United Kingdom > London Bar > Media, entertainment and sport
Index of tables
- Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Sets
- Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Silks
- Media, entertainment and sport – New Silks
- Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Juniors
Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Sets
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1
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2
- One Essex Court Lord Grabiner QC
- Hogarth Chambers Alastair Wilson QC and Roger Wyand QC
- 11KBW James Goudie QC
- Littleton Chambers Clive Freedman QC and Andrew Clarke QC
- Maitland Chambers Michael Driscoll QC
- 8 New Square Mark Platts-Mills QC
- 5RB Desmond Browne QC and Adrienne Page QC
- 11 Stone Buildings Edward Cohen
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3
- Brick Court Chambers Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC
- Doughty Street Chambers Geoffrey Robertson QC and Edward Fitzgerald QC
- Essex Court Chambers Gordon Pollock QC
- 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square Timothy Straker QC and W Robert Griffiths QC
- Monckton Chambers Paul Lasok QC
- Serle Court Alan Boyle QC
- 11 South Square Michael Silverleaf QC
- 3 Verulam Buildings Ali Malek QC
Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Silks
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- Daniel Alexander QC 8 New Square
- John Baldwin QC 8 New Square
- Andrew Caldecott QC 1 Brick Court
- Barbara Dohmann QC Blackstone Chambers
- James Goudie QC 11KBW
- Jonathan Hirst QC Brick Court Chambers
- Jonathan Rayner James QC Hogarth Chambers
- Elizabeth Jones QC Serle Court
- Tim Kerr QC 11KBW
- David Phillips QC Wilberforce Chambers
- Mark Phillips QC 3-4 South Square
- Kuldip Singh QC Serle Court
- Andrew Sutcliffe QC 3 Verulam Buildings
- Alastair Wilson QC Hogarth Chambers
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- Robert Anderson QC Blackstone Chambers
- John Bowers QC Littleton Chambers
- Michael Brindle QC Fountain Court Chambers
- Desmond Browne QC 5RB
- Neil Calver QC Brick Court Chambers
- Andrew Clarke QC Littleton Chambers
- Matthew Collings QC Maitland Chambers
- Anthony de Garr Robinson QC One Essex Court
- Gerard Elias QC Farrar’s Building
- Paul Goulding QC Blackstone Chambers
- Nicholas Green QC Brick Court Chambers
- Geoffrey Hobbs QC One Essex Court
- Andrew Hochhauser QC Essex Court Chambers
- Martin Howe QC 8 New Square
- Robert Howe QC Blackstone Chambers
- Victor Joffe QC Serle Court
- Thomas Linden QC Matrix Chambers
- James Mellor QC 8 New Square
- Richard Millett QC Essex Court Chambers
- Iain Purvis QC 11 South Square
- Laurence Rabinowitz QC One Essex Court
- Geoffrey Robertson QC Doughty Street Chambers
- Pushpinder Saini QC Blackstone Chambers
- Michael Silverleaf QC 11 South Square
- Joe Smouha QC Essex Court Chambers
- Bankim Thanki QC Fountain Court Chambers
- Rhodri Thompson QC Matrix Chambers
- Mark Warby QC 5RB
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- Stephen Auld QC One Essex Court
- Vernon Flynn QC Essex Court Chambers
- Jane Giret QC 11 Stone Buildings
- Andrew Green QC Blackstone Chambers
- Robert Griffiths QC 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
- Patrick Harrington QC Farrar’s Building
- Christopher Jeans QC 11KBW
- Adam Lewis QC Blackstone Chambers
- Lord Ken Macdonald QC Matrix Chambers
- Graeme McPherson QC Four New Square
- Richard Meade QC 8 New Square
- Gavin Millar QC Doughty Street Chambers
- Guy Morpuss QC 20 Essex Street
- Jonathan Nash QC 3 Verulam Buildings
- Mark Simpson QC Fountain Court Chambers
- Andrew Stafford QC Littleton Chambers
- Nicholas Stewart QC Ely Place Chambers
- Christopher Stoner QC Serle Court
