Legal 500 2026

Leading Silks: 

• Gilead Cooper KC –  ‘Gilead is very cerebral with a strong trusts background. He is a veteran of this market.’

Leading Juniors: 

• Bobby Friedman

Leading silks: 

• Lexa Hilliard KC ‘Very knowledgeable and practical. She gets things done.’  
• Thomas Grant KC ‘A silk who demonstrates exceptional legal analysis.’
• Tim Penny KC ‘Tim is a strong advocate and a good strategist, who leads a team very well.’

Leading Juniors:

• Philippe Kuhn

Leading Silks:

• Jonathan Davey KC ‘Jonathan was strong on reviewing and interpreting the complicated background to the matter and providing advice which was practically useful for the client.’
• Michael Furness KC ‘Michael’s authoritative but approachable style meant that senior management were able to both rely on his advice but also ask important questions and feel that they could discuss key issues with him. He was also unusual in immediately understanding the unique status of this particular charity, its complex governance structure, and what that meant for the practical application of any advice given.’ 

Wilberforce Chambers is very highly regarded for its strength in handling commercial and Chancery matters, and continues to advise on disputes in the insolvency and banking and finance arenas. Contractual litigation is another key area of instruction, as well as cases involving allegations of fraud. Alan Gourgey KC is acting in Bourlakova & Ors v Bourlakov & Ors, an ongoing case concerning the ownership of assets worth nearly £3bn and claims of breaches of fiduciary duty and fraudulent activity. John Wardell KC is ‘a heavyweight at the commercial Bar, a great strategist and a brilliant advocate’. Among the juniors, Emily McKechnie ‘has the gravitas of a silk’ and Bobby Friedman is ‘an astute litigator’.

Leading Silks: 

• John Wardell KC  ‘John is a brilliant mind. One of the top barristers at the Bar at the moment.’
• Alan Gourgey KC
• Thomas Grant KC ‘Thomas is a forceful advocate who is able to present his client’s cases in a way that always resonates well with judges.’
• Terence Mowschenson KC ‘A go-to senior silk for corporate and governance matters.’
• Tim Penny KC ‘Tim is very pragmatic, he always looks for the best way of resolving matters for his clients.’
• Lexa Hilliard KC ‘Lexa is an absolute delight. Creative, supportive and at the top of her game. She is wonderful with even the most difficult client, decisive and thorough in her advice and excellent on her feet. She is a force to be reckoned with and is rightly viewed as one of the best silks in this field.’
• Clare Stanley KC ‘Formidable, no messing, highly intelligent and usable counsel. knows when to be tough and fight and when to take a step back and give pragmatic advice on tactics.’
• James Bailey KC ‘James is super bright and clear with advice. Where other KCs struggle, James can get to the nub of the issue and resolve.’
• Ian Croxford KC
• Fenner Moeran KC ‘Excellent work and great to be in the trenches with.’
• Nikki Singla KC ‘Extremely hard working and very sensible.’
• Max Mallin KC ‘Max is a fantastically sound lead advocate; strategically very strong and unflappable before decision makers.’

Leading Juniors:

• Anna Littler
• Bobby Friedman ‘Bobby has exceptional advocacy skills, presenting clear and compelling arguments in a well structured and persuasive manner.’
• Emily McKechnie ‘Emily is superb. Smart, thorough and very hardworking.’
• Edward Sawyer ‘Edward combines technical excellence with fantastic service and unrivalled intellectual capabilities.’
• James Walmsley ‘James is always one step ahead of his opposition and an excellent senior junior barrister.’
• Sri Carmichael ‘Good team player, clear in writing, persuasive advocate’
• Stephen Brown ‘Stephen has extremely clear vision of legal issues and capacity to summarise complex matters with practical and efficient advice.’
• Daniel Scott ‘Responsive and personable.’
• Tara Taylor ‘Tara has excellent drafting skills. She provides invaluable insights.’
  
• Jack Watson ‘Jack is friendly, responsive and easy to use, clear in his advice and proactive in suggesting steps for case progression and strategy. His drafting is impressive, clear and concise.’
• Jessica Brooke ‘Jessica has excellent technical knowledge which she applies confidently to complex legal issues.’

• Daniel Petrides ‘Daniel is very personable, hard-working and very highly regarded by the seniors with whom he works. A real team player.’

