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Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC4 Pump Court ‘Undoubtedly the standout advocate of his generation, Sean combines exceptional intelligence and commercial nous with an unrivalled work ethic.’
Helen Davies KCBrick Court Chambers ‘A consummate advocate, Helen is at the top of the game. She is a very clear thinker and uses simple persuasive language in her advocacy.’
Stephen Dennison KCAtkin Chambers ‘Stephen is far the most effective and useful KC in the offshore construction and energy sector. He works relentlessly hard and efficiently, and is always on top of his brief.’
Lord Grabiner KCOne Essex Court ‘Super-authoritative, but also charming and pleasant to deal with, his advocacy is compelling.’
Mark Howard KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Mark is in the star category and at the top of his game, a wonderful advocate with a top-ticket practice.’
John McCaughran KCOne Essex Court ‘One of the biggest hitters for big-ticket energy litigation, his name has often been on the biggest energy cases over the last decade.’
Laurence Rabinowitz KCOne Essex Court ‘A heavyweight commercial silk for big-ticket energy litigation, Laurence is clear in his advice and has an extremely strong following among clients.’
Simon Rainey KC – Quadrant Chambers ‘Simon is an extremely effective advocate who sees straight to the heart of the issue. His presentation is a model of clarity and he is a joy to listen to, quickly winning the confidence of judges and tribunals.’
David Streatfeild-James KCAtkin Chambers ‘A great advocate with a fantastic mind, David is strategically astute and has good industry knowledge.’
Daniel Toledano KCOne Essex Court ‘Daniel is superb, always on top of the detail, and provides well considered advice. He is a very polished operator.’
Andrew White KCAtkin Chambers ‘Andrew has no weakness. He is a strong advocate and for a person of his seniority he makes an impressive effort to get into the detail.’
David Allen KC7 King’s Bench Walk ‘David is a brilliant advocate who knows how to focus on the important issues, works very hard and presents them in an effective and simple way.’
Veronique Buehrlen KCKeating Chambers ‘Veronique is surpassed by no one on the construction side, you can never pull the wool over her eyes and her ability to untangle convoluted technical issues is genuinely impressive.’
Stuart Catchpole KC  –Atkin Chambers ‘Stuart is a devastating cross-examiner. He is incredibly well prepared and has an extremely impressive and persuasive advocacy style.’
Alain Choo Choy KCOne Essex Court ‘Alain is a superb advocate, both on his feet and on paper. He is articulate and highly intelligent but very accessible, and judges find him compelling and persuasive.’
Simon Croall KCQuadrant Chambers ‘Undoubtedly one of the top silks for energy disputes, Simon is a force of nature in the courtroom, and he is equally good on strategy and technical detail.’
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KCAtkin Chambers ‘Clear, organised and persuasive, Chantal understands the energy world and is a top-quality construction and heavy infrastructure practitioner.’
Vernon Flynn KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Vernon is an excellent advocate and knows his audience extremely well. He is able to convey complex legal arguments in a clear and concise manner.’
Alexander Gunning KC – One Essex Court ‘A terrific advocate who is very highly rated.’
James Howells KCAtkin Chambers ‘James is very thorough and methodical on large technical disputes, and he explores the evidence in depth before cross-examining witnesses.’
Simon Hughes KCKeating Chambers ‘Simon has the ability to distil complex issues and charm both witnesses and tribunals.’
David Lewis KCTwenty Essex ‘David has an outstanding intellect and is always available, courteous and excellent with clients.’
Alan Maclean KCBlackstone Chambers ‘Alan is incredibly efficient, incisive in his analysis, sound in his judgement and very responsive to client demands.’
David Mildon KCEssex Court Chambers ‘An excellent commercial lawyer and a careful and thorough arbitrator, David is hardworking, diligent and unfussy.’
Jeffery Onions KCOne Essex Court ‘Jeffrey has the ability to command and process enormous an amount of factual information and distil from that clear and focused advice.’
Sean O’Sullivan KC4 Pump Court ‘Sean is a great silk to work with - he is excellent on his feet, rigorous in his trial preparation and a top team member for shipping and energy work.’
Luke Parsons KCQuadrant Chambers ‘Luke combines second-to-none knowledge of international trade and energy issues with excellent commercial judgement and a super-responsive attitude.’
Andrew Rigney KC – Crown Office Chambers ‘User-friendly, sharp and creative, Andrew sees things that others don’t, and his work ethic is second to none.’
Alistair Schaff KC7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Alistair is great on his feet, polite, and super-intelligent.’
David Thomas KCKeating Chambers ‘David is very commercial and extremely detailed. He instils confidence works well as part of a team.’
Stephen Tromans KC39 Essex Chambers ‘Stephen has a huge intellect and no weakness. He is an outstanding barrister and an expert in his field.’
Sean Wilken KCKeating Chambers ‘Sean is very clever and gets to grips with key issues at a speed that is difficult to equal and impossible to surpass.’
Rachel Ansell KC4 Pump Court ‘Rachel remains one of the hardest working, sharpest minds at the Bar who is absolutely at the top of her game. Her work ethic knows no bounds.’
Michael Ashcroft KCTwenty Essex ‘Incredibly bright, cool, calm and collected under pressure, Michael is a very polished and persuasive advocate.’
Simon Birt KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Simon is super-quick, super-responsive and a superb strategist, which makes him the ideal counsel for complex international litigation.’
Stephen Cogley KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Stephen’s advice is timely and insightful, and he is able to step in and get up to speed in no time.’
Nigel Cooper KC – Quadrant Chambers ‘Nigel really understands the subject matter and is able to digest information quickly and get to the key issues. He is an excellent communicator with a relaxed and effective style.’
Anneliese Day KCFountain Court Chambers ‘Anneliese is an excellent barrister whose advocacy is extremely persuasive, and she is good at identifying the best points.’
Nicholas Dennys KCAtkin Chambers ‘Nick has always had an enviable reputation for his skill as a lawyer, and he demonstrates a great ability to master the most complex matters.’
Graham Dunning KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Extraordinarily sharp and effective, Graham can always be depended on to have a mastery of the factual and legal issues.’
Jonathan Gaisman KC7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Jonathan is a barrister operating at the top of the market. He offers fantastic strategic advice and is able to spot the heart of the matter.’
Lucy Garrett KCKeating Chambers ‘Lucy is an out-and-out star, a gifted legal mind and persuasive advocate who can cut through endless legal and technical complexities to get to what really matters.’
Karim Ghaly KC39 Essex Chambers ‘Karim is extremely smart and gets right to the point. It is simply beautiful to watch him in action at cross-examination.’
