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‘a set that fields incredibly committed individuals'

 

 

 

 

 

 Chambers & Partners 2009

Chambers & Partners 2007

Chambers & Partners ranked Wilberforce Chambers as a leading set for:

Individually ranked for:

Set Overview

Those looking for "supreme quality advice" in the field of commercial Chancery turn to the "absolutely first-class" members of Wilberforce Chambers. Practitioners specialise in litigation and the advisory aspects of banking, corporate finance and financing arrangements, civil fraud and asset recovery, contractual disputes and company law. Other areas handled include licensing, insolvency, insurance, contracts, partnership and joint ventures. Members advise across a number of industries and have special expertise in the fields of oil, gas and energy. IP and IT represent burgeoning areas for the set. Recently, barristers from Wilberforce were instructed in the dispute over the format of popular TV shows ‘Pop Idol' and ‘The X Factor'. The set has also established an extremely strong foothold in the pensions market. "Absolutely first class in the area," its members are chosen for their "dazzling intellectual firepower," "strong advocacy," and "unparalleled experience." Instructing solicitors also rhapsodise over "a fine spin-off Charities practice," and place their trust in the set for professional negligence work arising out of tax and trusts matters. Figures of note at the set include head of chambers Christopher Nugee QC, lauded as "the Solomon of the Chancery Bar."

Leading Set: Chancery Commercial

This set, the first name in traditional Chancery, has impressed the market for years with its smooth and efficient commercial bent. Widely acknowledged as "the first call for pensions and trusts work," it also draws accolades for having successfully broadened its commercial horizons.

Leading Silks: Jules Sher QC, Terence Mowschenson QC, Christopher Nugee QC, Ian Croxford QC, John Wardell QC

Leading Juniors: James Ayliffe, Daniel Hochberg

Jules Sher QC is "an absolute Chancery stalwart," according to clients who favoured his "systematic approach and great experience." His recent commercial matters of note include acting in the Lloyd's litigation.  

Terence Mowschenson QC "has phenomenally broad experience" of company, insolvency, trust and tax matters. Said one client: "He can cover so many fields and disputes with aplomb and is a hugely valuable resource."

Christopher Nugee QC is a "calm and authoritative young silk" whose capacity for "broad-thinking and keen judgements" makes him "a potentially great star of the future."

Ian Croxford QC is "an underestimated opponent" whose "smooth advocacy" and "wide knowledge of professional negligence" play very well with instructing solicitors.

Clients meanwhile, felt that John Wardell QC was a "tenacious advocate" and also distinguished him as "one of the better behaved silks - he has a marvellous client manner."

James Ayliffe is "bright and polished" according to peers. Possessed of "a gravitas beyond his years," he has been instructed in both the Equitable Life and the TXU litigation.

Daniel Hochberg drew praise for his mixed commercial and traditional practice. His strengths lie in his "remarkable preparation and knowledge."

Leading Set:  Chancery Traditional

The changing face of traditional Chancery work has kept this "monarch of a set" on its toes, yet clients are confident that recent "canny shifts to reflect changes in the market" will only augment its "peerless position" at the Bar. During the course of researchers' interviews, the usual accolades for trust and pensions matters flowed freely while constant reference was made to both the domestic and international expertise of the set. As one commentator put it "I always, always go to Wilberforce; for Chancery matters they're really out on their own."

Leading Silks: Brian Green QC, Robert Ham QC, Christopher Nugee QC, Jules Sher QC, Edward Nugee QC, Michael Furness QC, John Martin QC

Leading Juniors: Judith Bryant, John Child, Daniel Hochberg, Emily Campbell, Mark Studer, Anthony Taussig, Jonathan Hilliard

"Superb" Brian Green QC amassed much of the admiration. A "smooth but ferocious advocate," clients feel that he is "quite unparalleled at trust drafting - his technical expertise is breathtaking." His practice continues to focus on personal offshore trust and tax matters as well as pensions and commercial tax expertise.

Robert Ham QC is another member with a "terribly impressive court presence." Interviewees referred to his "swift intellectual delivery" and "straightforward unpompous attitude."

Christopher Nugee QC is a "breath of fresh air" who delights clients with his easy shifts between traditional and commercial Chancery. Said one interviewee: "In addition to a broad commercial know-how and experience, he's got a fantastic trusts and tax background, which makes for one of the most well-rounded practitioners at the Bar."

Jules Sher QC enjoys a well-deserved reputation for his astonishing breadth of experience." His traditional Chancery work includes real property and a large complex trust litigation practice.

Head of Chambers Edward Nugee QC is "the Solomon of the Chancery Bar." Decades of long service and participation in leading cases have allowed him to establish a "wide and wonderfully extensive" advisory practice.

