Outer Temple Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Outer Temple Chambers Offices
Chambers of James Counsell KC and Keith Bryant KC
Outer Temple Chambers
THE OUTER TEMPLE, 222 STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 1BA
England
Outer Temple Chambers
THE OUTER TEMPLE, 222 STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 1BA
England
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Outer Temple Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Crypto and blockchain assets Tier 1
Outer Temple Chambers has a strong practice in law relating to crypto assets, blockchain and smart contacts. Members of chambers find strength in cryptoasset recovery and regulations related to cryptocurrencies, with Justina Stewart involved in a number of cross-border cases involving alleged fraud. Helen Pugh appeared inEllis v Digitplan and Ellis v Shehadi involving the cross-border tracing of digital currency through exchanges and digital wallets, which arose out of an alleged multi-million pound cryptocurrency fraud heard in the Commercial Court.Leading Silks
Andrew Spink KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Andrew is a true leader in the field of complex commercial dispute resolution at the highest level. His advocacy and ability to communicate clearly, succinctly and effectively on highly complex matters is superb.’
Leading Juniors
Helen Pugh – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Helen is an exceptionally bright advocate who is able to communicate difficult points in a relaxed manner. She sees the key points immediately, and will roll up her sleeves to help get the job done.’
Henry Reid – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Henry is all-round excellent, well beyond his years. He genuinely goes far beyond what might be expected of counsel, likely because he is curious, intellectual and determined, both to find a solution and for his clients.’
Testimonials
‘Sam Carter is commercial, ambitious and switched on, and incredibly effective at identifying the right advocate for a matter.’
‘OTC barristers (also when they work in cross-functional teams) continue to deliver work at the highest level of quality in a pragmatic, client-centric and cost-effective manner.’
‘Outer Temple have a strong sanctions team, and several very good counsel in the crypto and commercial disputes spaces.’
London Bar > Clinical negligence Tier 2
Outer Temple Chambers has ‘good strength in depth at both silk and junior level’ in the clinical negligence space. Eliot Woolf KC has a notable specialism in wrongful birth cases, while Nathan Tavares is acting in the Lariam claimants v Ministry of Defence claim, concerning military personnel who suffered long-term psychiatric symptoms after being negligently prescribed an anti-malarial drug. Junior Tom Gibson appeared in the Purchase v Dr Ahmed claim, one of the three secondary victim conjoined appeals concerning psychiatric injury to those who have witnessed the death of a loved one due to negligence, which progressed to the Supreme Court in May 2023, he has additional strength in sports-related clinical negligence cases.Leading Silks
Eliot Woolf KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Razor sharp intellect and a wonderful style with clients. A fantastic litigator.'
Nathan Tavares KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Nathan is excellent; exemplary client care skills; attention to detail and knowledge of the law absolutely brilliant.'
Jonathan Hand KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘A true exception in the industry, Jonathan is a very effective and well-balanced advocate.'
Sarah Crowther KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Sarah has exceptional knowledge and experience of cross-border PI and clinical negligence work.'
Rachel Vickers KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Rachel is an impeccable barrister of the highest quality, with attention to detail and ability to deal with the most complex issues.’
James Counsell KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘A terrific advocate, his attention to detail is incredible in cross examination and submissions.'
Leading Juniors
Harriet Jerram –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Harriet is an extremely thorough and able medical negligence barrister. She has an eye for detail, is very thorough and is always on top of the evidence.'
Ben Bradley –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Ben is quite simply outstanding. His analytical mind is extraordinary.'
Daniel Clarke – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Daniel has good attention to detail and is tactically astute. His advocacy is clear, concise and he presents arguments with authority.'
James Aldridge –Outer Temple Chambers ‘James is really good, very able and can be trusted in a big negotiation.’
Robert Dickason –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Rob is extremely efficient and soundly astute, quick to get to the issues and great with witnesses.'
Tom Gibson –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Tom is clear and methodical in his approach to things. His advice is always clear and practical demonstrating awareness of not only the matters important to the client but the commercial aspects to a case as well.'
Will Young - Outer Temple Chambers 'Will is extremely thorough, with strong analytical skills. He has a lovely manner with clients and is able to describe complex concepts in a straightforward and accessible way.'
David Haines – Outer Temple Chambers ‘David’s forensic and comprehensive approach is second-to-none. He leaves no stone unturned.’
Olinga Tahzib – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Olinga is very thorough and has impeccable attention to detail. He leaves no stone unturned.’
Testimonials
‘Paul Barton is an outstanding clerk, always finding solutions to any issues which arise.’
‘The clerking team within chambers is very efficient, responsive and offer excellent client care. Paul Barton in particular goes out of his way to service clients.’
‘The clerking service is second-to-none. Paul Barton and Mark Gardner, in particular, deserve special mention for being approachable, knowledgeable, personable and highly efficient.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers have good strength in depth at both silk and junior level. The chambers have particular expertise in high value and complex clinical negligence litigation and cross-border claims.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers have one of the leading clinical negligence sets in the country with a wide range of counsel at different levels of qualification. Across the board, the barristers are personable, accessible and easy to work with.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Employment Tier 2
Outer Temple Chambers ‘has an excellent offering in employment matters‘. Equal pay litigation remains a core pillar of strength for the team, and members continue to handle high-profile discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Pensions work is another key area of expertise for multiple practitioners in the group. Recent highlights include Andrew Short KC and Saul Margo successfully acting in the Court of Appeal for the claimants in Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v Clark and Others, a long-running equal pay claim which in 2023 reached the Court of Appeal on a point concerning ACAS conciliation in bulk claims. Naomi Cunningham is ‘a master in discrimination cases‘, and Lydia Seymour is sought after for her excellent track record in advising on employment issues that cross over with pensions matters.Rising stars
Elizabeth Grace – Outer Temple Chambers ‘She instils confidence and can get right to the nub of a case very quickly. Her advice is clear and down-to-earth.’
Leading Silks
Andrew Short KC – Outer Temple Chambers 'An utterly brilliant silk.'
Keith Bryant KC – Outer Temple Chambers 'A tour de force practitioner.'
Andrew Allen KC – Outer Temple Chambers 'Andrew is a respected silk. His advocacy stands out.'
Leading Juniors
Naomi Cunningham – Outer Temple Chambers 'Naomi is technically very strong and an absolute expert on discrimination and equal pay cases.'
Naomi Ling – Outer Temple Chambers 'Naomi is pragmatic. Her command of detail combined with strategic nous is always impressive. She always adds value.'
Lydia Seymour – Outer Temple Chambers 'Lydia is an impressive technical barrister. She understands the client's strategic aims and her advice is clear and practical.'
