The Legal 500

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

Brick Court Chambers fields ‘many talented specialists in public law’ and ‘truly excellent’ clerks. Richard Gordon QC is a ‘human rights expert’ and ‘instils confidence in his approach’. David Anderson QC is rated for judicial review work and recently acted for BAA and Ofcom. ‘Simply superb in every respect’ and ‘magisterial as always’, Jonathan Sumption QC was appointed as a Supreme Court judge in 2011. Sir Sydney Kentridge QC has the ‘absolute respect of the court’, and Alan Maclean QC has a ‘first-rate intellect’ and a ‘refreshing practical approach’. 2010 silk Jemima Stratford QC is an ‘exceptionally clear, analytical and persuasive advocate’. At the junior end, Martin Chamberlain ‘wins over judges with persuasive oral submissions’, Marie Demetriou is ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove’, and Maya Lester is ‘highly intelligent, diligent and thoughtful’. Andrew Henshaw is ‘extremely intelligent’, and Jasbir Dhillon is ‘tenacious and industrious’.

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

Brick Court Chambers has some of ‘the top clerks in London’, who are ‘both professional and easy to deal with’. ‘Very able barrister’ Andrew Lydiard QC acted in PK Air Finance v Chartis. Clients of the ‘clear, thorough and practical’ Neil Calver QC ‘know they are getting exceptional-quality advice’, and Mark Brealey QC, who has ‘extensive knowledge of competition law’, rates for his ‘analytical approach to a problem and careful analysis of a case after thorough preparation’ and ‘strength in explaining difficult and complex issues in a clear, concise manner’.

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit), Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a first tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers is ‘one of the very top sets, with excellent, approachable clerks who always seem available and flexible’. The ‘first-rate’ Mark Hapgood QC is ‘the person to go to for weighty finance matters’. The ‘exceptional’ Mark Howard QC is ‘quick to understand even the most complex of issues’ and ‘without a doubt one of the best in this field’. The ‘extremely client-friendly’ Tim Lord QC is ‘a first-rate silk’. Richard Slade QC is ‘a great choice for difficult cases, where he will do his utmost to fight for the client’. Simon Salzedo QC ‘was an exceptional junior who deservedly took silk this year. A very deep and subtle tactician and an excellent lawyer’. Daniel Jowell QC is ‘particularly good at understanding and rationalising European legislation’. Jasbir Dhillon is ‘a careful, cautious and meticulous lawyer, with a good eye for detail’. Andrew Henshaw has ‘excellent attention to detail and is a first-rate draftsman’.

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police), Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a second tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers is rated for its court experience. The highly regarded Richard Gordon QC is described as ‘the human rights barrister par excellence’. David Anderson QC’s recent successes include appearing before the ECHR for the government of Cyprus in a case relating to the rights of Greek Cypriot property owners after the Turkish invasion. At the junior end, Martin Chamberlain is ‘excellent’ and singled out for his experience. Marie Demetriou gives ‘clear and concise practical advice’, and the ‘tremendous’ Victoria Wakefield is praised for her work on the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry.

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

Brick Court Chambers will have a Jonathan Sumption QC-sized hole to fill now that its joint head of chambers is becoming a judge at the Supreme Court. Regardless of his departure, few dispute the set’s position among the elite. Jonathan Hirst QC, who has recently been involved in the high-profile ITV v STV dispute, ‘oozes authority in and out of court and is extremely decisive, which inspires confidence in clients’. Mark Hapgood QC is ‘approachable, extremely hands on and hardworking, and retains a sense of humour throughout’. Mark Howard QC, who is leading for Michael Cherney in his claim against the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, is ‘an extremely good advocate’. Andrew Popplewell QC is ‘the finished product, completely polished and on the top of his game’. Neil Calver QC is ‘very good with clients and also a strong advocate and tactician’. Clients rate Helen Davies QC who, ‘unlike many of her peers, is not remotely afraid of sticking on her tin hat and making a judge listen’. Simon Salzedo QC has ‘excellent judgement and always produces the highest-quality oral and written submissions’. Among the juniors, Andrew Henshaw ‘understands what solicitors need. He has excellent attention to detail and is a first-rate draftsman’.

