The English Bar: Commercial

Leading 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.

Anneliese Day KC

Fountain Court Chambers

'Anneliese is a commanding oral advocate with a natural charisma that carries a room. She is able to grasp the essence of a matter quickly and has brilliant instincts that serve her very well on her feet. She is a nuanced and effective communicator who is able to persuade clients, lawyers and judges alike.'

Charles Dougherty KC

2 Temple Gardens

'An excellent appellate advocate - has total mastery of the law.'

Richard Hill KC

4 Stone Buildings

Tom Montagu-Smith KC

3 Verulam Buildings

‘Tom is exceptionally hard-working and detail-oriented. He has a particular skill in unpacking complex technical matters and distilling those matters down into simple propositions. He is a forceful and effective advocate who can smell the key point and press it effectively.’

Zoe O’Sullivan KC

'Very tenacious. Punchy and persistent advocacy.'

Rupert Reed KC

'One of his strongest quality lies in producing clear, strategic advice and presenting arguments in a calm but persuasive way. In arbitration, he is particularly effective at simplifying technical points for the tribunal, and in court proceedings his written advocacy is consistently of a very high standard. His written work is always outstanding —succinct, well-structured, and tailored to the client’s needs.'

Mohinderpal Sethi KC

Littleton Chambers

Sharif Shivji KC

4 Stone Buildings

'He is clinical in his analysis and drills down to the core issues very quickly and understands the legal landscape in the UAE very well having had experience in this jurisdiction for over a decade.'

Andrew Spink KC

Outer Temple Chambers

‘An astute negotiator and excellent leader.’

Farhaz Khan KC

3 Verulam Buildings

‘Farhaz is a standout and impressive advocate, combining brilliant knowledge of the law and legal processes with an exceptional ability to distil complex legal matters into commercially sound and practical strategies. He is without a doubt the advocate you want in your corner.’

David Turner KC

4 New Square Chambers

‘David has unmatched attention to detail, and his mastery over the facts and documents immediately garners the attention and confidence of a tribunal.’

Bankim Thanki KC

Fountain Court Chambers

2

Guy Blackwood KC

Quadrant Chambers

'Excellent on his feet. Very user friendly.'

Nicholas Craig KC

3 Verulam Buildings

‘His written and oral advocacy is excellent, as is his judgment. He is always a pleasure to work with. A real team player.’

2

Karim Ghaly KC

39 Essex Chambers

'Karim is a genuinely outstanding leader possessed of a huge intellect. He is always several steps ahead of almost everyone else in the room. He is a ferocious and tenacious cross-examiner, and someone who has a total command of the information being used in the case.'

Saima Hanif KC

3 Verulam Buildings

‘Saima is an exceptional barrister and a true leader at the Bar. Her intellectual rigour and deep understanding of the law are second to none, allowing her to navigate the most complex and challenging cases with ease. As a formidable advocate and a master of written work, her judgment is always sound, and her advice is consistently invaluable. She is a highly respected and influential figure, and a tremendous asset to any team.’

Stuart Isaacs KC

Wilberforce Chambers

'Nothing escapes Stuart's attention: his approach is clinical and not a single word in his advocacy is misplaced or superfluous. His legal and evidentiary analysis is painstakingly thorough, yet his delivery remains seamless.'

Richard Liddell KC

4 New Square Chambers

Hodge Malek KC

3 Verulam Buildings

Rajesh Pillai KC

3 Verulam Buildings

'Rajesh is a phenomenal leading counsel, combining technical excellence with lashings of strategic nous.'

David Quest KC

3 Verulam Buildings

David Russell KC

Outer Temple Chambers

Christopher Smith KC

Quadrant Chambers

'His professionalism, strategic thinking, and deep understanding of English law truly set him apart. He combines strong technical expertise with a practical and commercially minded approach that consistently delivers excellent results.'

Robert-Jan Temmink KC

Quadrant Chambers

'A fantastic advocate. A brilliant lawyer on the papers. A great tactician. A real pleasure to have as part of any team. Rob is the gold standard in terms of commercial silks who undertake complex, high stakes, international work.'

Steven Thompson KC

XXIV Old Buildings

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 Assersohn KC

XXIV Old Buildings

Paul Toms KC

Quadrant Chambers

'Quick grasp of difficult issues. Strong usability. Practical and to the point.'