Guildhall Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Guildhall Chambers Offices
Guildhall Chambers
Thanet House, 231-232 Strand
WC2R 1DA
England
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Guildhall Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers‘s regulatory crime team possesses considerable ‘depth of character and breadth of skills‘ as well as extensive experience in relation to fatal and non-fatal matters, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, and breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Andrew Langdon KC, who leads the team with a ‘calm and directed approach‘, is regularly instructed in high-profile health and safety cases and recently led Sam Jones (‘perhaps unrivalled as a junior on the Western Circuit’) and Alistair Haggarty, ‘superb in complex, document-heavy cases’, in R v Gulley and Others, prosecuting multiple individuals and companies for offenses including gross negligence manslaughter, following a fatal accident in Cardiff when the wall of a church collapsed upon a scaffolder.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The clerks are prompt and friendly, as is all support staff. Lucy Northeast is quite simply a godsend. She is very approachable and just gets things done. Working alongside and with the support of Grant Bidwell, and further supported by Shannon Winston, Elena Brake and Michael Cregg, one is always assured that an issue or query will be dealt with and solved expeditiously.’
‘Lucy Northeast and Ryan Barrow are very helpful and friendly as well as efficient.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has an experienced and respected team of specialist barristers operating in the field of Regulatory Crime, in particular in relation to Health and Safety offences.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is the best set for its depth of character and breadth of skills within not only its Crime and Regulatory department but all other departments as well.’
‘An excellent chambers – the clerks are first-rate and ensure that the right barrister is allocated to the case.’
‘The clerks are really helpful and communicative.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers is a ‘standout‘ set for clinical negligence work on the Western circuit. Selena Plowden KC is ‘well suited to handling the most complex of cases‘ and heads the team. She specialises in cases involving mental health and human rights issues, and recently led the representation of the claimant in the high-profile case of Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Services Uk Ltd & Others - a claim brought by a man who was acquitted of murder on the grounds of insanity and detained under a hospital order against those who treated him prior to those events - the case addresses the question of if the claim is considered ex turpi causa. Sophie Holme has recently acted in several significant cases, including spinal surgical negligence, delayed cancer diagnosis claims, cauda equina, birth-related bowel injuries, and fatal and psychiatric negligence claims, among others. Martin Lanchester and Kriti Upadhyay both handle a broad range of clinical disputes work, while Philip Hughes is increasingly sought after for his medical expertise, which he has brought to bear in several instructions to aid in the determination of causation and quantum.Leading Silks
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Testimonials
‘The clerks are great – friendly, efficient and helpful. Dan Cuthbertson and Olive Kavanagh deserve special mention.’
‘The clerks are helpful and friendly. Olive Kavanagh in particular deserves a mention – she is friendly and efficient and will go out of her way to assist. Dan Cuthbertson is also friendly and efficient.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has a great clinical negligence set.’
‘Guildhall has good strength in depth – with clinical negligence specialists from junior level up to KC.’
‘Guildhall is a very good set of chambers for clinical negligence work, with some great practitioners.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is a go-to chambers and the quality of their work is excellent. Members are available and friendly in correspondence with instructing solicitors/legal executives.’
‘Guildhall’s clinical negligence department is excellent.’
‘The clerks at Guildhall are approachable, friendly, kind and always available. Without exception, they always genuinely try to help as quickly and as efficiently as possible.’
Western Circuit > Commercial litigation Tier 1
Bristol-based Guildhall Chambers is one of the ‘go-to‘ commercial litigation sets on the Western Circuit. Hugh Sims KC is highly sought after for his expertise - he has recently led Jay Jagasia, with ‘unparalleled knowledge of financial services and banking law‘ and Lucy Walker, with ‘sound technical expertise‘, in the high-profile case of Philipp v Barclays Bank UK plc, concerning the liability under the Quincecare duty of the paying bank in respect of authorised push payment fraud. Richard Ashcroft’s broad practice includes claims involving misrepresentation and breaches of warranty, the supply of defective goods and services, and the enforcement of post-sale restrictive covenants. James Hannant tends to handle commercial work arising out of insolvency proceedings, while ‘great all-rounder‘ Stefan Ramel has a strong reputation for acting in cross-border proceedings and recently acted for the claimant in BW Legal Services v Glassdoor, who sought Norwich Pharmacal orders in respect of two anonymous reviews posted on the eponymous employer review site.Rising stars
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Testimonials
‘Joe Stayte is responsive and very commercial in resourcing suitable counsel and is an all round excellent clerk.’
