Insurance and reinsurance
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Aidan Christie KC
4 Pump CourtAidan is very user-friendly and easy to work with. He is a persuasive advocate, and this, combined with his attention to detail, delivered a favorable outcome in the case on which he was instructed. Overall, my view of Aidan is very positive, and we would recommend instructing him again in the future.
Anneliese Day KC
Fountain Court ChambersHighly capable. Anneliese is strategic and an expert. I also found her extremely personable and good to work with.
Charles Dougherty KC
2 Temple GardensCharles is an excellent advocate and very knowledgeable. He is an exceptional lawyer.
David Edwards KC
7 King's Bench WalkRight at the top in the Champions League of insurance/reinsurance silks.
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC
7 King's Bench WalkPeter has impressive technical knowledge and is an excellent practitioner. He is a pleasure to work with and a go-to lawyer for insurance disputes.
Jonathan Gaisman KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Siobán Healy KC
7 King's Bench WalkIncisive legal analysis. Persuasive, forceful, and clear advocacy style. Commercially astute. Thorough.
Stephen Hofmeyr KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Mark Howard KC
Brick Court Chambers
Gavin Kealey KC
7 King's Bench WalkGavin is a joy to work with. Despite his seniority, he takes the time to really get into the weeds of a case and is happy to mull over various points with his instructing solicitors. Judges listen to him, and you get the sense of complete control when sitting behind him in court.
Dominic Kendrick KC
7 King's Bench Walk
John Lockey KC
Essex Court Chambers
Andrew Neish KC
4 Pump Court
Ben Quiney KC
Crown Office Chambers
David Railton KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Andrew Rigney KC
Crown Office ChambersThorough - always with good ideas and practical.
Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Alistair Schaff KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Tony Singla KC
Brick Court ChambersTony is able to flex between different sectors and specialisms with ease. He is realistic in his assessment of the merits of competing arguments and gives clear advice in that regard. Tony's advocacy is persuasive and he reacts calmly on his feet to difficult questions with razor-sharp clarity. Tony's extreme popularity as a silk reflects his unique ability to bring both professionalism and humor to difficult cases.
Bankim Thanki KC
Fountain Court ChambersBankim is an absolute titan at the Bar. He is a genuine go-to counsel for the most important, high-value, and complicated cases. His advocacy is outstanding, and he is deeply trusted by judges at all levels. He is brilliant at trial, but also specializes in handling appeals to the highest level. A great team player who gets the best out of everyone.
David Turner KC
4 New Square ChambersDavid is a strong leader, being very good with large multidisciplinary teams. He is a clear and concise communicator, with a wide range of expertise that can be very helpful on matters that stray from the norm. He is very client and user-friendly, always responsive.
Andrew Wales KC
7 King's Bench WalkAndrew is a go-to silk for complex insurance matters. His advocacy is measured but extremely effective.
Richard Waller KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Tom Weitzman KC
3 Verulam BuildingsTom Weitzman KC is one of the very top silks for insurance coverage issues. There is nothing that he does not know! He is also very commercial and sees the 'bigger picture'.
James Brocklebank KC
7 King's Bench WalkJames Brocklebank provides clear, concise, and thorough advice.
Great depth of knowledge of the relevant law.
Very good skills in preparing documents for filing in court.
Bob Moxon Browne KC
2 Temple GardensBob is highly knowledgeable in this area. He is tenacious and a highly effective cross-examiner. His paperwork is clear and to the point, and he gives very commercial advice, which is much appreciated by clients. On a personal level, he is a pleasure to deal with, and clients love him.
Ben Elkington KC
4 New Square ChambersBen is an incisive and versatile leader; he sees and gets to the point in a clear way and is good with clients as well.
Adam Fenton KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Jonathan Hough KC
4 New Square Chambers
Jawdat Khurshid KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Adam Kramer KC
3 Verulam BuildingsExcellent and well-researched submissions and advocacy.
Ben Lynch KC
Fountain Court ChambersImmensely knowledgeable about the insurance and reinsurance market. Excellent at handling submissions of a technical nature.