Alan Gourgey KCWilberforce Chambers ‘Alan is an excellent advocate with fine judgement, as well as being a creative lawyer who is great with clients.’
Charles Graham KCOne Essex Court ‘Charles' standout strengths are his attention to detail and piercing yet unfailingly respectful cross-examination.’
Christopher Harris KC3 Verulam Buildings ‘Christopher has a tremendous grasp of the law and quickly understands how to craft the strategy of a case to ensure the best outcomes.’
Alexander Hickey KC4 Pump Court ‘Alex is very user-friendly, creative and quick on his feet, and he combines incisive advocacy with an unrivalled ability to grasp the bigger picture.’
Stephen Hofmeyr KC7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Rigorous and with a strong intellect and firm judgement, Stephen has huge expertise in energy matters combined with fearless and firm advocacy.’
Philippa Hopkins KCEssex Court Chambers ‘Philippa is very impressive in cross-examination and is often the power behind the scenes in the running of big cases.’
Sa’ad Hossain KCOne Essex Court ‘Sa’ad is an assured advocate, as calm as cat on his feet, and able to present technical points with a lot of lucidity and authority.’
Timothy Howe KCFountain Court Chambers ‘Tim is incredibly user-friendly and accessible, possessing both a brilliant intellect and a commercial and practical outlook.’
Daniel Jowell KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Highly responsive, excellent with clients and a pleasure to work with, Daniel combines an effortlessly charming manner with a strong strategic sense.’
Charles Kimmins KCTwenty Essex ‘Charles is extremely user friendly, adaptable and hardworking. His advice and paperwork are of the highest standard and his oral advocacy is superb.’
Gwion Lewis KC - Landmark Chambers ‘Gwion is very knowledgeable and can command meetings with clients and experts, and he can analyse complex situations and articulate his thoughts on these into clear and concise advice.’
Simon Lofthouse KCAtkin Chambers ‘Simon is absolutely world-class in hearings, and his cross-examination, which is the result of very hard work, is really effective.’
Tim Lord KCBrick Court Chambers ‘The best of his generation, he is sensibly aggressive, and deeply forensic. His rich experience gives him the ability to cut through the undergrowth to expose the killer points.’
Hodge Malek KC3 Verulam Buildings ‘Hodge’s strengths are his honesty and dedicated to his profession.’
Harry Matovu KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Harry is one of the foremost of his profession, and probably one of the most outstanding barristers of all time. His advocacy is only matched by his analytical mind and his great personality.’
Duncan Matthews KCTwenty Essex ‘A very powerful advocate who has the ear of tribunal and mastery of the details.’
James McClelland KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘James is extremely clever, rigorous and thorough. A phenomenally good barrister with an outstanding mind and judgement.’
Manus McMullan KCAtkin Chambers ‘Manus is a fierce cross-examiner and a highly articulate advocate who is very good at reading a tribunal and addressing its concerns.’
Wendy Miles KC - Twenty Essex  ‘Wendy is extremely intelligent, combining a deep understanding of both the law and the most complex factual matrices. She is a systemic thinker and excellent advocate.’
Vincent Moran KCKeating Chambers ‘Extremely meticulous but not pedantic, Vince is one of the most senior silks at the Bar and an outstanding advocate who is very easy to work with.’
Alexander Nissen KCKeating Chambers ‘Alexander is a genius in everything he does. There is nothing he hasn't seen or done in the past.’
Dominique Rawley KCAtkin Chambers ‘Dominique is an absolute powerhouse of a barrister - analytical, strategic and produces the most beautiful pleadings.’
Thomas Sharpe KCOne Essex Court ‘A towering intellect with fabulous client-handling skills, he is a calm and determined advocate with the ability to connect to a judge and not be diverted from the argument.’
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘Nigel is an outstanding lawyer and a team player who is really down to earth and brisk, with a no-nonsense and effective style.’
Steven Walker KCAtkin Chambers ‘Stephen is a persuasive, determined and tenacious advocate with the cross-examination techniques of a skilled surgeon.’
Crispin Winser KC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Crispin can dissect complex legal issues and identify key arguments and strategies, and his extensive knowledge and meticulous ensure he can build a strong case.’
Charles Banner KCKeating Chambers ‘Charles has a very quick mind, both in relation to legal analysis and commercial outcomes, and is exceptionally good with clients.’
Kieron Beal KC - Blackstone Chambers ‘Kieron is across the detail, but never loses sight of big picture, and that is reflected in his advocacy. Unfazed and adaptable, he has the respect of the senior judges.’
Michael Bools KCBrick Court Chambers ‘A clever and hugely likeable barrister who operates in line with the best traditions of the Bar, Michael is  collegiate and sensible, even with opponents.’
James Brocklebank KC7 King’s Bench Walk ‘James is able to grasp complex technical and engineering matters quickly and then explain them in a clear and succinct manner which makes his advocacy style very persuasive.’
David Brynmor Thomas KC – 39 Essex Chambers ‘David is very client-focused and always takes a commercial view. His analysis is clear and he presents very effectively.’
Serena Cheng KCAtkin Chambers ‘Serena assimilates complex, technical issues with ease and then presents the same with clarity.’
Mark Chennells KCAtkin Chambers Mark has a very good sense of strategy and an excellent grasp of the detail, making him deadly in cross-examination.’
Nicholas Craig KC3 Verulam Buildings ‘Nick always makes the right strategic decisions and is well prepared. He handles pressure well and is an excellent advocate.’
Laurence Emmett KCOne Essex Court Laurence is a very strong and super-smart black-letter lawyer, who provides sound advocacy.’
Gerry Facenna KC – Monckton Chambers ‘Gerry’s advocacy is natural with great presence and fluency, and he is the embodiment of a reasonable man.’
Andrew Fulton KCTwenty Essex ‘Andrew is a clear and incisive thinker who always cuts to the heart of the legal and factual issues in any dispute. He is also a tenacious advocate.’
Orlando Gledhill KCOne Essex Court ‘Orlando shows a lightening quick intellect, a refusal to settle for anything other than excellent, and is always approachable.’
Alec Haydon KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Alec is exceptionally practical and easy to work with. His instincts are right but he also delves into the detail and provides a perfectly crafted succinct response.’
Siobán Healy KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Offers superb legal analysis and is very fair. Tribunal members have confidence in her judgment. Excellent understanding of strategy and commercial priorities. User-friendly and very easy to work with while top league.’
Timothy Hill KCTwenty Essex ‘Extremely user-friendly and honest about the merits of the case, Timothy fights tooth and nail for a good result and utterly fantastic on his feet.’
Adrian Hughes KC – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Adrian is responsive, thorough, collegiate and pragmatic.’

