Professional negligence in London Bar

Leading Silks

Tom Adam QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He never sits on the fence in terms of his advice, which is always clear and well considered.’

Stuart Catchpole QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is very hardworking and meticulous as to detail.’

Adam Constable QC - Keating Chambers ‘He is excellent and incredibly experienced.’

Jeremy Cousins QC - Radcliffe Chambers ‘He is a very thorough and detailed thinker.’

Nicholas Davidson QC - 4 New Square ‘He has a fantastic intellect, is very good with lay clients and is an excellent cross-examiner in court.’

Anneliese Day QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A standout genius. She is stupendously talented. Very experienced in heavy cases and unflappable on her feet.’

Michael Douglas QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He has terrific judgement.’

Colin Edelman QC - Devereux ‘He has an extremely sharp legal mind.’

Ben Elkington QC - 4 New Square ‘He is brilliant at quickly getting across the detail of a matter and focusing on the key issues.’

Justin Fenwick QC - 4 New Square ‘A powerhouse of strategy and tactics.’

William Flenley QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘Very willing to listen to the ideas of others and assimilate them as necessary. Very experienced indeed in solicitor negligence and insurance coverage. Gives extremely clear advice. Very good on tactics and thinking through the consequences of strategic decisions.’

Jonathan Gaisman QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He has encyclopaedic knowledge.’

Roger ter Haar QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is one of the finest cross-examiners practising at the English Bar.’

Mark Howard QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is utterly, utterly brilliant.’

Ben Hubble QC - 4 New Square ‘He has everything: a brilliant legal and strategic mind combined with outstanding client care skills.’

Patrick Lawrence QC - 4 New Square ‘He has a beautiful written style, an analytical brain and a great intellect.’

Graeme McPherson QC - 4 New Square ‘Graeme is exceptionally bright and is adept at identifying the key issues in a dispute very quickly. He is easy to work with and has a very calm and measured approach. He is excellent with clients and his advice is always clear and pragmatic.’

Michael Pooles QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘Michael is fantastic. He is phenomenally intelligent yet engages with clients in an approachable and down to earth manner. He is trustworthy and dependable, gets to grips with the detail quickly and has a beautiful drafting style. His expertise is second to none.’

Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘Very hard-working. Totally unafraid of challenging witnesses and experts. Charming on her feet and reads a courtroom very well.’

Simon Salzedo QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is deeply knowledgeable about professional negligence in the audit, accountancy and tax sphere.’

Mark Simpson QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is a legal powerhouse and a fantastically persuasive advocate.’

Jamie Smith QC - 4 New Square ‘He is a clear expert in his field, with a wealth of experience, which means that he is able to advise in a confident and authoritative way, whilst being very approachable. He can be relied upon time and time again to advise on the most complex matters with sensitivity to the individuals involved.’

Joanna Smith QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘She is probably the best silk around. She is technically brilliant, a superb advocate and clients love her down-to-earth approach.’

Roger Stewart QC - 4 New Square ‘He has fantastic knowledge of professional negligence law, and a very good approach to strategy – very user friendly and a top choice for leading professional service firms.’

David Streatfeild-James QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is effortlessly brilliant.’

Marcus Taverner QC - Keating Chambers ‘He is in the Premier League of silks for construction professional indemnity work.’

Nigel Tozzi QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He is very clear and concise in the way he advises both solicitor and lay clients.’

John Wardell QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is a brilliant advocate, strategist and tactician.’

Thomas Weitzman QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He stands out for his great forensic abilities, meticulous preparation and superb analytical skills.’

Robert Moxon Browne QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He has immense gravitas in court and spot-on judgement.’

Mark Cannon QC - 4 New Square ‘Very much in demand for all the most complex and sensitive work. Very good attention to detail and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. Persuasive and strategic in court. Achieves great results in very difficult cases.’

Timothy Dutton CBE QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is unquestionably a premier silk for thorny solicitors' negligence issues.’

Ian Croxford QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is a masterful cross-examiner, very powerful in oral argument and tactically very astute.’

Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC - Atkin Chambers ‘She has a very strong reputation and a clear analytical mind.’

Charles Dougherty QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He combines incisive analysis with a commercial approach. Charles has an intuitive understanding of the law and comes up with arguments that others would miss.’

David Halpern QC - 4 New Square ‘He is a walking fountain of knowledge with case law references to match. He is commercially aware and focuses on achieving the outcome the clients are seeking.’

Matthew Hardwick QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He has tactical expertise and is willing to descend into the detail.’

Jonathan Hough QC - 4 New Square ‘Jonathan's attention to detail is second to none. He can assimilate a huge amount of information in a short period. Jonathan's drafting is excellent, he always gets the important points and pitches it just right.’

Timothy Howe QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A very experienced and talented QC. Judges respect his submissions.’

Nigel Jones QC - Hardwicke ‘His client care is second to none - he is exceptionally bright, hard working and really puts himself at the centre of the legal team in the best way possible. He is also commercial and exceptionally pragmatic. Academically he will answer the questions before most of the legal team have even thought to ask the question.’

Simon Lofthouse QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is completely hands-on and a really smooth operator.’

Tim Lord QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘Clients are left in no doubt that he is in their corner.’

Neil Moody QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He is absolutely brilliant on the technical detail and has an eye for the real issues in a case.’

Alexander Nissen QC - Keating Chambers ‘He is incredibly hands-on, intelligent and user friendly.’

Ben Patten QC - 4 New Square ‘He is a superb technical lawyer in the field of professional liability. Strategically very strong, with the ability to anticipate the strategy of other parties.’

Ben Quiney QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘His advocacy is sharp and incisive. Technically brilliant and happy to role up his sleeves.’

Dominique Rawley QC - Atkin Chambers ‘An outstanding professional who is very experienced and dedicated.’

Paul Reed QC - Hardwicke ‘A very good silk. He is knowledgeable about insurer treatment of contractor claims.’

Andrew Rigney QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘A fantastic QC with a great eye for detail.’

Patricia Robertson QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is excellent. Fantastic ability to deal with high pressure cases and absorb huge amounts of information.’

John Ross QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘He is very experienced.’

Keith Rowley QC - Radcliffe Chambers ‘A very experienced silk. He is calm and measured making working with him easy to work with. ’

Jonathan Seitler QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is outstanding. Presents advice in a clear and succinct manner. Very client-friendly.’

Fiona Sinclair QC - 4 Pump Court ‘She is a phenomenal silk.’

Bankim Thanki QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is experienced in financial services disputes.’

