The Legal 500

Within Overview,

Broadway House Chambers adopts a ‘professional, reliable, honest and practicable approach to cases’, and Park Court Chambers provides an ‘outstanding’ service. Parklane Plowden has an excellent reputation for employment work, and Zenith Chambers is singled out for its ‘very well-organised’ service and ‘clerking that is of the highest order’. Chancery House Chambers remains a strong set for commercial and Chancery matters and recently formed an alliance with St Philips Chambers in Birmingham; No. 6 and St Paul’s Chambers are strong all-rounders; and Trinity Chambers’ ‘expertise, professionalism and empathy are second to none’. Broad Chare Chambers in Newcastle merged with York Chambers to form Dere Street Chambers, and Paradise Chambers merged with St Johns Buildings. KBW and Bank House Chambers are recommended for criminal matters.

Within Chancery and commercial litigation,

St Johns Buildings’ David Berkley QC has an ‘in-depth, analytical and thoughtful mind’, and Susanne Muth’s written work is ‘of the highest quality’. Pépin Aslett has ‘an excellent legal brain’, and James Malam is ‘quick to grasp the strengths and weaknesses of a case’.

Within Crime,

St Johns Buildings’ ‘tactically brilliant’ Jeffrey Samuels QC continues to receive high-profile murder instructions. The ‘formidable’ Andrew O’Byrne QC is ‘extremely intelligent and pleasant’, Hugh McKee has a ‘tactical approach’, and Steven McGarry is a ‘safe pair of hands’. Philip Parry continues to grow his profile in inquest work. Patrick Thompson, Paul Hodgkinson and Keith Harrison all have broad criminal practices. Raymond Herman and John Gibson joined as part of the merger with India Buildings Chambers.

Within Employment,

St Johns Buildings’ ‘very helpful and knowledgeable’ employment team includes Ghazan Mahmood, who is ‘an astoundingly bright advocate’, and Annette Gumbs, who is ‘very thorough in cross-examination’. Lorraine Mensah, who joined with the set’s merger with India Buildings Chambers, is a ‘good fighter in tribunal’. Louise Quigley and Jason Searle are also recommended.

Within Family,

St Johns Buildings’ Sally Harrison QC is ‘the best ancillary relief barrister in Manchester’. Anthony Hayden QC has significant experience in children matters and ‘his memory for facts and evidence shine through’, and Sarah Singleton QC is recommended for local authority work. Karl Rowley has ‘an understated, yet confident manner’, and Charles Eastwood is ‘extremely tenacious’. Alexander Kloss handles finance-related matters, and ‘silk in the making’ Lorraine Cavanagh focuses on children work. Neil Montaldo has a ‘high and consistent level of commitment’. Leona Harrison, Michael Kennedy and Gail Owen joined with the set’s India Buildings Chambers.

Within Overview, St Johns Buildings (Anthony Hayden QC) is a first tier set,

The Northern Circuit has been particularly subject to market changes, with sets noting greater competition due to the increasing number of solicitor-advocates, as well as sets from other circuits attempting to grow their market share. St Johns Buildings completed its merger with Paradise Chambers in Sheffield and India Buildings Chambers in Liverpool, bringing its total number of members to over 250.

Within Personal injury and clinical negligence,

St Johns Buildings’ Michael Redfern QC is a ‘tenacious and brilliantly astute negotiator’, and Philip Grundy takes ‘a very grounded and sensitive approach to seriously injured clients’. Peter Harrison is recommended for complex personal injury work, and Darrel Crilley specialises in industrial disease cases. John McNeill is ‘always clear in his advice to clients’. Andrew Bridgman is recommended for dental injury matters, and Richard Norton for high-value catastrophic claims. The merger with India Buildings Chambers brought Charles Feeny, Wendy Owen, Douglas Cooper, Simon Holder and Matthew Stockwell into the fold.

Within Regulatory and public law,

At St Johns Buildings, Steven McGarry is ‘a dedicated safe pair of hands’. Matthew Stockwell recently joined as a result of the merger with India Buildings Chambers, bringing his ‘wide knowledge base’ to the set. Iain Simkin is also recommended.

Within Treasury Panel Lists Region 1