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Employment

1
11KBW
Blackstone Chambers
Cloisters
Littleton Chambers
Matrix Chambers
Old Square Chambers
2
Devereux
Essex Court Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers
3
42 Bedford Row

Leading Silks

1
Robin Allen QC - Cloisters ‘Very impressive and highly knowledgeable - one of the set's leading lights.’
Catherine Callaghan QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Razor sharp in her analysis and advocacy. She is wonderful with clients and I would trust her with any case.’
Bruce Carr QC - Devereux ‘A real heavy hitter in the employment world. He is a skilled advocate and tenacious at representing his client’s interests.’
David Craig QC - Essex Court Chambers ‘A phenomenal silk at the top of his game, he is the natural first choice for the most complex and high-value High Court employment claims and arbitrations. David is an outstanding advocate with devastating cross-examination skills, and his mastery of the detail in hugely complex litigation is without comparison.’
Paul Epstein QC - Cloisters ‘A fantastic QC for complex matters and a brilliant strategist.’
Paul Goulding QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Up there with the very best employment silks. His analytical skills are second to none and he is not afraid of a difficult fight.’
Lord Hendy QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Has the ear of the senior judges and the total respect and admiration of his peers. He is the most gifted of draftsmen, an ingenious lawyer and a compassionate and empathetic adviser. If there is a real fight to be had, you go to John.’
Andrew Hochhauser QC - Essex Court Chambers ‘Extremely intelligent, very tenacious and will fight every inch in his client's best interests.’
Christopher Jeans QC - 11KBW ‘Star silk, particularly on must-win cases. One of the top employment silks at the bar, very hardworking and great to work with.’
Sean Jones QC - 11KBW ‘As clever as he is creative, as expert as he is amusing, he has taken up residence in the Supreme Court on every employment case going - it's where he belongs though. Associates see working with him as a perk of the job.’
James Laddie QC - Matrix Chambers ‘A pleasure to work with - fantastic legal knowledge, a great cross-examiner and really client friendly.’
Gavin Mansfield QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Gavin is a fantastic QC. His leadership of Littleton has elevated the chambers to the top tier at the employment bar. Gavin is always a pleasure to work with, he is tremendously hardworking, across the detail of every case, and a superb advocate.’
Karon Monaghan QC - Matrix Chambers ‘Karon is one of a kind - a QC genuinely shaping the law for the greater good.’
Daniel Oudkerk QC - Essex Court Chambers ‘A go-to barrister for employment matters – he really knows this area!’
David Reade QC - Littleton Chambers ‘For thorny issues, you think of him immediately, and he has a real skill with clients no matter how senior. He commands the room, his analysis is incredible and he is a great advocate.’
Dinah Rose QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Intellectually brilliant, Dinah is peerless and astonishingly quick - the best advocate at the English Bar.’
Oliver Segal QC - Old Square Chambers ‘He understands the motivations and objectives of clients and that is very important. Oliver combines his extensive knowledge with a tenacious drive for a fair and just outcome. He is our go-to silk for industrial action.’
Andrew Short QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A brilliant legal analyst and highly skilled and clever advocate. Working with him is delightful and being against him is a tremendous challenge, as he is so effective on all fronts. Total integrity and excellent with clients and judges.’
Daniel Stilitz QC - 11KBW ‘Fabulous manner with both clients and tribunals, and he is constructive and commercial.’
2
Selwyn Bloch QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Extremely collaborative and more knowledgeable than almost anyone else on restrictive covenant issues! He is calm, immediately commands the trust of clients, and understands the issues very quickly.’
Simon Devonshire QC - 11KBW ‘A wonderful advocate who always has the clients’ best interests in mind.’
Naomi Ellenbogen QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Rigorously prepares cases, and is very intelligent, fearless and quick-witted. She is is very good on law firm regulation.’
Caspar Glyn QC - Cloisters ‘A robust and confidence-inspiring approach, exhaustive preparation and supreme mastery of advocacy and its tactics.’
Jane Mulcahy QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Forges incredible relationships with clients and puts her heart and soul into her cases. I would not hesitate to recommend her for particularly sensitive matters where she offers empathy and emotional intelligence in spades, alongside her incredible intellect, can-do attitude and hard work.’
Mark Sutton QC - Old Square Chambers ‘An erudite and clear advocate, who is a go-to counsel for complex matters.’
3
Timothy Brennan QC - Devereux ‘A highly knowledgeable, bright advocate.’
Keith Bryant QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very calm under pressure, really helps to get the tone and content right with the documents, and provides great strategic guidance in very sensitive claims.’
Andrew Burns QC - Devereux ‘Very pleasant to deal with, responsive and a go-to person for industrial relations work.’
Charles Ciumei QC - Essex Court Chambers ‘He is well prepared and presents cases diligently and clearly.’
Ben Collins QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Always impressive in the courtroom. He is able to put arguments in a very persuasive way and establishes a good rapport with members of the judiciary.’
Ben Cooper QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Very bright, and brilliant for detail-heavy matters.’
Rachel Crasnow QC - Cloisters ‘Excellent with clients; they really engage with her, and she has the ear of the court and its respect. She can disseminate facts quickly and make instant decisions, and makes complex facts simple.’
Michael Ford QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Massively knowledgeable on all things industrial relations-related, and despite being massively clever, he always delivers advice that is pragmatic and easy to digest.’
Jason Galbraith-Marten QC - Cloisters ‘Excellent to work with as he is down to earth, very knowledgeable, practical, prompt, and gives straightforward advice.’
Kate Gallafent QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘She is great in court and fantastically intelligent.’
Schona Jolly QC - Cloisters ‘A deadly cross-examiner, she achieves things other silks simply can't pull off; her advocacy is very convincing and she is able to read the judge perfectly, knowing when to focus on a point and when to move on.’
Richard Leiper QC - 11KBW ‘Richard is brilliant - he is clever, urbane and decisive. I value all of these qualities, but having counsel be properly decisive with highly qualified lay clients is critical.’
Akash Nawbatt QC - Devereux ‘Very hardworking and diligent, and invests the time to understand matters in depth. He also handles clients well and is an excellent advocate.’
Paul Nicholls QC - 4 New Square ‘Very clever and highly conscientious, with an outstanding ability to simplify complex issues.’
Daphne Romney QC - Cloisters ‘An outstanding employment barrister with a phenomenal reputation.’
4
Jacques Algazy QC - Cloisters ‘A punchy opponent who fights hard for his clients.’
Daniel Tatton Brown QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Very good with clients and extremely thorough in his approach to cases.’
Simon Cheetham QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Extremely good client service and he is prompt and responsive. He also has very high emotional intelligence and his pleasant manner disarms his opponents.’
Tom Coghlin QC - Cloisters ‘A truly impressive advocate, who is calm, courteous, unruffled, and able to deal effortlessly with the most difficult arguments bowled at him.’
Jonathan Cohen QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Extremely bright and incisive, and marries that with being commercial, client friendly and very hardworking.’
Tom Croxford QC - Blackstone Chambers 'He raises insightful and helpful points.'
Paul Gott QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He has great industrial relations knowledge and translates complex rules and legislation into plain English. Very good with clients, and always makes himself available.’
Patrick Green QC - Henderson Chambers ‘Has a natural flair for identifying potential causes of action that others might overlook, and is always willing to be bold in his approach. He is approachable and user-friendly, but never afraid to tell a client the truth.’
Henrietta Hill QC - Doughty Street Chambers ‘Rated very highly; she is always innovative, creative and reliable, with impeccable research and unblemished integrity.’
Robert Howe QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Incredibly bright and engaging - a fearsome advocate who instills confidence in clients.’
Adrian Lynch QC - 11KBW ‘Demonstrates a clear and logical approach to complex legal issues, which are invaluable in managing client expectations and achieving outcomes that protect clients' interests. The attention to detail in the advice provided is invaluable.’
Angus Moon QC - Serjeants' Inn Chambers ‘Dedicated to his cases and has a great eye for the detail.’
Anya Proops QC - 11KBW ‘Has a super-quick mind, gives clear and sensible advice, instills huge confidence in solicitors and lay clients, and is practical and pragmatic. She also grasps complicated factual circumstances very quickly, and is one of the most talented barristers I have had the pleasure to work with.’
Stuart Ritchie QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A charming but tenacious opponent, who is undoubtedly very bright and develops a good rapport with the Judge within a short time. Great technically and great with clients - able to deliver bad news (on the merits of their case) with great charm.’
Clive Sheldon QC - 11KBW ‘Adaptable and hardworking, he is now firmly established as a leading silk with the ability and experience to take on the most technically complex case.’
Adam Solomon QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Tenacious and very much fights your client’s side. He is also pragmatic in terms of outcomes.’
Adam Tolley QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Extremely intelligent, grasps the most complex issues quickly, and excellent to work with.’
Heather Williams QC - Doughty Street Chambers ‘An extremely knowledgeable, heavyweight leading counsel - she is outstanding.’

