The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government), Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellent‘ Brick Court Chambers offers ‘first-rate service‘. Richard Gordon QC ‘has a reputation for fighting difficult cases‘ and David Anderson QC is ‘intellectually first-rate‘. Jemima Stratford displays ‘mastery of detail‘, while Martin Chamberlain is well regarded as he ‘quickly sees the heart of the problem‘, appearing before the House of Lords in a significant case regarding the applicability of the Housing Act to women’s refuges. Maya Lester, led by Sir Sydney Kentridge QC, also appeared in the House of Lords on behalf of the Chagos Islanders.

Within Aviation, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers continues to field a healthy number of prominent aviation experts at silk level. Chief amongst them is Andrew Lydiard QC, who has a particular focus on arbitration and mediation proceedings and recently acted for the MOD in a review of the Mull of Kintyre RAF crash in 1989. Clients also recommend Mark Brealey QC for his airport-based practice, while Neil Calver QC continues to be the set’s go-to silk for reinsurance claims.

Within Banking and finance , Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a second tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers deployed significant numbers of barristers - including Roger Masefield on the impact of the collapse of various Icelandic banks, whilst Helen Davies QC and Stephen Midwinter amongst others, assisted in a $1.8bn credit swap action regarding a portfolio of mainly US sub-prime mortgages. Jonathan Sumption QC’s appearances in the Court of Appeal (‘Northern Rock‘) and House of Lords (‘bank charges‘) reasserted his reputation as one of the country’s leading appellate lawyers. Tom Adam QC is ‘bright, quick, easy to work with‘, whilst Tim Lord QC’s City background makes him a perfect 2008 silk for “credit crunch” cases. ‘All-round star, whatever the subject matter‘ Simon Salzedo is praised for ‘winning against silks - and easily outshining them‘. Andrew Henshaw ‘practises law with integrity, intelligence and a sense of humour‘.

Within Commercial arbitration, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers delivers ‘a gold-standard service without arrogance and hype‘. The set added ex-Law Lord Lord Hoffman and ex-BA GC Robert Webb QC alongside Hilary Heilbron QC (‘very thorough in her preparation‘) and the ‘highly recommended‘ Stephen Ruttle QC. Jonathan Hirst QC is ‘a superb commercial silk who always gives his best‘. 2008 also saw increased instructions for Michael Swainston QC alongside the ‘very impressive‘ Mark Howard QC. Neil Calver QC and Helen Davies QC are both sought after. Jasbir Dhillon offers ‘comprehensive, speedy and user-friendly advice‘. ‘The clerks are also very helpful and punctual in response times‘.

Within Commercial litigation , Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a first tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers always impresses. With appearances by members (including Jonathan Sumption QC) in Buncefield, plus an appeal before a nine-judge House of Lords in Equatorial Guinea, the set’s ability to handle serious cases remains superlative. Mark Howard QC ‘thinks outside the box, and is bold‘; Jonathan Hirst QC ‘adapts to the client’s timetable‘. Charles Hollander QC ‘quickly grasps issues‘, whilst Andrew Popplewell QC ‘comes off the fence and gives a view which he stands by‘. Helen Davies QC is ‘down-to-earth, charming, with the presence of legal greatness‘. Juniors like Simon Salzedo handle appellate work without a leader; other signature matters included Masri v Consolidated Contractors. Daniel Jowell gives ‘very practical and commercial advice‘ and Simon Birt ‘distils complex issues and presents them coherently‘. Victoria Wakefield is ‘wise beyond her years, has a brilliant manner, yet wears it modestly‘.

Within Consumer and product liability

Within Consumer and product liability

Within Consumer and product liability

Within EU and competition, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a first tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers’ barristers are praised for their ‘intellect, pragmatism, commercial advocacy, and dedication‘. Three members of the team took silk in 2009. Nicholas Green QC remains the standout silk, with extensive experience of litigating competition cases, especially before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), where ‘he is very effective‘, and ‘superb with clients‘. Mark Brealey QC offers ‘lateral thinking‘; David Anderson QC is seen as ‘very bright and adaptable‘. EU state aid matters are a growth area, particularly in the airline sector, where Conor Quigley QC acts for BA. At a UK level, the set also defended an action brought by the Merger Action Group into the HBOS/Lloyds TSB merger. New 2009 silk Aidan Robertson QC appeared for HBOS, with the ‘bright and responsive‘ Helen Davies QC appearing for Lloyds TSB. Davies also appeared with the experienced Charles Hollander QC in the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Services case. Davies was also involved, along with seven other members, (acting for either side), in the various BSkyB v Virgin actions throughout 2008. Juniors recommended include Robert O’Donoghue who ‘provides high-quality advice, promptly and at a fair cost‘. Kelyn Bacon also stands out for a practice bridging domestic telecoms competition law work, with first-class appellate and European advocacy. One comment, typical for all the set’s juniors, was that Marie Demetriou ‘quickly grasps complex issues. She is concise and focused and is a pleasure to work with‘. Daniel Jowell and Maya Lester are also praised as ‘excelling in competition law matters.‘

