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Energy

1
One Essex Court
2
4 Pump Court
Atkin Chambers
Brick Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers
Keating Chambers
Quadrant Chambers
3
39 Essex Chambers
7 King’s Bench Walk
Twenty Essex
4
3 Verulam Buildings
Blackstone Chambers

Leading Silks

1
Sean Brannigan KC –4 Pump Court ‘Very thorough and user-friendly, he knows exactly what needs to be done and gives robust and solution-focused advice.’
Stephen Dennison KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Very astute and great with clients, he provides excellent advocacy and is great at thinking outside of the box.’
Lord Grabiner KC – One Essex Court ‘If you came to him for an expert with a definitive view, that is what you get.’
Mark Howard KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘He has this amazing ability to cut through the fiendishly complex, making the fundamentals of a case seem almost childishly simple.’
Paul Key KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘He is approachable and very well connected in the international arbitration world, having good knowledge of rules and customs.’
John McCaughran KC –One Essex Court ‘A real team player, he is incredibly bright and crystal clear in his thinking, and his advocacy is both measured and understated.’
Lionel Persey KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘Probably the first choice when the case will turn on cross-examination of technical experts because he has a deadly combination of authority and experience.’
Laurence Rabinowitz KC –One Essex Court ‘A star performer of the energy bar, his insight is second to none, and clients appreciate his vast knowledge and experience.’
Simon Rainey KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘He is incredibly clever and picks up the details of huge cases with absolute ease provides a clear path forward.’
David Streatfeild-James KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Smart and focused, he is the most able of the construction Bar, he knows how to persuade tribunals.’
Andrew White KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is able to condense and synthesise complex factual and legal disputes to distil the key issues, and his vast international arbitration experience gives him unmatched insight into the tribunal's thinking.’
2
David Allen KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He knows the energy industry and the commercial and legal issues that it faces exceptionally well, and his written advice is clear, concise and just what clients want.’
Veronique Buehrlen KC –Keating Chambers ‘Her ability to untangle convoluted technical, delay and quantum issues and present them in a clear and unambiguous style is genuinely impressive.’
Stuart Catchpole KC  –Atkin Chambers ‘A fearsome advocate, renowned for his attention to detail, preparation and devastating cross-examination, he is a great team player with commercial and strategic insight.’
Alain Choo Choy KC –One Essex Court ‘Clear, approachable and strategic, he is very experienced and concise with his advice in oral and written form.’
Simon Croall KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘Highly responsive and with a clear and digestible written style, he is a good strategist who is easy to work with.’
Helen Davies KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘A very strong advocate, very user-friendly and responsive, she is among the most respected and sought-after counsel around.’
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC –Atkin Chambers 'Very through, with no airs, she will roll up her sleeves and muck in with the team.’
Vernon Flynn KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Responsive and industrious, he his audience extremely well and is able to convey complex legal arguments in a clear and concise manner.’
Alexander Gunning KC –One Essex Court ‘He is conscientious, always on top of the detail and able to master the most technical expert issues, and his unrelenting logic and mastery of the detail makes him highly effective.’
Simon Hughes KC –Keating Chambers ‘A very effective oral advocate, he appreciates and understands the client's business considerations and has a thorough but pragmatic approach regarding winning strategies.’
Alan Maclean KC –Blackstone Chambers ‘With complete mastery of general public law principles and a good understanding of the industry, he is good at making clients understand the strengths and weaknesses of their case.’
David Mildon KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘Extremely knowledgeable about the oil and gas sector, he is collegiate in his dealings with the Tribunal.’
Jeffery Onions KC –One Essex Court ‘He has first-rate analytical skills and an ability to set out clear advice from reviewing significantly large amount of factual material.’
Sean O'Sullivan KC –4 Pump Court ‘Extremely bright but also pragmatic and approachable, he has an uncanny ability of keeping Tribunals on-side and keeping the bigger picture in mind.’
Luke Parsons KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘A top go-to barrister for knotty, complex claims, he is excellent not only in written work, but also in his advocacy.’
Andrew Rigney KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Happy to roll his sleeves up, he is extremely bright and grasps the technical detail of energy disputes incredibly quickly, and his advocacy is impressive.’
Alistair Schaff KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He is regarded as one of the doyens of the insurance and reinsurance bar with justification, his experience is massive and his tactical knowledge and advocacy skills are second to none.’
David Thomas KC –Keating Chambers ‘He is decisive and clear in his advice, but also collaborative in his approach, and great at understanding the best strategy.’
Daniel Toledano KC –One Essex Court ‘A deep thinker on all legal issues with an acute ability to find the right answer, he is an extremely effective advocate and reads the court well.’
Stephen Tromans KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘He is head and shoulders above any other silk on nuclear and environment matters.’
Sean Wilken KC –Keating Chambers ‘Incredibly clever and also very commercial, he is a superb leader who drives cases forward by paving a clear path and concentrating on important issues.’
3
Rachel Ansell KC –4 Pump Court ‘She is a persuasive advocate and an impressive operator who immerses herself in the detail and thinks strategically.’
Michael Ashcroft KC –Twenty Essex ‘He is incredibly meticulous, calm and organised, and remains polite and yet immovable in his advocacy, unaffected by any opposing barristers’ antics.’
Simon Birt KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Incredibly authoritative and persuasive, he has a knack for taking the judge with him when presenting submissions.’
Stephen Cogley KC – 4 Pump Court ‘A vigorous advocate who fights exceptionally hard for the client, assimilates huge volumes of information and processes it effectively to deliver the necessary results.’
Anneliese Day KC –Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is incredibly user-friendly and clients love her because she inspires confidence and has amazing advocacy skills.’
Nicholas Dennys KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He uses his experience to his client's benefit by thinking about and working the problem, and he has a very rare ability to find new lines to take.’
Graham Dunning KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘He is polite, well-prepared and has sensible and incisive questions.’
Jonathan Gaisman KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘One of the leading commercial advocates of his generation, he prepares meticulously and is able to make the court listen in the most difficult cases.’
Lucy Garrett KC –Keating Chambers ‘An excellent oral and written advocate, with a relatively relaxed cross-examination, she develops all of the commercial issues essential for energy-related work.’
Karim Ghaly KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘A real brain, incisive, incredibly quick to grasp the issues and able to articulate his views precisely and convincingly.’
Alan Gourgey KC –Wilberforce Chambers ‘A top commercial silk who is great on the law, shows fantastic judgement and is a terrific advocate.’
Charles Graham KC –One Essex Court ‘Very thorough in his analysis, he is able to come up with novel arguments to address complex problems and is a very strong cross-examiner.’
Christopher Harris KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is all things energy but so much more - very clever, a wonderful advocate, approachable, accessible, quick on his feet - he is the best there is.’
Alexander Hickey KC –4 Pump Court ‘He is quick on his feet and combines incisive advocacy with an unrivalled ability to grasp the bigger picture.’
Stephen Hofmeyr KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He is very learned in the law, providing excellent research and written advice.’
Sa’ad Hossain KC – One Essex Court ‘Very quick to grasp the issues and provide concise and clear advice on complex matters leading to good outcomes for the client.’
Timothy Howe KC –Fountain Court Chambers ‘Extremely diligent and highly persuasive, he is a pleasure to work with.’
James Howells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is particularly good on the technical detail of complex disputes, and carries out effective cross-examination.’
Daniel Jowell KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘One of the leading lights of the energy Bar, especially on the regulatory and competition side, he has a first-class intellect, is very good with clients and is is superb in court.’
Charles Kimmins KC –Twenty Essex ‘He provides clear thinking and careful examination of the issues and of the merits of arguments and counterarguments.’
David Lewis KC –Twenty Essex ‘An accessible and very user-friendly silk who rolls up his sleeves and fights the client's corner from the outset, he is superbly well-prepared, robust and persuasive.’
Simon Lofthouse KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is very focused, his cross-examination is ruthless, and he picks up on small details that others may miss.’
Tim Lord KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘With justifiable status as a legend of the Bar, he is a brilliant advocate and a supreme strategist.’
Hodge Malek KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘A master strategist and a calm and measured advocate, he is completely unflappable and his intelligence is unmatched at the Bar.’
Harry Matovu KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘He lives and breathes the cases, with a superb legal and analytical mind, and his advocacy skills are through the roof.’
Duncan Matthews KC –Twenty Essex ‘He is extremely bright and his advocacy is very persuasive.’
Manus McMullan KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A superior advocate with excellent judgment and a first-rate legal mind, his cross-examinations are incisive and powerful.’
Alexander Nissen KC –Keating Chambers ‘One of the most thorough construction silks out there, he will get to the bottom of every issue before pleading a position comprehensively and robustly.’
Dominique Rawley KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A very bright barrister with great experience and knowledge of the energy sector, she can handle the toughest energy cases and deliver the best result.’
Thomas Sharpe KC –One Essex Court ‘A charming guru with unrivalled breadth and depth of knowledge and experience on energy regulation, he is great at seeing the big picture.’
Nigel Tozzi KC –4 Pump Court ‘Despite his seniority, he is very matter of fact and approachable, and he is willing to be challenged and take on board others' views.’
Steven Walker KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Steven has an excellent mind and is one of the very best around for PFI and energy matters - good on strategy and excellent in front of clients.’
4
Charles Banner KC –Keating Chambers ‘An undoubted intellect who quickly understanding a problem and offers solutions.’
Michael Bools KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘His geniality makes him a real pleasure to work with and he is a calm and charming advocate, but he has a razor-sharp intellect, deep knowledge of the law and a healthy appetite for success.’
James Brocklebank KC –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Incredibly bright but with an incredible work ethic, his advocacy is clear and concise, and he is respected by his peers and judges alike.’
David Brynmor Thomas KC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Very experienced and clear-thinking, he is good on strategy and has an incisive way of getting to the heart of a problem.’
Serena Cheng KC –Atkin Chambers 'Her key strength is her analysis of the law.’
Nigel Cooper KC - Quadrant Chambers ‘Nigel is incredibly reliable and a deceptively strong advocate who is always well-prepared and never gets fazed.’
Nicholas Craig KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘A fantastic team player, he is completely lacking in bombast. He builds consensus for his strategy, and advises with care, clarity and composure.’
Gerry Facenna KC - Monckton Chambers
Orlando Gledhill KC –One Essex Court ‘A senior silk who treats every case with the enthusiasm and precision as if it was his first and never misses a beat.’
Alec Haydon KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘He is very thorough, leaving no stone unturned to give clear and practical commercial recommendations.’
Siobán Healy KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘She provides thorough and meticulous analysis and can see issues from the client’s side, the solicitors’ side and also the tribunal’s side.’
Timothy Hill KC –Twenty Essex ‘A first-rate silk at the commercial Bar, his advocacy is of the highest order, and he is a superb cross-examiner.’
Philippa Hopkins KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘She has a pragmatic, clear, straightforward and calm approach but will never leave a weakness unexposed, and she is a relentless cross-examiner of experts.’
Adrian Hughes KC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Adrian has an impressive energy practice and his advocacy is first-class.’
James Leabeater KC –4 Pump Court ‘He has exceptional skill in relation to complex cross-border construction disputes, and is particularly good at unravelling complex matters.’
Christopher Lewis KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He provides practical advice on complex issues, recognising the commercial priorities of the client.’
Ali Malek KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘In addition to his formidable substantive legal skills, he has a remarkable ability to think laterally and to distil complex issues to an easily conveyed main point.’
Lynne McCafferty KC –4 Pump Court ‘Her biggest strength is her ability to quickly analyse complex technical issues and then distil them into clear, concise terms, both in her written advice and her oral advocacy.’
Stephen Midwinter KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘He has great judgment and intellect, and he is a very strong writer and a savvy advocate.’
Vincent Moran KC –Keating Chambers 'He is proving himself to be a real heavyweight in the market , and his preparation is direct, meticulous and relevant.’
Fiona Parkin KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Popular with clients, her confident advocacy is always supported by her meticulous attention to detail.’
Conall Patton KC –One Essex Court ‘A gifted cross-examiner, he has excellent analytical skills and drafts very persuasively.’
Fionn Pilbrow KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘A charismatic performer, in and out of court, he has an elegant and expressive oral style with very sound judgment.’
Philip Riches KC – Twenty Essex ‘He is hardworking and creative, with an ability to get to grips quickly with complex factual matters.’
John Russell KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘A highly gifted advocate with a natural flair, he has oodles of charm with clients, arbitrators and judges alike.’
Chris Smith KC - Quadrant Chambers ‘He has a very commercial, pragmatic and client-friendly approach, and is quick to understand the issues.’
James Strachan KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘A force of nature in the court room and glacially cool in his delivery, he has a fierce intellect and a real killer instinct.’
Marcus Taverner KC –Keating Chambers ‘Always helpful and efficient, he is highly experienced and an excellent case manager.’
Nicholas Vineall KC –4 Pump Court ‘Excellent on his feet and very thorough in his preparation, he is calm, wise and a stellar advocate.’

2021 Silks

Mark Chennells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is very good at getting into the detail of a case whilst keeping an eye on the overall strategy, and his advocacy skills are very good.’
Laurence Emmett KC –One Essex Court ‘He has an excellent legal mind, and is both insightful and commercial.’
Andrew Fulton KC –Twenty Essex ‘With his insight and the clarity of his advice on the trickiest of issues, he is exceptionally hardworking and a great team leader.’
Gwion Lewis KC – Landmark Chambers ‘A lateral thinker who is very well organised and precise in his submissions and his handling of the evidence.’
James McClelland KC - Brick Court Chambers ‘James has great ability to distil and analyse arguments, and he inspires great confidence that no stone is being left unturned for the client's case.’
Iain Quirk KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘Very approachable and responsive, he adopts a light touch where required, but gets more involved when necessary.’
Samuel Townend KC –Keating Chambers ‘Considered and clear-thinking, he quickly grasps complex multi-faceted matters.’
Crispin Winser KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘He is extremely intelligent, quick and efficient, and his advocacy style is calm, measured but forceful when necessary.’

2022 Silks

Lucas Bastin KC –Essex Court Chambers ‘He shows good judgement and strategy, is great on his feet, and particularly good on cross-examination.’
Rupert Choat KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is helpful and patient, accommodating urgent requests for help, and he is quick to explain aspects of complex supporting evidence.’
Calum Lamont KC –Keating 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 ‘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 KC –4 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.’

Leading Juniors

1
Siddharth Dhar –Essex Court Chambers ‘His depth of knowledge is mighty impressive, as is the cool judgment which he brings when deploying that expertise.’
Anton Dudnikov –Essex Court Chambers ‘He is extremely capable and easy to work with, grasps issues quickly and has the ability to explain them in lucid fashion.’
Richard Eschwege –Brick Court Chambers 'He should be on everyone’s list as a senior junior of choice because he is able to digest vast amounts of material at short notice and produce excellent and comprehensive arguments.’
Nicholas Sloboda –One Essex Court ‘Clever and articulate, he gets right to the heart of the matter and is both a good tactician and a great team player.’
2
Paul Buckingham –Keating Chambers ‘He is very user-friendly and the quality of his written work is superb.’
Jess Connors –39 Essex Chambers ‘Jess works extremely hard, is tenacious, and will strive to get on top of a complicated project and programming matrix.’
Thomas Crangle –4 Pump Court ‘A reasoned and compelling advocate, both in his written work and when on his feet, he has a calm and measured approach which inspires confidence.’
Simon Crawshaw –Atkin Chambers ‘He has a fantastic ability to digest complex issues quickly and not get bogged down by emotion but see a best path to resolution.’
Jane Davies Evans –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Very good on the construction-related elements of upstream energy work, she delivers very good written advocacy.’
Thomas Lazur –Keating Chambers ‘He has excellent and personable manner with clients and is a very bright and able advocate.’
Kate Livesey –4 Pump Court ‘A first-choice junior who is very clever, very hardworking, thinks carefully about her cases and wants to win!’
Gerard Rothschild –Brick Court Chambers ‘A brilliant draftsman and a model junior counsel, he has enormous experience and expertise in energy disputes, particular those in the regulatory and competition law arenas.’
Nehali Shah –One Essex Court ‘She is immensely diligent, incisive, commercial and user-friendly, and she grips the knottiest facts and legal points quickly to get straight to the nub of an issue.’
Paul Wee – Essex Court Chambers ‘An outstanding senior junior who is user-friendly, phenomenally hardworking and exceedingly bright.’
3
Paul Bury –Keating Chambers ‘He has an impressive memory and is able to assimilate and recall all of the intricate details of a case to provide innovative strategic advice.’
Patrick Clarke –Atkin Chambers ‘He has excellent interpersonal skills, which are really handy when you are working under pressure, and demonstrates great advocacy skills.’
Owain Draper –One Essex Court ‘He is a future star – composed, unflustered, bright and responsive.’
Edward Ho –Brick Court Chambers ‘He has a keen eye for detail and he has the formidable advocacy skills to poke significant holes in the other side’s case.’
Malcolm Jarvis –Twenty Essex ‘He is highly competent and experienced, and he possesses in-depth knowledge in respect of difficult legal issues and provides excellent advice.’
Emma Jones –One Essex Court ‘A total superstar, absolutely brilliant and destined for the top, she has the makings of an excellent and calm advocate.’
Samar Abbas Kazmi –Atkin Chambers ‘A total star, very good with clients, he is bright and works extremely hard.’
Ciaran Keller –Essex Court Chambers ‘He cuts to the heart of the case and provides clear, precise advice, and he is a fantastic strategist with a great feel for how a Court will react to an argument.’
Alexander MacDonald –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A phenomenally talented and hardworking barrister, he always gets to the heart of his cases and his understanding of the detail, as well as the law, is quite outstanding.’
Emily Neill –Blackstone Chambers ‘Emily works well under pressure and can turn over documents very quickly, being all over complex regulations and statutes, which she distils with ease.’
Tom Owen –Keating Chambers ‘Tom is fantastically tenacious and very client-friendly, and he will battle every point where a lot of Counsel would simply give up.’
Sanjay Patel –4 Pump Court ‘A good advocate who is very energetic, excellent on the law and great with clients.’
Caroline Pounds –Quadrant Chambers ‘She handles a lot of energy work concerning infrastructure and contractual disputes, and is extremely thorough and persuasive.’
Gaurav Sharma –Quadrant Chambers ‘He has encyclopaedic knowledge of the oil and gas sector, and is exceptionally bright, excellent at strategizing, and speaks the language of the industry.’
Duncan Sinclair –39 Essex Chambers ‘Highly knowledgeable in energy regulation and law, his provides clear and concise advice.’
James Thompson –Keating Chambers ‘Having worked on some of the biggest energy disputes, he and has been instrumental in delivering results for clients.’
Michael Watkins – One Essex Court ‘He is an excellent, impressive and thoroughly modern barrister whose submissions are clear and focused.’
4
Mischa Balen –Atkin Chambers ‘His written advocacy is compelling, and he is rightly feared as an opponent.’
Joanne Box –Brick Court Chambers ‘Jo should not be underestimated, she is fiercely intelligent and a great advocate.’
Peter Brogden –Keating Chambers ‘Peter knows the cases inside out and is technically leagues above others, and his cross-examinations are terrifyingly probing for the fact witnesses and experts.’
Georges Chalfoun –3 Verulam Buildings ‘He has a probing eye and an insatiable appetite for detail, making him a perfect companion in the trenches of hard-fought litigation.’
Michael Clark – One Essex Court ‘A brilliant senior junior, he is immediately responsive and completely across his brief, providing advice that is clear and useful.’
Tom Coates –Blackstone Chambers ‘Tom is simply excellent - extremely thorough in his advice, full of practical solutions and a talented advocate.’
Nicholas Collings –Atkin Chambers ‘The perfect senior junior, he provides clear, concise advice and is a good strategic thinker.’
Stuart Cribb –Essex Court Chambers ‘Stuart always goes the extra mile, he is very hard working and the quality of his written documents is excellent.’
Henry Ellis – Quadrant Chambers ‘A very capable junior who can hold his ground and be utterly unfazed.’
Joseph England –Quadrant Chambers ‘The complete package, his advice is precise, thoughtful and practical, and always takes account of the broader strategic picture.’
Ben Gardner –Quadrant Chambers ‘Highly intelligent, diligent, user-friendly, and a really nice guy.’
Daniel Goodkin – 4 Pump Court ‘Daniel can always be relied upon to not buckle under pressure or unexpected case developments but instead to devise a responsive strategy with a very cool head.’
Sandra Healy –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Sandra provides excellent user-friendly advice and is someone that you want in your corner for complex cases.’
Paul Henton –Quadrant Chambers ‘He is very efficient and effective, giving very clear and concise advice on the complex issues which turn a case.’
Daniel Hubbard –One Essex Court ‘Daniel is very good at getting to grips with details quickly and is a brilliant technical lawyer who is willing to roll up his sleeves.’
Victoria Hutton - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Excellent both on advisory work and as an advocate, she communicates crisply and very effectively.’
Simon Kerr –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A strong junior with broad experience in everything from power to oil and gas.’
Daniel Khoo - 4 Pump Court 'A brilliant junior whose work is tireless and he is completely committed.'
Shourav Lahiri –Atkin Chambers ‘Shourav is very quick to get up to speed with the matter, a good strategist, and a clear, concise and confident advocate.’
Gemma Morgan –Quadrant Chambers ‘Very good with clients, quick to gain their trust and confidence, she is bright and able to grasp the key elements of the case within a short period of time.’
Douglas Paine –One Essex Court ‘Douglas fits seamlessly into a large team, his written advocacy is strong, and his cross-examination belies his seniority.’
Tom Pascoe –Brick Court Chambers ‘He grapples with the technical and legal issues, tackling each task with enthusiasm and consistently delivering work of the highest standard.’
Jason Robinson –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Extremely intelligent and able to quickly grasp and assess the issues at hand, he delivers excellent written advocacy.’
Michael Ryan –7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Michael is knowledgeable, razor-sharp and an excellent junior in this field.’
Ben Sareen –Keating Chambers ‘A top-pick senior junior for a complex energy case, he is intelligent, hardworking and able to think out of the box.’
Robert Scrivener –4 Pump Court ‘Very bright, commercial and user-friendly, he takes little time to develop a great command of the detail.’
Daniel Stedman Jones - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Daniel has very sound judgement and a very good grip on detail both of law and facts, as well as being reliable as an advocate.’
Andrew Stevens –4 Pump Court ‘Andrew is very personable, efficient and knowledgeable, and he is able to get up to speed with the matter quickly.’
Alexander Uff –Quadrant Chambers ‘Alexander is outstanding - extremely sharp, strategic and practical – and his presentation is clear and compelling.’
Jennie Wild –Keating Chambers ‘She is extremely intelligent, well prepared, detailed and persuasive in argumentation, and her demeanour tends to move the bench in her direction.’
Ben Woolgar –Brick Court Chambers ‘He bears all the hallmarks of becoming one of the great barristers of his time – he is analytical, commercial when needed and his advocacy skills are second to none.’

Rising Stars

Mathias Cheung –Atkin Chambers ‘Mathias is extremely smart, hardworking, and a very quick study, which allows him to get up to speed in short order and make himself indispensable to his client.’
Emma Healiss –Keating Chambers ‘Straight-talking and confident, she knows the details, thinks outside the box and deals with questions competently.’
Max Kasriel –Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is incredibly bright and gets on top of the issues extremely quickly, and his writing is brilliant.’
Charlotte Thomas –Brick Court Chambers ‘She has very strong analytical ability, never misses a trick, and provides with practical and commercial advice.’
Mark Wassouf –3 Verulam Buildings ‘A top-tier junior for complex commercial disputes, he is a composed and astute advocate who gives thoroughly considered advice.’

Energy in London Bar

One Essex Court

‘One of the super-sets, with a barrister for every case’, One Essex Court ‘has huge strength and depth and is at the top of the tree’. Members’ work spans a vast range of relevant industries, including water, oil and gas, coal, nuclear and electricity including hydropower, as well as renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, bio-fuel and geothermal. Members are frequently engaged directly by domestic and international energy companies, their expertise encompasses a detailed understanding of the complex contracts, joint venture agreements and regulation affecting those clients. Standout silk John McCaughran KC was instructed by Shell International UK Limited in relation to a high-value dispute arising out of a gas sale agreement between with British Gas Trading Limited. Laurence Rabinowitz KC, who is ‘one of the leading silks at the Commercial Bar’, acted for TAQA in a £150m+ dispute arising out of joint operating and decommissioning agreements concerning interests in a number of oil and gas fields in the UK continental shelf. Prominent junior Nicholas Sloboda, who ‘gets right to the heart of the matter and is a good tactician’, acted for Aker BP in ConocoPhillips v Aker BP, one of the first gas price review cases to be heard in court.

Testimonials

Set

‘One Essex Court has huge strength and depth.’

‘One of the super-sets.  A barrister for every case!’

‘An excellent range of barristers of top quality.’

Clerking

‘I dealt with two clerks, Jade Cassell and Jack Miller. Both were very pleasant to deal with and both were competent.’

‘David Amdor continues to impress with his top notch service.’

‘The clerks are excellent, Rob Smith and Jack Miller in particular.’

‘Good quality clerking from one of the super-sets.’

‘Responsive and helpful.’

 

4 Pump Court

4 Pump Court is ‘user-friendly and unpretentious, with a strong energy team, especially for upstream work and in the offshore arena’. The set has ‘a high reputation in this area and has lots of members with wide expertise’. It has particularly strong expertise in energy infrastructure matters, drawing on vast experience in related areas such as construction and engineering, shipping, insurance and professional negligence. Its members, among them standout silk Sean Brannigan KC, act for energy companies, engineers, funders, governments, operators and sub-contractors in an advisory capacity and as advocates in all forms of dispute resolution in the UK and internationally. Brannigan represented a large construction management firm in claims and counterclaims with a value in excess of $650m arising from the design and construction of the world’s largest single-phase petrochemical plant in the Middle East. Prominent silk Sean O'Sullivan KC handled the hard fought dispute BP v Galtrade, concerning the consequences of a delivery of off-spec fuel oil in the context of complex blending operations. Outstanding junior Thomas Crangle acted in a TCC dispute between Seflam and Nigerstar relating to the upgrade of a major oil pipeline on the Nigerian coast.

Testimonials

Set

‘Good – lots of members with wide expertise.  Good for IT, construction and energy.’

‘They have a great track record in energy cases and have some of the leading counsel in this area.’

‘Many good construction and engineering counsel are at these chambers.’

‘A sound commercial set with a broad range of expertise.’

‘A great set, good offering for construction and energy at all levels.’

Clerking

‘Good, especially Stewart Gibbs.’

‘Excellent, always responsive and helpful.’

‘Niki Merison is highly reliable and will always produce the goods.’

‘Stewart Gibbs and Carl Wall are great senior clerks and the service generally is very good and they are transparent about peoples availability.’

‘Always courteous and responsive and will go the extra mile to lighten the solicitors burden.’

Work highlights

    Atkin Chambers

    Atkin Chambers 'has an excellent offering of construction and engineering counsel both at junior and senior levels’, with ‘incredible strength in depth'. The 'very professional and responsive set' ’s presence in this space comes from handling disputes arising construction projects in the energy and natural resources sector, the set’s work covers upstream and downstream oil and gas, coal-fired and nuclear power stations, and renewable energy projects including solar, wind, hydro and biofuels, as well as projects in the nuclear industry. Stephen Dennison KC and James Howells KC continued to act in one of the largest LMAA arbitrations by value and hearing length of the last couple of years relating to offshore construction. The highly respected David Streatfeild-James KC is currently handling major disputes in the LNG sector. Among its strong roster of juniors, Simon Crawshaw stands out. He is currently acting unled in disputes concerning onshore and offshore wind projects. Patrick Clarke has a well-established energy practice and has been heavily involved in a major oil and gas construction dispute in Central Asia.

    Testimonials

    Set

    ‘A very professional and responsive set of chambers.’

    ‘Atkin Chambers have incredible strength-in depth.’

    ‘Atkin Chambers is one of my go to chambers for technical offshore disputes.’

    ‘The set has an excellent offering of construction and engineering counsel both at junior and senior levels.’

    ‘Atkins are one of the go-to chambers for construction matters and have a strong reputation for excellence.’

    Clerking

    ‘David Barnes is especially helpful, prompt and a very professional CEO and Director of Clerking.’

    ‘David Barnes was always incredibly responsive and helpful with matters of availability and billing, in particular when procedural timetable changes necessitate adjustments to fee arrangements.’

    ‘Andrew Burrows is extremely thorough, helpful and available. I really enjoyed interacting with him.’

    ‘Justin Wilson – exceptional on every level.’

    ‘Always very helpful. Andy Burrows and Rob Bryant in particular provide great service and a quick response.’

    Brick Court Chambers

    Brick Court Chambers is ‘a top-tier all-round commercial set and its strength in depth is unrivalled’ that ‘has a wealth of experience in the energy sector and in judicial review and administrative law matters’. Prominent silk Mark Howard KC‘s busy energy and natural resources practice spans offshore construction disputes as well as contentious oil and gas supply matters. In Arcadia Group v Bosworth, he is representing claimants – oil trading companies owned by shipping billionaire John Fredriksen – who allege that they have been defrauded by former management and traders and are seeking $400m in damages. Helen Davies KC is another star performer and her work in Blue Power Group & Ors v Eni Norge & Ors saw her act for the defendant in a $500m damages claim for alleged breach of contract concerning the development and supply of a new technology for the compression and transportation of gas from a large field in the Barents Sea. Standout junior Richard Eschwege’s caseload ranges from ranges from complex energy frauds to difficult questions of interpretation in oil and gas contracts. He is acting unled for the two principal defendants in Alta Trading v Bosworth, a $330m civil fraud claim involving oil trading in West Africa.

    Testimonials

    Set

    ‘Very much a premium set offering a premium service.  They probably have the greatest concentration of top-level silks within the commercial bar.’

    ‘An extremely strong set in all core areas.’

    ‘I hold Brick Court in high regard. Service-minded like a 5 star hotel. Excellent availability and although I do not know the details of their training programme it bears all the signs of a first-rate one.’

    ‘A top-tier all-round commercial set. I have instructed several barristers from this chambers on recent significant mandates.’

    ‘Brick Court definitely deserve their reputation as a top-flight chambers.’

    Clerking

    ‘Tony Burgess is an industry leader and strong contact for the firm – he knows all instructions large and small are crucial to the client and always wants to ensure we get the right people on the right cases.  He will happily volunteer if other sets have better options for a case, which helps build trust.’

    ‘Paul Dennison runs a tight ship and Phil Wilkes is excellent – a top-rate clerking team.’

    ‘Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess are always very helpful, responsive, understanding of client needs and practical.  Sensible on fee negotiations.’

    ‘The clerks were superb, particularly Tony Burgess who found us a silk and a junior with energy sector experience. This was particularly impressive as we needed a team with a lot of availability, at short notice, during the summer!’

    ‘The clerks are responsive and efficient.’

    Work highlights

      Essex Court Chambers

      Essex Court Chambers is ‘without question a go-to set when you have a difficult issue’, particularly in ‘high-value, frighteningly complex multi-jurisdictional energy disputes’. It has a long-standing practice in large-scale energy litigation, building on the synergy with its market-leading practice in international commercial arbitration, and its members have notable expertise in cases concerning gas pricing, production sharing agreements and joint operating agreements. Paul Key KC successfully represented Petrochemical Holdings in its $2bn+ claim against Romania arising out of a dispute as to redevelopment of petrochemicals plants. David Mildon KC has in-depth knowledge of solar feed-in tariffs, renewables obligation, contracts for differences in the electricity market, and Graham Dunning KC was lead counsel in Dynasty v Kurdistan Regional Government & Hawrami, which concerned a $1.5bn claim concerning change of control of two blocks under production sharing contracts in the eponymous autonomous area in the north of Iraq. Outstanding junior Siddharth Dhar acted for P&ID in seeking to enforce a $9.5bn award against Nigeria in respect of a failed gas project.

      Testimonials

      Set

      ‘I am consistently impressed by Essex Court.  Everyone I have worked with there is very intelligent and hard working.  They are without question a go-to set when you have a difficult issue.’

      ‘Essex court is one of the leading sets for a reason. They have true strength and depth.’

      ‘These are first-rate chambers with real strength in depth across the board.’

      ‘Essex Court is a high-quality set. Dependably good.’

      ‘Generally extremely high-quality on complex contractual disputes; very responsive.’

      Clerking

      ‘The clerks room is first-rate. Oliver Duane is always a pleasure to deal with; he is commercially savvy and extremely personable.’

      ‘Kevin Grubb is very good. Commercial, flexible and fun to deal with.’

      ‘Joe Ferrigno is service-orientated, and good to work with.’

      ‘Kevin Grubb together with Karl Asleben are absolutely excellent. First-class service. You are really looked after.’

      ‘Very good, clear proposals quickly provided.  Always happy to discuss to ensure client expectations and requirements are managed and met.’

      Work highlights

        Keating Chambers

        Keating Chambers is among the most prominent sets for offshore construction disputes, and has ‘the strength in depth to enable them to easily pull in junior counsel to support at pinch points in litigation’. For some ‘the pre-eminent construction chambers in the world, and the strength and depth of the senior and junior ranks is without peer’, its members handle high-value cases arising from the oil and gas, nuclear, energy-from-waste, renewables and mining sectors. Standout silk Veronique Buehrlen KC frequently advises on offshore construction and drilling contracts. Lucy Garrett KC is increasingly visible in high-profile cases, among them a claim concerning the construction of a platform installed on an offshore natural gas field. Promising junior Tom Owen is standing counsel to the employer at Hinkley Point nuclear project. He successfully resisted an enforcement action concerning the high-profile Wrexham Biomass Power Plant. Adam Constable KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.

        Testimonials

        Set

        ‘Keating Chambers is viewed as a pre-eminent set for counsel on complex energy and construction disputes in the APAC region. They have an impressive depth of talented lawyers at all levels which makes assembling a legal team much easier.’

        ‘The barristers at Keating Chambers continue to impress with their in-depth knowledge and advocacy for international clients in international construction arbitrations.’

        ‘Keating has the strength in depth to enable them to easily pull in junior counsel to support at pinch points in litigation. They are busy (as I would expect) but what I like about Keating is that the counsel make themselves available to answer direct calls with ad hoc queries and will put in the hours when needed to deal with urgent work.’

        ‘Keating chambers is the pre-eminent construction chambers in the world.  The strength and depth of the senior and junior ranks is without peer. ‘

        ‘The set has fantastic strength-in-depth, with particularly high quality at KC level.’

        Clerking

        ‘Great responsive clerking. Amy Barrie in particular.’

        ‘Will Shrubsall always goes the extra mile and Jade Clark has always been incredibly pro-active and helpful.’

        ‘Clerks are very responsive and helpful with timing.’

        ‘A good set, particularly in construction and energy, with a solid clerking team.’

        ‘Exemplary service – great at responding in a timely manner, flexible on fees, and provide added value such as meeting rooms. Dominic Woodbridge was enormously helpful in 2021 in arranging the logistics for a five-week trial for me. They are always willing to help with liaising with the Court to secure hearing dates or find out the current position of a matter.’

        Work highlights

          Quadrant Chambers

          Quadrant Chambers ‘has an impressive energy practice, with real expertise at all levels’ and it is ‘well regarded, clearly having a broad range of well-qualified barristers to pull from’. Renowned as one of the strongest shipping sets, it is increasingly active in disputes concerning energy infrastructure projects and upstream contractual disputes. Energy is one of the sectors identified as a key area of focus for growth in the set’s new ten-year strategy, which was introduced in 2019. Lionel Persey KC is one of the go-to arbitrators for large and complex energy disputes. Simon Rainey led increasingly prominent junior Henry Ellis in a $100m dispute arising from the US$2.7bn divestment of ConocoPhillips’ UK North Sea oil and gas production businesses to Chrysaor in 2019. In Shell Energy Europe Limited v Metaenergia S.p.A., another promising junior Gemma Morgan acted for Shell in a leading case on the right of a party to have its arbitration award enforced as a judgment under s.66 of the Arbitration Act 1996

          Testimonials

          Set

          ‘Quadrant is a go-to Chambers for my firm on a wide range of commercial dispute matters. They have an excellent set of seniors and juniors.’

          ‘Quadrant chambers has an impressive energy practice, with real expertise at all levels.’

          ‘I highly recommend Quadrant on shipping and international trade matters. They have a number of incredibly knowledgeable and user-friendly barristers at all levels of qualification. Their rates are highly competitive and the clerking team is excellent. They also show thought leadership in their practice areas and regularly host engaging seminars.’

          ‘Quadrant Chambers is well regarded in the field of shipping disputes and clearly has a broad depth of well-qualified barristers to pull from.’

          ‘Quadrant is an excellent set. If the first choice counsel is not available you know that there are other barristers who will be extremely good.’

          Clerking

          ‘The clerks are extremely helpful and honest about availability and turn-around times.’

          ‘The clerks provide an excellent service. They are one of the most responsive sets in respect of answering phones, providing clear advice on capacity and meaningful fee quotes.’

          ‘The clerks are excellent and I regularly trust their judgment when it comes to choice of suitable counsel for my matters. They are responsive and sensible on fees. The senior clerking team always standout for their knowledge, experience and engagement. Daniel Westerman is a practice manager who is always very helpful and quick to address matters.’

          ‘Simon Slattery is a standout. He’s always user-friendly and accessible. A pleasure to deal with.’

          Work highlights

            39 Essex Chambers

            39 Essex Chambers is ‘very strong on environmental law they have a number of great juniors’, and in energy matters its members are ‘always very prepared and have the ability to explain advice to clients in a digestible way’. Its energy and natural resources group frequently handles disputes concerning projects in the oil & gas, nuclear, power generation and renewables industries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the UK. It also handles regulatory and public law matters relating to the energy sector, including challenges to UK regulator Ofgem. Notable silk Stephen Tromans KC is handling on development consent order application for new UK nuclear power station Sizewell C, working with emerging junior talent Victoria Hutton. Karim Ghaly KC has a growing reputation in the energy space; his work includes disputes concerning major PPP projects, oil wells and oil refineries.  Adrian Hughes KC  is involved in cases concerning international contracts for the construction and operation of power stations, waste processing plants, and oil and gas storage platforms.

            Testimonials

            Set

            ’39 Essex  is very strong on environmental law they have a number of great juniors. Someone is always available to assist.’

            Clerking

            ‘I deal with Andy Poyser who is excellent, highly efficient and get things set up quickly.’

            Work highlights

              7 King's Bench Walk

              7 King’s Bench Walk is ‘by far the leading set for insurance and reinsurance work because of its strength in depth at all levels’. In fact, one client remarks that ‘the strength in depth means that one rarely has to look elsewhere’. Energy is a core strand in the set’s insurance work. Alistair Schaff KC acted for SBM against the insurers of the YME MOUPstor oil rig in one of the largest marine energy cases running through the Commercial Court with an estimated value of over £1bn, in a case involving 25 witnesses and 15 expert disciplines, which settled shortly before trial for a fraction of the sum claimed. Among other key highlights are cases involving PetroSaudi and PDVSA, in which Jonathan Gaisman KC, David Allen KC, Simon Kerr , Jason Robinson and Michael Ryan – all from the set – were instructed for PetroSaudi in arbitration and litigation proceedings, while James Brocklebank KC has advised various underwriters on the consequences of the ongoing multibillion-dollar dispute.

              Testimonials

              Set

              ‘A great set with excellent juniors.’

              ‘7KBW is by far the leading set for insurance and reinsurance work because of it strength in depth at all levels.’

              ‘7KBW are the pre-eminent insurance and reinsurance set. The strength in depth at 7KBW means that one rarely has to look elsewhere.’

              ‘It remains a leading  set in the area.’

              Clerking

              ‘The clerks room is very good – Gary Rose in particular.’

              ‘I have known the senior clerks and their predecessors for more than 40 years and they have never been anything other than first-class service.’

              ‘Joe Clayton and Gary Rose are very good.’

              ‘They are good – responsive and reasonable on fees.’

              Work highlights

                Twenty Essex

                Twenty Essex is ‘a go-to set for substantial commercial disputes, particularly with an international angle’ and it provides ‘excellent silks and juniors who are very accessible and approachable’. One client remarks that ‘it has become the best set as a whole for shipping and commodities disputes’, which brings its members firmly into the energy arena. Duncan Matthews KC is a leading trial advocate with a broad practice in international and domestic commercial dispute resolution, and Michael Ashcroft KC frequently handles cases concerning contracts for the exploitation of resources, construction, transportation, sales and insurance. Ashcroft acted for BP Oil International in a case concerning the return of advance payments for shipments of crude oil. Andrew Fulton KC handled a US$16m Commercial Court dispute arising out of insolvent collapse of Singapore oil trader. Junior Malcolm Jarvis has significant expertise in complex high stakes arbitration and litigation on the broad span of upstream, midstream and downstream disputes. The clerks, led by Anthony Carroll, provide ‘an excellent support service at all levels and are very helpful and fair in negotiations on fees and briefs’.

                Testimonials

                Set

                ’20 Essex has unrivalled strength in depth and its barristers at every level are first-class. The good thing about 20 Essex is that even if my first (or even second) choice counsel is not available, there is usually an acceptable alternative.’

                ’20 Essex is my preferred chambers for international trade disputes. They have great strength in depth amongst juniors and silks.’

                ‘Twenty Essex is my go to set for substantial commercial disputes, particularly with an international angle. They provide excellent silks and juniors for most types of commercial dispute.  Their barristers are very accessible and approachable.’

                Clerking

                ‘Great service from the clerks.  Easily accessible and responsive, including after hours.’

                ‘The clerks provide an excellent support service at all levels. I have been particularly impressed with Tara Shah.’

                ‘They are efficient and commercially sensible, led well by Chris Theobald.’

                ‘The clerks are very helpful and fair in negotiations on fees and briefs generally.’

                ‘I have dealt with the clerks extensively and they are always friendly, helpful and efficient. Arron Zitver has been around for years and is one of the best clerks around.’

                Work highlights

                  3 Verulam Buildings

                  3 Verulam Buildings is ‘up there with the best of the best, the set has it all’. One client remarks that ‘it is undoubtedly the pre-eminent chambers for arbitration and public international law, with a large number of leading practitioners with real expertise and deep in energy disputes’. The set is instructed on energy claims both in commercial and investment treaty arbitration and claims in the English courts. Members have acted in some of the largest international arbitrations in the energy sector in recent years. Christopher Harris KC successfully defended claims in relation to a $180m sale of offshore gas field rigs, and represented claimants seeking damages in relation to the expropriation of Sri Lanka’s largest wind and solar power project. Hodge Malek KC frequently acts for the major oil companies, as well as governments and regulators. Prominent junior Jane Davies Evans frequently acts as counsel and arbitrator in international energy arbitrations, with the majority of her instructions relating to the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, the CIS and Latin America.

                  Testimonials

                  Set

                  ‘I’ve always been impressed by the quality of the services delivered. They understand the client’s need and deliver top-notch legal advice.’

                  ‘The depth of 3VB is excellent. Each person has been very good in their own right.’

                  ‘3VB is up there with the best of the best.  This set has it all.’

                  ‘3VB is undoubtedly the pre-eminent chambers for arbitration and public international law.  They have a large number of leading practitioners with real expertise and deep specialisms in energy disputes, arbitration and public international law.’

                  ‘By instructing a top set like 3VB we expect the best and we got it.  Technical excellence combines with understanding to guide us through every stage of a worryingly complex process.  3VB would be our first-choice chambers for any relevant future disputes, especially complex international claims.’

                  Clerking

                  ‘Always had good dealings with the clerks, who are friendly and easy to work with.’

                  ‘Responsive, commercial, proactive, understanding.  I dealt, in particular, with Stuart Pullum who is very efficient and has a good manner.’

                  Blackstone Chambers

                  At Blackstone Chambers, ‘counsel practising public law are top-notch and this is one of the go-to sets for public law and regulation’. The ‘very professional and offers detailed advice and assistance’ in undertaking specialist litigation in the energy and natural resources field, with their work encompassing commercial, regulatory, environmental and public law disputes. New silk Hanif Mussa KC acted for National Grid and its subsidiaries in their successful appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority against a multi-billion pound price control set by Ofgem in respect of the gas and electricity sectors. Alan Maclean KC was also appointed as junior counsel to Ofgem. Increasingly prominent junior Emily Neill, who is ‘incredibly user-friendly and collegiate’, is a go-to counsel for the three energy regulators in the UK.

                  Testimonials

                  Set

                  ‘An incredibly strong and impressive set with diversity clearly at its heart.’

                  ‘Counsel practising public law are top-notch and they are one of our go-to sets for public law and regulation.’

                  ‘The set is very professional, professional and offers detailed advice and assistance.’

                  ‘Obviously a first choice for many areas of public law.’

                  ‘There are a number of barristers at Blackstone Chambers who have relevant experience to support us on a particular matter where another member may not be available. In addition to this depth of experience at this set of chambers, there is a variety of options from junior to senior junior to KCs and teams of barristers who can offer support when needed.’

                  Clerking

                  ‘Dean Tolman is incredibly helpful and practical.’

                  ‘Sophie Floyd understands the breath of skills of the barristers and is excellent in her recommendations.’

                  ‘Over the years I have dealt with Gary Oliver, Adam Sloane and Dean Tolman. All very helpful and responsive.’

                  ‘The clerks services have always been spot on and given on a speedy timely basis.’

                  ‘The clerks are professional and helpful.’

                  Work highlights