Insurance and reinsurance

Leading Silks
2023 Silks
2024 Silks

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

Go-to leading counsel for the most complex and sensitive insurance and reinsurance matters. An outstanding knowledge of the market which is a real asset to clients, all delivered sensitively and commercially.'

Charles Dougherty KC

2 Temple Gardens

Charles is an eloquent and calm advocate who has a clear voice in the court room.'

David Edwards KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

David is excellent.'

Peter MacDonald Eggers KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Unmatched knowledge and recall of his subject. A calm level head and a charming advocate who is trusted by the judge or tribunal.’

Jonathan Gaisman KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Jonathan is of course highly intellectual and his advocacy is clear and determined. He is a superb leader in a complex dispute and is advocacy is always well prepared and focused.'

Siobán Healy KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Extremely hardworking, resilient and a great team player.'

Brick Court Chambers

Put simply, he has the court’s ear in a way that other senior silks do not. Always cuts to the heart of the issue with impeccable judgment.’

Gavin Kealey KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

By far the leading advocate at the insurance Bar in a league of his own. Ruthless in cross-examination. Creative and ingenious when it comes to analyzing and developing complex legal arguments. A pleasure to work with and gets results.’

Dominic Kendrick KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Charming and tenacious.’

Essex Court Chambers

Andrew Miller KC

2 Temple Gardens

Andrew Neish KC

Crown Office Chambers

Ben has a fantastic way of boiling down complex issues in an easy to understand way. His written advices are thorough and digestible. He is also very client friendly and great on his feet.’

David Railton KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Andrew Rigney KC

Crown Office Chambers

Andrew is a brilliant advocate, extremely hardworking, impeccably-mannered, and a thoroughly decent human being.'

Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Rebecca is very gifted technically, she is also very hard working and has a very rounded view of the issues: sitting as an arbitrator assists in this. She has very good judgement and a very impressive client manner.’

Alistair Schaff KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

The go to person for insurance and reinsurance matters. Clever, a pleasure to work with, and a calm, authoritative advocacy style.'

Brick Court Chambers

Tony is exceptional in every respect. As an advocate, he stands head and shoulders above almost all of his peers.’

Bankim Thanki KC

Fountain Court Chambers

David Turner KC

Very client focused and accessible, responsive and a pleasure to work with.'

Andrew Wales KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Andrew is an exceptional barrister. Not only is he one of the most intellectually able KCs of his generation, but he is also sensible, practical and commercial. His advocacy is understated but devastatingly effective.’

Richard Waller KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Richard is an excellent advocate and a go-to KC. He is very sharp and provides high quality, reliable advice which takes into account the practical and commercial considerations of the matter.’

Tom Weitzman KC

3 Verulam Buildings

Tom is excellent on his feet and extremely calming in conference. He gets to the heart of the issue very quickly and is a pleasure to deal with.'

2

Guy Blackwood KC

Quadrant Chambers

‘Guy is the leading marine insurance and war risks KC in the market by a considerable distance.’

Bob Moxon Browne KC

2 Temple Gardens

Bob brings invaluable experience to every case. Nothing that arises during the course of a case that will surprise him.'

Anneliese Day KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Ben Elkington KC

Ben is a superb advocate, a very smooth operator in court. He is very responsive and a real team player. Always a pleasure to work with.'

7 King’s Bench Walk

Easy to work with. Adam works hard, provides useful advices and is a first choice for several clients.’

Christopher Hancock KC

Stephen Hofmeyr KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Jonathan Hough KC

Jonathan is quite exceptional. A fantastic brain, brilliant with clients, and the standard of his drafting is a model for others to aspire to.'

Ben is excellent – he is superb with clients, simplifies the complex, and provides technical and commercial advice, and is not afraid of a fight.’

Jawdat Khurshid KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

‘A very commercial and user-friendly silk, clients really like him. Exceptionally clever – clear, concise and persuasive both in written submissions and on his feet. All round impressive.’

Harry Matovu KC

Brick Court Chambers

Harry has the gift of making complex matters seem simple. He definitely can see the wood through the trees. His drafting is a pleasure to read.'

Graeme McPherson KC

2 Temple Gardens

One of the very, very best - charming, erudite and incredibly knowledgeable.'

Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Leigh-Ann is careful, as is vital in complex insurance, but keeps her eye on the main game. She is hard-working and also has flair.’

Gatehouse Chambers

Paul is the leading authority on construction and engineering insurance. Having him on your team provides instant reassurance. His advice on difficult issues is consistently on point.’

Simon Salzedo KC

Brick Court Chambers

Simon is hugely intelligent, delightful to work with and has a disarming ability to make the most complicated of propositions sound simple.'