Within Energy, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a second tier firm,

At Brick Court Chambers, Mark Howard QC is commended as ‘diligent and user-friendly‘ while Jonathan Sumption QC is a ‘major name‘ and was involved in advising on the high-profile Buncefield litigation. Respected juniors here are Simon Salzedo singled out as ‘hard working but tactful and a good team worker‘ while Daniel Jowell, Michael Bools and Roger Masefield are also recommended.

Within Environment

Within Environment

Within Fraud: civil, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

Mark Howard QC of Brick Court Chambers is an ‘outstanding all-round commercial advocate, great for fraud‘. Andrew Popplewell QC is ‘quiet, but has a backbone of iron‘, whilst Roger Masefield is ‘excellent‘.

Within Human rights and civil liberties, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers has strong appellate expertise. Richard Gordon QC has an excellent record in House of Lords and ECHR cases, including a landmark case on retention of DNA by the police. David Anderson QC has also shown himself highly capable on ECHR cases, with more than 30 appearances to his name. Martin Chamberlain is a Special Advocate in terrorism cases. Jemima Stratford’s record includes handling cases on torture and the legality of the Iraq War.

Within Insurance and reinsurance, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a first tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers has ‘top quality people‘, such as Mark Howard QC, who is ‘one of the best cross-examiners in the business‘. Michael Swainston QC is similarly recommended; George Leggatt QC is a ‘very clever and careful litigator‘. Andrew Popplewell QC ‘presents his cases very well‘, while Jonathan Hirst QC is ‘very user-friendly and commercial‘ in his approach. The junior Bar is no less appreciated. Harry Matovu ‘
argues with eloquence and charm‘, whilst the ‘first-class‘ Roger Masefield is ‘incisive and clear‘. Combinations of senior and junior counsel are doubly effective. Neil Calver QC, considered ‘one of the go-to silks of his generation‘, acted for AGF in the Court of Appeal in Wasa v Lexington. Calver led Stephen Midwinter, praised for his drafting of pleadings. Both faced formidable opposition in Jonathan Sumption QC for the respondents in Wasa.

Within Licensing

Within Leading commercial sets, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a first tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers maintains its ranking, with an improved showing in insurance. Ian Moyler and Julian Hawes run ‘one of the best clerking systems in London, with tremendous strength in depth‘. The set’s best-known leader, Jonathan Sumption QC impresses. However, with four QC appointments in 2006, three in 2008 and four in 2009, many aspire to such greatness. This is because ‘advice received is top-
notch and commercially expressed, always practical, not just legalistic‘ from leaders such as Mark Hoskins QC, Alan Maclean QC, Fergus Randolph QC and Aidan Robertson QC, all with significant commercial, arbitral, EU or public law experience. One to watch is Daniel Jowell, ‘one of the most promising commercial juniors of his generation‘.

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Treasury Panel Lists

Within Media, entertainment and sport - Leading Sets,

Brick Court Chambers’ Charles Hollander QC appeared in the BAGS litigation, as did Nicholas Green QC. Daniel Jowell also represents major broadcasters including the BBC and Virgin Media. Marie Demetriou is acting in the ongoing dispute regarding publicans broadcasting live Premiership matches.

Within New Silks (February 2010)

Within New Silks (February 2010)

Within New Silks (February 2010)

Within Professional negligence, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a second tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers’ Mark Howard QC is ‘incomparable as an advocate, - certainly the best I have ever worked with‘. Charles Hollander QC is noted as impressive. Mark Hapgood QC is silk of choice for the defence of claims involving financial instruments, such as that brought against JP Morgan Chase Bank by disappointed purchasers of emerging market debt. Simon Salzedo is ‘responsive, accessible, bright, commercial and user friendly‘. Peter Irvin is an excellent negotiator who ‘showed exactly the right amount of steel in the mediation‘; he is ‘personally liked and appreciated by the clients‘.

Within Shipping, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Sumption QC and Jonathan Hirst QC) is a third tier firm,

Leading commercial set Brick Court Chambers has longstanding shipping experience and houses the ‘impressive‘ Andrew Popplewell QC, who ‘is always prepared to grapple with the detail‘. Dry shipping expert Richard Lord QC is ‘reliable and commercial‘, and is recommended for bill of lading cases, cargo claims, and time charter disputes. The chambers is ‘well clerked‘ as the set is ‘prepared to adapt to the client’s timetable‘. Julian Hawes and Ian Moyler are ‘unfailingly excellent‘.