Introduction
Natalie Kearney is a commercial and insolvency barrister recognised in the legal directories for her technical skill, preparation and advocacy. She is described as “technically gifted, very well-prepared and approachable”, “an excellent, tenacious and convincing advocate who thinks on her feet”, “a good lawyer to have on your side”, an “extremely thorough and a hard-working advocate who is personable and easy to deal with”, and “a star in the making” who is “intelligent, proactive and thinks outside the box”.
A member of Chambers’ Business and Property Group, Natalie specialises in insolvency, commercial litigation and company disputes. She appears regularly in trials in both the High Court and the County Court and is known for her clear, incisive advocacy and steady, client-focused approach.
Her recent work includes acting (led by Avtar Khangure KC and subsequently Mohammed Zaman KC) in high-value proceedings concerning alleged repudiatory breach of a settlement agreement and related disputes over the separation of family-owned business assets. She was also led by Ali Tabari in Lime & Black BPS Limited (in Liquidation) v Gill [2024] EWHC 1898 (Ch), a multi-million pound VAT fraud trial involving allegations of de facto directorship, breach of duty, dishonest assistance and conspiracy.
Natalie has successfully defended applications to rescind winding up orders involving the Barrell jurisdiction and frequently advises on and drafts claims for breach of directors’ duties, preferences, transactions at an undervalue and a wide range of insolvency applications.
Her background working in a solicitor’s firm before coming the to Bar gives her a grounded, collaborative style that solicitors value.
She is an accredited civil and commercial mediator through the Society of Mediators and brings those skills to her work as an advocate in mediations, helping parties navigate difficult conversations with clarity and realism.
Natalie sits on Chambers’ Pupillage Committee, has written for established practitioner resources and regularly delivers seminars, including for R3 and MBL. She is also a member of the Birmingham Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee.
Insolvency
Natalie is ranked in the legal directories as a leading junior in insolvency, recognised for her technical precision, commercial judgment and assured advocacy. She is regularly instructed in high-value and complex corporate and personal insolvency matters, both as sole counsel and as part of larger teams.
Her recent work includes acting as junior counsel (led by Ali Tabari) in Lime & Black BPS Ltd (in Liquidation) v Gill [2024] EWHC 1898 (Ch), a multi‑million‑pound claim brought by a liquidator against a de facto director involving a VAT‑fraud perpetrated on HMRC. She also acts in high‑value corporate disputes concerning directors’ duties, shareholder issues and the separation of business assets.
In corporate insolvency, Natalie is instructed across the full spectrum of contentious work. She is routinely instructed to draft and advise on misfeasance claims, preferences and transactions at an undervalue- often in cases where the evidential picture is incomplete, the directors and uncooperative, or the commercial pressure is acute. She regularly appears in applications to obtain or extend administration orders and has experience across the procedural landscape of administrations and liquidations, including potentially defective administrator appointments and disputes concerning office-holders’ remuneration.
Her personal insolvency practice is equally robust. She appears in contested bankruptcy applications, applications to annul bankruptcies and set aside statutory demands, and advises on recovery strategies involving service out of the jurisdiction. She has acted as junior counsel in applications for injunctive relief over crypto-assets with cross-border elements.
Natalie is an experienced speaker. She delivers seminars for regional R3 events, presents for MBL, and authors practice notes and precedents for LexisNexis, providing practical guidance to insolvency practitioners and solicitors.
Recent work and reported cases:
- Successfully defending an application to rescind a winding-up order, involving the application of the Barrell jurisdiction
- Obtaining an unusual order for a second call on members by an insolvency office-holder
- Successfully obtaining a retrospective administration order in circumstances where a Qualifying Floating Charge Holder had purported to make an out-of-court appointment pursuant to paragraph 14, Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 but where the floating charge may have been invalid pursuant to section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and therefore defective
- Successfully obtaining an order, on behalf of creditors concerned with the way their claim had been investigated, appointing new liquidators for a company where the previous liquidators had vacated office by filing their final account
- Lime & Black BPS Limited (in Liquidation) v Gill [2024] EWHC 1898 (Ch) – junior counsel, led by Ali Tabari, in a trial concerning allegations of de facto directorship, breach of duty, dishonest assistance and conspiracy arising from a multi-million-pound VAT fraud carried out by the company.
- Assisting as second junior in the unfair prejudice and partnership dissolution litigation in relation to Loveridge v Loveridge [2021] EWCA Civ 1697 (and several subsequent related hearings).
- Obtaining an administration order for a company where the application was opposed by its former owner with allegations that a key document was forged.
- Obtaining a further extension of an administration in circumstances where the conclusion of the administration was complicated by a European Commission investigation as well as Competition Appeal Tribunal proceedings into anti-competitive conduct.
- Advising and acting for a trustee in bankruptcy seeking an income payments order involving applications for service out of the jurisdiction across several jurisdictions.
- Advising and acting for the Claimant in a high-value preference/TUV claim involving the transfer of assets out of a company upon a demerger shortly before liquidation
- Obtaining an insolvency administration order pursuant to section 421 of the Insolvency Act in relation to a deceased’s estate
- Obtaining a declaration that a transfer of a residential property was void pursuant to section 284 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and an order that the transfer be set aside and title amended
Commercial
Natalie undertakes a wide range of commercial litigation, acting both as led junior and as sole counsel. Her practice covers complex contractual disputes, conspiracy and economic torts, and claims involving constructive trusts, often arising out of the breakdown of family-owned businesses.
