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Index of tables

  1. Administrative and public law – Leading Sets
  2. Administrative and public law – Leading Silks
  3. Administrative and public law – New Silks
  4. Administrative and public law – Leading Juniors

Administrative and public law – Leading Silks

Administrative and public law – Leading Juniors

At the ‘remarkable’ Blackstone Chambers, the ‘wonderful’ Lord Pannick QC has an outstanding reputation, as does the ‘incisive and brilliant’ Dinah Rose QC, who is ‘at the very pinnacle of the public law Bar’. Michael Beloff QC is ‘an exceptionally erudite and persuasive orator, enchanting the court whenever he rises to his feet’; and John Howell QC is ‘fantastically clever’ and ‘incredibly accessible’. Mark Shaw QC has ‘the magic combination of being academically excellent and practically brilliant’, and Michael Fordham QC is ‘a complete star’. Timothy Otty QC is a ‘lawyer of exceptional ability, tact and skill,’ and Javan Herberg QC, who made silk in 2011, is ‘brilliantly clever and hardworking’. Of the juniors, Ben Jaffey is repeatedly singled out as ‘very good’, and Tom Hickman is ‘robust’ and ‘impressive’.

Brick Court Chambers’ standout silks include the ‘superb’ David Anderson QC, who is ‘brilliant with clients’; and Richard Gordon QC, who is ‘imaginative and innovative and always looking for the best angle to defend or probe a case’. New silk Jemima Stratford QC is recommended for her ‘straightforward but effective advocacy’, and fellow new silk Marie Demetriou QC is ‘absolutely excellent’. Of the juniors, Martin Chamberlain is ‘absolutely first class’, and Maya Lester has ‘an eye for the detail without losing sight of the bigger picture’.

Thirty Nine Essex Street is ‘head and shoulders above most other sets for Court of Protection work’. Nigel Pleming QC’s ‘advocacy skills are first rate; he speaks to judges on their level and is a real pleasure to listen to’. Robert Jay QC is ‘becoming very well known’ through his role in the Leveson Inquiry, and Eleanor Grey QC has ‘a fantastic manner in court and is always absolutely on top of a case’. Jenni Richards QC is ‘clever and incisive, and thinks about cases strategically and from all perspectives’; Lisa Giovannetti QC has a ‘gentle but persuasive style that is attractive to judges’; and Duncan Sinclair is commended for his ‘mastery of technical detail’. Nicola Greaney and Katharine Scott are ‘rising stars’.

11KBW’s James Goudie QC is ‘a real heavyweight in this area’, with ‘real presence in court’. Also recommended are Nigel Giffin QC, who is ‘user friendly, diligent, and thinks hard about the issues’; and Clive Lewis QC, who is ‘very good’. Ben Hooper is a ‘standout junior’ who has a ‘calm presence in court’, and Karen Steyn ‘prevails in tricky and hard-fought cases’. Jason Coppel ‘will be a star of the senior Bar when he eventually takes silk’.

Landmark Chambers is ‘one of the leaders of the pack for public law’. Richard Drabble QC is ‘an amazing advocate to work with’ thanks to his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’ and ‘authoritative manner’. Nathalie Lieven QC is also ‘very good’. Junior stars include the ‘very capable’ James Maurici, and Mark O’Connor, who has ‘a phenomenal eye for detail’. Carine Patry Hoskins has ‘the intellectual capacity and clarity of mind to function at the top of the profession’. Also recommended are the ‘exceptional’ Declan O’Callaghan; Galina Ward, who has ‘excellent judgement’; and Tim Buley, who has ‘a bright future ahead of him’.

Matrix Chambers has ‘a very high-profile public claimant law capability’. Key barristers include Tim Owen QC, who ‘gets to the heart of complex issues with great skill’; and Rhodri Thompson QC, who ‘delivers his arguments with charm and conviction’. Clare Montgomery QC has ‘a fearsome intellect’ and is ‘undoubtedly a star performer at the Administrative Court’. Standout juniors include the ‘reliable’ Alison Macdonald, who has ‘a very sharp mind’ and is praised for her written work; and Nick Armstrong, who is ‘a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm’.