Saul Margo – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Saul is a consummate technician. He is very hard working and thorough, and can hold his own against silks. A cogent advocate.'
Daniel Barnett – Outer Temple Chambers 'A junior with a brilliant intellect and is highly knowledgeable in his field. He puts witnesses at ease and focuses clearly on the key issues in a case.'
Will Young – Outer Temple Chambers 'An erudite barrister. His ability to manage vulnerable clients firmly but with empathy is a credit to him. He is measured and unflappable.'
Peter Linstead – Outer Temple Chambers 'Peter is a good team player. He is succinct and quickly assimilates a large amount of information to give good advice that is practical and tactical. He moves quickly to the crux of the issue.'
Martina Murphy – Outer Temple Chambers ‘A robust junior and a strong advocate. She provides clear, practical advice.’
Gus Baker –Outer Temple Chambers 'A junior who makes complex arguments with ease, and always comes up with creative solutions - a lateral thinker.'
Victoria Brown – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Victoria is an excellent junior. She can see the wood for the trees and is compelling in court.'
Imogen Egan- Outer Temple Chambers 'Imogen is a very measured operator. She grasps the facts and documents easily. She is excellent at making legal arguments in a clear and concise fashion, and she demonstrates great client care.'
Stephen Butler – Outer Temple Chambers 'As well prepared, smooth, and as agile on his feet as counsel three decades his senior.'
Bianca Venkata – Outer Temple Chambers 'A persistent advocate who is clear and concise.'
Paul Livingston - Outer Temple Chambers 'A committed junior whose arguments are concise, and he is able to sort the wheat from the chaff.'
Testimonials
‘Nick Levett is great and always on hand to help.’
‘Nick Levett is available and reasonable.’
‘Nick Levett is unfailingly helpful and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Outer Temple is a great set.’
‘The barristers are incredibly strong.’
‘Very strong on employment law.’
‘Exceptional strength in depth in employment law.’
‘The clerks are always very responsive.’
London Bar > Financial services regulation Tier 2
Outer Temple Chambers ‘have always had a very strong presence in the financial services regulation space’ and are active across all aspects: from early advice related to perimeter guidance breaches; through to advising on investigations brought by the FCA’s enforcement division, and through to representation before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and the Upper Tribunal. Michael Uberoi has acted for the defendant in FCA v Reynolds, an alleged pensions misselling case heard by the Regulatory Decisions Committee in January 2023. Michael Bowes KC, as was, is now a circuit judge. Oliver Powell was instructed under direct access in proceedings before Lloyd’s Enforcement Board, advising and negotiating a settlement in response to a discreditable conduct charge.Leading Silks
James Counsell KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Given James' experience, it is no surprise that he is a safe pair of hands. However, he is also extremely creative, approachable, down-to-earth and easy to work with.’
Testimonials
‘Clerks are very accommodating with urgent requests, training and generally building up a relationship with chambers not just the individual.’
‘Excellent clerks – definitely some of the best in the market. Sam Carter and Colin Bunyan are amazing to deal with. Super responsive, transparent and great for a chat!’
‘The clerks are one of Outer Temple’s greatest assets. A special shout out to Colin Bunyan and Nick Levett who will always do their utmost to assist me, even when it’s a last minute instruction for the most difficult of clients.’
‘Excellent. User-friendly and pro-active.Colin Bunyan is a pleasure to deal with – very organised, quick to respond to emails and very user friendly.’
‘Outer Temple are one of my go to chambers. The clerks are friendly and helpful – nothing is too much trouble for them. Counsel are all well rounded and expert advocates. They are flexible and willing to roll their sleeves up to help their solicitors and lay clients.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers have always had a very strong presence in the FS regulation space. The have some very talented barrister there, from junior all the way to silk.’
‘Outer Temple has an awesome selection of barristers with a huge range of expertise. Generally, they are all down to earth and easy to get along with.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Pensions Tier 2
Outer Temple Chambers’ expansive roster of counsel is experienced in dealing with a variety of matters, such as age discrimination within pension schemes, pensions-related professional negligence claims, and Part 8 proceedings. Andrew Short KC acted in the notable and leading Britvic v Britvic Pensions & Mohun case, which involved the construction of an indexation provision. Other key work includes the joint effort of Andrew Spink KC and Philip Stear in the Atos UK IT Ltd & Ors v Atos Pension Schemes Ltd case, in which the interpretation of the funding rule of the pensions scheme was in question.Leading Silks
Andrew Short KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very much the top silk for matters with a pensions and employment law angle; formidable intellect and sound commercial instincts.’
Nicolas Stallworthy KC –Outer Temple Chambers 'Very bright and extremely diligent, leaves no stone unturned.'
Andrew Spink KC –Outer Temple Chambers 'He is really very good with clients, and incisive about getting to the nub of the case and equally adept at case and matter negotiation strategy.'
Keith Bryant KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Excellent knowledge and practical advice in relation to employment and pension law cross-over area; very clear exposition for lawyers and the lay client alike.’
Richard Hitchcock KC –Outer Temple Chambers 'One of the most client-friendly silks and very impressive on his feet in court. A fabulous intellect.'
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Lydia Seymour –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Charming, organised and reassuring. Gives excellent advice on rectifications.’
Nicholas Hill –Outer Temple Chambers 'Responsive, technically very capable, and a great team player.'
Naomi Ling –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Naomi has a strong insight, combined with outstanding analytical skills. She has really fights her clients corner.’
Saul Margo –Outer Temple Chambers 'Impressive technical skills and pleasing user-friendly manner.'
Michael Uberoi –Outer Temple Chambers 'Hard-working and bright, gaining an excellent reputation.'
Philip Stear –Outer Temple Chambers 'An excellent technical lawyer with great ideas and the ability to really crystallise the issue.'
Testimonials
‘The clerks at Outer Temple are helpful and easy to contact. Nick Levett and Matt Sale deserve mention as they are always prepared to go the extra step to assist.’
‘Excellent service from all clerks. Nick Levett in particular is incredibly responsive and always puts forward an appropriate selection of counsel to consider for any particular job.’
‘Matt Sale is a particularly good clerk – always prompt to reply to queries, very happy to pick up the phone to discuss queries/ availability and always helpful/ friendly.’
‘Very good, experienced clerks who are always keen to help and are good at finding a way to accommodate requests for particular counsel.’
‘They have impressive and increasing strength-in-depth in the filed of pensions litigation.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers has always been a strong set for pensions, but has arguably become even stronger in recent times. It has strength in depth, particularly at the KC level.’
‘They have increasing strength in depth for commercial litigation and professional negligence claims with a pensions or chancery angle.’