David Turner QC - 4 New Square ‘He is a strong and incisive advocate.’

Andrew White QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is exceptionally talented and a real details person.’

Adrian Williamson QC - Keating Chambers ‘He is very experienced in the professional negligence field.’

Mark Anderson QC - No5 Barristers Chambers ‘He is a brilliant silk.’

Rachel Ansell QC - 4 Pump Court ‘She is in her prime. Her work ethic is phenomenal and knows no bounds. She works very well as part of a large team, naturally taking the lead as one would expect with a silk. However what stands her apart is her willingness to be receptive to and develop the ideas of the wider team.’

James Ayliffe QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is bright and extremely approachable.’

Nicholas Baatz QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Exceptional lawyer, easy to work with and an advocate who is prepared to fight a client's corner. He will stand by his pre-trial advice and doesn't, unlike many, shy away from difficult arguments.’

Stephanie Barwise QC - Atkin Chambers ‘She is able to inhale papers and not only recall but assimilate the information. Has a commercial nose and sense of what is wrong. In an entirely different class to her contemporaries. Clearly a leading silk at the pinnacle of her career.’

Martin Bowdery QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Tenacious and inventive.’

Sean Brannigan QC - 4 Pump Court ‘A once-in-a-generation advocate. Judges hang off his every word in the courtroom. He is bright, charming and incredibly astute, but modest and down to earth at the same time.’

Graham Chapman QC - 4 New Square ‘He provides enormous confidence that no stones have been left unturned.’

Aidan Christie QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He always provides sound advice and is an able advocate.’

James Cross QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He has the ability to retain an encyclopaedic knowledge of the issues and the evidence.’

Derrick Dale QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is a smooth operator with a deep knowledge of his subject area.’

Nicholas Dennys QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is in high demand for his work as an advocate in construction-related cases.’

Graham Eklund QC - 4 New Square ‘He is very capable.’

Michael Furness QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is highly respected by judges and opponents alike.’

Thomas Grant QC - Maitland Chambers ‘He is a very effective advocate.’

Simon Hargreaves QC - Keating Chambers ‘His cross-examination is thorough and incisive. He easily gains clients' confidence and is a real team player.’

Neil Hext QC - 4 New Square ‘He is highly intelligent and analytical, and has a keen eye for detail.’

Charles Hollander QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘There is sophistication and nuance in his approach, which really produces results.’

Philip Jones QC - Serle Court ‘He inspires confidence.’

Paul Lowenstein QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is incredibly bright.’

Ali Malek QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is exceptional.’

Manus McMullan QC - Atkin Chambers ‘First class. Extremely hard-working, knowledgeable and fantastic with clients. Great strategist.’

Stephen Moriarty QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is a great advocate.’

Paul Newman QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘Clear, concise, commercial and client friendly.’

Jeremy Nicholson QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He is incredibly user friendly and calm under pressure.’

Paul Darling OBE QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is a tactical mastermind, clinical in his cross-examination and incredibly persuasive in his submissions.’

Andrew Onslow QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘One of the best cross-examiners, with a quick and practical grasp of complex issues.’

Benjamin Pilling QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Great with clients, great on his feet, great on paper.’

Alistair Schaff QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘A go-to barrister for "bet the company" work.’

Nicolas Stallworthy QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A huge brain and exceptionally talented. He is very passionate, creative and hardworking. A great lawyer who is very good with clients.’

Alan Steinfeld QC - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is first rate.’

Andrew Sutcliffe QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He does his utmost to get clients’ points across and is a very strong advocate on his feet.’

Sonia Tolaney QC - One Essex Court ‘She is excellent. Incredibly bright.’

John de Waal QC - Hardwicke ‘He provides excellent, sharp and issue-focused advice.’

Andrew Warnock QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘He delivers clear and practical advice.’

Richard Wilmot-Smith QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He delivers first-class advice on complex legal issues and strategy.’

Lance Ashworth QC - Serle Court ‘He is very knowledgeable.’

Gary Blaker QC - Selborne Chambers ‘He is someone you want in your corner in a tight spot.’

David Blayney QC - Serle Court ‘David is highly intelligent, responsive, efficient and for professional negligence/breach of trust claims has a mathematical brain that can crunch/formulate very complex questions on causation and loss. He adds huge value to these types of matters.’

James Brocklebank QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘Super clever with a laser focus on the detail. Happy to roll his sleeves up as well.’

Serena Cheng QC - Atkin Chambers ‘She is tactically great and gets to grips with complex issues quickly.’

Richard Coleman QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A top silk who is much admired.’

Michael Curtis QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is undoubtedly a go-to barrister for complex work and is fantastic with clients.’

James Cutress QC - Fountain Court Chambers 'A go-to for professional negligence; highly recommended.'

Simon Davenport QC - 3 Hare Court ‘He is extremely knowledgeable.’

Edward Faulks QC - 1 Chancery Lane ‘He has a wealth of experience.’

Adam Fenton QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He is very technically astute.’

Andrew George QC - Blackstone Chambers Barristers ‘He has a sound commercial head and great experience.’

Karim Ghaly QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is a very intelligent and strategic lawyer. Somebody to have in your corner when things get difficult and technical.’

David Head QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is stellar.’

Lexa Hilliard QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘She stands out for her sheer depth of experience.’

James Howells QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is experienced in energy, engineering and technology disputes.’

Adrian Hughes QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is affable, user friendly and a delight to work with.’

Riaz Hussain QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is very approachable; really rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in.’

Daniel Lightman QC - Serle Court ‘Always on top of the law and able to think of all possible lines of legal argument. He has a forensic eye for detail and a true gift for written advocacy.’

Philip Marshall QC - Serle Court ‘He is an exceptional silk.’

Lynne McCafferty QC - 4 Pump Court ‘She is one of the best silks around.’

Ian Mill QC - Blackstone Chambers Barristers ‘He is an imposing advocate and possesses a very sharp mind.’

Andrew Miller QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He is very effective in court.’

Paul Mitchell QC - 4 New Square ‘Utterly charming with the mind of an arch-strategist. Exceptionally good at dealing with a very complicated set of facts and issues and magically making the case look simple and straightforward.’

Vincent Moran QC - Keating Chambers ‘He gets to grips with the detail very quickly and maintains a clear approach to advising on risks and strategy.’

Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is very tenacious.’

Andrew Neish QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He is practical, pragmatic, fiercely intelligent and a pleasure to deal with.’