2019 Silks

Diya Sen Gupta QC - Blackstone Chambers ‘A real team player, who is incredibly thorough and detail focused - incredibly effective!’
Dale Martin QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Tenacious and very bright, with excellent drafting - he is a great team member. He is meticulous in his preparation and inventive in his solutions. A credit to his chambers and the profession.’
Jane McCafferty QC - 11KBW ‘Fantastic in cross-examination and can be relied upon for very complex cases.’
Mohinderpal Sethi QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Great team player - engenders a team approach with solicitors and clients, excellent communicator, strong advocate and its clear the judges respond well to him. Very strategic and technically excellent. My go to for key clients as I know they will get excellent client service and feel well looked after.’
Nicholas Siddall QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Superb - his warmth and personality are great assets for this type of work. He is decisive, does not sugarcoat, and is not afraid to tell a client how it is. He is also unflappable and very good on his feet.’

2020 Silks

Andrew Allen QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Calm, authoritative, cuts to the chase, excellent on technical detail, and very client friendly.’
Aileen McColgan QC - 11KBW ‘Works extremely hard for her clients and her advice is always commercial.’
John Mehrzad QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Extremely sharp and an exceptional advocate, who excels in the most high-profile, high-stakes employment litigation. His insight, strategic approach, and client care is truly exceptional. If you want to win - you want him on your side before the opposition snaps him up!’
Julian Milford QC - 11KBW ‘An exceptional barrister, who is very bright and has excellent technical knowledge. He has a razor-sharp mind, and is able to unravel the most complex of factual and legal cases into concise and convincing submissions.’
Katharine Newton QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Katharine is brilliant but what makes her stand out for me is that she involves herself in the case from the start, masters the detail very early on, and works collaboratively. She has continued to do this after taking silk which makes her a rare barrister in my experience: a silk who wants to get involved in the detail early on and not just before a hearing.’
Ijeoma Omambala QC - Old Square Chambers ‘Clients really appreciate her ability to explain complex issues clearly.’
Deshpal Panesar QC - Old Square Chambers ‘A ferocious cross-examiner with a sharp mind that’s across all the detail. We particularly value his commitment to securing favourable outcomes for our clients and his eagerness to contribute to overall case strategy.’
Marcus Pilgerstorfer QC - 11KBW ‘The word forensic was invented for Marcus and it applies across all of his work. His cross-examination is laser-sharp, and his submissions are compelling and always backed up with authority. Marcus also clearly has the respect of the judges and his promotion to silk was richly deserved.’
Rebecca Tuck QC - Old Square Chambers ‘An extremely knowledgeable and tenacious barrister, with a confident, engaging delivery. She really deserved her elevation to QC.’