‘We continually use the set for their deep experience in all areas of pensions law and strong advocacy skills.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud Tier 2
Outer Temple Chambers is heralded as a ‘top tier London set‘, with particular personal injury expertise regarding sports claims, equine claims, and those with a cross-border element. Sarah Crowther KC has particular strength in such cross-border claims, including EU law interpretation. James Counsell KC and Ben Bradley are instructed for the claimants in AXM v Chelsea Football Club, who experienced racial abuse while playing for the club’s youth sides – exemplifying the set’s sports and abuse expertise. Eliot Woolf KC has notable expertise regarding road traffic accident claims, and Gerard McDermott KC is currently leading a claim for over eight hundred victims of the Grenfell tower fire.Personal injury - Rising Stars
Carin Hunt – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Carin is able to narrow the issues in the case effectively with a detailed orientated approach, providing a first-rate analysis, particularly when explaining these to the client.’
Leading Silks
Gerard McDermott KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Gerard is one of the leading PI silks. His client skills are second-to-none. He has a phenomenal ability to distil complex cases into manageable material, putting clients at ease, but also at the centre of the process.’
Sarah Crowther KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Sarah is a meticulous and tenacious advocate. Always well-prepared, not afraid to take a difficult point and technically gifted on tricky points of law and procedure.’
James Counsell KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘A solid advocate with a great manner. Everything you want from a top silk.'
Nathan Tavares KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Nathan is exceptionally bright, hardworking and tenacious; a true star of the Bar in every sense.’
Eliot Woolf KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Eliot is a star. His eye for detail is second-to-none, his responsiveness also second-to-none and an excellent way with clients.’
Christopher Wilson-Smith KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘A razor sharp analytical mind. Able to get to the heart of the matter and formidable reputation.'
Jonathan Hand KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Jonathan is hard working, responsive and a delight to work with.'
Christopher Wilson-Smith KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Christopher has a sharp legal mind and real gravitas in the field of catastrophic injury claims.’
Personal injury - Leading Juniors
Ben Bradley –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Excellent with clients and quick to get to the nub of the issue. Persuasive in court but tenacious when the need arises.'
Patrick Sadd –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Patrick is an extremely sensitive and able child abuse barrister. He has significant amounts of experience in dealing with these most complex of cases.'
Ian Denham –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Ian is a hugely experienced in cross-border personal injury claims. He is an excellent and persuasive advocate.'
Daniel Clarke –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Meticulous, approachable, excellent with clients and a pleasure to deal with.'
Will Young –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Will is an absolute star in the making, fiercely intelligent and hard working.'
Olinga Tahzib –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Olinga's work is very thorough and considered and he has shown excellent attention to detail.'
Testimonials
‘Paul Barton is fantastic – the best personal injury clerk around.’
‘Paul Barton, Graham Woods and Chris Rowe are all fantastic, and extremely helpful.’
‘Clerking is very strong, led by Paul Barton and Graham Woods who always go beyond with top quality service.’
‘Outer Temple is a top tier London set.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers have great strength in depth. They are able to offer counsel with the full range of experience to meet the demands of a catastrophic injury case.’
‘Outer Temple have a strong pedigree in cross-border work and is one of the “go to” sets.’
‘Top notch chambers in the arena of cross-border personal injury claims.’
‘All clerks at Outer Temple Chambers are reliable, responsive and accommodating.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Product liability Tier 3
Outer Temple Chambers covers a wide spectrum of product liability work, acting for claimants and insurers in injury-related work in addition to directors in commercial claims. Gerard McDermott KC represents victims in the Grenfell tower fire in respect of cladding issues, while Nathan Tavares KC is representing claimants who suffered serious psychiatric effects after taking melfloquine prescribed by the MoD.Leading Silks
Nathan Tavares KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Nathan has a keen eye for detail, and is personable to both clients and solicitors. His pleadings are always succinct and well drafted.'
Leading Juniors
Robert Dickason –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Rob brings his serious clinical negligence experience to bear on products cases. He really has a detailed understanding of the technical side of these cases.'
Testimonials
‘Always very helpful and accommodating where possible.’
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 3
A 'top-level London set', Outer Temple Chambers' members specialise in handling significant professional disciplinary cases across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, financial services, and the legal sphere. James Counsell KC is 'knowledgeable and strategic', and is frequently instructed for the prosecution by the BSB. Fiona Horlick KC acted for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in prosecuting an actuary who provided incorrect advice to an insurance company, which led to the risk that policy holders would not be paid in the event of a claim. In a boost to chambers, James Leonard KC took silk in March 2023.Leading Silks
Fiona Horlick KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Fiona is wonderful on her feet – persuasive, clear, and tailors her advocacy to her audience. She inspires confidence in her clients.'
Testimonials
‘A large sophisticated set.‘
‘Exactly what clients would expect – professional and efficient.‘
‘A very good set.‘
‘A top-level London set.‘
‘The set has a broad range of skills.‘
‘The clerks are helpful and responsive.‘
‘Clients enjoy a first-class working relationship with the clerks.‘
London Bar > Professional negligence Tier 3
Outer Temple Chambers is active in professional negligence work concerning legal professionals and financial professionals in specific financial and regulatory contexts, particularly concerning pensions. James Counsell KC, Nicolas Stallworthy KC and Lydia Seymour are also active in claims against solicitors, administrators, and actuaries who advise on pensions schemes – Counsell KC being notable for his claimant-side work in this space.Leading Silks
Nicolas Stallworthy KC –Outer Temple Chambers 'Good with clients; amazing brain; finds solutions to problems.'
Andrew Spink KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very experienced and a compelling advocate, both on paper and on his feet. His advice is clear and well-reasoned, and he does not lose sight of the client’s commercial objective.’
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Nicholas Hill –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Nick is simply a star of the Bar. Good-humoured, commercial, clients absolutely love him.’
Elaine Palser –Outer Temple Chambers 'Calm, direct, an excellent advocate, personable.'
Helen Pugh –Outer Temple Chambers 'Very good at communicating with and working collaboratively with solicitors.'
Lydia Seymour –Outer Temple Chambers 'She is excellent at distilling very complicated matters into plain language. She provides not only great technical legal advice but commercial pragmatic options for the client. She is also very good with the clients. No weaknesses.'
Testimonials
‘I’ve always found the clerks friendly and responsive.’
‘They have strength in depth in professional negligence, especially for pensions related claims.’
‘They have increasing strength and depth, particularly for professional negligence claims with a chancery or pensions element.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Health and safety Tier 4
Equipped to handle an array of health and safety matters, Outer Temple Chambers offers established expertise in maritime and rail related safety cases, and has a track record of prosecution for the Maritime and Coastguard Authority. James Leonard KC ‘s recent workload includes the representation of a company director charged with gross negligence manslaughter and section 37 offense following a fatal accident on a demolition site. Paul Rogers was represented MotorSport Vision in a prosecution arising from a fatality in an accident during a motorcycle track day.Leading Silks
Ben Compton KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Ben is a stand-out silk in this field. He is a star performer with clients and is wonderful to watch in the courtroom. He makes advocacy look effortless.’
