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The Legal 500 2022
The Legal 500 have just released their 2022 UK Bar rankings, and Wilberforce Chambers have had an excellent year! We have three top-tier set rankings and are recommended as a leading set in a further eight practice areas. We have achieved 147 barrister rankings this year including 9 new entries.
A summary of our recommendations is below and full coverage in the 2021 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
Agriculture
Leading Silks:
- Mark Wonnacott QC
Leading Juniors:
Banking and Finance
Leading Silks:
- Lexa Hilliard QC “A rare find in that she combines academic rigour with commercial acumen and excellent advocacy skills”
Charities
At Wilberforce Chambers, the key practitioners are Jonathan Davey QC and the ‘extremely good’ Michael Furness QC, who provides ‘very practical advice‘. In a prominent highlight, Davey QC acted for HM Revenue and Customs in Life Services Ltd v HM Revenue and Customs, a test case which focused on the issue of the status of supplies that were provided by charities and quasi-charities in the context of EU tax law.
“Its range of fees is very competitive.” Clerking is “Excellent and very helpful.”
Leading Silks:
- Jonathan Davey QC “He works extremely hard and is very conscientious. He plans meticulously for every hearing, meaning he is well-prepared for any question that may be asked by the court or tribunal. He is also extremely approachable, making him a popular choice with clients.”
- Michael Furness QC “Michael is simply superb. His advice is technically brilliant, but also commercial and pragmatic.“
Commercial Litigation
Wilberforce Chambers is ‘a great commercial litigation set with excellent specialists‘, whose expertise go well beyond traditional strengths of trusts and insolvency law. Among the silks, Alan Gourgey QC is a standout name, and has been leading Anna Littler for one of the defendants in Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse and others, a dispute concerning several transactions the sovereign fund entered into with Credit Suisse. John Wardell QC is another key silk and has been leading Emily McKechnie for Grupo Mexico in Grupo Mexico v Registrar of Companies, concerning the question of the Court’s power to order rectification of the register to reverse the administrative restoration of an LLP where the restoration had been obtained through the provision of fraudulent material. Joanna Smith QC left the set for the High Court bench.
“A great set with real strength in depth; all the barristers there are really easy to work with and great at what they do.”
“Wilberforce are excellent. We use many of their juniors and know and trust the team well.”
Leading Silks:
- Alan Gourgey QC “An outstanding Silk: a terrific lawyer and great tactician with excellent judgement and compelling advocacy. He also leads a team very well.”
- John Wardell QC “He is able to think outside the box. A great legal mind, strategic and practical.”
- Thomas Lowe QC
- Terence Mowchenson QC “A remarkable lawyer. He has an incredible eye for detail but never misses the wood for the trees.”
- Lexa Hilliard QC “A genuine pleasure to work with. Lexa’s knowledge is wide-ranging and her experience and confidence combine to have a calming effect on a case.”
- Ian Croxford QC “Hard-working and very bright.”
- Tim Penny QC “An excellent advocate whose thoughtful, balanced and considered style is highly effective.”
- Fenner Moeran QC “Fenner identifies essential issues in cases very quickly. He has a brilliant analytical brain and communicates wonderfully with clients.”
- Clare Stanley QC “Clare is technically brilliant, really easy to work with and great on her feet.”
- Nikki Singla QC “Fantastically clever, an excellent technical lawyer and advocate. A Rolls-Royce among QCs.”
Leading Juniors:
- Edward Sawyer “An outstanding draftsman, and a quite excellent technical lawyer. Incredibly collegiate and helpful and supportive to work with, responsive and hard working.”
- Anna Littler “She has an excellent grasp of all the issues and a rare ability to handle difficult characters in a sensitive and productive way. Good judgement and great forensic skills mean Anna is destined to do really well.”
- Emily McKechnie “Her analysis of the law and facts is always spot-on. She always knows the right answer and gives it straight away. Her written work is second to none. Basically, one of the best senior juniors at the commercial Chancery Bar.”