Yash Kulkarni KC - Quadrant Chambers ‘Yash is very quick on the uptake and able to grasp technical issues quickly, and his ability to identify and focus on the important points is second to none.’ 

James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court ‘James is very thorough and provides sensible and coherent advice that is applicable to the commercial realities of the matter.’
Christopher Lewis KCAtkin Chambers ‘Christopher delivers exceptionally clever and brilliant legal analysis. He is very good at explaining issues to clients.’
Ali Malek KC3 Verulam Buildings ‘Ali is the senior dean of international energy disputes, very smart and very practical.’
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is calm, personable, easy to work with and committed to the client’s cause. Her advocacy can be serene and measured or punchy and stern as required.’
Stephen Midwinter KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Stephen is a phenomenally quick silk with a huge depth of knowledge.’

Gordon Nardell KC – Twenty Essex ‘Gordon’s strengths are his knowledge of the energy market and his commercial approach.’ 

Jern-Fei Ng KC – 7BR ‘Jern-Fei is extremely responsive, intelligent, and hardworking, and his legal knowledge is second to none. He is also a great strategist and leader.’

Claire Packman KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Claire is commercially astute and technically brilliant, and she quickly cuts to the key issues in complicated legal matters.’

Fiona Parkin KCAtkin Chambers ‘Fiona's skill in communicating complex legal concepts is truly impressive. She has the ability to dive deeply into the details of a case.'
Conall Patton KCOne Essex Court ‘Conall is one of the best: bright, very user-friendly and a superb advocate.'
Fionn Pilbrow KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Fionn is a fantastic advocate, extremely sharp and highly persuasive, who has the skill of breaking down complex issues and arguments and presenting them clearly.’
Iain Quirk KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Ian demonstrates great preparation and attention to detail, and delivers powerful and persuasive submissions. Great with witnesses, he is a top-class team player.’
Philip Riches KC –Twenty Essex ‘Philip is strong in dealing with expert evidence and is strategically creative.’
John Russell KCQuadrant Chambers ‘John is a standout advocate.’
Chris Smith KC – Quadrant Chambers ‘Chris is commercially minded in his approach, making him an excellent choice in dealing with lay clients, and he is technically brilliant.’
Marion Smith KC – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Marion is incisive, with a strong dose of common sense and an advocacy style which pleases an international tribunal.’
James Strachan KC39 Essex Chambers ‘James is the full package as a barrister: brilliant on the law, vigorous on the details, clear on paper and awe-inspiring in court.’
Samuel Townend KCKeating Chambers ‘Samuel is very intelligent, extremely commercially focussed, great with clients and a go-to counsel for high-value energy disputes.’
Nick Vineall KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Nick is a superb advocate and a brilliant intellect, who wears his brilliance very lightly and is extremely charming.’

2022 Silks

Lucas Bastin KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Lucas has the full package of knowledge and skills.’
Lucas Bastin KCEssex Court Chambers ‘He shows good judgement and strategy, is great on his feet, and particularly good on cross-examination.’

Rupert Choat KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Very commercial and client-focused, Rupert grasps the client’s strategic objectives and finds a way through even the most complicated cases.’

Rupert Choat KCAtkin Chambers ‘He is helpful and patient, accommodating urgent requests for help, and he is quick to explain aspects of complex supporting evidence.’
Calum Lamont KCKeating Chambers ‘He has stepped into the KC role seamlessly and his great strengths are his willingness to get into the detail and the ability to grapple with the most complex problems and drive a case forward.’
Hanif Mussa KC – Blackstone Chambers ‘Hanif is very good at separating out and focusing on the best points in his case. His written work is immaculate and in oral submissions, he makes his points strongly and effectively.’
Hanif Mussa KCBlackstone Chambers ‘He stands out as an excellent barrister because he communicates his advice well, is reliable and manages to provide prompt advice at short notice.’
Alexander Wright KC4 Pump Court ‘Self-confident and robust, he is very effective in arbitration and has no problem advancing a weaker case, putting it with force and vigour.’
Alexander Wright KC – 4 Pump Court  ‘Alex is a brilliant advocate, super-agile on his feet and no question fazes him.’

2023 Silks

Luke Pearce KC – Twenty Essex ‘Really smart, agile, conscientious, and unflappable under pressure, Luke is impressive on his feet.’