‘Joe Stayte and Stephen Arnold are always available to take calls and answer any queries and are both upfront on availability and fees. They will always try to offer a solution.’
‘Guildhall is a go to chambers and has been for in excess of 20 years for commercial disputes work. Their clerks are responsive and very helpful. Their members are very bright team players who are good with clients and advise clearly and in appropriate language are also demonstrably strong advocates.’
‘Guildhall continually offers a solid choice of user friendly and capable barristers.’
‘Guildhall is an excellent chambers and the clerks will always find counsel to help.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is the “go to” chambers for financial services- and banking-related commercial litigation.’
‘The clerks are always excellent, responsive and willing to assist in any way they can.’
Western Circuit > Company and insolvency Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers‘ ‘excellent’ contentious insolvency and company law team boasts a ‘great variety of junior and senior counsel‘ with broad combined expertise, including in proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and bankruptcy restrictions orders. Insolvency work, both corporate and personal, forms a significant part of Richard Ashcroft’s practice. He also has broad directors’ duties and company law expertise and regularly acts for and against office holders in relation to transaction avoidance claims and directors’ misfeasance proceedings. John Churchill, an ‘excellent advocate‘ with ‘superb drafting skills‘, has notable experience acting in director misfeasance claims on behalf of the Official Receiver. Holly Doyle has a ‘pragmatic approach to matters‘ and her practice too sees her regularly instructed in connection with misfeasance cases, as well as transaction avoidance claims and contested applications for possession and sale. She also boasts niche expertise in relation to the professional duties and liability of insolvency office holders. Hugh Sims KC‘s commercial practice often involves corporate insolvency work.Rising stars
Leading Silks
2024 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks at Guildhall Chambers are helpful and efficient – particularly Stephen Arnold and Joe Stayte.’
‘A very good chambers with great depth in insolvency.’
‘Regionally the go-to chambers for insolvency matters, with a good range of counsel.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is the go-to set in the South West for both regional and London-centric work.’
‘Guildhall has a great variety of junior and senior counsel and have always had someone available to assist with cases when required.’
‘The clerks’ room and service is brilliant. The clerks are always on hand to assist with filing skeletons, or even taking bundles to court if required.’
‘The clerking service is very good at Guildhall.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Costs Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers ‘is the go-to set in Bristol and the South West when it comes to costs‘ work. With considerable experience, Oliver Moore heads the nine-strong team, which is instructed in relation to a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters. He specialises in costs appeals in connection with high-value personal injury and clinical negligence claims. James Wibberley’s practice primarily involves advising on litigation funding, as well as solicitor and own-client disputes. John Churchill is particularly experienced handling solicitor and client costs cases recently acted for the respondent in the High Court case Rushbrooke UK Ltd v 4 Design Concepts Ltd, which at the costs stage clarified the law on wasted costs orders against firms of solicitors acting without proper authority.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks are helpful, timely, friendly and attentive, particularly Caroline Evans, Robert MacDonald and Olive Kavanagh.’
‘The clerks, Steve Arnold in particular, are excellent. They are quick to respond and proactive in relation to cost advice and lining up counsel to assist.’
‘Guildhall hosts many of the specialist costs counsel outside of London. They are certainly the go-to set in Bristol and the South West when it comes to costs.’
‘Guildhall is a good chambers with a diverse range of counsel.’
