Back to United Kingdom - The Bar

Leading Silks

Nicholas Bacon KC4 New SquareThe oracle of costs law, he is easy to work with, collaborative, and gives good commercial advice.
Simon Browne KC39 Essex ChambersHas the confidence of judges and his air of authority is persuasive.'
Alexander Hutton KCHailsham ChambersHe has encyclopaedic knowledge of costs law, excellent tactical judgment and works hand in hand with solicitors and costs lawyers to deliver great results.
PJ Kirby KCGatehouse Chambers ‘One of the stand out cost silks, his narration through complex legislation is superb.'
Benjamin Williams KC4 New Square ‘A go-to silk in the costs area, his grasp of the detail is second to none and he is exceptional on his feet.
Jamie Carpenter KCHailsham ChambersA true subject matter expert, Jamie instils absolute confidence and, time and again, he comes up with some clever argument that solicitors hadn’t thought of.
Roger Mallalieu KC4 New SquareCalm, affable, incisive, knowledgeable. A leader in and go-to counsel for all matters costs related.
Robert Marven KC4 New SquareHis intellect and ability is unrivalled and he provides outstanding service to his clients.
Andrew Post KCHailsham ChambersCalm, knowledgeable, down to earth and with an easy going manner.'
Vikram Sachdeva KC39 Essex ChambersA go-to silk on the issue of costs, he is extremely intelligent, supremely confident on his feet, and always has a plan as to how to approach any situation that is thrown at him.'
Daniel Saoul KC4 New Square 'Daniel is very good at getting to grips with details quickly, is great on his feet and able to turn judges' opinions around quickly.'

2023 Silks

Nicola Greaney KC39 Essex ChambersShe is excellent in advisory work and on her feet, and can contend with complex facts with ease.
Andrew Roy KC12 King’s Bench Walk 'A leading light on costs who gets terrific results, he has a total mastery of the rules and the case law. A match for any costs silk.'

Leading Juniors

Mark FristonHailsham ChambersMark has an encyclopaedic knowledge of costs law and practice and knows which arguments will find favour with the court and which will not.
George McDonald4 New SquareGeorge is outstanding, his attention to detail is second to none. He is simply one of the best.
Dan StaceyHailsham ChambersBrilliant in this area. He is regularly instructed by solicitors around the country and is a true expert.
Imran BensonHailsham ChambersImran has exceptional knowledge of costs law and is an adept advocate who has a natural demeanour in the court room.'
Rupert CohenLandmark Chambers 'Rupert has an extremely solid background and knowledge base in the area of legal costs.'
Robin DunneGatehouse ChambersHis advocacy is strong, regularly punching above his weight, often deployed against senior counsel. Highly recommended.
Shaman Kapoor39 Essex Chambers 'Shaman is truly an expert in the costs arena.'
Pippa Manby4 New SquarePippa is an immensely engaging advocate, well collected and organised, not easily thrown, and writes very well. Poised to push through to the very top of her practice areas.'
Joshua MunroHailsham Chambers 'Client friendly, concise advice and statements of case, natural advocate.'
Shail Patel4 New SquareShail is a genius in the courtroom. He gets stuck in as part of the team and gives very clear and excellent advice.
Martyn GriffithsGatehouse ChambersMartyn has an extremely solid background and knowledge base in the area of legal costs. His preparation is extremely thorough and his skills as an advocate are exceptional.
Stephen Innes4 New SquareStephen is very knowledgeable and quick to get to the crux of the matter. He has deep knowledge of costs law.
Ben Smiley4 New SquareIntelligent, good drafting and frank advice. Costs is a speciality.
Theo Barclay4 New SquareIncredibly bright, with excellent judgment. Very hard-working and responsive. A real pleasure to work with.
Timothy Chelmick4 New SquareVery good on this feet, authoritative advocacy. Good on paper too.
Matthew Waszak     – 4 New SquareMatt is always very well prepared, very approachable and open minded to perspectives to moot issues which often leads to new ideas and conclusions to develop the market place. He is a calm advocate, and able to guide the Court through issues seamlessly.
Alaric Watson - 'Alaric is extremely thorough and thoughtful. Clients like his calm approach.'
Gordon Wignall - Six Pump CourtUnderstands the complexity of multi-party claims and is particularly knowledgeable on CFAs.
Richard WilkinsonTemple Garden ChambersFantastic advocate, able to ready judges exceptionally well, able to provide clear well balanced advice, but not frightened to stick his neck out.