Harry Matovu KC
Brick Court ChambersHarry is a complete delight to work with. He is fantastic with clients and everyone listens to what he has to say. He works well in a team and his advocacy is Ciceronian.
Graeme McPherson KC
4 New Square ChambersGraeme possesses excellent factual analysis and provides great legal and strategic advice. A good communicator - he tells clients "as it is", no surprises.
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC
Fountain Court ChambersShe is great on her feet before the court. She has a very effective, unflappable style of advocacy, which means the court warms to her immediately. Her written advocacy is straightforward and clear, and she gets to the heart of the case quickly.
Simon Salzedo KC
Brick Court ChambersSimon is a silk who is in high demand and for very good reason. He is incredibly intelligent, and his cross-examination is formidable, with an ability to flex his style to great effect. His oral submissions are well prepared, succinct, and compelling. Simon is enjoyable to work with and extremely impressive on his feet.
David Scorey KC
Essex Court ChambersDavid Scorey KC is the leading insurance and reinsurance barrister at the commercial bar. He has unrivaled expertise in this field. He is a highly persuasive advocate who always has the ear of the court. He is also a sublime cross-examiner. To top it all off, he is excellent with clients and is a pleasure to work with.
Nigel Tozzi KC
4 Pump Court
Rachel Ansell KC
4 Pump Court
Michael Ashcroft KC
Twenty Essex
David Bailey KC
7 King's Bench WalkVast knowledge of insurance law, a great advocate, commercially minded, and user-friendly.
Oliver Caplin KC
Twenty EssexOliver is very responsive and user-friendly. The advice he provides is clear and concise. He also understands the commercial levers and what our clients are trying to achieve.
Nicholas Craig KC
3 Verulam BuildingsExtremely well prepared and articulate; fantastic cross-examination; endlessly courteous and pleasant to deal with.
James Cutress KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Derrick Dale KC
Fountain Court ChambersWhat can I say about Derrick that has not already been said across the profession? A thoughtful, considerate, and deeply intelligent practitioner whose knowledge of his practice areas is only equaled by his commercial acumen and loyalty to his clients. A counsel who loves to fight the good fight; there are very few, if any, other barristers with whom I would rather be in the bunker with come trial. I would instruct Derrick on every case if I could!
Justin Fenwick KC
4 New Square Chambers
Jeffrey Gruder KC
Essex Court ChambersJeffrey Gruder KC’s core strengths are his exceptional advocacy, outstanding drafting, and highly commercial approach.His advocacy is first-rate. In terms of drafting, his written work is consistently of the highest standard—clear, concise, and tactically astute. He is also very user-friendly and collaborative. He integrates seamlessly into the team, communicates clearly and promptly, and is excellent with clients, combining professionalism with a reassuring and approachable manner.
Josephine Higgs KC
7 King's Bench WalkJo is highly knowledgeable and great to work with. Her advice is clear and commercial.
Isabel Hitching KC
Crown Office ChambersIsabel is excellent at presenting compelling written and oral submissions. She is also great with clients, always being able to explain the most difficult legal concepts in the clearest terms. She is not only technically brilliant, but also understands the commercial factors at play in a particular dispute. Isabel has consistently demonstrated her exceptional capacity to analyze significant volumes of information efficiently.
Michael Holmes KC
7 King's Bench WalkMichael is very user-friendly, a very good communicator, and great with clients. He has a very easy manner and can present complex topics very simply. He has a team approach, and when you have Michael on the team, you know you are in very safe hands.
Philippa Hopkins KC
Essex Court ChambersPhilippa is a star. She masters the details of complex insurance and reinsurance cases. Her legal and tactical analysis is outstanding. She is also accomplished in dealing with cases involving multiple systems of law. At the same time, she is easy to work with and leads the counsel team very well.