‘The clerking team is both helpful and efficient.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers ‘has an unrivalled team of excellent criminal barristers‘. Richard Smith KC, ‘a formidable trial advocate‘, is well-known for handling murder cases and recently prosecuted a man who was convicted of murdering his ex-partner in the 1990s by setting her on fire; she died of her injuries more than two decades later, after the defendant had already served fifteen years of a life sentence for GBH. With a ‘beautiful advocacy style‘ Andrew Langdon KC regularly defends and prosecutes in homicide and gang-related cases, among others. Christopher Quinlan KC, ‘with impeccable judgement and a formidable grasp of the law‘ and Anna Vigars KC, whose ‘courtroom work is carried out with great skill and precision‘, also both have broad experience in serious crimes cases, as well as in cases with several complicating factors, both evidential and medical. Ray Tully KC ‘understands every nuance of a case‘ and recently acted for the defence in the case of a man who killed a stranger with a claw-hammer at a bus stop in Plymouth. Chloe Griggs, ‘a star in the making‘, was recently involved in a murder trial involving a defence of diminished responsibility founded on evidence of long-term coercive control and domestic abuse.Rising stars
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Testimonials
‘Lucy Northeast is easy to deal with and is a very experienced senior clerk and practice manager.’
‘The clerking team is exceptional. Grant Bidwell is charismatic, helpful and reasoned even in the face of adversity. Lucy Northeast epitomises everything the very best clerk should be. She is always able to find a solution to problems, engaging, always on hand to assist, and able to identify perfect counsel with every instruction. They are both a pleasure to work with and a credit to the profession.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has an unrivalled team of excellent criminal barristers. The clerking and ancillary services provided are second to none. As a set, Guildhall Chambers is unrivalled on the Western Circuit and now has a national reputation for excellence. The silks are widely respected but there is strength at every level of seniority.’
‘The pre-eminent criminal set in the Western Circuit with quality barristers from silk to the most junior.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is the premier set for high quality criminal barristers on the Western Circuit.’
‘An absolutely first class chambers, clerked by a superb team of clerks.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Employment Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers‘ employment team offers ‘real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise‘. Julian Allsop, who heads the team, is ‘forensic in his approach to litigation‘ and regularly instructed in high-value cases in the High Court, often involving director-level remuneration claims, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements. He recently acted for the claimant in Macanovic v Portsmouth NHS Trust, a significant case raising the issue of whistleblowing detriment and involving the cross-examination of several medical consultants. Fergus Currie, ‘a highly competent and consistent advocate‘, has recently focused on claimant instructions, including wrongful and unfair dismissal actions, discrimination cases, and collective and individual redundancies. Debbie Grennan specialises in high-value whistleblowing and discrimination claims for public sector clients, including local authorities and health care bodies, while Douglas Leach ‘has an excellent ability to think on his feet’ and is well-regarded for his expertise in TUPE, whistleblowing, and discrimination matters as well as in employee competition cases involving breach of confidence, restrictive covenants, and injunctive relief.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Rob McDonald and Emily Webb are always on hand and happy to help with queries regarding counsel availability and fee quotes.’
‘Stephen Arnold and Rob McDonald are diligent and always helpful. A pleasure to deal with.’
‘The Guildhall employment team has excellent strength in depth – their range of call ensures that there’s always someone right for the job.’
‘Guildhall has a strong employment offering with some promising counsel coming through too.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has real strength in depth, both in terms of call and expertise.’
‘This chambers is a go-to chambers for employment work and specifically for discrimination cases. They are specialists with discrimination cases and are therefore uniquely placed in Bristol and the South West.’
‘The clerks are very good.’
Western Circuit > Professional negligence Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers has an ‘excellent‘ reputation for its professional negligence offering and members appear at all levels, from County Courts to the Supreme Court, in claims against accountants, construction professionals, solicitors and surveyors, amongst others. Holly Doyle regularly handles ‘factually and legally messy disputes‘. She possesses niche expertise in claims against independent financial advisors and insolvency practitioners. Professional negligence and indemnity work forms a core part of Hugh Sims KC’s commercial practice, while James Wibberley primarily acts in claims against solicitors, accountants, and construction professionals heard in the High Court.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks at Guildhall Chambers are helpful and efficient – particularly Stephen Arnold and Joe Stayte.’