- James Walmsley “James provides laser-focused and practical advice; he cuts to the heart of the matter quickly and confidently. His written work is exceptional.”
Rising stars:
- Jamie Holmes “Exceptionally hard working and a real pleasure to work with, highly responsive and astute, and tactically very good.“
Company and partnership
As a set, Wilberforce Chambers is prominent in the company and insolvency law spheres and takes on cases relating to directors duties, breaches of fiduciary duty and boardroom disputes. Marcia Shekerdemian QC leads the representation of Jabac Finances in complex claims and cross claims under the Companies Act section 994 comprising a listed 22-day trial involving a breach of statutory duty claim and two minority shareholder petitions. Among others, Lexa Hilliard QC acts on significant directors’ disputes incorporating offshore elements. In a substantial transactional mandate for the set, James Bailey QC was instructed on the company law elements of the Racing Point Formula One team’s rebrand to Aston Martin, following team owner Lawrence Stroll’s purchase of a minority stake in the motor manufacturer.
“A great set.”
“Wilberforce is one of the leading chambers in the sphere of shareholder/equity disputes and contractual claims.”
Leading Silks:
- Lexa Hilliard QC
- Terence Mowschenson QC “Terry’s judgement in complex commercial matters, particularly those concerning directors duties and shareholder disputes, is second to none.”
- John Wardell QC
- Marcia Shekerdemian QC “Brilliantly approachable. Marcia’s depth of experience and wisdom are second to none as his her ability to tell it as it is.”
- Lawrence Cohen QC
- Max Mallin QC “A leading practitioner in shareholder/equity disputes. Vastly experienced in cross-border, complex and multi-party contractual disputes.”
- Nikki Singla QC
- James Bailey QC “Excellent on all fronts.”
Leading Juniors:
Energy
Leading Silks:
- Alan Gourgey QC “A go-to silk, he is incredibly incisive and approachable and a joy to work with.”
Financial services
Leading Silks:
Fraud: civil
Wilberforce Chambers is ‘an excellent set with a deep bench of experience‘. In addition to the high-quality silks and juniors, clients also appreciate the set’s infrastructure which is well placed to handle fast-moving fraud claims. Coupled with this is the set’s excellent standing for offshore disputes, where it is among the very best in London. Alan Gourgey QC has an excellent reputation in this field and is currently leading Jack Watson on behalf of the a Russian bank in liquidation in Vneshprombank v Bedzhamov, in which a ten-week trial involving claims of conspiracy and fraud is set for early 2022. Another leading figure is John Wardell QC who, alongside Thomas Lowe QC and Watson, was representing AHAB in its epic two-decade, $128 billion fraud dispute, AHAB v Saad Investments Company Limited, which was awaiting its Cayman Islands Appeal Court judgment at press time against several outstanding defendants, having agreed a settlement with Saad in October 2020.
“Have some excellent barristers in the civil fraud, international asset recovery and insolvency areas.”
“We use Wilberforce chambers on a regular basis and will continue to do so – they have an impressive depth and breadth to their practice.”
Leading Silks:
- Alan Gourgey QC “An outstanding Silk: a terrific lawyer and a great tactician with excellent judgement and a compelling advocate. He also leads a team very well.”
- Tim Penny QC “Brilliant in all respects. He is tactically astute, quick to grapple with complex issues of law and a first-rate advocate.”
- John Wardell QC “Peerless in fraud cases, able to get to grips with the most complicated of cases and give robust, and aggressive advice when required. Very responsive. Loved by clients and instructing solicitors alike“
- Thomas Lowe QC
- Fenner Moeran QC “A first-rate counsel who solicitors go back to time and time again. He is always enthusiastic and pleasant to deal with – clients love him for that.”
- Clare Stanley QC “An outstanding and well-liked practitioner who cuts to the chase quickly and always gives exemplary advice. Clare is willing to take a chance on cases which others would dismiss.“
Leading Juniors:
- Anna Littler “She has all the attributes to be a top QC – fine judgment, great attention to detail, a creative mind and excellent legal knowledge. Solicitors just know that any document she delivers will be first rate.“
- Edward Sawyer “Excellent with clients and very bright, he is an outstanding lawyer.”