2021 Silks

Carol Davis QC - Littleton Chambers ‘Has the ability to find both the right tone and to hone in on the detail. Her written work is excellent, and she is good on her feet as well.’
Mathew Purchase QC - Matrix Chambers ‘Super-bright and a first-rate counsel.’
Iain Quirk QC - Essex Court Chambers ‘He really knows the law and is very good for detail.’
Niran de Silva QC - Littleton Chambers ‘A strategic thinker, as he is able to identify the key issues which are at the heart of the cases. Excellent attention to detail and an ability to grasp complex issues incredibly quickly. He is also very client focused.’

Leading Juniors

1
Sophie Belgrove - 11KBW ‘Sophie is a star junior at 11KBW. She is a natural first choice for complex whistleblowing and discrimination claims, and is a real favourite at my firm. She is a powerful advocate. Her attention to detail and tenacity never fails to impress.’
Stuart Brittenden - Old Square Chambers ‘The best junior at the employment bar, without exception. He is intelligent, pragmatic and you could not find a more responsive barrister, who is ready to roll his sleeves up and become an integral extension to your own team.’
Claire Darwin - Matrix Chambers ‘Claire works collaboratively on matters. She is well organised, methodical and communicates clearly.’
Edward Kemp - Littleton Chambers ‘Extremely bright, responsive, gets to the core of the matter, and always does a first-class job. He is also quite brilliant in his drafting, an excellent advocate in the Tribunal, and achieves the best possible results.’
Thomas Kibling - Matrix Chambers ‘An absolute delight to work with - he is incredibly user friendly, reliable and responsive, and consistently impresses clients, instructing solicitors and Tribunals alike.’
Claire McCann - Cloisters ‘Always extremely well prepared, great at building relationships with clients, and thoughtful and extremely bright. She gives clear advice on complex issues and is very methodical in her approach.’
Sam Neaman - Littleton Chambers ‘A go-to counsel for employment cases, with significant appellant court experience in some very challenging cases.’
Chris Quinn - Littleton Chambers ‘An experienced junior, offering significant depth of experience and an ability to see the bigger picture from the off. A robust and tenacious advocate!’
Amy Rogers - 11KBW ‘Amy is at the very top of the tree. She out-performs virtually every Employment Silk at the bar. Her technical skills are second to none. Her work-ethic is unparrelled. Amy is also a brilliant advocate. Particularly strong on restrictive covenant work - a junior of choice for many.’
Jane Russell - Essex Court Chambers ‘Highly impressive knowledge of a range of complex employment law issues.’
Melanie Tether - Old Square Chambers ‘Extremely clever! She works extremely hard and is able to digest complex facts, over significant periods of time, into pleadings and related documents of the highest quality.’
2
Anna Beale - Cloisters ‘Always happy to hop on client calls, explains complex issues in lay terms, and is highly rated technically.’
Edward Brown - Essex Court Chambers ‘Great analytical skills and definitely a QC in waiting. He is efficient, with a can-do attitude, and is a very effective cross-examiner.’
Louise Chudleigh - Old Square Chambers ‘Extremely strong on equal pay cases, and sitting as a part time employment judge she can provide valuable insights as to how an employment judge will react to particular arguments.’
Andrew Edge - 11KBW ‘A top-drawer individual and someone I would always like to have as my junior in a case. He brings real value, showing great insight and coming up with strong legal analysis and sound tactical advice.’
Simon Forshaw - 11KBW ‘Incredibly intelligent and hardworking, and incredibly good both on paper and on his feet.’
Jeremy Lewis - Littleton Chambers ‘Committed, tactically aware and tenacious. You know that as an opponent you will have to work hard for every point.’
Naomi Ling - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A strong litigator who is trusted by clients. She is particularly impressive in her detailed analysis of large amounts of evidence/disclosure and her ability to separate the wheat from the chaff.’
Dee Masters - Cloisters ‘Strategic, insightful and excellent technically, with great commercial acumen and excellent inter-personal skills with witnesses, opposing counsel, judges and panels. A great asset to have on your team!’
Paul Michell - Cloisters ‘Has incredible attention to detail and an in-depth understanding of the law. At the same time, he is commercial in his approach and understands the needs of clients, so as to give clear direction on the strategy of a case.’
Christopher Milsom - Cloisters ‘A very good advocate who fights hard for his clients, and is measured and responsive in court - clients really appreciate him.’
David Mitchell - 39 Essex Chambers ‘David gives his all under difficult circumstances and has been very generous with his time. He is very good on his feet indeed and unfazed by "bigger" opposition. Clients love him.’
Nadia Motraghi - Old Square Chambers ‘She has an incredible legal mind but can also be devastating in cross-examination. Very good for strategy and has excellent client-handling skills.’
Declan O'Dempsey - Cloisters ‘Outstanding. Very personable, helpful, and thorough.’
Craig Rajgopaul - Blackstone Chambers ‘Outstanding - he is exceptionally bright, develops an excellent rapport with clients, has remarkable attention to detail, and is superb on his feet.’
Antony Sendall - Littleton Chambers ‘A very commercial and sensible barrister, who does not take bad points and focuses on achieving the right result for the client.’
Matthew Sheridan - Littleton Chambers ‘He is excellent. His work is meticulous and he has superb attention to detail. Clients (and leaders) get 100% from him, and he is always ready to go the extra mile. One of the best juniors I have worked with.’
Andrew Smith - Matrix Chambers ‘Fiercely intelligent, detail oriented, responsive, and with a great courtroom style.’
David Stephenson - Doughty Street Chambers ‘His advice is clear, frank, sensitive and sensible.’
Judy Stone - 11KBW ‘Extremely bright and hardworking, great to work with, and very responsive. She has good judgement and is a good strategist - one of my juniors of choice.’
3
Daniel Barnett - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Calm demeanour, confidence and obvious mastery of his subject. Daniel works well with people at all levels and his cross-examination is meticulous, aided by a polite and reasonable approach towards respondents' witnesses. His drafting is also crisp and precise.’
Talia Barsam - Devereux ‘Talia has excellent client care skills and is a strong advocate, who is able to adapt very quickly to situations and adjust her approach accordingly.’