Paul Buckingham KCKeating Chambers Paul’s promotion to silk was richly deserved. Very modest and quiet, with superb knowledge, his breadth of knowledge on technical engineering is hard to beat.’

Siddharth Dhar KC – Essex Court Chambers ‘Calm and unflustered, Siddharth is very willing to help out on any aspect of a case.’

Siddharth Dhar KCEssex Court Chambers ‘His depth of knowledge is mighty impressive, as is the cool judgment which he brings when deploying that expertise.’
Richard Eschwege KCBrick Court Chambers ‘Richard is a first-rate lawyer with sound judgment. He is a pleasure to work with and very clear in his views.’

2024 Silks

Jane Davies Evans KC3 Verulam Buildings ‘A junior in great demand for energy cases. She is uniquely equipped to calculate the complex quantum aspects of a dispute.’
Tom Owen KCKeating Chambers ‘An outstanding advocate, Tom is fierce and dedicated when fighting your corner.’
Sanjay Patel KC4 Pump Court ‘Sanjay is fantastically energetic, showing great attention to detail. He is very commercial and good on his feet.’
Nicholas Sloboda KCOne Essex Court ‘An extremely clever junior, who is good on his feet, very practical, and astute without being too pushy.’

Leading Juniors

Anton DudnikovEssex Court Chambers 'A top-ranked junior in this area for very good reason.’
Jess Connors39 Essex Chambers ‘Jess’s energy, grit and ability to stay the course are unrivalled. She has a laser-like attention to detail and is able to get to get under the bonnet of complex technical evidence quickly and efficiently.’
Thomas Crangle4 Pump Court ‘Thomas provides commercial and clear advice, is excellent with clients, and meets tight deadlines without fail.’
Simon CrawshawAtkin Chambers ‘Simon is hardworking, thorough and very bright.’
Thomas LazurKeating Chambers ‘An incredibly personable, attentive, and supportive barrister. His advocacy is excellent, and he makes very difficult issues comprehensible.’
Kate Livesey4 Pump Court ‘Kate is outstanding: exceptionally bright, immensely hardworking, and a delight to work with. A terrific barrister.'
Emily NeillBlackstone Chambers ‘A pragmatic, client-focused barrister who is very helpful, and has excellent knowledge of the energy sector.'
Gerard RothschildBrick Court Chambers ‘Gerard is incredibly diligent and efficient, with a first-class intellect.'
Nehali ShahOne Essex Court ‘Nehali is extremely clever, intensely practical and responsive, and phenomenally hardworking.’
Gaurav SharmaQuadrant Chambers Gaurav has a great ability of grasping the industry perspective while providing clear and incisive advice on how best to lead the case. A hugely impressive all-rounder.'
Michael WatkinsOne Essex Court ‘A junior in command of the details. He has a pragmatic approach to strategy.’
Paul WeeEssex Court Chambers ‘Paul provides insightful, reliable advice and earns the trust of clients quickly. He is pragmatic, dedicated and a real team player.’
Paul BuryKeating Chambers ‘Paul’s advocacy is clear and concise, and he is extremely skilled at rapidly understanding complex technical points.’
Patrick ClarkeAtkin Chambers ‘Patrick grasps complex issues quickly and offers pragmatic and useful advice at short notice.’
Owain DraperOne Essex Court ‘Owain is measured, flexible and very responsive.’
Joseph EnglandQuadrant Chambers ‘Joseph is on top of all the details in a case.'
Monica Feria-Tinta – Twenty Essex  ‘Monica is an outstanding junior – a hardworking and committed team member who is an absolute pleasure to work with.’
Ben GardnerQuadrant Chambers ‘A brilliant all-rounder and one of the best juniors, he is responsive, methodical and incisive, providing clarity of thought.’
Edward HoBrick Court Chambers ‘Ed is bright, articulate and very user-friendly. Meticulous and thoughtful, he will go on to great things.’
Malcolm JarvisTwenty Essex ‘Malcolm has a very good eye for detail and works quickly, providing definitive and clear advice. His advocacy is measured, precise and persuasive.’
Emma JonesOne Essex Court ‘A brilliant mind with an unmatched work ethic, Emma is also modest. Undoubtedly one of the top juniors in this area.’
Samar Abbas KazmiAtkin Chambers ‘Samar has great judgement, performs excellent legal analysis and has a huge capacity for hard work.’
Daniel Khoo 4 Pump Court ‘Daniel is a stellar junior who really stands out amongst his peers. He is extremely hard working and quick to pick up on the detail.’
Shourav LahiriAtkin Chambers ‘Shourav is meticulous and willing to go the extra mile to understand the technical issues that generally accompany construction arbitration.’
Alexander MacDonald7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Alex is incredibly bright and rolls up his sleeves to get into the weeds of the dispute. Yet he wears his intelligence lightly.’
Caroline PoundsQuadrant Chambers ‘Caroline is clever, patient and intellectually nimble – a super senior junior.’
Ben SareenKeating Chambers ‘Ben is highly intelligent, forensically-minded, across the detail and always calm and considered.’
Andrew Stevens4 Pump Court ‘Andrew is exceptionally bright and able to get to the nub of the issue quickly. He is a robust yet charming advocate that wins the trust of the judge with ease.’
James ThompsonKeating Chambers ‘Thorough, very bright and user friendly, James is excellent at getting into the detail and making robust arguments.’

Niranjan Venkatesan – One Essex Court ‘Niranjan is an extremely bright barrister who comes up with innovative solutions to legal problems, and is very hardworking and responsive.’

Andrew Feld – Twenty Essex ‘Absolutely excellent. A KC in the making. He is incredibly bright, on top of detail, responsive and user-friendly.’

Lauren Adams Atkin Chambers ‘Even in the company of silks Lauren will be the brightest person in the room. The speed with which she grasps the key issues of a matter is startling.’