She has recently acted in complex commercial disputes involving allegations of breach of contract, unlawful means conspiracy, and the diversion of company assets.
Natalie also has experience dealing with vexatious litigants and has obtained several Extended Civil Restraint Orders.
Recent work and reported cases:
- Successfully obtaining judgment for a claimant in relation to unpaid invoices
- Acting for a defendant in relation to unpaid invoices and alleged breaches of contract, including a security for costs application
- Acting for a director in relation to an alleged fraudulent credit agreement and related personal guarantee
- Acting on behalf of several claimants in proceedings concerning alleged repudiatory breach of a settlement agreement and related claims arising out of disputed over the separation of family companies’ business assets, led by Avtar Khangure KC and subsequently Mohammed Zaman KC
- Advising, drafting and acting in proceedings to obtain a declaration as to the ownership of shares in a company, including successfully opposing an application for summary judgment and/or strike out.
- Advising and drafting in relation to claims concerning whether an agent was authorised to instruct a contractor to undertake remedial works, including whether there was subsequent ratification
- Acting for a Part 20 defendant in proceedings concerning alleged unauthorised commercial storage charges following a collision involving arguments around agency of necessity
- Patel v Parker [2023] EWHC 1979 (Ch) – acting for the second and third defendants in relation to an application to add them as parties and provided subsequent advice, pleadings, and representation in relation to claims for alleged dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, unlawful means conspiracy, and unjust enrichment.
- Acting for a defendant in a claim for unpaid deferred consideration and breach of warranties involving a share purchase agreement
- Advising and drafting in proceedings relating to assigned causes of action involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, constructive trusts, allegations as to forged Declarations of Trust, and limitation.
Company
Natalie advises and represents shareholders and directors, both as sole counsel and junior counsel, and has acted in a broad spectrum of cases, including unfair prejudice petitions, partnership dissolutions, and voluntary liquidations. Natalie’s extensive insolvency experience involving directors’ duties often comes into play when considering such disputes.
Recent work and reported cases:
- Acting on behalf of several claimants in proceedings concerning alleged repudiatory breach of a settlement agreement and related claims arising out of disputed over the separation of family companies’ business assets, led by Avtar Khangure KC and subsequently Mohammed Zaman KC
- Butt v Butt [2024] EWHC 3222 (Ch) – advised and acted for a shareholder in relation to proceedings to obtain a declaration as to the ownership of shares in a company, including successfully opposing an application for summary judgment and/or strike out. (Trial conducted by Ali Tabari as Natalie was on maternity leave)
- Assisting as second junior in the unfair prejudice and partnership dissolution litigation in relation to Loveridge v Loveridge [2021] EWCA Civ 1697 (and several subsequent related hearings)
- Acting on behalf of several respondents to an unfair prejudice petition concerning a family business and an alleged quasi-partnership
- Advising directors on the lawful removal of directors from companies and quasi-partnerships, including exclusion from management
Banking
Natalie has extensive experience acting for large multinational banks and financial institutions in relation to ‘unfair relationship’ claims arising from payment protection insurance policies, including issues surrounding limitation.
Mediation
Natalie is an accredited civil/commercial mediator through the Society of Mediators.
She welcomes instructions in cases concerning insolvency and commercial litigation, the same areas in which she is recognised by the legal directories.
Education
International Business Law LLM (Distinction) – University of Leeds
Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent) – Nottingham Law School
Law and German LLB (First Class Hons) – Cardiff University
Diploma in the Foundations of German Law – University of Passau, Germany
Awards
Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship and Exhibition Award from The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Liberty Scholarship from the University of Leeds
Appointments and Memberships
Midlands Chancery and Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
R3
Society of Mediators
Member of Birmingham Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee
Testimonials
“She’s bright, very capable on her feet and a brilliant and engaging speaker.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“She is fantastic, always available and always prepared to go the extra mile.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Natalie is a real fighter; she’s very bright, she’s good on her feet – a terrific all-rounder and a star of the future.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Natalie is a good advocate when required but also strong on advice and researching the necessary points.” Legal 500 2026
“Natalie is very bright and a creative thinker. She is very organised and always prepared. Natalie just gets the job done.” Legal 500 2026
“She really is a good lawyer to have on your side.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“She’s very thorough for a junior barrister; I rate her highly.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Natalie is extremely thorough and a hard-working advocate who is personable and easy to deal with.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Natalie is intelligent, proactive and thinks outside the box. Her written advocacy is very good.” Legal 500 2025
“Natalie is diligent and well-prepared giving those instructing her confidence that she has a firm grasp of the case. Her preparedness feeds well into her advocacy, which has a direct quality and is issue-focused.” Legal 500 2025
“Natalie offers clear, robust commercial advice. She is technically gifted, very well-prepared and approachable. She is an excellent, tenacious and convincing advocate who thinks on her feet.” Legal 500 2024
“She is responsive, organised, and the quality of her work is really good – a star in the making.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Natalie is focused on achieving a good outcome for clients, and knowledgeable and detailed in her advice.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Natalie is an excellent junior who is very detailed in her advice. She is a rising star.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Natalie is very diligent and hard-working.” Chambers & Partners 2023