Lucy Bone - Littleton Chambers ‘A tenacious advocate, who you feel is in your corner. She is on top of all the issues, is a great team player and works to get an excellent outcome for the client.’
Sarah Bowen - 3PB ‘Provides pragmatic advice and is approachable to clients and solicitors alike. She takes a genuine interest in each case and carries out a thorough review of the facts to get the best results for the client through effective representation.’
David Brook - Henderson Chambers ‘Very good with clients and gets up to speed quickly.’
Edward Capewell - 11KBW ‘A highly reliable and knowledgeable junior. He is client friendly, calm, clear, and very thorough.’
Catherine Casserley - Cloisters ‘Consistently instructed in significant cases and is particularly sought out for discrimination matters.’
Thomas Cordrey - Devereux ‘Technically excellent and very quick thinking on his feet.’
Betsan Criddle - Old Square Chambers ‘Incredibly knowledgeable about discrimination. She is a strong and passionate advocate, who is excellent with vulnerable clients and fights hard for her clients, whichever side she is on.’
Naomi Cunningham - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A very intelligent barrister who always thinks outside of the box.’
Charlotte Davies - Littleton Chambers ‘An exceptional junior, who fits into any client team and has a good feel for cases. She is able to think strategically and gives very pragmatic and commercially sensible advice. She picks up the esoteric points and is technically brilliant for someone of her call. A real star!’
Ronnie Dennis - 11KBW ‘Keeps things simple and to the point, effectively manages the litigation, and makes the key points heard.’
Olivia-Faith Dobbie - Cloisters ‘Provides digestible and commercial advice that clients can rely upon.’
Kathleen Donnelly - Henderson Chambers ‘Fast gaining a well-deserved reputation as a leading counsel and authority in the complex area of employment law of international organisations. Her greatest strengths are knowledge of the law, attention to detail, advocacy, and flexibility and empathy with clients.’
Peter Edwards - Devereux ‘He is very thorough and has an exceptional level of knowledge.’
Martin Fodder - Littleton Chambers ‘Incredibly thorough, with an eye for detail. He is a team player, has a compendious knowledge of whistleblowing law, and his advocacy style is measured but always persuasive.’
Patrick Halliday - 11KBW ‘Incredible work ethic, very thorough, totally on top of the detail, with clear and concise advice. An able advocate, who inspires confidence and is thoroughly likeable. As a solicitor you feel very well supported.’
Harini Iyengar - 11KBW ‘A technically excellent, tenacious, skilled advocate.’
Spencer Keen - Old Square Chambers ‘A strategic thinker who is able to identify the key issues at the heart of cases and who is forensic in his analysis.’
Michael Lee - 11KBW ‘Great at being there by your side the whole way, and giving the strategy advice you need. Particularly strong on complex discrimination matters and employment issues with a commercial twist - a great advocate.’
Eleena Misra - Old Square Chambers ‘A powerful advocate who puts her client’s case forcefully and persuasively in court, and deals with sensitive issues in a compassionate and realistic manner.’
Jack Mitchell - Old Square Chambers ‘The go-to junior for whistleblowing. Knows the subject, and how to present it to judges, backwards. Pragmatic, responsive, and intelligent, he is one to trust with your most important clients.’
Laura Prince - Matrix Chambers ‘Has a fast grasp of the issues and is rated for the clarity of the advice. She also has a supportive and collaborative approach to cases, working well with the rest of the team.’
Michael Salter - 42 Bedford Row ‘He has the technical expertise but also the pragmatism and ability to engage effectively with witnesses/clients – he is very personable. He is also responsive, flexible and provides valuable assistance during the preparation of claims, even when he is engaged in other matters.’
Lydia Seymour - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Really knows her subject, prepares very diligently, is unfailingly helpful, and utterly fearless in court.’
Ming-Yee Shiu - Littleton Chambers ‘Works very hard and is excellent for detail.’
Mark Stephens - Hardwicke ‘Lightning-fast at getting up to speed on a case, and then just as rapid in identifying the key issues that are likely to determine the outcome. Because of his speed, Mark is also eminently affordable for the quality of work he produces; and because of his insight, his drafting is well-targeted and often irresistibly compelling.’
Christopher Stone - Devereux ‘Extremely hardworking, an excellent team player, and good on paper and in court.’
Paul Strelitz - Hardwicke ‘Forensic in his approach and gets to the heart of a case very quickly. Paul is excellent with clients - he is personable, clear and speaks with authority.’
4
Katherine Apps - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A real eye for detail, calm under pressure, and able to identify a practical solution to technical problems. Katherine also has a broad range of knowledge in employment and allied areas.’
Rehana Azib - 2 Temple Gardens ‘Excellent during cross-examination – iron fist in a velvet glove was written with Rehana in mind – and she has great client skills. Assertive and highly skilled in dealing with litigants in person.’
Kate Balmer - Devereux ‘Robust and impressive in cross-examination. Diligent, sharp and good with clients; it is also evident just how much she cares.’
Lydia Banerjee - Littleton Chambers ‘An excellent barrister, whose advice is straightforward, pragmatic and to the point, and her client manner is superb and support invaluable.’
Elaine Banton - 7BR ‘Great with clients; she is passionate and it is important for clients to see this, particularly claimants. She is also a strong and forceful advocate.’
Laura Bell - Devereux ‘Hugely bright and great with clients. She is a master of detail and uses this to great effect when cross-examining. Laura also gets the big picture and the objectives of the client - her advice is therefore commercial and relevant.’
Nicola Braganza - Garden Court Chambers ‘Extremely conscientious and willing to go the extra mile for clients. She passionately pursues justice and is extremely personable - a client favourite.’
Tom Brown - Cloisters ‘Highly intelligent and a real strategist.’
Alice Carse - Devereux ‘An unshakeable, levelled and precise advocate. She is excellent with clients and translates complex legal matters into commercially focused solutions, enabling decisions to be made.’