2023 Silks
James Leonard KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Well known and respected.’
Leading Juniors
Oliver Powell –Outer Temple Chambers 'Oliver is a leader in his field when it comes to maritime regulatory matters. A safe pair of hands and great operator.'
Paul Rogers – Outer Temple Chambers 'Approachable, persuasive advocate, who gives sound and robust advice. Clients are very comfortable with Paul.'
Testimonials
‘The clerks are very good.’
‘Nicholas Levett is extremely professional and great to deal with. He is personable and runs a very smooth and effective operation.’
‘Always helpful and responsive.’
‘Outer Temple is an excellent set for health and safety / regulatory work. Serious talent on display at every level.’
‘Several well known and respected regulatory juniors and silks.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
Rising stars
Henry Reid – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Henry is very approachable and user-friendly. He is an excellent advocate – punches far above his weight and holds his own against those much more senior.’
Leading Silks
James Counsell KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Excellent on the law, good personality and emotional intelligence, and able in conference with a calm manner in court.’
James Counsell KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Excellent on the law, with good personality and emotional intelligence.’
Leading Juniors
Justina Stewart –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very knowledgeable, clear understanding of client needs, proactive in moving difficult issues forward.'
Stephen Doherty – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Stephen is fiercely bright and can absorb enormous quantities of information and documentation extremely quickly.’
London Bar > Sport
Rising stars
Samuel Cuthbert – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Samuel is a real star of the future. He is client-friendly, razor-sharp, hard-working, and is superb on his feet. He is a real asset both at the strategy phase of a dispute, and at the sharp end of a hearing. A fearsome negotiator.’
Leading Juniors
Louis Weston –Outer Temple Chambers 'Ability to understand the case and the nuances. Strong knowledge of the sport specifics and understanding of rules and regulations.'
London Bar > Court of Protection and community care
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
Alex Cisneros – Outer Temple Chambers 'Alex is always very prompt with the delivery of his work. He is thorough, accurate, very helpful, and knowledgeable. He will always go the extra mile and is a very capable advocate.'
London Bar > Commercial litigation
Leading Silks
Andrew Spink KC –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very easy to work with, and has the trust of the client and the entire legal team. He is a confident, persuasive and smooth advocate, with a clear, crisp but powerful advocacy style.’
Leading Juniors
Justina Stewart –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Justina is a formidable advocate, whose oral and written advocacy are top notch.’
Stephen Doherty – Outer Temple Chambers
'Stephen is phenomenally clever and can absorb huge quantities of information and documentation extremely quickly. He is very good tactically and his advocacy is impressive.'
Helen Pugh –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Helen is bright, meticulous and easy to work with. She is an excellent advocate, and can communicate difficult points in a relaxed manner.’
London Bar > Private client: trusts and probate
2022 Silks
David E Grant KC – Outer Temple Chambers 'David works hard to find solutions to intractable problems. He is hardworking and bright. He is a 'go to' practitioner in this area of work.'
Leading Juniors
Elaine Palser –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Elaine is impressive at pulling extremely complicated issues together in a way that impresses a judge. She has a sharp mind and fantastic analytical skills. She is able to deconstruct complex issues and give detailed advice on tricky matters in a language her clients understand. Her ability to think on his feet in court and respond to any issues as they arise is a great strength. Her quiet manner hides a fierce litigator, a real silent assassin.’
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
Leading Juniors
Patrick Sadd –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Patrick is a bright advocate with good judgement, who quietly commands the attention of his audience.’
Paul Livingston –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Paul is a junior with stellar qualities. He is highly intelligent, and has an easy and authoritative style in court.’
London Bar > Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
London Bar > Education
London Bar > Group litigation
Leading Juniors
Robert Dickason – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Rob is as smooth as a freshly ironed shirt: he is easy to work with, fantastic with clients, and persuasive on his feet.'
London Bar > Insolvency
Leading Juniors
Elaine Palser –Outer Temple Chambers ‘An excellent advocate and a real team player.’
Justina Stewart –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Justina delivers exceptional advice in a no-nonsense, pragmatic and digestible way. She is passionate about the work that she does, the law and advocating for her clients.’
Helen Pugh –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Impressive depth of knowledge and strong written work and drafting. Equally skilled in conference with clients and goes above and beyond for clients. She also has good connections with insolvency funders.’
London Bar > International crime and extradition
London Bar > Administrative law and human rights
Leading Juniors
Joshua Hitchens – Outer Temple Chambers 'A very astute junior who is committed to his clients.'
London Bar > Environment
London Bar > Fraud: civil
Leading Juniors
Helen Pugh – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Helen is an extremely hard worker. She gets her head down and immerses herself in her clients’ cases, sometimes at short notice.‘
London Bar > Fraud: crime
Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial Tier 1
‘A heavyweight commercial chambers with a deep bench of excellent counsel’, Outer Temple Chambers’ Dubai office serves as a hub for the set’s expertise in the region’s civil, common and Sharia legal systems; particularly in relation to commercial, employment and arbitration-related matters. Andrew Spink KC led Justina Stewart in Huobi and another v Tabarak Investment Capital, representing the appellant in a significant case for cryptocurrency transactions in the region after the appeal was granted in February 2023. Stephen Doherty has been involved in a landmark and novel ADGM judgement when representing the defendant in Mingguo v Sadeghnia, providing a significant decision on governing law and jurisdiction clauses.Leading silks
David Russell KC – Outer Temple Chambers 'David is an outstanding barrister with a very strong reputation within the global legal community. He has in-depth knowledge and expertise in matters of common law and international taxation.'
Andrew Spink KC – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Andrew is an impressive advocate and great leader. His advocacy style commands respect and his experience and manner demands the judge’s attention.’
Leading juniors
Stephen Doherty – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Stephen is phenomenal. He can absorb huge amounts of complex information extremely rapidly and gives clear, commercial and tactical advice; he is a joy to work with.'
Justina Stewart – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Strong intellectual capabilities which translate well into pragmatic and commercial advice. She demonstrates a dexterity not often seen in barristers.’
Peter Linstead – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Peter has excellent communication and is very clear in his speaking.’
Testimonials
‘Sam Carter is my go-to clerk. He is always available and always tries to accommodate the most urgent requests.’
‘Sam Carter is a very business savy clerk and always delivers. I really like they way he structured the chambers.’
‘Clerk’s room are very responsive. I work with Sam Carter, who is always willing to speak about an instruction.’