Mischa BalenAtkin Chambers ‘Mischa is an excellent advocate – easy to work with and very smart indeed.’
Tariq Baloch 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Tariq is a thoughtful and persuasive advocate who is good at thinking outside the box and adopting an innovative approach.’
Joanne BoxBrick Court Chambers ‘A very effective barrister with excellent instincts, Jo is decisive and cuts to the heart of the matter.’
Peter BrogdenKeating Chambers ‘Peter is great with clients and talks to them in their language, but is also commercial, pragmatic and technically brilliant.’
Georges Chalfoun3 Verulam Buildings ‘George has a terrific grasp of detail while maintaining a clear view of the overall picture. He runs cases with an authority and efficiency well beyond his year of call.’
Michael Clark One Essex Court ‘Michael is a tenacious litigator who has fabulous industry knowledge. He is one to watch.’
Tom CoatesBlackstone Chambers ‘The interface between commercial practices and some areas of regulation are not well understood in the energy sector, but Tom gets it and provides well-reasoned, pragmatic advice.’
Nicholas CollingsAtkin Chambers ‘Nicholas is a great advocate, cool under pressure, very well spoken and unflappable.’
Stuart CribbEssex Court Chambers ‘Stuart is user-friendly, extremely responsive, and his written advocacy is clear and well thought-out. He is always on top of the facts and law.’
Henry EllisQuadrant Chambers ‘Henry is very calm, which is helpful for dealing with the client, and his predictions are accurate.’
Daniel Goodkin 4 Pump Court ‘Really hardworking, Daniel is a clinical and methodical cross-examiner, which can be deadly for the other side.’
Emma HealissKeating Chambers Emma gets to grips with complex and document-heavy matters quickly.’
Sandra Healy7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Sandra is personable and efficient. She grasps the issues and shows commercial awareness.’
Paul HentonQuadrant Chambers ‘Paul has a brilliant brain and always cuts to the heart of the issues. He is a hugely impressive junior.’
Daniel HubbardOne Essex Court ‘Daniel is always very flexible and accommodating, and on his feet he is very assured.’
Victoria Hutton – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Victoria has a calm, measured and considered style. She is a persuasive advocate who doesn’t need to resort to grandstanding to get her point across.’

Juan Lopez – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Juan has an unfathomable ability to rapidly understand complex issues and provide a clear way forward, and he is a pleasure to work with.’

Gemma MorganQuadrant Chambers ‘Gemma has great instincts as to the merits of a case and gets on top of a lot of material very quickly. She is a real fighter.’
Douglas PaineOne Essex Court ‘Douglas is extremely diligent and bright, and he is able to turn things around really quickly.’
Tom PascoeBrick Court Chambers ‘Tom strikes the valuable balance between being highly personable and able to give firm and robust advice. His standout quality is his impeccable attention to detail.’
Jason Robinson7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Easy to work with and very good on paper, Jason is increasingly popular and his advocacy is very authoritative for someone of his call.’
Michael Ryan7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Michael is incredibly bright and very approachable – a pleasure to work with.’
Robert Scrivener4 Pump Court ‘Robert’s worth ethic and attention to detail are exemplary. In cross-examination, his knowledge of the issues and evidence is a formidable challenge for any witness.’
Daniel Stedman Jones 39 Essex Chambers ‘Daniel brings energy and a great sense of humour to the team, as well as excellent analytical and drafting skills, and market knowledge.’
Charlotte ThomasBrick Court Chambers ‘Charlotte has the ability to be all over the factual details in a case at speed is very impressive, and she is willing to roll up her sleeves throughout both before and during trial.’
Alexander UffQuadrant Chambers ‘Alexander is a heavy hitter with a deep expertise in arbitration matters. He is a finely honed and compelling advocate, both orally and on paper.’
Mark Wassouf3 Verulam Buildings ‘An excellent barrister, really top-notch, Mark drafts very elegantly and is very impressive at cross-examination.’
Jennie WildKeating Chambers ‘Jennie has a real eye for detail and the intricacies of delay disputes.’
Ben WoolgarBrick Court Chambers ‘Ben’s razor-sharp advocacy cuts straight to the jugular.’

Rising Stars

Mathias CheungAtkin Chambers ‘Mathias has an incredible grasp of detail and is exceptionally hardworking.’
Max KasrielFountain Court Chambers ‘Max has a tireless work ethic, laser-like attention to detail and a command of the law befitting a silk. He rolls up sleeves and dives straight in.’

Energy in London Bar

4 Pump Court


4 Pump Court has ‘a culture of thoughtful, hard-worked advocacy’, and clients remark that it is ‘sharpest and most user-friendly of chambers’.  Particularly strong on matters concerning energy infrastructure, its members frequently handle cases involving the energy aspects of commercial and construction law, as well as disputes arising directly from large-scale energy projects. Their work is supported by the set’s experience in the related areas of technology and maritime law. Sean Brannigan KC acted for a Saudi Arabian state entity in a case concerning the construction of power infrastructure for the world’s largest phosphorus plant. Rachel Ansell KC acted for insurers in a claim brought by the owner and developer of a renewable energy plant under an Advance Loss of Revenue policy. Sanjay Patel KC, who acted for the claimants in Energy Works Hull v MW High Tech Projects UK, a high-value construction dispute related to the renewable energy sector, is among the set’s many prominent juniors.

Testimonials

‘Clerks room is very good and efficient – Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs in particular head up a great team.’

‘Great clerks team. Billy Griffiths, Steward Gibbs and Carl Wall are all very professional.’

‘Superb clerks – Paul Bloxham is to be commended for being very service minded and very responsive.’

‘The joint senior clerks – Stewart Gibbs and Carl Wall – are excellent. Very responsive but also able to propose barristers with the required skill set and approach that fits with my own practice.’