Doughty Street Chambers’ key players include Edward Fitzgerald QC, who is hailed for his ‘good knowledge’ and ‘creative arguments’; and Ian Wise QC, who has ‘a track record of many successful big cases’ and ‘works with passion’. Stephen Cragg is a junior who is ‘always up for a fight’, and Tracey Bloom is ‘very intelligent’ and ‘highly committed’. Paul Bowen QC, who recently took silk, is also recommended.

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is ‘particularly strong for local government work’. Key members of the set include Timothy Straker QC, Richard McManus QC, and Richard Clayton QC, who ‘thoroughly deserves recognition’. Junior James Strachan* is a ‘real class act’ and has a ‘good reputation’. *James Strachan is now at Thirty Nine Essex Street.

Monckton Chambers focuses on representing commercial organisations in challenges to statutory regulations, and is ‘on the up’ in this area. The ‘intellectually powerful, thorough and hardworking’ Brendan McGurk is a recent addition from Four New Square and joins a team that includes head of chambers Paul Lasok QC, who is acting for Ryanair in a claim to recover over-paid air passenger duty. Tim Ward QC is an ‘up-and-comer on judicial reviews’, and Gerry Facenna is ‘a leading junior in public law matters’.

Cornerstone Barristers is ‘a good set of chambers where the clerking is first class’. Key silks include Mark Lowe QC and James Findlay QC, and new silk Ranjit Bose QC is also recommended. Among its well-respected juniors, Richard Ground ‘works tirelessly’ and has ‘a calm assurance that is appreciated by the client’; and Harriet Townsend has ‘a talent for directing minds to the significant issues, thereby clarifying the legal argument’.

One Crown Office Row’s ‘standard of customer service is very high’. Big names at the set include Philip Havers QC, who is widely considered a ‘leader of choice’ for public law; and Angus McCullough QC, who is ‘one of the best at the Bar’. Junior Jeremy Hyam has ‘a formidable intellect’ and his ‘attention to detail is immaculate’, particularly when it comes to the healthcare arena.

FTB is regarded as a ‘go-to chambers for rating disputes’. Robin Purchas QC’s ‘reputation as a leading public law barrister is very well deserved’. Richard Glover QC has ‘unsurpassed expertise’ and is ‘a pleasure to work with’, as is Guy Roots QC. Gregory Jones QC is a ‘truly consummate barrister with oodles of natural charm’ and is a ‘gem of the public law Bar’. Denis Edwards is ‘steadily building up a strong government practice across a range of public law areas’.

Garden Court Chambers has an excellent reputation for representing claimants. Robin Tam QC ‘knows the law inside out’ and ‘stands out for his hard work and diligence’. Jan Luba QC is also recommended, as is the ‘highly motivated and intelligent’ Stephen Simblet.

Henderson Chambers is a ‘very strong set for this area of law’, and its clerks are ‘helpful and easy to deal with’. Richard Mawrey QC is ‘very impressive in all respects’; ‘he resolves issues rather than creating new ones’. Rhodri Williams QC has ‘a careful and measured approach, with very good attention to detail’ and ‘often covers points you had not anticipated’. Alan Dashwood CBE QC provides ‘clear and concise advice’, and junior Geraint Webb is ‘clear, to the point, and practical’. Adam Heppinstall is ‘very approachable’ and ‘performs well as an advocate’.

The clerks at New Square Chambers are ‘helpful, and enquiries are answered promptly’. George Laurence QC is ‘first choice for any advice on town and village greens’. Ross Crail is ‘thorough, knowledgeable and professional’, and Edwin Simpson is appreciated for his ‘willingness to meet clients in their homes and to take site visits early’. New tenant Madeleine Heal is noted for ‘her fighting spirit’.

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