The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government) Administrative and public law – Leading Juniors

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit), tier 4

Outer Temple Chambers is particularly recommended for its regulatory expertise. Michael Bowes QC is highly recommended for financial services and regulatory issues and was recently instructed by the FSA on its first criminal prosecution for insider dealing, R v McQuoid and Melbourne. Richard Lissack QC is valued for his ‘very practical advice and strong regulatory nous’. Among the juniors, the ‘very user-friendly’ Nicholas Medcroft has ‘a thorough appreciation of both criminal law and procedure and also how banks work’. Oliver Assersohn has an ‘invaluable knowledge of the FSA disciplinary process’.

Within Children law (including public and private law) Children law (including public and private law) – Leading Silks

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police),

Also recommended are: 25 Bedford Row, which represents defendants accused of national security breaches and life-sentenced prisoners; 5 Essex Court, for its work defending actions against the police and cases engaging human rights; the ‘highly diplomatic’ Barbara Hewson at Hardwicke, who ‘conducts her work in an effortless manner’; Ian Rogers, Piers Gardner, and new silk Tim Ward QC at Monckton Chambers; ‘consummate advocate’ Richard Lissack QC at Outer Temple Chambers, for public inquiry work; and the ‘absolutely first-rate’ Nicholas Moss at Temple Garden Chambers, for his work on the Baha Mousa public inquiry.

Within Clinical negligence and healthcare, Outer Temple Chambers (Chambers of Philip Mott QC) is a second tier firm,

Outer Temple Chambers has ‘a good range of expertise among counsel, from top-ranking silks down to some promising juniors’. At the top end of the spectrum, former head of chambers Christopher Wilson-Smith QC is ‘exceptional’, and ‘standout barrister’ David Westcott QC is described by one solicitor as ‘one of the sharpest minds I have come across, yet he does not let his intellect stop him being personable and approachable’. Highly rated juniors include Harry Trusted, for his ‘intellectual grasp of complex legal issues’, and Alison McCormick, who is ‘extremely helpful and approachable’ and has ‘great empathy for clients’. Caroline Hallissey is ‘a breath of fresh air’ and ‘exceptional at testing medical experts ’ opinions’; Rachel Vickers is ‘thorough, easily accessible and great with clients’; and Eliot Woolf is ‘a hit with clients and experts alike’ and ‘very good on detail and preparation’. Cara Guthrie is ‘a pleasure to work with’; she is ‘excellent with figures and has a strong grasp of relevant legal principles’. Also recommended are Nathan Tavares, for his ability to ‘tackle difficult issues head on’, and Harriet Jerram, for her ‘reassuring style and presence’.

Within Crime, tier 4

Outer Temple Chambers has strength in extradition, financial crime and regulatory matters, with Christopher Wilson-Smith QC singled out.

Within Education,

Other notable practitioners include Outer Temple Chambers’ John McKendrick, who has ‘excellent knowledge of the law’; Fenella Morris at Thirty Nine Essex Street, who is ‘absolutely excellent on all issues which raise public law arguments’; Oliver Hyams at Devereux; and the ‘clear, concise and very helpful’ Francesca Quint at Radcliffe Chambers.

Within Employment, tier 4

Richard Lissack QC at Outer Temple Chambers is a ‘tough and insightful litigator with strong commercial nous’. Andrew Short QC, who took silk in 2010, is ‘extremely down-to-earth and is a pleasure to work with’. Of the juniors, Jill Brown has ‘sound technical knowledge and judgement combined with a very effective advocacy style’. The ‘engaging’ Keith Bryant and the ‘excellent’ Benjimin Burgher are also well respected. Daniel Barnett recently joined from Temple Garden Chambers.

Within Fraud: crime (including money laundering and asset forfeiture), tier 4

Outer Temple Chambers’ Philip Mott QC has ‘clear vision and good strategic direction’, and Nicholas Medcroft provides ‘incisive legal analysis and high-quality advice’.

Within Health and safety, Outer Temple Chambers (Chambers of Philip Mott QC) is a first tier firm,

Outer Temple Chambers maintains its leading reputation in health and safety, impressing clients with a ‘thoroughly modern and welcoming attitude’. The ‘absolutely excellent’ Richard Lissack QC is ‘one of the country’s leading health and safety barristers, with huge depth in expertise’, and Philip Mott QC is ‘professional and meticulous, leaving no stone unturned’. New silk Ben Compton QC, who is ‘extremely professional and communicates well with clients’, is acting in the Atherstone-on-Stour fire tragedy case. Stephen Climie is ‘a very good advocate, who gets results’; Nicholas Medcroft is ‘one of the most knowledgeable health and safety barristers around’; and James Leonard ‘appreciates the bigger picture and has excellent attention to detail’.

Within Pensions, Outer Temple Chambers (Chambers of Philip Mott QC) is a second tier firm,

Praised for its ‘very innovative and client-focused approach’, Outer Temple Chambers has developed an ‘enviable reputation’ for pensions law and is challenging Wilberforce Chambers’ supremacy in the area. Andrew Spink QC is the set’s leading pensions silk and is ‘definitely someone you want on your side’; ‘he has extensive expertise and is a real pleasure to work with’. Andrew Short QC (who took silk in 2010) is also ‘very knowledgeable’ and an ‘excellent performer on his feet’, currently enjoying increased involvement in high-profile pensions cases. Further increasing the set’s critical mass at silk level, Nicolas Stallworthy QC is very highly regarded by clients, who have described his recent elevation to silk as ‘well deserved’; he is ‘reliable and passionate, and never lets you down’. Long acknowledged as a leading junior, Richard Hitchcock has a fine reputation at the pensions Bar, and ‘knows the practice area inside out’. The ‘approachable and intelligent’ Keith Bryant uses his wider employment practice to inform his pensions work; David Grant is ‘academically on the button’; and Naomi Ling is an ‘excellent junior who gets to the heart of the issue very quickly’.

Within Personal injury, Outer Temple Chambers (Chambers of Philip Mott QC) is a second tier firm,

Outer Temple Chambers is rated highly both for its counsel and clerking. Gerard McDermott QC is ‘a first-choice leader for many’, and David Westcott QC is a ‘silk of choice’. Christopher Wilson-Smith QC is ‘a spectacular advocate’ with considerable ‘gravitas and experience’. Leading juniors include Eliot Woolf, ‘a real star’, and Nathan Tavares, who is ‘destined for silk’. Christopher Kemp is ‘a talented adviser’, Harry Trusted is ‘excellent and thorough’, and Jonathan Hand has ‘first-rate knowledge’.

Within Professional discipline and regulatory law (including police law), Outer Temple Chambers (Chambers of Philip Mott QC) is a second tier firm,

Praised as an ‘efficient’ and ‘well-run’ chambers, the clerks at Outer Temple Chambers are ‘polite and always ready to help and assist’. The set recently welcomed Brendan Finucane QC from 23 Essex Street, who is ‘fantastic on medical cases’. Fiona Horlick is ‘brilliant’, and David Morris has vast experience in medical disciplinary and regulatory matters.

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