The Legal 500

Within Aviation,

Also recommended are: Huw Davies QC at Essex Court Chambers; 7 King’s Bench Walk’s Gavin Kealey QC, who acted in PK Airfinance and Balli v Insurers; and John Steel QC at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, for his airport development expertise.

Within Commercial litigation, 7 King's Bench Walk (Chambers of Gavin Kealey QC) is a second tier firm,

Very well regarded for commercial insurance 7 King’s Bench Walk has ‘a number of good barristers’ and is ‘more realistic on fees than some other sets’. Jonathan Gaisman QC provides ‘outstanding analysis and advice and will not pull punches’. Head of Chambers Gavin Kealey QC, alongside Stephen J Phillips QC, has been representing the claimant Mr Munib Masri in his breach of contract dispute with Consolidated Contractors Company, which is one of the longest-running cases in the Commercial Court. Siobán Healy QC is noted for her ‘astonishing grasp of detail’, and is ‘careful, meticulous and hardworking’. Among the juniors, James Brocklebank is a ‘top man’, ‘clever, very hardworking and extremely easy to get on with’.

Within Commodities, 7 King's Bench Walk (Chambers of Gavin Kealey QC) is a second tier firm,

7 King’s Bench Walk’s expertise includes commodities, insurance and shipping. ‘The set is absolutely first-rate: responsive, reliable and effective. The clerking is the best.’ Robert Bright QC is ‘very personable and understated, but you get him in court and he’s a Rottweiler’. Dominic Kendrick QC is ‘one of the UK’s leading commercial silks and is particularly skilled in commodities-related matters’. Richard Southern QC is ‘very good’. The ‘outstanding’ Siobán Healy QC mixes commodities, shipping and insurance. New silk Peter MacDonald Eggers QC is ‘very bright, very personable, and looks at cases in a fresh way’. Charles Priday and Charles Holroyd are talented juniors.

Within Consumer and product liability, tier 4

7 King’s Bench Walk is an ‘excellent commercial litigation set’, and focuses on pharmaceutical and healthcare product liability matters. Simon Picken QC has an ‘excellent grasp of issues and the ability to condense them into the language that judges understand and respond to’; and Stephen Hofmeyr QC is ‘intelligent, pugnacious and driven’. Gavin Kealey QC recently acted in a three-week arbitration concerning silicone gel breast implants. David Allen QC is also recommended.

Within Energy, tier 4

At 7 King’s Bench Walk, Timothy Brenton QC is highly regarded for his offshore experience, and Alistair Schaff QC is known for his oil drilling expertise. Gavin Kealey QC, Dominic Kendrick QC and Simon Picken QC are also recommended.

Within Insurance and reinsurance, 7 King's Bench Walk (Chambers of Gavin Kealey QC) is a first tier firm,

‘Undeniably a top insurance set and a “go-to” in this area of expertise’, 7 King’s Bench Walk has ‘excellent QCs as well as strong juniors’, and ‘clerking is on the ball’. David Edwards QC is ‘a tough advocate and commands respect; a real insurance specialist’. Edwards is not alone in receiving high praise, with Jonathan Gaisman QC noted ‘as one of the real heavyweights’; Gavin Kealey QC ‘an elder statesman of the Bar’, and ‘a very good advocate and cross-examiner’; and Christopher Butcher QC ‘a first-rate insurance silk’, ‘a star’. The highly recommended Adam Fenton QC was lead counsel in the five-week High Court trial DHL v Barbon, and the ‘highly able’ Julia Dias QC won a successful appeal in Dunlop Haywards (DHL) Ltd v Erinaceous Insurance Services Ltd.

Within International arbitration, 7 King's Bench Walk (Chambers of Gavin Kealey QC) is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ 7 King’s Bench Walk is particularly well known for insurance, international trade and shipping disputes. The ‘unfailingly charming’ Gavin Kealey QC is ‘one of the best cross-examiners in the business’. The ‘very able’ Alistair Schaff QC is ‘definitely a case winner for the most difficult cases’. David Edwards QC is commended for his ‘thoroughness in analysis and preparation, and willingness to think originally’. James Drake QC’s ‘attention to detail and incisive analysis makes him an excellent choice for complex arbitration work’. Among the juniors, Richard Waller is commended for his expertise in insurance, reinsurance and shipping arbitrations.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

7 King’s Bench Walk is a ‘terrific set of chambers’ with the ‘standout’ Christopher Butcher QC and Jonathan Gaisman QC, who is recognised for his experience in audit negligence cases. N G Casey and Rebecca Sabben-Clare are singled out as junior counsel.

Within Shipping, 7 King's Bench Walk (Chambers of Gavin Kealey QC) is a first tier firm,

7 King’s Bench Walk ‘excels in trade, shipping and insurance’. Timothy Brenton QC, who is ‘superb to work with, a team player, and a very persuasive advocate’, is ‘especially recommended for collision and salvage work’, and acted in ENE 1 Kos Ltd v Petoleo Brasiliero SA. Jonathan Gaisman QC, who is regularly identified as a top barrister, is acting for the underwriters in a marine casualty involving the FEDRA. Other top silks include Dominic Kendrick QC (a ‘top performer with the ability to reduce the most complex issues down to four or five good points’); Robert Bright QC (who ‘operates in the intellectual jetstream, but keeps his feet on the ground at all times’); David Bailey QC (‘extremely bright, client friendly and articulate’); Richard Southern QC (a ‘superbly persuasive advocate who is totally dedicated and always has complete mastery’); Alistair Schaff QC (a ‘top-class advocate’ who is ‘very forceful and knowledgeable’); Christopher Butcher QC (who has an ‘excellent strategic brain and is fazed by nothing’); Stephen Kenny QC (‘excellent on paper, as well as in court and arbitration’ and ‘recommended without equivocation’); and Stephen Hofmeyr QC (who has a ‘fantastic grasp of detail and is very impressive in cross-examination’). At the junior end, the ‘very approachable, articulate and thorough’ Charles Priday is ‘more of an investment; you generally get a good return’; Richard Waller shows ‘good judgement’; and Benjamin Parker is an ‘extremely able and knowledgeable junior who provides invaluable support’.