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Leading Silks

Lesley Anderson KC – Kings ChambersLesley is impressively quick to grasp the issues and very quickly gains the confidence of the client.'
Paul Chaisty KC – Kings ChambersPaul is an incredible trial lawyer whose cross-examination skills are exceptional. He is the counsel you want in a fight.'
Richard Chapman KC – 18 St John Street ChambersRichard is responsive in relation to new instructions. He works collaboratively with instructing solicitors and provides client-friendly advice in relation to technical points of commercial law.’
Andrew Grantham KC – Kings ChambersAndrew is incredibly clever, very good on the detail, very diligent, and conscientious.'
Mark Harper KC – Kings ChambersClients always remark on how brilliant he is, as he is always incredibly well-prepared, knows the detail, and is very commercial. He is incredibly personable with clients and generous with his time, he is exceptional on his feet, he is a ferocious cross-examiner, and his preparation is second-to-none.’
Giles Maynard-Connor KC – Exchange ChambersGiles is a heavyweight in the market. He is a clever, astute, and user-friendly commercial counsel, a team player, and he is a ferocious advocate with a winning mentality.’

Leading Juniors

Neil Berragan – Kings ChambersNeil has an easy manner about him and is very thoughtful with regard to the approach he takes to any particular matter. He is a tenacious advocate and very good on paper, both with the advice he provides, as well as the appropriate tactical considerations.'
Martin Budworth – Kings ChambersMartin is extremely client-friendly, he very easily wins the client’s confidence and keeps it, and he clearly has the ear of the bench irrespective of its seniority. All courts seem to respect his considerable intellect, and the clarity in which points are made is a talent that is appreciated.’
Carly Sandbach – Exchange Chambers ‘Carly is a real star; she combines really sharp analytical skills with a clear focus on achieving the client's commercial goals, and she is as strong on paper as she is when appearing before the court with an ability in both forms to persuasively present her client's case at its strongest. There are few barristers outside of London who stand comparison to Carly.'
David Went – Exchange Chambers 'A versatile and highly skilled advocate. He has really grown in stature over the last 24+ months, and his written work is of the highest calibre.'
Pépin Aslett – St John’s Buildings ‘Pépin is very strong technically and gives good, clear advice in the difficult work of structuring group litigation. He is a leading light.'
Paul Brant – Chambers of Paul Brant 'Paul's primary quality is that he is passionate about the law and a genuine individual who is great to work with. He is thorough and professional at all times, he always gives the best service that he can regardless of how busy he is, and clients like him and feel comfortable with him and confident in is abilities.'
Stephen Connolly – Exchange ChambersStephen is sure on his legal arguments and prepares to develop them carefully but with force in his skeleton arguments and before a judge. He is an advocate to have in your corner for a case heading for trial, and he is not distracted by new matters as they unfold and remains calm under pressure.’
David Hoffman – 18 St John Street ChambersDavid is very user-friendly. He works extremely efficiently and gets to the problem very quickly, and he is a good sounding board too.’
James Malam – Exchange Chambers 'James is excellent at spotting the important details and utilising these to the benefit of the client, and on a number of occasions he has spotted issues which have been vitally important. He takes a very considered approach to advocacy, he explains clearly and concisely his points and their relevance, and in contrast to many of his opponents, he does not need to be questioned by judges to elaborate on or explain his arguments.'
Kelly Pennifer – Kings Chambers 'Kelly is incredibly diligent, organised, and bright. She is excellent on her feet, excellent with clients, and she is the barrister you do not want against you.' 
Brad Pomfret – 23 Essex Street 'Brad is a quality barrister and he is a go-to for all matters of commercial litigation. He works hard and collaborates effectively with his instructing solicitors, he balances robust legal advice with commercial reality, and his style of advocacy is confident and direct.'
Aidan Reay – Kings ChambersAidan does not shy away from delivering realistic advice to clients and he is adept at managing their expectations in conference. His drafting is always robust and concise.'
Andrew VinsonExchange ChambersAndrew is extremely knowledgeable and always prepared to help or assist with an ad hoc query or more meaningful instructions. He is passionate for his clients and while he remains calm, he is also forceful in his points.'
Adam Aldred – Kings Chambers 'Adam is extremely knowledgeable in his field and has a calm and reassuring demeanour, which puts clients at immediate ease that their case is in safe hands. His experience in the area has also allowed him to build a network of useful contacts with various branches of expertise, making him a genuine asset.'
Richard Lander – Kings ChambersRichard is massively client-friendly, building a strong rapport with clients of all backgrounds, both individual and corporate. His opinions and court work are without fail thoroughly researched and prepared, yet easily understandable by clients and judges alike, and in court, Richard's meticulous preparation and calm manner wins appreciation from judges, opponents, and clients.'
Lawrence McDonald – Exchange ChambersLawrence is very friendly and provides an excellent service. He is also well respected and pragmatic.'
Daniel Metcalfe – St John’s Buildings ‘Daniel has a strong work ethic and attends every conference and every hearing having read every word of every document provided to him. In addition to being well-read, he becomes fully familiar with the case and has excellent recall, and during advocacy, he is a real fighter and not afraid to make points and stands his ground with opponents and judges.’
Richard Tetlow – Exchange ChambersRichard is technically excellent whilst also commercially minded. He impresses clients with a confident but courteous courtroom approach, and he is both meticulous and efficient in drafting pleadings.'
Asa Tolson 23 Essex Street 'Asa is a calm, confident advocate. He is thorough in his assessment of a case and able to give full, reasoned arguments.'
Elisabeth Tythcott18 St John Street Chambers ‘Elisabeth is invariably well-prepared and thorough. She demonstrates a good knowledge of the applicable legal principles, and as an advocate, she is calm and measured, responding effectively to judicial interventions.'
Guy Vickers – Exchange Chambers ‘Guy's strengths are his attention to detail, advocating the issues in a simple, straightforward manner.’
Michael Wilkinson – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Michael has an impressive academic approach.'
Jonathan Wright – Kings ChambersJonathan is a good all-rounder for commercial disputes. He quickly grasps the issues in dispute and provides clear, commercial advice.’

