has the ability to take the temperature of the situation and read the court. She is well regarded by the judiciary and easy to get on with. Clients really like her.  She really is a tour de force.’ She is not ‘arrogant. She also takes an inclusive approach and feels like part of the team.’

She has considerable experience of business disputes particularly those which may have equity aspects (contracts, warranties, tort, agency, fiduciary duties, restitution etc), civil fraud, insolvency, asset tracing, trusts, JVs,  partnership, LLPs, corporate and shareholder and investor disputes in many fields (including commodities, mining and many types of chemical and industrial processes), banking, hedge fund and private equity fund investments, foreign exchange and derivatives. Her work has included: acting for the successful Appellants in Smith and Others v Molyneux [2016] UKPC; acting for Shell Pension Fund in BVI litigation (ending in the Privy Council) brought by the Liquidators of a Madoff feeder, advising the UK arm of a US monoline insurer on its rights in relation to a suite of lending and bonds issued by a state owned utility in a failing Eurozone jurisdiction; litigation on behalf of an investor in Russian assets purchased from a Dutch bank alleged to be part of the insolvent estate of Mr Ablyazov; acting for an Italian commune claiming to have been mis-sold derivatives by international banks;  the first reported case on the duties of partners in a LLP; disputes concerning trading in metals and the ownership of residues, and their quality, from the smelting of copper ores;  litigation by a group of siblings in relation to the dividend policy of an investment company holding assets for charitable trusts and numerous disputes concerning the conduct of trustees and the construction of trusts and contracts.

She has acted in many well-known disputes including the UK local authority swaps litigation, BCCI, Maxwell and Madoff. She was Leading Counsel advising the Inspectors inquiring into the flotation of Mirror Group Newspapers. In November 2005 she led the team acting for the English Creditors’ Committee of BCCI SA in the private application to the Chancellor which immediately preceded the discontinuance of the Liquidators’ litigation against the Bank of England.

She has appeared in all the divisions and levels of the UK courts, and is a member of the BVI bar. She has appeared in the courts of the Cayman Islands on several occasions.

Catherine has appeared as an advocate in several arbitrations, including those governed by ICC and LCIA rules, and is currently appointed as an ICC co-arbitrator in a Latin American dispute.

Catherine also takes appropriate pro bono work and is a Trustee of a major development charity.

She graduated from University College London with First Class Honours in Law, winning the Andrews Medal and Prize for the most outstanding performance in the final Law examinations in 1978.  A former scholar of the Middle Temple , she has chaired their Scholarship Fund Appeal.

Catherine is ranked as a Leading Silk in several categories in both the Chambers Directory and the Legal 500.

Terms of Business 

The clerks are happy to discuss the basis on which Catherine will act in any given matter. In the absence of express written agreement otherwise, the terms under which Catherine accepts instructions are The Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services By Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 (as updated from time to time) referred to in the BSB Handbook.

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • COMBAR
  • ACTAPS
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association

Judicial Appointments

  • Deputy High Court Judge (KB & Chancery Divisions)
  • Recorder of the Crown Court (authorised to hear appeals and serious sex cases)
  • Lieutenant-Bailiff of the Royal Court of Guernsey (2001-10th June 2014)

Qualifications

  • LLB Hons (Lond) First Class

Articles

Banking & Financial Services

Civil Fraud & Asset Recovery

Commercial Disputes

Company, Partnership & LLPs

Insolvency & Restructuring

International & Offshore

Private Client

Notable Cases

Catherine's notable cases include: 

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