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.
Charles Dougherty KC
2 Temple Gardens ‘Charles is a brain on a stick. He is calm, assured, and consistent on his feet. He never flaps, he never fails to deliver, and he asks all the right questions in advance of a hearing.'
David Edwards KC
7 King’s Bench WalkHe has very good judgement on what arguments will work before an arbitration panel and is very calm and collected when new points or new documents come up at a hearing. His advocacy is very clear and compelling.'
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘Knowledge of jurisdictional disputes and reinsurance, calm and gentle manner. Responsive. Very persuasive advocate. Excellent with clients.’
Jonathan Gaisman KC
7 King’s Bench Walk Very detailed preparation; clear vision; very clear in expressing himself, whether in court or Consultation. Hardly needs references after so long at the top.’
Siobán Healy KC
7 King’s Bench WalkStrong communicator, brilliant and commanding advocate. A real team player and a pleasure to work with.'
Stephen Hofmeyr KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
Mark Howard KC
Brick Court Chambers ‘Senior statesman and leader among the insurance Bar. His cross-examination is in a different league.’
Gavin Kealey KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘Ruthless cross-examiner and possibly the most charismatic, effective advocate at the London Bar. Exceptional silk who you can rely on to get results, and is more creative in his legal arguments than most. Gavin is the best insurance silk at the bar who punches well above the mark.'
Dominic Kendrick KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
John Lockey KC
Essex Court ChambersUser-friendly, good strategic sense.'
Andrew Neish KC
4 Pump Court‘A leading insurance and reinsurance KC.’
Ben Quiney KC
Crown Office ChambersBen knows his subject matter in intimate detail, with a real expertise in W&I insurance. He is excellent at breaking down highly complex matters into easy to follow concepts and a clear strategy. He is also a very effective advocate, adopting a measured and methodical style.'
David Railton KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Andrew Rigney KC
Crown Office Chambers‘Andrew has deep knowledge of chestnut construction insurance issues, which means he does not need to be brought up to speed. It complements his 1st tier construction practice.'
Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC
7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Rebecca is especially strong on attachment and aggregation insurance coverage disputes.'
Alistair Schaff KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘Great strength in depth. A force to be reckoned with.'
Tony Singla KC
Brick Court ChambersTony is a great KC to work with. He's the definition of user-friendly: accessible and responsive to solicitors, great at dealing with clients directly and takes the fight to the other side, which the clients like to see. His star continues to rise.'
Bankim Thanki KC
Fountain Court Chambers
David Turner KC
4 New Square‘The go-to silk for policy coverage advice; David has a deep understanding of professional indemnity and construction disputes, which is the perfect combination for the types of matters he is retained on. Not shy to get into the details, but always provides clear and commercial advice. Fantastic service!'
Andrew Wales KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘He is very thorough and well thought through. A man of great intelligence whose legal analysis is excellent. Never misses a point.'
Richard Waller KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
Tom Weitzman KC
3 Verulam Buildings‘His attention to detail is excellent. His advice is to the point, and he will always provide precise advocacy.'
Guy Blackwood KC
Quadrant Chambers‘Very user-friendly and responsive. Great on his feet.'
James Brocklebank KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘James is exceptional. He is a go-to for a tricky coverage instruction. Not only does he provide thorough and well-reasoned legal advice, but he is also extremely user-friendly.’
Bob Moxon Browne KC
2 Temple Gardens
Anneliese Day KC
Fountain Court Chambers ‘A strong practitioner, good with difficult clients, very down to earth, and easy to work with.’
Ben Elkington KC
4 New Square‘Quite simply, brilliant. Easy to work with, pragmatic and commercial. Excellent on his feet. Makes points forcefully but not in an aggressive tone.’
Adam Fenton KC
7 King’s Bench WalkAdam is very bright and extremely hardworking; nothing is too much trouble for Adam, and he always delivers. Great judgement- knows the English Commercial Court bench very well. Understated but effective, because he reads the room very accurately.'
Christopher Hancock KC
Twenty Essex
Jonathan Hough KC
4 New Square ‘Jonathan brings a clarity of thought and efficiency of communication, which makes his arguments appear like the only arguments that could sensibly be made. He works quickly, but is never rushed. His work is thorough, but he never gets lost in the details. He never sits on the fence and will always tell you what he thinks. He treats everyone with courtesy and respect.'
Jawdat Khurshid KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘He is extremely user-friendly and responsive, and an excellent advocate. He had a very impressive handle on the complex and detailed quantum arguments in the cases and made very compelling submissions.'
Harry Matovu KC
Brick Court Chambers‘Incredibly clever, spectacular with details and one of the most charming advocates at the Bar.’
Graeme McPherson KC
4 New Square'Graeme is able to see and formulate legal issues very clearly. Very hard-working and responsive.'
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC
Fountain Court Chambers‘Leigh-Ann is careful and considered and always completely masters the material. Leigh-Ann has been perfect. So refreshing that she combines intellectual excellence with user friendliness.'
Paul Reed KC
Gatehouse ChambersHis expertise and experience in relation to complex insurance dispute matters are excellent.'