- Patrick Talbot QC Serle Court
- Daniel Toledano QC One Essex Court
- Christopher Vajda QC Monckton Chambers
- Mark Vanhegan QC 11 South Square
- Antony White QC Matrix Chambers
- David Wolfson QC One Essex Court
Media, entertainment and sport – New Silks
Media, entertainment and sport – Leading Juniors
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- Mark Afeeva Matrix Chambers
- Jonathan Bellamy Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Jessie Bowhill 8 New Square
- Bruce Brodie Thirty Nine Essex Street
- Nick De Marco Blackstone Chambers
- Robert Deacon 11 Stone Buildings
- Catrin Evans 1 Brick Court
- Giles Fernando 11 South Square
- Kate Gallafent Blackstone Chambers
- George Hamer 8 New Square
- George Hayman Maitland Chambers
- Timothy Higginson Littleton Chambers
- Brian Kennelly Blackstone Chambers
- Lindsay Lane 8 New Square
- Simon Malynicz Three New Square
- Charlotte May 8 New Square
- Christina Michalos 5RB
- Sam Neaman Littleton Chambers
- Joanna Pollard Blackstone Chambers
- Chris Quinn Littleton Chambers
- Iain Quirk Essex Court Chambers
- James Ramsden 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
- Jeremy Reed Hogarth Chambers
- Jamie Riley 11 Stone Buildings
- Antony Sendall Littleton Chambers
- Nikki Singla Wilberforce Chambers
- Guy Vassall-Adams Doughty Street Chambers
- Mark Vinall Blackstone Chambers
- James Whyte 8 New Square
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- Tom Alkin 11 South Square
- Fiona Banks Monckton Chambers
- John Critchley Field Court Chambers
- Jonathan Crystal Cloisters
- Jacob Dean 5RB
- Marie Demetriou Brick Court Chambers
- Caspar Glyn Cloisters
- Madeleine Heal Hardwicke
- Michael Hicks Hogarth Chambers
- Emma Himsworth One Essex Court
- Jamas Hodivala 2 Bedford Row
- Elisa Holmes Monckton Chambers
- Seán Jones 11KBW
- Ronit Kreisberger Monckton Chambers
- Robin Leach 3PB
- Richard Liddell Four New Square
- Ian Meakin XXIV Old Buildings
- Graeme Mew Four New Square
- Sarah Palin 1 Brick Court
- Martin Palmer Littleton Chambers
- James Segan Blackstone Chambers
- Lorna Skinner Matrix Chambers
- Adam Solomon Littleton Chambers
- Louis Weston 3PB
‘In a league of its own’, Blackstone Chambers is ‘an extremely strong set for media and entertainment matters’ and is ‘simply the best for sports law, where the barristers ’ expertise is unmatched’. ‘Pre-eminent in the field’, Ian Mill QC is ‘a courtroom fighter, with a keen eye for the point that the other side will do anything to hide’. Michael Beloff QC is an ‘outstanding sports barrister’, with strong expertise in Olympics cases; and Lord Pannick QC is ‘exceptionally clever and clear thinking’. Robert Howe QC is ‘particularly knowledgeable on digital issues’, and acted in Pink Floyd Music v EMI Records. Adam Lewis QC is a ‘true star, who is well on his way to becoming one of the leaders in sports law’; and Andrew Green QC, who took silk in 2010, is ‘incredibly professional and a quiet assassin in court’. Of the juniors, Jane Mulcahy ‘combines excellent client rapport with clear and practical advice’, and has a strong flow of employment work in the sports sector. Tom Weisselberg is ‘a first-rate, incisive advocate’, and Brian Kennelly is a ‘star performer, who gives 100% reliable advice’. One to watch, James Segan has ‘a gravitas that belies his years’.
At One Essex Court, Geoffrey Hobbs QC and Emma Himsworth act for a range of clients (including broadcasters, producers and other media companies) on copyright issues relating to media and entertainment matters. In sports work, David Wolfson QC acted for Chelsea FC in the well-publicised dispute over the signing of John Obi Mikel. Also recommended for major sports disputes are Anthony de Garr Robinson QC and Daniel Toledano QC.
