60 Seconds with Alice Whyte

Q. What do you like most about your job?

I really enjoy being on my feet and am fortunate that my practice has me in court frequently. Fraud and insolvency in particular encompass a wide range of hearings so the variety keeps every day interesting.

Q. What motivated you to pursue this specialisation?

As a former accountant and unashamed number-nerd, fraud and insolvency were always going to be a natural fit when I changed career. They offer a really nice intersection of law with finance, and I enjoy the commercial context of the fraud and insolvency work that I see.

Q. What is the most rewarding thing about your work?

I’m sure all barristers are competitive people and like to be proved right. It is particularly gratifying to advise a client to take a particular course of action, for example a strike out application, and then to see it succeed in court.

Q. Do you have any career aspirations, and have you achieved any of them so far?

Moving to the Bar was itself my main career aspiration. Beyond that, I also wanted to take on pro bono work as my chambers has a fantastic pro bono track record. I managed to find one that matched my practice areas last year when I took on a cryptocurrency fraud case pro bono, which was incredibly interesting.

Q. What do you see as being the biggest trends of 2023 in your practice area?

I expect to see a surge in directors duties’ claims following BTI v Sequana. Not only are claims against directors likely to be fertile ground following the surge of insolvencies since the pandemic, there were undoubtedly claimants who held off bringing claims until they could digest the judgment from the Supreme Court. Despite the Supreme Court guidance, the content of the creditors’ interest duty is still somewhat nebulous and I expect we will see a wave of first instance decisions testing how it might manifest in the innumerable scenarios in which it could arise.

Q. What has been your most memorable experience during your career so far?

I’m sure no junior barrister forgets their first week on their feet in a hurry. Mine felt particularly momentous at the time as my first week on my feet included my first hearing in the High Court.

Q. How do you deal with stress in your work life?

I have to confess to having a sweet tooth and usually take out my stress out on Percy Pigs. 9/10 dentists would not recommend.

Q. What is your ideal holiday?

Somewhere cold and remote with nice walks and a cosy pub.

Q. What was the last book you read?

I started reading an Agatha Christie novel (Lord Edgeware Dies – that’s the title, not a spoiler) at a cottage over Christmas. I ended up speedreading the final few chapters to find out whodunnit before check-out.

Q. What cause are you passionate about?

I am sponsoring a guide dog called Kevin through guide-dog training school and love getting monthly ‘pupdates’ on his progress.

Q. Do you have a New Year’s Resolution, and if so, how do you plan to keep it?

I plan to do what I do every year – I will start the Couch to 5K running program and make it to around week 5 before deciding running is not for me.

Q. What are you looking forward to in 2023?

Week 5 of Couch to 5K.

Interview with Alice Whyte – first published by TL4 FIRE Magazine