The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government), Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

The ‘go-to chambers’ for public law, with a ‘wealth of talent in its ranks’, Blackstone Chambers is ‘in a league of its own for star counsel at all levels’. Senior clerk Gary Oliver ‘consistently gives the right recommendations’. A ‘model of clarity’, Lord Pannick QC is ‘superb in both advice and advocacy’. With an ‘outstanding intellect’, Dinah Rose QC is ‘brilliant as always’. The ‘frighteningly fluent’ Michael Beloff QC is ‘thoroughly charming to deal with’ and impresses with his Supreme Court experience, and Michael Fordham QC is ‘one of the most knowledgeable counsel for judicial review’, and combines ‘academic precision with polished trial advocacy’. The ‘exceptional’ John Howell QC has a ‘brilliant mind’. James Eadie QC continues to impress as Treasury Devil. Monica Carss-Frisk QC is ‘awesomely good’, and Charles Flint QC is ‘really excellent’ in judicial reviews. The ‘robust and clear’ Pushpinder Saini QC ‘swiftly engages with clients ’ issues’. ‘A thoroughbred performer’, Mark Shaw QC offers ‘insightful advice combined with case-winning advocacy’, and Beverley Lang QC is ‘excellent’. Timothy Otty QC joined in 2010 from Doughty Street Chambers. ‘Absolute star’ Javan Herberg QC took silk in 2011. Among senior juniors, Tom de la Mare is ‘inventive’, Kate Gallafent has a ‘first-class legal mind’, and Kieron Beal offers ‘enormously comprehensive advice in novel and complex areas of law’. Brian Kennelly is a ‘star performer’, and Catherine Callaghan and Shaheed Fatima are recommended.

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit), Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a second tier firm,

Considered one of the leading sets for financial regulation, Blackstone Chambers has ‘a number of members with excellent practices in this area’. Barbara Dohmann QC is ‘excellent to work with, and is a tough and able advocate when clients are in a tight spot’. Thomas Beazley QC is ‘an exceptionally strong performer and absolutely top of his game at the moment’. The ‘urbane and wise’ Charles Flint QC ‘is the pre-eminent QC in this area’, particularly for FSA-related matters. Andrew Green QC is ‘a fearless advocate who clearly thrives in the courtroom, but he is also good with clients and an excellent draftsman’. Javan Herberg QC is praised for his ‘excellent drafting’ and is particularly strong on financial regulation matters. Recommended for FSA enforcement issues, Ben Jaffey ‘provides very focused and practical advice based on excellent legal knowledge plus good common sense’.

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police), Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

‘A very significant name for human rights cases’, Blackstone Chambers remains a forerunner in this field. Clients rate the ‘flexible and reliable’ clerking at the set. The ‘first-class’ Lord Pannick QC provides ‘extremely good advocacy and knowledge’. Dinah Rose QC is ‘absolutely phenomenal’. With substantial Supreme Court experience, Michael Fordham QC has an ‘outstanding understanding of civil liberties legal issues’ and ‘shows complete commitment to arguing the case of the underdog’. Fordham led in advising the UNHCR in a case concerning the rights of gay asylum seekers, and Monica Carss-Frisk QC represented the appellant. Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC assisted in the promotion of the Equality Act, which came into force in 2010. James Eadie QC leads on public inquiry work. Timothy Otty QC joined from Doughty Street Chambers in 2010. At the junior level, Shaheed Fatima is highly rated, together with the ‘extremely bright and incisive’ Emma Dixon.

Within Commercial litigation, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a second tier firm,

The ‘very service-focused, practical, client-friendly and unstuffy’ Blackstone Chambers is a firm favourite for general commercial litigation. The ‘very clever’ Ian Mill QC is ‘an excellent draftsman and pugnacious advocate’. Thomas Beazley QC, who has been representing the defendant in the $9bn fraud case Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers v Maan al-Sanea, is ‘a very safe pair of hands, very reassuring with clients’. Barbara Dohmann QC is ‘a formidable advocate’ and has ‘a piercing intellect and the ability to see straight to the heart of the matter’. The ‘unflappable’ Robert Howe QC is ‘very numerical and computer literate. His use of technology is better than any other I have come across at the Bar’. Among the juniors, Tom Weisselberg is ‘highly intelligent and charming, and always has the ear of the court’.