‘Stewart Gibbs at the top end and Bill Griffiths below him in the clerks team are masters at client service – they’re diplomatic, get the point immediately, remember your likes/dislikes and find solutions.’

‘The sharpest and most user-friendly chambers I work with. For construction, head and shoulders above most of the competition. Co-head of chambers Sean Brannigan KC, building on the legacy of his predecessors, sets a great tone that permeates all the way down from him to the most junior clerk. They are superbly easy to work with on even the toughest of cases.’

Led from the top, they have a culture of thoughtful, hard-worked advocacy. Some of the best barristers in the market across a wide range of complimentary practice areas.’

‘First class – by far the best set for construction and energy work.’

Work highlights














Keating Chambers


Keating Chambers principally focuses on construction projects but spans many markets, among them oil and gas, nuclear, energy-from-waste, windfarms, renewable energy, and mining. 2022 silk appointment Paul Buckingham KC, who isvery measured, and gives very clear non-nonsense advice’, specialises in major construction, energy and engineering disputes, particularly those involving international projects - he is currently acting for Surrey County Council in relation to a waste treatment and energy from waste facility in Shepperton, which has £205m in PFI credit funding from DEFRA. Simon Hughes KC is currently involved in a high-profile matter concerning the Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor, and turning to the set's juniors Tom Owen KC appeared as sole counsel for the defendants in Premier Engineering v MW High Tech Projects, a TCC matter final account dispute.

Testimonials

‘The service from the clerks at Keating is exceptional. They go the extra mile to support the legal team. Their admin and logistical support has proven invaluable over the years of working with them.’

‘It is great to see James Luxmoore promoted as we have worked with him for many years. The clerks are always very responsive and willing to work with challenging budgets to find the right fit of barrister for a case.’

‘The clerking team is superb, particularly James Luxmoore and Will Shrubsall who I have worked with for a long time. Their communication is excellent, and they know the practice from top to bottom, which makes it very easy to deal with them. Marie Sparkes is also fantastic from a marketing perspective.’

‘James Luxmoore and Will Shrubsall are very good senior clerks: responsive and helpful.’

‘The clerks are super helpful and attentive. Nothing is too much trouble – they answer all of my queries, make helpful recommendations and are commercial and sensible with regards to fees.’

‘Keating remains one of our go-to sets for high value infrastructure disputes in the Middle East.’

‘Keating Chambers have a strong set of barristers and are often our ‘go to’ for KCs and/or complex matters. The junior barristers are always of a high calibre.’

‘Keating are in my view the market leading  chambers in construction, energy and infrastructure disputes. They offer incredible strength in depth across levels of seniority and readily offer alternatives in the event that preferred barristers are unavailable. Keating are my first choice chambers when dealing with international disputes.’

Work highlights














One Essex Court


One Essex Court is ‘one of the super-sets with many barristers at many levels providing a great service’. Clients remark on its ‘good strength in depth, with an excellent choice of strong academic lawyers, energy specialists and brilliant advocates’. Regarded as the most prominent set for matters concerning oil and gas, coal, nuclear and electricity including hydropower, as well as renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biofuel and geothermal, the set is adept in pricing, regulatory and construction matters. Standout silk John McCaughran KC was recently instructed by Shell in relation to a dispute arising out of a gas sale agreement with British Gas. Sa’ad Hossain KC, who frequently appears in high-value High Court applications, trials and appeals concerning the energy sector, acted for Scottish Power Retail Holdings as defendant in a contractual claim material to the future development of power stations on a site owned by Drax. Notable juniors include Michael Watkins, who was recently instructed by BP, Shell and Esso in relation to a claim arising out of an agreement to provide security for decommissioning liabilities associated with the largest oil field in the North Sea.

Testimonials

‘The best clerked chambers in the UK.’

‘Professional and responsive.’

‘Excellent. Jackie Ginty is a star.’

‘One Essex Court have an excellent senior clerking team in Darren Burrows and Rob Smith. Both are excellent.’

‘The clerking is good. Indeed, one of the strongest clerking teams around. They are user-friendly with strong service standards. They are great to deal with and you feel like they are part of the team.’

‘One Essex Court is an excellent set. I routinely use a number of KCs, including senior and mid-level juniors. They have real strength in depth at all levels.’

‘One of the super-sets. Many barristers at many levels providing a great service.’

‘Very strong in relation to energy and oil & gas industry disputes expertise.’

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Atkin Chambers


Atkin Chambers is widely regarded as one of the leading energy construction sets, it is ‘very well known for its high-quality service’ in high-value matters spanning upstream and downstream oil and gas projects, conventional power stations, and newer technologies that are enabling energy transition. Its members frequently act for many of the world’s energy majors as well as national and local governments. Stephen Dennison KC is involved in a high-profile £133m claim by EWH arising from the termination of MW High Tech Projects UK Ltd in the construction of a waste to energy power plant in Hull. Increasingly prominent junior Shourav Lahiri frequently acts as an advocate in international construction and energy disputes in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Beijing and London for clients in East Asia, South Asia and the Gulf.

Testimonials

‘The clerks room is very good – Justin Wilson heads a great team, very efficient and good service.’

‘The clerks service is generally excellent. I especially refer to David Barnes, who always pays attention to the client and the instructing solicitors.’

 ‘The clerks service has been sound and prompt.’ 

‘Justin Wilson was outstanding, knowledgeable, responsive and exceptionally commercial showing just how important good clerking is to the overall relationship – not something we have the pleasure of seeing every day.’

‘Senior practice manager Andy Burrows is responsive and helpful.’

‘Great strength-in-depth. You always know you will get great quality.’

‘One of the biggest construction and energy sets, with a well-deserved reputation for being very good at work in those fields.’

‘The chambers is very well known for its high-quality service and I am satisfied with its performance.’