Hugh Norbury QC - Serle Court ‘He has an exemplary eye for detail, quickly cuts to the heart of the issues and is a formidable cross-examiner.’

Alison Padfield QC - 4 New Square ‘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. Not only is she intellectually outstanding, great on tactics, but you can always rely on the fact that she will work with you seamlessly as part of the team.’

Howard Palmer QC - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He is very knowledgeable and approachable.’

Fiona Parkin QC - Atkin Chambers ‘She is excellent on her feet, with very impressive cross-examination skills.’

Thomas Plewman QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is noted for auditors' negligence claims.’

David Railton QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He has great judgement.’

Adam Robb QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is fantastic. He very quickly gets to grips with details and is able to explain in simple terms to clients very legally complex matters.’

Nicola Rushton QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘She can help make even the most stressful situations seem manageable. Nicola provides thorough detailed notes that help us and our client understand clearly where we stand. She is one of the most well-organised and tech-savvy QCs that I have encountered. I wish there were more like her.’

Marion Smith QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘She is calm under pressure, extremely personable and has an easy manner with clients.’

Andrew Spink QC - Outer Temple Chambers ‘He has long experience of valuer and pensions-related professional negligence cases. Confident in court and a good delegator.’

Clare Stanley QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘Claire is superb; she reads everything, understands all the nuances and gives clear pragmatic advice on the law (of which she has an exceptional grasp) and commercial considerations. Extremely client friendly and to top it off, fantastic advocacy skills.’

Peter Susman QC - Henderson Chambers ‘He is experienced in claims involving accountants, architects, solicitors, surgeons and surveyors.’

Michael Tennet QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is particularly experienced in pensions-related disputes.’

Francis Tregear QC - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is experienced in professional negligence disputes.’

Andrew Wales QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He is very able and proactive.’

Steven Walker QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He has the ability to provide clear and succinct advice, no matter how technically complex the matter is.’

Geraint Webb QC - Henderson Chambers ‘He is very experienced in professional negligence cases.’

Joanne Wicks QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘She is the complete package in respect of client, court and legal skills.’

2019 Silks

Nicholas Craig QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘A powerful and highly experienced advocate. Advice is always clear and realistic. Response times are excellent and clients love him.’

Thomas Dumont QC - Radcliffe Chambers ‘Specialist in probate and trust claims but also has good experience of professional negligence defence claims. A very useful combination. Provides clear written advice. He has a calm manner and a great rapport with courts and clients.’

James Leabeater QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He has an excellent grasp of the legal and technical issues and is very user friendly. He has the ability to assimilate detail into clear and concise pleadings.’

Nicholas Medcroft QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A talented young silk who has a bright future ahead of him.’

Siân Mirchandani QC - 4 New Square ‘She is an accomplished and courageous advocate with nous for the right points. Gives 100% and expects the same from the lawyers in her team.’

Fionn Pilbrow QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is an accomplished professional negligence silk.’

Daniel Saoul QC - 4 New Square ‘He is accessible and brings a solutions-focused approach. He provides robust and sensible advice.’

Daniel Shapiro QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is extremely knowledgeable and is not afraid to make a call and stand behind it.’

Peter de Verneuil Smith QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He has outstanding attention to detail but also a rare ability to understand commercial dynamics.’

David Yates QC - Pump Court Tax Chambers ‘He is truly excellent.’

2020 Silks

Zoë Barton QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘She is an astute tactician.’

Chloe Carpenter QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘She has a fantastic forensic mind and is able to drill down and find holes in the other side's evidence.’

Jamie Carpenter QC - Hailsham Chambers ‘Considered, accessible, very bright and highly persuasive.’

Krista Lee QC - Keating Chambers ‘Her understanding of construction-related professional indemnity claims is excellent. Her advice is accurate and strategic and she also recognises the commercial concerns of clients.’

Richard Liddell QC - 4 New Square ‘He is incredibly diligent, approachable and user friendly.’

Ben Lynch QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘His written work is excellent and his knowledge of the law and civil procedure is second to none.’

Shantanu Majumdar QC - Radcliffe Chambers ‘He is extremely thoughtful and creative.’

Andrew Mold QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He provides well-judged advice and is a sensible, polished advocate.’

Tamara Oppenheimer QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A fantastic advocate who is extremely calm and persuasive.’

Amanda Savage QC - 4 New Square ‘She is a spectacular advocate who has held her own against established silks for years.’

Alex Hall Taylor QC - 4 New Square ‘He will do very well in silk.’

Giles Wheeler QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is a master of detail and always willing to challenge assumptions.’

2021 Silks

Clare Dixon QC - 4 New Square ‘She is great on her feet and equally so on paper: an all-round star. Clients and the court love her, and so do her solicitors.’

Adam Kramer QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is affable and persuasive: a dangerous opponent.’

Claire Packman QC - 4 Pump Court ‘She is a real star.’

Matthew Parker QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘A superb cross-examiner and skilled advocate.’

Tony Singla QC - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is hardworking, with good tactical skills.’

George Spalton QC - 4 New Square ‘ George is a thoroughly modern barrister, easy to engage with and sensible. He is very strong on strategy and good on his feet. Clients engage with him. All in all, a safe pair of hands.’

Samuel Townend QC - Keating Chambers ‘He is an excellent advocate, dealing with points in a forthright, efficient manner.’

Nicholas Trompeter QC - Selborne Chambers ‘He is an excellent and skilled barrister.’

Leading Juniors

Scott Allen - 4 New Square ‘Scott adopts a balanced approach and obviously has a great depth of experience in professional negligence matters. He always responds well to a challenge. He is able to distil the more complex issues into succinct and readable advice. He works collaboratively with solicitors and has a strong team ethic.’

Francis Bacon - Hailsham Chambers ‘Seriously impressive attention to detail. Very reliable and bright, easy to deal with, extremely accommodating. He turns around work very quickly which is so helpful. Great in conferences with clients and always impressses with his detailed knowledge of cases and case law.’

Ivor Collett - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is very bright, incredibly approachable and willing to listen. A great person to work with on a case over a number of years. Team player.’

Helen Evans - 4 New Square ‘She is in a class of her own: wonderfully hands-on and pitch perfect in her ability to grasp the issues.’

Hugh Evans - 4 New Square ‘Hugh is a living encyclopedia when it comes to authorities on professional negligence. He is one of those few barristers who even with their wealth of knowledge is always willing to listen and consider the ideas of others and finesse them in their own measured manner.’

Jason Evans-Tovey - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is exceptionally bright and sees the big picture when advising.’