Within Company and partnership Company – Leading Juniors

Within EU and competition, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a second tier firm,

The ‘exceptional’ Blackstone Chambers is praised for its strength in depth and ‘high-quality and efficient clerking’. Its EU and competition offering has expanded over recent years and it regularly acts for a host of high-profile corporate bodies and public organisations. Leading members in the sector include Dinah Rose QC, who is ‘dogged, clear and an excellent advocate’; Monica Carss-Frisk QC, ‘a steel hand in a velvet glove’; Adam Lewis QC, who is ‘very pragmatic and commercially minded’; Michael Fordham QC, noted for his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge, and clear and concise manner’; and the ‘extremely talented’ Pushpinder Saini QC. Juniors of note include the ‘very tenacious’ and ‘plain fantastic’ Kieron Beal; Tom de la Mare, ‘a great team player and very thoughtful’; the ‘all-round excellent’ Tristan Jones; the ‘really hardworking and great communicator’ Hanif Mussa, and Brian Kennelly, who ‘fights his client’s cause tooth and nail’, and represented Shell in a CAT appeal on alleged price fixing in tobacco.

Within Education, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a third tier firm,

Blackstone Chambers ‘continues to excel at understanding the business realities of litigation’. At senior level, Michael Beloff QC is noted for his discrimination work, Beverley Lang QC practises in all areas of education and public law, and Monica Carss-Frisk QC is recommended. Juniors include Gerard Clarke and Gemma White, who has ‘outstanding analytical skills’ and is ‘excellent at getting to the heart of legal problems’.

Within Employment, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

‘Eminently professional in approach’, Blackstone Chambers has ‘real strength in depth, delivering high quality at all levels of call’. The ‘thoroughly excellent’ Paul Goulding QC has ‘a calm demeanour which belies a tough interior’. Dinah Rose QC ‘is a top-rate barrister who has no downsides to her performance’. Monica Carss-Frisk QC is ‘adored by clients for her ability to remain cool and efficient under pressure’. Of the juniors, Gerard Clarke is ‘a passionate and committed advocate, who will argue his case forcefully and fearlessly’; Thomas Croxford ‘combines unquestionable technical skills with strategic thinking’; and Diya Sen Gupta is ‘a pleasure to work with’. Also recommended are the ‘bright, capable and responsive’ Jane Mulcahy, and ‘the very commercial and driven’ Nick De Marco.

Within Environment, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a second tier firm,

Blackstone Chambers is well regarded for its public law expertise on environmental matters. John Howell QC is ‘scarily intelligent. He gets to the heart of an issue very quickly and advises clearly’. Mark Shaw QC is ‘entirely practical and always provides insightful advice combined with case-winning advocacy’. Jane Collier ‘covers every conceivable detail to always be the best-prepared barrister in a court room’. Howell led Collier in Boggis v Natural England, and Shaw appeared for a group of water companies in Smartsource v Information Commissioner.

Within Fraud: civil, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

Blackstone Chambers has an enviable selection of ‘top-class barristers at both silk and junior level’ who are ‘a pleasure to deal with’. Thomas Beazley QC is ‘hugely intelligent, measured in his approach but more than capable of toughing it out when the situation demands it’. Barbara Dohmann QC exhibits ‘exemplary judgement and forensic skills’, and Anthony Peto QC has a ‘searing intellect’. Robert Howe QC acted for the defendant in a major fraud action arising out of the £300m administration of the British Seafood Group. Charles Flint QC, Robert Anderson QC, ‘a force of nature when he gets going’, and Ian Mill QC, ‘a commanding court presence’, are also recommended. Andrew Hunter and the ‘diligent and hardworking’ Andrew George are recommended, as are the ‘technically excellent, hardworking and extraordinarily user-friendly’ Robert Weekes, Tom de la Mare and Tom Weisselberg.

Within Immigration (including business immigration), Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a second tier firm,

Hailed as a ‘very professional and organised set’, Blackstone Chambers reaps praise for its immigration expertise. Lord Pannick QC, Michael Beloff QC and Michael Fordham QC are well respected in the field. Monica Carss-Frisk QC ‘cuts through confusion with great elegance’, and Mark Shaw QC is also highly regarded. Leading juniors include Kate Gallafent, Jane Collier, Guy Goodwin-Gill and Naina Patel.