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Brick Court Chambers


Brick Court Chambers demonstrates remarkable depth and consistency, and is an intellectual powerhouse’. Members continue to be instructed in many of the most significant cases in the energy and natural resources sector, often crossing over with their other areas of expertise. Helen Davies KC and Charlotte Thomas are currently acting for Prysmian in respect of an application for CPO on behalf of all purchasers of electricity in UK in a cartel claim concerning the supply of high-voltage underground and submarine power cables used to connect on and offshore windfarms to the transmission system. New silk Richard Eschwege KC has a strong energy practice, with work spanning complex energy frauds and difficult questions of interpretation of oil and gas contracts.

Testimonials

‘The clerks provide an excellent, 21st century service. I think that Tony Burgess in particular is excellent. I think the clerks’ service is much better than some comparable sets, who are old-fashioned and can come across as somewhat inflexible and condescending, which does not seem like a sensible approach when dealing with multinational clients.’

‘Very good. They are responsive and easy to deal with.’

‘A very smooth operation led by Paul Dennison.’

‘Generally very good experience with the clerks who are helpful and pragmatic.’

‘The clerks are professional and pleasant.’

‘The set of chambers as a whole demonstrates remarkable depth and consistency. It is an intellectual powerhouse.’

‘They are a good if somewhat quirky set with many strong performers.’

‘We think Brick Court is excellent, with an impressive range of coverage.’

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Quadrant Chambers


Quadrant Chambersoffers an excellent roll call of lawyers at all levels of qualification with expertise in the shipping, commodities, energy and international arbitration space’. Energy is a key growth area for the set, within which the set focuses predominantly on the oil and gas industry, both upstream and downstream. Lionel Persey KC remains a go-to counsel and arbitrator in high-value energy disputes. ‘Extremely effective advocateSimon Rainey KC is ‘a joy to listen to and very quickly wins the confidence of judges and tribunals’. ‘Intelligent, succinct’ and increasingly popular junior Caroline Pounds acted for the claimant in Vitol S.A. v J.E. Energy Ltd, a Commercial Court dispute concerning the sale fuel oil on an FOB Tema/SE Ghana basis, which raised important issues around the terms and conditions in the contract of sale, including whether the claimant was under any obligation to load the fuel oil pending the provision of a letter of credit. After a four-day hearing the court decided in Vitol’s favour, providing useful guidance regarding the liability obligations of an FOB Buyer.

Testimonials

‘Clerks room is one of the best – Simon Slattery is personable, very efficient and know the market like the back of their hands.’

‘Great clerks: warm, open, friendly – operating a sensible commercial approach to fee discussions.’

‘Always helpful and responsive.’

‘Simon Slattery is a super star. He always has a keen eye on development opportunities and gives one a sense of being well-looked after.’

‘All of the clerks are very helpful and responsive. Simon Slattery stands out for the high quality of the service that he provides and has done consistently for many years. He leads the team very well. Daniel Westerman is another clerk who stands out and is very knowledgeable and helpful.’

‘Quadrant chambers offers an excellent roll call of lawyers at all levels of qualification with expertise in the shipping, commodities, energy and international arbitration space. They offer excellent value for money and the clerks are highly responsive and helpful.’

‘Quadrant has taken the market by storm; particularly in the energy space. They have fantastic barristers who are dynamic, diverse and have an incredible industry insight. This makes the events that I attend incredibly interesting, but also the ‘sell’ of a barrister at Quadrant to clients very easy.’

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39 Essex Chambers


39 Essex Chambers has ‘strength in depth and can cover the whole spectrum of public law with advocates at the top of their game at all levels’, in addition to the set's construction expertise. The energy and natural resources group handles high-profile domestic and international disputes in the oil and gas, nuclear, power generation and distribution, and renewables in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the UK. Stephen Tromans KC is known for his skill in disputes concerning waste from energy, renewables, nuclear, oil and gas, and energy regulation. He is currently acting for Sizewell C company on a DCO application for new nuclear power station and related permitting issues. Among the juniors, Jess Connors is sought-after for high-value TCC disputes. Daniel Stedman Jones is currently acting for a leading Norwegian multinational hydropower company, Statkraft AS, in an application for a solar farm in North Wales.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are very personable and responsive and go above and beyond to assist.’

‘The clerks are all very passionate and helpful, particularly with last minute and urgent requests.’

‘Always very helpful.’

‘The clerks are very helpful and always on hand to help.’

‘Fantastic. Harvey Scott goes the extra mile and super helpful. Working with him is a pleasure.’

‘The set now offers full service practice and cover a wide range of legal expertise. They do a lot of international legal work, and the counsel team is very user-friendly.’

‘The set is quite generalist which means they have barristers to fit most disputes. The depth of quality is impressive.’

‘The set has a superb reputation.’

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7 King's Bench Walk


7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘the market leader for complex energy insurance coverage disputes’, and one client remarks that the set has ‘strength in depth in this field not just at the silk level but also the senior juniors are very strong in this field’. The set’s energy practice dovetails neatly with its strong flow insurance and commodities work, and members have extensive expertise in oil and gas trading, exploration and exploitation disputes, and the licensing of oil and gas fields. David Allen KC recently acted for the defendant in Victoria Oil & Gas & Gaz Du Cameroun v Chanas Assurances, which concerned an alleged well-out-of-control incident in the Logbaba Gas Field, in the Douala Basin off the coast of Cameroon, raising questions of contractual construction. Alistair Schaff KC recently represented Ukrainian oil company Ukrnafta in a major enforcement action in Commercial Court involving complex issues of foreign laws and arbitral jurisdiction concerning enforcement of Swedish arbitration award against his client.

Testimonials

‘Efficient and effective.’ 

‘The best in the business. Gary Rose always makes my life easier.’

‘The clerks are very knowledgeable, Joe Clayton is a pleasure to deal with.’

‘The current team is efficient and friendly.’

‘Great set of clerks – Greg Leyden is very good in keeping in touch and keeping dialogues open.’

