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Rankings
Chambers & Partners 2026
We are delighted to announce our continued success in the latest edition of Chambers & Partners, highlighting collective strength across our core practice areas and the expertise and experience of members of Chambers and staff. We are recognised as a leading chambers in 13 areas (below), including six top-ranked set rankings. Overall, we have achieved a record 177 barrister rankings, which includes 32 new and improved individual rankings.
Full coverage in the 2026 guide can be found here.
Our expertise
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Art and Cultural Property Law
“Gilead Cooper has great intellect and always looks at questions constructively. He is somebody I really enjoy working with. He is very businesslike and knowledgeable.”
“He is a real brainbox in his area. He is able to argue any side of any argument in a really exceptional way, a bit like a scholar. He thinks on a different intellectual plane to most of us.”
Chancery: Commercial (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is an impressive set noted for its expertise in complex commercial chancery litigation arising in the UK and across several international and offshore jurisdictions. The barristers here are recognised by interviewees for their “first-rate intellect and advocacy” and “ability to spot points that others don’t.” It is also regularly instructed in company, insolvency and civil fraud disputes, and offers considerable strength when undertaking complex commercial litigation involving elements of pensions, trusts and property law. Members are instructed in high-profile matters of the greatest complexity, including Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan, a high-value fraud case arising from alleged bribery of the claimant’s former director general; and Steenbok and another v Formal Holdings and others, widely reported as South Africa’s largest ever private sector accounting fraud scandal, which led to the near-collapse of Steinhoff International Holdings NV. The set was also involved in Mitchell v Al Jaber, a USD3 billion breach of fiduciary duties claim arising out of the liquidation of a company sitting within the MBI group. Nicholas Luckman is the practice director.
Client Service
“The clerks are excellent and highly responsive.”
“If you want to find out when a particular judge might be able to hear something, the clerks are on very close terms, so that’s very valuable.”
“The clerking is very efficient and effective. The clerks are very good at getting us into court at short notice when we’re in difficulties.”
“Wilberforce’s clerks are excellent, particularly Deputy Practice Director Andrew Barnes”
“The clerking is very efficient and effective. The clerks are very good at getting us into court at short notice when we’re in difficulties.”
Leading silks
“His cross-examination is astonishing. He makes the job look easy.”
“Alan Gourgey is an all-round marvel. Clients love him, as he delivers clear and robust advice, and judges and tribunals eat out of his hand.”
“John is very brave, happy to become part of the team and very good with clients. He’s also not someone to sit on the fence.”
“John is calm, relaxed and experienced. He knows the issues in the case straightaway.”
“John stands by his word and fights to the death. He is a robust and eloquent advocate”
“Thomas is an engaging and superb advocate – amongst the highest quality you can get at the Bar.”
“He is an excellent, extremely polished advocate who is really good at firefighting when difficult moments arise in a case.”
“Clare knows the offshore market inside out and is a ferocious cross-examiner. She has a wonderful breadth of experience.”
“Clare is an amazing advocate; judges love her. I go to her when I want to instruct a silk that knows Cayman law backwards and is known to the judges”
“Clare is able to package up complex ideas and present them in a way that is easily understandable for both lawyers and lay clients.”
“Fenner is an impressive advocate. He is highly erudite but also brilliantly down to earth with clients.”
“Fenner has a particular instinct and the ability to guess how the wind will blow. He is immensely helpful to have on your team.”
“Terence is a glorious man who loves speaking to juniors and assisting them.”
“Terence is a well-focused, organised barrister with an encyclopaedic mind.”
“Tim is forensically second-to-none in terms of his propensity for getting into detail on complex fraud cases. He is also such a nice guy and so user-friendly.”
“Tim is a very good advocate and a very considered thinker. He gets involved in cases and is a pleasure to work with.”
“She is so smart, but also approachable and easy to work with. She is simply a delight.”
“Lexa is personable, tenacious and easy to get on with. She is effective and gives very good advice.”
“I’ve never met someone who is so completely tireless in trying to get a result for her client. Lexa is an absolutely ferocious advocate.”
“Nikki will roll up his sleeves and get into the detail. He’s also very good at managing clients.”
“Nikki is a determined-yet-elegant advocate who really provides a Rolls-Royce service.”
“Thomas is extremely bright.”
“Thomas is a very clever barrister, who has so much experience and is so relaxed with it. However much work he has on, he’s calm and has an answer.”
“Tiffany is really good. She is nice, reassuring and someone who gives very clear advice.”
“Tiffany is a versatile, quality barrister who is utterly reliable, incredibly hard-working and never prone to hyperbole. You can rely on her to tell you that you can’t just ignore issues.”
“A thorough and tenacious advocate who is also an excellent negotiator.”
“Marcia is a highly technical expert with a great sense of humour who knows how to diffuse difficult situations.”
“Marcia is a phenomenal advocate who thinks about tactics five or six steps ahead. She takes no rubbish – if she sees it, she will call it out.”
“James is extremely bright and always gets to the root of the problem. Extremely hard-working and personable, he’s a highly effective advocate.”
“James is incredibly commercial and turns around cases quickly. He is very flamboyant in his advocacy and just brilliant.”
“Andrew never lets you down. Clever, practical and commercial, he’s really good on the law and a fine all-rounder.”
“Andrew’s advocacy and sense of judgement impress. He shows impeccable attention to detail and is a pleasure to instruct.”
New silks
“Thomas is very calm and a great man to have in your corner in a crisis. He always gets his points across and is unfazed by the court or his opponent. A true class act.”
“Thomas is very calm, intelligent, easy to work with and measured.”
“Thomas works very well under pressure, is very creative in his advice and is willing to go the extra mile to get a good outcome for the clients.”
Leading juniors
“Graeme is on top of it all. He produces clear skeletons and is a very good advocate in written work and on his feet. I would always recommend him for anything heavy and complicated.”
“Graeme is operating far beyond his years. He is a terrifying cross-examiner who is consistently phenomenal on his feet and very user-friendly.”
“Edward has lots of experience of a wide variety of cases. His written work is good, and he pays particular attention to detail. He will certainly go far.”
“Edward is great at navigating practical challenges and coming up with creative legal solutions that work for clients. “
“Edward gives really clear, concise advice, and is very open to discussing follow-up points and challenges.”
“Emily is very bright and astute but also a real team player. She’s friendly and has a good, inclusive bedside manner even when dealing with very complex matters.”
“Emily is a fantastic senior junior who is all over the detail. She’s always accessible and available to talk through big strategic points.”
“Emily is really good to work with. She’s very thorough in everything she does, and also a very good communicator who is sensitive to ultimate client needs.”
“Anna has incredibly good judgement and thinks things through to the end. A thoughtful barrister, she sees all the traps and is very good on strategy and detail.”
“Anna is precise, conscientious and someone with a keen eye for detail and an ability to cut through complexities.”
“Bobby is a very strong advocate who is clearly respected by judges. He thinks through all of the angles of a case and has very good judgement.”
“Bobby is incredibly confident and well versed in the law. A very popular member of the team, he manages his caseload well and thinks about the strategy and what’s to come next. “
“Emer doesn’t flip flop; once she forms a view, it remains consistent throughout. She also has excellent client-handling skills, especially in time-pressured circumstances.”
“Emer has relentless energy and is never overwhelmed by there being a huge amount to work through. She’s a good advocate who is straightforward and produces really clear, cogent advocacy.”
“Jack is calm, clear, pragmatic and very easy to use. He is very knowledgeable, and you feel like you are in very, very good hands with him.”