Simon Salzedo KC
Brick Court ChambersSeriously good on his feed, and seriously intelligent.’
David Scorey KC
Essex Court Chambers
Nigel Tozzi KC
4 Pump Court
Rachel Ansell KC
4 Pump Court
David Bailey KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘He’s a calm but effective advocate, with an encyclopedic brain of insurance case law. An extremely charming, intelligent and strategically acute KC. A go-to KC.
Andrew Burns KC
Devereux
Nicholas Craig KC
3 Verulam Buildings‘Nick is a very good advocate and is able to read the room well and adapt his advocacy depending on the judge and case in hand. His cross-examination is thoughtful, detailed and puts the witnesses under pressure.'
Derrick Dale KC
Fountain Court Chambers'Derrick is very clear in his advice, and despite being technically excellent, he is able to communicate difficult legal principles clearly and effectively.'
Philip Edey KC
Twenty Essex‘Very good manner and able to deliver difficult advice calmly and clearly and diplomatically. Very hands on and in the detail. Very approachable. Excellent writing and very clear advocate.'
Justin Fenwick KC
4 New Square
Andrew Green KC
Blackstone ChambersAndrew is an exceptional advocate, and it is a true pleasure to watch him in action - assuming he is on your side. He has a talent for making the most complex points easily digestible and for taking apart opponents' arguments with finesse. He is extremely practical, and his strategic advice is always superb. Andrew is absolutely first-rate.'
Jeffrey Gruder KC
Essex Court Chambers
Neil Hext KC
4 New Square ‘Excellent advocate - succinct and compelling style. You want him in your corner.'
Josephine Higgs KC
7 King’s Bench WalkJo is incredibly detailed and thoughtful in her approach. Her written advice is first-rate, clear, and digestible even when dealing with complicated, multi-faceted issues. In consultation, she is engaging and takes the time to work through in a careful, considered manner.’
Isabel Hitching KC
Crown Office Chambers ‘Technically brilliant. Her written advice is clear and straightforward, and she is good with clients. Her advocacy is also impressive, calm and clear.
Michael Holmes KC
7 King’s Bench WalkMichael has unbeatable knowledge of the insurance and reinsurance market. Consistently a go-to leader for tricky insurance issues. Gets stuck in and is great with clients.'
Timothy Howe KC
Fountain Court Chambers'Tim is very responsive, hardworking and a pleasure to deal with; he is decisive and convincing on his feet.'
Ben Hubble KC
4 New SquareThe go-to silk for a knotty problem, Ben has a detailed knowledge of the insurance world and knows his way around different policy wordings. He has a very analytical approach and is tactically astute. He is also very good with clients, focusing on the key issues, explaining clearly the risks whilst putting forward the best possible arguments. His advocacy skills are outstanding'
Michael Kent KC
Crown Office ChambersMichael is the most effective appellate barrister ever seen. His diffident style and character complement a complete mastery of the law. He is a collegiate member of a broader legal team and is always a joy to work with.'
Charles Kimmins KC
Twenty EssexImmensely detail-focused. An imaginative thinker who looks for solutions to complex problems and is excellent at evaluating the merits of legal arguments. A pleasure to work with.'
Adam Kramer KC
3 Verulam BuildingsAdam is an outstanding insurance silk. A fantastic advocate who is trusted by the Court and Tribunals. Also extremely diligent and responsive, and is all over the details of a case, which is particularly helpful.'
Ben Lynch KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Roger Masefield KC
Brick Court Chambers‘Excellent advocacy – clear, fluent and convincing. Also extremely good with lay clients, personable, patient and clear in his explanations. A pleasure to work with.’
Stephen Midwinter KC
Brick Court Chambers ‘Stephen's incredible speed of analysis is accompanied by great judgement on the big calls. And when on his feet, the advocacy is so crisp and effective that other senior counsel in court are visibly impressed.’
Andrew Mitchell KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Martin Moore KC
Erskine ChambersExcellent interaction with the judges. Thorough review of the brief and anticipation of issues. Second to none understanding of the Part VII area and precedents.'
Jeremy Nicholson KC
4 Pump Court
Alison Padfield KC
4 New SquareAlison is one of the very best out there for coverage advice on professional negligence policies. She has an unrivalled mastery of the law and provides detailed, well-reasoned and thorough advice.'
Howard Palmer KC
2 Temple GardensDecades of knowledge of insurance law. Very hard working and a smooth talker.’
Thomas Plewman KC
Brick Court Chambers
David Pliener KC
Gatehouse Chambers ‘David is quickly establishing himself as one of the leading construction-related insurance disputes KCs at the Bar. He has a balanced practice split between insurers and policyholders, which gives him a valuable perspective from both sides of the market.’
Akhil Shah KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Daniel Shapiro KC
Crown Office Chambers‘Danny is not only a fantastic legal mind, but he has a deep knowledge of the insurance industry, which allows him to give very high-quality strategy and commercial advice. Although he is a leader in his field, he makes everyone on the team feel important and has a great balance between having strong views and being open-minded to the views of others in the team.'
