Set Profile > Twenty Essex > London, England

Twenty Essex Offices

Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex
20 ESSEX STREET
LONDON
WC2R 3AL
England
Visit website 020 7842 1200 020 7842 1270

Twenty Essex > The Legal 500 Rankings

Offshore

Leading Silks

Stephen Atherton QC - 20 Essex Street ‘We hold him in high regard.’
Ranked: Tier 2

2020 Silks

Blair Leahy QC - 20 Essex Street ‘She distils the questions asked of her and zeroes in on the key issues.’

Leading Juniors

Tony Beswetherick - 20 Essex Street ‘A great tactician.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Commodities Tier 1

Twenty Essex is 'still considered the leading set for commodities matters'. Members have extensive experience in private international law and frequently represent major commodities trading houses in high-value disputes. Their work is closely tied to the set's prominence in shipping and insurance matters. Co-head of chambers Duncan Matthews QC has more than 30 years' experience in shipping and commodities matters and he recently led prominent junior Susannah Jones in a successful $32m claim by Natixis against commodities broker and trader Marex for breach of a conditional repo agreement in relation to a metal spot purchase contract. Experienced silk Timothy Young QC and new 2020 silks Henry Byam Cook QC and Phillip Riches QC are among the set's other stars. The clerks are well led by Arron Zitver, whose 23 years' experience in instructions in the shipping, commodities and insurance sectors.

Leading Silks

Michael Ashcroft QC - Twenty Essex ‘A leading shipping silk who also excels in commodities matters, especially highly technical cases.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Timothy Young QC - Twenty Essex ‘He has a long history as an effective advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Michael Collett QC - Twenty Essex ‘A leading shipping silk who is skilled in litigation and international arbitration relating to commodities.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘A first-class commodities specialist - one of the few counsel who properly understands that area of law.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘An excellent advocate with a great deal of experience in shipping and commodities.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Phillip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘A highly capable counsel who is easy to work with and highly knowledgeable.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Timothy Hill QC - Twenty Essex ‘User-friendly and hardworking, but aggressive when needed.’
Ranked: Tier 3
David Lewis QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very deft and clever advocate in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sara Masters QC - Twenty Essex ‘Able to handle complex technical matters with ease.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Michael Coburn QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very commercial silk who always gets straight to the point.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Christopher Hancock QC - Twenty Essex ‘A first-class shipping silk who brings a user-friendly approach to commodities matters.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Julian Kenny QC - Twenty Essex ‘A clever silk at the number one set for commodities work.’
Ranked: Tier 5

2020 Silks

Henry Byam-Cook QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very good new silk who is very well regarded and is an impressive performer in this field.’
Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘An intelligent, efficient and hardworking new silk.’

Leading Juniors

Daniel Bovensiepen - Twenty Essex ‘A clever and thoughtful advocate for shipping and commodities cases.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Oliver Caplin - Twenty Essex ‘A very impressive junior who really knows his stuff and is ahead of the game.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Malcolm Jarvis - Twenty Essex ‘A hardworking junior who shows skill in commodities and shipping matters.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Susannah Jones - Twenty Essex ‘Thorough and meticulous, she is always on top of the brief.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Angharad Parry - Twenty Essex ‘An impressive commodities practitioner who is bright, switched on, hardworking and very user-friendly.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Luke Pearce - Twenty Essex ‘A fantastic junior who is highly intelligent and great to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Thomas Corby - Twenty Essex ‘A rising star who is particularly recommended for shipping and commodities matters.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Josephine Davies - Twenty Essex ‘Precise in her work and excellent in technical matters, she is also straightforward and pleasant to work with.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Colleen Hanley - Twenty Essex ‘A hardworking and highly capable junior with experience in the court and in arbitral tribunals.’

Ranked: Tier 3
Simon Milnes - Twenty Essex ‘A bright and commercial junior with experience in both London and Singapore.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sean Snook - Twenty Essex ‘Commercial and bright, he has experience in court and in arbitration in both shipping and commodities.’
Ranked: Tier 3

International arbitration: arbitrators Tier 1

Twenty Essex's longstanding commitment to international arbitration is demonstrated by its strong selection of highly-rated arbitrators, many of whom have established themselves as leading figures on the market. These include highly-rated former solicitors, such as Judith Gill QC and Julian Lew QC, as well as former judges, including Sir Bernard Rix. Several practising counsel are also popular choices for the tribunal, including Duncan Matthews QC. The arbitrators are regularly appointed to sit on major commercial and investment treaty arbitration tribunals. Gill and Michael Lee primarily work from the set's Singapore base.

IT and telecoms Tier 1

IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Silks

Lawrence Akka QC - 20 Essex Street ‘He is fantastic – approachable, insightful and clear. Very measured; strong analytical skills; expert in IT issues; pleasure to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Paul Lowenstein QC-20 Essex Street‘He is brilliant under pressure, bright, innovative, hard-working, responsive, brilliant as a team leader.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Company and partnership

Leading individuals: Company - Leading Silks

Stephen Atherton QC - 20 Essex Street ‘Held in high regard by clients.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Leading individuals: Company - 2020 Silks

Blair Leahy QC - 20 Essex Street ‘She is extremely user friendly and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that the quality of the work she produces is of outstanding standards.’