Derek Holwill - Hailsham Chambers ‘ Superb analysis and attention to detail. Excellent knowledge of the law, clear and thorough advice. Really understands how a court will see the issues, and gives robust advice to clients. Excellent and persuasive drafting, and advocacy. Very strong on his feet and on paper.’

Simon Howarth - Hailsham Chambers ‘Extremely sharp mind and great at spotting and dealing with tricky legal points. He is extremely able academically but also has an acute tactical grasp of cases. A wonderful turn of phrase; conscientious; personable.’

Kate Livesey - 4 Pump Court ‘Kate is an absolute star. She is brilliant: a silk in all but name.’

Charles Phipps - 4 New Square ‘He provides clear and insightful advice.’

Simon Wilton - Hailsham Chambers ‘Brilliant with the technical detail. Amazing ability to retain knowledge of the huge number of documents in professional negligence cases and apply them when needed. Excellent cross examiner, really drills down to the issues.’

Timothy Chelmick - 4 New Square ‘He is brilliantly smart and second to none in terms of tactics and strategy. Working with Tim spoils you for working with other barristers.’

James Hall - Hardwicke ‘His greatest strength is his ability to see the bigger commercial picture and not get lost in the legal merits. This is what is important to clients. In real terms that means getting results early on in the litigation.’

Miles Harris - 4 New Square ‘He is a cool advocate under fire and a wonderful team player. Always goes the extra mile for clients.’

Simon Henderson - 4 Pump Court ‘He is exceptional on complex professional negligence disputes.’

Hugh Jackson - Selborne Chambers ‘He is extremely knowledgeable and a very good advocate.’

Justin Kitson - Selborne Chambers ‘He has a real eye for both the overall detail and the key point that wins cases.’

Shail Patel - 4 New Square ‘He has phenomenal attention to detail and beautifully crafts his pleaded case. He is responsive and collaborative, and takes initiative to improve our clients' position.’

David Pliener - Hardwicke ‘He is excellent across the board - good with clients, on paper and on his feet.’

Camille Slow - Atkin Chambers ‘She's incredibly smart and is happy to get her hands dirty and discuss issues with the broader team.’

Carl Troman - 4 New Square ‘Carl is one of the most responsive barristers I have ever worked with. He gives clear, logical and importantly, commercial advice, and always provides it promptly.’

Michael Wheater - Hardwicke ‘He is extremely intelligent, hardworking and commercially astute. He is a great team player and always comes through for us under pressure.’

Nik Yeo - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is likeable, calm and strategic. He has intricate knowledge of the Solicitors Act and the Code of Conduct.’

Isabel Barter - 2 Temple Gardens ‘She has an amazing eye for detail and a powerful intellect. Wonderfully clear advice and tremendous work ethic. A real star.’

Michael Bowmer - 4 New Square ‘He is extremely bright and has a great eye for detail. Great for the detailed Chancery type claim where he is always able to get to the heart of it and to tell me what I need to know.’

Suzanne Chalmers - Crown Office Chambers ‘She is a polished performer. She is extremely clever and the quality of her advice and drafting is exceptionally good and at the same time she can explain complex points of law in a way that can be understood.’

Lucy Colter - 4 New Square ‘She is very bright and has great attention to detail. Calm under fire.’

Richard Coplin - Keating Chambers ‘He is technically brilliant, commercial and user friendly. Provides strong advice on legal issues and also excellent guidance on commercial and strategic considerations.’

Peter Dodge - Radcliffe Chambers ‘Peter is an excellent Barrister, detailed, accurate, thorough and a very good and responsive advocate.’

Simon Hale - 4 Pump Court ‘Simon is very talented and though hugely intelligent wears it lightly. He cuts through the morass and gets right to the heart of the issues with alacrity – with the focus and intensity of a laser beam. His thoroughness and attention to detail is fast becoming the stuff of legend.’

Rónán Hanna - Atkin Chambers ‘An absolute work horse and technically excellent.’

Matthew Jackson - Hailsham Chambers ‘He thinks through the commercial consequences to the client.’

Calum Lamont - Keating Chambers ‘He is ridiculously bright and all over the detail. Has an innate ability to identify key issues quickly and his drafting is extremely polished.’

Joshua Munro - Hailsham Chambers ‘Joshua is collaborative, hardworking and sharply intelligent. An absolute delight to work with, able to establish a firm bond with clients, be they hardened professionals or laypeople. Tactically astute, nimble on his feet and an excellent technical lawyer.’

Andrew Nicol - 4 New Square ‘He is an extremely effective advocate. He has an excellent command of the law and does not shy away from the difficult questions, always offering a way forward. Andrew always has his eye on the bigger picture.’

Katie Powell - Atkin Chambers ‘She has a fantastic understanding of the law and the issues in play. Superb attention to detail and excellent drafting. Very clear and thorough advice, but easy to follow and practical.’

Peter Ratcliffe - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Great intellect, legal knowledge, practical approach and meticulous preparation skills. He is extremely able and has great attention to detail.’

Michael Ryan - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘ He is clever, articulate and hardworking. I had no hesitation in relying upon his work product.’

Dan Stacey - Hailsham Chambers ‘He is an exceptional advocate, with a measured approach to cross-examination. Dan is an academic and thorough lawyer, and is able to identify the key issues in a case and is also good at dealing with clients in conference.’

Jonathan Steinert - Henderson Chambers ‘He is a brilliant advocate.’

Benjamin Wood - 4 New Square ‘He is hands-on and user friendly, and the quality of his advice is spot on.’

Luke Wygas - 4 Pump Court ‘He is inventive, flexible and tenacious. Extremely confident which clients like.’

Tom Asquith - 4 New Square ‘An enviably talented junior barrister. He is exceptionally good on his feet. He has good analytical skills and is able to draw together threads to formulate sound and reasoned arguments and advice.’

Nicola Atkins - Crown Office Chambers ‘She is exceptional. Nicola is very easy to communicate with and very approachable.’

Imran Benson - Hailsham Chambers ‘Imran is exceptionally bright, attentive and very commercial; ensuring the legal position and the client's commercial objectives are considered in tandem. A very strong junior who provides forthright and clear advice.’

Elizabeth Boon - Crown Office Chambers ‘Elizabeth is very user friendly, hardworking, and has a keen eye for a commercial solution to the client's problems. She rapidly gets to the heart of the issues and communicates the strengths and weaknesses of the case clearly.’

Thomas Braithwaite - Serle Court ‘He is a very talented barrister.’

Nicholas Collings - Atkin Chambers ‘He is a great advocate.’