Jamie Smith KC
4 New Square
Richard Southern KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘Very good judgment, pleasant courtroom demeanour, and on top of the details.'
Roger Stewart KC
4 New SquareRoger is a genuine big hitter in the construction-related insurance liability disputes space. His appetite for work is astonishing. His advice is bold and positive, but he backs it up with results.'
Mark Templeman KC
Essex Court Chambers
Alex Potts KC
4 Pump Court
Michael Ashcroft KC
Twenty Essex ‘Strong analytical skills and very clear written communications.'
Simon Atrill KC
Fountain Court Chambers‘Very hard worker – always on top of the detail and prepared to discuss difficult questions. Strong advocate – he conducts difficult cross-examination on foreign law calmly and forcefully – very impressive.’
Jeremy Brier KC
Essex Court ChambersMichael Curtis KC
Crown Office Chambers
James Cutress KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Michael Davey KC
Quadrant Chambers
Michael Davie KC
4 Pump Court
Clare Dixon KC
4 New Square Chambers‘Clare is a star of the Bar. She has gone from strength to strength since taking silk. She has superb judgement; her written work is beautifully clear and concise; and her advocacy is up there with the most hard-hitting and senior silks.’
Philippa Hopkins KC
Essex Court Chambers
Stephen Kenny KC
7 King’s Bench Walk‘Stephen is a great mind and is so vastly experienced in the world of insurance and maritime law. His advice is clear and persuasive, and he is a pleasure to work with.’
Richard Liddell KC
4 New Square Chambers ‘Incredibly user-friendly. Sees the issue and has a client-centric approach.'
Stephen Moriarty KC
Fountain Court Chambers
Luke Parsons KC
Quadrant Chambers
Ben Patten KC
4 New Square Chambers‘Ben is extremely bright and able to distil the most complicated into the readily understandable. Ben is a first-rate advocate.’
Simon Rainey KC
Quadrant ChambersVery insightful analysis, tremendous legal and commercial judgement.'
Amanda Savage KC
4 New Square‘Amanda is an excellent court advocate. She has a relaxed and straightforward manner in court and on paper, she is clear, concise and robust.’
Paul Stanley KC
Essex Court Chambers
Geraint Webb KC
Henderson Chambers'An intellectual heavyweight. Able to work through the most knotty of issues and find a way through. Considered, persuasive and good on his feet - reads the judge and the room well. A pleasure to work with, and clients have real confidence in him.'
Colin Wynter KC
Maryon Wynter Chambers
Neil Block KC
39 Essex Chambers
Noel Casey KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
Nigel Cooper KC
Quadrant ChambersNigel is a very clear thinker. He analyses the issues and gets to the nub of the matter. He can absorb and sift through a lot of information, identifying the key pieces of evidence.'
Helen Evans KC
4 New Square Chambers
Saima Hanif KC
3 Verulam Buildings 'Saima is highly intellectual, knowledgeable and user-friendly. She provides clear and considered advice and helpfully brings blue-sky thinking to a case when required.'
Marie Louise Kinsler KC
2 Temple Gardens‘One of the leading authorities on matters of jurisdiction and applicable law. It's hard to imagine that there are many Counsel with Marie Louise's superlative knowledge and experience of these issues. Brilliant communicator and robust on her feet. The complete cross-border package.'
Siân Mirchandani KC
4 New Square Chambers‘Sian is a ferocious advocate – always fantastically well-prepared and ready to adapt her arguments as the evidence develops. She has a first-class brain and is ready to get into the smallest detail of the claim, to ensure she has covered all the arguments that might come up on a claim.’
Sonia Nolten KC
2 Temple Gardens‘Extremely bright. Her written prose is the best I have encountered at the Bar. Brave and commercially savvy.'
Rory Phillips KC
3 Verulam Buildings
Catherine Piercy KC
Atkin Chambers ‘Catherine is a real pleasure to work with, very user-friendly and passionately fights for her clients. She is technically strong and a very capable advocate.’
George Spalton KC
4 New Square Chambers‘George is a class act. He works incredibly hard, so he is always on top of his brief. He is both a strategic thinker and a detail man. I'd back him against pretty much any other barrister.’
Crispin Winser KC
Crown Office Chambers‘Crispin is the go-to barrister for complex claims, in particular complex coverage claims. His advice is clear, concise, and he cuts through complex issues with ease. His turnaround is swift.'
2024 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.
Oliver Caplin KC
Twenty Essex‘Oliver is very responsive and user friendly. The advice he provides is clear and concise. He also gets the commercial levers and understands what our clients are trying to achieve.'
Shail Patel KC
4 New SquareShail is approachable, responsive and highly experienced. He's super bright, meticulous with the detail and offers pragmatic and well-considered commercial advice whilst remaining down-to-earth and engaging. Always a first choice for complex matters.'
Michael Wheater KC
Gatehouse Chambers ‘Michael is technically excellent and very good on strategy, both procedurally and commercially. He is very personable and great with clients. Also, a clear and persuasive advocate. Well-deserved recent appointment to KC. ‘
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.
