The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law (including local government),

Also recommended are: ‘one of the best community care barristers in practice’ Hilton Harrop-Griffiths at Field Court Chambers; Kerry Bretherton and the ‘highly diplomatic’ Barbara Hewson at Hardwicke for Court of Protection matters; the ‘really impressive’ Robin Tam QC and the ‘encyclopaedic’ Nicholas Moss at Temple Garden Chambers; and the ‘very concise’ Hugo Keith QC, the ‘methodical and thorough’ Richard Horwell QC, the ‘exceptionally bright and incisive’ Patrick Gibbs QC and ‘brilliant tactician’ James Lewis QC at Three Raymond Buildings.

Within Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police),

Also recommended are: 25 Bedford Row, which represents defendants accused of national security breaches and life-sentenced prisoners; 5 Essex Court, for its work defending actions against the police and cases engaging human rights; the ‘highly diplomatic’ Barbara Hewson at Hardwicke, who ‘conducts her work in an effortless manner’; Ian Rogers, Piers Gardner, and new silk Tim Ward QC at Monckton Chambers; ‘consummate advocate’ Richard Lissack QC at Outer Temple Chambers, for public inquiry work; and the ‘absolutely first-rate’ Nicholas Moss at Temple Garden Chambers, for his work on the Baha Mousa public inquiry.

Within Consumer and product liability, Temple Garden Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Temple Garden Chambers is noted for its expertise in both product liability and credit hire law. Andrew Prynne QC was recently instructed in Tetra Pak v Zurich Insurance, and Dominic Adamson acted in the Powertrain group litigation. Michael Rapp and Paul McGrath are recommended for their credit hire expertise, the latter noted for his ‘deep knowledge of the issues’.

Within Costs, Temple Garden Chambers () is a second tier firm,

Temple Garden Chambers is praised as having a group of ‘excellent costs juniors’, and also has ‘an excellent clerking team for whom nothing is too much trouble’. Simon Browne QC, who has recently taken silk, is ‘an excellent leading costs counsel, and is always fully prepared or fully briefed, be it for advising in conference or presenting in court’. The ‘impressive’ James Laughland is ‘technically very strong in relation to costs law practice, and is a first-class advocate with good judgement and very good on the detail’. James Arney is considered ‘a very good up-and-coming barrister in this field’. The ‘completely unflappable’ Richard Wilkinson is ‘always sensible and pragmatic, and gives extremely sound advice on costs matters.’

Within Health and safety, Temple Garden Chambers () is a second tier firm,

Temple Garden Chambers is praised for its ‘friendly, helpful clerks’ and value for money. Andrew Prynne QC is praised for his ‘grasp of detail, ability to narrow issues and the ease with which he deals with very technical evidence’. New silk Keith Morton QC reaps positive feedback from clients and ‘will become a top QC in the field’. He successfully defended Dalkia Ltd in a case following the death of an employee exposed to carbon dioxide. Fiona Canby ‘thinks on her feet and is always on the ball’; and Dominic Adamson has a ‘brilliant sense of humour and carries clients through the difficult times’.

Within Immigration (including business immigration),

Also recommended are Sibghat Kadri QC of 6 King’s Bench Walk; Robin Tam QC at Temple Garden Chambers; Jeremy Johnson QC of 5 Essex Court; and the ‘highly committed’ Tim Eicke QC at Essex Court Chambers, who took silk in 2011.

Within Insurance and reinsurance Insurance and reinsurance – Leading Silks

Within Other New Silks Other New Silks

Within Personal injury, Temple Garden Chambers () is a third tier firm,

Temple Garden Chambers’ Andrew Prynne QC has considerable strengths, such as his ability to ‘identify the key issues and arguments that will resonate with the court’. Leading juniors among the set include the ‘simply immense’ Marcus Grant; Charles Curtis, who has ‘a very commanding presence in court’; James Laughland, who is ‘a class act’; and James Arney, ‘a classic pair of safe hands’.

Within Public international law,

Other recommendations include the ‘extremely persuasive and effective’ Khawar Qureshi QC at Serle Court, and ‘the clear, eloquent and focused’ Rodney Dixon of Temple Garden Chambers, who ‘is one of the best counsel who appears before the ICC’. Richard Hermer QC at Doughty Street Chambers is ‘a great strategist’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’.

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