- Bobby Friedman “Bobby moves very quickly to deal with urgent cases and has his finger on the pulse of the court when it comes to urgent interim relief.”
- Jack Watson “Extremely smart, analytical, decisive as well as being user-friendly and approachable: a great asset to any litigation team.”
Rising Stars:
- Tim Matthewson “Tim is as clever as he is diligent. He has a prodigious work ethic and his drafting is impeccable.”
Insolvency
Wilberforce Chambers’ insolvency group is specialised in both personal and corporate insolvency advice and related litigation. Recent highlights for members include Lexa Hilliard QC’s involvement in the lucrative, multi-party trial arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers; and Marcia Shekerdemian QC representing a consortium of Indian banks, seeking former Force India Formula One team owner Vijay Mallya’s bankruptcy for a £1bn. 2019 silk James Bailey QC had a busy year working on both onshore and offshore matters, and Rachael Earle stood out among the very active crop of juniors at chambers.
“Growing reputation for insolvency mandates and the property expertise of the set makes them particularly good in restructurings where there are significant landlord liabilities involved.”
“They are a first class set.”
Leading Silks:
- Marcia Shekerdemian QC “Technically excellent, commercially minded and pragmatic, she also gives great tactical advice.“
- Lexa Hilliard QC “Always happy to roll up her sleeves and work with instructing solicitors and able to give excellent legal guidance.”
- Terence Mowschenson QC “A remarkable, experienced and knowledgeable lawyer.“
- James Bailey QC “A creative thinker who gets to the heart of the issue quickly. He is my go-to counsel for contentious insolvency work.”
- Clare Stanley QC “Clare has a real ability to cut through the detail and identify the heart of the issues before proposing simply distilled and clear counter-arguments and solutions.“
Leading Juniors:
- Bobby Friedman “Very skilled at getting to the heart of a case quickly and coming up with a clear and coherent strategy.“
- Daniel Lewis
- Thomas Robinson “Always calm, reassuring, insightful, bright and very well prepared.”
- Jack Watson “His technical knowledge of insolvency law is first rate and his written work is extremely thorough.“
- Rachael Earle “An unbelievably sharp junior barrister who instils confidence.”
International arbitration (counsel)
Leading Silks:
- Alan Gourgey QC “The best all-round QC in London with in-depth knowledge of arbitration procedures and a unique ability to grapple with complex foreign legal systems and laws.“
- John Wardell QC “He has an excellent command of equity and trust law which is increasingly a rare thing especially amongst lawyers who hold themselves out to know about arbitrations as well.”
Media and entertainment (including art and cultural property)
Leading Silks:
- Gilead Cooper QC “Bright and unflappable. Cuts through complex issues in a very straightforward manner. Gilead is a very effective and assured advocate.”
Offshore
‘One of the pre-eminent offshore sets‘, Wilberforce Chambers has a presence across all of the principal offshore jurisdictions, with expertise in company-related litigation and seen as ‘one of the strongest in the area of trusts.‘ Thomas Lowe QC, John Wardell QC and 2020 silk Andrew Mold QC are acting for different parties in a case regarding an application to wind-up the Torchlight investment fund, which is now one of the longest-running recent Cayman Island cases. Clare Stanley QC is acting for the joint official liquidators of Ardent in BDO (Cayman) Ltd v Ardent Harmony Fund Inc (in Official Liquidation), while David Phillips QC is representing the former party in the politically sensitive litigation Estate Management and Business Development Co Ltd v Namalco Construction Services Ltd & Ors. On the junior side, Graeme Halkerston continues to impress, recently acting for liquidators of Global Steel Holdings in recovery investigations.
“Wilberforce are a very reliable set in which you know you can rely on the high quality and reputation of any one who you instruct.”
“Wilberforce is a force to be reckoned with in the offshore trusts world.”
