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  1. Charities – Leading Sets
  2. Charities – Leading Silks
  3. Charities – Leading Juniors

Radcliffe Chambers has ‘considerable strength in depth in the area of charity law’ and ‘goes the extra mile to deliver’. Robert Pearce QC’s ‘skills as a draftsman and breadth of knowledge of trust law are outstanding’. He recently advised the Charity Commission in the high-profile Independent Schools Council v Charity Commission & Attorney General’s Reference on independent schools. Peter Crampin QC is also recommended. Within a strong bench of juniors, Francesca Quint is ‘immensely knowledgeable’ with ‘all the depth of knowledge, gravitas and experience of a silk’, and Thomas Dumont is ‘extremely good and very pragmatic’. Peter Smith is ‘very strong on knowledge of the law relating to ecclesiastical charities’, Joshua Winfield is ‘fast on the draw with sound instincts’, and Mark Mullen is ‘very thorough and easy to deal with’.

Maitland Chambers has ‘tremendous strength in depth’ assisted by ‘efficient modern clerking’. The ‘outstanding’ Christopher McCall QC has a ‘peerless court presence’, with a ‘refreshingly strong emphasis on conciliation in contentious matters’. He recently led Matthew Smith in the high-profile Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) case. Smith is ‘extremely well versed in the case law’. The ‘user-friendly’ Andrew Westwood is also recommended.

5 Stone Buildings is ‘one of the best in its field’, and includes Mark Herbert QC, who has a ‘first-class mind, and is clear and concise in his advice, which is of a practical bent’. Shân Warnock-Smith QC has both an advisory and litigation practice, and is ‘highly adept at finding practical and commercial solutions’.

Wilberforce Chambers has a strong private client focus. The ‘relatively quiet, but extremely impressive’ Michael Furness QC recently advised the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on its relationships with National Museums. The ‘marvellous’ and ‘very learned’ Edward Nugee QC has a wide-ranging Chancery practice, and senior junior Mark Studer is ‘top quality’ and has a contentious and advisory practice, which includes the drafting of trust and conveyancing documentation.

Individuals of note include Serle Court’s William Henderson (‘exceptionally bright’ and ‘amazingly conscientious’); Hubert Picarda QC at 9 Old Square (who has ‘a fantastic understanding of the history and scope of charity law’); Ten Old Square’s Simon Taube QC (‘nothing short of brilliant’); XXIV Old Buildings’ Michael King (a ‘great advocate and tenacious in cross-examination’); Elspeth Talbot Rice QC (‘a skilled strategist’); and 15 Old Square’s ‘ingenious’ James Kessler QC and Robert Venables QC, who are noted for their charities-related tax practices.

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