The Legal 500

Enterprise Chambers

Chambers of Bernard Weatherill QC

9 OLD SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN, LONDON, WC2A 3SR, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 020 7405 9471
Fax:
Fax 020 7242 1447
DX:
301 LONDON CHANCERY LANE WC2
Web:
www.enterprisechambers.com
Email:

What we say about the set's legal practice in London Bar

Commercial litigation

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Enterprise Chambers is ‘extremely well clerked’ and has ‘a number of up-and-coming stars’. Bernard Weatherill QC is ‘very able, very hardworking and conscientious’. Linden Ife is praised for her ability to ‘draw the court’s mind to the real issues in a persuasive and effective manner’. Geoffrey Zelin is ‘a first-class Chancery counsel’ and ‘robust in his approach’, and James Pickering is a ‘hands-on, practical and brilliant orator’, and a ‘very effective cross-examiner’.

Company and partnership

Within Company and partnership, tier 4

The ‘extremely well-clerkedEnterprise Chambers is very strong in company law, ‘demonstrates flexibility on fees’, and is ‘speedy, efficient and thoroughly professional’. The ‘outstandingBernard Weatherill QC is praised for his ability to ‘establish a good rapport with the judge’. The ‘hardworkingPeter Arden QC is ‘a good draftsman who is also a compelling advocate’. The ‘excellentLinden Ife is ‘speedy in her turnaround times’, and ‘her ability to make a point with the minimum possible fuss is devastating’. The ‘fast, accurate, practical and realisticGeoffrey Zelin is also ‘extremely good with detail, and good with clients’.

Environment

Within Environment,

At Enterprise Chambers, Charles Morgan’s ‘ability to tackle not only pure environmental law issues but other related matters is a particular strength’, and is ‘equally at home in the court room or advising in the board room’.

Insolvency

Within Insolvency, Enterprise Chambers (Chambers of Bernard Weatherill QC) is a third tier firm,

Enterprise Chambers has ‘very deep’ strength in depth and benefits from ‘excellent’, ‘friendly’ and approachable’ clerks and an unstuffy reputation. Foremost among the silks is the ‘very thoroughPeter Arden QC, who is appreciated for his ‘hardworking, intelligent, friendly, and straightforward’ manner. The many talented juniors in the set include Geoffrey Zelin (‘excellent, good with clients’); property expert and ‘superb advocateTim Calland; the ‘very able, approachable and commercialHugo Groves; the ‘fast, user-friendly and efficientBridget Williamson; commercial litigator James Barker and who is a ‘tenacious, reliable, and efficient advocate’, who appeared in Re: Westek Limited; the ‘confident, articulate, and quick-thinkingRebecca Page, who appeared in Clydesdale Financial Services Limited v Smailes & Others; the ‘extremely proficientNiall McCulloch; Kavan Gunaratna (‘highly articulate and excellent on his feet’); Olivier Kalfon (‘excellent, thorough, clear, concise, reliable’); Linden Ife, (‘a real barrister of choice’), and Anthony Beswetherick, who ‘never misses a point or potential argument’.

Property litigation (including agriculture and housing)

Within Property litigation (including agriculture and housing), Enterprise Chambers (Chambers of Bernard Weatherill QC) is a third tier firm,

Enterprise Chambers has ‘real depth of ability’ and members who are ‘very businesslike and willing to assist’. Zia Bhaloo QC is the set’s leading property silk; ‘her command of the law is second to none’, and she is praised as ‘a smiling assassin’ in cross-examination. The ‘committed and extremely persuasiveCaroline Hutton is well versed in agricultural matters; James Barkercombines intelligence with a strong commercial sense’; and Tim Calland is ‘one of the future stars of the Bar’.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • HOUSING

    In Nzinga Maswaku v Westminster City Council [2012] EWCA Civ 669 the Court of Appeal clarified that in offering a homeless person with alternative temporary accommodation the local authority is obliged to point that if the offer is refused it has discharged its Part VII duties under the Housing Act 1996.
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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW
  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW
  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW
  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW
  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW
  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW
  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW
  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue: