The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government), Doughty Street Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Doughty Street Chambers is renowned for social welfare and housing cases, administrative law and human rights work, and the clerks are ‘very good at responding to urgent instructions’. Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC impresses in the Supreme Court, and is ‘extremely clear and persuasive’. Kate Markus ‘strikes an excellent balance between pragmatism and bullishness’, and Stephen Cragg provides an ‘extremely efficient service’. Paul Bowen has a ‘very polished approach’, and Robert Latham is a ‘tenacious and assertive litigator’ rated highly for his pro bono efforts. Caoilfhionn Gallagher is ‘one of the most hardworking and knowledgeable counsel’.

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police), Doughty Street Chambers () is a first tier firm,

Described as the ‘leading claimant police set by a mile’, Doughty Street Chambers has a ‘strong commitment’ to human rights and civil liberties work, offering an ‘excellent choice of counsel’ in the arena. Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC maintains a top-tier position for his longstanding experience. Noted for her ‘enormous knowledge and experience of discrimination law’, Heather Williams QC is ‘fantastic on her feet’, and ‘leaves no stone unturned’. At the junior level, Kate Markus has ‘extremely impressive knowledge’, and is able to ‘analyse the facts and identify core issues’. Stephen Cragg is an ‘excellent source of knowledge on police powers’, and provides ‘insightful and pertinent written advice’. The ‘refreshingly approachable’ Ruth Brander has ‘excellent analytical skills and original and creative ideas’, and Caoilfhionn Gallagher is ‘passionate about fairness and social justice’. With ‘formidable cross-examination skills’, Nick Stanage is ‘eloquent and persuasive, and impresses judges and juries’. Clients and instructing solicitors also rate the ‘extremely helpful’ clerks.

Within Clinical negligence and healthcare, Doughty Street Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Doughty Street Chambers provides ‘a consistently excellent service’, and its clerking is ‘flexible and responsive’. Robin Oppenheim QC is held in very high regard and is ‘a great asset to the set’, with ‘never-ending energy to explore all avenues of a claim’. Christopher Hough is of a similar ilk, ‘an excellent barrister who has many years of experience and much common sense’. Paula Sparks is ‘very able and extremely thorough’, and Daniel Bennett has ‘a good style with clients’.

Within Consumer and product liability, tier 4

Doughty Street Chambers’ Robin Oppenheim QC is ‘the pre-eminent product liability silk representing claimants – his eye for detail in the field is second to none’.

Within Crime, Doughty Street Chambers () is a second tier firm,

Doughty Street Chambers ‘combines strength in depth with efficiency’, and is particularly respected for its terrorism trial experience. Several new appointments bolster a silks list that includes the ‘very experienced’ Edward Fitzgerald OBE QC, Christopher Sallon QC, who is ‘both a first-rate lawyer and a top-class advocate’, and James Wood QC. Recommended juniors include the ‘excellent’ Jill Evans, who ‘identifies the crucial issues immediately but takes the time to explain complex and difficult issues with an understanding manner’; Paul Taylor, who ‘has an unrivalled knowledge of the workings of the Court of Appeal’; and David Bentley, whose ‘diligence and cleverness are head and shoulders above other juniors’.

Within Defamation and privacy, Doughty Street Chambers () is a second tier firm,

With ‘clerks that are friendly and solution focused’, Doughty Street Chambers has ‘impressive expertise in defamation and privacy matters’, and in the past 12 months has acted for claimants and for defendants in defamation, breach of confidence and privacy cases. Standout individuals include the ‘resourceful’ Gavin Millar QC, who appeared in R (On the application of Binyam Mohammed) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, representing the UK media, intervening in the Foreign Secretary’s appeal against the decision of the Divisional Court to include in its judgment findings as to the mistreatment of the applicant in US custody in Pakistan in 2002. Head of Chambers Geoffrey Robertson QC is ‘beyond brilliant’. Heather Rogers QC also stands out for her ‘wealth of experience’ in the field. Leading juniors include Anthony Hudson, who is ‘one to watch’, and Guy Vassall-Adams.

Within Education, Doughty Street Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Doughty Street Chambers has a number of experienced barristers in education, including ‘solid and measured advocate’ Ian Wise QC, who ‘has been the driving force in all the landmark test cases for children in recent years’. The ‘very bright, very ingenious and strategic’ Nicholas Bowen QC has ‘a brilliant mind’ and a broad practice which covers special educational needs.

Within Employment,

Other recommended silks include: Robert Griffiths QC at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square; FTB’s Simon Mehigan QC; Andrew Hogarth QC at 12 King’s Bench Walk, who is ‘a robust and forthright advocate and persuasive on paper’; and Gavin Millar QC of Doughty Street Chambers, who ‘always seeks strategic solutions’. At the junior end, the ‘exceptional’ Rachel Toney at Stone Chambers ‘demonstrates a keen grasp of the law and is a formidable asset in any Employment Tribunal case’; Ben Collins of One Crown Office Row has a ‘very calm, measured approach’; Tooks Chambers’ Jane Russell shows ‘excellent legal knowledge and very strong cross-examination skills’; and the ‘ten out of ten’ David Brook and ‘extremely bright’ Patrick Green at Henderson Chambers, who are also well respected in the field.

Within Fraud: crime (including money laundering and asset forfeiture) Fraud: crime – Leading Silks

Within Immigration (including business immigration), Doughty Street Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Noted for its ‘amiable and helpful clerks’, Doughty Street Chambers ‘always strives to achieve the best outcome for its clients’. New silk Judith Farbey QC acted on the English UK judicial review case, and produces ‘killer legal arguments’. Simon Cox has ‘outstanding intellect’, and Laura Dubinsky is ‘committed and genuinely cares for her clients’. Mark Henderson is involved in the landmark EU case of Saeedi, and Joseph Middleton receives impressive solicitor recommendations. John Walsh is ‘very good on deportation cases’; Phil Haywood is ‘brilliantly intellectual’; and Alasdair Mackenzie is ‘thorough and meticulous’.

Within Media, entertainment and sport, Doughty Street Chambers () is a third tier firm,

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.

Within Other New Silks Other New Silks

Within Property litigation (including agriculture and housing), tier 5

Doughty Street Chambers’ Tracey Bloom is ‘a very safe pair of hands for any housing law case, and always comes out fighting’. Robert Latham’s knowledge of the sector, and grasp of the wider context, is ‘second to none’.

Within Public international law,

Other recommendations include the ‘extremely persuasive and effective’ Khawar Qureshi QC at Serle Court, and ‘the clear, eloquent and focused’ Rodney Dixon of Temple Garden Chambers, who ‘is one of the best counsel who appears before the ICC’. Richard Hermer QC at Doughty Street Chambers is ‘a great strategist’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’.

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