Within Consumer and product liability,

Other notable practitioners include Jonathan Rich at Five Paper, who is ‘first class on the technical aspects of the law’, and George Leggatt QC at Brick Court Chambers, who has ‘an enormous intellect’.

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

‘Without question the standout chambers in the competition field’, Brick Court Chambers has a ‘leading line-up’ of specialists. Most prominent among the practitioners is Nicholas Green QC, chairman of the Bar Council in 2010; noted as ‘one of the outstanding advocates of his generation’, he appeared for Intel in its large and complex abuse of dominance case. Mark Brealey QC ‘leads in competition law damages claims’ and ‘demonstrates an intelligent and balanced approach that attracts both judges and clients’, and appeared in the Competition Appeal Tribunal of Hays v OFT, where he represented Hays on concerns of a recruitment cartel and an appeal against a fine. Aidan Robertson QC ‘cuts to the heart of any issue’ and is a ‘totally reliable pair of hands’, and appeared in WHA v HMRC, a VAT appeal case on the abuse of rights principle in EU law. Fergus Randolph QC appeared in Churchill Insurance v Wilkinson & Others on the compatibility of an insurer’s right of recovery under English law with EU law, and is ‘pragmatic, and involved, and brings real momentum to a case’. Further notable silks include James Flynn QC, ‘a class act, very experienced in front of the CAT’, and ‘excellent advocate’ David Anderson QC, who appeared in Kadi II on a successful judicial review in the ECJ of asset freezing measures taken by the EU against an alleged terrorist sympathiser. Several of the juniors have excellent reputations, including ‘strong intellect’ Kelyn Bacon, who has expertise in telecoms, pharmaceuticals, technology markets and taxation and appears regularly in matters on behalf of HMRC. The ‘dedicated, committed and hardworking’ Margaret Gray acted in the High Court of Northern Ireland, with David Vaughan QC, for Norbrook in its successful application to be granted leave to seek a judicial review; and the ‘bright, able and thorough’ Maya Lester has expertise in cartels, mergers and regulatory investigations.

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

Eight barristers at Brick Court Chambers are involved in the high-profile Berezovsky v Abramovic dispute, including Andrew Popplewell QC and the ‘incredibly hardworking’ Helen Davies QC. Mark Howard QC delivers ‘excellent legal analysis’, and Charles Hollander QC is ‘extremely knowledgeable’. Daniel Jowell QC and Simon Salzedo QC ‘richly deserved their recent elevations to silk’. Top juniors include Michael Bools (‘full of practical, commercial solutions’); and Roger Masefield (‘very bright and a pleasure to deal with’).

Within Environment Environment – Leading Silks

Within Fraud: civil, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a second tier firm,

Brick Court Chambers is ‘an extremely strong set with good clerks’. Mark Howard QC is a ‘top-quality advocate who has a calm and measured approach’. ‘Powerful and persuasive advocate’ Stephen Midwinter acted in the $80m Naftrans v Bonde Nielsen case, and Alec Haydon acted in BSkyB v EDS. Roger Masefield is recommended, as is Fionn Pilbrow.

Within Immigration (including business immigration) Immigration – Leading Juniors

Within Information technology,

Also recommended are Alan Gourgey QC of 11 Stone Buildings (‘very user-friendly’); Graham Read QC at Devereux (‘tenacious in driving a strategy forward’); Simon Croall QC of Quadrant Chambers; and Derek Sweeting QC of 7 Bedford Row. Brick Court Chambers attracted ‘top junior’ Nicholas Saunders from Hogarth Chambers in 2010, who has an excellent reputation in the field – his ‘technical knowledge is unsurpassed’. The ‘very strong’ Lawrence Akka at 20 Essex Street and the ‘bright and client-friendly’ Philip Roberts of One Essex Court are also well-respected juniors.