‘Outer Temple Chambers is a heavyweight commercial chambers with a deep bench of excellent counsel.’
‘The Chambers are excellent.’
‘I have been working exclusively with the Chambers on all DIFC matters. Availability of counsel and response time are an absolute strength.’
‘Rapidly growing set, with a particularly strong presence and reputation in the UAE for commercial work.’
‘Outer Temple have provided numerous training sessions with the DIFC authority.’
Work highlights
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
Leading juniors
Stephen Doherty – Outer Temple Chambers ‘His legal approach and analytical skills to deal with complex technical issues are very impressive. He is good at conducting research along with his ability of performing the tasks in an organised and efficient manner.'
Outer Temple Chambers > Set Profile
The set: Outer Temple Chambers, identified as one of the top 30 sets at the Bar, is a dynamic, innovative and friendly set, with a forward-thinking approach to business development and client care in the new legal market place. Chambers’ London offices are located directly opposite the Royal Courts of Justice and it has office facilities in Dubai and New York.
Types of work undertaken
Commercial, banking and financial services: Outer Temple’s commercial practice encompasses advocacy and advisory work across a number of areas, with a particular emphasis on banking-related litigation and civil fraud. Chambers has an extensive financial services regulatory practice, with members regularly appearing and advising on matters before the RDC and Upper Tribunal. Members also appear in arbitrations and regularly act as arbitrators.
International: Chambers has a physical presence in New York, Abu Dhabi (ADGM), Dubai (DIFC) and Jeddah, providing quality services and facilities for the firm’s contract and commercial, financial, regulatory, employment and arbitration work in the US, UAE and across the Middle East. Barristers offer expert legal services in the court of the Dubai International Financial Centre and the LCIA arbitration centre in the DIFC. Chambers has full members of the New York State Bar and the American Bar Association and others are qualified as foreign legal consultants in New York.
Pensions and trusts: Chambers advises employers, trustees, insurers and industry bodies (such as TPR and PPF) on all aspects of pensions and trusts law. Members consistently appear in major pension and trusts litigation. Members also have extensive experience of professional negligence claims against actuaries, solicitors and all other professionals involved in pension schemes.
Employment and discrimination: Outer Temple Chambers is widely acknowledged as being at the forefront of employment and discrimination law, and is particularly well- known for its work in the areas of equal pay, working time and holiday pay, TUPE and whistleblowing. Non-tribunal work includes directors duties, restrictive covenants and breach of contract, partnership disputes and breach of fiduciary duty.
Business crime: Members of chambers are experts in the field of financial crime and regulatory enforcement, advising and acting for corporate and individual clients in respect of investigations and proceedings in the UK and overseas. They advise and act for the UK as leading enforcement authorities (SFO, FCA, CMA, HMRC, PRA and Lloyds of London) and various overseas governments and enforcement authorities. Members are routinely instructed in alleged fraud, market abuse and insider dealing, bribery and corruption, cartels and price fixing, and sanctions violations.
Health and safety and environment: With unparalleled expertise in corporate and gross negligent manslaughter and all areas of health and safety, teams have worked on many of the landmark cases of criminal negligence, involving heavy industry and construction, as well as residential, retail and commercial premises and NHS trusts.
Professional discipline and regulatory: Chambers acts regularly in a wide range of disciplinary and regulatory proceedings in, among other areas, healthcare, law, transport and sports.
Clinical negligence and healthcare: Chambers offers a specialist and highly rated team who are regularly instructed in cases concerning all aspects of clinical negligence involving health professionals, trusts and hospitals. The firm acts for both claimants and defendants.
Personal injury: Chambers undertakes work for both claimants and defendants in relation to severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, international injuries, industrial diseases, product liability, abuse, employers’ liability, road traffic claims, stress claims and sports injuries. It also advises and appears in professional negligence actions arising out of the mishandling of personal injury cases.
Law in sport: The firm’s experienced team of specialist law in sport barristers have a range and depth of expertise in a number of areas touching many aspects of law in sport and recreation, including the protection and exploitation of commercial rights and disciplinary, regulatory, personal injury and governance issues.
Public law: Members deal with judicial review and advise on the powers and duties of public bodies and the public law aspects of commercial transactions. Chambers is well known for work in major public inquiries of all types. Members appear in Court of Protection proceedings concerning medical consent to withdrawal of treatment, deprivation of liberty, mental capacity and mental health law, and property/financial affairs jurisdictions of the court.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | Rebecca Priestley | ||
| Head of Chambers | COUNSELL KC, James (1984) | ||
| Head of Chambers | BRYANT KC, Keith (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAVARES KC, Nathan (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STALLWORTHY KC, Nicolas (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOOLF KC, Eliot (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILSON-SMITH KC, Christopher (1965) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RUSSELL KC, David (1977) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RHODES KC, Robert (1968) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOTT KC, Philip (1970) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McDERMOTT KC, Gerard (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOWES KC, Michael (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SPINK KC, Andrew (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHORT KC, Andrew (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COMPTON KC, Ben (1979) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVENPORT KC, Kate (1983) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HITCHCOCK KC, Richard (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSON KC, Nick (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McKENDRICK KC, John (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PHILLIPS KC, Matthew (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROWTHER KC, Sarah (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAND KC, Jonathan (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HORLICK KC, Fiona (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALLEN KC, Andrew (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VICKERS KC, Rachel (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRANT KC, David E (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MAWHINNEY, Richard (1977) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PEACOCKE, Teresa (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KEMP, Christopher (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SADD, Patrick (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TRUSTED, Harry (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALDRIDGE, James (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROGERS, Paul (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEONARD, James (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BARNETT, Daniel (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CUNNINGHAM, Naomi (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McDONAGH, Matthew (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LINSTEAD, Peter (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WESTON, Louis (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MUKHERJEE, Abhijeet (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLLOWAY, David (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SEYMOUR, Lydia (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JERRAM, Harriet (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ARNOLD, James (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PRESLAND, Samantha (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LING, Naomi (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALMIHDAR, Dr Ali (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VAN OVERDIJK, Claire (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DENHAM, Ian (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | UBEROI, Michael (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLARKE, Daniel (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MARGO, Saul (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | POWELL, Oliver (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAKER, Clare (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRADLEY, Ben (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DICKASON, Robert (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GORDON WALKER, Emily (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SEAMAN, Jennifer (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAINES, Alex (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HILL, Nicholas (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | YOUNG, Will (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LINE, Alex (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GIBSON, Thomas (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STEWART, Justina (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'SULLIVAN, Sophie (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SYDOW, Katarina (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LIVINGSTON, Paul (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOHERTY, Stephen (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VENKATA, Bianca (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BUTLER, Stephen (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Victoria (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAKER, Gus (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BELL, Chloë (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EGAN, Imogen (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAUMGART, Alexandra (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAHZIB, Olinga (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRACE, Elizabeth Dr (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SCOTT-JOYNT, Jeremy (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TOMISON, Patrick (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUNT, Carin (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HORLOCK KC, Tim (1981)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | SABALOT, Deborah* | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAILEY SC, Ian* | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALKER, Prof Janet* | ||
