The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government),

Also recommended are: ‘one of the best community care barristers in practice’ Hilton Harrop-Griffiths at Field Court Chambers; Kerry Bretherton and the ‘highly diplomatic’ Barbara Hewson at Hardwicke for Court of Protection matters; the ‘really impressive’ Robin Tam QC and the ‘encyclopaedic’ Nicholas Moss at Temple Garden Chambers; and the ‘very concise’ Hugo Keith QC, the ‘methodical and thorough’ Richard Horwell QC, the ‘exceptionally bright and incisive’ Patrick Gibbs QC and ‘brilliant tactician’ James Lewis QC at Three Raymond Buildings.

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

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

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

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation – Leading Silks

Within Construction,

Also recommended are: the ‘good-humoured and courteous’ Michael Black QC of XXIV Old Buildings; Michael Bowsher QC of Monckton Chambers (‘excellent with clients and very much at ease in the courtroom’); 3 Hare Court’s William Godwin, who has ‘good attention to detail’; Stuart Kennedy at 3PB, who is ‘extremely pleasant to work with and puts himself out for clients’; and, at Hardwicke, Nigel Jones QC, who ‘goes the extra mile’, and the ‘approachable’ David Pliener.

Within Costs Costs – Leading Juniors

Within Education, Hardwicke (Chambers of Nigel Jones QC) is a second tier firm,

Hardwicke provides an ‘exceptional level of service’, through high-quality clerks and a number of experienced counsel. Deborah Hay is an ‘outstanding barrister’ and a ‘formidable negotiator’ with ‘excellent knowledge of the law’, and Clive Rawlings and John Friel are both ‘competent and experienced’. David Lawson has ‘extensive knowledge of the technical aspects of education law, the workings of the Local Government Ombudsman and the Special Educational Needs Tribunal’. The ‘excellent and very client-friendly’ Fiona Scolding is also recommended.

Within Insolvency,

Also recommended are: Clara Johnson and ‘outstanding’ advocate Simon Davenport QC at 3 Hare Court (praised for his ‘top-notch analysis and decisiveness in getting to the relevant points’); Wendy Parker at Hardwicke; the ‘unfailingly helpful’, ‘approachable’ and ‘knowledgeable’ Terence Mowschenson QC at Wilberforce Chambers; the ‘ferociously hardworking and committed’ Iain Milligan QC at 20 Essex Street; and Peter Shaw, and Elaine Palser at 9 Stone Buildings, the latter ‘technically excellent’ and ‘no shrinking violet when it comes to advocacy’.

Within Insurance and reinsurance Insurance and reinsurance – Leading Silks

Within Intellectual property,

Also recommended are highly respected silks Ian Mill QC at Blackstone Chambers (whose ‘grasp of soft IP – copyright in particular – is first class’); and Michael Edenborough QC of Serle Court (‘an excellent all-rounder who gives quick, practical advice’). Of the juniors, clients single out Mark Engelman at Hardwicke, who acted in The Estate of Adrian Jacobs v JK Rowling & Bloomsbury Publishing. Other noteworthy practitioners include Brick Court Chambers’ new recruit Nicholas Saunders (formerly of Hogarth Chambers); the ‘pragmatic and commercially minded’ Malcolm Chapple of New Square Chambers; and the ‘most helpful’ Robert Deacon at 11 Stone Buildings.

Within Media, entertainment and sport,

Other highly respected silks include: Andrew Caldecott QC at 1 Brick Court; Guy Morpuss QC at 20 Essex Street; Ely Place Chambers’ Nicholas Stewart QC; and ‘extremely personable’ new silk Stephen Cogley QC at Quadrant Chambers. Of the juniors: Nicholas Randall at Devereux is ‘pre-eminent for sport work’; Jonathan Bellamy of Thirty Nine Essex Street is ‘a barrister you can put your faith in’; and Cloisters’ Caspar Glyn provides ‘strong technical analysis’. Also recommended are: John Critchley of Field Court Chambers; Madeleine Heal of Hardwicke; the ‘talented and tenacious’ Louis Weston at 3PB; and XXIV Old Buildings’ Ian Meakin. Simon Malynicz (formerly of Hogarth Chambers) joined Three New Square in 2011.

Within Personal injury, Hardwicke (Chambers of Nigel Jones QC) is a third tier firm,

A ‘firm favourite’ for many, Hardwicke’s set includes Charles Bagot, praised for his ‘analytical approach’, and John Gallagher, who has ‘excellent technical knowledge’. Up-and-comers include Steven Weddle, ‘an excellent tactician’, and Sarah Venn, who is ‘easily on a par with juniors twice her call’.

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

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence – Leading Silks

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

Adept at handling both property disputes and housing cases, Hardwicke’s specialist barristers are supported by an ‘accessible and efficient’ clerking team. Michelle Stevens-Hoare is ‘a very compelling advocate’, and John de Waal gives ‘clear, concise advice’. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Kerry Bretherton and the ‘approachable’ Andrew Lane are also recommended.

Within Shipping,

Also recommended are: ‘dependable and thorough advocate’ Andrew Popplewell QC and dry shipping expert Richard Lord QC at Brick Court Chambers; Sean O’Sullivan, who ‘gives very good, sensible advice’, at 4 Pump Court; the ‘responsive, approachable and accurate’ Nicholas Craig at 3 Verulam Buildings; James Watthey, who is noted in particular for yacht-related work, at Hardwicke; and Stephen Dennison QC at Atkin Chambers, for ship construction disputes.