‘Good set with some very able juniors. Always available and very pleasant to work with.’

‘My go-to set in these areas. Everyone I have worked with has been excellent. Always a smooth and user-friendly experience instructing them.’

‘7KBW is the market leader for complex energy insurance coverage disputes and I therefore have great confidence in the juniors recommended by the leaders.’





Essex Court Chambers


For commercial litigation and international arbitration, Essex Court Chambers is ‘at the top of most people’s list: packed with talent’, and it has a strong standing in high-value energy disputes. The set is ‘a go-to on any complex dispute given the calibre of barristers, who are reliable, responsive and always liked by clients’. It has solidified its reputation as a full-service set in recent years, having added to its core strengths in arbitration and public international law, with energy and natural resources becoming a prominent part of many members’ practice. Graham Dunning KC was successful as lead counsel representing the Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Oil and Natural Resources, in respect of a claim for more than $1.5bn relating to change of control of two blocks under PSCs in Northern Iraq. In Cairn Energy PLC v The Republic of India, Anton Dudnikov is acting for a British company seeking to enforce a $1.7bn arbitral award against India.

Testimonials

‘Essex Court is at the top of most people’s list: packed with talent.’

‘Essex Court is a go-to on any complex dispute given the calibre of barristers. They are reliable and responsive and always liked by clients, while providing excellent advice.’

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Twenty Essex


Twenty Essex has ‘some of the best and broadest expertise in international trade, shipping and insurance, whether amongst skills and juniors’, and those skills see members increasingly involved in complex and high-value matters in the energy sector, particularly the oil and gas market. Their work also encompasses LNG, mining, drill and rig disputes, and there is a growing volume of work arising from the renewable energy sector and issues related to climate change and energy transition. Members couple industry-specific knowledge with expertise in financial, fraud and contractual disputes, as well as engineering and construction both onshore and offshore. David Lewis KC is an increasingly prominent presence in energy disputes, frequently acting for large trading houses in matters concerning price reviews and supply contracts. Michael Ashcroft KC recently acted for BP Oil in a $20m Commercial Court claim, BP Oil International Ltd v Vega Petroleum Ltd and Dover Investments Ltd, concerning the return of payments for 211,387 barrels of Gulf of Suez Mix crude oil that was, according to BP, never delivered from the Ras El Ush field in Egypt. Wendy Miles KC, who is best known for climate change matters, is also heavily involved in oil and gas disputes.

Testimonials

‘I have always found the clerks of Twenty Essex to be very fair in fixing brief fees and in pricing work generally. They have been able to advise me well on availability of barristers and in making alternative arrangements when there are issues of maternity or paternity leave.’

‘Excellent – Anthony Carroll is excellent in BD. Robert Wheeler – excellent.’

‘Chris Theobald is a straightforward and approachable clerk with whom frank commercial discussion is always on the agenda. He leads a clerk team that is always keen to help and keep me informed about workloads and timings.’

‘The clerks offer a very good service indeed; fast, responsive and friendly. I am always offered a number of good options for counsel and I find the clerks are willing to be sensible in fee negotiations.’

‘Twenty Essex provides impeccable client service.’

‘Twenty Essex is one of a cluster of first-rate chambers for commercial matters that I regularly use, so they are always front-of-mind for a new case.’

‘A first-class commercial set at the top of their game; my go-to for heavyweight commercial and international disputes.’

‘The set is my preferred set for commercial disputes; it has a deep bench of very good counsel at all levels and covering the full spectrum of commercial disciplines.’

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3 Verulam Buildings


3 Verulam Buildings is ‘an excellent set for international arbitration work’ and has ‘unrivalled bench-strength and a really strong group of juniors’, according to one client. Another notes that the set is ‘very responsive and able to produce and recommend counsel who are experts in the matters at hand’. The set continues to grow its presence in energy and natural resources disputes, particularly those that concern financing and commercial contracts, insurance and international arbitration. Its work covers all forms of arbitration and litigation concerning the energy market, and arises from a range of sectors, among them oil, gas, renewables, hydroelectric, nuclear and mining. The most prominent silk is Christopher Harris KC, who is currently representing claimant investors in an ICSID arbitration against Bosnia concerning government measures against two hydroelectric power plant projects on the Vrbas river.

Testimonials

‘Clerks are responsive and understand client concerns and timing issues.’

‘First-rate clerking.’

‘Pretty solid clerking.’ 

‘Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are brilliant senior clerks. Among the best in the top sets.’

‘Very good – one of the best.’

‘Excellent set with a lot of skills.’

‘3VB is very responsive and are able to produce and recommend counsel who are experts in the matters at hand. Counsel are excellent generally and vailable at the client’s convenience. Turnaround time is excellent without any delays.’

‘3VB has built excellent bench strength with respect to Middle Eastern commercial disputes.’

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Blackstone Chambers


Blackstone Chambers has ‘great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level, for energy regulation and other related areas of public law’. Members are ‘all super-bright and good to deal with’. Best known for public law matters, the set also handles a broad range of specialist energy and natural resources work concerning commercial, regulatory and environmental matters. Hanif Mussa KC continues to build a strong reputation following his appointment to silk in 2022 - he successfully acted for acting for National Grid and its subsidiaries in their appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority against a multibillion-pound price control set by Ofgem in respect of the gas and electricity sectors.

Testimonials

‘Extremely helpful. I’ve had excellent service over the years from Dean Tolman and Adam Sloane in particular.’

‘Efficient and reliable. Easy to work with.’

‘I’ve used Blackstone for various energy matters (with a public law slant) over the last 12 years or so. Always high-quality.’

‘The set as a whole covers the range of public and regulatory areas we would expect from a leading set of Chambers in this area.’

‘Blackstone has great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level, for energy regulation and other related areas of public law.’

‘Highly regarded chambers for public law. All super-bright and good to deal with.’

Work highlights