The Legal 500

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

At Maitland Chambers, clients ‘place their absolute trust’ in Matthew Collings QC. Anthony Trace QC is ‘an excellent cross-examiner’ who has recently been advising Barclays Bank on issues related to the financial crisis in Iceland. Of the juniors, Louise Hutton is a very popular choice, David Mumford ‘excels as an advocate and adviser in bet-the-bank type cases’, and Andrew Ayres ‘will navigate you through choppy waters’.

Within Charities, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

At Maitland Chambers, ‘creative advocate’ Christopher McCall QC is a ‘powerhouse’ and regularly works with Matthew Smith, who is ‘a rising star in the charity sphere, and for good reason – he is sensible, good with clients, writes clear opinions and is likeable to boot’. The pair recently acted in Helena Partnerships Ltd v HMRC and Attorney General’s Reference on Benevolent Funds. Also recommended are the ‘very bright and user-friendly’ Andrew Westwood; and Amanda Tipples QC, who recently acted in Re Attorney General’s Reference No.1 of 2011 and Guinness Mahon Trust Corporation v Bearwood College Trustees.

Within Commercial litigation, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

Clients consistently find the ‘strength and depth’ at Maitland Chambers ‘very impressive’. The ‘combative’ and ‘brave’ Anthony Trace QC is ‘one of the great cross-examiners and advocates at the Bar’. Richard Morgan QC is ‘a recent silk but performs as if he has been a QC for a decade or more’. Thomas Grant has ‘great court presence and client skills’, and James Aldridge is ‘an excellent trial lawyer with persuasive advocacy skills and excellent cross-examination technique’.

Within Company and partnership, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

Clients find the strength and depth of the offering at Maitland Chambers ‘very impressive’, and it is highly recommended for both company and partnership-related matters. Anthony Trace QC is ‘one of the Bar’s great advocates and cross- examiners’. The ‘measured and thoughtful, but incisive and forceful’ Paul Girolami QC ‘has emerged over the last couple of years as one of the true star Chancery silks’. Mark Cunningham QC ‘puts both solicitors and clients at ease’ and is ‘a tenacious advocate, but in a charming way’. Catherine Newman QC is ‘a top-class performer’ for both partnership and company issues, as is Jonathan Russen QC, who is ‘very good on his feet and a highly effective court operator’. Christopher Parker QC ‘deals with the most complex of issues quickly and in a way clients understand’, and David Mumford is ‘bright, clear, practical and easy to work with’. Gregory Banner is ‘very well prepared and a clear and concise advocate’. Andrew Ayres is recommended for partnership matters and for his ‘huge brain and very calm court presence, which commands the respect of peers and judges alike’.

Within Energy,

Also recommended are Hodge Malek QC* at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square; Andrew Newcombe QC and Robert Fookes at FTB; and the ‘bright, responsive, and user-friendly’ Ciaran Keller at Maitland Chambers. *Hodge Malek QC is * now at Thirty Nine Essex Street).

Within Fraud: civil, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a first tier set,

Civil fraud represents a significant proportion of Maitland Chambers’ practice, with nine members involved in the highly publicised JSC BTA Bank litigation. Paul Girolami QC, Matthew Collings QC and Christopher Pymont QC are well-respected silks, as is Anthony Trace QC, who is ‘one of the Bar’s great advocates and cross-examiners; his enthusiasm is infectious’. Richard Morgan QC took silk in 2011, but ‘performs as if he has been a QC for a decade or more’. At junior level, Andrew Ayres ‘rolls up his sleeves and fights as hard as he can for his client’, and Benjamin John is an ‘excellent draftsman and tactician, and will go far’. Louise Hutton, Ciaran Keller, Alexander Winter and George Hayman are also names to note.

Within Insolvency, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

Maitland Chambers is a leading commercial Chancery set, with a very good name in litigation arising out of collapses, as well as offshore matters. Anthony Trace QC is ‘extremely hardworking, incredibly quick-witted and dedicated to getting the best result for the client’. Matthew Collings QC is ‘courteous to the court while being completely authoritative’, and appeared in UK Local Authorities v Landsbanki & Glitnir. Clients have ‘absolute confidence’ in Richard Morgan QC’s commercial insolvency advice, and Christopher Parker QC’s ‘arguments are succinct and commercial’. Catherine Newman QC, the ‘wonderfully calm and incredibly precise’ Paul Girolami QC and ‘down-to-earth, yet brilliant’ new silk Rebecca Stubbs QC are also recommended. At junior level, Daniel Margolin’s ‘pragmatic and “out of the box” approach is refreshing and welcome’, and Catherine Addy is a ‘really hard worker’.

Within Media, entertainment and sport, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

At Maitland Chambers, new silk Edmund Cullen QC is ‘intellectual, commercial and an unflappable cross-examiner’, and represented the NLA in Newspaper Licensing Agency v Public Relations Consultants Association at the Court of Appeal. Matthew Collings QC is recommended for commercial media cases, and George Hayman handles music and film disputes.

Within Pensions,

Other noteworthy practitioners include the ‘excellent’ Raquel Agnello QC and the ‘hardworking and approachable’ Thomas Robinson at 11 Stone Buildings, both of whom are recognised for their work for the Pensions Regulator; Maitland Chambers’ James Clifford, who is ‘reliable and among the best when it comes to technical cases’; Nicholas Randall at Devereux, whose work ‘not only reflects intellect but also tactical acuity’; and Four New Square’s Nigel Burroughs, who acts in all types of pensions disputes and has niche expertise in issues arising from attempts to amend scheme documentation.

Within Private client: personal tax,

Christopher McCall QC at Maitland Chambers maintains a strong advisory taxation practice.

Within Private client: trusts and probate, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a third tier set,

At Maitland Chambers, the ‘first-class’ Christopher McCall QC continues to be a leading light in the private client sphere, and Catherine Newman QC has a ‘formidable intellect’.

Within Professional negligence, Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a third tier set,

Maitland Chambers has a good reputation for professional negligence matters. Recommended silks include Anthony Trace QC, who acted in the high-profile TAG litigation, Michael Driscoll QC and Edwin Johnson QC, who is ‘a master of detail’. Edmund Cullen QC provides ‘a Rolls-Royce service’ and ‘marshals his thoughts diligently to give easy-to-digest and practical advice in an understated fashion’. Tom Leech QC is a ‘friendly and able advocate’, and Timothy Harry ‘thinks outside the box’.

Within Property litigation (including agriculture and housing), Maitland Chambers (Christopher Pymont QC) is a second tier set,

Maitland Chambers is a growing force at the property Bar and is home to a plethora of ‘seasoned’ juniors. For complex rights of light case, clients turn to the ‘determined’ Edwin Johnson QC and ‘straight-talking’ John McGhee QC. Christopher Pymont QC is ‘lethal in court’, and acted in Woodford Land Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd. The ‘first-class’ Mark Wonnacott acted in the Supreme Court case Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co-Operative; he is ‘creative’, ‘commercial’ and provides a ‘very high standard of service’. Other key juniors include the ‘extremely responsive’ Timothy Dutton, ‘real star for the future’ Alan Johns and the ‘proactive’ Timothy Harry, who ‘goes the extra mile’ when working with instructing solicitors.

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