David Scorey KC

Essex Court Chambers

'David is very much a team player, equally strong on paper and on his feet.'

Nigel is accessible, to the point and the point is always right – but importantly he is also incredibly well-viewed by lay clients.’

Rachel Ansell KC

David Bailey KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

leasant to with with. He instantly understandable the various issues at stake even the most complex ones and never fails to come up with ingenious strategies and solutions, always considering what would serve the client best. He really is an extraordinarily skilled barrister.’

James Brocklebank KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

‘James is particularly excellent when it comes to understanding technical arguments and advocating his case clearly and persuasively in a way that is easy to understand. His cross examination is also excellent – sharp, clear, and to the point. He gets to the crux of the matter.’

Andrew Burns KC

Andrew is a decisive and knowledgeable lawyer in the specialist area of top-ups. He is particularly good in conference, using his significant experience to give clients’ confidence. He is a confident advocate, often instructed on difficult matters.’

Nicholas Craig KC

3 Verulam Buildings

‘His advocacy is powerful and persuasive. He remains approachable and calm under pressure. He is a pleasure to deal with.'

Derrick Dale KC

Fountain Court Chambers

‘Philip is one of the stars of the Bar – he is a brilliant technical lawyer, very easy to work with and commercial. He is listened to by the court and is a joy to watch on his feet or on paper.’

Justin Fenwick KC

Andrew Green KC

Blackstone Chambers

Amazing advocate and good client handling skills notwithstanding court pressures.'

Jeffrey Gruder KC

Essex Court Chambers

Jeffrey is the consummate professional. He lives and breathes these Covid-19 claims. There is no-one who could be rated more highly in this arena.’

Excellent on his feet in court, very clear advice and well drafted pleadings. A great all-rounder.’

Isabel Hitching KC

Crown Office Chambers

Isabel is a great team player, working with us as instructing solicitors and with the clients as needed. She is a strong advocate and is increasingly respected by the judiciary. She brings an intellectual rigour and attention to detail.’

Michael Holmes KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

A silk with encyclopedic insurance and reinsurance market knowledge who is a pleasure to work with.’

Timothy Howe KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Gatehouse Chambers

Michael Kent KC

Crown Office Chambers

Michael is among the best appellate counsel in this area. He has a profound grasp of the case law and is always two steps ahead of others in the room – any room. His advocacy is diffident and highly effective. He can run rings around experienced silks with high reputations.’

Charles Kimmins KC

Charles is a first rate silk and someone whom we work with extensively. His paperwork is exceptional and his oral advocacy is simply superb. He is also extremely user-friendly and can be relied upon without exception to be available to provide urgent and difficult advice. He is extremely reliable in front of clients and a very safe pair of hands for the toughest of cases.'

3 Verulam Buildings

Adam is in the super-hero league of KCs, and is amongst the very best acting on the policyholder side in insurance coverage disputes. He has appeared in a number of high-profile test cases, in each of which he has been pitched against KCs many years his senior, but against whom he has won every time.’

Fountain Court Chambers

A first-class silk.'

Stephen Midwinter KC

Brick Court Chambers

Stephen has always been excellent on his feet. All his written work is punchy. His greatest asset is a very quick brain. Plus, he is very down-to-earth and responsive.’

Martin Moore KC

Erskine Chambers

One of the leaders, with unrivalled experience in insurance business transfer schemes.'

Jeremy Nicholson KC

Alison Padfield KC

Alison is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is always prepared, calm and unflappable and has a very easy manner that puts clients from all walks of life entirely at their ease.'

Howard Palmer KC

2 Temple Gardens

Howard has a superb technical knowledge with an ability to make difficult arguments digestible. He has a fantastic temperament, and is a pleasure to work with.'

Luke Parsons KC

Quadrant Chambers

Thomas Plewman KC

Brick Court Chambers

He is extremely clever and hard-working. He finds and focuses on the core issue and presents his case with crystal clarity.'

Simon Rainey KC

Quadrant Chambers

Top silk, very clear and concise in his presentation and cuts to the core points quickly.'

Fountain Court Chambers

Daniel Shapiro KC

Crown Office Chambers

Danny is a highly capable lawyer. Danny has an excellent grasp of the legal principles at play and cuts through the detail to get to the most relevant and important points. He allies this with a very calming manner with both clients and the court as well as excellent judgement. He is firm with opponents but balanced and well-respected.’

‘Jamie is fiercely intelligent and can quickly get to grips with very complex matters. His methodical approach, together with his easy manner, inspire confidence and the collaborative approach he adopts with both his juniors and those who instruct him makes him a pleasure to work with.'

Richard Southern KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Richard is a very authoritative advocate. He is always well-prepared and has the ability to gain the judge’s confidence based on his restrained and meticulous oral submissions. Very good strategic judgement as well.’

