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Index of tables

  1. Professional negligence – Leading Sets
  2. Professional negligence – Leading Silks
  3. Professional negligence – New Silks
  4. Professional negligence – Leading Juniors

Professional negligence – Leading Silks

Professional negligence – Leading Juniors

Four New Square is the ‘leading chambers in the professional negligence arena; it is well clerked and provides a consistently high-quality service’. Leading silks include Justin Fenwick QC, who has ‘excellent client skills’; Nicholas Davidson QC, who is described as ‘a master of cross-examination’; Sue Carr QC, who is ‘adaptable’ and gives ‘prompt, commercial advice’; Jeremy Stuart-Smith QC, who is ‘a true class act’; and Roger Stewart QC, who is ‘peerless’. Graeme McPherson QC is ‘outstanding’, and Ben Hubble QC is ‘absolutely at the top of his game’. The ‘first-rateLeigh-Ann Mulcahy QC and the ‘excellentDavid Turner QC are also singled out. The set fields ‘many standout juniors’, including the ‘helpful, bright and personableFiona Sinclair. Jamie Smith is ‘intellectually very strong’, and Siân Mirchandani provides ‘sensible, commercial and practical advice’. Also recommended are the ‘impressiveClare Dixon; the ‘responsiveHelen Evans; Anneliese Day, who ‘has excellent judgement’; the ‘very hardworkingScott Allen; Richard Liddell, who is ‘intelligent and meticulous’; and ‘budding starCarl Troman.

4 Pump Court is commended for ‘excellent attention to detail’ and has ‘a very professional team of clerks’. Recent work for the ‘excellentChristopher Moger QC includes acting for Barclays in a claim for over £100m against the administrators of a Guernsey-based company. Aidan Christie QC has ‘very strong analytical skills’; James Cross QC’s ‘ability to understand complex matters and plead them in an intelligible fashion is first rate’; Andrew Neish QC is ‘a fighter in the courtroom’; and Jeremy Nicholson QC’s ‘attention to detail and sound advice is first class’. Standout juniors include the ‘very hardworkingRachel Ansell, Simon Henderson, who is an ‘excellent advocate’, and Kate Livesey, who has ‘impressive attention to detail’.

The ‘pre-eminentBrick Court Chambers is ‘outstanding for professional negligence work’. Mark Howard QC is ‘a real leader’; Mark Hapgood QC is ‘one of the best in the field’; Charles Hollander QCalways gives highly intelligent advice’; and Tom Adam QC has ‘a razor-sharp mind’. Among the juniors, Jonathan Dawid is ‘top notch’; Fionn Pilbrow is ‘responsive and very bright’; and Peter Irvin is ‘highly recommended .

3 Verulam Buildings has ‘a good range of barristers and they are all very capable’. Leading silks include Andrew Sutcliffe QC, who is ‘really willing to get behind his clients’; the ‘excellentAndrew Onslow QC; Christopher Symons QC, who is ‘first rate’ and is advising in an action brought by shipowners against a major City firm alleging negligent advice. Recommended juniors include the ‘brilliantSophie Mallinckrodt; Matthew Parker, who has ‘first-class intellect’; and Jonathan Davies-Jones, who is ‘hardworking and really gets stuck in’.

Wilberforce Chambers provide a ‘good, all-round service’ and is ‘an excellent set, with brilliant barristers’. These include Jonathan Seitler QC, who is a ‘first-choice silk for property-related claims’; Michael Tennet QC, who ‘gives sound advice’; and the ‘experiencedDavid Phillips QC. John Martin QC has an ‘excellent reputation’, and Joanna Smith QC, whose ‘preparation and attention to detail is second to none’, is also singled out. For juniors, Clare Stanley is ‘an excellent all-rounder’; Jonathan Evansgives very clear advice’; Julian Greenhill is singled out for his experience in property and solicitors claims; and Nikki Singla is ‘highly intelligent’.

The clerks at Atkin Chambersalways provide a top-notch service’, and the barristers are ‘highly intelligent’. David Streatfeild-James QC is ‘first class’, and notable instructions for Simon Lofthouse QC included a case concerning allegations of negligence in the design of mechanical equipment at a major bank. Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC is ‘technically very able’, and James Howells and Camille Slow are among the leading juniors at the set. David Sears QC recently joined Four New Square.

Crown Office Chambers is ‘an efficient set that is pleasant to deal with’. Roger ter Haar QC is ‘a real star’, and appeared in the notable case of Jones v Kaney, which examines whether expert witnesses are in any way immune from suit. Michael Harvey QC is ‘a fantastic advocate’. Leading juniors include ‘the extremely personableBen Quiney; John Greenbourne, who is ‘very capable and good on his feet’; Simon Howarth, who ‘really knows his stuff’; the ‘excellentJason Evans-Tovey; and Suzanne Chalmers, who is ‘efficient, concise and user friendly’.

