Chambers of Michael Fitton QC
BROAD STREET, BRISTOL, BS1 1DR, ENGLANDWhat we say about the set's legal practice in Regional Bar
Western Circuit
Within Crime,
Albion Chambers has a ‘very good selection of counsel at all levels’, who are ‘professionally and ably supported by a team of clerks and support staff’. Michael Fitton QC and Ignatius Hughes QC are leading criminal silks. Fiona Elder is a recognised defence-oriented criminal practitioner, and team head Stephen Mooney routinely handles very complex cases. The ‘outstanding and fearless advocate’ Kate Brunner, who has the ‘ability to make well-informed legal and tactical judgements’, also has a notable regulatory practice. Don Tait and Robert Duval are also recommended, and Edward Burgess is one to watch. Anna Midgley is a very able junior who is ahead of her call.
Within Employment,
Albion Chambers’ John Livesey is an ‘exceptional’ employer-oriented practitioner, who has the ‘ability to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of a claim’. Liz Cunningham and Richard Shepherd are also recommended.
Within Family,
Albion Chambers’ family team has recently been enhanced with Nkumbe Ekaney QC’s appointment to silk. Deborah Dinan-Hayward is ‘always among the top choices for financial work’. Daniel Leafe is ‘extremely effective in complex financial cases’, as is Nicholas Sproull, whose ‘calm and confident manner is always well received by clients’. Benjamin Jenkins is 'approachable and able to explain issues in a straightforward and understandable way’.
Within Health and safety, and regulatory,
Alan Fuller at Albion Chambers predominantly practises in this area.
Within Overview, Albion Chambers (Chambers of Michael Fitton QC) is a second tier firm,
With five specialist teams in place and as a holder of BARMARK, Guildhall Chambers is ‘truly a viable alternative to London chambers’. It has a national and international insolvency reputation, a niche sports law offering and an ever-growing personal injury and clinical negligence team. St John’s Chambers’ clerks ‘really do appear to consider carefully recommendations when they are asked for them’, and the set continues to have the leading family team in Bristol. Despite several losses to the bench, Albion Chambers remains a prominent crime and family set and has an ‘extremely high standard of clerking’. Queen Square Chambers is a ‘very friendly and professional set’ that continues to have a leading employment team. Outside of Bristol, 12 College Place, which is also a holder of BARMARK, and College Chambers service Southampton, as does Devon Chambers in Plymouth. The ‘very good’ Colleton Chambers and Rougemont Chambers, along with Walnut House, are the pre-eminent sets in Exeter and Taunton. Leading Bristol annexes include Old Square Chambers, whose clerks are ‘very helpful and flexible to ensure suitable counsel is available’, and 3PB that provides a ‘“Rolls-Royce” service; right from head of chambers at the top, to junior clerks’. 3 Pump Court and Doughty Street Chambers also have a presence on circuit, and No5 Chambers’ Bristol annex provides a ‘niche, almost boutique service which distinguishes itself from the Birmingham and London chambers’. 1 Paper Buildings is highly visible on this circuit, particularly in Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester. With the opening of the new Bristol Civil Court Centre, it is expected that an increasing volume of work will stay in the hands of local sets.