| Members of Chambers | KARPENKO, Alexey* | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOLK, Christophe* | ||
| Members of Chambers | BURROWS, Simon* | ||
| Members of Chambers | WESTCOTT, David * | ||
| Members of Chambers | JENKINS, Hywel* | ||
| Members of Chambers | BATES Paul | ||
| Members of Chambers | BILLIMORIA Percival* | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHERMAN Lawrence* | ||
| Members of Chambers | BEER OBE Mark* | ||
| Members of Chambers | KIRK David* | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOFFAT Jonathan* | ||
| Members of Chambers | POPE David* |
Meet The Clerk(s)
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Aliyah Akram | Aliyah Akram is acknowledged as a leading junior in personal injury, industrial… | View Profile |
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James Aldridge | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, and Professional Negligence. | View Profile |
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Andrew Allen | Barrister specialising in Employment & Discrimination. | View Profile |
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Ali Almihdar | Dr Ali Almihdar has a unique status as the first Saudi Arabian… | View Profile |
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James Arnold | Barrister specialising in Employment. James is a specialist in employment and discrimination… | View Profile |
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Clare Baker | Barrister specialising in Financial Services and Banking, Commercial and Insurance Law. | View Profile |
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Gus Baker | Barrister specialising in Commercial Disputes, Professional Negligence, Employment & Discrimination, Financial Services,… | View Profile |
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Daniel Barnett | Barrister specialising in Employment, Commercial and Chancery, Sports Law. | View Profile |
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Michael Bowes | Michael specialises in complex Financial Services work, financial crime and civil fraud,… | View Profile |
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Ben Bradley | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Aviation & Travel. | View Profile |
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Victoria Brown | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Pensions, Commercial & Chancery, Public Law,… | View Profile |
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Keith Bryant | Barrister specialising in Pensions and employment. Recent cases include Britvic Pension Plan… | View Profile |
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Stephen Butler | Barrister specialising in Commercial and Chancery, Employment and Discrimination, Pensions, Financial Services. | View Profile |
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Joshua Cainer | Barrister specialising in Employment & Discrimination, Pensions, Commercial & Chancery, Public Law,… | View Profile |
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Anson Cheung | Barrister specialising in Construction, Commercial & Chancery, International Arbitration, Pensions, Professional Negligence,… | View Profile |
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Alex Cisneros | Barrister specialising in Court of Protection, Private Client and Trusts, Education, Public… | View Profile |
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Daniel Clarke | Barrister specialising in Travel law, Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Commercial and Chancery. | View Profile |
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Ben Compton | Barrister specialising in Health & Safety, Personal Injury. | View Profile |
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James Counsell | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Professional Negligence, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Commercial Disputes,… | View Profile |
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Sarah Crowther | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Public Law, Employment and Discrimination, Clinical Negligence,… | View Profile |
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Naomi Cunningham | Barrister specialising in employment & discrimination. | View Profile |
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Kate Davenport | Barrister specialising in civil and commercial litigation and mediation. | View Profile |
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Stephen Doherty | Barrister specialising in Commercial Litigation, Pensions, International Arbitration. | View Profile |
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Imogen Egan | Barrister specialising in Employment, Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Education Law, Public Law,… | View Profile |
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Elizabeth Grace | Barrister specialising in Employment & Discrimination, Pensions, Commercial and Financial Services, Insolvency… | View Profile |
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David Ericson Grant | Barrister specialising in Pensions, Private Clients and Trusts, Professional Negligence, Financial Services… | View Profile |
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David Haines | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Inquests, Sports Law and Disciplinary… | View Profile |
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Alex Haines | Alex was called to the Bar in 2007 for England & wales,… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Hand | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Sports Law. | View Profile |
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Nicholas Hill | Barrister specialising in Commercial and Chancery, pensions, Financial services, Employment and Discrimination,… | View Profile |
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Richard Hitchcock | Barrister specialising in Pensions, Professional Negligence, Commercial Litigation. | View Profile |
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Joshua Hitchens | Barrister specialising in Commercial Litigation, Public Law, International Administrative Law, Sanctions, Business… | View Profile |
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David Holloway | Barrister specialising in International Arbitration and International Trade/Commercial law. | View Profile |
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Fiona Horlick | Barrister specialising in Health and Safety, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Medical Crime, Business… | View Profile |
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Carin Hunt | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Travel Law, Employment & Discrimination,… | View Profile |
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Lucian ILIE | Barrister specialising in International Arbitration and ADR, Commercial Litigation, Arbitrator, International Organisations,… | View Profile |
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Harriet Jerram | Barrister specialising in Personal injury, and Clinical Negligence. | View Profile |
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Christopher Kemp | Barrister Specialising in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. | View Profile |
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James Leonard | Barrister specialising in Health and Safety, Financial Services, Contempt of Court and… | View Profile |
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Alexander Line | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Education, Public Law, Court of Protection. | View Profile |
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Naomi Ling | Barrister specialising in Employment and Pensions. | View Profile |
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Paul Livingston | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Public Inquiries. | View Profile |
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Richard Mawhinney | Specialist in personal injury, professional negligence. Other areas of practice include partnership,… | View Profile |
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Gerard McDermott | Barrister specialising in Employment; Clinical Negligence; Health and Safety; Personal Injury; Professional… | View Profile |
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Matthew McDonagh | Barrister specialising in Sports Law, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Business Crime, Regulation and… | View Profile |
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John McKendrick | Barrister specialising in Public Law, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration and Adjudication, International… | View Profile |
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Edward Morgan | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Commercial Litigation, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Inquests… | View Profile |
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Abhijeet Mukherjee | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, and Disciplinary and Regulatory. | View Profile |
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Sophie O'sullivan | Barrister specialising in Business Crime and Financial Regulation, Professional Discipline and Regulation,… | View Profile |
