The Legal 500 2017

Wilberforce is delighted to feature prominently in the latest edition of The Legal 500 UK. Of our leading set rankings below, we are top tier in three practice areas, including the inaugural Offshore rankings. In addition to our leading set rankings, we have a record number of barristers recommended individually: 80 silk rankings and 50 junior rankings, and praise is also directed at our staff, with five individuals in the clerks’ room singled out by our clients. A summary of our recommendations is below and full coverage in the 2017 guide can be found here.

 

Leading set rankings

    • Charities
    • Commercial litigation
    • Company and partnership
    • Fraud – civil
    • Insolvency
    • Offshore
    • Pensions
    • Private client: personal tax
    • Private client: trusts and probate
    • Professional negligence
    • Property litigation and agriculture

Set Overview

Wilberforce Chambers is ‘undoubtedly one of the top, if not the top, set at the Chancery Bar’. ‘A force to be reckoned with when it comes to property, insolvency and commercial disputes, it attracts an extremely high calibre of barristers from the top QCs down to the newest juniors – you know you can always rely on them 100%.’ It also has ‘incredible strength in depth to cater for offshore disputes’ and dominates the niche area of pensions law. On the support side, the clerks’ room is ‘exceptional’ and ‘the best around at the moment’. In particular, the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Mark Rushton is ‘simply fantastic with instructing solicitors’; ‘he knows his clients inside out and ensures the team consistently delivers excellent service’. Nicholas Luckman is ‘probably the best practice director in the London commercial market’, and he and Rushton ‘go the extra mile to assist’. The team leaders are also singled out: Fraser Geddes is ‘practical, responsive and commercially minded’; and Danny Smillie is ‘first class’.

Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

Leading Silks:

Charities

Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

  • Mark Studer One of the best trusts lawyers in London

Commercial litigation

Leading Silks:

  • Alan Gourgey QC Superb, approachable and very client-friendly
  • Ian Croxford QC  Outstanding in relation to complex claims.
  • Joanna Smith QC Highly recommended for commercial litigation
  • John Wardell QC  He is very clear in his advice and doesnt sit on the fence; clients have great confidence in him.
  • Lexa Hilliard QC Experienced shoulders and very good with clients.
  • Max Mallin QC Extremely commercial not only in his understanding but also in his approach
  • Terence Mowschenson QC  A standout individual
  • Thomas Lowe QC A first-class advocate, who always identifies potential issues immediately.

Leading Juniors:

  • Edward Sawyer Incredibly bright and extremely hardworking.
  • Iain Pester A deeply knowledgeable barrister with excellent judgement.
  • James Bailey Adept at presenting an argument in the most effective and attractive manner.
  • Nikki Singla A class act and someone to look to whenever the opportunity arises.

Company and partnership

 Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

Construction

Leading Silks:

  • Joanna Smith QC A class act and a real credit to the Bar

Financial services

Leading Silks: 

Fraud: civil

Leading Silks: 

  • Alan Gourgey QC  Low-key brilliance in all aspects: vision, knowledge, drafting, advocacy and with clients
  • Ian Croxford QC Has a strong track record in civil fraud
  • Lawrence Cohen QC Well regarded for complex fraud and offshore disputes.
  • Max Mallin QC He is brilliant, and gains the confidence of the judge with his very thorough approach
  • John Wardell QC He has a razor-sharp mind, which cuts straight to the key issues.

Leading Juniors:

  • Edward Sawyer A star of the future.
  • Iain Pester He brings strong knowledge and analysis to any case.

IT and telecoms (including data protection)

Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

Insolvency

Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

  • Iain Pester  He has very detailed knowledge of the Insolvency Act.
  • James Bailey Particularly recommended for complex liquidations.
  • Thomas Robinson  His insolvency acumen and general tactical understanding are excellent

Media and entertainment

Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

Offshore

Leading Silks:

Pensions

Leading Silks: 

  • Fenner Moeran QC Charming, efficient and prepared to go the extra mile, while retaining the ear of the court.
  • Michael Furness QC A well-respected advocate with exemplary technical skills and a good client manner.
  • Michael Tennet QC A good trial strategist and advocate
  • Paul Newman QC A superb advocate with a no-nonsense approach
  • Robert Ham QC He combines a top-class intellect with a solution-oriented approach
  • Brian Green QC He combines outstanding grasp of the law, formidable intellect and an extremely pragmatic approach.

Leading Juniors:

 

Private Client: personal tax

Leading Silks:

New Silks:

Private Client: trusts and probate

Leading Silks: 

Leading Juniors:

  • Andrew Child Highly recommended
  • Andrew Mold He is very strong analytically, totally on top of the law and works well in a team
  • Judith Bryant A highly experienced, technically brilliant barrister, who is a real team player
  • John Child Conscientious and thorough
  • Mark Studer  An expert in the field of trusts, who is very hardworking and very conscientious
  • Tiffany Scott  She has excellent client care skills and is very easy to work with
  • Zoë Barton She has an excellent rapport with clients
  • Emily Campbell Very committed to finding the right legal answer and arguing her client’s case

Professional negligence

Leading Silks:

Leading Juniors:

Property litigation

Leading Silks:

  • James Ayliffe QC An excellent specialist property barrister
  • Joanne Wicks QC Her calm and authoritative demeanour are a winning combination, and she is exceptionally knowledgeable
  • John Furber QC His advice is direct, balanced and always clear
  • Jonathan Seitler QC Wonderful to work with
  • Martin Hutchings QC  He has excellent client-facing skills and provides well-thought-out advice
  • Michael Barnes QC A serious player at the property Bar.

leading Juniors:

  • Charlotte Black A strong technical lawyer
  • Emer Murphy Hardworking with an excellent grasp of detail
  • Tiffany Scott She has excellent client care skills and is very easy to work with
  • Zoë Barton She understands complex legal issues quickly and flawlessly demonstrates this through her persuasive advocacy.
  • Julian Greenhill An instructing solicitor’s dream; he is unafraid to stick to his views, and holds his own against leading silks