Wilberforce Chambers‘ Lexa Hilliard KC represented the defendant in BHS Group Limited & Ors v Chappell, Henningson and Chandler, a liquidators’ claim against former directors of BHS for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and wrongful trading. Terence Mowschenson KC acted for the respondents in O’Keefe and another v Caner and others, in which joint liquidators of Jersey companies brought claims alleging breach of directors’ duties and misfeasance. Thomas Grant KC handled very high-value s.238 proceedings in the Cayman Grand Court concerning the value of the minority shareholdings in Chinese social media company Weibo, while, turning to the set’s juniors, Sri Carmichael recently acted as sole counsel defending a £50m fraud claim arising out of the liquidation of the Thomas Cook Group.

Leading Silks: 

• Lexa Hilliard KC ‘An experienced and highly respected silk, her advice is robust and commercial, and her courtroom presence is commanding.’
• Terence Mowschenson KC
• Thomas Grant KC
• Marcia Shekerdeminan KC
• Clare Stanley KC
• James Bailey KC ‘Extremely sharp and considered, he is alive to the pitfalls and drafts carefully.’
• Max Mallin KC ‘Max is a fantastically sound lead advocate – strategically very strong and unflappable before decision-makers.’

Leading Juniors: 

• • Sri Carmichael
  • Rachael Earle ‘Rachael is an exceptional barrister, combining profound legal expertise with a keen understanding of the commercial aspects of disputes. She excels in developing effective case strategies.’ 
  • Stephen Brown
  • Daniel Lewis

Leading Juniors: 

• Sri Carmichael

Wilberforce Chambers has ‘good strength in the civil fraud sector with talent across the board’. Alan Gourgey KC, Thomas Grant KC and Jack Watson are appearing for various parties in Bourlakova & Ors v Kazakov & Ors, a $3bn claim arising from allegations of misappropriation of assets. Elsewhere in chambers, Tim Penny KC and Emily McKechnie were instructed by the 39th and 40th defendants in the Al Rajaan litigation. Clare Stanley KC is ‘a market-leading silk in offshore fraud litigation’, with expertise in handling cases involving allegations of unlawful means conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duties and asset tracing. Among the juniors, Tim Matthewson represented the claimant company before the Court of Appeal in Barrowfen Properties Limited v Patel, a £5m claim brought against a former director for dishonest breaches of duty and against the company’s former solicitors for breach of fiduciary duty and negligence.

Leading Silks: 

• Alan Gourgey KC ‘Alan is an all-round formidable leader. He is calm and collected under pressure; he is totally on top of the detail while seeing the wood for the trees; he has excellent judgement and an instinctive feel for how judges will respond; and he is a fierce cross-examiner.’
• Thomas Grant KC ‘Thomas is an exceptional advocate.’
• John Wardell KC ‘He is a great tactician and has a brilliant mind.’
• Tim Penny KC ‘Tim always has a smooth delivery, but he is not afraid of a street fight if comes to it. Clients like him.’
• Clare Stanley KC ‘Clare’s advocacy is measured, disarming and commands the attention of the bench.’
• Tiffany Scott KC ‘A very user-friendly silk.’

Leading Juniors:

• Tim Matthewson ‘Tim’s attention to detail is particularly impressive. He misses nothing. On his feet, he reads the judge adeptly and is strong in responding.’ 
• Anna Littler
• Emily McKechnie ‘Emily is superb. She has the ability to work through complex factual matters and create strong technical arguments.’
• Bobby Friedman ‘He has an astute knowledge of the law which he employs to significant effect, and he takes a practical approach to problems which is attractive to clients and solicitors.’
• Jack Watson ‘A tenacious junior.’
• Sri Carmichael ‘She is a very cogent advocate.’
• James Goodwin ‘James is considered, measured and thorough.’
• Alice Hawker ‘Her advocacy style is very engaging and persuasive: she has an excellent ability to read the court and tailor her approach accordingly.’
• Jamie Holmes ‘He is an indefatigable junior.’
• Jia Wei Lee ‘He combines a superb intellect with a modern hands on approach and is innovative in his thinking.’

Rising stars: 

• Ram Lakshman ‘Ram’s analytical skills are deeply impressive, his paperwork is outstanding and his advocacy is superb. A superstar in the making.’

Leading Silks:

• Stuart Isaacs KC
• John Wardell KC ‘John is a brilliant mind. One of the top barristers at the bar at the moment.’