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Teresa Rosen Peacocke | Barrister specialising in Dispute Resolution, Private Client and Trusts, Professional Negligence. | View Profile |
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Matthew Phillips | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Sports Law. Nationwide practice in… | View Profile |
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Sam Presland | Specialist in personal injury and clinical negligence. | View Profile |
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Samantha Presland | Barrister specialising in Court of Protection, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury. | View Profile |
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Helen Pugh | Barrister specialising in Commercial and Civil Fraud, Company and Insolvency, Banking and… | View Profile |
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Henry Reid | Barrister specialising in Commercial Litigation, Financial Services & Cryptoassets, Sanctions, Regulatory. | View Profile |
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Robert Rhodes | Barrister specialising in Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Civil and Criminal Fraud,… | View Profile |
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Paul Rogers | Barrister specialising in Disciplinary and Regulatory, Health, Safety and Environment, Marine and… | View Profile |
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David Russell | Barrister specialising in Pensions. | View Profile |
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Patrick Sadd | Barrister specialising in Inquests and Injuries, Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Medical… | View Profile |
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Jeremy Scott-Joynt | Barrister specialising in Commercial & Chancery, Financial Services, Business Crime & Investigations,… | View Profile |
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Lydia Seymour | Barrister specialising in Pensions and Employment & Discrimination Law, including Professional Negligence… | View Profile |
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Andrew Short | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Commercial and Chancery, Pensions, Professional Negligence. | View Profile |
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Andrew Spink | Barrister specialising in Pensions, Commercial Professional Negligence, Commercial, Banking and Financial Services,… | View Profile |
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Nicolas Stallworthy | Barrister specialising in Pensions Law (particularly in relation to occupational pension schemes),… | View Profile |
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Philip Stear | Barrister specialising in Pensions, Chancery & Trusts | View Profile |
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Harry Steinberg | Harry Steinberg specialises in large-scale group claims – typically involving private international… | View Profile |
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Courtney Step-Marsden | Barrister specialising in Employment & Discrimination, Pensions, Public law, Personal Injury, Commercial… | View Profile |
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Olinga Tahzib | Barrister specialising in Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, International Injury and Travel, Public… | View Profile |
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Patrick Tomison | Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Pensions, Financial Services, Information Rights, Commercial… | View Profile |
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Bianca Venkata | Barrister specialising in private client & trusts, pensions, employment & discrimination, financial services, insolvency, and international related… | View Profile |
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Rachel Vickers | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury work. | View Profile |
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Mr Louis Weston | Barrister specialising in Sport, Commercial, Professional Negligence. | View Profile |
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Christopher Wilson-Smith | Christopher Wilson-Smith KC specialises in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. | View Profile |
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Eliot Woolf | Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Travel Law. | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Practice Management Team : 13Diversity/Community
Diversity
Outer Temple Chambers is committed to increasing diversity at the Bar. Guided by the Bar Standard’s Board’s Equality and Diversity Rules, we hold regular E&D meetings to monitor diversity data, review policies and maintain standards . We continue to hold the Investors in People Platinum Award.
We operate a mentoring scheme for junior members. Regular ‘Women in Law’ meetings are held with female barristers and staff to ensure a healthy working environment. We are also proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Outer Temple is also a Mindful Employer, which provides guidelines, training and advice on mental health issues. Rebecca Priestley, our CEO, is Non-Executive Director on the Board of the City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA), committed to the promotion of mental well-being and destigmatising mental ill health.
We encourage applications from groups under-represented at the Bar such as women, ethnic minorities and those with a disability. We have no preference for an undergraduate law degree over the conversion course. We welcome applications from transferring solicitors, qualified legal practitioners and legal academics wishing to transfer to the Bar.
Chambers manages its pupillage selection process through the Pupillage Gateway. Applications undergo an anonymised paper sift where candidates are scored on ability, potential, motivation, commitment and compatibility with Chambers. We aim to interview all disabled applicants who meet our minimum criteria. Chambers also operates an X-Factor style assessment at the paper sift stage to identify non-traditional but exceptional candidates. These candidates will be interviewed even if they do not achieve the necessary score.
We run an 18-month pupillage scheme in conjunction with the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Assessors have no regard to, or knowledge of, employment history, education, pastimes and interests.
Outer Temple Chambers has joined the Bridging the Bar Initiative to offer a mini-pupillage programme for those candidates from a range of underrepresented backgrounds, including from low-income/first-generation university, BAME, LGBTQ+ and more. We are pleased to take students through the joint initiative organised through the Social Mobility Foundation and the Bar Council. This provides bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to get an insight into a career at the Bar.
Pro Bono and CSR
Outer Temple Chambers provides pro bono advice via Advocate and has a nominated pro bono champion to encourage contributions in a range of ways. We also provide some pro bono work via Free Representation Unit and have participated in fundraising events for this charity.
Every year Outer Temple Chambers members and staff take part in the London Legal Walk to raise funds for the Legal Support Trust, which distributes monies to the Bar Pro Bono Unit, the Free Representation Unit and other legal law charities to provide support to the poorest and most vulnerable people who need legal assistance.
Outer Temple Chambers has a long association with Spinal Injuries Association, raising awareness and funds for their work. Members also support Headway in various ways including fundraising events and art commissions.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Colin Makin
COMPANY/FIRM: Ashtons Legal
TESTIMONIAL: The Ashtons Legal employment team have been instructing barristers from Outer Temple for many years. The barristers are excellent and service top rate. Recent instructions have included: Lydia Seymour who was ‘incredibly knowledgeable, commercial and pragmatic in her advice, which was provided quickly’; Keith Bryant QC did a ‘great job’ on a particular matter; Saul Margo who is ‘brilliant’; Bianca Venkata and Paul Livingston who are both ‘superb’ and ‘great to deal with’. Practice Director, Nicholas Levett, is ‘a pleasure to deal with, always helpful and takes a commercial view on pricing’.
CLIENT: Ian Christian
COMPANY/FIRM: Irwin Mitchell LLP
TESTIMONIAL: I have worked with OTC for 20 years. Whatever the issue and whatever level of counsel is required, OTC are always able to provide first rate representation. The way that they have geared their barristers from senior QCs to pupils is testament to OTC knowing who they are as a chambers and finding and retaining the right people to deliver their brand. Their silks are top drawer and the quality of their juniors at all years of call is incontrovertible. OTC’s clerking services are stellar, ensuring solicitors and lay clients receive a seamlessly professional service.
CLIENT: Chris Newton
COMPANY/FIRM: Keoghs
TESTIMONIAL: I have instructed Ben Compton QC and James Leonard in some high profile manslaughter cases. In addition to being in the top tier of health and safety lawyers, their client care is second to none. They both take time to get to know and understand the client which provides much needed reassurance, trust and confidence during what is usually a very difficult time. Their tactical nous, measured response and team approach has helped us successfully navigate some tricky cases. In court their advocacy is sharp and persuasive but again measured. I have instructed Oliver Powell on maritime cases. He has an excellent technical knowledge in this niche area and excellent client care. Oliver will go the extra mile on cases and has drafted some impressive submissions which have helped secure some excellent results. The wider team speak highly of Paul Rogers and instruct him in motor and HSE cases. He is very thorough, measured and makes clients feel at ease. Our strong relationship with Outer Temple is ably managed by Nick Levett who has a bubbly personality and is very responsive.