Shane Crawford - 5 Paper 'Shane does not sit on the fence but calls it as he sees it and provides pragmatic advice on how best to proceed. He's very responsive and happy to discuss sometimes fairly complex matters at very short notice. He is an invaluable source of knowledge on how the Tribunal is likely to react to different applications.'
Jesse Crozier - Devereux ‘Very good with clients, strikes up a good rapport with judges, and has a good grasp of very technical areas of law.’
Carolyn D'Souza - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Great knowledge of whistleblowing law and very good with clients. Carolyn has an infectious enthusiasm for employment and discrimination law and will leave no stone unturned in fighting for her clients.’
Jake Davies - Five Paper ‘Ability to scrutinise large volumes of documents, and pull out the key issues and identify areas of weakness.’
Daniel Dyal - Cloisters ‘Very detailed approach and the advice is extremely thorough.’
Katherine Eddy - 11KBW ‘Katherine is an absolutely brilliant barrister to instruct. She is attentive, produces commercial and user-friendly advice and is first class with clients. A real joy to instruct and is extremely knowledgeable in the areas and crossover between employment and education law. A real barrister to watch.’
Iris Ferber - 42 Bedford Row ‘Iris is extremely tenacious, ever-helpful and an excellent advocate. A great all-rounder. Technically strong, has a good grasp of the issues, and is particularly good with clients.’
Emily Gordon Walker - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Provides clear, pragmatic advice in a way that a client can clearly understand. Emily delivers great results, she is approachable and responsive when you need her and clients are always impressed by her.’
Lucinda Harris - Devereux ‘She is excellent with clients and extremely knowledgeable.’
Amanda Hart - Doughty Street Chambers ‘Amanda is a great barrister. She has an exceptional eye for detail, is very client friendly, and has a very effective methodical cross-examination and advocacy style, ensuring she gets across all the points she needs in order to win.’
Georgia Hicks - Devereux ‘Really hardworking, well prepared and persuasive. Doesn't leave a stone unturned.’
Georgina Hirsch - Devereux ‘Pragmatic, responsive, and works well as part of the team. Clients like her, and trust her judgement and that she has their best interests at heart.’
Matthew Hodson - Hardwicke ‘A diligent, capable barrister who provides excellent practical advice, is very approachable and responsive, and strikes up good relations with clients.’
Orlando Holloway - 42 Bedford Row ‘An outstanding junior who is excellent with clients.’
Sarah Keogh - Old Square Chambers ‘Excellent client service, good understanding of trade unions, and very strong on medical regulatory/employment issues, as well as legal issues that have a mathematical component to them.’
Tom Kirk - Old Square Chambers ‘A gifted and rounded, intelligent advocate - he invariably impresses for the quality of his written and oral advocacy, and he has a great courtroom presence.’
Peter Linstead - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Incisive, gets to the heart of an issue and technically excellent; he is also very practical and generous with his time.’
Saul Margo - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Highly recommended. He gets up to speed on complex matters quickly, places nervous clients at ease, and makes strong, strategic decisions.’
Alice Mayhew - Devereux ‘Has a good understanding of clients' particular characteristics, is good with witnesses and technically sound.’
Gordon Menzies - Six Pump Court ‘I know I am in trusted hands because of his prompt, practical, expert advice. His years of experience, coupled with zeal to get to the nub of the issue, are invaluable. He knows how to get the job done effectively.’
Robert Moretto - Old Square Chambers ‘I have immense respect for Robert, he is a credit to the profession. Conducts himself in accordance with the finest traditions of the Bar.’
Caroline Musgrave - Cloisters ‘A forensic mind, with a fantastic work ethic and great client care skills; she is also always very supportive.’
Nicola Newbegin - Old Square Chambers ‘Excellent at presenting her client’s case in court. She is tenacious, persuasive and leaves no stone unturned.’
Adam Ohringer - Cloisters ‘Incredibly thorough, and deals calmly and sensitively with clients. He is a lateral thinker, and has the ability to digest all relevant facts and assess a case’s strengths and weaknesses at speed.’
Simon Pritchard - Blackstone Chambers ‘Very client friendly, highly intelligent, committed and excellent all-round.’
Sebastian Purnell - Devereux ‘Very responsive, good at thinking on his feet, engenders confidence, good with clients, and a great advocate. Very much across the detail of his matters and very bright.’
Bayo Randle - Devereux ‘A team player, with huge attention to detail and good strategic skills.’
Akua Reindorf - Cloisters ‘Outstanding skills all round, including brilliant, highly effective advocacy and incredibly clear, understandable written advice - makes the most complex points seem straightforward.’
David Renton - Garden Court Chambers ‘Great attention to detail and appreciation of the nuances of each individual and case.’
Tom Richards - Blackstone Chambers ‘Great for detail with impressive communication skills.’
Jude Shepherd - 42 Bedford Row ‘Able to identify the crux of a case and isn’t afraid to take a robust approach to litigation. She is incredibly down to earth and builds a great rapport with clients.’
Sarah Wilkinson - Blackstone Chambers ‘Hugely intelligent and determined, and spot-on strategically.’
Victoria Windle - Blackstone Chambers ‘An expert on restrictive covenants and unlawful competition. Gives reliable, solid advice and knows how to handle clients.’
Will Young - Outer Temple Chambers ‘He provides clear, pragmatic advice, and is particularly strong in advising on employment matters where there is an overlap with personal injury.’
5
Aysha Ahmad - 42 Bedford Row ‘Superb - she is very practical and client focused, with substantial court experience that comes across when she prepares cases. A tenacious cross-examiner, she also takes a proactive and assertive approach to claimant litigation.’
Kate Annand - Doughty Street Chambers ‘Has a fantastic manner with clients, and is able to deal with difficult issues and give advice sensitively. She always has the client's interests at heart, and as an advocate her diligence and technical brilliance serve her well.’
Charlene Ashiru - Littleton Chambers ‘Knows the law inside out, inspires confidence in solicitors and clients alike, and is formidable on her feet.’
Jason Braier - 42 Bedford Row ‘Calm, confident and very good with witnesses. His advocacy style is calm and measured and his submissions are excellent.’
