The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government), tier 4

Henderson Chambers is a ‘very strong set for this area of law’, and its clerks are ‘helpful and easy to deal with’. Richard Mawrey QC is ‘very impressive in all respects’; ‘he resolves issues rather than creating new ones’. Rhodri Williams QC has ‘a careful and measured approach, with very good attention to detail’ and ‘often covers points you had not anticipated’. Alan Dashwood CBE QC provides ‘clear and concise advice’, and junior Geraint Webb is ‘clear, to the point, and practical’. Adam Heppinstall is ‘very approachable’ and ‘performs well as an advocate’.

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

Henderson Chambers is one of the leading sets for consumer credit law. Of its leading silks, Richard Mawrey QC is ‘an excellent and experienced advocate’ and ‘rightfully a heavyweight in his field’. Julia Smith’s ‘technical knowledge is exceptional; she knows the Consumer Credit Act inside out, and can deal with anything that is thrown at her’. Nazeer Chowdhury provides ‘consistently excellent advice and service’ and ‘always manages to distil apparently intractable issues to a crisp simplicity’. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Dennis Rosenthal is ‘an acknowledged expert in consumer credit matters’.

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Within Clinical negligence and healthcare Clinical negligence and healthcare – Leading Juniors

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Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation – Leading Silks

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Within Consumer, Henderson Chambers (Charles Gibson QC) is a second tier set,

Henderson Chambers’ consumer law expertise spans the full breadth of domestic and European consumer protection legislation and product safety matters. Leading silks Richard Mawrey QC and Peter Susman QC have expertise in credit hire matters, and well-respected senior junior William Hibbert, who joined in 2011, has ‘an eye for detail and technical knowledge of the relevant legislation and case law that is second to none’. Julia Smith also joined in 2011, and ‘thinks fast on her feet’. Toby Riley-Smith, Andrew Davies and Andrew Kinnier are also recommended.

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Within EU and competition,

Other recommended individuals include the ‘very approachable and practical’ Alan Dashwood QC at Henderson Chambers; ‘top EU state-aid silk’ Conor Quigley QC at Serle Court; and ‘absolutely outstanding’ junior Jason Coppel at 11KBW.

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Within Employment Employment – New Silks

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Within Environment, Henderson Chambers (Charles Gibson QC) is a third tier set,

Henderson Chambers’ environmental offering includes Charles Gibson QC, ‘an adept advocate whose performance in court always inspires confidence’; and Oliver Campbell, who has a ‘calm, unflappable manner’. Campbell continues to represent Ocensa in a group action brought by 100 Colombian farmers citing environmental damage due to the construction of an oil pipeline.

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Within Health and safety, Henderson Chambers (Charles Gibson QC) is a first tier set,

The ‘excellent clerking’ at Henderson Chambers ‘really rewards customer loyalty’. ‘Heavy hitter’ Prashant Popat QC is ‘rightly rated at the top level’; he is ‘an excellent leader in large cases’ and ‘head and shoulders above others’. Roger Henderson QC ‘remains a leading light at the health and safety Bar’. The ‘very experienced and thorough’ Oliver Campbell is ‘the pick of senior juniors for health and safety’, and is ‘destined to take silk very soon’. He recently defended contractor Styles & Wood in an asbestos contamination claim concerning several Marks & Spencer stores. Toby Riley-Smith is ‘hardworking’, ‘good with clients at all levels’, ‘responsive’, and a ‘skilful, eloquent advocate’.

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Within Information technology, tier 4

Henderson Chambers’ Peter Susman QC has experience as an arbitrator, mediator and early neutral evaluator in IT disputes. Richard Mawrey QC offers ‘informed and insightful advice based on his substantial experience’; and Geraint Webb’s knowledge of IT is ‘first class’.

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Within Insurance and reinsurance Insurance and reinsurance – Leading Juniors

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Within International arbitration International arbitration – Leading Juniors

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Within Personal injury, tier 5

Henderson Chambers’ Lawrence West QC is singled out, as are juniors Oliver Campbell, who is ‘approachable and excellent with clients’, and Malcolm Sheehan, who is ‘a pleasure to work with’. Angus Withington and Jonathan Harvey are also recommended.

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Within Product liability, Henderson Chambers (Charles Gibson QC) is a first tier set,

Henderson Chambers is widely regarded as the first port of call for group actions and substantial product liability matters. The set was involved in some of the biggest cases of 2011, including Re Seroxat and the OSENSA Pipeline group litigation. Charles Gibson QC is ‘the leading QC in product-related disputes and advice’; in 2011 he acted in Re Seroxat alongside Prashant Popat QC, who is ‘a stellar performer, truly in a class of his own’. Of the juniors, Oliver Campbell is ‘attuned to clients’ legal, commercial and reputational needs’, Toby Riley-Smith is ‘the go-to counsel for product liability’, and Malcolm Sheehan is ‘diligent and enthusiastic’. Noel Dilworth is ‘a solid junior who produces high-quality work and is totally at home across the full spectrum of product liability work’. Geraint Webb is also highly recommended.

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

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Within Professional negligence Professional negligence – Leading Juniors

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Within Property litigation (including agriculture and housing), tier 4

Lead juniors at Henderson Chambers include the ‘tenacious’ and ‘pragmatic’ Jonathan Steinert and Andrew Davies, who has a ‘wealth of knowledge’, and is ‘very client focused’. Instructing solicitors hold Adam Heppinstall in ‘high regard’; and Malcolm Sheehan is noted for his ability to see the bigger picture, and ‘provides clear, straightforward guidance’.

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

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