Serjeants' Inn Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Serjeants' Inn Chambers Offices
Chambers of Angus Moon KC and Michael Horne KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
85 FLEET STREET
LONDON
EC4Y 1AE
England
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
85 FLEET STREET
LONDON
EC4Y 1AE
England
Serjeants' Inn Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is ‘a very experienced set with expertise across the board‘, noted for their ‘depth of knowledge’. John De Bono KC acts for both claimants and defendants, a recent notable case being CNZ v Bath, a successful obstetric liability trial involving the acute hypoxic brain injury of a claimant in his mid-twenties – the case applying the 2015 Mongomery v Lanarkshire Health Board decision on informed consent to care in 1986. Eloise Power has a notable specialism in gynaecological matters. Neil Davy KC was appointed to silk in March 2023 - he handled Hughes v Rattan, in which the Court of Appeal determined that practice owners, despite owing a non-delegable duty of care in respect of associate dentists, are not vicariously liable for their actions.Leading Silks
Angus Moon KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Angus has an incredible attention to detail, he is a great advocate and negotiator.'
John de Bono KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘John is excellent in every possible way. He is concise and definite with his advice, extremely good with clients and sensitive to their needs.’ Â
Christopher Johnston KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Christopher remains a go-to silk for clinical cases of utmost complexity. His forensic agendas remain the stuff of legend and ensure that all angles are covered.’
Michael Mylonas KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Michael is a truly brilliant barrister. His knowledge is superior, and he is not afraid of a fight.'
Adrian Hopkins KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Adrian is a titan in the field of medical negligence. His advice is faultless.'
Michael Horne KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'An excellent advocate, calm and unflappable - a real authority in the courtroom.'
Simon Fox KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Simon is truly inspiring and excellent at what he does.'
Katharine Gollop KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Katie is a leader in the field: a brilliant and formidable advocate, she is tactically astute, tenacious and prepared to go the extra-mile.'
Debra Powell KC - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Debra is a clear and pragmatic thinker with a very direct and engaging approach to negotiation.'
Bridget Dolan KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Bridget is a formidable and fearless advocate.'
Gerard Boyle KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Gerard is a leader in the field, a brilliant advocate, tactically astute, incredibly personable and good with clients.'
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Jonathan Holl-Allen KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jon is an excellent advocate - thoughtful, measured and unflappable.'
2022 Silks
Claire Watson KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Claire is a great strategist, she cuts to the chase and finds solutions. She is good with clients and very personable, and a persuasive advocate.'
2023 Silks
Neil Davy KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Neil provides excellent and invaluable advice'Â
Leading Juniors
Ranald Davidson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Ranald is a star, an excellent advocate – superb at his job, reliable and faultless’Â
Richard Partridge –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'A powerful yet unpretentious negotiator and advocate.'
Heidi Knight –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Heidi is a very skilled clinical negligence counsel – she is not only an excellent technician but also excellent with claimants and families.’
Eloise Power –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Passionate about her cases and trying to get the best result for clients. An effective advocate, able to present complex issues clearly.'
Scott Matthewson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Scott is very experienced, a persuasive advocate and an able negotiator.'
Caroline Hallissey –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Caroline is a star option– she understands the medicine in the case and deals very well with experts.’
Jamie Mathieson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jamie is a pleasure to work with. He is always well prepared, incredibly intelligent and has a fantastic way with clients which immediately puts them at ease.'
Oliver Williamson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Oliver is extremely knowledgeable, with a meticulous eye for detail.'
Christopher Hough –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Christopher is an all-round star performer. He gets to grips easily with difficult issues and he is precise and concise.’
Sebastian Naughton –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘An excellent and intelligent barrister, who is lovely with clients.'
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Andrew Perfect - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Andrew is a very well prepared, assured and confident in his presentation.'
Clare Hennessy - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Clare is a strong advocate with a good grasp of the law. She is also excellent with witnesses and provides very practical advice.'
Liam Duffy – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Liam is very quick on his feet, and good at quickly coming to grips with complex issues.'
Anthony Searle - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Anthony is a formidable adversary, able to predict how the other side might respond and very thorough and diligent in his work.'
Simon Cridland –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Extremely personable, very empathetic with clients in difficult situations but able to deliver challenging advice in a clear and supportive manner. Always across the issues and incisive on tactics.'Â
Michael Walsh –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A wonderful barrister who is an expert in his field and handles the most complex and sensitive cases with ease.'
Conrad Hallin –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Conrad is thorough, forensic and tenacious.'Â
Jemma Lee – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jemma is a very bright and incisive barrister with a clear sense of a case and the issues.’
Testimonials
‘The Clerks are great, from Lee Johnson, senior clerk, down. Very quick, efficient and easy to deal with.’