Offering a ‘second to none’ service, Wilberforce Chambers has strength across the spectrum of corporate and personal insolvency litigation. Members of chambers act on office holder claims, directors’ disqualifications and disputes under EU regulation and the cross-border insolvency regulations. Lexa Hilliard KC supports the joint liquidators in an application for directions following the collapse of three companies which facilitate peer-to-peer lending for car purchases. Clare Stanley KC is acting in Mitchell v Al Jaber, a misfeasance claim now going to the Supreme Court which examines the scope of a director’s fiduciary duties over a company’s assets post-liquidation. Jessica Brooke acts in Re Odyssey BBHP and Re Explorer BBHP, which concern the seizure of two luxury cruise ships seized following the collapse of the vessels’ charterer. Thomas Robinson KC became a King’s Counsel in March 2025.

Leading Silks: 

• Lexa Hilliard KC ‘Lexa is a strong and persuasive advocate and is very impressive in formulating legal argument.’
• Clare Stanley KC ‘Her clarity of thought, commercial acumen, and persuasive advocacy are highly valued.’
• James Bailey KC ‘James is super bright and clear with advice. Where other KCs struggle, James can get to the nub of the issue and resolve it.’
• Marcia Shekerdemian KC
• Terence Mowschenson KC

2025 Silks:

• Thomas Robinson KC ‘Unflappable and one of the best around. User-friendly and gets to the core of the issue quickly. Clients trust his advice and judgement.’

Leading Juniors: 

• Graeme Halkerston
• Jessica Brooke
• Sri Carmichael ‘She is masterful at condensing complex matters into understandable chunks.’
• Daniel Lewis ‘His written work is excellent, and he turns things around very quickly.’
• Rachael Earle ‘Rachael is very thorough and always well prepared. She is able to read a judge very well and to adjust her advocacy accordingly.’
• Jack Watson
• Jamie Holmes
• Bobby Friedman
• Tim Matthewson 

Rising star:

• Daniel Petrides ‘Knowledgable, enthusiastic and bright.’

Wilberforce Chambers is a go-to name for many City firms and beyond in occupational pensions work, dealing with some of the largest and highest-value pensions cases. Notable cases include four of the set’s barristers (Brian Green KC, Michael Tennet KC, Joseph Steadman) working on the widely publicised BBC pension scheme case – BBC v BBC Pensions Trustee – concerning the ability to modify the broadcasting service’s pension scheme. The set also includes Michael Tennet KC and Fenner Moeran KC appearing in Brass Trustees Ltd v Goldstone, the leading case on how pension scheme trustees should take the Pension Protection Fund into account when determining how to act – a case that has now re-emerged after the company failed to uphold its compromise, and on which Moeran is representing Brass Trustees Ltd in new insolvency proceedings.

Leading Silks: 

• Paul Newman KC ‘Pragmatic, focussed, commercial – he cuts to the point.’
• Michael Tennet KC ‘He is good at leading juniors and is a superior strategist. He is no nonsense in his advocacy and reactive to questions from the Judges.’
• Michael Furness KC ‘Michael is incredibly thorough and reliable. His opinions are models of clarity.’
• Brian Green KC ‘Brian is a combination of teacher and showman. He is incredibly good and persuasive at explaining to different audiences in the right way for the audience – be they clients, judges, or juniors – what the issue is and why it should be analysed in the way he is proposing.’ 
• Jonathan Hilliard KC ‘Jonathan is a class act with excellent client manner, and is a very thorough preparer. He also has very good judgement.’
• Fenner Moeran KC ‘Good advocacy and strong technical knowledge.’
• Andrew Mold KC

2025 Silks:

• Thomas Robinson KC ‘He is an expert in the overlap between pensions and insolvency. Very personable and efficient, and doesn’t make anything seem difficult.’

Leading Juniors:

• Edward Sawyer ‘With enormous experience of all matters related to pensions, Edward combines technical excellence with fantastic service and unrivalled intellectual capabilities. This makes him an absolute go-to as the premier senior junior at the pensions Bar.’
• James McCreath ‘James is an excellent advocate, with a considered, measured approach which helps lead the judge through the relevant points. He is clear and concise, and able to adapt quickly on his feet to the questions raised by the judge.’
• Jennifer Seaman ‘Jenny is great to work with – decisive and pragmatic and knows the law well. She provides clear advice on complex issues and is persuasive in her arguments.’
• Sebastian Allen ‘Sebastian is really personable, makes the law fun, and never seems deterred or concerned by any obstacle.’
• Jonathan Chew ‘Friendly, sharp, works well in a team, and focuses on the key issues.’
• James Walmsley ‘James is able to take in a huge amount of information and get to the heart of an issue, he has an eye for detail and can foresee potential areas of weakness in order to deal with them at an early stage.’
• Michael Ashdown
• Joseph Steadman  ‘Joe is fantastic to work with – he’s down to earth, responsive and authoritative, and understands exactly what the underlying client is looking for in his advice. The end product is both high quality and accessible.’