“Jack was just brilliant. He just got to grips with the issues so quickly – it was really impressive. A real asset on any case, he just knows his stuff.”
“James is really good at predicting what the court is going to do. The best thing about him is his hands-on practical ability and the fact that he knows how things are going to play out.”
“James is a very intelligent, strategic thinker who comes up with clever ideas nobody else has thought about, seemingly. He makes a difference.”
“Tom is an ideal junior and an expert referral point if you want quick advice that you can rely on.”
“A powerful advocate who was a pleasure to deal with. He was very happy to jump on the phone and go through points with us.”
“Tim is pragmatic, all over the detail and someone who appreciates the commercial drivers behind the client. His oral advocacy is concise and incredibly convincing.
“Tim has precision and is extremely detail-oriented. He really covers all the bases, and is a compelling advocate who got us what we wanted.”
“Tim is an outstanding barrister who always demonstrates a superb grasp of the complex facts of a case. His advocacy in court is thoughtful, measured and well received by judges.”
“Jonathan is the bee’s knees for matters regarding finance and property, and has real intellectual firepower.”
“Jonathan Chew is a good team player who is great to deal with. He’s very calm, good on his feet and someone whose advocacy impresses.”
Joseph Steadman
“Joseph is a sterling counsel with commercial astuteness. His advice is reliably on point.”
“Joseph Steadman is very good. He is straightforward, very astute and nice to deal with.”
Philippe Kuhn
“Philippe is someone who can take on the work of two or three barristers at once. He demonstrates knowledge of the law well beyond his years and is great at discerning the best strategy. “
“Philippe Kuhn possesses depth of expertise and advocacy skills that enable him to navigate the most intricate legal challenges with confidence and precision.”
Chancery: Traditional (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers has an impressive group of barristers who handle complex disputes surrounding trusts and estates, and demonstrate multi-jurisdictional knowledge of the law. The set is known among instructing solicitors for its “extremely knowledgeable and experienced counsel, with a commercial outlook”. Other sources highlight the set’s bench, one noting that “their range of silks and juniors is unmatched”. Members of the set have appeared in a number of significant trust matters of late, including Byers v Saudi National Bank, heard in the Supreme Court, and Grosskopf v Grosskopf.
Client Service
“Practice Assistant Jake Walker, in particular, is exceptional. He is eloquent, responsive and exceptionally well organised, and understands all the concepts that we discuss with counsel.”
“Nicholas Luckman heads up the set. He is one of the most creative and proactive clerks out there. “
“Wilberforce’s clerks are great. They are available at all times of the day and night, and are clear on the capacity of their barristers.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce are approachable, knowledgeable and responsive. They build really good relationships and understand the commercial pressures clients experience.”
“Wilberforce’s clerks are a head and shoulders above anyone else. They are very commercial and understand the challenges that solicitors face. Fraser Geddes is the best clerk in London, for my money.”
Star Individuals
“Brian Green is unmatched in his field. A genuine powerhouse of a legal thinker and strategist who is a pleasure to work with.
“Brian Green’s reputation speaks for itself. He is a real heavyweight chancery counsel. His views are given enormous respect by overseas judges.”
“Brian is an oracle on all things trusts. He is a confidant to clients and really knows what will play well in court.”
Leading Silks
“Clare is an academically brilliant lawyer and excellent on her feet. She does a really good job bridging private wealth and corporate matters.”
“Clare is absolutely fantastic. She is tireless in her dedication to a case and she is a great communicator. A huge amount of work and energy goes into every aspect of her advocacy.”
“Clare Stanley knows how to get the judge on her side. She is very good at putting her case across with the right balance of assertion and empathy.”
“He just deploys his experience to really good effect to achieve constructive solutions for clients. He thinks imaginatively on how to sort disputes and is an excellent advocate, reassuring for judges.”
“Fenner is brilliant. He is excellent with clients, brilliant on his feet and someone who really gets the commercial angles of his cases. He is all about detail and completely meticulous.”
“Fenner Moeran is my go-to counsel for contentious trusts matters. He has this extraordinary ability to explain complex concepts in layman’s terms.”
“Gilead Cooper has great intellect and always looks at questions constructively. He is somebody I really enjoy working with. He is very businesslike and knowledgeable.”
“He is a real brainbox in his area. He is able to argue any side of any argument in a really exceptional way, a bit like a scholar. He thinks on a different intellectual plane to most of us.”
“Gilead Cooper is extremely clever. He thinks of things others don’t and is great for complex cases. He is also a pleasure to work with.”
“Jonathan Hilliard is superb, probably one of the cleverest at the Bar. He is responsive and constructive.”
“Jonathan Hilliard is a rare mix of super intelligent, impressively proactive and user-friendly.”
“Jonathan Hilliard is astounding in his intellectual ability. He has so much experience that he instantly has thoughts on any question imaginable.”
“Michael really stands out in having that integrated view on trust-driven matters with complex UK tax questions. He has a very attractive way of dealing with matters.”
“Michael Furness cuts through issues well and can identify client needs and find short pathways to them.”
“Michael Furness has gravitas, pragmatism and a willingness to get ‘stuck in’ at all levels of matters.”
“There is nothing Robert Ham doesn’t know about trusts. He has been key in developing a lot of those principles here in the early stages. He is an amazing man.”
“Being a super senior silk, Robert has a massive amount of technical trust knowledge and also an appreciation of tax law. He is very good at looking at complex trust structures.”
“Robert Ham is a legend. He has been doing this for a long time, and his experience is such that he has seen everything before. He has a tried and tested solution for any complex issue.”
“Tiffany Scott is great. A calm, measured resource in any large-scale matter.”
“Tiffany Scott is a straight talker. She is a concise and punchy advocate. The court really listens to her.”
“Tiffany Scott is so impressive. She is technically brilliant, a complete team player and a brilliant advocate too.”
“Jonathan Davey combines an ability to get into the details of the case with a grand narrative style that always has the confidence of a court.”
“Jonathan’s advocacy is compelling. He commands huge respect from clients and has a quicksilver mind.”
“Jonathan Davey is charismatic, pragmatic and laser-focused on securing a result for the client. He is very strategically minded, but his real skill set shines through when he is on his feet.”
“Andrew’s ability to process massive amounts of legal information and facts is amazing. He is good with cross-border litigation and an excellent team player with very elegant delivery.”
“Andrew Mold is commercially and strategically brilliant. He has a sharp mind that is able to get into the weeds without losing sight of the bigger picture.”
“Zoë Barton is very cerebral and my first choice for anything that is property and fraud related. She is a very articulate advocate.”
“One of her great USPs is that she is always available at the end of the phone. In terms of advocacy, she is very effective.”
Leading Juniors
“He is very detail-oriented and great for offshore elements in trust cases. He is client-friendly, his advice is technically good and he is strategically excellent for particularly complicated matters.”
“Michael Ashdown is extremely thorough and very much willing to get into the details of a trust, but also very practical and commercial. He is happy to look at things in the round.”
“Jennifer Seaman is a safe pair of hands. She has very good judgement and is really on top of everything strategic.”
“Jennifer Seaman is thoughtful, with a good eye for detail. She can pick up points of nuance while keeping an eye on the bigger picture.”
“Jennifer is hugely capable and technical, with a strong focus on ensuring that all procedure is correctly dealt with at the same time as giving the best legal advice.”
“Edward is a very impressive analytical legal mind, one who will always display a calmness in any situation, however febrile.”