‘Serjeants Inn are quite simply the best set for advice on medical negligence. Their depth of knowledge is without equal.’
‘The clerks are brilliant at accommodating their clients, always going the extra mile. Lee Johnson, Clare Sabido and Jennifer Pooler are all very helpful. They are responsive, prompt, efficient and helpful. A real joy to work with.’
‘Helpful and a pleasure to work with. Josie Ryan in particular has been great – very efficient and prompt to deal with any queries.’
‘A very experienced set with expertise across the board, and able to offer excellent counsel suitable for a wide range of cases.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Court of Protection and community care Tier 1
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is ‘one of the strongest sets with excellent counsel at all levels’ who handle a range of Court of Protection work, often with a focus on medical treatment-related matters . Bridget Dolan KC has extensive experience of representing clients with limited capacity, while Bridget Dolan KC and Emma Sutton KC (the latter a 2023 silk appointment, alongside Neil Davy KC) represented the official solicitor in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust v Verden, defeating an NHS trust’s objections to a media campaign seeking a live kidney donor for a seventeen-year-old boy with autism – weeks after the litigation, he successfully received the organ from the donor found. Turning to the set’s juniors, Rhys Hadden, in AH/HH v Hywel Dda Health Board & Carmarthenshire County Council, represented a woman who wanted to move to the same care home as her occasionally aggressive husband of over half a century who also lacked capacity – at issue was if the Mental Capacity Act allowed their cases to be considered together by the same judge. Nageena Khalique KC represented the official solicitor in University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust v Livewell CIC, successfully resisting an application to anaesthetise a pregnant young woman at her home and use forcible restraints owing to her diagnoses of anxiety and agoraphobia, which led her to miss antenatal appointments.Rising stars
Olivia Kirkbride – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Olivia is exceptionally bright with a key eye for detail. She is able to command a room with her advocacy and being able to command her position with regard to what she wants to be done for her client on a case. She is one to look out for in the future as a true leader in this area.'
Jake Rylatt – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jake's enthusiasm for representing vulnerable clients is evident in his written and oral submissions. He is analytical in his consideration of the issues faced by the clients and pragmatic in his approach to their resolution. He is both forceful in seeking justice and representing clients to the highest standard yet respectful and courteous to opposing counsel. He is a tenacious advocate and skilled in cutting through complex issues.’
Leading Silks
Bridget Dolan KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Bridget is extremely experienced and authoritative.'
Michael Mylonas KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Michael's expertise is phenomenal, and his personable, relatively informal approach creates assurance to clients for certain types of cases. His advocacy is equally brilliant, calm, and reassuring but devastating when necessary.’
Angus Moon KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Angus is personable, responsive and easy to work with.'
Nageena Khalique KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Nageena has a wonderfully personable approach. Her representation is excellent with other parties and the judiciary.’
Debra Powell KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Debra is  formidable on her feet. Her attention to the granular level of detail is reassuring and incredibly impressive.’
Katharine Gollop KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Katie is a leading barrister. She has a very strong sense of justice and is very compassionate. She is excellent with lay clients and highly persuasive in court.’
2022 Silks
Claire Watson KCÂ - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Claire is organised, articulate and has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She conveys legal advice clearly and always acts in the client's best interest.'
Sophia Roper KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sophia can identify the issues and provide robust advice. She is excellent at engaging with clients and obtaining information from them. Her knowledge and experience in this area of law are second to none.’Â
Claire Watson KCÂ - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Claire is consistently and reliably brilliant with technical expertise, advocacy skill, and health and social care market expertise. She is also responsive, collaborative with instructing solicitors.'
2023 Silks
Emma Sutton KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Emma is a capable and in-demand barrister. She is always well-prepared, and her drafting is clear and persuasive. She knows the case like the back of her hand, offers helpful solutions and gets to the nub of the issues. Her advocacy is extremely effective.’
Leading Juniors
Rhys Hadden –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Rhys provides a very methodical approach to all cases. He provides detailed advice and persuasive drafting. His drafting is to an extremely high standard. His advocacy is very measured and persuasive.'
Conrad Hallin –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Conrad has a strong knowledge of capacity issues, good on paper and orally.’
David Lawson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘David is a very thorough preparation for the case and is easy to work with.’
Benjamin Harrison – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Benjamin is a passionate advocate and extremely skilled at cutting through complex issues without over-complication. He is compassionate and ensures the rights of vulnerable clients are protected. His knowledge in this area is exemplary, with a willingness to spend time researching where necessary.’
Jamie Mathieson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Jamie has a calm demeanour during legal proceedings. He remains composed under pressure enabling him to think clearly and present his arguments effectively. His thorough approach is also valuable, he is meticulous in reviewing evidence, analyzing legal principles, and conducting research allowing him to build strong arguments, and his attention to detail enhances the quality of their advocacy.'