Timothy Howe KC
Fountain Court ChambersAn excellent advocate. Tim is a great cross-examiner.
Ben Hubble KC
4 New Square ChambersBen Hubble remains the go-to person for coverage disputes, especially where they involve professionals. He has real clarity of thought and purpose; is tactically astute; and his advocacy at arbitrations and tribunals is always calm, measured, incisive, and invariably well-received by the judge/arbitrator. Tactically, Ben is sharp and incisive. Clients respond to his gravitas and instinctively know they are in safe hands. A class act.
Charles Kimmins KC
Twenty EssexHe is immensely thoughtful, imaginative, and clever. Excellent at evaluating and formulating complex, yet clear, arguments.
Roger Masefield KC
Brick Court Chambers
Stephen Midwinter KC
Brick Court ChambersHe is a brilliant barrister. A staggering intellect. He works quickly and gets to the point, and he knows the answer. His advocacy is compact and direct, and his legal presentation is just brilliant. In a crowded arbitration room of barristerial brains, he is the person the Tribunal leans over to listen to, like a rare moment of apricity.
Andrew Mitchell KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Martin Moore KC
Erskine Chambers
Alison Padfield KC
4 New Square ChambersAlison is a clear communicator, gets into the details, and thinks through (and advises) from the very outset in a very helpful and comprehensive way. She has a great handling manner with both professional and lay clients, always being responsive.
Howard Palmer KC
2 Temple GardensHoward has been an acknowledged master of insurance law for several decades. He has appeared in many of the key cases. He brings a calm wisdom to cases.
David Pliener KC
Gatehouse ChambersDavid is a very good construction and insurance barrister. He gives well-considered and clear advice, and is a very skilled advocate.
Paul Reed KC
Gatehouse ChambersHis expertise and experience on the complex insurance law issues are superb, and he always has a full grasp of the case before he advocates before the tribunal. His advocacy is strong and persuasive.
Akhil Shah KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Daniel Shapiro KC
Crown Office Chambers
Jamie Smith KC
4 New Square Chambers
Richard Southern KC
7 King's Bench WalkRichard is highly knowledgeable about warranty and indemnity insurance, always gives a balanced view, and is a persuasive advocate in person.
Roger Stewart KC
4 New Square ChambersRoger has an awesome ability to assimilate and refine significant amounts of information to identify the key issues and advise clearly and succinctly. A top-quality courtroom advocate and cross-examiner. Always a pleasure to work with - readily accessible and friendly.
Mark Templeman KC
Essex Court ChambersMark is an extremely diligent KC who has excellent instincts. His advocacy is impressive: measured and effective. Mark is very strong on his feet and the depth of his experience in (re)insurance matters shines through when grilled by judges.
Simon Atrill KC
Fountain Court ChambersSimon is a genuine star at the bar. He is an excellent advocate, very hardworking, and produces written work of the highest standard. He thinks through issues clearly and deeply.
Jeremy Brier KC
Essex Court Chambers
Andrew Burns KC
Devereux
Michael Davey KC
Quadrant Chambers
Michael Davie KC
4 Pump Court
Clare Dixon KC
4 New Square Chambers
Philip Edey KC
Twenty EssexPhilip is an amazing barrister who holds the Court's attention and is a superb advocate (orally and in writing). He is one of those Silks to whom judges pay attention. He is also a very good communicator with clients and works well in a team. He has great judgment and is a fabulous black letter lawyer.
Christopher Hancock KC
Twenty Essex
Neil Hext KC
4 New Square Chambers
Stephen Kenny KC
7 King's Bench WalkStephen is very bright and highly experienced. His analysis is well thought out and valuable.
Richard Liddell KC
4 New Square ChambersFantastic with the detail. Articulates his advice in a coherent and user-friendly manner.
Jeremy Nicholson KC
4 Pump Court
Luke Parsons KC
Quadrant ChambersExcellent drafting skills. Ability to quickly grasp the thorny issues in dispute.