“Edward Sawyer is great at navigating practical challenges and coming up with creative legal solutions that work for clients.”
“Edward is very experienced and knowledgeable. He is good to go to for tough problems as he will try and strip out the core issues and advise on those.”
“James is really good to work with. He is just really commercial, switched on and very easy to deal with on commercial issues.”
“James Goodwin is an excellent junior. He is a lovely, helpful team player and I would be happy to have him on any team I am part of. “
“James is an incredible senior junior who provides a KC’s insight into everything he does.”
“Simon Atkinson is an excellent black letter lawyer but adds to that good strategic sense. He is very good at negotiating with parties.”
“Simon Atkinson is highly intelligent and thorough.”
“Anna Littler is fantastic. She has incredibly good judgement and thinks through to the end. She sees all the traps that could be before a litigant in a case.”
“Anna is one of my favourite juniors. She is so user-friendly, bright and thorough. Even as a junior who is in the weeds with drafting, you can rely on her to get to the crux of the matter quickly.”
“I find Anna to be very proactive and on top of the details. She is very aware of the strategic output of a case, with an eye on the best position for a client.”
“Elizabeth Houghton is unbelievably bright. She makes things happen and constantly looks at the bigger picture.”
“Elizabeth is the complete package. She is lovely to work with and a very commercial thinker.”
“Joseph Steadman is a really brilliant, exciting junior. He’s phenomenally bright and really client-friendly. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.”
“He is very thoughtful about approaching issues. His written work is just really excellent, and his arguments are broken down to ensure they are thoughtful.”
“Joseph is highly knowledgeable, fantastic with clients, communicative and on hand as and when needed. He will go over and above.”
Charities (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is a highly distinguished chancery set whose charities specialists frequently advise foundations, charities themselves and the Charity Commission on a diverse range of issues including those concerning commercial and tax questions as they impact charitable bodies. Individuals are active on behalf of these clients in contentious matters and also represent trustees and HMRC in cases concerning the meaning of a ‘charity’. Clients further benefit from the set’s well-renowned high-quality offshore expertise. A solicitor comments they have “well-rounded barristers who think outside of the box.”
“The clerks are prompt, clear and helpful.”
“The clerking team are first-rate. Andrew Barnes and Fraser Geddes particularly stand out.”
“His advocacy is compelling, he commands huge respect from clients and has a quick mind.”
“Jonathan is just brilliant.”
“Jonathan is a pleasure to deal with. He has an excellent grasp of commercial elements.”
“Michael’s collaborative and thoughtful approach allowed for active engagement with his opinion.”
Commercial Dispute Resolution (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers has at its disposal a strong bench of commercial barristers, with particularly impressive capability at silk level. Its members are capable of handling a wide spectrum of commercial matters, including cases arising out of company law, insolvency and civil fraud. The set’s barristers are well known for their ability to represent clients in international disputes and regularly appear in a range of jurisdictions, such as Hong Kong, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Recently, its members have appeared in Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan and others, a high-value fraud claim; Steenbok & Anr v Formal Holdings and others, a case arising from a major South African public sector accounting fraud scandal; Invest Bank v El-Husseini, a claim seeking relief under Section 423 of the Insolvency Act; and Bourlakova & Others v Bourlakov & Others, a USD3 billion family dispute concerning alleged fraud. Its members also continue to act on Tulip LLP v Bitcoin Association, a very high-profile case from the crypto sector. One interviewee commented: “If a matter is extremely complicated, then Wilberforce is the first choice.”
“Wilberforce has very effective practice managers.”
“The clerks run a very well-oiled machine. They are very responsive and happy to answer questions.”
“Senior practice manager Antonia Matthews is responsive and proactive. She is a pleasure to work with.”
“I have been particularly impressed by senior practice managers Fraser Geddes and Stewart Cameron in the clerks room. They always anticipate my needs before I have voiced them.”
Leading Silks
“John is a creative thinker and a measured advocate who is very persuasive. He does not distance himself from the day-to-day work.”
“John is very brave and probably the best advocate I have worked with. He is intellectually very strong and happy to become part of the team.”
“He is ruthless at cross-examination.”
“Alan Gourgey is thorough, quick-minded and willing to argue difficult legal arguments for the benefit of the client.”
“Alan is a complete all-rounder, loved by clients, who makes every member of the team feel valued. He’s a man with a brilliant legal mind and a ferocious cross-examiner.”
“He is just incredibly good at devising strategy and working with everyone to pull things together. I’ve never seen such leadership. He instils confidence in both solicitors and clients.”
“A very smart, very incisive and very robust litigator, who enjoys the chase and is the option for a client who loves a fighter. He turned a losing case into a winning case – what more could you ask?”
“Tim is the king of resolving knotty issues. You can present him with the most shocking of cases and he’ll find a way through.”
“Tim is a superb silk and an excellent cross-examiner. He is very smooth and reads judges well.”
“Tim is excellent at dealing with clients. He is also responsive and leads his team of juniors really well.”
“A man who produces fluent advocacy. He is delightful to listen to when he’s in court.”
“He is one of the best trial lawyers around.”
“His advocacy alone can make the difference between winning and losing.”
“Superb in terms of her legal analysis, brilliant with clients and someone who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to bear.”
“She is always available, affable and disarmingly candid.”
“James is super bright and can review and analyse huge amounts of documents very quickly. He also has broad knowledge, can advise strategically and is a brilliant advocate.”
“Max Mallin is a former investment banker who is very numerate and good at picking up detail in cases involving banking or accountancy issues. His advocacy style is very compelling.”
“Incredibly user-friendly, commercial and sensible, he will find solutions to matters.”
“Terence has a very fine reputation in the commercial litigation space.”
“A man with a first-class brain who is excellent on his feet.”
Leading Juniors
“Bobby is a tenacious and extremely impressive barrister who is highly commercial in his mindset and excellent on his feet.”
“Bobby Friedman is a delight to instruct. He is a very smart and intuitive lawyer.”
“Bobby Friedman is a very good advocate and is very good at coming up with creative solutions.. His written work is exceptional.”
“Sri Carmichael is very talented and one to watch.”
“I was incredibly impressed by Shri’s time management and her work ethic.”
“I liked Jack Watson a lot. He was out to impress and did impress. He was hard-working, his pleadings were good, and he was both accessible and personable.”
“Jack is exceptional across the board, including in his written work.”
“James has this inherent ability to have incredibly difficult discussions with clients in a way that leaves them feeling confident and that they’ve got the best advice out there. He’s excellent.”
“James Walmsley has extraordinary brain power, which is only matched by his extraordinary eye for detail. He is also a delight to work with on a personal basis.”
“You can leave James to run a case happily. He is a very careful barrister whose skeleton arguments are really a work of perfection.”
“Tim displays precision and is extremely detail-oriented. He is a compelling advocate who got us what we wanted; he really covered all the bases.”
“Tim has very good drafting skills and is all over the detail. His ability to get through a huge amount of work is amazing.”
“Tim Matthewson’s attention to detail is superb. He never misses the important, finer points while considering the bigger picture.”
“Emily has a no-nonsense approach to work, which is refreshing. She is very smart and a pleasure to deal with.”
“Emily McKechnie is great and very reliable. She’s a collaborative senior junior who is great for cases where there is a lot of heavy detail involved.”
“An excellent barrister who is all over the detail. He is creative as well in terms of coming up with new options and workarounds.”
“Stephen Brown is astute, commercially minded and someone who has great international knowledge.”