Leading Silks:
- Brian Green QC “Equally brilliant in contentious and non-contentious cases, he has exceptional depth of knowledge bolstered by experience.”
- Gilead Cooper QC “The best of the best, his analytical skills are razor-sharp.”
- John Wardell QC “One of the true masters of the courtroom and absolutely in his element when on his feet.“
- Michael Furness QC “Intellectually sharp, calm, hardworking and commercial.”
- Robert Ham QC “A real doyen in tax, Chancery and commercial chancery work who offers excellent strategic as well as technical advice.“
- Terence Mowschenson QC “Terry has encyclopedic knowledge of trusts and company law and commercial injunctions.”
- Thomas Lowe QC
- Jonathan Hilliard QC “Sharp, focussed and a genuine team player – a real asset to have on board for a team assisting with larger cases.“
- Clare Stanley QC “A highly skilled and utterly fearless advocate, and a first choice for representation in any contentious trusts or estate situation.”
- James Ayliffe QC “James has good broad commercial practice and is highly experienced.“
- Nikki Singla QC “Hugely intelligent and hard working, he is very commercial and considered in his approach.“
2020 Silks:
- Andrew Mold QC “Able to identify technical legal arguments that were missed by other leading counsel.“
Leading Juniors:
- Graeme Halkerston “A great tactician, and someone who you would rather have in your tent than in the other side’s.“
- Andrew Child
- Anna Littler “Anna is able to absorb huge amounts of information, detect valuable insights and develop sophisticated legal arguments on the back of them.“
- Michael Ashdown “His intellect, attitude and accessibility are extremely impressive.“
- Elizabeth Houghton “Bright, hard working and clear-thinking.”
Rising Stars:
- Jamie Holmes “A supremely bright junior, Jamie leaves no point unconsidered.“
- Tim Matthewson “A future (if not current) star whose prodigious work ethic and drafting are impeccable.“
Pensions
Rated as ‘the elite of the pensions bar’, Wilberforce Chambers’ members continue to advise and act in the industry’s most complex and cutting edge issues. Michael Tennet QC, Edward Sawyer, and Jonathan Chew act for Mitchells & Butlers trustees in a major rectification claim estimated to be worth over £100m, on the issue of indexing benefits to RPI inflation; Fenner Moeran QC acts for the representative beneficiary. Members are also instructed in Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund v Stena Line Ltd and others, considering whether a time bar applies to the right to unpaid pension benefits. The case, thought to have over £100m at stake includes Tennet QC and Moeran QC, and the addition of Paul Newman QC (for the trustee), Thomas Robinson, ‘technically brilliant’ Emily McKechnie (for the representative beneficiaries).
“Wilberforce remain the elite of the pensions Bar.”
“First-rate set with leading practitioners in pensions, trusts, and property law. Huge range of counsel, many being the leaders in their field.”
Leading Silks:
- Brian Green QC “An absolutely top flyer in this sphere. Outstanding advocate, hugely clever, profound expertise, and incredibly supportive of his instructing solicitors.“
- Paul Newman QC “Very quick, very user friendly and a real team player.“
- Michael Tennet QC “Intellectually very strong and brings a lot of creativity, very collaborative and works hard to drive the team and client forward.“
- Michael Furness QC “Outstanding technician – absolutely unparalleled technical knowledge he is someone Judges listen to. One of the most highly respected individuals in this area.“
- Jonathan Hilliard QC “Jonathan is bright and insightful. A good communicator and makes himself available.“
- Fenner Moeran QC “A master in pensions law, particularly with an international dimension. Unusual to find a barrister with such a keen intellect, but who can also see the bigger picture. Delivers extremely insightful advice as a result.“
2020 Silk:
- Andrew Mold QC “Andrew goes from strength to strength. He is a highly regarded and very well-liked member of the pensions bar. Easy to work with and technically excellent.“
Leading Juniors:
- Edward Sawyer “Edward is always my first choice in the pensions litigation space. Extremely bright and hard working, a great team player and someone who always over delivers. He will almost certainly be a QC in the near future.“
- Emily Campbell
- Sebastian Allen “Bright, astute, calm and unflappable. He is personable, easy to deal with and an excellent strategic thinker.“
- James McCreath “James is an outstanding junior. He is as smart as they come, very diligent, and an absolute pleasure to work with.“
- Thomas Robinson “Calm, pragmatic and impressive. An excellent manner.“
- Emily McKechnie “Technically brilliant, excellent with clients and judges! Easy to work with and a real team player.“
- James Walmsley “James is respected for his acumen and raw intelligence, particularly in actuarial or financial matters.“
- Jonathan Chew “Jonathan has a good instinctive sense for responding to queries and issues which means he is well able to cut to the real points of focus very quickly. He is a sharp mind.“
- Thomas Seymour “Very personable and calm and a fount of knowledge and experience.“
- Michael Ashdown “Technically excellent, hugely enthusiastic and extremely diligent.”