Shail Patel KC
4 New Square ChambersClear written advice in a form that can be easily understood by clients. Clear percentage prospects of success are provided.
Ben Patten KC
4 New Square ChambersBen has a valuable wealth (and breadth) of experience and brings that and his clear and concise delivery to the table every time. He is a real asset on complex matters.
Thomas Plewman KC
Brick Court ChambersThomas is very incisive, clear, and deep knowledge and understanding of the law and excellent strategic overview. Direct and to the point.
Alex Potts KC
4 Pump CourtMatthew Reeve KC
Quadrant Chambers
Amanda Savage KC
4 New Square ChambersAmanda provides clear advice - both in writing and on paper. She is practical and pragmatic - focusing on the key issues without getting lost in side issues. She is good at identifying interesting arguments to run, while being realistic about their prospects of success. She is very responsive and works very well with her instructing solicitors.
Geraint Webb KC
Henderson ChambersVery clever, hugely knowledgeable, and a skilled advocate. But he also has great commercial acumen.
Crispin Winser KC
Crown Office ChambersFantastic advocate - has the ear of the court. A great team player with a brilliant grasp of the insurance and construction interface.
Neil Block KC
39 Essex ChambersI honestly cannot think of any weaknesses. He has a brilliant mind and a lovely way about him, making him a pleasure to work with and someone we always learn a lot from. His practical approach to cases makes him very popular with insurers, and he has a great ability to think around issues.
Noel Casey KC
7 King's Bench Walk
Nigel Cooper KC
Quadrant ChambersAnalytical brain, straight to the point, legal quality, and knowledge of the shipping and marine insurance industry practice (where we instruct him).
Helen Evans KC
4 New Square ChambersHelen is superb in all aspects; she is pragmatic and commercially minded while delivering legal advice that demonstrates the breadth of her knowledge and experience with flair.
Saima Hanif KC
3 Verulam BuildingsMs. Hanif KC is a very impressive silk with a broad practice. Despite her busy schedule, she makes herself available, is user-friendly, and approachable.
Marie Louise Kinsler KC
2 Temple Gardens
Siân Mirchandani KC
4 New Square Chambers
Sonia Nolten KC
2 Temple GardensSonia is extremely bright. Her written prose is the best I have encountered at the Bar. Her knowledge of the property damage space is excellent.
Catherine Piercy KC
Atkin ChambersCatherine is great with clients. She has a very easy manner and delivers complex advice in a clear and effective way.
Simon Rainey KC
Quadrant Chambers
George Spalton KC
4 New Square ChambersGeorge Spalton KC is a highly effective advocate. He is fiercely intelligent and has extremely good judgment, knowing exactly how to pitch a case to a tribunal. He is extremely knowledgeable about insurance coverage matters and has impeccable practical judgment regarding which points to focus on to win a case. He is adept at presenting complex coverage arguments in a way that is attractive and appeals to tribunals.
Michael Wheater KC
Gatehouse ChambersTechnically excellent, extremely approachable, and more than holds his own against opposing KCs. His advocacy is also top-notch, able to convey even the most complex arguments in a clear and succinct manner.
2025 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
2026 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Adam Sher KC
Fountain Court ChambersAdam is an exceptional barrister, and it was not surprising that he was appointed KC this year. A brilliant advocate who has the ability to "humanize" the most complicated legal arguments and articulate them effortlessly and effectively on his feet in court. A future superstar!
Timothy Killen KC
3 Verulam BuildingsEven prior to his taking silk, I fully trusted Timothy to lead the charge in complex first instance and appeal proceedings. He is a quietly confident and highly articulate advocate who rapidly gains the trust of judicial panels. Timothy has a deeply analytical mind but can also quickly see the wood from the trees. His attention to client service is second to none.
Sarah McCann KC
Gatehouse Chambers
Michael Ryan KC
7 King's Bench WalkMichael provided very clear and thorough advice on a tricky political violence claim. He was responsive and available when I needed him to be.