David Drake - Serle Court ‘He is very able junior for professional negligence instructions.’

Omar Eljadi - Atkin Chambers ‘He is incredibly logical and clear headed. He can sift out and distil things with an attractive brevity.’

Doré Green - 2 Temple Gardens ‘A fiercely intelligent advocate with piercing insight. Doré is someone who chases down every point in a case until he knows it inside out. A terrific barrister to have on your side, and terrifying when he appears on the other side!’

John Greenbourne - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is easy to work with, responsive and gives digestible advice.’

Christopher Greenwood - 4 New Square ‘Extremely detailed in his advice, both in writing and in conference. His particulars of claim are comprehensive and miss no point. He is extremely empathetic with clients and able to build rapport. His service to solicitors is excellent and responds quickly to correspondence.’

Edward Harrison - Brick Court Chambers ‘He manages to condense a complicated factual matrix into clear and concise advice.’

Richard Harrison - Devereux ‘He is very knowledgeable and a skilled advocate.’

Josephine Higgs - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘She is highly intelligent and user friendly.’

Stephen Innes - 4 New Square ‘He has very good judgement, and is very measured and sensible. He never gets gung-ho; he behaves as if it's his money and/or reputation on the line, and gives pragmatic advice.’

Jennifer Jones - Atkin Chambers ‘Clear advice. Highly responsive and experienced.’

Nico Leslie - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is the real deal: user friendly, hardworking and a superb tactician.’

Pippa Manby - 4 New Square ‘She is hard working, leaves no stone unturned and is excellent technically. One to watch.’

Sarah McCann - Hardwicke ‘An excellent junior. She is robust and incisive.’

William Moffett-Radcliffe Chambers‘Very good technically and fantastic with clients - the perfect balance. A very safe pair of hands.’

Sonia Nolten - 2 Temple Gardens ‘She is a tenacious cross-examiner and a highly persuasive advocate.’

Thomas Ogden - 4 New Square ‘He consistently manages to pick out the key points from a complex dispute quickly and efficiently.’

Elizabeth Ovey - Radcliffe Chambers ‘She is a superstar.’

Paul Parker - 4 New Square ‘An excellent advocate who presents well and can deal robustly with counter-arguments.’

Catherine Piercy - Hardwicke ‘She has a quick grasp of technical claims, a great client manner and is strong on her feet in court.’

Alexander Polley - One Essex Court ‘Alex is an extremely able barrister: he is enormously rigorous, writes succinctly and attractively, and has a depth of knowledge of the law as to professional negligence (in particular in regard to auditing) and the practical experience necessary to apply it.’

Ben Smiley - 4 New Square ‘Ben is an extremely effective advocate who often out-performs his more senior opposing counsel. He is incredibly well prepared and has a sharp focus on the detail.’

David Thomas - 2 Temple Gardens ‘He is very bright, user friendly and a team player. He is an established practitioner in this area, and has expertise in "pure" professional negligence and technology and construction work.’

Jonathan Titmuss - Hardwicke ‘He is a great team player and extremely client friendly.’

Kate Vaughan-Neil - 4 Pump Court ‘She is very able and experienced.’

Richard Walford - Serle Court ‘He is kind, wise and dependable.’

Mischa Balen - Atkin Chambers ‘He is concise, identifies and grasps the key points quickly, and punches above his weight.’

Henry Bankes-Jones - Hailsham Chambers ‘Henry is fantastic. He always delivers his work on time and without fuss. The advice is always very clear. He is also a fantastic advocate and has delivered some excellent results at trial.’

Thomas Bell - Hardwicke ‘He is excellent. His attention to detail sets him apart.’

Natasha Bennett - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Natasha's drafting/written commentary is first rate. She is also very clear and precise in providing advice and is extremely responsive and a very collaborative team member.’

Alexandra Bodnar - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Clarity of thought, exceptional legal brain and fantastic with clients, and an accomplished advocate. The whole package really.’

Christopher Bond - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He has a calm style of advocacy, with good judgement in difficult situations.’

James Bowling - 4 Pump Court ‘He is a well-prepared, articulate and persistent advocate.’

Lucie Briggs - Atkin Chambers ‘Lucie provides excellent advice on very technical matters, often with little preparation time. Her advice is clear, concise and to the point. She is also very friendly and approachable.’

Nicholas Broomfield - 4 New Square ‘He is extremely thorough and does not miss a trick.’

Paul Bury - Keating Chambers ‘A future super-star. He understands commercial needs of the client and is incredibly responsive.’

Noel Casey - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He is very knowledgeable.’

Camilla Chorfi - Falcon Chambers ‘She is great at getting into the complex detail of a case.’

James Duffy - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is a clever, analytical barrister who is also charming and popular with solicitors and clients.’

Michael Gadd - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is highly intelligent and an excellent advocate.’

Helen Galley - XXIV Old Buildings ‘She is exceptional.’

David E. Grant - Outer Temple Chambers ‘Very knowledgeable in the pensions professional negligence field.’

Nicholas Hill - Outer Temple Chambers ‘He is excellent with clients, has a great eye for detail and picks up the background very quickly.’

Stuart Hornett - Selborne Chambers ‘He is clever and user friendly with a meticulous capacity for detail.’

Sara Ibrahim - 3 Hare Court ‘Demonstrates sound judgement in relation to case strategy. She is a highly capable barrister who grasps complex issues quickly. She is very thorough and considers cases from a variety of angles.’

Saleem Khalid - 1 Chancery Lane ‘His strength as an advocate lies in his calm and well-judged delivery.’

Farhaz Khan - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is extraordinarily bright and superbly commercial. He is assertive and bold and easy to work with. Clients love him.’

Gary Lidington - Radcliffe Chambers ‘ Gary is approachable yet incisive and completely and reliably on top of each brief. Has a talent for unpicking the thorniest of issues and is excellent on his feet. Analytical and always has a plan; popular with clients.’

Marc Lixenberg - Atkin Chambers ‘He is brilliant on strategy and great with clients.’

Alexander MacDonald - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He is a delight to work with, and very sensible and mature.’

Sophie Mallinckrodt - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Noted for cases involving financial services professionals.’

David Myhill - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is technically excellent and very approachable.’

Edmund Neuberger - Atkin Chambers ‘He grapples with the detail well.’

Niamh O’Reilly - Hailsham Chambers ‘She has a no-nonsense approach to advocacy and is excellent on her feet. I have every confidence that she will achieve what she sets out to achieve. She is very bright and forward thinking. Very commercial.’