Within Information technology Information technology – Leading Silks

Within Insolvency Insolvency – Leading Juniors

Within Insurance and reinsurance, tier 4

There is an ‘overall excellent team’ at Blackstone Chambers. Robert Anderson QC is ‘very responsive, creative and dedicated’. ‘Clear-thinking and excellent advocate’ Andrew Green QC recently took silk, and Andrew Hunter remains ‘very calm under pressure’; he ‘floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee’. Hunter was counsel for the claimant reinsured in a substantial reinsurance claim in the Commercial Court, Gard Marine and Energy Ltd v Tunnicliffe.

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 International arbitration, tier 4

Blackstone Chambers ‘provides excellent service’, and clients also value the fact that it ‘is prepared to discuss fees on a pragmatic basis’. Ian Mill QC offers ‘excellent all-round service for his paperwork, conference and advisory’. The ‘attentive and courteous’ Robert Englehart QC has a good reputation as an arbitrator, and this extends to his role as counsel.

Within Licensing Licensing – Leading Silks

Within Media, entertainment and sport, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

‘In a league of its own’, Blackstone Chambers is ‘an extremely strong set for media and entertainment matters’ and is ‘simply the best for sports law, where the barristers ’ expertise is unmatched’. ‘Pre-eminent in the field’, Ian Mill QC is ‘a courtroom fighter, with a keen eye for the point that the other side will do anything to hide’. Michael Beloff QC is an ‘outstanding sports barrister’, with strong expertise in Olympics cases; and Lord Pannick QC is ‘exceptionally clever and clear thinking’. Robert Howe QC is ‘particularly knowledgeable on digital issues’, and acted in Pink Floyd Music v EMI Records. Adam Lewis QC is a ‘true star, who is well on his way to becoming one of the leaders in sports law’; and Andrew Green QC, who took silk in 2010, is ‘incredibly professional and a quiet assassin in court’. Of the juniors, Jane Mulcahy ‘combines excellent client rapport with clear and practical advice’, and has a strong flow of employment work in the sports sector. Tom Weisselberg is ‘a first-rate, incisive advocate’, and Brian Kennelly is a ‘star performer, who gives 100% reliable advice’. One to watch, James Segan has ‘a gravitas that belies his years’.

Within Planning Planning – Leading Silks

Within Professional discipline and regulatory law (including police law), Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

Blackstone Chambers has a ‘fantastic crop of silks and juniors in this area’. The ‘brilliant’ Robert Englehart QC represented the RPS in Rycroft v Royal Pharmaceutical Society, a judicial review by a supervisor pharmacist complaining of delay and unfairness in the investigation of complaints; Lord Pannick QC is a ‘brilliant advocate’; Dinah Rose QC appeared in R v Advertising Standards Authority, ex parte Free Presbyterian Church, acting for the ASA in a challenge to a decision banning an advertisement by the Church; and the ‘consistently able’ Mark Shaw QC advised the NMC in Haywood v NMC, which involved a nurse who used covert filming of elderly patients to expose sub-standard care in a hospital in Brighton in a BBC Panorama documentary. Among the juniors, Catherine Callaghan is ‘bright’, and Kate Gallafent has ‘exceptional technical ability’.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence – Leading Silks

Within Public international law, Blackstone Chambers (Chambers of Monica Carss-Frisk QC and Anthony Peto QC) is a first tier firm,

Considered by many to be the ‘pre-eminent’ set for public international law, Blackstone Chambers’ commitment to the area was reinforced by the arrival of the ‘great’ Timothy Otty QC from Doughty Street Chambers in 2010. Another of the set’s leading silks is Maurice Mendelson QC, and Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC’s expertise in the area was reflected when he was knighted for services to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. Among the juniors, Guy Goodwin-Gill has an excellent reputation, and the ‘extremely bright’ Shaheed Fatima is also praised as leaving ‘no stone unturned’ and as ‘a tenacious advocate and clear-thinking tactician’.

Within Treasury Panel Lists First junior treasury counsel