Roger Stewart KC

Focused and succinct in oral and written advice. Sees the whole picture from the outset- particularly how a judge will look at a case at trial.'

Mark Templeman KC

Essex Court Chambers

Careful, meticulous and charming.'

3

Colin Wynter KC

Maryon Wynter Chambers

Colin is excellent both on his feet and on paper, and does not back down from a contentious point.’

Michael Ashcroft KC

Michael is a good lawyer and a sensible arbitrator.'

Jeremy Brier KC

Essex Court Chambers

‘Jeremy is incredibly responsive and keeps the team up to date on his availability. When he promises something on a certain timeframe you will receive it - without fail. His drafting is powerful and persuasive. He prepares for cases extremely carefully and takes time to think through complex legal issues. He is always a pleasure to deal with.'

James Cutress KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Michael Davey KC

Quadrant Chambers

Michael Davie KC

Michael's manner is generally cool, calm and collected. This gives off a general air of reassurance to instructing solicitors and clients alike.'

4 New Square Chambers

‘Clare is a fantastic advocate. She is very persuasive and engaging. She has an ability to make complicated points appear simple, and her submissions are always clear and well-structured. Judges love her.’

Josephine Higgs KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Meticulous and very hard working. Works very well as part of the team, providing clear and helpful advice on strategy and merits.’

Philippa Hopkins KC

Essex Court Chambers

Philippa has always impressed with her ability to make the complex seem straight forward. She is meticulous, thoughtful, and always gives sensible, commercially astute advice.'

4

Stephen Kenny KC

7 King’s Bench Walk

Richard Liddell KC

4 New Square Chambers

Richard is a consummate team player, who is always up to speed on the details of even very complicated matters.'

Roger Masefield KC

Brick Court Chambers

Not afraid of expressing an opinion, sticks to his guns, team player.'

Andrew Mitchell KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Stephen Moriarty KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Amanda Savage KC

‘Amanda is excellent. A very fine, collaborative and responsive member of a team and always good to have on-board. She is to-the-point and practical, and great with clients.'

Paul Stanley KC

Essex Court Chambers

Paul is astonishingly quick to get to the heart of the issues. Refreshing economy and effectiveness in oral and written advocacy. And critically tells it like it is, always courteously.'

Geraint Webb KC

Henderson Chambers

'Incredibly intelligent and immerses himself in the detail, strategic and excellent manner.'

39 Essex Chambers

‘Neil’s knowledge and experience in insurance related disputes is second to none. Neil can explain complex insurance policy and cover issues to clients very simply.’

Stuart Catchpole KC

Nigel Cooper KC

Quadrant Chambers

4 New Square Chambers

Helen is incredibly clever, user-friendly, astute – the complete package.’

Patrick Goodall KC

Fountain Court Chambers

3 Verulam Buildings

Marie Louise Kinsler KC

2 Temple Gardens

She is the go-to barrister for any conflict of law dispute. Absolutely top rate.'

Rory Phillips KC

3 Verulam Buildings

Rory has the ability to simplify the most complex of insurance matters and explain the implications of policy wording in the context of potential liabilities, commercial impacts and also from a PR perspective. Rory is well rounded and is able to consider things from all angles.'

George Spalton KC

4 New Square Chambers

‘George is the complete package: legal and commercial acumen combined with charm and drive. One would back him against any opponent.’

Crispin Winser KC

Crown Office Chambers

Crispin is an incredibly talented advocate who is persuasive, calm, and comprehensive, and who delivers oral submissions in a thorough and thoughtful way.'

2023 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.

Simon Atrill KC

Fountain Court Chambers

Richard Eschwege KC

Brick Court Chambers

A towering intellect with a prodigious work rate and a joy to work with.'

Sonia Nolten KC

2 Temple Gardens

Sonia's knowledge of reinsurance and insurance law is pre-eminent. She knows insurance law inside-out. She is also particularly good at dealing with technical expert evidence.'

David Pliener KC

Gatehouse Chambers

David’s elevation to KC was richly deserved. He goes from strength to strength.’

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

Oliver is extremely calm and collected under pressure. His advice is always reasoned and sound. Overall, Oliver is incredibly reliable and makes every effort to accommodate any urgent needs the client may have.'

He is very incisive and knowledgeable, thinks of creative ways to address issues, is very client focused, commercial and has an excellent reassuring manner with clients. His advocacy is top notch.'

David Peters KC

Essex Court Chambers

Michael Wheater KC

Gatehouse Chambers

Technically excellent, very user friendly and good with strategy. Also very commercially minded and great with clients. Well deserved recent promotion to KC.'