The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government), 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a third tier firm,

A ‘strong set’ with ‘very efficient clerking’, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has planning, environment and local government expertise. Timothy Straker QC has the ‘ear of the court’, and Richard Clayton QC has ‘excellent technical knowledge’. Timothy Corner QC ‘takes ownership of the issues in a case’, and Philip Coppel QC is ‘outstanding on his feet’. Among the ‘excellent and experienced juniors’, James Strachan, Andrew Sharland and Jonathan Moffett are recommended. Charles Bourne provides ‘well-considered and effective input’. Paul Greatorex is rated for his ‘excellent and lucid understanding of the law’, and James Ramsden gives ‘pragmatic and solution-orientated advice’.

Within Aviation,

Also recommended are: Huw Davies QC at Essex Court Chambers; 7 King’s Bench Walk’s Gavin Kealey QC, who acted in PK Airfinance and Balli v Insurers; and John Steel QC at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, for his airport development expertise.

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Banking and finance – Leading Silks

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police), 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a third tier firm,

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has a strong record for human rights work. Richard Clayton QC is singled out for his longstanding experience before the ECHR and the Privy Council. Among the juniors, Charles Bourne is an ‘impressive advocate’ and ‘completely unflappable’, and James Strachan is also recommended. Christopher Buttler is up and coming in the field.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation – Leading Silks

Within Defamation and privacy, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a second tier firm,

A ‘fantastic set for defamation and privacy work’, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is ‘responsive’ and houses ‘a number of high-calibre juniors and silks’. Leading individuals include Richard Spearman QC, who is regarded as ‘excellent, knowledgeable, available and not scared of hard work’, and appeared for the BBC in BBC v Harpercollins and Collins regarding an application for an injunction to restrain publication of the identity of the racing driver who played the part of The Stig on Top Gear, and the ‘impressive’ Philip Coppel QC, who appeared in the appeal by The Times journalist Dominic Kennedy against the Charity Commission’s refusal to disclose any documents relating to its three inquiries into former MP George Galloway. At a junior level, key individuals include the ‘excellent’ James Strachan, who is heavily involved in privacy cases and is praised for his ability to ‘work phenomenally hard’.

Within Education, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a second tier firm,

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is a ‘very strong education law set’ which includes public law barrister Richard McManus QC. Among the juniors, Jonathan Moffett continues to be instructed by both local education authorities and the Department for Education, and Andrew Sharland advises on all aspects of education including special educational needs. Paul Greatorex is ‘extremely quick to understand the cases’ and Jonathan Auburn is ‘concise’ and displays ‘common sense’. Lisa Busch is also recommended.

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 Energy,

Also recommended are Christopher Nugee QC at Wilberforce Chambers; Stuart Isaacs QC of 3-4 South Square; Hodge Malek QC of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square; Peter McMaster QC at Serle Court, who is ‘a strong performer on his feet’; and Andrew Newcombe QC from FTB, who has ‘in-depth knowledge of the energy sector’.

Within Environment, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a second tier firm,

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s ‘clerking is of the greatest quality’. ‘At the top of his profession’, Timothy Straker QC is ‘unfailingly courteous both with clients and opponents, but also a formidable cross-examiner’. John Steel QC is ‘very enthusiastic and can think his way through complex problems to provide very practical outcomes’. Garrett Byrne is ‘very approachable and empathetic, robust and excellent on his feet’.

Within Fraud: civil Fraud: civil – Leading Silks

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

Within Immigration (including business immigration) Immigration – Leading Juniors

Within Insurance and reinsurance Insurance and reinsurance – Leading Silks

Within Licensing, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a third tier firm,

At 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, Saima Hanif is ‘extremely user friendly, fast, efficient and extremely bright’. Stephen Whale is also recommended. The clerks are ‘efficient and friendly’.

Within Media, entertainment and sport, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a third tier firm,

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s Richard Spearman QC is ‘a true master’ who has a ‘considered and eloquent style’ and ‘the ability to get the court on his side ’. He recently represented the BBC in an injunction application to restrain publication of the identity of The Stig on Top Gear. James Ramsden handles various sports cases and has particular expertise in show jumping.

Within Planning, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square (Chambers of Richard Spearman QC) is a third tier firm,

‘Commercial and with good strength in depth’, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s ‘first-rate’ Timothy Corner QC ‘takes ownership of issues in a case and leads a team’. John Steel QC is ‘able to think outside the box and come up with approaches to tackle novel and unusual issues’. Robert Griffiths QC is ‘an outstanding advocate. His core strength is in dissecting the other side’s evidence and seeking to deliver the client’s case in the best light’. New silk Paul Stinchcombe QC ‘gives the impression of constantly thinking of the next solution’. Alexander Goodman is ‘calm and unflappable in all situations, and works like a Trojan’. Andrew Tabachnik is ‘forensic in his approach and analysis, but very carefully works as a team to progress matters and consider alternatives and effects’. Andrew Fraser-Urquhart is ‘tough but fair in cross-examination’.

Within Professional discipline and regulatory law (including police law) Professional discipline and regulatory law (including police law) – Leading Silks

Within Tax: corporate and VAT,

Also recommended are the ‘very thorough, professional and concise’ Timothy Brennan QC at Devereux; tax avoidance and transfer pricing expert Michael Green QC (an ‘excellent advocate, with a clear and authoritative delivery’) at Fountain Court Chambers; Philippa Whipple QC of One Crown Office Row; Laurence Rabinowitz QC (‘intellectually outstanding with a calm, reassuring demeanour’) at One Essex Court; the ‘brilliant, smooth, polished, accessible’ Philip Jones QC at Serle Court; and ‘top-level’ silk Timothy Lyons QC, an authority on EU customs and trade duties at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.

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