CLIENT: Jennette Newman, Partner
COMPANY/FIRM: Clyde & Co LLP
TESTIMONIAL: Outer Temple Chambers is my absolute ‘go to’ Chambers for Health and Safety Regulatory cases. Not only are the Regulatory team best of class but they combine excellence in advocacy and strategic advice, with a client centric service and an accessible approach.
CLIENT: Karen Jackson, MD, Solicitor
COMPANY/FIRM: Didlaw
TESTIMONIAL: Outer Temple Chambers is our chambers of choice. All the barristers we have worked with have been first class intellects but also extremely personable which is very important. We want to work with Counsel who understand the needs and vulnerability of our clients. They are attentive and deliver impeccable work on time. The service of the clerks is outstanding. They treat us as valued customers, proactively checking in with us from time to time to see what we need. The clerks and counsel were super supportive to our team during lockdown providing us with some fantastic online learning to keep us up to speed. Outstanding all round.
CLIENT: Chris Benson, Partner
COMPANY/FIRM: Leigh Day
TESTIMONIAL: Many partners at Leigh Day see Outer Temple as the first choice for counsel on cases involving employment, clinical negligence and personal injury. In these areas the cases we run can be ground breaking, of wider significance or just the most important thing on our client’s mind. Whatever the case the barristers at Outer Temple always provide an excellent service from the Senior QC’s to junior counsel. Their breadth of practice areas and experience means there is a first class advocate for any case. Counsel are backed up by a great clerking team and a well-resourced chambers in an ideal location opposite the High Court. For the most important cases I always speak to Outer Temple first.
CLIENT: Jessica Bowles, Solicitor
COMPANY/FIRM: Irwin Mitchell
TESTIMONIAL: LLP OTC, as a set, provides a wide-ranging capability in terms of the experience and skillset they offer. Their clerks are second to none in terms of organisation and communication, and have reliably never let me down in facilitating seamless instructions to counsel. There are a number of excellent silks with wide ranging expertise and skillsets, so I know OTC has the right silk for any client or situation. The chambers produce well trained juniors who provide balanced and comprehensive advice which has proven invaluable on a numbers of cases I have instructed them on. OTC offers an excellent service and can be fully relied upon to support us in delivering for our clients.
CLIENT: Abe Kallis, Partner
COMPANY/FIRM: Chris Kallis Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: Outer Temple Chambers have been our set of choice for a number of years. We find OTC Counsel have that special combination of technical excellence and first class advocacy, coupled with a down-to-earth approach, which is so reassuring to lay clients. The clerking staff are second to none, always willing to help and find a solution in a tight spot.
CLIENT: Louise Howard
COMPANY/FIRM: Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
TESTIMONIAL: Outer Temple Chambers, in particular the Travel Law team, are an excellent, high quality set. Even in the strange circumstances of the past 6 months Outer Temple have maintained excellent customer service, reacting quickly to the lockdown and finding ways to continue to deliver. I work closely with Ian Denham and his detailed knowledge of travel law means he can be counted on to tackle difficult cross border issues. He is responsive, practical and very personable with clients. No matter how tricky or obscure the issue in a case, Ian can be relied upon to find a way through.
CLIENT: Laura Donald
COMPANY/FIRM: BTO Solicitors LLP
TESTIMONIAL: BTO Solicitors in Edinburgh and Glasgow have used barristers from Outer Temple Chambers for around 10 years. The clerking experience has always been smooth and professional with the clerks having a good handle on the strengths of the individual barristers, and an understanding too of how they work with their solicitors. The barristers instructed by us over the years have been excellent. Both Michael Uberoi and James Leonard were instructed for the Hyponatraemia Inquiry in Belfast, where we were instructed out of jurisdiction – and despite the varied locations both separate teams worked well. Most recently we have instructed Fiona Horlick QC and Matthew McDonagh for regulatory cases in the GMC and GDC. Both are excellent, easy to work with, helpful and thorough in the preparation and at complete ease with the clients. Outer Temple is always at the top of the list for instructions from this firm.
CLIENT: Stuart Pickford
COMPANY/FIRM: Mayer Brown International LLP
TESTIMONIAL: I know Outer Temple Chambers principally as one of the premier sets in the pensions market, having worked with or opposite a number of leading practitioners in that field, although they are also a growing presence in the commercial disputes space. The juniors with whom I have worked, in particular Saaman Pourghadiri, have been both of a very high calibre and a pleasure to work with. I worked with Saaman on a large and complex case last year; he worked tirelessly and was immersed in the detail of the case whilst continuing to play a significant role in its overall strategic direction. The clerking support from Matt Sale and David Smith in the business team is excellent. They are always willing to have sensible discussions regarding pricing, and generous with their time when contributing to an overall estimate for potential new matters.
CLIENT: Mary Lawrence
COMPANY/FIRM: Osborne Clarke LLP
TESTIMONIAL: I have worked with Outer Temple regularly for over a decade because of their consistent and high quality service, both from their barristers and their clerking team. The team of expert barristers are as excellent at communicating advice clearly as they are in their technical legal arguments, which is why I come back to them again and again. I trust the advice provided and lay clients have repeatedly told me how highly they rate the service provided by the set. In Court, they provide a reassuring and robust legal defence to clients. I work most frequently with the regulatory team who are top tier in the UK for health and safety and local authority prosecutions as well as inquest work. James Leonard is my ‘go to’ Counsel for health and safety and inquest work because of his depth of knowledge, his skills in advocacy and the fantastic rapport he builds quickly with clients in stressful situations.
CLIENT: Nicola Philp
COMPANY/FIRM: ISS UK
TESTIMONIAL: I have been using Outer Temple Chambers for over a decade. They have tremendous strength in employment law and have a great depth of experience across their set. One thing that makes them stand out is their user friendly service and their pragmatic approach to the myriad of issues we instruct them for. They are a real pleasure to work with.
CLIENT: Raquel Siganporia
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: Experienced, knowledgeable and approachable – OTC aren’t afraid of the risky case and are tenacious in ensuring the client gets the best result possible.
- Crypto and blockchain assets
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Clinical negligence
- Employment
- Financial services regulation
- Pensions
- Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud
Set Rankings
- Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
- Sport
- Court of Protection and community care
- Commercial litigation
- Private client: trusts and probate
- Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- Inquests and inquiries
- Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
- Education
- Group litigation
- Insolvency
- International crime and extradition
- Administrative law and human rights
- Environment
- Fraud: civil
- Fraud: crime
- Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Middle East: The English Bar > Construction