The Legal 500

London Bar

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘strong and versatile’ 4 Paper Buildings is ‘the pre-eminent set’ for children work – public or private – with ‘some of the biggest hitters’ in the field and 'a huge number of talented juniors who are winning admirers for their caring yet effective style of representation’. Chambers is able to offer a barrister ‘with the appropriate expertise and skill to the right client at the right cost’. While it has historically been known as a children set, more of its junior members are also undertaking finance and cohabitation work, so much so that for some solicitors it has become the ‘go-to’ set for all family work in London and across the regions. In recent news, Cyrus Larizadeh QC has been appointed acting chair of the Family Law Bar Association and Oliver Jones has been appointed a circuit judge. Michael Reeves’ ‘well-run’ clerks’ room is ‘the best in the business’ and ‘a pleasure to deal with’; ‘responsive and accommodating, they bend over backwards to help at short notice when needed’. The clerks are ‘slick, hugely communicative with instructing solicitors, personable, engaged, and proactive’. First junior Paul Hennessey and second junior Kenny Martin ‘are excellent clerks’ held in high regard by solicitors. Asked to give their impression of chambers as a whole, one solicitor offered: ‘From the moment they enter the reception at 4PB, a client feels that they are in professional and nurturing hands. A client who may be very anxious is eased by the calm waiting room and the offer of a cup of tea and yet there is in an air of productivity and business which is also reassuring.’ Chambers manager Clare Bello has joined Cornerstone Barristers as its new chief executive officer. She was replaced by Furhana Mallick on 16 September. Offices in: London

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London Bar

Children law (including public and private law)

Children law (including public and private law) - Leading sets - ranked: tier 1

4 Paper Buildings

A 'first-rate set of chambers', 4 Paper Buildings is ‘without question, the go-to set for children matters’, according to clients. The set has ‘great strength in depth, a very good range of barristers at different levels of call, from hugely experienced QCs to extremely talented juniors, meaning it will always have a barrister who fits each client’s needs’. Alex Verdan QC, Sam King QC, Andrew Powell, Cleo Perry, and Michael Edwards  have been acting in the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse, the large public inquiry set to have huge implications on the way institutions deal with allegations of abuse. The set has many 'excellent' barristers including Prof Jo Delahunty QC who 'dominates every case she is in' and Teertha Gupta QC who is 'a smooth, engaging, and highly persuasive advocate with a strong following'. Charles Hale QC is 'outstanding' and 'judges really listen to Henry Setright QC because he invariably knows more on the subject than they do'.

Leading Silks

2018 Silks

Leading Juniors

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Family (including divorce and financial remedy)

Family (including divorce and financial remedy) - Leading sets - ranked: tier 2

4 Paper Buildings

With ‘excellent strength in depth in family law’, 4 Paper Buildings has a proven track record of acting in family disputes involving high-net-worth and international clients, especially where there are also issues involving offshore assets, family trusts, and complex tax structures. Henry Clayton advised the mother on an application for financial provision for a child where the father is a member of a wealthy ruling family that is based overseas. In addition, its members are skilled at advising on issues surrounding inherited and pre-marital agreements. ‘The whole set is very good indeed. It is a large family set with superb specialist family counsels at all levels,’ said one source. Another said: 'They have increasing numbers of polished performers in financial remedy cases.'

Leading Silks

Leading Juniors

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Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘strong and versatile’ 4 Paper Buildings is ‘the pre-eminent set’ for children work – public or private – with ‘some of the biggest hitters’ in the field and 'a huge number of talented juniors who are winning admirers for their caring yet effective style of representation’. Chambers is able to offer a barrister ‘with the appropriate expertise and skill to the right client at the right cost’. While it has historically been known as a children set, more of its junior members are also undertaking finance and cohabitation work, so much so that for some solicitors it has become the ‘go-to’ set for all family work in London and across the regions. In recent news, Cyrus Larizadeh QC has been appointed acting chair of the Family Law Bar Association and Oliver Jones has been appointed a circuit judge. Michael Reeves’ ‘well-run’ clerks’ room is ‘the best in the business’ and ‘a pleasure to deal with’; ‘responsive and accommodating, they bend over backwards to help at short notice when needed’. The clerks are ‘slick, hugely communicative with instructing solicitors, personable, engaged, and proactive’. First junior Paul Hennessey and second junior Kenny Martin ‘are excellent clerks’ held in high regard by solicitors. Asked to give their impression of chambers as a whole, one solicitor offered: ‘From the moment they enter the reception at 4PB, a client feels that they are in professional and nurturing hands. A client who may be very anxious is eased by the calm waiting room and the offer of a cup of tea and yet there is in an air of productivity and business which is also reassuring.’ Chambers manager Clare Bello has joined Cornerstone Barristers as its new chief executive officer. She was replaced by Furhana Mallick on 16 September. Offices in: London

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