The Legal 500

Blackstone Chambers maintains its position in the rankings. Being ‘the leading chambers in financial regulatory work‘, the set’s commercial and public law skills remain in demand. One of its chief exponents, Lord Pannick QC, was ennobled as a cross-bench peer; he is ‘in his element in appellate matters, particularly in the House of Lords, where his experience must be unrivalled‘. Such experiences will also fall to James Eadie QC, successor to great names like John Laws and Harry Woolf as First Treasury Counsel - the “Treasury Devil”; the set’s showing in the Attorney-General’s panels is equally impressive; its grasp of public law is unerring, dominating this area. Adam Lewis QC and Anthony Peto QC took silk, while junior Andrew Green is one to watch.

Brick Court Chambers maintains its ranking, with an improved showing in insurance. Ian Moyler and Julian Hawes run ‘one of the best clerking systems in London, with tremendous strength in depth‘. The set’s best-known leader, Jonathan Sumption QC impresses. However, with four QC appointments in 2006, three in 2008 and four in 2009, many aspire to such greatness. This is because ‘advice received is top-
notch and commercially expressed, always practical, not just legalistic‘ from leaders such as Mark Hoskins QC, Alan Maclean QC, Fergus Randolph QC and Aidan Robertson QC, all with significant commercial, arbitral, EU or public law experience. One to watch is Daniel Jowell, ‘one of the most promising commercial juniors of his generation‘.

One Essex Court has exceeded 2008’s top-tier rankings tally, with gains in banking and finance, commercial arbitration, and licensing. Laurence Rabinowitz QC’s shines in commercial litigation; he ‘continues to impress both as an advocate and on advisory work. His approach is highly appreciated by clients‘. New silks, Daniel Toledano QC, David Wolfson QC and Alain Choo Choy QC also have extensive commercial experience. Sa’ad Hossain is also recommended at junior level. ‘The clerking at One Essex Court is the best at any chambers. Darren Burrows runs things in a very modern and responsive way, and is a pleasure to deal with‘.

Essex Court Chambers remains ‘top quality for arbitration and commercial dispute work‘, thanks in part to senior clerk, David Grief, ‘who makes his counsel very available‘, and his clerking team ‘are “on the button”‘. The set saw new recognition for its IP expertise. Gordon Pollock QC, legendary head of chambers, returned to public heavyweight commercial litigation in Buncefield. The large team of silks is described as ‘outstandingly good, user-friendly and bright‘. Joe Smouha QC is, in particular, ‘an excellent strategist‘. The juniors are also praised, with Edmund King ‘very able, hard-working and particularly good on his feet‘. Chambers welcomed Christopher Smith QC to 2009 silk.

Fountain Court Chambers easily retains top-tier status, with a new ranking in professional discipline. The set’s revitalised clerksroom ‘operates particularly well, providing a very reliable service‘, and saw the highly commercial Paul Martensteyn supplement Alex Taylor’s hard work. Tim Dutton QC swapped his impressive 2008 chairmanship of the Bar for Michael Brindle QC’s role as head of chambers. The set’s ‘legal analysis is usually very strong‘. Proof of demand comes in large teams being deployed in OFT v Abbey National, with seven in Tajik Aluminium v Ermatov; and six in IXIS v Terra Firma. Richard Handyside QC and Michael Green QC received richly merited silk appointments. Adam Zellick is, ‘without doubt, a star in the making‘.

3 Verulam Buildings is promoted, thanks to the set’s ability to deliver ‘consistently high-quality advice on commercial disputes from a user-friendly range of counsel‘, including new silk Paul Lowenstein QC. It also maintains an increasingly popular roster of arbitrators. The set’s impressive roster of mid-to-early career silks and solid senior juniors supplements the sagacious skills of Ali Malek QC and John Jarvis QC. Exemplars include Adrian Beltrami QC who is ‘very bright, and completely unflappable‘; Jonathan Nash QC is described as ‘robust and reassuring‘, and Sonia Tolaney who ‘turns things around well, with good commercial advice - a proper fighter.‘

‘The service received from 20 Essex Street is excellent, as clerks are responsive and the quality of counsel is of the highest calibre‘. Core areas of commodities, energy, shipping law and international trade finance litigation are strong, with an advance in insurance. The set also offers advice in public international law, banking law and EU/competition law. Litigation involving the Front Comor, (“West Tankers”) which went to the ECJ and the House of Lords, shows why the set is ‘good on complex jurisdictional issues‘ in arbitral or litigious fora. Philip Edey QC took silk.

7 King’s Bench Walk’s excellence is partly due to the traditional clerking virtues espoused by the ‘superb‘ Bernie Hyatt; who manages ‘barristers who are very able and easy to work with‘. Lawyers rate 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘for disputes with a trade, transport, shipping, trade finance and insurance angle‘. The barristers also ‘provide the client with confidence in their legal acumen‘. With six silks in 2006, two in 2008 and one this year, 19 of 7KBW’s 46 members are now QCs. No two people exemplify their skills better than Jonathan Gaisman QC and 2009 new silk, Stephen J Phillips QC.

Quadrant Chambers is ‘very well-organised, always professional and helpful‘ and joins the second tier, thanks to positive feedback for its shipping and aviation work, with recognition in insurance, commodities and commercial litigation. The set saw Tim Gerrard arrive as chief executive with a mandate ‘to gain greater recognition as a general commercial set‘. Gerrard joins senior clerk Gary Ventura and head of chambers, Lionel Persey QC. Solicitors say ‘the clerks are some of the best in the business‘. Stephen Cogley is a ‘fantastic advocate who always takes a commercial approach‘.

4 Pump Court rises up the commercial tables. The set ‘consistently provides a good and responsive service‘ across the major commercial disciplines and received enhanced recognition in professional negligence and energy. The set has also specific expertise in information technology, construction and licensing. Carolyn McCombe has ‘set the standard for chambers entering the commercial world; her administration has made a real difference‘. Members deliver ‘consistently good advice and results‘; as a result, the set saw Sean Brannigan QC and Andrew Neish QC make silk in 2009.