Testimonials
‘Lee Johnson and Tom O’Connor are great, and the clerk’s room as a whole is excellent.’
‘The clerks provide a good and efficient service. Tom O’Connor is particularly helpful.’
‘Serjeants’ Inn Chambers has great strength in depth on the court of protection work. A high-quality set of chambers.’
‘Serjeants Inn Chambers is a great set for Court of Protection work. It is very good at finding availability for serious medical treatment cases. The team is reliable, helpful and approachable.’
‘Serjeants Inn Chambers is a go-to chamber for complex Court of Protection matters, in particular urgent medical treatment. It has an excellent team of junior and senior counsel.’
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Work highlights
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries Tier 1
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers garners praise for its ‘extensive experience and strength-in-depth‘ in the inquests and inquiries arena. John Beggs KC is representing the Wiltshire Police in the inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in July 2018 following exposure to the nerve agent Novichok used by Russian agents in their attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal. Bridget Dolan KC is regularly instructed in high-profile inquests, specialising in lengthy Article 2 cases, and Nageena Khalique KC acts for local authorities, bereaved families and the NHS in inquest proceedings. Turning to the set's juniors, Edward Pleeth is instructed by government departments in inquest proceedings, while Rachel Spearing represented the Tavistock Gender Identity Clinic in an inquest into the suicide of a prospective patient; the inquest took place a few days after a judicial review concerning the clinic's waiting times.Rising stars
Anthony Searle – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Anthony has excellent knowledge of inquest law and is a very effective advocate.'
Leading Silks
Bridget Dolan KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘An exceptional advocate. Her knowledge of coronial process and law is second to none. Hugely impressive in court.'
Katharine Gollop KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'A tremendous advocate.'
Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Her cross-examination is efficient, flexible, and relentless. She is an astute tactician who is approachable and stands her ground.'
Dijen Basu KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'An excellent advocate who provides robust advice.'
Nageena Khalique KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Nageena has immense gravitas. She is a fantastic advocate and her witness handling is excellent – compassionate but her points are firmly put.’
2022 Silks
Claire Watson KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'She is tactically very astute, calm, thoughtful and measured. Her style of advocacy compels attention.'
Leading Juniors
Edward Pleeth –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Edward’s advocacy is extremely effective; when examining witnesses, he always shows a mastery of the details of the case.’
James Berry – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A first-class junior, with an excellent brain and a confident court presence.'
Cecily White –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A very approachable junior who is in total command of her brief.'
Paul Spencer –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Paul is strategic, very knowledgeable, and extremely personable. He is always well prepared.'
Briony Ballard – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Briony is very thorough and precise, with strong technical expertise.'Â
Scott Matthewson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A very well regarded senior junior. Trusted for his direct but measured and fair style.’
Sebastian Naughton –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sebastian is a very knowledgeable and experienced barrister. Judges warm to him.'
Michael Walsh –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Michael is a fantastic strategist who hones in on the key issues of a case straight away. His advocacy is fantastic: persuasive and a pleasure to listen to.'
Oliver Williamson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Oliver is always very well prepared. His advocacy style is calm, collected, and conducted in a measured way so that he always gets to the root of the problem.'
Clare Hennessy – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A junior who is excellent on her feet, easily builds rapport with witnesses, and gets great results in court.’
Jamie Mathieson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘James is very bright and has an excellent, reassuring manner with clients and witnesses.’Â
Testimonials
‘Very efficient and commercial service. Lee Johnson is a pleasure to deal with and always strives to find a solution. His approach is far superior to others in terms of ability to deliver a prompt and efficient service.’
‘Josie Ryan really is an excellent clerk. She is meticulous, responsive, and always willing to go the extra mile.’
‘Fantastic set with brilliant Counsel at every level. They wipe the floor with the competition.’
‘Very strong set in the field of inquest law.’
‘The chambers is brilliant, the go-to set for this practice area.’Â
‘The clerks are consistently supportive, helpful and efficient.’
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London Bar > Police law (forces and constables) Tier 1
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is ‘a stand out set,’ with a ‘first class team,’ involved in cases at all levels and all areas of police law. The breadth and depth of the set’s members’ practice covers judicial reviews, misconduct and misfeasance cases, and a large range of advisory work in addition. Dijen Basu KC instructed on a death in custody inquest representing Great Manchester Police after a man died in custody, following a physical struggle with police, after a cocaine overdose.  Gerard Boyle KC successfully defended a judicial review of the decision to not dismiss Robyn Williams, a Metropolitan Police superintendent who was convicted of possessing indecent images of children after having received, but not viewed, an unsolicited video of a girl engaged in sexual activity with an adult male. James Berry represented the British Transport Police in an Investigatory Powers Tribunal claim arising from surveillance of a police officer suspected of conducting an affair while on duty, successfully arguing that the IPT does not have jurisdiction to hear the claim because it was during a misconduct investigation.Leading Silks
Dijen Basu KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Approachable, very responsive, able to assimilate huge amounts of information into easily digestible advice. Very pleasant to work with.'Â
John Beggs KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'John is in a class all on his own. Exceptional advisor and advocate.'Â
Gerard Boyle KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Gerard is an extremely able and hardworking advocate. He has an ability to communicate clearly with even the most difficult of clients, provides realistic advice in a courteous but straightforward way. His advocacy is well-structured, eloquent and effective.’