Hogarth Chambers’ Alastair Wilson QC has expertise in copyright and confidential information, which has led him to some high-profile cases, including Lucas Film v Ainsworth, involving copyright issues surrounding the costumes in the Star Wars films. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Michael Hicks is recommended for his expertise in interactive media and computer games consoles. Gwilym Harbottle and Amanda Michaels are also well-respected barristers in the field.
11KBW’s Tim Kerr QC is ‘extremely smart and hardworking with a very strong grasp of the legal principles and the procedural issues in anti-doping cases’. For other sports-related disputes, James Goudie QC, Christopher Jeans QC and Seán Jones are recommended.
Providing an ‘extremely friendly and forward-thinking service’, Littleton Chambers has a ‘deep understanding of clients ’ needs’, and handles employment-related sports litigation. Andrew Stafford QC’s practice encompasses football, cricket, motor racing and horseracing; and Martin Palmer appeared in a number of sports-related injunctions for Formula 1 teams in 2010, and also maintains a busy football practice. ‘Lightning-fast at understanding key issues’, Sam Neaman has expertise in boxing disputes and ‘thinks outside the box’.
At Maitland Chambers, Matthew Collings QC handles commercial cases in the sports and media sectors, and George Hayman, who is ‘very good at assimilating the key information in a short space of time’, has been involved in a number of music and film disputes of late. For some, the ‘tenacious’ Edmund Cullen is ‘the best commercial litigator for media clients’; ‘his turnaround of work is excellent and his cross-examination skills are outstanding’.
At highly regarded IP set 8 New Square, Daniel Alexander QC handles a wide range of media cases and has acted for most major broadcasters. Of the juniors, Adrian Speck’s workload involves a number of publishing, music and television cases; his understanding of technology is ‘second to none’ and ‘his ability to focus a case to the right conclusion is first class’. Also recommended are the ‘very good indeed’ James Mellor QC; Charlotte May; and the ‘excellent’ Lindsay Lane.
5RB’s Desmond Browne QC is recommended for media disputes, and Mark Warby QC is ‘a finely polished advocate, who is particularly strong in horseracing cases’. David Sherborne has a niche practice relating to the media and confidentiality issues in high-net-worth and high-profile divorces; and Jacob Dean is ‘a solid, reliable and user-friendly junior’ who handles media and entertainment issues, as well as football and horseracing cases.
11 Stone Buildings’ Robert Deacon handles a number of privacy-related media cases and acts for high-profile sports and music personalities; and Tim Penny is well versed in injunction-related matters and cross-border disputes. Jamie Riley produces ‘good work in case preparation’, is ‘very strong on pleadings’, and is highly regarded for his expertise in ticketing policies and conditions.
‘A first-rate set by any measure’, Brick Court Chambers’ Charles Hollander QC, is ‘a leader in the field’ with expertise in both sports and media law. Jonathan Hirst QC ‘oozes authority in and out of court and is extremely decisive, which inspires confidence in clients’. Nicholas Green QC is ‘the go-to counsel for a difficult case that requires innovative and strategic direction’.
The privacy and defamation specialists at Doughty Street Chambers continue to handle cases relating to reporting restrictions and freedom of information. Gavin Millar QC’s media practice involves aspects of free speech rights, as does Anthony Hudson’s, whose recent work highlights include instructions from national media organisations on reporting restrictions. The ‘hardworking’ Guy Vassall-Adams has ‘very good analytical skills’, and represented Independent News & Media in a test case at the Court of Protection, where he won media access to the Derek Paravicini case.
At Essex Court Chambers, Vernon Flynn QC is well respected in the field and Andrew Hochhauser QC is ‘extremely bright and very able on his feet’. Iain Quirk represents media and entertainment personalities and organisations, also handling various Formula 1 disputes. Richard Millett QC is also recommended.
4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s Richard Spearman QC is ‘a true master’ who has a ‘considered and eloquent style’ and ‘the ability to get the court on his side ’. He recently represented the BBC in an injunction application to restrain publication of the identity of The Stig on Top Gear. James Ramsden handles various sports cases and has particular expertise in show jumping.
