The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance (including consumer credit), tier 4

At Wilberforce Chambers, Lawrence Cohen QC has a strong reputation and recently advised a number of financial institutions in the Caribbean. James Ayliffe QC recently represented the borrowers in Monte Properties Ltd v Bank of Cyprus, which settled two weeks into trial.

Within Charities, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers has a strong private client focus. The ‘relatively quiet, but extremely impressive’ Michael Furness QC recently advised the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on its relationships with National Museums. The ‘marvellous’ and ‘very learned’ Edward Nugee QC has a wide-ranging Chancery practice, and senior junior Mark Studer is ‘top quality’ and has a contentious and advisory practice, which includes the drafting of trust and conveyancing documentation.

Within Commercial litigation, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

At Wilberforce Chambers, Tom Lowe QC is ‘a very subtle and effective advocate’ and has the ‘ability to digest in record speed a large number of complex transactional documents’. John Wardell QC is ‘equally good on paper and in person, and is a very effective advocate both in terms of legal submissions and cross-examination’. Joanna Smith QC is ‘a pleasure to work with, both in client handling and negotiations with the other side’. Clare Stanley is ‘extremely bright, has a fantastic memory, and is very user friendly and knowledgeable about the law’.

Within Company and partnership, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers ‘carries no weak links. Initial enquiries are dealt with efficiently by some of the best clerks in the business, and the set is always able to deliver on deadline without compromising on quality’. Among the barristers, John Wardell QC is ‘outstanding, both highly intellectual and practical at the same time’, and Tom Lowe QC is considered ‘a very subtle and effective advocate’, who is ‘extremely bright, pragmatic and client friendly’.

Within Energy,

Also recommended are Christopher Nugee QC at Wilberforce Chambers; Stuart Isaacs QC of 3-4 South Square; Hodge Malek QC of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square; Peter McMaster QC at Serle Court, who is ‘a strong performer on his feet’; and Andrew Newcombe QC from FTB, who has ‘in-depth knowledge of the energy sector’.

Within Fraud: civil, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

‘Top-notch Chancery set’ Wilberforce Chambers has a selection of highly regarded silks with expertise in fraud, including John Wardell QC, who acted in a fraud case arising out of the sale of a controlling interest in gold mines in Kazakhstan; Lawrence Cohen QC; and Ian Croxford QC. On the junior side, Gabriel Fadipe and Edward Sawyer are recommended.

Within Fraud: crime (including money laundering and asset forfeiture) Fraud: crime – Leading Silks

Within Insolvency,

Also recommended are: Clara Johnson and ‘outstanding’ advocate Simon Davenport QC at 3 Hare Court (praised for his ‘top-notch analysis and decisiveness in getting to the relevant points’); Wendy Parker at Hardwicke; the ‘unfailingly helpful’, ‘approachable’ and ‘knowledgeable’ Terence Mowschenson QC at Wilberforce Chambers; the ‘ferociously hardworking and committed’ Iain Milligan QC at 20 Essex Street; and Peter Shaw, and Elaine Palser at 9 Stone Buildings, the latter ‘technically excellent’ and ‘no shrinking violet when it comes to advocacy’.

Within Intellectual property, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

Michael Bloch QC at Wilberforce Chambers acted in the high-profile Lucasfilm v Ainsworth case involving IP issues relating to the merchandising of helmets and armour used in Star Wars. Bloch’s junior in this case was Alan Bryson, who also successfully represented Diageo in a complex trade mark opposition appeal to the High Court.

Within International arbitration International arbitration – Leading Silks

Within Media, entertainment and sport,

David Phillips QC at Wilberforce Chambers is appointed to the national anti-doping panel, and is well known for his expertise in football cases. Nikki Singla is also recommended.

Within Pensions, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a first tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers is the ‘pre-eminent pensions set, with real strength in depth’, and continues to appear at the forefront of all leading pensions cases. With specialist silks such as Brian Green QC, who is recommended for his ‘technical mastery and desire to succeed’, the group is at the helm of pension schemes law. Christopher Nugee QC is ‘brilliant at making a complicated case sound simple and persuasive’ and appeared alongside ten other members in chambers in the Nortel proceedings bought by the pensions regulator. The ‘incredibly pragmatic’ Robert Ham QC has a ‘magisterial presence’, and Michael Furness QC is ‘sensationally clever and makes pensions law readily digestible’. Regularly involved in relation to provisions of the Pensions Act 2004, Paul Newman QC has a ‘strong commercial outlook’, and Michael Tennet QC has expertise in the work of actuaries and is a ‘very creative thinker’. Leading juniors include Jonathan Evans, who is ‘very user friendly and exceptionally good at getting to the point’; Emily Campbell (‘highly intelligent and eager to assist’); Andrew Mold, who is ‘a star of the future’; and the ‘highly impressive’ Jonathan Hilliard. Thomas Seymour’s thriving contentious practice continues, and the ‘very diligent’ Edward Sawyer also impresses.

Within Planning, tier 5

Wilberforce Chambers’ Jonathan Karas QC and the ‘first-rate’ Michael Barnes QC have appeared in leading planning law cases.

Within Private client: personal tax, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a third tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers’ Michael Furness QC recently acted in David Mayes v HMRC.

Within Private client: trusts and probate, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a first tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers has an extremely strong bench of leaders ranging from QC to junior level. At the top, the ‘extremely impressive’ Michael Furness QC has a ‘first-class, incisive and tactical brain’ and is strong in all areas of trusts, and Brian Green QC is ‘unequalled amongst his peers, if indeed he has any’. Robert Ham QC is ‘a colossus of the trusts world’, who combines ‘intelligence with admirable pragmatism’. Edward Nugee QC is also recommended. The set also has a range of impressive juniors including Emily Campbell (‘extremely clever’ and ‘a feisty and formidable advocate’), and Mark Studer and Tiffany Scott (‘both of whom are top quality at their respective levels’). Also recommended are Daniel Hochberg, Judith Bryant, John Child and Clare Stanley.

Within Professional negligence, Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a second tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers provide a ‘good, all-round service’ and is ‘an excellent set, with brilliant barristers’. These include Jonathan Seitler QC, who is a ‘first-choice silk for property-related claims’; Michael Tennet QC, who ‘gives sound advice’; and the ‘experienced’ David Phillips QC. John Martin QC has an ‘excellent reputation’, and Joanna Smith QC, whose ‘preparation and attention to detail is second to none’, is also singled out. For juniors, Clare Stanley is ‘an excellent all-rounder’; Jonathan Evans ‘gives very clear advice’; Julian Greenhill is singled out for his experience in property and solicitors claims; and Nikki Singla is ‘highly intelligent’.

Within Property litigation (including agriculture and housing), Wilberforce Chambers (Chambers of John Martin QC) is a second tier firm,

Wilberforce Chambers is ‘a very strong set for property work, and the clerks are always available and willing to help’. Leading property silks include Michael Barnes QC, the ‘outstanding’ Jonathan Karas QC, and Jonathan Seitler QC (‘perfect with clients, perfect at negotiation and a heavyweight persuasive advocate’). Of the juniors, the ‘impressive’ Julian Greenhill is ‘a reliable resource’; Tiffany Scott is commended for her ‘intellect and proactive approach’; and the ‘responsive’ Daniel Hochberg is ‘strong on paper’. The ‘very friendly and easy-to-work-with’ Martin Hutchings QC took silk in 2011.

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