Ian Skelt KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Ian is a fantastic barrister. He is sharp and astute with good commercial awareness. His written advice is strong, and he is assured and robust in conference. His advocacy is very good, and he is confident and persuasive. He is also proactive in suggesting ways to advance the case.’
2022 Silks
Claire Watson KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Highly regarded for her astute tactical approach to cases.’
Leading Juniors
Elliot Gold –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Elliot's attention to detail and understanding of complex issues is unparalleled. He has an unrivalled technical understanding of the law.'Â
George Thomas –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'George is exceptional. He is extremely hard-working and is meticulous in every respect. He is always in demand and has an outstanding reputation within this area.'
James Berry –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘His thoroughness and attention to detail in evidence is first-class.’
Frances McClenaghan –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Frances has a keen eye for detail, and a breadth of experience which gives her the ability to view matters from different angles.'
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Stephen Morley –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Stephen is an excellent advocate. He is the best junior barrister in the country for police work.'Â
Matthew Holdcroft –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'Matthew is a practical lawyer and a canny tactician.'
Aaron Rathmell –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers    Â
Testimonials
‘Lee Johnson is without doubt the best clerk there is. He is always responsive but more importantly he knows the needs of the client, understands their organizational needs and does his very best to ensure they have the barrister who best suits their needs, litigation and strategic risks.’
‘We rate Jennifer Pooler, Clare Sabido, and the clerking team very highly in their responsiveness and their flexibility. They are always friendly and helpful. In particular, Lee Johnson always goes above and beyond to ensure our client gets the best service possible and is always available at short notice.’
‘Serjeants’ Inn are reliable and experienced. They have a good depth of counsel to meet all nature of claims against the police.’
‘They are the stand-out set for police misconduct work.’
‘Experts in their field in relation to police pension advice, and understanding the complexities and technicalities of this area of work.’
‘Serjeants’ Inn is the leading set on presentation and prosecution. Strength in depth, proactively keeping up with the law.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 1
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers garners praise from clients as 'excellent as a whole in respect of professional disciplinary and regulatory law'. Gerard Boyle KC is 'superb on his feet and grasps the intricacies of the case very quickly', and Sarah Clarke KC is 'an absolute master at cross-examination'. Jonathan Holl-Allen KC, who is head of the team in chambers, has an established track record in representing medical and dental practitioners in disciplinary proceedings. Among the juniors, Anthony Haycroft garners praise for being 'one of the finest barristers when it comes to handling complex cases before the medical regulators', and David Morris is a highly regarded senior junior, with solid expertise in defending healthcare practitioners.Leading Silks
John Beggs KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘John is in a class all of his own. An exceptional advocate.‘
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Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A silk who shows tactical brilliance and meticulous attention to detail. She has a razor-sharp intellect.'
Jonathan Holl-Allen KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jonathan is exceptionally calm on his feet. Robust with clients, measured and forceful with tribunals, and is a great person to have around in a crisis.'
Gerard Boyle KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'A commanding advocate with an uncanny ability to get the court on side.'
Mark Harries KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Mark is very astute, compelling, forensic and knowledgeable – a star!'
2022 Silks
Claire Watson KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘She is a brilliant advocate, combining wit, analytical know-how and gravitas in equal measure.‘
Leading Juniors
Anthony Haycroft – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A superb advocate who provides excellent tactical advice.'
David Morris – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘David has a very analytical mind and is measured in cross-examination.'
Ranald Davidson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Ranald is hardworking, talented on his feet, and has excellent client-management skills.‘
Oliver Williamson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Oliver is a highly technical junior and a strong advocate, with great client care and communication skills.'
Simon Cridland – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'He is a smooth operator with a remarkable ability to think outside the box and spot the winning argument no-one else has noticed.'
Cecily White - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'She can handle vast amounts of information and find the vital elements to focus on. She provides clear and authoritative guidance to investigators on evidence, disclosure questions and case strategy. Her style is warm and she is a strong team player, empathetic but never afraid to challenge assumptions. '
Clare Hennessy – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘A serene and considered advocate, who inspires confidence in clients and builds a good rapport with the tribunal.'