Rising Stars

Simon Teasdale4 New SquareSimon's written and oral submissions are very polished. An exceptionally talented advocate with razor sharp insight leading straight to the core of the issue. He could be a future star.

Costs in London Bar

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers strengthened its position as one of the leading sets for costs law with its recruitment of renowned costs litigation silk Simon Browne KC in December 2021. His is a name associated with the most high-profile contentious cost cases of the past ten years and his addition bolsters a set that already had a notable forte in cost aspects of group litigation, an area of increasing popularity in the legal market. Vikram Sachdeva KC is another costs silk at chambers and has expertise in commercial costs, disciplinary costs, and costs in public law. He acted for the claimant in R (Raqeeb) v Barts Health NHS Trust, a follow-on from the high-profile litigation concerning the continued provision of care to a brain-damaged child, dealing with the question as to whether common costs can be recovered for a judicial review (for which there is a costs order) where a best interests case was being run concurrently. Shaman Kapoor recently acted for the claimant in in Patel v Karmakar, a dispute between solicitors concerning repayment of an outstanding loan which was advanced against work in progress. The case represents an important development of principle in the law on solicitors acting in their own cases and the rate of recovery for their work. Nicola Greaney KC focuses her costs work within her areas of strength: professional discipline and court of protection, clinical negligence and personal injury.

Testimonials

Set

‘From a costs department perspective and a back office function, they are great.’

Clerking

‘Helpful, quick and attentive.’

‘Very efficient.’

‘Very good as a whole.’

Work highlights

    4 New Square

    An ‘excellent set with a speciality in costs‘, 4 New Square is ‘a collection of barristers operating in the modern era‘ that are frequently seen in Supreme Court and Court of Appeal costs cases, with representation from silk to junior level. October 2021 saw the conclusion of Ho v Adelekun, the leading Supreme Court appeal case on the question of qualified one-way costs shifting and set-off of costs. The set had representation on both sides, including renowned costs silk Nicholas Bacon KC for Ho, and Roger Mallalieu KC acting for the successful appellant. Benjamin Williams KC also acted in that appeal for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and in another appeal heard in October 2021, represented the former in GEHC v Rosenblatt, the longest ever costs trial relating to alleged misconduct by a commercial firm of solicitors. In another long-running costs assessment Vik v Deutsche Bank, Pippa Manby led by Bacon KC, was on the opposing side to Williams; her busy costs practice has her instructed in inter partes disputes and solicitor-client disputes in the County Courts, High Court and Senior Courts Costs Office. Daniel Saoul KC has a strong costs litigation practice and particular experience offshore, while Robert Marven KC is often brought into major group and commercial litigation on specific costs issues. Matthew Waszak joined the set from Temple Garden Chambers in March 2022 and adds to an impressive crop of juniors that includes regular sole costs counsel George McDonald, and Shail Patel, whose established commercial practice means he can advise on costs issues and take the lead in costs arguments as part of substantial commercial cases.

    Testimonials

    Set

    ‘Excellent set with a speciality in costs.’

    ‘It is the who’s who of the cost bar.’

    ‘4 New Square has a very fine costs practice, both at KC and junior level.’

    ‘4 New Square are of course known as being one of the primary costs chambers.’

    ‘A collection of barristers operating in the modern era; they are accessible; flexible on funding; and commercial as well as technically excellent.’

    Clerking

    ‘The clerks are quick to respond and switched on.’