Fountain Court Chambers is a ‘top commercial set’ with barristers who ‘are always of excellent quality’, including the ‘exceptionally talentedMark Simpson QC; the ‘responsiveStephen Moriarty QC, who is ‘a delight to work with’; Bankim Thanki QC, who has ‘impressive attention to detail’; Michael Brindle QC, who is ‘an accomplished performer’; and the ‘very able and intelligentGuy Philipps QC. Juniors singled out by clients include Deepak Nambisan, James Cutress, Rosalind Phelps and David Murray. Craig Orr QC recently joined One Essex Court.

Hailsham Chambers has ‘very wide experience’ and as a set is ‘safe, thorough and intellectually second to none’. Among the silks, Michael Pooles QC is praised as a ‘well-respected veteran of the professional liability world’, and William Flenley QC is ‘intellectual and practical’. The ‘excellentBernard Livesey QC recently defended a law firm against a multimillion-pound claim for alleged breach of duty. Key juniors include Derek Holwill, Glenn Campbell and Paul Mitchell.

2 Temple Gardens is a ‘fantastic set’ where notable silks include Robert Moxon Browne QC, who is a ‘ferocious cross-examiner’, the ‘first-rateHoward Palmer QC, and Neil Moody QC, who is recognised for his technology and construction experience. Andrew Miller, Christopher Lundie and Sonia Nolten are among the standout juniors for the set.

With ‘good variety and depth’, leading silks at 1 Chancery Lane include Lord Faulks QC, who has a ‘calm but commanding manner in court’; and John Ross QC, who ‘leaves no stone unturned’, and recently represented the building owner in Baylis Farms Ltd v Dymott Builders Ltd, which involved a complaint of defective workmanship during the construction of an office building. Leading juniors include Alastair Hammerton, who is ‘excellent on strategy’, Angus Piper, and Andrew Warnock, who has a ‘good eye for detail’.

Keating Chambers is a ‘very strong set’, where key individuals include Marcus Taverner QC, who is ‘highly recommended for construction matters’; the ‘brilliantAlexander Nissen QC; and Adrian Williamson QC, who is a ‘leader in the field’. Also recommended are Krista Lee and the ‘very ableAdam Constable QC.

7 King’s Bench Walk is a ‘terrific set of chambers’ with the ‘standoutChristopher Butcher QC and Jonathan Gaisman QC, who is recognised for his experience in audit negligence cases. N G Casey and Rebecca Sabben-Clare are singled out as junior counsel.

Maitland Chambers has a ‘responsive clerking team’, and counsel who are ‘well respected and approachable’. Anthony Trace QC is ‘particularly strong on cross-examination’, and Edwin Johnson QC is recognised for his experience in acting for and against solicitors, and in property-related matters. At the junior level, Andrew Walker QC is ‘very personable’.

Praised for its ‘commercial awareness’, the team at XXIV Old Buildings is ‘great at providing efficient responses’. Among the silks are Alan Steinfeld QC, who is ‘a real expert’, and the ‘excellentFrancis Tregear QC. Also recommended are Michael Gadd, who is ‘efficient and to the point’, the ‘very strongElizabeth Weaver, and Edward Knight, who is ‘first class’.

Radcliffe Chambers is an ‘impressive set’ that features the ‘diligentKeith Rowley QC. Also recommended are the ‘intelligentThomas Dumont, the ‘well-preparedElizabeth Ovey, and the ‘personableGrant Crawford.

Described as a ‘solid set’, Selborne Chambers includes Justin Kitson, who is ‘good at giving a very clear explanation of issues’, and the ‘brilliantHugh Jackson. Jeremy Cousins QC recently joined 11 Stone Buildings.

Serle Court provides a ‘first-class service’, with ‘strong juniors to back the silks’. Philip Marshall QCfinds good points where others would not’, and Philip Jones QC has ‘a remarkable ability to get to the heart of technical legal issues in a pragmatic manner’. Also recognised are the ‘commercial and knowledgeable Richard Walford, the ‘hardworkingRuth den Besten, Daniel Lightman, and the ‘brightDavid Drake.

One Crown Office Row is a ‘consistently top quality’ set. Guy Mansfield QC is ‘impressive’, and Richard Smith is also recommended.

One Essex Court’s Alain Choo Choy QC is ‘massively intelligent, thorough, an exceptionally clear analyst . Andrew Lenon QC is also singled out.

The ‘capable and hardworkingChristopher Smith QC at Essex Court Chambers is recommended, as is David Foxton QC.

Clive Freedman QC at Littleton Chambers is ‘very methodical’.

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