Within Insurance and reinsurance, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a second tier firm,

With a ‘heavyweight roster of top advocates’, Brick Court Chambers is ‘one of the top sets’ and ‘very strong in all aspects’. Reflective of the set’s calibre, Jonathan Sumption QC was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court. Despite Sumption’s move, the set has ‘great strength in depth’ to draw from, including Sir Sydney Kentridge QC (‘simply the best’); head of chambers Jonathan Hirst QC; Neil Calver QC (‘he delivers the goods’); and Tom Adam QC (‘without a doubt the most capable brain of his generation’). Fionn Pilbrow is ‘a junior whose star is rising fast’. Instructing solicitors also appreciate senior clerk Ian Moyler, who is ‘very well connected’.

Within Intellectual property,

Also recommended are highly respected silks Ian Mill QC at Blackstone Chambers (whose ‘grasp of soft IP – copyright in particular – is first class’); and Michael Edenborough QC of Serle Court (‘an excellent all-rounder who gives quick, practical advice’). Of the juniors, clients single out Mark Engelman at Hardwicke, who acted in The Estate of Adrian Jacobs v JK Rowling & Bloomsbury Publishing. Other noteworthy practitioners include Brick Court Chambers’ new recruit Nicholas Saunders (formerly of Hogarth Chambers); the ‘pragmatic and commercially minded’ Malcolm Chapple of New Square Chambers; and the ‘most helpful’ Robert Deacon at 11 Stone Buildings.

Within International arbitration, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a second tier firm,

The ‘first-class’ Brick Court Chambers has a ‘range of very able counsel’ who are ‘value for money in complex, high-value cases’. Clients single out Jonathan Hirst QC, who has ‘a terrific manner with clients, who trust him implicitly ’. Mark Howard QC is ‘a brilliant, extremely talented advocate’ with an especially strong reputation for major utilities and infrastructure disputes, and the ‘very able’ Michael Swainston QC and ‘first-class’ Helen Davies QC are also very well regarded. The ‘top-notch’ Neil Calver QC is ‘hardworking and very approachable’ and particularly strong in insurance and reinsurance matters. Hilary Heilbron QC has ‘the most wonderful ability to command respect with the mere raising of one eyebrow’. The ‘extremely bright and tenacious’ Alan Maclean QC is ‘a brilliant technical lawyer with fine commercial skill’. The ‘excellent’ Simon Salzedo QC is ‘a clever strategic thinker’ whose ‘written work is strong’. Among the juniors, Roger Masefield provides ‘excellent legal analysis but with the right commercial focus’. Jasbir Dhillon is ‘extremely thorough in his analysis and can be relied upon to leave no stone unturned’. Michael Bools is ‘the top barrister for all-round academic brilliance, ease to work with and sense of humour under extreme stress’.

Within Licensing Licensing – Leading Silks

Within Media, entertainment and sport, Brick Court Chambers (Chambers of Jonathan Hirst QC and Nicholas Green QC) is a third tier firm,

‘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’.

Within Planning Planning – Leading Silks

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

The ‘pre-eminent’ Brick 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 QC ‘always 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 ’.

Within Shipping,

Also recommended are: ‘dependable and thorough advocate’ Andrew Popplewell QC and dry shipping expert Richard Lord QC at Brick Court Chambers; Sean O’Sullivan, who ‘gives very good, sensible advice’, at 4 Pump Court; the ‘responsive, approachable and accurate’ Nicholas Craig at 3 Verulam Buildings; James Watthey, who is noted in particular for yacht-related work, at Hardwicke; and Stephen Dennison QC at Atkin Chambers, for ship construction disputes.

Within Treasury Panel Lists Junior Counsel to the Crown – A Panel