Testimonials
‘Lee Johnson is great.‘
‘Fantastic. Lee Johnson is a legend in his own lifetime.‘
‘Tom O’Connor is the most reliable and friendliest clerk you could hope to meet.‘
‘Jennifer Pooler is a great asset to the barristers she works with.‘
‘A leading set in professional disciplinary work.‘
‘It’s a great set, possessing strength in depth.‘
‘Excellent. All of the clerks are always willing to assist and pull out the stops.‘
‘The set as a whole in respect of professional disciplinary and regulatory law is excellent. The clerks work incredibly hard to try and always make someone available and to ensure they put forward the most suitable and experienced counsel for the case.‘
London Bar > Product liability Tier 3
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers has product liability expertise with particular experience in cases concerning defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Heidi Knight  is well-versed in cases involving defective vehicle brakes, fireworks and other household goods while Eloise Power has a notable record in matters such as trans-vaginal mesh and defective intra-ocular lens litigation.Leading Silks
Christopher Johnston KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Tremendously analytical in his approach to complex matters. His preparation for conferences particularly with experts in the use of spreadsheets and agendas is excellent.'
Leading Juniors
Heidi Knight –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Heidi is extremely knowledgeable in the product liability field. Her advices are comprehensive and clearly set out.’
Eloise Power –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Passionate about her cases and trying to get the best result for clients. An effective advocate, able to present complex issues clearly and attractively. Able to deal with the most complicated cases, and has a deep understanding of product liability law especially in relation to medical devices.'
Testimonials
‘Breadth of experienced counsel is good as are training modules offered by Chambers.’
‘One of the leading clinical negligence and product liability sets.’
‘The clerks are professional and friendly and happy to assist when they can.’
‘Excellent service across the board.’
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Work highlights
London Bar > Education
Rising stars
Jake Rylatt – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Jake is a very good advocate. He has a good understanding of how to read the room and adapt his advocacy style to suit the particular requirements of the court on the day.’
2023 Silks
Leading Juniors
David Lawson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘David is probably the best barrister those who instruct him have ever worked with. He works incredibly hard and sees details in a case that most people would miss.’
Rhys Hadden – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Rhys is very knowledgeable and experienced concerning SEN and education matters.’
London Bar > Financial services regulation
Leading Silks
Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sarah is peerless on the law, particularly regarding market abuse, FSMA offences and insider dealing. Her preparation is thorough which leads to flawless courtroom advocacy, particularly when it comes to cross-examination, at which she is particularly skilled.’
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
Leading Silks
Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sarah is peerless on the law, particularly regarding market abuse, FSMA offences and insider dealing. Her preparation is thorough which leads to flawless courtroom advocacy, particularly when it comes to cross-examination, at which she is particularly skilled.’
Leading Juniors
Alexander dos Santos –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Extremely bright senior junior. Very clear and imaginative legal thinker. Very committed.’
London Bar > Crime
Leading Silks
Mark Harries KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Mark is simply one of the best barristers around. His advocacy skills are first class and, frankly, unrivalled. His client care is of particular note. Whilst oozing expertise and eloquence, his communication skills are excellent and always tailored to the particular case and the client's needs.'
Leading Juniors
Alexander Dos Santos – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Alex is polite, personable and very approachable. As a barrister he is knowledgeable, well-respected by peers and senior counsel and very experienced. His advocacy is always based on thorough preparation and is persuasive and well-argued. His written advice is clear and helpful and he is excellent with professional and lay-clients.'
London Bar > Employment
London Bar > Fraud: crime
Leading Silks
Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sarah is a first-class intellect with tireless attention to detail. She is a compelling, persuasive advocate with great charisma and is able to explain complex matters in easily understandable language.’Â
London Bar > International crime and extradition
Leading Juniors
Hannah Hinton –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Hannah is an amazing fighter in the court room and very well respected by judges and other advocates.’
Alexander dos Santos –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Alex is a consummate advocate. A safe pair of hands for any extradition case.’
London Bar > Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud
Personal injury - Leading Juniors
Scott Matthewson – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Scott is a very accomplished advocate - the complete package.'
London Bar > Health and safety
London Bar > Social housing
Serjeants' Inn Chambers > Set Profile
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is a successful, progressive and friendly set with nine core specialisms.
The set: Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is consistently ranked by the directories as a market leader in clinical negligence, professional disciplinary, regulatory and public law. Silks and juniors receive praise for the strength of their advocacy, legal and tactical skills. The clerking team, led by Lee Johnson, is efficient, approachable and helpful.
Types of work undertaken
Clinical negligence and healthcare: clinical negligence has always been a significant area of work at Serjeants’ Inn Chambers. Tenants have led the way in developing the law (Sidaway, Heil, Chester, Thompstone). High-value claims concerning cerebral palsy and catastrophic injuries are undertaken, as well as multi-party actions. The cases often involve important legal, ethical and social issues and are always of the utmost human significance. Recent Supreme Court cases include: Henderson -v- Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust and the ground-breaking case of XX v Whittington which changed the law on the recoverability of surrogacy damages.
