Individuals
At AP Berkeley, instructions from individuals on a Direct Access basis are a common practice among our barristers. Whether your legal dispute or issue pertains to property, business, finances, family matters, immigration, or criminal law, our chambers have barristers capable of providing assistance.
Most of our barristers at AP Berkeley are open to receiving instructions directly from individuals. We encourage you to explore our members by selecting the expertise area most relevant to your dispute or issue. While reviewing barristers within your chosen area, please verify if they accept instructions under the Direct Access Scheme. If you have any uncertainties, feel free to contact our clerks, who can provide guidance on whether your selected barrister accepts Direct Access instructions.
Most of our barristers at AP Berkeley are open to receiving instructions directly from individuals. We encourage you to explore our members by selecting the expertise area most relevant to your dispute or issue. While reviewing barristers within your chosen area, please verify if they accept instructions under the Direct Access Scheme. If you have any uncertainties, feel free to contact our clerks, who can provide guidance on whether your selected barrister accepts Direct Access instructions.
Winding Up Petitions
If you are owed £750 or more by a company and are able to prove that the company cannot pay you, you may be able to apply to a court to close or ‘wind-up’ the company. Our barristers can advise you on the process of issuing a winding-up petition and represent you at the court hearing. If you are company which has had a winding-up petition issued against you, our barristers can also advise you on the process of defending it and represent you at the court hearing.
Fees
We may charge fixed fees, which means that we will charge you a set amount of money for the work. Below we provide estimates based on the ranges of fixed fees for barristers in 33 Bedford Row Chambers. All fees include VAT (where applicable).
If we charge fixed fees, these may be towards the higher end of the range if you need a more experienced barrister and/or the matter is more complex. If the matter is particularly complex, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below. There are also likely to be additional costs for reasonable travel (travel may include, depending on the location of the hearing, overnight hotel stay). If you are issuing a winding-up petition, you should also note that even if the company is wound up, you might not get all or any of the money you are owed.
‘VC’ means ‘video conference’
Stage of caseRanges of fixed fees (estimates)
Advice on issuing or defending winding-up petition
[Instructions within 2 days; VC within 4 days]
£300 to £2,400Assistance with completion of forms and all necessary steps to take
[Instructions within 2 days; VC within 4 days and drafting within 8 days]
£300 to £2,400Preparation for and attendance at court hearing
[Instructions at least 1 day before the hearing]
£300 to £1800
[Instructions within 2 days; VC within 4 days]
£300 to £2,400Assistance with completion of forms and all necessary steps to take
[Instructions within 2 days; VC within 4 days and drafting within 8 days]
£300 to £2,400Preparation for and attendance at court hearing
[Instructions at least 1 day before the hearing]
£300 to £1800
Timescales
The timescales (in square brackets) above may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the need for additional documents and court waiting times. Further, as a guide the courts tend to list a hearing date eight to ten weeks after a winding-up petition is issued.