Leading individuals: Company - Leading juniors

Harris Bor - 20 Essex Street ‘He is a real fighter for the clients and a persuasive oral advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Public international law Tier 1

Twenty Essex is 'top of the list for public international law'. Clients appreciate that the 'powerhouse' set's 'very approachable' juniors and silks 'wear their considerable expertise lightly'. Two of the set's top members, Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC and Sir Michael Wood KCMG served as principal legal advisers to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and are now highly sought after as counsel. Both Bethlehem and Wood, as well as Guglielmo Verdirame QC, Philippa Webb, and Sudhanshu Swaroop QC, are representing Italy in a dispute with India, following the 'Enrica Lexie' Incident, before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Verdirame QC was also a member of the government's legal team advising on the controversial Internal Markets Bill. Chambers' junior ranks have been bolstered by the arrival of Simon Olleson from Three Stone.

Leading Silks

Sir Daniel Bethlehem KCMG QC - Twenty Essex ‘A pre-eminent silk in public international law.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Sudhanshu Swaroop QC - Twenty Essex ‘He reads the lay of the land and assists to build a case from the very outset.’
Ranked: Tier 3

2019 Silks

Guglielmo Verdirame QC - Twenty Essex ‘Top of the list for public international law. Very strong and highly knowledgable in international issues.’

Leading Juniors

Penelope Nevill - Twenty Essex ‘One of the leading public international law juniors at the English bar. Very clever, thoughtful and invariably right.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Kate Parlett - Twenty Essex ‘Great knowledge of the law and ability to communicate it to (non-specialist) lawyers and non-lawyers. Clear written advice. Fantastic cross-examination skills, including attention to detail, tenacity and just the right level of aggression.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Philippa Webb - Twenty Essex ‘The go-to expert on state immunity issues - well known for her expertise in ICJ practice, she is equally at home handling inter-state arbitration proceedings.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Monica Feria-Tinta - Twenty Essex ‘Sharp intellect, dedication, excellent knowledge of the law, and experience - willing and able to think outside the box.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Belinda McRae - Twenty Essex ‘She has a superb grasp of substantive principles in arbitration law and in public international law.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Simon Olleson - Twenty Essex ‘A powerful intellect and good to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Commercial litigation Tier 2

Twenty Essex is 'a very reputable commercial set' which seems 'to have an expert in every field of commercial law', and is particularly noted for its strong expertise in international trade. The set fields a strong selection of 'very able' barristers, including senior silks and up-and-coming baby juniors. Notable cases include Halliburton v Chubb, in which Charles Kimmins QC and Luke Pearce led the LCIA's intervention to the Supreme Court concerning the high profile arbitration award. Philip Edey QC also led Andrew Fulton in the $5bn dispute, Fundo Suberano De Angola and Others v Jean-Claude Bastos De Morais and Others.

Leading Silks

Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘Very good and excellent in advocacy and organizing strategy.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is tenacious in Court and an exceptional advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Paul Lowenstein QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is my go-to silk for heavyweight commercial disputes, particularly those with an international element.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘Friendly, approachable, responsive and a great asset to the team.’
Ranked: Tier 6
David Lewis QC - Twenty Essex ‘His written and oral advocacy is of a very high standard and he deploys arguments in an exceedingly effective manner.’
Ranked: Tier 6

2020 Silks

Blair Leahy QC - Twenty Essex ‘Extremely easy to work with and able to get up to speed extremely quickly on a very complex matter.’
Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘Can grapple with complex, thorny issues, and will come up with innovative solutions.’

Leading Juniors

Susannah Jones - Twenty Essex ‘He has excellent analytical skills, and is always on top of her subject.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Josephine Davies - Twenty Essex ‘Very user-friendly, structured, measured and thoughtful - assists in making difficult decisions with aplomb and tactically very effective.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Andrew Fulton - Twenty Essex ‘He is the one I would always want to have on my side in a tough commercial fight.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Malcolm Jarvis - Twenty Essex ‘He is particularly good on complex jurisdictional problems.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Belinda McRae - Twenty Essex ‘A brilliant communicator both as an advocate and an advisor - makes difficult points clear.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Luke Pearce - Twenty Essex ‘A fantastic junior - highly intelligent and great to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Fraud: civil Tier 2

Twenty Essex is an 'excellent' set with a strong background in civil fraud, particularly when it comes to disputes in associated areas such as commodities trading and insolvency. Clients appreciate 'the good availability of highly experienced counsel' and note that they are 'glad to accept their suggestions of junior counsel'. Recently, Stephen Atherton QC has been leading Tony Beswetherick in Standard Chartered Bank v African Minerals. Elsewhere, in Vneshprombank LLC v Bedzhamov & Ors, Paul Lowenstein QC and rising star Sam Goodman acted for the Deposit Insurance Agency of Russia, and new silk Blair Leahy QC was on the opposing team; Philip Riches was another member of the set to be elevated to silk in March 2020.