“Stephen is excellent. He has the benefit of years of experience as a solicitor. His USP is that he knows exactly what a solicitor needs.”
Company (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers represents an excellent choice of set for company matters. Its barristers frequently represent clients faced with domestic and cross-border shareholder disputes, issues of directors’ duties and breaches of fiduciary duty, among other matters. Its reputation for handling offshore work is particularly strong. Notable recent mandates include BHS Group & Ors v Chappell, Henningson and Chandle, which involves a liquidators’ claim for breach of fiduciary duty. Members were also instructed in Richard Shield (and Ors) v Christopher Shield (and others) & Shakespeare Martineau, a matter concerning a shareholders’ agreement and claim of negligence. Both of these cases are in the High Court, Business and Property Courts. The set is regarded by commentators as having “excellent jurists and creative thinkers” who are “efficient and strategically astute.”
“Wilberforce Chambers has very organised clerks. They are very good at dealing with any issues that arise and making sure that counsel have the details and information they need.”
“The clerks are very efficient and effective. They are very good at getting us into court at short notice when we’re in difficulties.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce Chambers provide an excellent service and are proactive in providing solutions to any issues.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce Chambers are constantly trying to find a solution, and they’re like an extension of the team. Senior practice manager Tara Shah is accessible and flexible in her approach.”
“The clerks are excellent. They know what is going on in the matter and anticipate everyone’s needs.”
Leading Silk
“Lexa thinks of innovative ways to move the case forward and is down to earth and accessible. She’s good, both on her feet and on paper, and impressive technically.”
“Lexa Hilliard KC provides clear and commercial advice. She provides excellent levels of service and is highly responsive.”
“Marcia Shekerdemian KC is superb in terms of her legal analysis. She’s brilliant with clients and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
“She’s a technical expert who also knows how to diffuse a situation when feelings are high.”
“Marcia Shekerdemian KC thinks about tactics five or six steps ahead. She is phenomenal.”
“Terence Mowschenson KC has enormous experience and fantastic judgement.”
Leading Juniors
“Daniel Lewis is very bright and quick to pick up on the way things are going. He is commercial and practical, and judges like him.”
“Daniel is a creative thinker who provides commercially focused advice in a friendly and collaborative manner. He is quick to grasp the key points in cases.”
Family/Matrimonial : Trusts/Tax Experts
Star Individuals
“Jonathan Hilliard is extremely accessible and an evident leader in his field.”
“Jonathan Hilliard is one of the leading barristers in the country dealing with divorce and the trust aspects thereof.”
Leading Silks
“Andrew Mold cares about the case and about the parties involved; he is supportive and considerate.”
“Joseph Steadman is highly impressive. His drafting, advocacy and judgement are all impeccable.”
“Joseph is able to digest vast amounts of information very quickly. He provides valuable and helpful advice.”
“Joe is a go-to for matrimonial cases with Chancery aspects and is a brilliant advocate.”
Family: Matrimonial Finance
Leading juniors
“Roxane is a go-to. She has phenomenal insight and is an exceptional advocate.”
“Roxane Reiser stands out for her deft intelligence and lovely advocacy style.”
Fraud: Civil (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers boasts a strong bench of experienced barristers who are regularly instructed in high-value and multi-jurisdictional civil fraud disputes. The team is noted for its expert handling of cases involving offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands and the BVI, as well as matters arising in Asia and Europe. Members offer expertise in claims stemming from allegations of misrepresentation, conspiracy and breach of duty. Cases involving complex jurisdictional issues and contempt proceedings are also key areas of strength for the set. The set has recently been instructed on Bourlakova & Ors v Bourlakov & Ors, acting for the defendant in a matter concerning the ownership of assets. Sources note that barristers from Wilberforce Chambers “combine intellectual rigour with commercial awareness and a client-focused approach.”
Client Service
“Wilberforce Chambers has a clerking team that is proactive, responsive, and consistently praised for their efficiency.”
“Tara Shah is an excellent clerk.”
“Fraser Geddes and Lucy Handy are always very personable and helpful.”
“Andrew Barnes and Antonia Matthew are practical, sensible and always available to our teams.”
Leading Silks
“He is just incredibly good at devising strategy and is a great advocate who instills confidence with solicitors and with clients.”
“Alan Gourgey’s ability to spot the issues in a complex case is unmatched.”
“He provides robust advice and is a fierce cross-examiner who get results.”
“He is a real heavyweight silk with a great court room presence and a very calm and persuasive advocacy.”
“He is a very good advocate good in appellate courts; he just gets a nice rhythm and pace with judiciary and bench.”
“A creative thinker who is a measured advocate and very persuasive.”
“Thomas Grant KC is a very impressive advocate.”
“He is very pragmatic and commercial.”
“Tom is exceptional, very responsive, excellent in court and generally first rate.”
“He is forensically second-to-none and has a propensity for getting into detail on complex fraud cases.”
“Tim is very easy to work with and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves.”
“His mastery of all manner of legal trust concepts is remarkable.”
Max Mallin KC – is instructed in heavyweight fraud claims, especially those with international or banking elements. Allegations he has dealt with include conspiracy and fraudulent misappropriation of funds. He has an expert understanding of financial markets owing to his background as an investment banker.
Leading Juniors
“He is confident, technical and on the detail.”
“His written advocacy is astute and persuasive, and his advice is measured, considered and client-centric.”
“He is well versed in the law and thinks about the strategy and what’s to come next.”
“Jack is calm, clear, pragmatic and accessible.”
“Jack Watson is a real asset. He knows his stuff.”
“She is incredibly hard-working, very technical and has an easygoing manner.”
“Emily McKechnie is a great, very reliable, collaborative senior junior who is great for cases where there is a lot of heavy detail.”
Ram Lakshman
“Ram is exceptionally intelligent yet approachable and is able to present complex information in a clear and digestible manner for clients.”
“He is meticulous with the detail an is a very good advocate. His written submissions are fantastic.”
“Ram is a fantastic junior. He is very thorough in his analysis, his drafting is strong and in court he is cool, calm and collected.”
“He has got a considerate, calm but effective advocacy style.”
Up and Coming
“His biggest strength is that his judgement is spot on.”
“Jia Wei Lee is very responsive, extremely knowledgeable and practical.”
“He is a good advocate, responsive and has a good eye for the bigger picture.”
“Jia Wei is a brilliant tactician.”
“Francesca is really helpful on a practical level as well as technical.”
“She is very good at engaging with clients.”
Offshore (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers offers significant strength and depth in all the major offshore jurisdictions, including those in the Channel Islands, the Caribbean and Asia. An instructing solicitor reports: “Wilberforce Chambers has extensive experience and deep talent at all levels.” Another source says: “It is a go-to for cases involving large complex trust structures, particularly where there is an offshore element.” Members of the set are instructed to act in matters such as trust litigation, high-value commercial disputes, fraud claims and insolvency matters. Its barristers continue to appear in a number of high-profile cases, such as FamilyMart Holding v Ting Chuan.
Client Service
“The clerking team is cohesive and close-knit and available at all times of the day and night.”
“The Wilberforce clerks are all excellent, reliable and provide a great service.”
“The clerks are one of the most sophisticated and established outfits out there. They really know what they are doing.”
“Nick Luckman is one of the most creative and proactive clerks out there.”
“He is the leading advocate on matters of trust law.”
“Brian Green is a very talented advocate and is incredibly hardworking.”
“Clare is very good at taking a strategic approach to her advocacy.”