Seb Oram - 3PB ‘He has a great ability to absorb complex facts and cut to the heart of the issue. He is methodical and, in terms of bang for your buck, you get a much bigger bang with Seb than you would with other barristers of a similar year of call.’

Laurence Page - Hardwicke ‘He is easy to work with and very approachable.’

Nicholas Pilsbury - Hailsham Chambers ‘Nick is very good at dealing with the clients, and is down to earth and commercial in his advice. Nick's specialist knowledge of accountancy and financial claims is invaluable. Nick is effective and easy to deal with.’

Richard Sage - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is tactically astute, responds quickly and has excellent drafting skills.’

James Sharpe - Crown Office Chambers ‘He has all of the relevant precedents at the forefront of his mind. Presents well to professional and insurer clients and is a reassuring sounding board on complex issues.’

Andrew Spencer - 1 Chancery Lane ‘Andrew is an expert in the defence of claims against solicitors involving underlying personal injury litigation. Great attention to detail and excellent working in a team. He is very calm and instils confidence.’

Angharad Start - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘She has an excellent strategic approach. Angharad is very passionate about cases, thorough in her preparation and often approaches cases from interesting angles.’

Carlo Taczalski - Crown Office Chambers ‘A great blend of being exceptionally bright, hardworking and responsive together with a charming personality. Engenders confidence of clients both in conference and courtroom. More than a match for experienced counsel both in mainstream professional indemnity work and more specialist.’

Elizabeth Weaver - XXIV Old Buildings ‘She is excellent.’

Simon Williams - Radcliffe Chambers ‘Very detailed analysis of the law and issues - very precise - and great to work with, as well as being very commercial, which is key.’

Ebony Alleyne - Hardwicke ‘She is impressive. She is professionally inquisitive and is tenacious.’

Sushma Ananda - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘She has a practice beyond her years.’

Richard Anderton - Hailsham Chambers ‘He has fantastic attention to detail and is extremely thorough. Incredibly user-friendly. Pragmatic advisor.’

Stephen Bailey - Hailsham Chambers ‘Although he is relatively junior, Stephen already has an in-depth knowledge of solicitors' negligence issues. He is able to analyse significant levels of documents and draw out the main points. He inspires confidence in the clients.’

Edward Bennion-Pedley - Selborne Chambers ‘He is diligent, hardworking, mindful of applicable time limits and has an excellent manner with clients.’

Stewart Chirnside - Quadrant Chambers ‘Superb on paper and on his feet.’

Rupert Choat - Atkin Chambers ‘He is thorough, concise and very detailed in his analysis.’

Patrick Clarke - Atkin Chambers ‘He is clearly very intelligent and knowledgeable on construction matters.’

Niamh Cleary - Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is extremely clever and could not work harder for clients.’

Jonathan Dawid - Brick Court Chambers ‘He is fantastic in unpicking complex issues in the professional liability sphere.’

Jack Dillon - Hardwicke ‘He is very bright, calm and collected.’

Benjamin Faulkner - Wilberforce Chambers ‘Excellent communicator and both quick and bright. Very good in conference, in which he combines impressive mental agility with sensitivity to the concerns of the client. He works hard and effectively, makes a point of responding quickly and thoroughly, and is a great comfort to have on the team.’

Benjamin Fowler - 4 New Square ‘He is extremely hardworking and astute. He is very collected, and will advise when a case is weak and needs to be strengthened, as well as when a more aggressive and expansive approach is required. These qualities are unusual for someone of his call.’

Gavin Hamilton - 3PB ‘He is client friendly, bright and considers the finer detail well.’

Richard Hanke - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is an impressive junior for professional negligence matters.’

Anthony Jones - 4 New Square ‘He cuts through difficult problems with neat legal solutions and works brilliantly as part of a wider team.’

Edward Knight - XXIV Old Buildings ‘A very able junior barrister.’

Anna Laney - Crown Office Chambers ‘Extremely thorough and knowledgeable, wholly committed to the case at hand. Very impressive delivery in court and personable when dealing with instructing solicitors and clients.’

Kyle Lawson - Brick Court Chambers ‘He provides excellent, reliable advice wrapped up in thorough and carefully drafted documents.’

Elizabeth Lindesay - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘She is very bright and is willing to work extremely hard. Her pleadings are thorough and her thinking inventive.’

Caroline McColgan - Crown Office Chambers ‘She is brilliant - extremely bright, immensely hardworking and very pragmatic. Nothing is too much trouble for Caroline and she is perfectly happy to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.’

Heather McMahon - Hailsham Chambers ‘A very strong junior who works well in a team. She has an extraordinary ability to distil key relevant facts from vast amounts of material.’

Emer Murphy - Wilberforce Chambers ‘She is decisive and critically analytical in her work.’

Rachael O'Hagan - Keating Chambers ‘A complete star.’

Francesca O'Neill - 1 Chancery Lane ‘She has excellent knowledge of the law and good commercial nous. An excellent advocate who produces clear, concise and persuasive documents and precise advice.’

Tom Owen - Keating Chambers ‘He is inventive and intuitive, with great advocacy skills.’

Elaine Palser - Outer Temple Chambers ‘A top choice for professional negligence claims against insolvency practitioners. Very efficient, thorough and clearly an expert in her field.’

Charles Pimlott - Crown Office Chambers ‘He provides measured and practical advice. Very much a team player and responsive.’

Helen Pugh - 3 Hare Court ‘Accessible, approachable, good written work, she is extremely able and highly regarded.’

James Purchas - 4 Pump Court ‘He is extremely thorough.’

Theodor Van Sante - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Fabulously insightful into how the regulator sees disputes.’

Edward Sawyer - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is a very measured advocate.’

Lydia Seymour - Outer Temple Chambers ‘She has excellent attention to detail, and is hardworking and knowledgeable in the pensions field.’

David Sheard - Keating Chambers ‘His cross-examination is superb. David is brilliantly responsive and client focused with fantastic attention to detail.’

Tom Shepherd - 4 New Square ‘He has strong legal judgement.’

Adam Temple - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘He is bright, personable and a pleasure to work with.’

Matthew Thorne - 4 Pump Court ‘He is an excellent advocate, his written work is thorough and considered, and he is always thinking strategically.’

James Walmsley - Wilberforce Chambers ‘He is extremely detail oriented and has an absolute mastery of the law.’

Harry Wright - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘Clever, dedicated, rapid turnaround. Listens carefully. Open to new ideas. He has good instincts for how to deal with both witnesses and the court. Really understands the Insurance market so sees issues through the lens of his clients.’

Rising Stars

Mark Cullen - 4 New Square ‘A powerful advocate who is always attuned to the judge's thinking. He has sound judgement, is calm under pressure and inspires confidence.’