He is joined in the tables by Michael Furness QC, an "exceedingly meticulous and very cerebral barrister." His international trust work includes a significant family trust dispute in Jersey, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and he is also currently advising on the China Map tax matter on land trading in Hong Kong.

John Martin QC is also highly regarded for his trust, property and charities work.

Judith Bryant heads up the juniors and won praise for her "steadfast manner and practical approach." She has recently been involved in family trust disputes in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

John Child continues to impress commentators with his "vast knowledge of trust law." His practice, of late, includes acting for significant family trusts, both in the UK and the Bahamas.

According to clients, Daniel Hochberg is "an excellent choice for practical trusts advice," and he has "an intense knowledge of the law and a wonderful ability to apply it to particular circumstances."

Interviewees deemed Emily Campbell to be a "sparkling advocate with a lot of flair." Her work focuses on trusts, estates and pensions law.

Mark Studer, meanwhile, wins plaudits for his broad trusts and tax practice, and is noted for his "incisive, intellectual approach to the difficult points of law." He has a thriving advisory practice that extends to international as well as domestic trusts and pensions.

Anthony Taussig is a "highly respected and hugely experienced trust specialist" and was declared a "first call for complex trusts."

Jonathan Hilliard debuts in the rankings this year following earnest recommendation right across the market. Commentators felt that he is "bright, brilliant, and certainly a star of the future." In addition to involvement in the Equitable Life litigation, he is also currently engaged in a £100 million trust matter in the USA and the Bahamas.

Leading Set:  Charities

Clients were adamant that this traditional chancery powerhouse offered "a fine spin-off charities practice."

Leading Silks: Edward Nugee QC and Michael Furness QC

Central to its success is Edward Nugee QC, the "dozen of trusts and charities" who, in addition to "excellence and experience," offers "a keen personal interest in the field."

Michael Furness QC joins the tables following strong recommendation as a former Treasury junior for charities matters. He currently maintains an extensive advisory practice relating to national and international charity work.

Commercial Litigation

Leading Silks: Ian Croxford QC, Terence Mowschenson QC, John Wardell QC

At Wilberforce Chambers, Ian Croxford QC warrants praise for his alchemic combination of intelligence, dedication and "imposing courtroom presence." Instructing Solicitors greatly admire the standard of his cross-examination.

Terence Mowschenson QC is at home in both chancery and commercial settings, boasting extensive experience of financial and commercial matters. He is particularly knowledgeable on banking law, corporate finance, civil fraud and asset recovery.

Unlimited by narrow specialisations, John Wardell QC's capability extends to encompass commercial fraud litigation and arbitrations. In recent times, this has been for clients drawn from the oil and gas sector.

Company

Leading Silks:  Terence Mowschenson QC

Terence Mowschenson QC maintains his position as a prominent litigator in this field.

Fraud: Civil

Leading Silks: Ian Croxford QC

Ian Croxford QC of Wilberforce Chambers is "commercial and always well prepared for the case." He has recently been instructed in a number of complex mortgage fraud cases.

Leading Set: Intellectual Property

IP is a new venture for a set that has broadened its practice. Having started off doing defamation and then trade secrets arbitration.

Leading Silks: Michael Bloch QC

Leading Juniors: Anna Carboni, Alan Bryson

Michael Bloch QC is able to tackle trade mark and copyright work from a different perspective to most. He has been involved in high-profile cases such as acting for 19 in the Pop Idol case and is respected by clients for being "extremely user-friendly and a pleasure to deal with."

Assisting him and establishing herself at the same time, Anna Carboni is "easy to work with and well organised." A former head of the IP department when a solicitor at Linklaters, she is widely respected,

As is Alan Bryson. Bryson, himself a former solicitor at Clifford Chance, "can be trusted to produce a polished piece of work." Examples of his work include representing Mars in the Mars v. Nestle case and advising Citizen Watches against Burberry.

Leading Set: Pensions

"A very slick operation." Wilberforce Chambers is "absolutely first class in this area."

Leading Silks: Brian Green QC, Christopher Nugee QC, Robert Ham QC, Michael Furness QC, Edward Nugee QC, Jules Sher QC, Michael Tennet QC

Leading Juniors: Paul Newman, Jonathan Evans, Caroline Furze, Emily Campbell

Brian Green QC is a "real bruiser in the courtroom" who "very much shoots his cuffs and gets down to business." He is valued as "a street-fighter" whose "fluent advocacy" packs a punch. Solicitors value the fact that he is "fantastically user-friendly" and has an "unrivalled bedside manner." A lawyer who displays "five-star tenacity," Green is absolutely pre-eminent in the field.

Christopher Nugee QC is, similarly, "outstanding" and "instantly wins client confidence with his dazzling intellectual firepower and perfect comprehension of the client's position."