“She knows the offshore market inside out, knows the judges and is a ferocious cross-examiner.”
“Clare is technically brilliant. She is able to see her way through a myriad of issues very easily.”
“Clare is extremely engaging and ready to cut to the essence of what’s important in client calls.”
“Jonathan is a force of nature you need on your case. He is across every possible angle, prepared for every eventuality and extremely user-friendly and responsive.”
“His drafting is top notch.”
“Robert is one of the most well-respected KCs in the private wealth field.”
“Tom Lowe is the leading commercial silk in the Cayman Islands.”
“Tom is unquestionably the superstar of the offshore bar. BVI and Cayman lawyers have zero hesitation in fielding Tom against any silk or team of them. There are none better. He is my first choice.”
“Thomas Lowe is an exceptional advocate. He can persuade the court on the most difficult of cases.”
“Gilead Cooper comes well equipped with a fierce intellect and enjoyment of the law.”
“He is just the most user-friendly barrister.”
“John Wardell is probably the best advocate I have worked with and is intellectually very strong.”
“He is a very experienced advocate and knows Bermuda-related issues very well.”
“He always strives to do the best for the client and has the ability to simplify complex legal issues for advocacy and client management purposes.”
“He is a delight to work with, intellectually very able and asks penetrating questions that find the pivoting point in a matter.
“Andrew’s advocacy and sense of judgment on his feet is extremely impressive. He has an impeccable attention to detail and is also approachable and a pleasure to instruct.”
“Our go-to silk for most matters.”
“Nikki is very good in court and his advocacy was excellent.”
“He is brilliant, user-friendly and commercial.”
“Thomas is concise, clever and a strong courtroom presence. His knowledge of the law on fraud is not bettered and he is the apex of the London Bar in fraud claims at this time. “
“An extremely proactive silk with fantastic advocacy skills.”
Leading Juniors
“His legal knowledge, strategy and written skeleton arguments are all of a high standard.”
“He’s a very effective advocate on his feet.”
“One of my favourite juniors, she is so user-friendly and so bright and thorough.”
“Anna is extremely professional, very knowledgeable and a very experienced barrister to deal with.”
“Tom ensures quick turnaround but ensures things are carefully considered. An ideal junior.”
“I have been enormously impressed with his command of his subject matter and his ever-impressive advocacy.”
“She is very hot on the details and you have confidence that she has picked everything up.”
“Elizabeth’s attention to detail and assessment of pertinent points was extremely impressive. She was such an invaluable asset to the team as a whole.”
Pensions (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is a distinguished set with a market-leading group of both silks and juniors capable of handling the full spectrum of pensions work. Members are thoroughly experienced in handling large-scale, high-profile cases at the forefront of the pensions industry. Wilberforce’s barristers are equipped for advice and advocacy in relation to a host of regulatory matters and act for employers, trustees and the Pensions Regulator. Described by clients as offering “one of the finest pools of talent for pensions litigation”, the set is able to act in complex cases with elements of employment, trusts and tax law. Wilberforce Chambers has represented Newell Rubbermaid UK Services in a Part 8 claim relating to the conversion of DB pension rights to DC benefits.
Client Service
“The clerk team is excellent in communications and working with instructing solicitors. “
“If you want to find out when a particular judge might be able to hear something, the clerks are on very close terms, which is very valuable.”
“The director and the clerks are first rate. They have a wonderful client service attitude.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce are the best of the best. They are highly responsive and switched on..”
Star individuals
“He has a superb brain. He is a stellar advocate and is exceptional with clients.”
“Brian Green is excellent both with clients and in the most technical areas.”
“Brian is flexible – he listens, adapts and finds solutions.”
“Paul Newman is very good at giving a view on the evidence and being very robust, thinking through the options very analytically.”
“He is technically excellent and pragmatic, and has the ability to convey complex arguments to clients.”
“Paul is a very clear communicator and has excellent analysis.”
“He is technically excellent and has a very clear, engaging advocacy style. Paul is also willing to listen to different perspectives and take that on board in his advice.”
“Paul has a collaborative approach with instructing solicitors and delivers clear opinions.”
Leading Silks
“He is very clever and quickly gets to the heart of the issue.”
“Jonathan is super bright and very engaging.”
“Michael has excellent commercial awareness and takes that into account in his advice. He gives clear views rather than sitting on the fence and is very easy to work with.”
“Michael is user-friendly and not afraid of hard work.”
“Michael is technically excellent and able to deal with the most complex of matters with ease.”
“He is absolutely intellectually brilliant. What sets him apart is that he really cares about it, throws everything at it – he’s a passionate advocate who gets completely immersed.”
“Michael Tennet is both acutely intelligent but also very practical and very good at getting across complex ideas and arguments.”
“Michael is technically absolutely brilliant – he can turn his mind to tax, property, trust, as well as pensions. One of the things I really rate about him is that judges really listen to him.”
“Michael is ultra-reliable.”
“He can cut through the complexities of pensions law to deliver a pragmatic and legally robust answer.”
“Fenner is down to earth and provides clear, pragmatic and no-nonsense advice.”
“He is an amazing silk who is really good with clients. Fenner is able to adapt to individuals and get them onside.”
“Fenner is always full of energy and solutions-focused. He is amazingly efficient too.”
“Fenner Moeran is very reliable and great to work with.”
“We have total confidence in Andrew’s advice on both technical law and strategy. He is a delight to work with and wins the trust of clients.”
“Andrew offers very prompt service, even when busy. He does not overcomplicate matters.”
“Andrew is brilliant.”
New Silks
“He is highly intelligent, calm and a team player.”
“Thomas Robinson brings a balance of detailed analysis with strategy.”
“Thomas is incredibly personable and understands the needs of his client. He provides exceptional advice and is a powerhouse of an advocate.”
“Thomas is very clever and brilliant to work with – very personable and commercial.”
Leading Juniors
“Edward is a brilliant pensions lawyer and has great attention to detail.”
“He is calm and considered but with steel and an indefatigable work ethic.”
“Edward is hugely experienced and very good at picking things up late in the day. “
“Jennifer is incredibly bright and sees things most people wouldn’t see. She is excellent and one of the go-to barristers on pensions on the junior level.”
“She was easy to work with and managed opposing counsel really well.”
“Jennifer is able to deal with complex technical matters and provides clear and direct advice.”
“Jennifer is a solid performer who is a safe pair of hands.”
“James is able to absorb large amounts of information and identify the most important points to the matter at hand. He thinks around a problem to explore all of the potential angles.”
“Sebastian is very hard-working and good at working through the issues with rigour.”
“He is commercially focused and very technically minded, getting right into the detail of tricky matters.”
“Sebastian is hard-working and his written work is great.”
“Sebastian is down to earth and incredibly bright.”
“James is very thorough and a real team player – he is happy to do the more tedious and less glamorous work. He is pleasant to work with and gets really stuck into the detail.”
“He is very intelligent and a strategic thinker. James came up with clever ideas nobody else had thought about.”
“James McCreath is extremely clever and sees to the heart of the issue. He has a reassuring advocacy style and makes complex issues seem very simple.”
“Jonathan Chew is very high quality.”
“Jonathan is very down to earth, very easy to get along with, and thinks through the issues clearly.”
“Joseph’s technical knowledge is excellent and he is great in front of clients. His advice is clear and commercial and he’s easy to work with.”
“He is insightful, efficient and offers excellent strategic input. Joseph has a great depth of experience which allows him to cut through to what matters on complex and technical areas of law.”