‘The quality of service is second to none’ at Monckton Chambers, which is recognised for its expertise in sports law and related commercial/EU law aspects. New silk Paul Harris QC is ‘extremely bright, yet down-to-earth’ and reaps strong praise for his ‘considerable experience in sports law cases and familiarity with the Premier League and Football Association rules and regulations’. Ronit Kreisberger ‘fights very hard and is a great person to work with’; and Elisa Holmes has a ‘terrier-like desire to ensure that justice is done’. Fiona Banks is ‘a star of the future’ and ‘definitely one to watch’.
The ‘well-run and organised’ Serle Court houses Elizabeth Jones QC, who is commended for her music business experience; ‘she gets to the heart of a problem and is good at coming up with new ideas’. Sports litigator Kuldip Singh QC ‘combines determination with a strong advocacy style’, and Victor Joffe QC, who has acted for numerous leading football and rugby clubs, ‘absorbs large quantities of factual material very rapidly, with excellent recall’. Christopher Stoner QC, who took silk in 2010, has built a niche practice in handling paralympic classification issues and also acts for British Swimming in regulatory and disciplinary matters.
11 South Square wins plaudits for its ‘approachable and professional clerking and strength in depth’. Iain Purvis QC demonstrates ‘strong business acumen’ and was involved in Specsavers v ASDA. Michael Silverleaf QC is also well known in the field and has acted for high-profile clients including MTV and Skype. Silverleaf appeared against Mark Vanhegan QC in a recent dispute between two Formula 1 racing teams – Group Lotus and Team Lotus. Hugo Cuddigan, who regularly acts for musicians, is ‘a clear and focused advocate, with a commercial approach’.
The ‘responsive and willing-to-assist’ 3 Verulam Buildings is ‘very well clerked, offering breadth in expertise’. The ‘top-flight’ Andrew Sutcliffe QC delivers ‘very clear presentation in court’, and Peter Ratcliffe ‘pays considerable attention to detail and is good at relating to the client’s perspective’. William Edwards is ‘an up-and-coming force in chambers’.
At 2 Bedford Row, Jim Sturman QC is very well known for his expertise in football cases; ‘when you instruct him, you receive his total commitment to the cause; his depth of experience in sports law is unmatched’.
David Phillips QC at Wilberforce Chambers is appointed to the national anti-doping panel, and is well known for his expertise in football cases. Nikki Singla is also recommended.
3-4 South Square’s Mark Phillips QC is well known for his vast experience in Formula 1 cases and heavyweight football disputes.
Fountain Court Chambers’ Bankim Thanki QC is recognised for his knowledge of image and brand exploitation rights.
Gerard Elias QC and Patrick Harrington QC at Farrar’s Building are active in the sports disciplinary tribunal field.
At Matrix Chambers, Antony White QC is ‘brilliant at distilling the most complex points into simple propositions’; and Mark Afeeva offers ‘strong client support’.
Four New Square’s Graeme McPherson QC is an ‘invaluable and credible weapon in any sport case’; Richard Liddell is ‘sharp and extremely thorough’; and, ‘well on his way to becoming a leading junior in the field’, Daniel Saoul is one to watch for the future.
Other highly respected silks include: Andrew Caldecott QC at 1 Brick Court; Guy Morpuss QC at 20 Essex Street; Ely Place Chambers’ Nicholas Stewart QC; and ‘extremely personable’ new silk Stephen Cogley QC at Quadrant Chambers. Of the juniors: Nicholas Randall at Devereux is ‘pre-eminent for sport work’; Jonathan Bellamy of Thirty Nine Essex Street is ‘a barrister you can put your faith in’; and Cloisters’ Caspar Glyn provides ‘strong technical analysis’. Also recommended are: John Critchley of Field Court Chambers; Madeleine Heal of Hardwicke; the ‘talented and tenacious’ Louis Weston at 3PB; and XXIV Old Buildings’ Ian Meakin. Simon Malynicz (formerly of Hogarth Chambers) joined Three New Square in 2011.