Rising stars

Sam Goodman - Twenty Essex ‘A junior to watch for sure and already punching above his weight.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Paul Lowenstein QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is brilliant under pressure, bright, innovative, hard working, responsive, and brilliant as a leader.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘Absolutely brilliant.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘Impressive - I have a massive amount of time for him.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Stephen Atherton QC - Twenty Essex ‘An impressive silk, spanning a number of areas of practice, and a persuasive advocate who jumps in and gets to grips with the issues.’
Ranked: Tier 4

2020 Silks

Blair Leahy QC - Twenty Essex ‘Blair is extremely easy to work with and was able to get up to speed extremely quickly on a very complex matter when we urgently required assistance. Her input (even when instructed on such a matter at short notice) was exceptionally perceptive and helpful.’
Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is an excellent advocate and skilful cross-examiner.’

Leading Juniors

Christopher Newman - Twenty Essex ‘Chris exudes confidence and assertively picks apart an opponent's cases seemingly with ease.’

Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Fulton - Twenty Essex ‘He is extremely bright, an excellent advocate and always fights the clients’ case with enthusiasm and vigour.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tony Beswetherick - Twenty Essex ‘He is a great tactician, anticipates every argument and is fully prepared to counter it.’
Ranked: Tier 4

International arbitration: counsel Tier 2

Twenty Essex offers top-notch expertise in areas of traditional strength, such as international trade and shipping, as well as broader commercial disputes. The set's provision of highly experienced senior silks is matched by an impressive up-flow of impressive juniors. Members are regularly instructed on major disputes, such as PL Holdings S.A.R.L -and- Republic of Poland, in which Sara Masters QC and Belinda McRae lead Poland's bid to set aside a BIT arbitration award, with Phillip Riches QC among the opposing counsel. Riches and Henry Byam-Cook boosted chambers at the senior end following their respective elevations to silk, plus the arrival of highly-rated former solicitor advocate Wendy Miles QC from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a further demonstration of the set's commitment to international arbitration.

Leading Silks

Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘Very knowledgeable and sharp, he can pick up on issues very quickly, knows the law and has the cases/authorities at his fingertips.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘One of the very best leading silks for International Arbitration.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is above a lot of the others in his generation.’
Ranked: Tier 2
David Lewis QC - Twenty Essex ‘An excellent silk - he is hugely intelligent and can read into complex matters and produce top quality notes of advice, pleadings and other documents with incredible speed.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Timothy Young QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is knowledgeable, hardworking and conscientious. I have no hesitation recommending his services.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Michael Ashcroft QC - Twenty Essex ‘An always impressive silk for arbitration matters.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sara Masters QC - Twenty Essex ‘Hugely experienced in the international arbitration field both as counsel and arbitrator.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Timothy Hill QC - Twenty Essex ‘Excellent - a top-quality silk.’
Ranked: Tier 4

2020 Silks

Henry Byam-Cook QC - Twenty Essex ‘An impressive performer in the arbitration field.’
Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘He has a wonderful ability to work through and articulate clearly both orally and in writing any knotty legal or factual problem.’

Leading Juniors

Harris Bor - Twenty Essex ‘Thorough, clever, easy to work with, and a good cross-examiner.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Fulton - Twenty Essex ‘He is intellectually very able; always fights the clients’ case with vigour; able to cut to the heart of the dispute quickly; understands the pressures of private practice and the need to adopt commercial approach rather than giving ivory tower solutions.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Belinda McRae - Twenty Essex ‘A rapier-sharp junior.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Shipping Tier 2

‘A very good and well-respected set', Twenty Essex’s barristers handled a number of high-profile, cross-border shipping disputes in 2019. The highly experienced Michael Ashcroft QC led Luke Pearce in RENOS - The Swedish Club v Machrimar Management S.A. before the Supreme Court, while the Commercial Court case The Chang Hang Guang Rong featured Ashcroft QC and Oliver Caplin against Thomas Raphael QC, while Sara Masters QC represented another party to the dispute. Pearce was also against Daniel Bovensiepen in Nautica Marine Limited v Trafigura Trading LLC (The Leonidas) before the Commercial Court. Chambers has been strengthened at the senior end after Henry Byam-Cook and Philip Riches both took silk in 2020. Also of note, at the junior end, Matthew McGhee is a rising star in chambers.

Rising stars

Matthew McGhee - Twenty Essex ‘A bright, clear thinker, who has demonstrated a knack for devising creative legal arguments.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Michael Ashcroft QC - Twenty Essex ‘One of the best silks in this area.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Timothy Young QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is very experienced and extremely knowledgeable.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very good and approachable counsel.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Christopher Hancock QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is very good with clients.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘Very persuasive in front of tribunals.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Timothy Hill QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is able to grasp the most difficult areas of the law as well as very technical issues, and is a fantastic tactician.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘An excellent cross-examiner.’
Ranked: Tier 3
David Lewis QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very good advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Michael Coburn QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very strategic thinker.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Michael Collett QC - Twenty Essex ‘He has a genial manner that belies his razor sharp mind.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Sara Masters QC - Twenty Essex ‘She is a very able silk. I would definitely recommend her.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Thomas Raphael QC - Twenty Essex ‘Well-regarded for his work in cross-jurisdictional matters.’
Ranked: Tier 5

2020 Silks

Henry Byam-Cook QC  - Twenty Essex ‘He is incredibly good.’

Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘Very thorough and detailed.’

Leading Juniors

Daniel Bovensiepen - Twenty Essex ‘He is outstanding and is very good on paper.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Oliver Caplin - Twenty Essex ‘A great barrister and well-liked by clients.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Luke Pearce - Twenty Essex ‘His advices are very well-structured and coherent and always highlight the more complex and trickier aspects.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Thomas Corby - Twenty Essex ‘Absolutely excellent and very user-friendly; nothing is too much trouble.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Colleen Hanley - Twenty Essex ‘She has a sharp eye for details. Applies a commercial and cost-conscious approach.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Malcolm Jarvis - Twenty Essex ‘He is very experienced.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Angharad Parry - Twenty Essex ‘A wonderful barrister.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sean Snook - Twenty Essex ‘A very able junior counsel.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Josephine Davies - Twenty Essex ‘A very bright and attentive barrister; methodical, thorough and very articulate.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3

Twenty Essex has several silks and juniors with a strong grounding in this area, particularly in disputes relating to futures and derivatives, and on claims with a trade, offshore, fraud or insolvency element. Paul Lowenstein QC and and Tony Beswetherick are currently representing Alfa Bank in Alfa Bank v Abyzov, Emmerson and others. Lowenstein is also acting for the claimants, alongside Luke Pearce, in two separate claims against HBOS: Dove v HBOS, and Wells v HBOS. A highlight for Philip Edey QC has been his advice to Boris Mints on PJSC National Bank and PJSC Bank Otkritie v Boris Mints and Others.

Leading Silks

Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘Conscientious and hard working, he is also a joy to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Paul Lowenstein QC - Twenty Essex ‘He is brilliant under pressure, bright, innovative, hard working, responsive, and brilliant as a leader.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Andrew Fulton - Twenty Essex ‘He is intellectually very able, always fights the clients’ case with vigour, and able to cut to the heart of the dispute quickly.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Luke Pearce - Twenty Essex ‘Very user-friendly and pro-active - he is a steady hand on cases and provides useful tactical insight on procedural matters and general case strategy.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Tony Beswetherick - Twenty Essex ‘Brilliant on paper and in court.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Energy Tier 3

Twenty Essex has 'very successfully tapped into the need to market and is a set of the future' in the energy market, with clients remarking that it is 'a modern-thinking set, keen to work in partnership with those instructing them'. Strong in shipping, commodities and commercial litigation, the set increasingly handles a broad range of energy disputes relating to oil and gas including rig construction and LNG supply matters, as well as cases in the renewable energy sector. The 'very knowledgeable and sharp' Charles Kimmins QC advised respondents in a substantial dispute concerning the construction of a jack-up drilling rig. Of the clerks, clients note that 'they really understand the set having been there for many years but are still young and enthusiastic'.

Leading Silks

Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘He can pick up on issues very quickly and he thinks outside of the box to provide practical solutions.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Duncan Matthews QC - Twenty Essex ‘A vastly experienced silk in shipping and energy matters, be they in the oil, gas or power sectors.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Michael Ashcroft QC - Twenty Essex ‘A leading shipping silk with a strong intellect that he applies to conventional and renewable energy matters.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Timothy Hill QC - Twenty Essex ‘A top-quality silk who is smart and very strategic in his approach.’
Ranked: Tier 4
David Lewis QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very deft and clever advocate in international arbitration.’
Ranked: Tier 4

2020 Silks

Philip Riches QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very hardworking and intelligent new silk with a direct style.’

Leading Juniors

Malcolm Jarvis - Twenty Essex ‘A very intelligent and composed junior with a determined approach.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Andrew Fulton - Twenty Essex ‘He is intellectually very able and always fights the client’s case with vigour.’
Ranked: Tier 4

International crime and extradition Tier 3

Leading Juniors

Monica Feria-Tinta - 20 Essex Street ‘A junior who is very competent and dedicated to her work.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Insolvency Tier 3

Leading Silks

Stephen Atherton QC - 20 Essex Street ‘On the go-to list of counsel in the restructuring and insolvency arena.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Blair Leahy - 20 Essex Street ‘She distils the questions asked of her and zeroes in on key issues so that our clients needs are looked after properly.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tony Beswetherick - 20 Essex Street ‘He is a great tactician, anticipates every argument and is fully prepared to counter it.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Professional negligence Tier 3

Leading Silks

Paul Lowenstein QC - 20 Essex Street ‘He is incredibly bright.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Insurance and reinsurance Tier 4

Twenty Essex's members consistently act for and against insurance entities in cases that raise questions about the construction of standard forms in common use, and which impact upon insurers and the insured. In recent work of note, Christopher Hancock QC acted for the claimant in a major declaration application, which concerned a pollution liability claim by the insurers under a P&I contract, and Charles Kimmins QC appeared in a UK Supreme Court appeal of a Bermuda Form liability insurance award, which arose from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Michael Ashcroft QC  also has extensive experience in insurance disputes, particularly in the marine and energy sectors, but also in relation to property and legal expenses.