“He is super bright and very personable.”
Paul Newman KC
“Paul stands out from the crowd as a pensions silk. He is incisive, purposive and passionate in his work, and incredibly responsive. He’s not willing to descend into needless litigation tactics, and does everything with a sense of fairness and good humour.
Professional Negligence (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers can bring to bear deep expertise in a wide range of professional negligence claims, acting for both defendants and claimants. The set is frequently sought out for solicitors’ liability claims and matters involving financial services professionals, often complicated by fraud elements. Property-related work is a strong suit, and the barristers are an obvious choice for negligence claims concerning the more complex of conveyancing matters, or major development projects. Members continue to act in cases of considerable size and importance, including Mitchell v Al Jaber. One market commentator notes that “there is an impressive array of expertise on offer at this set”.
Client Service
“Friendly, helpful, easy to talk to and responsive. Commercial considerations were also taken into account on fees.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce are all excellent, reliable and deliver a great service.”
“Standout clerking is at Wilberforce; they are head and shoulders above anyone else on that front. They are very commercial and understand the challenges that solicitors face.”
“Their clerking is impeccable. It’s very personalised service and probably my favourite in that regard.”
Leading Silks
“He is a high-level operator.”
“If you are really down and up against it, he is the person to turn to.”
“Not who you want to see on the other side, which is a high accolade.”
“John is very good.”
“He is brilliant, absolute top of the tree for professional negligence.”
“He is as smooth as silk, completely unruffled. Jonathan is a really good appellate advocate.”
“Jonathan Seitler KC is a careful and cautious advocate and good in highly contentious situations.”
“Paul Newman KC is very good at giving a view on the evidence and being very robust, and thinking through the options very analytically. Clients have been very pleased with him.”
“Paul Newman KC is excellent with clients and gives advice in a clear and decisive manner”
“Paul is an excellent advocate with vast experience of pensions professional negligence cases.”
“Thomas Grant KC is a very classy person. He does good contempt-related work.”
“Thomas Grant KC does plenty of professional negligence work and is an old-school silk.”
“Clare Stanley KC is an absolute superstar on cross-examinations in difficult circumstances. She gets to grips with a huge amount of information and personalities quickly.”
“Clare is exactly what you want from a silk in spades: she’s a fantastic strategist who is able to stand back from the complexity and plot a course through.”
“Clare Stanley KC is good at the early stages and rolls with the punches.”
“Tiffany Scott KC is calm, measured and very practical in her assessment of outcomes. She is meticulous in her preparation and leaves no stone unturned.”
“Tiffany Scott KC is utterly reliable, incredibly hard-working and never prone to hyperbole.”
Leading Juniors
“Benjamin Faulkner is very bright.”
“Benjamin Faulkner is excellent. He’s very quick and user-friendly.”
Paul Newman KC
“Paul stands out from the crowd as a pensions silk. He is incisive, purposive and passionate in his work, and incredibly responsive. He’s not willing to descend into needless litigation tactics, and does everything with a sense of fairness and good humour.
Real Estate Litigation (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers acts on a wide range of property matters, including both residential and commercial landlord and tenant cases, development disputes, title disputes and agricultural property cases. Members appear frequently in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. This year, members of the set have appeared on both sides of Iya Patarkatsishivili & anor v William Woodward-Fisher, the high-profile ‘moths’ case which has made headline news. A source reports: “Wilberforce Chambers is the go-to set for property litigation. The skillset at all levels is unrivalled and they will always be a first choice for any high value, complex property dispute.” Another interviewee adds: “Wilberforce is the best of the best in our real estate disputes area and its roster of barristers is top tier.”
Client Service
“The Wilberforce offering is all very slick and polished; the overall service package is very impressive.”
“Senior practice managers Stewart Cameron, Fraser Geddes and Danny Smillie are all absolutely fabulous – fast, effective, helpful and cost aware.”
“Senior practice managers Antonia Matthew, Stewart Cameron and Fraser Geddes provide a stellar service. They are dynamic, understand our needs and are always on hand to assist.”
Star Individuals:
“Jo is one of the top, if not the top, silks for real estate litigation.”
“Her real strength is she is totally unflappable. I can pose any question or call her in a panic and she will answer calmly and confidently.”
“Jo is a marvellous advocate – understated but always wins.”
“Jonathan has a brilliant advocacy style – clear, concise and to the point.”
“Jonathan is a leading character at the Bar. His reputation is well deserved and clients love him.”
“He is creative, user-friendly and nobody fact checks on a case like he does. He is also a true showman and trial lawyer.”
Leading Silks
“He is prized for his undisputed skill and ability to grapple with any issue, no matter how thorny.”
“John is an exceptional advocate, brilliant with clients and his charm is phenomenal.”
“John exudes confidence and reassures colleagues and clients alike in even the trickiest of situations.”
“Martin is the authority on complex property disputes and he leaves no stone unturned.”
“He is truly a class act, with a depth and breadth of experience that is unrivalled.”
“Martin has provided excellent leadership in a very complex and high-value claim.”
“Julian is a courageous advocate who fights his client’s corner and provides robust advice and advocacy.”
“Julian is my go-to for knotty interpretation instructions.”
“He is very measured, incredibly detailed and has an amazing legal brain.”
“Thomas is mega clever and very personable.”
“His advocacy is just brilliant – really entertaining but also effective.”
“Tiffany is very meticulous in her preparation and leaves no stone unturned.”
“She is very clever and writes really helpful opinions; she will actually give an opinion rather than sitting on the fence.”
“His advocacy is compelling, he commands huge respect from clients and he has a quicksilver mind.”
“Jonathan is a highly impressive advocate, who has a clear vision for delivering a case from start to finish.”
“Zoë is very cerebral, a very articulate advocate and my first choice for anything property related.”
“Zoë is a real fighter and a capable advocate.”
“She is technically strong, clear in her advice and commercially aware.”
Leading Juniors
“Benjamin is great with clients, very commercial and his enthusiasm for the law is infectious.”
“He is intellectually very strong and tactically very bright.”
“He is all over the detail, is incredibly thorough and his advocacy has been exceptional.”
“He is the bee’s knees for matters regarding finance and property.”
“Jonathan is very commercial and strategic in his approach.”
“Even when led by a senior silk, you feel Jonathan is adding unique insights and value to the matter.”
“She is a real star of the bar – frighteningly intelligent but extremely engaging, collaborative and commercial.”
“Emer is a tour de force. She is thorough in her analysis, extremely robust as an advocate and able to hold her own in difficult circumstances and against heavyweight opposition.”
“She is technically excellent, knows her way around complex aspects of property law and produces beautiful written work.”
“She thinks issues through thoroughly and provides holistic advice taking various potential risks and considerations into account.”
“Harriet’s strategic thinking is always one step ahead of the opposition.”
“Harriet is a highly skilled advocate and her advice is always meticulous in its technical detail, whilst commercial and targeted to the client’s needs.”
“Clients were particularly impressed with his judgement and advocacy and were extremely pleased to have had him on board.”
“He is a superstar of the future with an incredible breadth and strength of knowledge.”
“James is very intelligent, a strategic thinker and came up with clever ideas nobody else had thought about.”
“She is diligent, thoughtful, committed and completely unflappable.”
“Alice is great, easy to work with, very personable, commercial and recommends sensible and holistic solutions.”
“Simon is a promising junior and a very able advocate. I have no doubt he will be in silk before very long.”
“He is absolutely fantastic and knows the law inside out.”