Susan Chan - 42 Bedford Row ‘Provides calm and measured counsel, handles clients confidently, and manages tribunal hearings with authority.’
Grace Cullen - Six Pump Court ‘Grace has a knack for cutting to the key issues and understanding the commercial and legal issues that need to be addressed. Even where a case has obstacles, she has been helpful in finding a solution that meets with the client’s desired objectives.’
Kerenza Davis - Blackstone Chambers ‘Kerenza is fantastic. She is highly responsive, incredibly hardworking and all over the detail.’
Laith Dilaimi - Old Square Chambers ‘Very diligent and knowledgeable, leaving no stone unturned on a case. He has an unassuming style but always makes the right points in the right way, bringing about excellent results.’
Christopher Edwards - Old Square Chambers ‘Secures good results for clients. He grasps the key facts and law with ease, and quickly gains the trust and confidence of nervous clients and apprehensive witnesses.’
Lauren Godfrey - Hardwicke ‘A highly skilled technical barrister and superb advocate. Assured and persuasive in front of judges and opposition alike, Lauren is skilled in driving home the client's interests to great success.’
Nicholas Goodfellow - Littleton Chambers ‘A real can-do attitude and clearly knows his stuff. Very user friendly and his advice is considered, concise and easy to digest.’
Mark Green - 3PB ‘Always provides excellent, pragmatic advice, and has the right balance between professional and approachable. He also tailors his advocacy appropriately, particularly when a litigant in person is involved.’
Jeffrey Jupp - 7BR ‘Great for attention to detail and creativity, and he has a talent for collaboration in the interests of the client’s case.’
Changez Khan – No5 Barristers Chambers ‘Calm and thorough thought processes and the ability to understand clients’ positions and relate to the same.’
Martin Khoshdel - 42 Bedford Row ‘Good judgement and honest, with fantastic attention to detail. Clearly on top of the papers, knows his case well, and is incisive in putting across that case through cross-examination and submissions.’
Andrew Legg - Essex Court Chambers ‘Extremely diligent and hardworking, and an exceptionally able lawyer. He is also a creative legal thinker, coming up with innovative solutions to legal problems.’
Chesca Lord - Cloisters ‘Extremely clever, tactically astute and commercially focused. She is always calm and reassuring (particularly with witnesses), while at the same time fiercely competitive - our go-to counsel for all employment law work.’
Craig Ludlow - 3PB ‘Highly skilled and has a huge range of experience; Craig is pragmatic, commercial, approachable and always goes the extra mile.’
Louise Mankau - Doughty Street Chambers ‘Puts clients at ease, is empathetic and can speak to clients in their language (sometimes quite literally given her fluent German and competence in other European languages).’
Elizabeth Melville - Old Square Chambers ‘Excellent, responsive and meticulously thorough, Elizabeth is also very client friendly and always willing to go the extra mile.’
Karen Moss - 3PB ‘Superb at processing complex matters and cutting through to the core legal and commercial issues in play, her technical knowledge is extensive and impressive.’
Martina Murphy - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Technically excellent, well prepared, detailed, and great with clients. She inspires confidence in clients with clear pragmatic advice. She is also liked by employment judges because she moves the hearing along, especially in cross-examination.’
Tom Ogg - 11KBW ‘My go-to junior - his number is on speed dial as he is the barrister who springs to mind when I have a complex employment dispute in the financial services industry. He is an advocate beyond his years of call, always a safe pair of hands and technically excellent.’
Richard Oulton - 5 Essex Court ‘Communicates in a friendly manner, while still maintaining his client's interests.’
Rupert Paines - 11KBW ‘Head and shoulders above his peers. He is a brilliant black-letter lawyer, but more than that he has remarkable experience of complex litigation for someone so junior, excellent judgement, and a nose for a killer point. I always want him as a junior!’
Laura Robinson - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘Excellent - she has a fantastic manner with lay clients, making them feel that we are all part of the same team. She stands her ground and can be firm with judges and opponents. She has a good sense of what will appeal to a judge and tailors her submissions effectively to achieve the best outcome for her clients.’
Alexander Robson - Littleton Chambers ‘Superb - an excellent technician, who is always focused on delivering the desired commercial outcome.’
Nick Singer - 42 Bedford Row ‘An extremely technical barrister, whose strength lies in his attention to detail and ability to distill the most complicated factual scenarios. Great with clients and witnesses, and presents a convincing argument.’
Paul Skinner - Matrix Chambers ‘Has creative ideas, thinks outside the box and is fearless in his imagination.’
Hannah Slarks - 11KBW ‘Exceptionally bright, with the ability to simplify the most complex of matters, and her written work is outstanding.’
James Bickford Smith - Littleton Chambers ‘Provides measured advice in complex litigious matters, and works effectively with clients to provide practical solutions. He brings a forensic knowledge to contentious employment disputes, along with a calm and practical approach.’
Emma Sole - Farrar's Building ‘Very accessible and helpful in employment cases, and very technically competent, while combining it with a good manner with clients. Emma is also good at explaining to clients the weaknesses in cases and the need to focus on strengths.’
Safia Tharoo - 42 Bedford Row ‘A fantastic all-rounder and an effective advocate. Very calm and collected, takes a sensible approach to cases and issues, and is very good with clients - provides a reassuring presence.’
Rebecca Thomas - 42 Bedford Row ‘Gets successful outcomes in cases that are finely balanced. Rebecca is always prepared, good with witnesses, and honest with instructing solicitors about how things are progressing.’
Benjamin Uduje - 42 Bedford Row ‘An excellent advocate, with extensive knowledge of employment law and practice, and he puts clients and witnesses at ease.’
Victoria von Wachter - 5 Essex Court ‘Identifies the key issues and provides logical, realistic advice. Clearly focused on getting the best possible outcome, while promoting reasonable expectations.’
John-Paul Waite - 5 Essex Court ‘His analysis of the case was incisive. John-Paul was instrumental in the parties reaching a sensible settlement; he was robust with the claimant, and his own client, but fair.’