    Work highlights

      Hailsham Chambers

      Hailsham Chambers is a key set for costs matters, its group of barristers at the forefront of developments in the law and practice in this area. Members have been involved in important costs decisions at the Court of Appeal, one highlight being 2020 silk Jamie Carpenter KC acting for the latter party in Langer v McKeown, in which the Court of Appeal considered for the first time whether, at the conclusion of a trial of preliminary issues, a Calderbank offer which relates to the entire claim should be treated in the same way as a Part 36 offer. High-value solicitor client disputes have also been a feature highlight at chambers with Carpenter on the opposite side to experienced costs silk Alexander Hutton KC in Privinvest v Quinn Emanuel, Hutton acting for the former, in its application for detailed assessment for £14m of costs, which was settled in November 2021. Andrew Post KC practices in costs and criminal negligence, often acting where points of principle arise in large scale litigation, and on appeals where there are issues of wider significance. A particularly strong crop of juniors includes non-contentious costs specialist Mark Friston; senior junior Dan StaceyJoshua Munro, who has experience in costs disputes at the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court; and Imran Benson, who was appointed a Deputy Costs Judge at the Senior Courts Costs Office in August 2021.

      Testimonials

      Set

      ‘For costs work, the barristers are extremely capable and there is a good spread of expertise in the costs team.’

      ‘Good from top to bottom on costs, always my go-to set.’

      ‘Hailsham Chambers costs set is one of, if not the leading sets in the area of costs. Their leading counsel are regard as the best and there is a wide range of experienced and quality juniors. Their bi-monthly costs seminars are essential attendance for the anybody working in the industry.’

      ‘The top set in costs law.’

      Clerking

      ‘The clerks are brilliant, always find a solution. Michael Kilbey is an excellent clerk.’

      ‘Fabulous: flexible; commercially focussed; mindful of maintaining relations regardless of the situation.’

      Gatehouse Chambers

      With ‘a good selection of counsel available at all levels‘, Gatehouse Chambers has in recent years developed a small but strong costs litigation offering. Standout silk PJ Kirby KC led Robin Dunne in Belsner v CAM Legal Services, acting for the former party in what is an important test case concerning the provisions of s.74(3) of the Solicitors Act and was seen at the Court of Appeal in February 2022. Martyn Griffiths regularly appears at the Senior Courts Costs Office and the County Courts on detailed assessments as well as interim applications in costs proceedings. Alaric Watson is one to watch in the costs arena as his insolvency practice has leaned heavily into costs work recently.

      Testimonials

      Set

      ‘A first choice chambers, particularly for more complicated and high value cases. There is a good selection of counsel available at all levels.’

      ‘An exceptional set as a whole with a wide variety of legal areas of practice.’

      ‘Good strength in depth.’

      ‘Gatehouse are progressive and approachable.’

      Clerking

      ‘Adam Blades is always responsive, their facilities are good when visiting London and in between hearings.’

      ‘Always very helpful.’

      Temple Garden Chambers

      A longstanding figure in costs law, Temple Garden Chambers fields a team that is sought after for advisory work by solicitors, litigation funders and insurers. Members regularly assist with a broad range of both litigation funding issues and points of costs law arising in litigation. Senior junior Mark James has acted in some of the leading cases on champerty, solicitors’ retainers and other solicitor-client disputes, and fellow experienced costs expert James Laughland has advised on the recent leading cases concerning the assessment and recoverability of additional liabilities.

      Testimonials

      Set

      ‘Extremely professional, understand the needs of the lay client and that of solicitors, always willing to go above and beyond expectations.’

      ‘Over the years I have instructed various members at Temple Garden Chambers, and always considered them to be a very knowledgeable set for costs matters and that there have always been a good selection of counsel specialising in this area.’

      Clerking

      ‘Fantastic clerks, able to build strong relationships and friendships.’

      ‘Nancy Rice and Dean Norton are both excellent, helpful and accommodating.’

      Work highlights