Introduction
Kirsty White is recognised as a leading junior in the legal directories, having been consistently ranked for a number of years and described as having “a strong attention to detail”, “passionate and persuasive on her feet”, “calm and measured in her delivery”, “her approach to litigation strategy is consistent and focused on the client’s goals” and “commercial, pragmatic and able to get into the detail of a matter quickly”. Further she has been described as “approachable”, “easy to form connections with” and “easy to communicate with and enjoys discussing various angles of a matter”.
She is a member of the Business and Property group, specialising in commercial litigation, insolvency and company matters. Kirsty regularly appears in trials in the High Court, and on appeals to the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Kirsty also has experience in arbitration proceedings.
Recent experience has seen Kirsty succeed in a multi-day trial against a director for misfeasance, obtaining an interim injunction against a senior employee for breach of contract and to enforce restrictive covenants, advising and drafting in several unfair prejudice petitions and claims for breach of directors’ duties, as well as advising, drafting and appearing in several insolvency applications.
Kirsty has extensive experience in high value claims with an international element. She was led by Ed Pepperall KC (now the Rt Hon. Mr Justice Pepperall) defending a complex $76 million breach of warranty claim for a US client in a 5 week trial in the TCC. She has also been led by James Morgan KC in a multi-million pound fraud matter, in which their client obtained a worldwide freezing order and passport delivery up order against an Afghan national.
Kirsty is a confident advocate, who is commercially minded and approachable. She welcomes early involvement in order to formulate a commercial, pragmatic and realistic approach to litigation.
Commercial and Chancery Litigation
Kirsty has a busy and wide-ranging commercial practice. She acts for individuals and corporate clients in matters relating, but not limited to, share purchase agreements, warranty claims and matters concerning the operation, termination and interpretation of contracts. Kirsty also has experience of matters involving allegations of fraud.
Kirsty has experience of obtaining urgent interim relief including freezing injunctions and delivery up orders.
Recent work and reported cases:
- Primus v Triumph [2020] EWCA Civ 1228: appearing for the appellant in a case in which the Court of Appeal considered the legal meaning of “goodwill” in a share purchase agreement (Led by James Morgan KC)
- Triumph v Primus [2019] EWHC 2216 (TCC), [2019] Costs LR 1571: acting for an international company in relation to an assessment of damages and costs issues in a multi-million-dollar share warranty dispute arising out of a business sale. (Led by James Morgan KC).
- Acting for an international security firm in relation to misappropriation of circa $10 million of company funds by one of the directors. Successfully assisted the client in obtaining a worldwide freezing injunction and passport order against the director (Led by James Morgan KC)
- Acting for an individual in relation to the interpretation of contractual terms in a three-day multi-track trial
- Successfully representing a company in the recovery of sums fraudulently taken from by the bookkeeper
- Led by Avtar Khangure KC in a multi-million pound breach of contract claim arising from the sale of a residential complex.
- Drafting and advisory work in relation to contractual terms and breach of contract arising out of the supply of goods and services
- Regular instructions from a car manufacturer in relation to consumer disputes
Company & Partnership
Kirsty has a busy company and partnership law practice, both as sole counsel and as junior counsel.
Kirsty regularly advises in relation to all aspects of shareholder disputes including section 994 claims (including the drafting of section 994 petitions), derivative claims and just and equitable winding up petitions. This work is invaluable to her insolvency and director’s disqualification work.
Recent work includes:
- Acting for a minority shareholder in relation to a s994 claim that settled at mediation shortly before trial.
- Led by Avtar Khangure KC in a multi-million pound shareholder dispute arising from a technical manufacturing company.
- Acting for a minority shareholder in an unfair prejudice petition, with the added complexity that the company had been struck off the register shortly before trial
- Drafting multiple unfair prejudice petitions
- Multiple applications to restore companies to the register
- Acting for an individual in a successful application to have a fraudulent company removed from the register which had been set up using his personal details
Insolvency
Kirsty’s insolvency work has a particular focus on director’s duties and misfeasance claims, which compliments her company law practice.
Recent work includes:
- Successfully representing the petitioner in an application opposing a winding up petition arising from an adjudication award
- Successfully representing a liquidator in a misfeasance claim, leading to a substantial contribution from the sole director
- Successfully acting for a petitioner in opposing an injunction to prevent the presentation of a winding up petition and in doing so persuading the court that the company had not obtained the low threshold of demonstrating the debt was disputed on substantial grounds
- Successfully acting for the petitioner in an application to prevent the advertising of a winding up petition
- Successfully acting for a company to prevent the advertising of a winding up petition in circumstances where an assessment of contractual interpretation was required
- Advising a company in administration in respect of injunctive proceedings arising from the former director’s attempts to sabotage the purpose of the administration
- Drafting section 212 Insolvency Act 1986 misfeasance claims against the directors of a company in relation to their director’s loan accounts
- Drafting and advising on various applications under the Insolvency Act 1986
- Winding up petitions (including contested petitions)
- Bankruptcy petitions (including contested petitions)
Restraint of Trade and Confidentiality
Recent cases:
- Representing an employee accused of retaining confidential information following his departure from a personal alarm company in injunctive proceedings
- Advising a leading lighting company in respect of confidentiality and restrictive covenants after the departure of a key employee
- Representing an employee in injunctive proceedings following his departure from a motor car engine designer
Education
LLB (Hons) – University of Reading
Bar Professional Training Course – College of Law
Testimonials
“She is also commercial, pragmatic and able to get into the detail of a matter quickly.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Kirsty is approachable and responsive.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Kirsty is a bright and astute lawyer.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Kirsty is calm and measured in her delivery and sharp in her advice. Her approach to litigation strategy is consistent and focused on the client’s goals. Kirsty is easy to communicate with and enjoys discussing the different angles of a matter. Her legal knowledge is strong and she a joy to work with.” Legal 500 2025
“Kirsty has a strong attention to detail and is passionate and persuasive on her feet. She is also personable, forming easy connections with clients.” Legal 500 2025
“Kirsty is academically bright and identifies the key issues in a matter quickly. She is also very friendly with clients and communicates well.” Legal 500 2024
“Kirsty is very commercial and has a great way with clients and solicitors” Chambers and Partners 2024
“Kirsty is a very bright and efficient junior” Chambers and Partners 2024
“Kirsty is very thorough, provides good commercial advice and is very approachable” Chambers and Partners 2024
