The Legal 500

Regional Bar

Set overviews: England and Wales

Civil law set St John's Chambers is an ‘outstanding regional set’ with ‘excellent depth and breadth’. The group has expertise in commercial, construction, family, personal injury, clinical negligence, regulatory, public and inquests and inquiries matters. On the support side, ‘the clerks are always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with’ and chief executive Derek Jenkins is ‘outstanding’. The practice managers are Robert Bocock, who ‘provides a first-class service’; Annette Bushell, who ‘will go out of her way to assist’; and Luke Hodgson, who is ‘always very helpful and highly knowledgeable’. Offices in: Bristol

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Regional Bar

Set overviews: England and Wales

Civil law set St John's Chambers is an ‘outstanding regional set’ with ‘excellent depth and breadth’. The group has expertise in commercial, construction, family, personal injury, clinical negligence, regulatory, public and inquests and inquiries matters. On the support side, ‘the clerks are always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with’ and chief executive Derek Jenkins is ‘outstanding’. The practice managers are Robert Bocock, who ‘provides a first-class service’; Annette Bushell, who ‘will go out of her way to assist’; and Luke Hodgson, who is ‘always very helpful and highly knowledgeable’. Offices in: Bristol

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Regional Bar : Western Circuit

Commercial, banking, insolvency and Chancery law

With a reputation as a ‘leading regional heavyweight’ for commercial matters, St John's Chambers’ members are instructed across the spectrum of commercial cases including professional negligence, partnership disputes, bankruptcy and insolvency matters and fraud. The set is also noted for its ‘wealth of knowledge and experience’ in Chancery matters and in a major work highlight for the set, Leslie Blohm QC is acting in the ongoing high-profile Barry Pring case concerning a millionaire who died intestate in the Ukraine; his family claim his Ukrainian widow was complicit in his death and has thus forfeited her right to a share of his estate. Martha Maher recently left the set.

Commercial, banking, insolvency and Chancery law – Leading silks

Commercial, banking, insolvency and Chancery law – Leading juniors

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Construction, planning and environment

St John's Chambers’s ‘very impressive’ team is noted for its expertise in construction and planning matters. Recent instructions include construction contractual disputes and planning permission appeals.

Construction, planning and environment – Leading juniors

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Court of Protection

In a standout matter for St John's Chambers, Abigail Bond and Alex Troup were instructed by different parties in a case regarding whether the legal test for the capacity to marry required the person involved to understand that the marriage would automatically revoke their will.

Court of Protection – Leading juniors

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Employment

Counsel at St John's Chambers act in discrimination, unfair dismissal, victimisation and equal pay matters, among other areas. David Regan has particular expertise in disability discrimination cases, while Matthew White is noted for handling restrictive covenant matters.

Employment – Leading juniors

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Family and children law

St John's Chambers houses ‘excellent family barristers with specialist expertise’ across the full range of family law matters, public and private law children cases and high-value financial remedy cases. Recent niche areas of instruction include child abduction and parental alienation matters. In November 2017 Caroline Elford joined from Queen Square Chambers.

Family and children law – Leading silks

Family and children law – Leading juniors

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Inquests and inquiries

Counsel at St John's Chambers continue to represent bereaved relatives, government departments, local authorities and police authorities in inquests. Inquests into deaths in prison are another key area of instruction for the team; Emma Zeb was instructed in the Article 2 inquest into the death of Jagjeet Samra, who committed suicide in prison.

Inquests and inquiries – Leading juniors

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Leading sets

Western Circuit – Leading sets - ranked: tier 1

St John's Chambers (Bristol)

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Personal injury and clinical negligence

St John's Chambers’ has ‘excellent strength in depth’ in its personal injury and clinical negligence team and as such, members handle a broad spread of matters, including fatal accidents, surgical/GP negligence, catastrophic injuries, employers’ and public liability matters, birth injuries and Highway Act claims. Andrew McLaughlin is a key name at the set for industrial disease claims.

Personal injury and clinical negligence – Leading silks

Personal injury and clinical negligence – Leading juniors

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Property

St John's Chambers has ‘in depth knowledge’ of a wide range of property matters; practitioners’ workloads include boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, proprietary estoppel, rights of way, eviction cases and trusts of lands matters.

Property – Leading silks

Property – Leading juniors

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Public law

Judicial reviews form the backbone of instructions for the public and administrative law group at St John's Chambers.

Public law – Leading juniors

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Regulatory, health and safety, and licensing

The regulatory team at St John's Chambers is active in cases involving breaches of health and safety law, licensing disputes and fatal accidents. Licensing expert Prof. Roy Light represents a broad spectrum of clients, from international corporations and arts/entertainment venues to restaurants and taxi operators. Simon Morgan is noted for his experience in health and safety cases.

Regulatory, health and safety, and licensing – Leading juniors

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