"Technically sound", Robert Ham QC and Michael Furness QC are respected for providing clients with "clear, positive advice." Ham "wears his intelligence lightly", yet he has clear "intellectual power". His "quiet manner belies a firm analytical intellect." Furness is respected both by barristers, who see him as a "good submissions advocate", and by clients, who appreciate the fact that "he does what's needed every time." He is "excellent at getting to grips with technicalities, but can also see the bigger picture and can give a swift and robust opinion on a matter."

Head of Chambers Edward Nugee QC brings a wealth of pensions experience to the table, while Jules Sher QC also possesses "tons of experience". As a pair, they add considerable weight to the set's standing in the field.

They have now been joined in silk by Michael Tennet QC. He is considered "one of the best pensions lawyers," as he consistently "gives honest, reliable opinions." A true all-rounder, Tennet "is a strong advocate who is able in his advice too."

Paul Newman is considered by many "to be one of the very best juniors at the chancery Bar." He has a "very quick, can-do, commercial attitude" and "exudes aggression, a fact his clients like."

Jonathan Evans was led in Capital Cranfield and has a reputation for possessing a "poise and self-confidence beyond his years."

Caroline Furze is "meticulous" and rated very highly for her technical analysis.

She is joined by Emily Campbell, who by all accounts "made a significant difference on the KPMG case" and receives great praise from those who instruct her.

Leading Set: Professional Negligence

This well-run Chancery set is recognised for its property and pensions expertise. Professional negligence work arising out of tax and trusts matters represents its particular strength and insurer clients find it to be particularly reasonable on fees.

Leading Silks: Jonathan Seitler QC, Ian Croxford QC, Christopher Nugee QC, John Wardell QC

Leading Juniors: Thomas Lowe, Paul Newman

Leading the way here is Jonathan Seitler QC, a "thorough" silk known for his capabilities in the property sector. He is regularly in demand.

As is the "high quality and assured" Ian Croxford QC. Croxford is best known for his property-related professional negligence practice but is a "good all-rounder generally."

Interviewees averred that "one couldn't do better than Christopher Nugee QC on a Court of Appeal or House of Lords matter." He is recognised as having a "substantial intellect and very much the stomach for the fight."

John Wardell QC also "likes to mix it up a bit." This "real fighter" impresses clients with his hands-on approach and willingness to take on a case without a junior.

Speaking of juniors, Thomas Lowe and Paul Newman continue to win respect in the market of the broad-ranging professional negligence practices.

Leading Set: Real Estate Litigation

A principal actor on the chancery stage, this leading set figures prominently due to its comprehensive property litigation expertise and "good spread of talent." Landlord and tenant litigation predominates and the set has experts in rent reviews, dilapidations and business tenancy renewals."

Leading Silks: Michael Barnes QC, Jonathan Seitler QC, Christopher Nugee QC, John Furber QC, John Wardell QC, Jonathan Karas QC

Leading Juniors: Jonathan Evans, Gabriel Fadipe, Martin Hutchings

One of the biggest names at the property Bar is the "massively industrious and scarily intelligent" Michael Barnes QC, who is "very eloquent and sharp on his feet."

An equally "impressive courtroom advocate" is Jonathan Seitler QC, whose "extreme cleverness and creativity" were underlined by friends and foes alike. Interviewees admire him for his approachability.

As they do Christopher Nugee QC, an "extremely effective silk, who is never fazed under pressure."

There is no standing ceremony for John Furber QC, a barrister with a "soothing manner in court" whose relaxing style wins him many backers. He is a popular port of call for solicitors, as is "strong advocate and effective silk" John Wardell QC.

Joining them in silk this year is "young, bright rising star" Jonathan Karas QC who was recently instructed on behalf of DEFRA in the House of Lords. In March 2006, he appeared as lead counsel in a highly topical case involving the registration of town and village greens.

There was market praise for the "very bright and equally user-friendly" Jonathan Evans, who enjoys a general chancery practice on top of his property litigation work. Market sources admired the "relaxed, confident and approachable style" of Gabriel Fadipe, whilst Martin Hutchings, who joined from 199 Strand in March 2006, earned many compliments. His "distinct lack of arrogance and his understandable opinions" help clients get to grips with their legal dilemmas.

Sport

Leading Silks:  David Phillips QC

At Wilberforce Chambers, David Phillips QC is praised for his football work.

Tax: Inland Revenue

Leading Silks:  Michael Furness QC

Michael Furness QC at Wilberforce Chambers practises in trusts, tax and professional negligence.  He acts for the HMRC on related tax cases and has appeared frequently in the House of Lords.  His pensions expertise is a notable asset and clients like his "thoroughness and sheer pleasantness."

Travel

 Leading Silks: John Wardell QC

"A brilliant advocate who always offers sound commercial advice," John Wardell QC of Wilberforce Chambers acts for tour operators in cases brought by claimants alleging liability for accidents and injuries incurred abroad.