Leading Silks

Philip Edey QC - Twenty Essex ‘Hardworking and tenacious in court.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Christopher Hancock QC - Twenty Essex ‘A very strong advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Charles Kimmins QC - Twenty Essex ‘A first-class counsel.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Michael Ashcroft QC - Twenty Essex ‘A highly skilled silk.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Environment Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Monica Feria-Tinta - 20 Essex Street ‘Hard-working, very committed, and generous. She has made disputes under international environmental treaties her own.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Administrative and public law (including elections) Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Gordon Nardell QC - 20 Essex Street ‘He can see the arguments instantaneously and advise on the hoof.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Penelope Nevill - 20 Essex Street ‘Penelope has an encyclopaedic knowledge of her field. She was always able to come up with an interesting angle or case to consider.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘go-to’ chambers for international arbitrators and counsel, the recently rebranded Twenty Essex is ‘one of the leading sets’ for public international law instructions, a ‘leader in the charterparty and bill of lading/contractual side of shipping’, as well as commodities work, and it also has ‘a good reputation for commercial litigation’. Solicitors also notice its members’ ever increasing presence in banking work. In recent news, following three years in the Cayman Islands as a litigation attorney at Walkers, Sarah Tresman has returned to chambers. Led by practice directors Arron Zitver, Christopher Theobald, and Anthony Carroll, the ‘ever improving’ and ‘helpful’ clerks’ room is ‘friendly, prompt, and flexible on fees’. Tara Shah has recently joined the clerks’ room from 2 Hare Court. Other names to note are CEO Jemma Tagg, COO Daniel Clark, and Rachel Foxton, head of marketing and BD director, Asia. Offices in: London and Singapore

Twenty Essex > Firm Profile

The Set: A leading commercial set of chambers, the barristers of Twenty Essex offer outstanding legal minds combined with a modern and commercial disputes experience.

Clients include major global companies, institutions, governments and their advisors from around the world and our barristers advise and appear as advocates in court or arbitration in relation to a broad range of company and commercial, EU, competition, and public international law disputes. Practices involve the preparation and conduct of litigation before a wide range of courts and tribunals, in the UK, in foreign jurisdictions as well as on the international stage.

The vast majority of the work is international in nature and we have well-established links to many overseas markets, including through our Asian hub in Singapore servicing clients throughout Asia Pacific and beyond.

The set is also home to a number of highly respected domestic and international arbitrators and mediators, some of whom were previously judges either in the UK or overseas.

Types of work undertaken:

Commercial dispute resolution: most members of Twenty Essex advise and act as advocates in relation to all types of commercial disputes, particularly in disputes with an international dimension. These may be resolved in the English courts, by institutional or ad hoc international arbitration, or by London maritime and commodity trade arbitrations. Members are experienced in representing overseas and large corporate clients and advising in complex, high-value and multi-forum litigation. The areas in which members accept instructions are: financial services (banking/compliance/regulation); international trade (including shipping, commodities and sale of goods); energy and natural resources; insurance and reinsurance; civil fraud; aviation; information technology, data protection; intellectual property; telecoms and media; ; shareholder, joint venture and partnership disputes; agency and sport.

Brexit, EU and competition: a number of members at Twenty Essex specialise in the substantive law of the EU (including Brexit) and in UK and EU competition law. Virtually all members deal with aspects of EU law regularly. A number have experience of working in the European Court of Justice, at the European Commission and for UK government regulatory authorities. Members appear before the: Competition Appeal Tribunal; Competition Commission; European Commission; European Court of First Instance; and European Court of Justice. In addition, members of the set appear regularly before domestic courts and tribunals to argue questions of EU and competition law. They also advise and represent Community institutions, member states, corporations and private individuals. Advice and the conduct of litigation both for and against the OFT and other regulatory bodies also forms a significant part of members work.

International arbitration: Twenty Essex has a strong reputation as a leading arbitration set. It has an exclusive team of 15 leading international arbitrators from around the globe. In addition, the set has 72 barrister members who act as advocates and arbitrators at all of the world’s major institutions. Its high-quality silks and juniors deal with all manner of international commercial disputes involving banking, shipping, international trade and energy, and investor trade disputes (among many others).

Insolvency and company: members of Twenty Essex are well known for their expertise in contentious and non-contentious restructurings (including schemes of arrangement), insolvency law and company law, spanning all business and industry sectors. In the context of restructurings and insolvency, members regularly advise and represent insolvency office-holders, companies, creditors, shareholders and company directors (both in the UK and abroad) and have been heavily involved in most of the major restructurings and insolvencies of recent years.