“Tom has a calm but commanding style which I think sits well with most judges.”
“He is always very quick to get up to speed on knotty fact patterns and home in on the key issues, and he is a really powerful advocate.”
“Joseph is easy to get along with but at the same time he persuades and has a commanding presence in court.”
“Joseph is diligent, extraordinarily competent and a credit to his profession.”
“He is an outstanding performer, a consummate barrister and a silk in waiting.”
“Mark has provided very focused and helpful advice and pleadings.”
“Mark is making a name for himself in the 1954 Act sphere; he is a commercially astute lawyer who is also extremely strong on the black letter law.”
“Mark is great to work with, with experience and commerciality far beyond his call.”
“Daniel is very intelligent and personable.”
“Daniel has a great grasp on the law and how things will play out in front of judges.”
Restructuring/Insolvency (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is noted for its impressive work tackling both corporate and personal insolvency matters. Members are frequently called upon to undertake cases arising both in the UK and further afield, and offer significant expertise in the handling of complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Market commentators note that “Wilberforce Chambers is a hard hitting set, and with its members in your corner, you know that you are in safe hands.” Particular areas of strength for the set include administrations, CVAs, restructurings and schemes of arrangement. The team is also regularly instructed in cases involving complex pensions and property elements, owing to the set’s established strengths in these areas. An enviable client list includes creditors, debtors and insolvency office holders. Recent cases of note include acting in FTX Bahamas Limited, which concerns the collapse of a crypto currency exchange based in the Bahamas.
Client Service
“Antonia Matthew will always address all my questions in good order.”
“Deputy practice director Andrew Barnes and senior practice manager Antonia Matthew are both very good to deal with. They’re practical, sensible and always available to our teams.”
“The clerking team is a delight to work with and the clerks get out and about to get to know their instructing solicitors.”
“The clerks are very good at dealing with any issues that arise and making sure that counsel have the details and information they need. “
Leading Silks
“Lexa is one of the strongest key players in insolvency and restructuring at the commercial bar.”
“Lexa is incredibly approachable, a real team player and gets to grips with the issues quickly and comes up with inventive but realistic strategies.”
“She is sharp on the issues and gives clear, concise advice.”
“She can see through complexity in seconds and can recommend proper advice on how to resolve an issue.”
“Marcia has the expertise in the insolvency space and she is very highly regarded by the judges and has a lot of courtroom impact.”
“Marcia is superb in terms of legal analysis, is brilliant with clients and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
“She is extremely engaging and is ready to cut to the essence of what’s important in client calls.”
“A ferocious cross-examiner with a wonderful overlap of experience.”
“An extremely effective advocate who is very engaging and persuasive.”
“He is a great advocate who is user-friendly and approachable.”
“He couples the highest technical knowledge and analysis, with real world commercial strategies. On his feet, he has the Court’s confidence and is an incredibly effective advocate”
New Silks
“Thomas is very calm and is incredibly bright and provide incredibly good communications.”
“He delivers punchy points in a very calm, effective and measured manner.”
“He’s on top of the brief, unflustered even in contentious and agitated proceedings and has a very calm presence.”
Leading Juniors
“He is commercial, practical, easy to work with and the judges like him.”
“He is excellent, for both advice and drafting and is very good with clients, putting them at their ease in difficult and stressful situations.”
“He has a sharp mind and a pragmatic approach coupled with an understanding of the clients’ sensitivities.”
“He is easy to work with and creative minded. He’s good at finding solutions and his advocacy is good.”
“Bobby Friedman is a clever and robust advocate.
“Her advocacy is excellent and she is very well prepared.”
“A star in the near future.”
“One of the best advocates around for heavy insolvency type matters.”
“She’s very thorough, responsive, considered and has a very good foundation of the legal principals and commercial grasp.”
“Her technical knowledge is excellent, as you’d expect, but her attention to detail and thoroughness is really impressive.”
“Rachael is super bright and very detail-focused.”
“She is very professional, always prepared and so thorough on the details.”
“She is incredibly hard-working, very technical and has a manner that is quite easy-going and easy to get on with.”
Tax
“Jonathan is excellent. He provides clear advice and is a great team player. His written and oral advocacy is crisp, clear and highly effective.”
“Jonathan’s advocacy represents the cream of the crop.”
“Jonathan is very, very focused. He loves to get straight to the heart of an issue and is happy to incorporate others’ thoughts into a case.”
“Jonathan is a very good advocate who is very clever and very well organised in how he runs his cases. He also presents very nicely.”
Tax: Indirect Tax
“Jonathan is an excellent advocate, who does a wide variety of work and is a real joy to work with. He’s very good at reading the room and pitching submissions accordingly.”
“Clients really like Jonathan Davey KC. He’s really approachable and works really hard.”
“Jonathan is a very good advocate. He is very clever and well organised in how he runs his cases. He presents very nicely”
Tax: Private Client (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is widely known as one of London’s top chancery sets and regularly involved in the largest litigation matters in the UK and offshore. It also has a high-end tax practice for private client matters. Solicitors report Wilberforce’s barristers can “handle matters of the highest factual and technical complexity”.
Leading Silks
“Jonathan Davey is a real pleasure to work with. He is calm, composed and an excellent advocate.”
“Jonathan is a fantastic advocate and an excellent person to work with.”
“Brian Green continues to be extremely impressive in terms of his ability to provide high-level strategic advice on complex matters while focusing on granular detail.”
“Brian is the consummate professional. He is someone who is fiercely intellectual, charming and solutions-driven.”
“When Brian is on your side he throws utter commitment at the case. He is all over every detail while having an unparalleled ability to build out a strategic view to achieve clients’ best interests.”
Telecommunications
Leading Silks
“Jonathan Seitler is an ostentatious advocate, he has a real presence. You would want him to front the big cases.”
“Jonathan is a really clever advocate, rather than forceful. He really thinks about different ways to approach things and how to best present that particular case. He adapts his style.”
“Jonathan Seitler is excellent and a real performer.”
Leading Juniors
“Emer Murphy’s ability to find the right legal answer is brilliant. She is just outstandingly bright, very able. She can really understand complex issues.”
“Emer Murphy is excellent, really impressive. She is a very confident performer.”
“Emer Murphy is an absolute star – very bright and incredibly hard-working. She is all over the detail, very enthusiastic and remarkably cheerful.”
“Emer Murphy is very detail-oriented, really experienced but still a junior so will really dig into the detail. I can’t speak highly enough of her, she is amazing.”
Trusts (leading set)
The substantial team based at Wilberforce Chambers is routinely praised for its ability to “understand trusts both from a legal sense and commercially speaking” and to “tailor advice in ways which allows clients to not only understand the legal position, but also how it applies to their specific situation.” Its barristers have considerable experience of handling high-profile trusts matters including those pertaining to the administration of estates, trust issues in matrimonial proceedings and international disputes. Recent highlights include Wong v Grand View Private Trust Company Ltd and ors.
Client service
“The clerks are great and operate as part of a cohesive and close-knit clerking team. They’re available at all times of the day and night, and are clear on the capacity of their barristers.”
“Senior practice managers Fraser Geddes and Stewart Cameron are very responsible and highly commercial. They will always go the extra mile.”
“Wilberforce’s clerks are excellent. The great thing is you can go to any of the clerks and know you will be looked after.”
“The clerks are very responsive, very good and very helpful in finding the right people for us at the right level.”
Leading Silks
“Andrew comes up with good commercial points exactly when needed.”