- Joseph Steadman “Joe is quick on the uptake and has a good instinct in this area and I feel will become a well known figure in the area in due course.“
Private Client: Personal tax
Wilberforce Chambers has an illustrious history of advising on the taxation of trusts and estates as well as on the taxation aspects of pension schemes and capital gains tax. In the case of Gareth Clark v HM Revenue and Customs, which reached the Court of Appeal, Jonathan Davey QC is acting for HM Revenue and Customs in a test case concerning the liberation of pension funds through the setting up of UK and offshore trusts and other such structures.
Leading Silks:
- Brian Green QC “A genius and brilliant in all respects. Brian is incredibly generous with his time and attention, making time for even the most insignificant matters. He has the ability to cut through the seemingly most intractable issues with ease, grace and good humour. A joy to work with!”
- Jonathan Davey QC “An excellent leader, communicator and advocate.“
- Michael Furness QC
Leading Juniors:
- Emily Campbell
Private Client: trusts and probate
Wilberforce Chambers ‘obviously is one of the top sets for offshore trusts’ and is a ‘set that excels in this field.’ The ‘highly intelligent’ Brian Green QC is acting for the defendant (a major bank) in £450m Hong Kong proceedings concerning the alleged breach of trust and other consequential issues. In another major case Gilead Cooper QC (an ‘intellectual giant’) is acting for Paul Nicholls (guardian of the infants) in Kea v Watson & Ors, a long-running dispute between two New Zealanders before the Jersey courts, concerning the validity of an interim arrêt (a form of seizure) of interests in three trusts to enforce payment of UK judgments.
“This is a pre-eminent set with some legendary members in this world.”
“The Chambers is made up of great talent and there is always help at a high level when needed.”
Leading Silks:
- Brian Green QC “Brian is phenomenal – both on legal excellence and personality. He is astute, wise and highly emotionally intelligent. Brian has an extraordinary ability to deliver difficult advice in a compassionate and persuasive manner.“
- Michael Furness QC “A top, top silk with vast experience who delivers concise and commercial advice.“
- Robert Ham QC “There is probably no London QC more experienced in Bermuda trust law than Robert. He provides real gravitas to any case. His technical ability is matched by his approachability.“
- Gilead Cooper QC “A piercing intellect and a highly imaginative approach to the issues thrown up in trusts disputes make Gilead one of the top ranking, go to barristers in this area. It has always been a very great pleasure working with him.“
- Clare Stanley QC “A skilled advocate who builds great relationships with clients. Clare combines a down to earth approach with an encyclopaedic and authoritative knowledge of trusts law. She is thoroughly across the detail yet maintains a clear strategic focus and is completely committed to pursuing the best result for the client.“
- Jonathan Hilliard QC “A superstar.“
- Jonathan Davey QC “He is just super in terms of written and oral advocacy. He is great with clients – having a conference with him must be like being given a hug by valium; he really makes you believe that everything is under control and will be alright. He has a great connection with judges and a huge amount of experience in complex litigation.“
- Tiffany Scott QC “Tiffany provides insightful and comprehensive advice on very complex trust matters. She is approachable and is quick to understand and address the needs of clients.“
- Fenner Moeran QC “He has a brilliant analytical brain, communicates wonderfully with clients. Picks up essential points in a case very quickly.“
2020 Silk:
- Zoë Barton QC “Zoë is very clear, decided and commercial in advising, is technically very good and is also good in relation to points of evidence.“
- Andrew Mold QC “Andrew is an understated and very polite assassin. He brings clarity to great complexity and it is his precision that really sets him apart.“
Leading Juniors:
- Emily Campbell “She has a brain the size of a mountain, and cuts through problems with razor sharp clarity, a problem solver, rather than a problem maker.”