Public international law: Twenty Essex is pre-eminent in public international law. Two members of chambers have been principal legal advisers to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Others have been appointed judges ad hoc of the International Court of Justice, president and members of the North American Free Trade Association tribunals and members of tribunals under the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes and have been engaged as legal adviser within the United Nations. Members provide legal and strategic advice to states and other parties and appear before English courts in cases in which issues of public international law arise, before international courts and tribunals including: The International Court of Justice; dispute settlement panels of the World Trade Organisation; the European Court of Human Rights; the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; and international arbitral tribunals.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Head of Chambers Christopher Hancock QC (1983) CHancock@twentyessex.com 442078421200
Head of Chambers Duncan Matthews QC (1986) DMatthews@twentyessex.com 442078421200
CEO Jemma Tagg JTagg@twentyessex.com 442078421200
Practice Director Arron Zitver AZitver@twentyessex.com 442078421205
Practice Director Christopher Theobald CTheobald@twentyessex.com 442078421210
Practice Director Anthony Carroll ACarroll@twentyessex.com 442078421230
Member Alexander Layton QC (1976) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Timothy Young QC (1977) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC (1988) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Stephen Atherton QC (1989) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Phillip Edey QC (1994) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Timothy Hill QC (1990) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Paul Lowenstein QC (1988) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Michael Coburn QC (1990) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Charles Kimmins QC (1994) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Gordon Nardell QC (1995) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Michael Ashcroft QC (1997) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Lawrence Akka QC (1991) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Sara Masters QC (1993) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Michael Collett QC (1995) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member David Lewis QC (1999) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Thomas Raphael QC (1999) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Sudhanshu Swaroop QC (1997) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Julian Kenny QC (1997) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Guglielmo Veridrame QC (2006) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Nakul Dewan SA (2014) enquiries@twentyessex.com 6562257230
Member Sir Michael Wood (1968) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Karen Maxwell (1992) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Julie Anderson (1993) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Malcolm Jarvis (1998) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Susannah Jones (1999) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Andrew Fulton (1999) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
Member Zannis Mavrogordato (1999) enquiries@twentyessex.com 44207842100
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Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Lawrence Akka QC photo Lawrence Akka QC Lawrence’s practice encompasses high value and technically complex commercial and contractual disputes.… View Profile
Clare Ambrose photo Clare Ambrose Clare is a full-time arbitrator with over 25 years’ experience of arbitration… View Profile
Julie Anderson photo Julie Anderson Julie has an outstanding level of “hands on” litigation experience in the… View Profile
Michael Ashcroft QC photo Michael Ashcroft QC Michael has a broad commercial practice, specialising in high value and complex… View Profile
Stephen Atherton QC photo Stephen Atherton QC Stephen’s practice comprises international and domestic corporate insolvency and restructuring, company law,… View Profile
Tony Beswetherick photo Tony Beswetherick Tony specialises in the fields of insolvency and restructuring, civil fraud, commercial… View Profile
John Bethell photo John Bethell John practises mainly in the areas of commercial disputes and public law.… View Profile
Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC photo Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC Daniel specialises in public international law, accepting instructions as counsel and adviser… View Profile
Dr Harris Bor photo Dr Harris Bor Harris’s practice covers all areas of international arbitration and commercial and company… View Profile
Daniel Bovensiepen photo Daniel Bovensiepen Daniel’s practice covers a broad range of international commercial work, with a… View Profile
The Honorable Charles N Brower photo The Honorable Charles N Brower Charles’s 55-year career in the law has combined extensive practice at the… View Profile
Paolo Busco photo Paolo Busco Paolo has accepted an appointment overseas acting as an advisor on international… View Profile
Henry Byam-Cook photo Henry Byam-Cook Henry practises in a range of commercial disputes, including shipping and international… View Profile
Oliver Caplin photo Oliver Caplin Oliver has a broad commercial practice which particularly focuses on international trade,… View Profile
Alex Carless photo Alex Carless Alex specialises in a broad range of commercial matters, including banking and… View Profile
Michael Coburn QC photo Michael Coburn QC Michael practises in all aspects of commercial law, usually with an international… View Profile
Michael Collett QC photo Michael Collett QC Michael specialises in commercial law. His areas of practice include general commercial… View Profile
Thomas Corby photo Thomas Corby Thomas has a varied commercial practice, with a focus on international arbitration,… View Profile
Josephine Davies photo Josephine Davies Josephine specialises in all areas of commercial and competition law and litigation.… View Profile
Nakul Dewan SA photo Nakul Dewan SA Nakul practises from Singapore, Delhi and London. He accepts appointments both as… View Profile
Albert Dinelli photo Albert Dinelli Albert’s practice in London and Singapore focuses on arbitral proceedings and advice… View Profile
Andrew Dinsmore photo Andrew Dinsmore Andrew has extensive international commercial litigation and arbitration experience. His practice focuses… View Profile
Patrick Dunn-Walsh photo Patrick Dunn-Walsh Patrick became a member of Chambers in September 2018, having joined as… View Profile
Philip Edey QC photo Philip Edey QC Philip is a specialist lead advocate whose practice focuses on commercial disputes… View Profile
Patricia Edwards photo Patricia Edwards Patricia has a broad commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on advising… View Profile
Andrew Feld photo Andrew Feld Andrew has a busy commercial practice encompassing all areas of Chambers’ work,… View Profile
Monica Feria-Tinta photo Monica Feria-Tinta Monica is a specialist in public international law. Her practice covers the… View Profile
The Honorable Yves Fortier QC photo The Honorable Yves Fortier QC Arbitrator/mediator, specialising in public international law and international dispute resolutions. View Profile
Andrew Fulton photo Andrew Fulton Andrew has a broad and busy practice. He advises and appears in… View Profile