James Goudkamp - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘He is a phenomenal source of knowledge and an extraordinarily meticulous, hardworking and helpful team player. He has an amazing work ethic and a thorough knowledge of the law.’

Diarmuid Laffan - 4 New Square ‘He is an excellent advocate and thinks quickly on his feet. Excellent drafting skills, very thorough and always gets into the detail of the matter.’

Sophie Shaw - Brick Court Chambers ‘She is very clever and easy to work with - on her way to high places.’

Jack Steer - Hailsham Chambers ‘He has strong technical ability and is always willing to give a firm and clear view. Very thorough and excellent drafting skills - does not miss anything.’

Adam Taylor - Crown Office Chambers ‘Adam has a good commercial approach, recognising that not everything is an academic problem and sometimes a sensible head should be allowed to prevail.’

Louis Zvesper - Hardwicke ‘He is very thorough, confident in argument and unfazed by much more senior opposition.’

Tier 1 sets

4 New Square

4 New Square 'is one of the go-to sets for professional negligence work', and is highlighted for its 'tremendous strength in depth', with 'a wide range of excellent barristers available to assist'. The 'approachable and user-friendly' set is experienced in cases involving professionals from across the spectrum. Highlights include Roger Stewart QC representing the defendant in Mayr and others v CMS Cameron McKenna, a high-value solicitors' negligence claim, and Jamie Smith QC and Shail Patel defending a City investment firm in Various Investors v Canaccord Genuity, relating to the alleged mis-selling of film finance schemes. In addition, Clare Dixon appeared in the Court of Appeal in Matthew v Sedman, which involved a claim against accountants.

4 Pump Court

4 Pump Court is 'an impressive set with strength and depth' in the professional negligence field, counting 'a whole list of real stars' among its members. The set handles claims against a range of professionals, from accountants and financial advisers to solicitors, barristers, valuers and surveyors, with particular expertise in claims against telecoms and construction professionals. The set's recent highlights include Jeremy Nicholson QC, Sean Brannigan QC, Fiona Sinclair QC and Luke Wygas acting on different sides of Premier Inn v MSA, a complex, five-party cladding claim. Michael Douglas QC, Benjamin Pilling QC, Lynne McCafferty QC and Aidan Christie QC also continue to be involved in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry.

Hailsham Chambers

'Well-regarded as one of the best sets for professional negligence', Hailsham Chambers stands out for its 'spectacular strength in depth' and 'range and breadth of expertise'. The set is 'a leader in solicitors' professional negligence work', with recent highlights including Michael Pooles QC and Matthew Jackson acting for the defendant solicitors' firm in the Supreme Court case of Edwards v Hugh James, which related to the settlement of personal injury litigation. However, members act on claims against a wide range of professionals; in a recent example, William Flenley QC and Francis Bacon appeared in the Court of Appeal in Group Seven v Nasir, which involved accountants' liability.

Tier 2 sets

3 Verulam Buildings

3 Verulam Buildings is a 'pragmatic and commercial' set, with 'excellent strength in depth in professional negligence'. The 'well-regarded and respected' set has particular expertise in financial and insurance-related professional negligence claims, with Matthew Hardwick QC and Ali Malek QC defending a financial brokerage company in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners, a multi-party claim brought by the Danish tax authority, and Andrew Onslow QC representing the investors in a claim against a tax silk and an independent financial adviser over a film finance tax scheme. Other highlights include Adam Kramer representing the defendant law firm in Addlesee v Dentons, which related to a fraudulent investment scheme.

7 King's Bench Walk

7 King's Bench Walk stands out for its 'huge strength in depth at junior and silk levels' and 'deep experience of professional negligence work'. The 'excellent' set has particular expertise in accountants' and auditors' negligence claims, but also handles claims against solicitors, barristers, insurance brokers and financial consultants, among other professionals. Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC and Harry Wright will appear in the Supreme Court in Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton, which relates to the scope of auditors' duties, and, along with Alexander MacDonald, are also representing various parties in ABN AMRO Bank v Various underwriters, Edge Brokers and others, a high-profile insurance and broker negligence claim.

Atkin Chambers

Noted for its 'very capable practitioners' and 'great strength in depth', Atkin Chambers draws on its position as 'one of the leading construction sets in the UK' to handle a wide range of construction, infrastructure and engineering-related professional negligence claims. Stephanie Barwise QC, Omar Eljadi and Jennifer Jones continue to be involved in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and members are acting on a number of other significant claims involving fire safety issues, including Nicholas Baatz QC and Marc Lixenberg representing the claimant housing association in Stonewater v BAM Construction, a cladding dispute which concerns builders' and architects' liability. International arbitrations relating to construction projects are also an area of expertise.

Brick Court Chambers

Brick Court Chambers is 'a strong set in the professional negligence area', with a number of 'excellent barristers, both silks and juniors'. Members handle claims against a wide range of professionals, but have recently been particularly active in claims against advisers in relation to film finance tax schemes, with Tom Adam QC defending two leading silks in McClean & Others v Andrew Thornhill QC and Lancaster & Others v Jonathan Peacock QC. Auditors' negligence cases are also an area of strength for the set: Simon Salzedo QC continues to represent the defendants in Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton (leading Sophie Shaw) and BAT v PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Crown Office Chambers

An 'excellent' set, Crown Office Chambers has 'great strength in depth', with 'first-rate silks' and 'juniors who are all experts in their field'. Members handle claims involving solicitors and barristers, insurance brokers, accountants and construction professionals, among others. Recent examples of the set's strength in construction-related claims include Ivor Collett and Nicola Atkins representing parties in claims relating to the installation of flammable cladding, and Ben Quiney QC and Richard Sage representing the defendant in National Trust v Cuffe, which relates to a fire in a stately home. Other highlights include Daniel Shapiro QC acting for the defendant in Mayr & others v CMS Cameron McKenna, a high-value solicitors' negligence claim.

Fountain Court Chambers

Fountain Court Chambers is 'a leading professional negligence set', with 'particularly impressive silks' and 'heavyweight juniors'. The 'high-calibre' members are experienced in claims against a broad range of professionals, including barristers and solicitors, financial services professionals, fund managers, and accountants and tax advisers. In recent highlights, Anneliese Day QC, Mark Simpson QC and Natasha Bennett are acting on either side of Axiom Funds v Mayer Brown, a solicitors' negligence case relating to the collapse of a legal financing fund, and Richard Coleman QC is representing three major banks in the high-profile Ingenious litigation brought by investors in a film finance scheme.

