Albion Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings

Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 1

Health and safety work forms the backbone of Albion Chambers' regulatory practice, however members are also recognised for their expertise in prosecution and defence work in cases involving care homes, fire safety issues, consumer protection regulations and food safety, an area in which Kate Brunner QC is active. The 'very approachable' Alan Fuller, noted for his 'excellent cross-examination skills', is acting for the Health and Safety Executive in the prosecution of a Welsh coal mine for multiple health and safety breaches after an employee was injured by an underground rock fall. David Sapiecha and Alexander West are also key figures in the team.

Western Circuit > Family and children law Tier 1

Albion Chambers garners praise from instructing solicitors as ‘the best set in the South West for family matters‘ and stands out for housing ‘the best team for complex high net worth financial family cases in the region‘. On the finance side, the ‘superb‘ Charles Hyde QC has established expertise in handling high-value matrimonial finance matters, often involving foreign assets; Nicholas Sproull is ‘simply outstanding and provides enormous value to any case‘; and Daniel Leafe is ‘technically exceptional – no one touches him for unravelling business and pension assets‘ in financial remedy cases. The ‘formidable‘ team is equally adept at handling complex children law instructions: Elizabeth Harris specialises in complex care proceedings, where she acts for parents, guardians and local authorities in cases involving allegations of fabricated illness, sexual and physical abuse. Sarah Pope is sought after for her expertise across the whole range of public and private children law matters.

Western Circuit > Inquests and inquiries Tier 1

Albion Chambers' inquests department has notable capabilities in handling Article 2 and jury inquests. The set is also home to the leader of the Western Circuit, Kate Brunner QC, who is highly regarded for her strength both in criminal and regulatory matters and inquests. In the inquests space, Brunner represents families of the deceased, police forces and NHS trusts, and has particular expertise in inquests in the health care space. Alexander West is praised for his 'encyclopedic case and statute knowledge'. In 2021 Richard Shepherd and Anna Richardson were both appointed to the circuit bench.

Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 2

In the words of instructing solicitors, Albion Chambers is 'a fore-runner for the provision of quality counsel for the full range of criminal matters'. Adam Vaitilingam QC recently acted for a volunteer farm worker with a longstanding mental illness who was charged with the murder of an employee on the farm where he worked; he was sentenced to a hospital order following a plea of manslaughter, which was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Turning to the juniors, Edward Hetherington prosecuted a multi-handed murder trial where the defendants were convicted of the murder of a man they wrongly believed had stolen a bicycle from them. Charley Pattison is 'a rising star', 'tirelessly relentless in her pursuit of justice' and 'acts with compassion and skill in dealing with vulnerable and challenging clients'. In August 2021 Anna Richardson was appointed to the circuit bench.

Western Circuit > Employment

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 1

Health and safety work forms the backbone of Albion Chambers' regulatory practice, however members are also recognised for their expertise in prosecution and defence work in cases involving care homes, fire safety issues, consumer protection regulations and food safety, an area in which Kate Brunner QC is active. The 'very approachable' Alan Fuller, noted for his 'excellent cross-examination skills', is acting for the Health and Safety Executive in the prosecution of a Welsh coal mine for multiple health and safety breaches after an employee was injured by an underground rock fall. David Sapiecha and Alexander West are also key figures in the team.

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Family and children law Tier 1

Albion Chambers garners praise from instructing solicitors as ‘the best set in the South West for family matters‘ and stands out for housing ‘the best team for complex high net worth financial family cases in the region‘. On the finance side, the ‘superb‘ Charles Hyde QC has established expertise in handling high-value matrimonial finance matters, often involving foreign assets; Nicholas Sproull is ‘simply outstanding and provides enormous value to any case‘; and Daniel Leafe is ‘technically exceptional – no one touches him for unravelling business and pension assets‘ in financial remedy cases. The ‘formidable‘ team is equally adept at handling complex children law instructions: Elizabeth Harris specialises in complex care proceedings, where she acts for parents, guardians and local authorities in cases involving allegations of fabricated illness, sexual and physical abuse. Sarah Pope is sought after for her expertise across the whole range of public and private children law matters.

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Inquests and inquiries Tier 1

Albion Chambers' inquests department has notable capabilities in handling Article 2 and jury inquests. The set is also home to the leader of the Western Circuit, Kate Brunner QC, who is highly regarded for her strength both in criminal and regulatory matters and inquests. In the inquests space, Brunner represents families of the deceased, police forces and NHS trusts, and has particular expertise in inquests in the health care space. Alexander West is praised for his 'encyclopedic case and statute knowledge'. In 2021 Richard Shepherd and Anna Richardson were both appointed to the circuit bench.

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 2

In the words of instructing solicitors, Albion Chambers is 'a fore-runner for the provision of quality counsel for the full range of criminal matters'. Adam Vaitilingam QC recently acted for a volunteer farm worker with a longstanding mental illness who was charged with the murder of an employee on the farm where he worked; he was sentenced to a hospital order following a plea of manslaughter, which was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Turning to the juniors, Edward Hetherington prosecuted a multi-handed murder trial where the defendants were convicted of the murder of a man they wrongly believed had stolen a bicycle from them. Charley Pattison is 'a rising star', 'tirelessly relentless in her pursuit of justice' and 'acts with compassion and skill in dealing with vulnerable and challenging clients'. In August 2021 Anna Richardson was appointed to the circuit bench.

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Employment