‘An excellent set from front to back’, Wilberforce Chambers appears at all levels of the judicial system, representing clients in leading trust, probate and taxation cases. Brian Green KC currently advises Sheikh Mohammad, the ruler of Dubai, on the English law aspects of his divorce to Princess Haya of Jordan. Clare Stanley KC acted for the Appellant in the Supreme Court case, LA Micro Group (UK) v LA Micro Group Inc, which established that s. 53(1)(c) of the Law of Property Act applied to personal property. In Crescent Gas Corporation v National Iranian Oil Company, Gilead Cooper KC advised on the potential appeal of a claim concerning the beneficial ownership of a commercial property in London. Zoë Barton KC advised the wife of Sheikh in Greig Mitchell & Keneth Krys v Al Jaber, a claim establishing a beneficial interest in a home in London. Nikki Singla KC led in the complex Pavilion v RadcliffesLeBresseur, in which the claimants allege – among other issues – that the private client firm of solicitors acted in breach of its retainer in failing to retire the claimants from three family settlements.

Leading Silks: 

• Gilead Cooper KC ‘Gilead has a gravitas which instils confidence in clients and solicitors alike. He is known for his deft advocacy skills and his first rate critical analysis.’
• Michael Furness KC
• Brian Green KC ‘Brian’s advice is of the highest quality. He can be relied on to find a solution to the seemingly intractable.’
• Robert Ham KC
• Jonathan Hilliard KC
• Clare Stanley KC ‘Clare possesses a wealth of knowledge and is clearly highly experienced and sought after within her area of expertise.’
• Jonathan Davey KC ‘Jonathan is very thorough and user friendly. He gets to the nub of the issue extremely quickly.’
• Andrew Mold KC ‘Andrew is extremely bright and detail orientated, but has a fantastic ability to break down difficult and intricate matters and focus on the key issues.’
• Fenner Moeran KC  ‘Excellent work and great to be in the trenches with.’
• Tiffany Scott KC
• Nikki Singla KC
• Zoë Barton KC 

Leading Juniors:

• Michael Ashdown ‘He is very thorough and meticulous on the detail which is essential for all trust variation work.’
• Simon Atkinson ‘Simon has a mastery of Chancery Division commercial disputes that include contentious probate issues.’
• James Goodwin ‘Absolutely brilliant written work done under extreme time pressure.’
• Elizabeth Houghton
• Tom Roscoe ‘Tom is measured, erudite and very bright. His drafting is impeccable, and he represents the client’s interests well before the court at a hearing.’
• Edward Sawyer ‘Very details focused, clear and concise.’
• Joseph Steadman ‘Joe’s comprehensive knowledge of the law and attention to detail makes him great to work with.’

Wilberforce Chambers is well-regarded for its expertise in contracts, tax, corporate structures, pension regulations and related professional negligence claims. The set is also experienced in cases within the financial services, construction and insurance sectors. Tiffany Scott KC  successfully defended a barrister who was subjected to a High Court claim for allegedly negligent advice in relation to planning enforcement notices, while Jonathan Seitler KC  has a track record of handling work concerning valuers and solicitors’ negligence.