- Andrew Child
Rising stars:
- Michael Ashdown “Michael’s intellect, attitude and accessibility are extremely impressive.“
- James Goodwin “Technically, commercially and intellectually capable. Extremely effective and an advocate who is able to hold his own against silks. James is able to read the court and its mood effectively. Fantastic written advocacy.“
- Joseph Steadman “Extremely intelligent, he knows the law backwards, gives very practical advice. He is an ideal person to have on the team.“
Professional negligence
‘Stellar set‘ Wilberforce Chambers garners praise for its ‘quality and strength in depth‘. The ‘top class‘ team stands out for its expertise in handling negligence claims pertaining to pensions and property, and has also been kept busy acting in claims against a range of professionals, including solicitors, barristers, accountants and tax advisers. Jonathan Seitler QC is representing 54 investor claimants in a group action against a firm of solicitors concerning investments in student accommodation in Yorkshire. Clare Stanley QC, ‘an impressive advocate‘ with ‘a compelling courtroom style‘, has established strength in handling cases regarding alleged negligence in relation to the trusts sector. In January 2021, Joanna Smith QC was appointed to the High Court bench.
“A user-friendly set.”
Leading Silks:
- John Wardell QC
- Ian Croxford QC
- Jonathan Seitler QC “He is fabulous to work with. Highly intelligent and establishes a great rapport with the client.“
- James Ayliffe QC
- Michael Furness QC “Michael has huge technical knowledge and provides measured, firm advice. Judges listen to him.“
- Paul Newman QC “Paul has incredible experience and knowledge of all pension related matters. Very sound in his advice.“
- Clare Stanley QC “Clare is a total star. She is a fierce cross-examiner, super-smart, hard working and gets to the key issues instantly. She can quickly break down the most complicated of cases into comprehensible parts.“
- Lexa Hilliard QC
2020 Silks:
Leading Juniors:
- Benjamin Faulkner “Benjamin is fiercely intelligent and has a commanding but personable advocacy style.“
- Edward Sawyer “A fearless advocate. Highly intelligent with an impeccable memory and eye for detail.“
- James Walmsley “A brilliant technical and strategic thinker. He is particularly well-suited to large and complex cases and will get on top of the facts quickly.“
Property litigation
Wilberforce Chambers combines notable senior expertise with a strong team of junior barristers, with a strong offering across the full range of property matters, most notably commercial landlord and tenant work, development disputes, mortgages, title disputes, and rural economy issues. Joanne Wicks QC and Emer Murphy appeared in the Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd case before the Supreme Court, a case relating to landlord-tenant permissions for covenant breaches. Martin Hutchings QC and James McCreath were involved in Devine v Housing Solutions Ltd, a legally significant restrictive covenants case concerning whether a developer who had knowingly constructed houses in breach of restrictive covenant could rely on the public interest in those houses being occupied to justify modifying the covenant. Jonathan Seitler QC is heavily involved in telecoms cases, particularly the burgeoning area of litigation relating to the new code, and appeared before the Court of Appeal in Cornerstone PLC v Ashloch, AP Wireless, which will determine what rights telecoms operators have under the new telecoms code during the term of a telecoms lease. Mark Wonnacott QC and Harriet Holmes were involved in The trustees of the Williams-Wynn 1987 Settlement v Natural Resources Body for Wales, a landmark mines and minerals case.