Court of Protection: the team is widely acknowledged to be a market leader in providing representation in all Court of Protection work. The team’s work encompasses all areas of human rights and civil liberties in health, social care and financial decision-making with members advising and representing statutory bodies, incapable people and their families in cases covering a very wide range of legal and factual issues. Members are instructed by PCTs nationwide, the Official Solicitor, CAFCASS and individuals, in the most sensitive and important cases. The expertise in this area is underlined by the fact that they write and edit the only comprehensive legal textbook in this field, Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law. The fourth edition is edited by Christopher Johnston KC and Sophia Roper KC and was written by a team of 27 members of Serjeants’ Inn.
Police: the police team has been ranked number one in the UK for over a decade. Members act for all police forces around the country. They also represent the National Crime Agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Police and Crime Commissioners and other policing bodies including the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council and private providers in the criminal justice service. They act in the cases which shape police law in this country. Their work includes the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Leveson Inquiry; the David Rathband, Walid Yusif and Michael Barrymore civil claims; the Raoul Moat, Hillsborough, Deepcut  and Perepilichnyy inquests.
Employment: the growing employment team practises across the entire range of employment law for a variety of claimants and respondents. The team has particular experience in discrimination, whistle-blowing and injunctions in compliance with contractual disciplinary procedures. Recent cases include: Edwards v Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Supreme Court decision in 2011).
Inquests: for over 20 years members have acted in the most important inquests across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Inquests have become a specialism which members have excelled in, particularly since the adoption of the more rigorous approach required under Art 2 ECHR. Chambers acts for bereaved families and for organisations and individuals facing potential criticism following deaths in hospitals, police stations, mental health units, care homes, prisons, the workplace and military deaths. Recent high-profile examples include the In Amenas terrorist siege, deaths at Deep Cut Army Barracks and deaths after police contact such as those of Raoul Moat and Mark Duggan. Four tenants appeared in the 7 July London Bombings inquests.
Product liability: Serjeants’ Inn Chambers’ particular product liability expertise is in cases involving injury caused by medical or pharmaceutical products and devices and over the last two years members of chambers have been involved in a number of high-profile product liability group actions.
Professional discipline and regulatory: the set has always been at the forefront of professional disciplinary work in healthcare and police fields. Members act for solicitors, barristers, academics and sportsmen. Sir Robert Francis KC chaired the inquiry into the failings of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust with several members of chambers representing core participants. Recent high-profile cases in the police field have included the prosecutions (with associated judicial reviews) of a slew of chief officers, for example Operations Alice and Silk (Plebgate).
Public and administrative: the team’s work spans judicial review, information law, sports law, mental health law and Treasury work. It has particular experience of major inquests and public inquires including the 7/7 London Bombings inquests and the Baha Mousa and Mid-Staffordshire public inquiries.
Business and specialist crime: the team specialises in cases involving professional people and organisations, and where the charges range from murder, manslaughter (including corporate manslaughter), health and safety offences, misconduct in public office, perjury and sexual offences to fraud and other financial crime.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Chief Executive | Catherine Calder | ||
| Joint Chief Executive | Martin Dyke | ||
| Senior clerk | Lee Johnson | ||
| Head of Chambers | MOON KC, Angus (1986) | ||
| Head of Chambers | HORNE KC, Michael (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOPKINS KC, Adrian (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BEGGS KC, John (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JOHNSTON KC, Christopher (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MYLONAS KC, Michael (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROWTHER KC, Tom (1993 | 2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DE BONO KC, John (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BASU KC, Dijen (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KHALIQUE KC, Nageena (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOLLOP KC, Katie (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FOX KC, Simon (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOLAN KC, Bridget (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BOYLE KC, Gerard (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLARKE KC, Sarah (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | POWELL KC, Debra (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLL-ALLEN KC, Jonathan (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SKELT KC, Ian (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARRIES KC, Mark (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROPER KC, Sophia (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WATSON KC, Claire (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FORTUNE, Malcolm (1972) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORRIS, David (1976) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOUGH, Christopher (1981) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAYCROFT, Anthony (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JENKINS, Alan (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOCKTON, Andrew (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SPENCER, Paul (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HALLISSEY, Caroline (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PARTRIDGE, Richard (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEY-MORGAN, Mark (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMAS, George (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MATTHEWSON, Scott (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALSH, Michael (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORLEY, Stephen (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVIDSON, Ranald (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLDCROFT, Matthew (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CRIDLAND, Simon (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOS SANTOS, Alexander (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SPEARING, Rachel (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NAUGHTON, Sebastian (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LAWSON, David (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BALLARD, Briony (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVY, Neil (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SIMCOCK, Sarah (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KNIGHT, Heidi (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOLD, Elliot (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STREET, Amy (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | POWER, Eloise (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HALLIN, Conrad (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PLEETH, Edward (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SUTTON, Emma (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BERRY, James (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HADDEN, Rhys (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PERFECT, Andrew (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HINTON, Hannah (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMSON, Oliver (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TKACZYNSKA, Anna (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MCCLENAGHAN, Frances (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RICKARD, Susanna (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HENNESSY, Clare (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FERNANDO, Pravin (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DHILLON, Amardeep (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RATHMELL, Aaron (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WHITE, Cecily (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORRISON, Eleanor (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DUFFY, Liam (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KANE, Joanne (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MATHIESON, Jamie (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARRISON, Benjamin (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SEARLE, Anthony (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FOX, Elizabeth (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RYLATT, Jake (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KIRKBRIDE, Olivia (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Louisa (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOURLEY, Rachael (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CAMPBELL, Emily (2021) | ||
| Associate Member | WATSON KC, James (1979) | ||
| Associate Member | FRANCIS KC, Sir Robert (1973) |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Briony Ballard | Briony’s practice is fairly evenly split between medially related and police work.… | View Profile |
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Dijen Basu KC | Described by an earlier edition as ‘a details man: extremely good at… | View Profile |
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Dijen Basu KC | Described by an earlier edition as ‘a details man: extremely good at… | View Profile |
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John Beggs KC | John Beggs QC was called to the Bar in 1989 and took… | View Profile |
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James Berry | James is an experienced public, civil and regulatory barrister. Over the past… | View Profile |
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Gerard Boyle KC | Gerry is a recognised specialist in medical and police law. His medical… | View Profile |
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Sarah Clarke KC | Sarah Clarke QC was called to the Bar in 1994 and took… | View Profile |
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Sarah Clarke KC | Sarah Clarke QC was called to the Bar in 1994 and took… | View Profile |
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Sarah Clarke KC | Sarah Clarke QC was called to the Bar in 1994 and took… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Cridland | Simon is a healthcare law and medical mal-practice specialist. His practise encompasses… | View Profile |
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Mr Ranald Davidson | Prior to being called to the Bar, Ranald qualified and worked as… | View Profile |
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Neil Davy KC | Barrister specialising in medical law (including negligence actions for claimant and defendants,… | View Profile |
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John De Bono KC | John is highly sought after by both claimants and defendants. He is… | View Profile |
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John De Bono KC | John is highly sought after by both claimants and defendants. He is… | View Profile |
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Bridget Dolan KC | Having been a forensic and academic psychologist for 13 years before her… | View Profile |
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Bridget Dolan KC | Having been a forensic and academic psychologist for 13 years before her… | View Profile |
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Liam Duffy | View Profile | |
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Malcolm Fortune | Malcolm is a heavyweight Senior and very experienced Junior Counsel, whose current… | View Profile |
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Simon Fox KC | Simon is a medically qualified specialist clinical negligence silk with 25 years’… | View Profile |
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Simon Fox KC | Simon is a medically qualified specialist clinical negligence silk with 25 years’… | View Profile |
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Elliot Gold | Elliot is a confident and trusted advocate combining good judgment on the… | View Profile |
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Ms Katharine Gollop KC | Extensive High Court and County Court experience representing claimants and healthcare professionals… | View Profile |
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Ms Katharine Gollop KC | Extensive High Court and County Court experience representing claimants and healthcare professionals… | View Profile |
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Rhys Hadden | Rhys specialises in all areas of public and human rights law. He… | View Profile |
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Conrad Hallin | Barrister specialising in: clinical negligence – with experience of cases involving: cerebral… | View Profile |
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Ms Caroline Hallissey | Caroline Hallissey is an experienced clinical negligence practitioner; rated in particular for… | View Profile |
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Mark Harries KC | Mark specialises in business and financial crime, professional discipline and regulatory work,… | View Profile |
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Mark Harries KC | Mark specialises in business and financial crime, professional discipline and regulatory work,… | View Profile |
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Benjamin Harrison | View Profile | |
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Mr Anthony Haycroft | Extensive experience in trials involving civil and criminal jurisdictions, as well as… | View Profile |
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Clare Hennessy | Clare is in demand for her combination of effective court room advocacy… | View Profile |
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Hannah Hinton | Hannah’s practice encompasses complex extradition work, public law, police law, professional discipline… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Hockton | Andrew specialises in the fields of regulatory and medical law. He has… | View Profile |
