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  1. Employment – Leading Sets
  2. Employment – Leading Silks
  3. Employment – New Silks
  4. Employment – Leading Juniors

Employment – Leading Silks

Employment – Leading Juniors

The ‘pre-eminent’ Blackstone Chambers houses a sizeable team that covers the full spectrum of contentious employment law. For some, it is ‘the best set for employment silks’, with big names such as Paul Goulding QC (‘the standout lawyer for restrictive covenants’), Dinah Rose QC (‘undoubtedly a star in this field’) and Monica Carss-Frisk QC (‘very client focused and strategic’). Recommended juniors include Gerard Clarke, who has ‘the most astute and commercial brain’; Thomas Croxford, who is ‘plainly a leading junior’; and Jane Mulcahy, who is ‘extremely responsive and enthusiastic’. Also recommended are Diya Sen Gupta, the ‘relaxed and cerebral’ Nick De Marco, and the ‘outstanding’ Kate Gallafent. Thomas de la Mare QC took silk in 2012.

A leading force in employment, 11KBW’s already strong offering at silk level was enhanced with the appointment of Seán Jones QC, ‘a top practitioner with a fierce intellect’, and Paul Nicholls QC, who is ‘exceptionally bright and someone to use for complex High Court litigation’. ‘One of the top silks in the UK’, Christopher Jeans QC has ‘extraordinary cross-examination skills’, and John Cavanagh QC’s ‘analysis of very complex legal issues is tremendously impressive’. James Goudie QC is ‘a fluent and solid advocate who dismantles opposing arguments point by point’. Daniel Oudkerk QC is ‘very client friendly’, and Daniel Stilitz QC has ‘a brilliant analytical mind and real flair for cross-examination’. The ‘extremely tenacious’ Marcus Pilgerstorfer joined from Old Square Chambers in 2012. The ‘outstanding’ Richard Leiper and ‘very talented’ Jane McCafferty are also highly regarded.

Littleton Chambers has a distinguished reputation in the field, and was further strengthened at silk level with the appointment of Damian Brown QC, who ‘thoroughly deserves his elevation’; and Stuart Ritchie QC, who ‘thinks outside the box and has a sound grip on the facts’. John Bowers QC is ‘a good team player who delivers speedy responses’, and Andrew Clarke QC has ‘a pleasing manner which is well liked by clients’. Selwyn Bloch QC is ‘a clear expert on restrictive covenant issues’. Among the juniors, Gavin Mansfield gains clients’ ‘complete confidence’, Antony Sendall is ‘exceptionally bright and very approachable’, and Jeremy Lewis has ‘great attention to detail’. Sam Neaman ‘argues cases as a great conductor would lead an orchestra’, and Daniel Tatton-Brown combines ‘excellent strategic thinking with skilled advocacy’.

Cloisters is praised as a ‘well-run and very proactive’ set. ‘From the clerks through to the head of chambers, everyone adopts a professional yet open and friendly approach’. Recommended silks include Robin Allen QC, whose knowledge of employment law is ‘second to none’; Paul Epstein QC, who is ‘a formidable opponent’; and the ‘truly gifted’ Daphne Romney QC, who is ‘a delight to work with’. Clients also benefit from Jason Galbraith-Marten’s ‘positive outlook and easy manner’, Rachel Crasnow’s ‘thorough preparation’, and Anna Beale’s ‘first-rate judgement and sensitivity’. The ‘meticulous’ Jacques Algazy QC and ‘intellectual heavyweight’ Caspar Glyn QC both took silk in 2012.

With strength across a broad range of employment disputes, Old Square Chambers is ‘particularly good for collective or trade union issues’. Mark Sutton QC has discrimination expertise, and is ‘the first choice for disciplinary cases involving doctors’. John Hendy QC is highly regarded for industrial action disputes, and Jane McNeill QC’s ‘excellent advocacy skills cut to the heart of an issue’. Jennifer Eady QC delivers an ‘excellent’ service to clients. Recommended juniors include Michael Ford, Ijeoma Omambala and Melanie Tether. Marcus Pilgerstorfer left to join 11KBW in 2012.

The clerks are ‘very responsive and helpful’ at Devereux. The ‘mind-bogglingly intelligent’ Ingrid Simler QC, is ‘a top silk for any complex discrimination case’; the ‘technically excellent’ Bruce Carr QC wins plaudits for his expertise in trade union issues; and the ‘first-rate’ Timothy Brennan QC is ‘extremely thorough in preparation’. Recommended juniors include Nicholas Randall, who is ‘strong, practical and authoritative in court’, and Akash Nawbatt, whose ‘obvious intellect hides a fierce determination to succeed’. Recent work saw nine members involved in the highly publicised British Airways cabin crew dispute. New silk Suzanne McKie QC is set to join Littleton Chambers in August 2012.

At Matrix Chambers, Thomas Linden QC is ‘consistently impressive and a great choice for highly technical cases’. The ‘extremely conscientious’ Antony White QC ‘explains the most complex concepts in straightforward terms’, and Karon Monaghan QC has ‘excellent technical nous and insight’. New silk James Laddie QC is ‘an extremely hardworking barrister with a photographic memory’. Recommended juniors include the ‘commercially minded’ Claire Darwin and Thomas Kibling, who is ‘worlds apart from most barristers in his approach’. The set is also praised for its ‘reliable’ practice management team, which delivers ‘a very high-quality service’.

Essex Court Chambers’ Andrew Hochhauser QC is ‘a formidable advocate with a well-earned reputation as a fiery and effective cross-examiner’. Martin Griffiths QC’s greatest strength is his ‘commitment to cases and hands-on approach’. Recommended juniors include Charles Ciumei, who shows ‘extremely sound judgement when it comes to difficult decisions’; and David Craig, who demonstrates ‘exceptional attention to detail’. The ‘very hardworking’ Jane Russell joined from Tooks Chambers in 2012.

At Fountain Court Chambers, Charles Béar QC has ‘a formidable intellect and good judgement’, and ‘responsive and personable’ new silk Paul Gott QC is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ on industrial relations matters. Adam Tolley is ‘an excellent technical lawyer with sound commercial judgement’. The set’s senior clerk Alex Taylor is ‘one of the best around’.

Outer Temple Chambers has the ‘phenomenal’ Andrew Short QC, who demonstrates ‘great attention to detail’; and Richard Lissack QC, who is also highly regarded. Of the juniors, Daniel Barnett is ‘very energetic and purposeful’, and Keith Bryant is ‘commercial and extremely pragmatic’. Clients also appreciate the ‘very personable approach’ of Benjimin Burgher, who ‘tackles any challenge with a smile’.

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Legal Developments in London Bar for Employment

  • TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS (PROTECTION OF EMPLOYMENT) AND AGE DISCRIMINATION

    I have been asked to cover the topic of Employment law within my half an hour speaking slot today. I have narrowed my subject down to Transfer of Undertakings and Discrimination, with the focus on providing an update on the recent spate of cases on service provision change and on the important developments in the law of age discrimination. Needless to say, in my presentation I shall not be able to cover the level of detail which is contained in my written paper, which I will leave you to read.
    - 11KBW

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