Judith Gill QC photo Judith Gill QC Judith is recognised as one of the leading practitioners in the field… View Profile
Sam Goodman photo Sam Goodman Sam has a broad commercial practice covering both litigation and international arbitration,… View Profile
Richard Greenberg photo Richard Greenberg Richard has a broad commercial practice, with a particular focus on civil… View Profile
Michal Hain photo Michal Hain Michal joined Twenty Essex after successfully completing his pupillage in September 2018.… View Profile
Rupert Hamilton photo Rupert Hamilton Rupert has a varied practice covering all aspects of commercial law. He… View Profile
Christopher Hancock QC photo Christopher Hancock QC Christopher is joint Head of Chambers. He has appeared before courts at… View Profile
Colleen Hanley photo Colleen Hanley Colleen is recommended as a leading junior for both shipping and commodities… View Profile
Sir Mark Havelock-Allan QC photo Sir Mark Havelock-Allan QC Mark is a former Mercantile Judge on the Western Circuit, and judge… View Profile
Timothy Hill QC photo Timothy Hill QC Timothy specialises in international commercial litigation and arbitration. He has considerable expertise… View Profile
Malcolm Holmes QC photo Malcolm Holmes QC Malcolm is a chartered arbitrator primarily based in Sydney but with an… View Profile
Malcolm Jarvis photo Malcolm Jarvis Malcolm specialises in commercial and EU law. He acts in commercial disputes… View Profile
Susannah Jones photo Susannah Jones Susannah specialises in commercial and private international law disputes, in particular concerning… View Profile
Julian Kenny QC photo Julian Kenny QC Julian specialises in commercial law, particularly banking, shipping and commodities, insurance and… View Profile
Jonathan Ketcheson photo Jonathan Ketcheson Jonathan practises across all Chambers’ areas of expertise, including international arbitration, public… View Profile
Charles Kimmins QC photo Charles Kimmins QC Charles specialises in commercial law, and represents clients in both court and… View Profile
Alexander Layton QC photo Alexander Layton QC Alex is a specialist in private international law. His practice consists almost… View Profile
Blair Leahy photo Blair Leahy Blair is a commercial litigator specialising in complex multi-jurisdictional fraud and asset… View Profile
Thomas Leary photo Thomas Leary Tom has a broad practice in commercial litigation, arbitration and public law.… View Profile
Michael Lee photo Michael Lee Michael is an experienced international commercial arbitrator practising principally from Singapore and… View Profile
Dr Julian Lew QC photo Dr Julian Lew QC Julian is a full-time arbitrator in international commercial and investment disputes. He… View Profile
David Lewis QC photo David Lewis QC David is a specialist advocate who took silk in 2014 at the… View Profile
Paul Lowenstein QC photo Paul Lowenstein QC Paul is a leading commercial silk in domestic and international litigation and… View Profile
Mahnaz Malik photo Mahnaz Malik Mahnaz is a barrister and arbitrator at Twenty Essex who specialises in… View Profile
Sara Masters QC photo Sara Masters QC Sara specialises in all areas of commercial law. She has a particular… View Profile
Duncan Matthews QC photo Duncan Matthews QC Duncan is joint Head of Chambers. He is a leading trial advocate… View Profile
Zannis Mavrogordato photo Zannis Mavrogordato Zannis is a barrister, French avocat and arbitrator. He is a specialist… View Profile
Karen Maxwell photo Karen Maxwell Karen practises in commercial law and international trade, with a particular focus… View Profile
Matthew McGhee photo Matthew McGhee Matthew enjoys a broad commercial practice. Clients instruct him to advise or… View Profile
Belinda McRae photo Belinda McRae Belinda has developed an impressive and diverse commercial practice. She has a… View Profile
Simon Milnes photo Simon Milnes Simon specialises in international dispute resolution, especially in the fields of energy… View Profile
Sir Martin Moore-Bick photo Sir Martin Moore-Bick Sir Martin recently retired as a Lord Justice of Appeal after serving… View Profile
Dr Michael Moser photo Dr Michael Moser Michael serves as arbitrator in high-value, complex international disputes. His specialities include… View Profile
Gordon Nardell QC photo Gordon Nardell QC Gordon specialises in international litigation and arbitration. He has a particular focus… View Profile
Penelope Nevill photo Penelope Nevill Penelope is a specialist in international law. Her practice focuses on disputes… View Profile
Christopher Newman photo Christopher Newman Chris has a broad commercial practice with a focus on heavyweight commercial… View Profile
David Owen QC photo David Owen QC David is a full-time arbitrator and mediator, with a practice covering a… View Profile
Socrates Papadopoulos photo Socrates Papadopoulos Socrates has been a tenant at Twenty Essex since October 2001. He… View Profile
Dr Kate Parlett photo Dr Kate Parlett Kate specialises in public international law and international arbitration. She acts for… View Profile
Angharad Parry photo Angharad Parry Angharad specialises in advisory and advocacy work in a wide range of… View Profile
Luke Pearce photo Luke Pearce Luke has a broad practice covering all aspects of commercial law, with… View Profile
Thomas Raphael QC photo Thomas Raphael QC Thomas is a commercial silk, with a wide commercial practice, and a… View Profile
Philip Riches photo Philip Riches Philip has a wide-ranging commercial practice in international litigation and arbitration. His… View Profile
Sir Bernard Rix photo Sir Bernard Rix Sir Bernard retired in 2013 as a Lord Justice of Appeal with… View Profile
J. William Rowley QC photo J. William Rowley QC Bill is a highly experienced international arbitrator. He joined Twenty Essex in… View Profile
Sean Snook photo Sean Snook Sean advises and represents clients in a broad range of commercial and… View Profile
David St John Sutton photo David St John Sutton David is a full-time arbitrator practicing in London and Paris in international… View Profile
Sudhanshu Swaroop QC photo Sudhanshu Swaroop QC Sudhanshu practises commercial, arbitration and public international law. He has acted in… View Profile
Prof Stefan Talmon photo Prof Stefan Talmon Stefan has a wide-ranging practice in public international law. He has appeared… View Profile
Alexander Thompson photo Alexander Thompson Alexander is a commercial litigator. He has a broad practice in all… View Profile
Michael Tselentis QC photo Michael Tselentis QC Michael’s practice as an international arbitrator covers a wide field, which includes… View Profile
Mark Tushingham photo Mark Tushingham Mark has a broad practice in commercial law and a growing practice… View Profile
Guglielmo Verdirame QC photo Guglielmo Verdirame QC Guglielmo acts as counsel in cases before English courts, international courts and… View Profile
Philippa Webb photo Philippa Webb Philippa’s practice covers all aspects of public international law. She acts for… View Profile
Fiona Whiteside photo Fiona Whiteside Fiona became a member of Twenty Essex on successful completion of her… View Profile
Sir Michael Wood KCMG photo Sir Michael Wood KCMG Sir Michael is a member of the United Nations (UN) International Law… View Profile
Alistair Wooder photo Alistair Wooder Alistair is a commercial litigator with a broad practice spanning general commercial… View Profile
Timothy Young QC photo Timothy Young QC Timothy’s principal area of practice is international trade, embracing shipping, commodities, insurance,… View Profile

