What we say about the set's legal practice in Regional Bar
North Eastern Circuit
Within Commercial, insolvency and property,
Kings Chambers’ Michael Booth QC is ‘a ferocious advocate and has the ability to get to the root of a legal problem quickly’. Paul Chaisty QC is ‘pragmatic, knows his judges and has oodles of common sense’. Lesley Anderson QC is ‘tenacious, bright and technically excellent; a first-class operator’.
Within Overview , Kings Chambers (Chambers of Dr Nicholas Braslavsky QC) is a first tier firm,
York Chambers and Bank House Chambers maintain strong local connections. Enterprise Chambers is particularly recommended for ‘property, insolvency and commercial work’, and Kings Chambers’ reputation continues to grow in the same practice areas.
Northern Circuit
Within Chancery and commercial litigation,
Kings Chambers’ Lesley Anderson QC is ‘extremely combative and tenacious,’ and is ‘one of the best in the North West’. A ‘leader in the market’, Paul Chaisty QC is ‘pragmatic, knows his judges and has oodles of common sense’. Michael Booth QC is a heavyweight commercial litigator. Andrew Grantham, who is ‘very diligent, bright and conscientious’, and Neil Berragan, who is a ‘silk in the making’, are also recommended for commercial disputes. Mark Harper is a ‘very competent draftsman and an extremely able advocate’. The ‘impressive’ Martin Budworth handles high-profile sport-related matters. Jeffrey Terry, who is ‘intellectually rigorous, invariably thorough and unflappable under pressure’, is recommended for commercial and insurance-related litigation. Dr Mark Friston has an ‘unrivalled knowledge of all aspects of costs and costs litigation’. Louis Doyle provides ‘practical, no-nonsense commercial advice,’ and is recommended for insolvency and commercial matters. Andrew Latimer, Eleanor Temple and Lisa Walmisley also come highly recommended. The commercial and sport law practitioner David Casement QC recently joined the set from Exchange Chambers.
Within Employment,
Kings Chambers’ team head Nicholas Siddall ‘copes exceptionally well with difficult clients’, and is ‘always thoroughly prepared with excellent written and oral submissions’. James Boyd recently joined from Exchange Chambers, and is ‘one of the strongest barristers in the North West’, able to ‘get to grips quickly with a case, not withstanding any complexity’, and is a ‘skilful and commanding advocate’. Colin Bourne, who recently joined from York Chambers, ‘always provides timely, high-quality advice on the full range of employment-related issues’.
Within Overview, Kings Chambers (Chambers of Dr Nicholas Braslavsky QC) is a first tier firm,
The Northern Circuit comprises the largest volume of sets and barristers outside of London. Now that Manchester is home to the GMC and the new Administrative Court, and, combined with the fact that it is a strong Bar, local sets retain more of the complex work than historically was the case. The circuit is hugely receptive to the challenges the modern Bar faces; many sets are waiting on the sideline with a ProcureCo in place, and yet another set, namely Young Street Chambers, has folded. St Johns Buildings, which houses the leading family team, is in the process of merging with Paradise Chambers and India Buildings Chambers to have greater leverage for LSC tendering. Kings Chambers is the leading chancery, commercial and planning set; Lincoln House Chambers is top for crime; Byrom Street Chambers is the go-to set for personal injury and clinical negligence; and 9 St John Street is known for its employment offering. Deans Court Chambers and Exchange Chambers are solid sets with sound reputations. Garden Court North Chambers has notable prison and immigration law practitioners and has seen the recent arrival of three new tenants. St James’s Chambers, Cobden House Chambers and 18 St John Street Chambers, which recently took on several former Young Street Chambers members, are efficient and effective sets. In Liverpool, 7 Harrington Street has an incredible selection of criminal silks; Atlantic Chambers is a well-liked set and has several members who have national credit hire practices; and Liverpool Civil Law is a specialist civil set with several key PI practitioners.
Within Personal injury and clinical negligence,
Kings Chambers’ Dr Nicholas Braslavsky QC is ‘excellent, thorough, a great advocate and good with clients’. Michael Rawlinson QC is widely recognised on circuit as a leading silk for disease work: one client believes he is ‘one of the few counsel who is really willing to fight very difficult cases’. The ‘innovative and enthusiastic’ Nigel Poole is a ‘first-choice junior for clinical negligence at the Manchester Bar’. Sarah Pritchard is praised for her ‘technical ability, interpersonal skills and good bedside manner’. Stephen Maguire, a former clinical negligence solicitor, is ‘bright, approachable, a born advocate, and delivers an absolutely first-class service’.
Within Planning, construction and property,
Kings Chambers has ‘a strong reputation for planning and chancery matters’. Stephen Sauvain QC is the ‘leading authority on highways law and is often a first port of call for advice in this field’. David Manley QC and Paul Tucker QC are also highly recommended seniors for planning law. Andrew Singer is a construction and engineering expert and ‘cuts directly to the core issues’. Other strong planning practitioners at the set include Ruth Stockley, Roger Lancaster, John Barrett, Ian Ponter and Jonathan Easton. Giles Cannock is ‘one of the best young barristers around’, and Nigel Clayton is an ‘expert in complex mortgage and property litigation’. Wilson Horne is recommended for commercial property matters.
Within Regulatory and public law,
At Kings Chambers, Melanie Plimmer falls within the ‘exceptional category’: she ‘combines an acute analytical intelligence with formidable forensic skills’, and is a ‘supremely effective advocate’. Adam Fullwood is ‘smart, legally savvy and up for a fight if there is a fight to be had, and has an excellent rapport with an often difficult and demanding client group’. Sam Karim is ‘very knowledge, approachable and helpful’, and is particularly rated for his Court of Protection work.
Treasury Panel Lists
Within Treasury Panel Lists Region 1