‘Guildhall’s clerks are excellent. They are responsive, helpful and contactable. Stephen Arnold in particular is a go-to and makes it easy to go back to Guildhall again and again.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is an excellent set with some exceptional barristers.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Sport Tier 1
With ‘an unrivalled spread of sports work‘ Guildhall Chambers is a leading set both on the Western Circuit and nationally. Christopher Quinlan KC chaired the FA disciplinary tribunal after Cristiano Ronaldo knocked a mobile phone from the hands of a teenage spectator, as well as continuing to oversee the British Gymnastics independent complaints process, concerning allegations by a number of gymnasts of mistreatment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Richard Smith KC and Samuel Jones are both notable for their rugby work, Jones having represented a number of Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears players.Leading Silks
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Key clients
‘Joe Stayte is very responsive, proactive, and always happy to assist, even at very short notice. The go-to clerk at Guildhall.’
‘This set has an unrivalled spread of sports work, whether you are looking in London or the provinces.’
‘Guildhall Chambers is a go-to set; a very good chambers with a lot of strength in depth in all areas and at all levels. The quality of work across chambers is always consistently strong.’
‘Clerks are efficient & helpful.’
Western Circuit > Personal injury Tier 2
Guildhall Chambers‘ ‘excellent’ personal injury team ‘deals with cases of the most significant value and complexity‘. James Bentley’s practice is evenly divided between claimant and defendant instructions, often involving brain injuries, the Fatal Accidents and Animals Acts, secondary victim claims, pain disorders, and complex loss of earnings claims. He recently acted in a case in which valuation was heavily contested because the precise nature of the injury in question could not be determined. Oliver Moore ‘has a meticulous eye for detail‘ and recently represented the claimant in a matter involving severe injuries following a road traffic accident, as well as an amputation several years after the accident, issues around life expectancy and contributory negligence, and other factual and evidential controversies.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Caroline Evans and Olive Kavanagh are brilliant. Issues inevitably arise from time to time and both are excellent at resolving these.’
‘The clerks are always very helpful and accommodating. Olive Kavanagh in particular is a pleasure to deal with.’
‘An excellent PI Team. They are always able to offer counsel and provide excellent training.’
‘The set is a fantastic set and deals with claims of the most significant value and complexity. The quality of counsel top to bottom is second to none.’
‘The personal injury team at Guildhall Chambers is fantastic. Throughout the year they provide really helpful training as well as bespoke training if requested. They are all very approachable and personable.’
‘Good clerks, always helpful and efficient.’
Western Circuit > Property and construction Tier 2
Members of Guildhall Chambers have ‘wide-ranging expertise‘ in property and construction disputes. William Batstone is ‘an effective advocate‘ who regularly acts for landowners, farmers, and arbitrators in rural property disputes. In 2023 he acted for two farm owners in Chaplin v Morgan, which considered the proper method of terminating farm business tenancies and 1986 Act tenancies, as well as for the claimant in Williams v TG & HM Williams and Sons, which is significant for addressing the question of the correct approach to satisfaction of an equity following Guest v Guest, with the claimant having farmed a family farm for several decades in the belief he would inherit it. Jay Jagasia ‘quickly gets to grips with complex factual situations‘ - he has recently been instructed, unled, for the defendants in Henwood v Copeland & McGaws, a High Court property dispute concerning an adverse possession claim against several valuable plots of land in Cornwall. Oliver Mitchell’s property practice includes cases concerning water, sewerage, and other utility assets as well as disputes over proprietary rights and boundaries.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Guildhall’s clerks are excellent; responsive, helpful and contactable. Stephen Arnold in particular is a go-to and makes it easy to go back to Guildhall again and again.’
‘Jordan Yandell and Joe Stayte are both first class clerks.’
‘Steve Arnold is very helpful and always quick to respond.’
‘Guildhall is a very good set of chambers that has grown from strength in recent years in relation to property expertise.’
‘Guildhall offered a good seminar recently on property disputes and they have strength in depth.’
‘Excellent clerks that are quick at providing fee estimates and are always accurate in relation to counsel’s availability and timescales for advice.’
‘Good clerks.’
Work highlights
Western Circuit > Agriculture
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Western Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
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Western Circuit > Planning and environment
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Western Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
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Western Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
- Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Western Circuit > Clinical negligence
- Western Circuit > Commercial litigation
- Western Circuit > Company and insolvency
- Western Circuit > Costs
- Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
- Western Circuit > Employment
- Western Circuit > Professional negligence
- Western Circuit > Sport