“Andrew is technically impressive but has no ego. He’s easy to work with, he understands what the client wants and he is always client-focused in his advice.”
“Andrew is meticulous, technically excellent and an absolute joy to work with. He is very clear and practical when giving advice.”
“Andrew is commercially and strategically brilliant. He has a sharp mind and is able to get into the weeds without ever losing sight of the bigger picture.”
“Andrew Mold inspires trust in our clients.”
“Brian is very good. He is able to explain very complex concepts to lay clients in a simple way.”
“Brian is unmatched in his field. He’s a genuine powerhouse of a legal thinker and a great strategist, who is a pleasure to work with. His knowledge and insight are without equal.”
“Brian is obviously fantastic and his reputation speaks for itself. He is a real heavyweight counsel, whose views are given enormous respect by overseas judges.”
“Brian gets to grips with the issues incredibly quickly. He has a great way of understanding and explaining things, and has the capacity to tackles complex issues in writing very promptly.”
“Clare is technically brilliant and able to see her way through a myriad of issues very easily. A pleasure to work with, she is unflappable and exceptional when before the court.”
“Clare is great to work with and is a silk at the top of her game. She’s highly technically skilled and a great advocate.”
“A barrister with a phenomenal brain, she really thinks things through and explains things to clients in a way that they can understand.”
“Clare is a very prepared and forceful advocate, who’s fun, hardworking and incredibly bright. What sets her apart is how calm she stays throughout.”
“Clare has got a great reputation, is robust in her views and is willing to take a position. She doesn’t sit on the fence and that comes from experience.”
“He is very strong technically and his opinions are very clear and to the point. When he comes to a view, he then stands behind it.”
“Fenner is a truly excellent, very persuasive barrister with an incredibly quick brain. He is hugely knowledgeable and someone who gets people on his side very quickly.”
“Fenner is technically brilliant, commercially-focused and very practical.”
“Good at handling clients and absolutely brilliant in court as he is very single-minded in cross-examination . If you need a top-notch KC, he is someone worth looking up.”
“A brilliant barrister with great analytical skills, who has a strong, strategic mindset. Clients really take to him and he is a top advocate.”
“Gilead is great – a man with two brains. He is pragmatic, very easy to deal with and very accommodating. His advice is very professional, concise and helpful.”
“A man with a great intellect, who is very imaginative and thinks laterally. Gilead is accessible, hard-working and someone who absolutely immerses himself in the case.”
“Gilead is a fantastic advocate and one of those people with an enormous brain. He’s great at cross-examining and loves a good fight.”
“Gilead is a real brainbox. He’s able to argue any side of any argument in a really exceptional way, a bit like a scholar.”
“Gilead is very innovative in his solutions and also has a very good style.”
“Jonathan is phenomenally hard-working and will help you through all sorts of issues. He is always available and his analytical skills are second to none.”
“Jonathan’s mastery of all manner of legal trust concepts is remarkable. He has this incredible ability to read and digest evidence.”
“Jonathan was fantastic at articulating our case, which had some incredibly complex trust points. He had the court eating out of his hands. It was extraordinary.”
“Jonathan gets very much into the heart of the legal issues and is good at giving a steer as to what judges are thinking. He gives very detailed advisory notes at very short notice.”
“Jonathan is astounding in his intellectual ability. He’s got so much experience that he instantly has thoughts on any question imaginable. “
“He is very technical, highly commercial and easy to work with.”
“Nikki is incredibly approachable and his commitment to the client is unwavering. He is collaborative, humble, client-friendly and able to absorb a lot of information very quickly.”
“Nikki is very good and cuts through to the core arguments of a case quickly. Not one to get caught up in the weeds, he is technical, commercially minded and very methodical in his written work.”
“Robert is very knowledgeable and very good at looking at complex trust structures. He has a massive amount of technical trusts knowledge and also appreciation of tax law.”
“A man with loads of experience and wisdom, he has good instinct and great drafting skills.”
“Robert is excellent. He’s always prepared to give a proper opinion on delicate matters.”
“We required someone able to deal with complicated strategic issues. Robert’s help proved invaluable.”
Leading Juniors
“Joseph Steadman is a scarily bright and highly responsive, who works far above his level of seniority. He will always keep us informed as to capacity and is an absolute pleasure to work with.”
“Joseph is really brilliant. He’s phenomenally bright and really client-friendly.”
“Joseph stood up and persuaded the judge to see things our way. He’s incredibly articulate and very persuasive, and the judge liked his manner and accepted his reasoning.”
“Joseph Steadman is good at details, very happy to roll his sleeves up and very easy to work with. He has a great manner with clients and is not afraid to be robust when he needs to be.”
“Joseph has a very easy manner that comes over well. He’s approachable, bright and someone who can crack through the issues.”
“Michael is a methodical and pragmatic lawyer. His application of the law is great, but he is also able to dovetail pragmatism into his advice and look at the big picture.”
“Michael Ashdown thrives in cases involving the most complex issues of fact and law.”
“Michael is very clever and very nice with it. He’s a go-to individual if I want forensic analysis.”
“Michael Ashdown is very good at translating complex issues into intelligible language.”
“Tom Roscoe is our go-to person for trusts. He picks up on the details quickly.”
“Tom pulls out all the stops, is hardworking and is very bright. He’s super intelligent and able to think outside the box.”
“Tom got some very difficult instructions and turned around an incredible opinion in hours. His written work is top notch, he works well with all parties and he is good on strategy.”
“Tom Roscoe is not an ivory tower barrister. He’s bright, personable and very popular.”
“He’s very friendly, very easy to engage with and also very commercial. What he delivers is brilliant.”
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The history of Wilberforce Chambers
- 1928
- 1932
- 1943
- 1948
- 1954
- 1961
- 1976
The set now known as Wilberforce Chambers was founded by Andrew Clark in 1928, not long after he was called to the Bar. He served in the First World War and won an MC, but delayed his call to the Bar until 1928. His chambers were in 11 New Court, an attractive red brick Victorian building that used to stand on the corner of Carey Street and Serle Street.
There he was joined, among others, by Richard Wilberforce in 1932 and Irvine Goulding in 1936.
Chambers closed down during the Second World War, thereafter re-opening in rooms on the first and upper floors of 3 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn. Andrew Clark took silk in 1943.
He inherited his baronetcy on the death of his father in 1948. Between 1952 and 1960, when no new Chancery judges were appointed, he and Charles Russell QC were widely regarded as the leading advocates of the Chancery Bar.
Richard Wilberforce took silk in 1954. His most famous case was the Spanish Champagne case, in which he established for the first time that a passing off action could be maintained by a class of champagne producers to protect the name champagne, and that it was not limited to the protection of the goodwill of one individual producer as had previously been considered the case.
In 1961 he was appointed a Judge of the High Court. Within three years he was appointed a judicial member of the House of Lords, where he earned a high reputation for the quality of his judgments. Irvine Goulding took silk in 1961, and was appointed a High Court Judge in 1971. He was succeeded as head of chambers by Victor Hallett.
The modern incarnation of chambers began in earnest in 1976 when Edward Nugee became the new head, taking silk the following year. From 10 juniors when he became head until he retired as head 30 years later, chambers expanded enormously. Many outstanding pupils became tenants, and experienced counsel from other sets also joined. The premises in 3 New Square were enlarged, but by 1993 proved too small; and the chambers moved, with half of its members occupying the Northern half of 8 New Square and further rooms in 7 and 9, and the other half occupying the new building, now 16 New Square, as remains the case today.