“Good at ensuring good relationships are maintained. Excellent, quick, responsive and personable. Very easy to work with.”
“Great set for property litigation and a number of excellent seniors and juniors – so real strength and depth. They have been very visible through the pandemic and great use of social media!”
Leading Silks:
- Jonathan Seitler QC “Jonathan’s ability to think outside of the box is remarkable. The way his mind works in order to find angles to really create a legal argument is fantastic and means that we always go to him to help us to fight our way out of a corner. His advocacy skills and powers of persuasion are second to none. He controls the court room with his smart wit and, at times, humour and is fantastically persuasive on his feet.“
- Joanne Wicks QC “Absolutely at the top of the game for property related disputes. A pleasure to work with and so clear and concise in her advice. Has to be in the very top echelon in this jurisdiction and always a first choice. Always willing to roll up the sleeves and gets stuck in. Every angle is always covered and one feels in extremely safe and capable hands. Technically very astute.“
- Martin Hutchings QC “Martin gets to the nub of the issues quickly and concisely. He does not sit on the fence and is prepared to give a clear view, something that is valued by clients.“
- Mark Wonnacott QC
- John Furber QC
- Tiffany Scott QC “Tiffany’s attention to detail is second to none. She is incredibly thorough, always happy to pick up the phone to chat something through and excellent when cross-examining. Highly skilled in extracting information from elderly and infirm witnesses in a sensitive but determined manner. She is very client friendly and unlike many barristers, acknowledges that her involvement is part of a bigger picture.“
- James Ayliffe QC “Hardworking. An excellent team player. Cautious but proactive, with strategic ideas and suggestions. Paperwork is very clear and precise, and work is produced on time.“
- Julian Greenhill QC “Absolutely brilliant. Really client-friendly. Excellent on his feet, both in making submissions and in cross-examination. Gives clear, focussed advice and works well as a team with his solicitors.“
- Michael Barnes QC
- Jonathan Davey QC “He is a reassuring presence, calm, great personality, very charming and puts clients at ease quickly. He works well behind the scenes with the solicitor team and rolls his sleeves up and incredibly accessible and responsive. He understands the team approach and is very easy to work with, and a very nice person on top of it all, shows genuine interest in people.“
2020 Silks:
- Zoë Barton QC “Steely with a superior legal and commercial brain. One to have on your side in the toughest of fights. She will concentrate on the killer points! Her good written work and great advocacy will carry the tribunal. A go-to QC for the difficult cases and clients.“
Leading Juniors:
- Emer Murphy “She provides commercial advice in a clear, readily understandable way which can be acted upon.“
- Charlotte Black
- Jonathan Chew “Very analytical, strong on practical and technical law. Good with the tribunal and opposition. Good paperwork and prompt turnaround.“
- James McCreath “Highly intelligent with great intuition. Easy to work with and hard working.“
- Benjamin Faulkner “Very good on landlord and tenant matters. User-friendly with clients, combined with excellent technical skills and attention to detail (which can be a rare combination!). Charms the judges. Very much a team-player.“
- Harriet Holmes “Exceptional drafting skills. Very good with clients, friendly, approachable.“
- Simon Atkinson “Simon has an incredible appetite for work, is able to process huge amounts of information in a short space of time. He has an absolute mastery of the law and is also very good on his feet – clients have real confidence in him.“
- Tom Roscoe “Tom continues to be my go-to in this area. As well as being a compelling and brilliant Chancery lawyer, he’s great on his feet, engaging, reactive, commercial and really knows his stuff. His practical application and commercial advice is always well-received. He continues to impress and turns around work within required timescales.“
Rising Stars:
- Joseph Steadman “Joseph has always dealt with matters thoroughly with great attention to detail. Joseph is very easy to work with and is friendly, approachable and realistic with advice.“
Tax: Corporate
Leading Silks:
- Jonathan Davey QC “Jonathan is an excellent advocate – calm, measured and highly persuasive, and very good indeed at responding effectively to questions from the court or tribunal.“