Rising Stars

Grahame Anderson - Littleton Chambers ‘Approachable, unflappable and always available, with commercial advice and very effective advocacy.’
Rajiv Bhatt - Hardwicke ‘A very measured advocate when cross-examining - it was clear that he had fully prepared and had an impressive understanding of the issues in dispute.’
Stephen Butler - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A real talent for the future and one to watch. Calm, forensic and highly persuasive.’
Mark Greaves - Matrix Chambers ‘Highly analytical, and provides clear and considered advice, showing shrewd insight and levels of realism and ingenuity that are very rare in someone of his call level.’
Daniel Isenberg - 11KBW ‘Clearly highly intelligent and gets to the heart of the issue very quickly. He also has an excellent manner with clients and a great ability to distil complex legal matters into clear, commercial advice.’
Benjamin Jones - Old Square Chambers ‘Ben is an exceptionally intelligent barrister with forensic research skills. He displays a lively and creative intelligence in discussions about cases and can think outside the box when presented with new problems. I am certain that Ben will go far - he is a real star in the making.’
Georgina Leadbetter - Littleton Chambers ‘Reliable, very popular with clients and strong on whistleblowing cases. Her advice is clear and her advocacy impressive.’
Peter Lockley - 11KBW ‘Very organised, proactive, detail-oriented, on the mark on the law, and well prepared for hearings. He thinks a few steps ahead, has a practical approach, and will push points as far as he can to achieve results.’
George Molyneaux - Blackstone Chambers ‘A thoughtful, considerate and incredibly diligent junior barrister. You absolutely know he will not miss a single detail in a case.’
Nathan Roberts - Matrix Chambers ‘Nathan is responsive, user-friendly and excellent in cross-examination.’
Madeline Stanley - Old Square Chambers ‘Her advocacy, both written and oral, was clear and concise, and she made numerous good points in a very persuasive manner.’
Jamie Susskind - Littleton Chambers ‘Charming, articulate, will get stuck into anything, and is very good indeed with clients. He has remarkable breadth of experience for one so junior - and as a prize winning author has particular expertise on the intersection between employment law and technology, meaning that he is perfectly placed to usher in the brave new world of technology in the workplace.’
Marianne Tutin - Devereux ‘A superb junior who is no doubt on her way to great achievements. Her in-depth knowledge and up-to-date advocacy on employment status issues is second-to-none at her level.’

Employment in London Bar

11KBW

11KBW is 'an excellent set of chambers with incredible strength in depth. The clerking is also very good, and I always feel confident that the team understands the needs of my clients'. The 'constructive and commercial' Daniel Stilitz QC successfully acted for Protect, the whistleblowers’ charity, in a Supreme Court appeal which involved the question of whether judges can whistleblow. Meanwhile, Clive Sheldon QC acted for Cambridge University in a judicial review challenge to its decision not to re-engage a lecturer, which followed an employment tribunal's decision that she was unfairly dismissed. Strengthening chambers at the senior end, Marcus Pilgerstorfer QC, Julian Milford QC and Aileen McColgan QC all took silk in 2020. Peter Lockley and Daniel Isenberg are highlighted as rising stars of the employment Bar.

1 Garden Court

Blackstone Chambers' 'range is huge and it has the perfect barrister for almost any employment dispute. This is a great employment set with a very approachable team, whose knowledge is exceptional; the clerks are also really helpful'. In Owen v AMEC Foster Wheeler Energy Limited and another, the 'intellectually brilliant' Diya Sen Gupta QC, who took silk in 2019, successfully represented the respondents before the Court of Appeal in a complex disability discrimination appeal. Elsewhere, Paul Goulding QC and rising star George Molyneaux represented Clarks in the successful defence of a high-profile, whistleblowing-related unfair dismissal claim, which was brought by the former CEO of the footwear business. In recent news at the junior end, Craig Rajgopaul has joined the set from Littleton Chambers.

