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.
Energy in
London Bar
4 Pump Court
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 is ‘very 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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
Quadrant Chambers
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’. 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 advocate’ Simon 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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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
4 Pump Court
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 is ‘very 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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
Quadrant Chambers
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’. 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 advocate’ Simon 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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’
Work highlights
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.’