Commercial litigation in Regional Bar

Kings Chambers


Kings Chambers ‘is a go-to choice for commercial litigation matters’. Its member have national client bases, including major institutions, private sector businesses, and high-net-worth individuals. Andrew Grantham KC has a wide-ranging practice, and he handles claims involving business and share sales, the sale and carriage of goods, commercial fraud, and restrictive covenants and confidential information. In Northamber Plc v Interactive Education Solutions LtdMark Harper KC is representing a business in resisting a claim that it breached an exclusive supply agreement, causing alleged losses of £2m. The set is also home to Aidan Reay, who frequently appears in the High Court and County Court, Kelly Pennifer, who is strong on civil fraud and contractual disputes, and Neil Berragan, who is regularly before the specialist business and property courts. Martin Budworth acted for the claimant in Oakwell v BFC Investment Company, which concerns a claim for several million due to unpaid consideration from the sale of Barnsley FC to Chinese-American investors. Ben Harding is another active member of the set with a growing volume of trial and injunctive work.

Testimonials

‘Harry Young is a good clerk to deal with.’

‘They are responsive and commercial. Harry Young and Gary Young put the relationships with firms and clients first. They are great to work with and provide an all-round great service. You can always rely upon Kings.’

‘Harry Young and Paul Clarke stand out as the best.’

‘Gary Young remains an excellent and reliable clerk.’

‘The service of the clerks at Kings Chambers is excellent.’ 

‘The benefit of Kings Chambers is that they offer specialists in fields often not seen outside of the London Circuit.’

‘Kings Chambers is a go-to choice for commercial litigation matters, regardless of the location of the client or the court. Chambers also offer regular online training sessions across a broad spectrum of legal issues and principles, including shorter sessions focused on fundamental legal principles and practical tips.’

‘Excellent chambers with quality counsel.’





Exchange Chambers


At Exchange Chambers, ‘the depth of quality in its commercial team is one of the strongest in the region, if not the strongest’. The members handle a wide range of commercial litigation cases, including competition and banking matters. Giles Maynard-Connor KC handles corporate fraud cases, and experienced commercial litigator Lawrence McDonald acts in cases regarding contractual disputes for individual, companies, office holders, and public bodies. Stephen Connolly is also skilled in contentious contractual matters, and Carly Sandbach has represented parties in all levels of court up to the Court of Appeal, and her clients are broad-ranging, encompassing banks, multinationals, small businesses, professional services firms, and private individuals. Guy Vickers represented the claimant in Stonegate LLP v Pritchard, a case regarding misuse of confidential information by a former employee.

Testimonials

‘Joe Mawson and Tom Gornall are very responsive, very efficient, and very personable.’

‘Joe Mawson is an exceptional clerk and central to Chambers’ success. He goes above and beyond on every occasion and makes booking, instructing counsel, and billing, along with everything else in between, a pleasure.’

‘First-class service. The clerks are quick to respond and solution focussed. They also don’t overclerk their barristers so that they become too busy. Nick Buckley stands out; he is well-connected and always available.’

‘Joe Mawson is excellent. Always available and regularly goes above and beyond.’

‘Joe Mawson is highly efficient and manages a team of impressive clerks. He is particularly excellent at selecting the right barrister for the right matter.’

‘Exchange Chambers is a strong regional set. The depth of quality in its commercial team is one of the strongest in the region, if not the strongest, and it has a good bench of extremely capable counsel.’

‘The best set in the North-West with strong depth of experience.’

‘Exchange Chambers are certainly a go-to set for commercial work. They are commercially minded, client focussed, and work hand in hand with solicitors to achieve a good result.’





18 St John Street Chambers


The commercial litigation team at 18 St John Street Chambers houses Richard Chapman KC, who is head of chambers and also chair of the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association. He represented the claimant in RSW International Ltd v Purple Surgical Ltd, which concerned a claim for approximately £8m for a breach of contract regarding the supply of personal protective equipment. David Hoffman specialises in business and property litigation, and he is strong in contractual disputes in the High Court and County Courts.

Testimonials

‘James Parks and Ryan Pugh provide an excellent service. They are friendly and always at hand, and there is never a problem too big.’

‘Katie Brown is excellent.’

‘The business and property clerks are fantastic with particular praise reserved for Katie Brown and Ryan Pugh. The recent introduction of James Parks as head clerk has improved the already exceptional service level the clerks provide.’

‘The clerks are available and respond promptly. Katie Brown is particularly strong in communication and service.’

A fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable set.’





St John's Buildings


The members at St John’s Buildings have expertise in handling contractual disputes. The set houses Pépin Aslett, who has a thriving practice in multi-party claims, as well as banking and financial services litigation. Daniel Metcalfe regularly appears in the High Court, and he recently represented the claimant in Sale Property Consultants Ltd v JD Sports Plc, a claim for a loss of profit of £350,000.

Testimonials

‘Chris Shaw is an excellent clerk who is responsive, easy to deal with, and commercial.’

‘Rob Lang, Chis Shaw, and Gemma Eachus are wonderful and fair clerks.’

‘The chambers has an excellent offering.’