Languages

Cantonese
Chinese (Mandarin)
Czech
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Hebrew
Hindi
Spanish

Memberships

AIPN
CEDR
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
General Council of the Bar of England and Wales
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
ICCA
INSOL - International Association of Restructuring
IBA (International Bar Association)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
KLRCA
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
London Maritime Arbitrators Association (supporting member)
SIAC
COMBAR
British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL)
Young International Arbitration Group

Diversity/Community


Diversity and inclusion

Twenty Essex has adopted a proactive approach to ensuring diversity within chambers and at the Bar. With an active and engaged committee spearheading internal and external initiatives, Twenty Essex is proud to be an inclusive environment and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for members, employees, pupils, mini-pupils, prospective tenants and prospective pupils.

For questions relating to our equality and diversity policy, please contact our Equality and Diversity Officer, Angharad Parry.

We are proud to declare that we are a London Living Wage employer.

Diversity data

The Bar Standards Board Code of Conduct states that a summary of the Diversity Data submitted by the Members of the Workforce be published every three years from 31 December 2012 onwards. The summary data for Twenty Essex can be found here.

Rare contextual recruitment

We use Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System to review applications for pupillage and mini-pupillage in the context of the candidates’ socio-economic background. The system is intended to allow a recruiter to put a candidate’s achievements into the context of the candidate’s circumstances. Efforts to improve recruitment processes in terms of fairness, objectivity and awareness are just one piece of the jigsaw that will lead to a more diverse Bar and this is why a long-term commitment to diversity is one of our strategic objectives.

Women in Law Pledge

We are proud signatories to the Women in Law Pledge created by the Bar Council of England and Wales, The Law Society, and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). We are committed to the progress of gender equality, elimination of gender discrimination and pledge to make positive change for the legal profession.

Disability and accessibility at Twenty Essex

Twenty Essex’s premises are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and if you would like to discuss any particular requirements for adjustments to services, including specific visitor needs, please contact our Facilities Manager.

Wellbeing

We recognise that working in the legal profession can often create a highly demanding and stressful environment for members and employees. As a chambers we are determined to achieve the appropriate balance between the professional and personal demands of working at the Bar and the need for individual wellbeing. We are focused on the wellbeing of members and employees and we are pleased to highlight that we have been awarded the Wellbeing at the Bar Certificate of Recognition.

Responsibility

Pro bono

Twenty Essex has a long tradition of its’ members providing legal advice and representation on a pro bono basis. Barristers support Advocate, CLIPS, and FRU on a regular basis as well as a range of other organisations.

Social mobility

Chambers has provided placements on the Bar Placement Week in partnership with the Bar Council and a number of our barristers have volunteered as mentors for students in recent years, through the Social Mobility Foundation as well as other organisations.

Volunteering and giving

Members and employees regularly make charitable donations, and within the work environment take part in a range of charitable events such as the annual London Legal Walk and the Palace to Palace bike ride in support of The Prince’s Trust. Internally hosted fundraising events also raised money for local and nominated charities.

Disputes Yearbook 2020


Briefing
The evolution of the Commercial Bar (https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/analysis/disputes-yearbook-2020/sponsored-briefing-the-evolution-of-the-commercial-bar/)
Duncan Matthews QC, co-head, and Jemma Tagg, chief executive, reflect on the evolution of Twenty Essex and wider sector changes across the Commercial Bar