Cloisters

Cloisters 'has great strength in depth and availability, and the clerks are always very helpful and efficient. The set even provided brilliant advice notes on Covid-19 and its implications for employment law – no other barrister chambers provided as comprehensive support to lawyers'. In recent work of note, Paul Epstein QC and Dee Masters represent Tesco in the multi-party, equal pay claims brought against it by several firms; Jason Galbraith-Marten QC acted for the drivers in the high-profile Uber litigation over worker status; Robin Allen QC and Rachel Crasnow QC acted in O’Brien v Ministry of Justice, one of the test cases that affects approximately 8,000 part-time judges and their right to equivalent pay and pensions with full-time judges.

Littleton Chambers

Littleton Chambers 'continues to impress with the quality of its members' work on heavyweight employment matters, as well as their excellent availability. The clerking is also very good; senior clerk Jason Drakeford is very accommodating and flexible, and manages to fit the right barrister to the right person'. In a Supreme Court test case on the national minimum wage and sleeping-over workers, David Reade QC led Niran De Silva and Georgina Leadbetter in the representation of Royal Mencap Society; and Naomi Ellenbogen QC was appointed by the House of Lords Commission to conduct an independent inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Lords. Strengthening chambers at the senior end, John Mehrzad QC took silk in 2020, while, in the junior ranks, the future looks bright for the set as it contains the 'forensic' Grahame Anderson, 'quick thinking' Georgina Leadbetter, and 'meticulous' Jamie Susskind, all rising stars of the employment Bar.

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers is 'a great chambers with many top-quality employment and discrimination counsel, and many good juniors coming up the ranks'. Acting for claimants, respondents and intervenors alike, the set's members consistently appear in high-profile and complex cases at all levels, from the Employment Tribunal through to the Supreme Court. In a landmark decision that effected a change in the doctrine of severance (which had stood since 1934), James Laddie QC successfully represented a senior executive in the High Court, in relation to a recruitment firm's application to enforce a restrictive covenant. Elsewhere in chambers, Claire Darwin successfully represented Samira Ahmed in her high-profile, equal pay claims against the BBC. In the set's junior ranks, Nathan Roberts and Mark Greaves are rising stars of the employment arena.

Old Square Chambers

Old Square Chambers is 'a high-quality set' that acts in a large range of cases (including before the Appellate courts), which cover worker status, human rights, contract claims, discrimination, industrial action, holiday pay, injunctions and equal pay, among others. In an important test case, Lord Hendy QC led Katharine Newton QC in representing the Independent Workers of Great Britain, in seeking worker status and union recognition on behalf of thousands of Deliveroo riders. Mark Sutton QC is a leading silk for employment disputes involving doctors and other healthcare sector staff. Strengthening the set at the senior end, Ijeoma Omambala QC, Deshpal Panesar QC, Rebecca Tuck QC and Katharine Newton QC all took silk in 2020. At the junior end, Tom Kirk has arrived from the now-dissolved Ely Place Chambers and the 'persuasive advocate' Madeline Stanley and the 'intelligent, calm, and unruffled' Benjamin Jones are rising stars in chambers.

Devereux

Devereux's employment team consistently acts in complex and groundbreaking employment disputes and its members have strong appellate practices that cover both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The set represents blue chip multinationals, trade unions, and governments, and regularly handles high-profile Metropolitan Police cases. 'Skilled advocate' Bruce Carr QC represented the Royal Mail Group in the first appellate case to address interference in the voting process, under section 230 of The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Andrew Burns QC successfully upheld an EAT decision in the Court of Appeal, which argued that maternity leave was not comparable to leave for childcare purposes. Clients admire the 'fighting spirit and sound commercial advice' provided by rising star Marianne Tutin.

Essex Court Chambers

Essex Court Chambers is 'a leading commercial set that is also a leader in employment law, not just because of the quality of its advocates but because its employment barristers have cross-over practices into other areas, which give them an edge in contentious and complex employment and employment-related disputes'. Of recent note, Andrew Hochhauser QC acted in an ET unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claim, which was brought by a former senior banker, who had worked for a bank for almost 40 years. Daniel Oudkerk QC has appeared in several significant commercial employment disputes, including Egon Zehnder v Tillman SC, the first employee competition case in over 100 years to reach the Supreme Court.

Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers is 'extremely efficient and all the clerks are helpful when looking for suitable counsel at affordable fees'. 'Brilliant legal analyst and highly skilled, clever advocate', Andrew Short QC, who is at the forefront of equal pay claims in the private sector, acts in the representation of approximately 15,000 shop workers in Brierley v Asda, while Keith Bryant QC, leading Saul Margo, acted for the respondents in the first case at appellate level to consider the meaning of 'unfavourable' in a disability discrimination claim (under s15 of the Equality Act 2010). Taking silk in 2020, Andrew Allen QC's practice is predominantly in employment and partnership discrimination law. 'A real talent', Stephen Butler is a rising star in chambers.

42 Bedford Row

Regularly appearing in Employment Tribunals, the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and the High Court, 42 Bedford Row 'has a solid employment practice which offers strength in depth'. Jude Shepherd heads the set's employment team, which fields Orlando Holloway, who represented the respondents in various hearings (including a 10-day trial), which concerned claims of discrimination, whistleblowing, trade union detriment, and constructive unfair dismissal. Michael Salter has joined the set from the now-closed Ely Place Chambers.