Leading Silks: 

• Jonathan Seitler KC ‘Jonathan has strong legal knowledge, excellent advocacy skills, strong market knowledge and great client handling skills.’
• John Wardell KC ‘John’s depth of knowledge is rivalled only by his strategic acumen and breadth of contacts, and trailed very closely by his excellent written and oral advocacy.’
• Clare Stanley KC ‘Clare is masterful at cross-examination of well-prepared and hostile witnesses, and at adapting on her feet as the case requires.’
• Ian Croxford KC
• Michael Furness KC ‘He has a wealth of expertise on various matters: pensions, tax, trusts, company etc. Creative on defences and a measured, compelling advocate to whom judges listen with respect.’
• Thomas Grant KC
• Paul Newman KC ‘With unrivalled enthusiasm and hard work, and a sharp focus on professional negligence in the pensions world, Paul provides robust advice taking account of the bigger picture and commercial sensitivities.’
• Tiffany Scott KC ‘Tiffany’s style is compelling – bringing clarity of reasoning, deep consideration, a calm and engaging manner which is a winning combination.’
• Zoë Barton KC
• Lexa Hilliard KC

Leading Juniors: 

• Benjamin Faulkner
• Edward Sawyer
• James Walmsley

‘A premier property set’, Wilberforce Chambers is home to a team with extensive expertise in a wide range of property matters. Joanne Wicks KC represented the bank in Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank plc, an appeal before the Supreme Court, involving clarification about the circumstances in which a bank is “put on inquiry” concerning whether a mortgage has been procured by undue influence in relation to joint lending. In a separate matter, multiple members of the set, including Wicks KC, Emer Murphy, Jonathan Seitler KC and Benjamin Faulkner, are appearing in the High Court in 38 Curzon Lease (Fantasio) v Curzon Cinemas and Curzon Restaurant & Bar, a high-profile dispute concerning the proposed closure of the Curzon Cinema in Mayfair. Mark Galtrey joined the set in March 2025.

Leading Silks: 

• • Jonathan Seitler KC ‘His ability to spin a golden thread out of whatever instruction comes his way makes him highly sought after.’
  • John McGhee KC ‘An outstanding trial advocate with an insatiable work appetite and a fearsome cross examiner.’
  • Joanne Wicks KC ‘Joanne is simply a master of her craft. Her written advice and submissions are thorough, measured and authoritative. Her advocacy is masterful.’
  • Martin Hutchings KC ‘Martin is a first rate property barrister who has an unrivalled reputation in the fields of dilapidations and the Building Safety Act. His cross examination skills are exceptional.’
  • Jonathan Davey KC
  • Tiffany Scott KC ‘Tiffany’s analytical brain and excellent technical skills make her ideally suited to complex high value, high stakes disputes.’
  • Julian Greenhill KC ‘Julian has a sharp mind. He invariably finds an angle neither clients nor instructing solicitors have previously considered.’
  • Zoë Barton KC
  • Thomas Grant KC

Leading Juniors: 

• • Emer Murphy  ‘Emer is creative, thorough and highly analytical. Her advocacy is succinct and charming.’
  • James McCreath ‘James is technically superb – very bright and organised. He is also commercially minded and has an excellent manner with clients.’
  • Benjamin Faulkner ‘He provides extremely clear and pragmatic advice. Also thinks outside the box to try to find solutions.’
  • Harriet Holmes ‘She is a steely advocate, who has an exceptional ability to read a court.’
  • Jonathan Chew ‘Jonathan is formidable. He thinks laterally and creatively and finds solutions to the most complex of problems.’
  • Alice Hawker ‘Her advocacy is persuasive and she has an excellent ability to read the court and tailor her approach accordingly.’
  • Simon Atkinson
  • Mark Galtrey
  • Tom Roscoe ‘Tom is both excellent on his feet and wonderful with clients.’
  • Joseph Steadman ‘He is impressive, meticulous and extremely detailed.’
  • Daniel Petrides ‘He has an outstanding intellect.’

Leading Silks: 

• Jonathan Davey KC ‘Jonathan is a brilliant advocate. He is clear, logical, and compelling in both his written and oral submissions. He is also a pleasure to work with; he is very responsive and is pragmatic and commercial in his advice.’

Wilberforce Chambers acts on matters relating to inheritance tax and trusts issues. Jonathan Davey KC provides ‘excellent team leadership’, frequently acting on behalf of HMRC in complex and often novel disputes, such as Elborne v HM Revenue and Customs, a case on “home loan” structures designed to circumnavigate inheritance tax. As head of chambers, Brian Green KC assists individuals on issues of domicile and various trusts issues.

Leading Silks: 

• Jonathan Davey KC ‘Jonathan’s advocacy is some of the best you’ll ever see. He is utterly charming and extremely hard-working. Clients, judges and even his opponents love him.’ 
• Michael Furness KC
• Brian Green KC ‘Very approachable with rigorous intelligence and a positive approach. Able to analyse and disentangle the most complicated of issues. Absolutely excellent.’