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Matthew Holdcroft | Matthew is a leading junior barrister who specialises in public law, with… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Holl-Allen KC | Jonathan Holl-Allen was called to the Bar in 1990 and took silk… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Holl-Allen KC | Jonathan Holl-Allen was called to the Bar in 1990 and took silk… | View Profile |
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Adrian Hopkins KC | Adrian Hopkins QC was called to the Bar in 1984 and took… | View Profile |
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Adrian Hopkins KC | Adrian Hopkins QC was called to the Bar in 1984 and took… | View Profile |
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Michael Horne KC | Michael Horne QC was called to the Bar in 1992 and took… | View Profile |
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Michael Horne KC | Michael Horne QC was called to the Bar in 1992 and took… | View Profile |
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Christopher Hough | Chris is a clinical negligence specialist. He loves to meet clients and,… | View Profile |
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Mr Alan Jenkins | Specialises in the fields of professional discipline, health and safety, and crime.… | View Profile |
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Christopher Johnston KC | Christopher Johnston QC was called to the Bar in 1990 and took… | View Profile |
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Christopher Johnston KC | Christopher Johnston QC was called to the Bar in 1990 and took… | View Profile |
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Nageena Khalique KC | Nageena is a first class healthcare barrister, with a focus on public… | View Profile |
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Nageena Khalique KC | Nageena is a first class healthcare barrister, with a focus on public… | View Profile |
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Heidi Knight | Heidi is an experienced clinical negligence, product liability and personal injury specialist… | View Profile |
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Mr David Lawson | David specialises in education law, public law and all areas of local… | View Profile |
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Mr Mark Ley-Morgan | Barrister specialising in all areas of the law associated with the police… | View Profile |
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Jamie Mathieson | Jamie has a busy and growing practice across all areas of Chambers’… | View Profile |
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Scott Matthewson | View Profile | |
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Frances McClenaghan | Frances has developed a varied police law practice. In addition to misfeasance… | View Profile |
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Angus Moon KC | Angus Moon QC was called to the Bar in 1986 and took… | View Profile |
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Angus Moon KC | Angus Moon QC was called to the Bar in 1986 and took… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Morley | Stephen specialises in police work and acts for forces across the country.… | View Profile |
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David Morris | Has for many years specialised in disciplinary and regulatory cases, appearing before… | View Profile |
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Michael Mylonas KC | Barrister specialising in clinical negligence, health and safety and personal injury. Michael… | View Profile |
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Michael Mylonas KC | Barrister specialising in clinical negligence, health and safety and personal injury. Michael… | View Profile |
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Sebastian Naughton | Sebastian practises clinical negligence, personal injury and employment law. He is also… | View Profile |
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Mr Richard Partridge | Medical Law. All aspects notably civil litigation for both claimants and defendants.… | View Profile |
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Edward Pleeth | Edward specialises in police law, public law and medical law. Edward advises… | View Profile |
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Debra Powell KC | Barrister specialising in medical and mental health law, including clinical negligence, medical… | View Profile |
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Eloise Power | Eloise Power specialises in medical law, including clinical negligence, product liability, healthcare… | View Profile |
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Aaron Rathmell | Administrative and public law; medical law and inquests; civil police law for… | View Profile |
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Susanna Rickard | Susanna has a wide ranging and full civil practice with an established… | View Profile |
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Ms Sophia Roper KC | Sophia was previously a specialist Court of Protection health and welfare lawyer… | View Profile |
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Jake Rylatt | View Profile | |
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Anthony Searle | View Profile | |
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Sarah Simcock | Sarah specialising in medical law (including negligence actions for claimant and defendants,… | View Profile |
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Ian Skelt KC | Ian is a highly experienced silk with extensive experience in police law,… | View Profile |
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Ian Skelt KC | Ian is a highly experienced silk with extensive experience in police law,… | View Profile |
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Mr Paul Spencer | Paul is a regulatory lawyer who specialises in healthcare litigation, CQC enforcement… | View Profile |
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Amy Street | Barrister specialising in public and administrative law; constitutional law; Court of Protection;… | View Profile |
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Emma Sutton KC | Emma is a recognised specialist in Public and Administrative law (including human… | View Profile |
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Mr George Thomas | George works predominantly in the fields of healthcare and policing. Within these… | View Profile |
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Anna Tkaczynska | View Profile | |
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Mr Michael Walsh | Michael balances a caseload of complex and high-value clinical negligence matters for… | View Profile |
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James Watson | James undertakes work in a wide range of areas which now predominantly… | View Profile |
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Claire Watson KC | Claire specialises in both medical and police work, including clinical negligence claims,… | View Profile |
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Cecily White | Cecily has a thriving practice spanning the full range of chambers’ specialisms,… | View Profile |
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Oliver Williamson | Practice covering all aspects of medical and police law and related civil… | View Profile |
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Alexander dos Santos | Alexander practises in regulatory and financial matters whether criminal or civil, professional… | View Profile |