Keating Chambers

'A leading construction set', Keating Chambers is highly experienced in construction-related professional negligence cases, acting on claims against professionals ranging from architects, contractors and engineers to property developers and surveyors. The set, which is highlighted for the 'depth of both senior and junior counsel', has particular expertise in claims involving complex fire safety issues: Adam Constable QC is representing one of the defendants in Premier Inn v Urban Innovations and others, a multi-party claim relating to alleged defects in the cladding of a hotel. Members of chambers including Adrian Williamson QC, Marcus Taverner QC and Rachael O’Hagan are also involved in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry.

Wilberforce Chambers

Wilberforce Chambers has 'an excellent reputation' for professional negligence work. The set draws on its strength in areas including trusts, property and pensions to handle claims against professionals, ranging from accountants to construction professionals, tax and pensions advisers, and insurance brokers. Members have recently been involved in a number of solicitors' negligence claims, with Joanna Smith QC acting on a claim against two law firms and a planning consultant relating to a proposed commercial development in George J Goff Ltd v Chaplin Farrant Ltd & Cozens-Hardy LLP, and Jonathan Seitler QC and Benjamin Faulkner acting for the defendant in Khangura v Walker Morris, a solicitors' negligence case concerning conveyancing issues.

Tier 3 sets

2 Temple Gardens

The 'responsive', 'flexible' and 'commercially astute' members of the 'always strong' 2 Temple Gardens are experienced in claims against professionals including solicitors and barristers; insurance and financial services advisers; architects and engineers; surveyors and valuers; and other construction and design professionals. Recent highlights of note include Charles Dougherty QC, Isabel Barter and David Thomas acting for a QC in Gaze v HS, a claim concerning the scope of a barrister's duty to advise, and Neil Moody QC representing the developer of a large residential complex in Ramvel Ltd v Bartlett Plumbing and Countryside Properties, a contractors' negligence claim relating to the construction of a soil vent pipe system.

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers is an 'excellent' set, with 'a deep roster of top QCs and very good juniors', which draws on its strength in construction matters to handle claims against engineers, architects, builders, surveyors and other construction professionals. Paul Darling QC acted for the claimant in Blue Manchester Ltd v North West Ground Rents Ltd, a claim relating to cladding defects, while Stuart Catchpole QC continues to be involved in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. The set was also strengthened by the arrivals of Andrew Kearney (also an associate mediator at St John's Chambers), David Sawtell (from Lamb Chambers) and Camilla ter Haar (from Five Paper) in early 2020.

Hardwicke Chambers Limited

Hardwicke is 'an approachable set' with 'experienced barristers who really know their chosen fields'. The set, which includes 'many excellent juniors', draws on its strength in property and construction to handle a range of construction-related professional negligence claims, with Paul Reed QC, David Pliener and Ebony Alleyne acting for the leaseholders in a claim against various members of the project team in Green Oasis International Company Limited v Northacre Plc, which relates to defective redevelopment works, and Catherine Piercy acting for a subcontractor in Premier Inn v KD Facades and others, a high-profile cladding claim. Members also have expertise in solicitors', investment and financial services negligence, among other areas.

Radcliffe Chambers

Radcliffe Chambers has a 'stellar line-up of practitioners' in the field of professional negligence, particularly in claims relating to property, trusts, financial services and pensions advice. The set has expertise in claims against solicitors, financial professionals, pension consultants, accountants and auditors, and surveyors and valuers, among others. Recent highlights include Jeremy Cousins QC and Peter Dodge acting for the claimants in CNM Estates (Tolworth Tower) Ltd v VeCREF I SARL, which involved a claim that receivers appointed to a development project breached their duty of care by selling at an undervalue, and in Howard v Gateley UK, a solicitors' negligence claim relating to the sale of a financial services firm.

Tier 4 sets

1 Chancery Lane

1 Chancery Lane 'covers the whole gamut of liability issues', handling claims against professionals including solicitors and barristers, insurance brokers, property valuers and surveyors, accountants and financial advisers. The set also has a niche expertise in professional negligence claims involving local authorities and the education sector; in a recent example, Andrew Warnock QC represented social services in Goman v Stockport. He is also acting in the Supreme Court case of Grondona v Stoffel & Co, a solicitors' negligence claim concerning the conveyance of a residential property and the registration of a mortgage against it.

Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers stands out for its 'strength in depth in pensions professional indemnity work', frequently advising on claims against solicitors, barristers, actuaries, financial services professionals and insolvency practitioners in relation to occupational pension schemes. The set also handles claims involving financial services, wills and estates, businesses in administration and the conduct of litigation. In a recent highlight, members of chambers including Nicolas Stallworthy QC, David E Grant and Nicholas Hill were on the legal teams of three of the four parties in Briggs v Aon & others (Re Gleeds), a professional negligence case arising out of earlier proceedings relating to a pension scheme.

Selborne Chambers

Selborne Chambers is particularly experienced in professional negligence claims against solicitors' firms, especially in relation to property transactions, but the set also acts on claims against financial services professionals and insurance brokers, among others. Recent highlights have included Nicholas Trompeter representing the Chief Land Registrar in Dhillon v Barclays Bank Plc & Chief Land Registrar, a claim relating to mistaken or negligent property transfers, and Edward Bennion-Pedley acting for the Frederick family in Frederick & Others v Positive Solutions (Financial Services), which considered the liability of a financial services adviser for the fraud of an agent.

Serle Court

The 'commercial and accessible' Serle Court has 'a number of impressive silks in the professional negligence space'. The 'user-friendly' set acts on claims against a wide range of professionals, and is particularly strong in cases with company elements, as well as international and offshore matters. Recent highlights include Philip Jones QC representing the defendant corporate services providers in the Isle of Man High Court in Wickes & Ors v Humbles & Ors, which relates to the management of a property development, and Daniel Lightman QC acting for the defendant in Estera Trust & Anor v Singh & Ors, a claim concerning the duties of company directors.

XXIV Old Buildings

XXIV Old Buildings handles claims against solicitors, barristers, accountants, auditors, surveyors, valuers and trustees, and is particularly experienced in professional negligence cases involving financial mismanagement. Highlights include Francis Tregear QC acting for a Swiss investment bank in The Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan, which relates to breach of fiduciary duty and tracing claims, as well as appearing in Jackson & Money v Gershinson & Others, which concerned a claim of breach of duty against the directors of a company in liquidation. In addition, Helen Galley appeared in Southwark Living Ltd v Cramer Pelmont, a solicitors' negligence claim.

The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Professional negligence

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