The Legal 500

1 Crown Office Row ‘has a dominant position, thanks to the number of top people on offer‘, say satisfied solicitors. Popular silks include Terence Coghlan QC for ‘his complete command of the subject matter‘, and Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC, (‘one of the best all-round clinical negligence silks‘). Also highly rated for their eminence are Philip Havers QC, Paul Rees QC, Stephen Miller QC, Kieran Coonan QC and Sally Smith QC. Henry Witcomb, ‘has excellent knowledge for a junior in the field of sexual and physical abuse - particularly good with cases involving learning disabled adults and children‘. Sarah Lambert provides ‘excellent analysis and advice, and prompt written work‘. Shaheen Rahman ‘has a thorough understanding of both medical law and medicine‘.

3 Serjeants’ Inn, ‘represents good value for money‘ being often seen as a more cost-effective option than regional chambers. Robert Francis QC is ‘outstanding in his grasp of the law‘. Adrian Hopkins QC, ‘is a stellar talent - on his feet there is no-one better‘. John Grace QC has knowledge and experience ‘that surpasses everyone else‘. James Watson QC has the ‘ability to handle complex cases and take imaginative approaches‘. Andrew Hockton is ‘one of our preferred counsel for complex and difficult cases‘ and Fiona Neale is frequently used where a silk’s brief would be justified. Briony Ballard, ‘clearly enjoys being in the courtroom - she is measured and knows when to take points‘.

Hailsham Chambers’ Martin Spencer QC is ‘absolutely excellent‘; Spencer appeared in the Wright v Secretary of State for Health - the care standards and human rights litigation. David Pittaway QC ‘combines an encyclopedic knowledge with real humanity‘. Jane Tracy Forster and Dr Tejina Mangat are also recommended. Clare Price is ‘very experienced and understated‘. Matthew Jackson is ‘unassuming, measured: very good indeed‘, for high-value birth injury cases.

Outer Temple Chambers, ‘very well administered, efficient and modern‘, has an excellent following from medical defence organisations, which has helped stimulate an increase in instructions. Recommended silks include the ‘phenomenally bright and determined‘ David Westcott QC and Andrew Spink QC who is ‘always on top of the issues‘. In the strong junior ranks, ‘intelligent and pragmatic‘ Harry Trusted is mentioned for his expertise. Other talented juniors include Charles Foster, Abhijeet Mukherjee, and the likeable Eliot Woolf. Cara Guthrie ‘is great fun to work with and amazingly quick‘. Rachel Vickers’ claimant practice is also building well.

7 Bedford Row has ‘a well run clerks’ room and a good choice of counsel‘. Simeon Maskrey QC ‘has really hit top form in recent years‘ Nigel Godsmark QC is ‘a superb lawyer whose skills with difficult clients make him an excellent choice for claimant work‘. Recommended in the junior ranks are ‘skilled and reliable‘ Julian Matthews, Leslie Keegan, particularly expert in brain injury, and Dr Peter Ellis for medical complexity.

2 Temple Gardens is best known for defendant representation and fields a score of counsel with clinical negligence practices. Michael de Navarro QC is well supported by NHS Trusts and health authorities for ‘his tremendous capacity for understanding medical and surgical complexity‘. Martin Porter QC appeared in Norman v Peterborough NHS Trust - the late diagnosis of breast cancer litigation. Sarah Vaughan Jones QC continues to specialise in obstetrics and cerebral palsy matters, whilst Bradley Martin frequently appears without a leader in the highest value claims. Michael Harrison is a leading authority on biotechnology and genetics.

Experience is certainly available at 1 Chancery Lane, which provides ‘a first-class quality of service‘. Satisfied solicitors say that, given this ‘we would be happy to instruct the more junior members‘. Simon Readhead QC ‘prepares extremely well and is rarely wrong-footed‘. Edward Faulks QC appeared successfully for the local authority in X & Y v Hounslow London Borough Council appeal - duty of care and third party violence. Edward Bishop is ‘thorough, knowledgeable and approachable‘. Dr David Thomson appeared in Wootton v Sandhu, a pharmaceutical negligence case with detailed causation aspects. Sarah Paneth has built a strong practice and is regularly instructed by the MDU. Angus Piper has also built a good following.

Crown Office Chambers is ‘a very good set with excellent clerking‘. Margaret Bickford-Smith is recommended where complex care and social issues are involved. Christopher Purchas QC ‘identifies key issues early and concentrates on them‘ and Michael Spencer QC are both excellent, experienced silks. Charlotte Jones’ expert practice is substantial; Dennis Matthews is also recommended for high-value claims. Farrah Mauladad is ‘an able, appealing advocate who also fights hard‘. Alexander Antelme ‘is robust and impressive in round-table negotiations‘.

Devereux Chambers is ‘a set with a number of first rate practitioners‘. Robert Glancy QC is ‘unflappable and absolutely top drawer - the complete package‘. Katharine Gollop can be ‘charming and deadly - she is very clever and wrong foots her opponent‘. Robert Weir is ‘scrupulous on detail and a razor-sharp advocate‘. Richard Cartwright is particularly good on complex quantum issues.

Doughty Street Chambers Christopher Gibson QC is ‘provides excellent advice and support‘ and Robin Oppenheim QC is also popular. Christopher Hough is handling claims of increasing value and complexity.

Cloisters has ‘a strong set of middle to senior ranking juniors who can work very well with Simon Taylor QC on substantial clinical negligence cases‘. Patricia Hitchcock is ‘sensible, and pragmatic‘. Joel Donovan and Lisa Sullivan are ‘excellent leading juniors‘. William Latimer-Sayer has an unparalleled mastery of quantum issues.

Old Square Chambers David Wilby QC is acting for the claimants in the Corby GLO v Corby Council birth defect litigation. The set is praised for combining employment, disciplinary and negligence advice.