Michael Ashcroft KC
Twenty EssexExceptional legal acumen. Willing to take on difficult cases and win. Michael has an excellent manner with clients.
Commodities
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Michael Collett KC
Twenty EssexVery hard-working, and exceptionally polite and calm, he has an impressive ability to communicate his knowledge to solicitors, clients, courts, and tribunals.
Siobán Healy KC
7 King's Bench WalkSioban is one of the top commodities experts at the London Bar. She has experience as a solicitor as well as a barrister. She really understands commodities disputes and has strong specialist insight. Open-minded, thorough, and very commercial. Authoritative grasp of the legal issues.
Timothy Hill KC
Twenty EssexTim is a tenacious advocate.
David Lewis KC
Twenty EssexDavid is by far the most user-friendly silk at the Commercial Bar. He is always ready to provide efficient, insightful, and commercial advice. He is also a very strong advocate, able to think on his feet and produce devastating cross-examination when the moment calls for it.
Simon Rainey KC
Quadrant ChambersAttentive and prompt in handling the matter, his advice was clear and practical, which was much appreciated by the client.
Richard Southern KC
7 King's Bench WalkRichard's advice is incisive and to the point. Very user-friendly.
Timothy Young KC
Twenty EssexThe "best of the best". Go-to barrister for any significant and/or high-value piece of work that is commercial (i.e., shipping, sanctions, commodities, banking). Straight to the point on advice.
Simon Croall KC
Quadrant ChambersSimon is a very calm individual who exudes authority. He is very persuasive when facing arbitrators, very clever, and assimilates new issues and documents extremely quickly. Clients like him very much.
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Chirag Karia KC
Quadrant ChambersChirag is not only legally very strong, but also stands out for the practical and solution-oriented advice he provides.
Stephen Kenny KC
7 King's Bench WalkA very good cross-examiner and oral advocate, who is able to deal with unforeseen developments in the course of a trial with aplomb and get results for his clients.
Duncan Matthews KC
Twenty EssexDuncan Matthews is one of the most talented and effective leading counsel that I have ever instructed. I could not recommend him more highly.
Sean O’Sullivan KC
4 Pump Court
John Russell KC
Quadrant ChambersVery personable and knowledgeable, likable on his feet - the tribunal is warm to him.
David Allen KC
7 King's Bench WalkDavid is a fantastic counsel, aggressive when he needs to be. He's got good rapport with arbitrators and is able to give clear, incisive strategic advice.
Nicholas Craig KC
3 Verulam BuildingsNick is hardworking with rapid response times and a powerful written and oral advocate.
Nigel Eaton KC
Essex Court Chambers
Philippa Hopkins KC
Essex Court Chambers‘Fiercely intelligent and an excellent advocate, orally and in writing, Philippa is a real asset to the team.’
Julian Kenny KC
Twenty Essex
Jawdat Khurshid KC
7 King's Bench WalkGood work on complex issues in court. Innovative arguments and good results for us.
Charles Kimmins KC
Twenty Essex‘He is exceptionally user-friendly, particularly when breaking down complicated points of law for the lay client. He is also excellent in court.’
Yash Kulkarni KC
Quadrant ChambersYash is always very clear in his opinions and avoids sitting on the fence. He is great at giving usable advice under time pressure. His written submissions are always strong and produced in good time in a form ready to serve. However, he is also flexible enough to accommodate client concerns.
Sara Masters KC
Twenty Essex
Michael Nolan KC
Quadrant ChambersHe is extremely hard-working and produces clear and comprehensive written submissions and skeleton arguments. He is very approachable and supportive.
Luke Parsons KC
Quadrant ChambersHis preparation is second to none and his advocacy is simply the best. He reads the room and always takes the most effective path with judges, arbitrators, and witnesses.
Vasanti Selvaratnam KC
The 36 GroupAn excellent arbitrator, who also has vast experience as an advocate. She is knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.
Guy Blackwood KC
Quadrant ChambersGuy is knowledgeable and able to express submissions and conduct cross-examination in a succinct and focused manner. He has an engaging manner and is a pleasure to listen to.
Stewart Buckingham KC
Quadrant ChambersHe is a safe pair of hands for shipping work.
Henry Byam-Cook KC
Twenty EssexCalm, insightful, and responsive, Henry has a very natural style of advocacy.
Oliver Caplin KC
Twenty EssexExcellent lawyer and advocate. He is very good among a top set.
Josephine Davies KC
Twenty EssexJosephine has an exceptional eye for detail and the ability to quickly get to grips with the most complex cases. I've come across very few barristers who are as proficient at assimilating technical expert evidence.
Philip Edey KC
Twenty EssexPhillip is a brilliant specialist. He is incisive, brief, exact, and charming. He is incredibly easy to work with and provides phenomenal support.
Adam Kramer KC
3 Verulam Buildings
Simon Milnes KC
Twenty EssexAn exceptional advocate who combines legal expertise with a practical, results-driven approach. His ability to simplify and clearly communicate intricate legal issues really stands out.
Luke Pearce KC
Twenty EssexLuke is a top KC and a go-to for fast-paced injunction work, and is excellent on matters involving wrongdoing and fraud of some kind. Highly recommended!
Fionn Pilbrow KC
Brick Court Chambers
Nathan Pillow KC
Essex Court Chambers
Philip Riches KC
Twenty EssexPhilip is always calm and presents advice and options in a measured and clear way, and deals with technically complex issues in a clear and concise manner.
Alistair Schaff KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Chris Smith KC
Quadrant ChambersChris is very user-friendly and has the perfect combination of technical yet swift and client-focused advice when it is required in urgent matters. Chris's knowledge of shipping and commodities matters is first-tier.
Paul Toms KC
Quadrant ChambersPaul is an outstanding advocate, precise and incisive. He brings a great deal of clarity and strategic thinking to every case.
2026 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
2025 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Angharad Parry KC
Twenty EssexAngharad Parry KC is an outstanding commodities specialist. She combines detailed knowledge of international sale contracts, shipping, and trade law with a strong understanding of the commercial context in which disputes arise. She masters complex contractual and technical material quickly and has an excellent instinct for identifying the points that will ultimately determine the case.
Her advocacy is clear, authoritative, and persuasive. She presents complicated factual and legal issues in a focused and accessible way, responds effectively to questions from the tribunal, and maintains a coherent case theory throughout. Her cross-examination is disciplined and purposeful: she prepares meticulously, listens closely to the evidence, and knows when to press a witness and when a point has been sufficiently established.
She is also highly collaborative, approachable, and commercially realistic. Her advice is candid and practical, and she works very effectively with solicitors, clients, and experts. She remains calm under pressure and is particularly valuable in disputes requiring urgent strategic decisions.
David Walsh KC
Essex Court ChambersDavid is a fantastic and engaging advocate who really gets the ear of judges. It is a pleasure to work with him.