Set Profile > Exchange Chambers > Leeds, England
Exchange Chambers Offices
Exchange Chambers
OXFORD HOUSE, OXFORD ROW
LEEDS
LS1 3BE
England
Exchange Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Commercial litigation Tier 1
'A very strong set for commercial work with a wide range of specialist and experienced counsel and lots of strength in depth', Exchange Chambers is 'brilliant with very capable juniors and a "can-do" attitude from commercial litigation counsel across a broad range of spectrums'. Mark Cawson QC, leading Carly Sandbach, is part of the counsel team instructed in Municipio De Mariana v BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Ltd, a claim by over 200,000 claimants seeking compensation with regard to the collapse of the Fundao Dam in Brazil in 2015. At the junior end, David Went is a specialist competition law practitioner, with instructing solicitors noting that his background as a former partner at Sidley Austin means 'he understands what clients are looking for and gives pragmatic advice'. Similarly, as a former solicitor Stephen Connolly 'has the benefit of being more pragmatic than most barristers and is, therefore, able to be commercial in his approach which is often what the client is needing/wanting'.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Company and insolvency Tier 1
'Top set in the North West', Exchange Chambers has 'excellent strength in depth' in the fields of company and insolvency law. In recent instructions of note, Mark Cawson QC has been acting for defendant directors in respect of £5m-plus claim for damages for breach of fiduciary duty brought by the liquidators of a company in liquidation. He also led Ian Tucker in acting for creditor and preferential shareholder on a successful application for an administration order, the purpose of which was to enable a conspiracy claim, potentially in excess of £100m, to be pursued against another former director and secured creditor. Also at the junior end, Carly Sandbach appeared in Keyworker Homes (North West) Limited, a landmark High Court decision on the ability of directors/companies to appoint administrators out of court and out of hours.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
'A top-drawer set across three Northern cities', Exchange Chambers has 'great strength across the entire range of criminal matters, from junior juniors to heavyweight silks'. Gordon Cole QC prosecuted a former associate vice-president at Barclays who killed with his wife with a crow-bar and was convicted of murder after attempting to run a loss of control defence. Richard Littler QC defended Reynhard Sinaga, who was convicted of 48 rapes of men and described by the CPS as the 'most prolific rapist in British legal history'. Charlotte Kenny represented a single mother who was acquitted of charges concerning the alleged supply of methamphetamine through the darkweb, in a case that involved complex issues of shipping record and bitcoin evidence.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Personal injury Tier 1
The 'highly intelligent' Bill Braithwaite QC is an experienced member of the large personal injury team at Exchange Chambers, and is regularly instructed in high-value claims compensation for catastrophically injured claimants. The team, which has strength in depth at all levels, handles high-value, complex cases involving injuries of the utmost severity, fatal accidents, industrial disease, and severe brain and catastrophic spinal cord injuries. Also among the set's silks, the 'pragmatic and considered' Gerard Martin QC specialises in brain injury and spinal injury cases for adults and children, and Louis Browne QC is noted by one client for his 'excellent interpersonal skills' and has particular experience of pain syndrome and related claims. At the junior end, Laura Gooding 'provides an approachable and prompt service with clear, understandable advice'; Christopher Barnes is considered to be 'a QC in waiting' and has a specialism in military claims for claimants, while Catherine Knowles is regularly instructed to act on behalf of government departments for injuries to service personnel, often with the claims involving substantial claims for future loss of earnings and pension.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 2
'A leading set, which boasts a wealth of talent, efficient clerks, and all-round high standards', Exchange Chambers is home to John Jones QC who represents employers, companies, directors, individuals, and private bodies on all aspects of health and safety enforcement. He has recently been involved in several health and safety prosecutions and manslaughter trials following fatalities in the workplace. At the junior end, clients remark that Michael Lavery's greatest quality is his 'ability to put clients at ease in extremely stressful situations', while the 'tactically astute' Ian Whitehurst 'applies vast experience to offer pragmatic solutions and is excellent with clients'. Whitehurst is instructed by private individuals, national companies, local authorities, quangos, and leading law firms to advise and represent across a myriad of regulatory matters.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Chancery, probate, and tax Tier 2
A 'strong set', Exchange Chambers has a number of specialists available for Chancery and tax disputes, and instructing solicitors praise the training offered by the set which is described as 'first class and highly relevant'. At the senior end, Mark Cawson QC and David Mohyuddin QC are go-to names for a range of Chancery and commercial disputes. In the tax arena, Scott Redpath is instructed in tax disputes and planning involving companies, employment, incentives, national insurance, pensions, share schemes, trusts and estates, residence, domicile, indirect tax, VAT, IPT, and duties; George Rowell has experience of tax disputes involving penalties, avoidance schemes, VAT, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, and employment-related taxes.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Clinical negligence Tier 2
The 'outstanding' Exchange Chambers has 'a strong breadth of experienced clinical negligence counsel'. The team has expertise across all areas of clinical negligence work, and its silks are regularly at the forefront of important and complex cases, acting for a range of private and publicly-funded claimants, and its defendant clients include hospitals, NHS organisations, medical defence organisations, and insurance bodies. In recent work of note, Gerard Martin QC led Chris Gutteridge in acted for a claimant who had both of their legs amputated below the knee due to a negligent failure to consider a vascular cause for complaints of pain and numbness in their feet; the claim settled for £2.5m. Dr Kevin Naylor is part of the team acting for a claimaint against seven defendants in a wrongful birth claim; the case concerns the birth of twins both of whom suffer from hereditary spastic paraplegia. Other key members of the team include the 'razor-sharp' head of chambers, Bill Braithwaite QC, 'excellent strategist' David Knifton QC, and the 'articulate' Matthew Stockwell.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Employment Tier 2
An 'excellent chambers' with 'high quality of senior employment counsel', Exchange Chambers is active in a range of matters for all manner of claimants and respondents. An 'unrivalled advocate', Paul Kirtley has substantial experience in the public sector dealing with the police, local authority, NHS and PC trusts in regards to discrimination, public interest disclosure, data protection, freedom of information, and disciplinary issues. In recent instructions of note, the 'tenacious' Ashley Serr, who acts for FTSE 100 companies, SMEs, high-net-worth individuals, and government departments, represented HMRC in a case concerning deductions of wages for training and housing. Meanwhile, 'excellent advocate' Alfred Weiss represented an employee who succeeded in a claim that mandating employees be physically working in an office five days a week was indirectly discriminatory against women.
Leading Juniors
Inquests and inquiries Tier 2
Exchange Chambers specialises in inquests involving Article 2 ECHR matters, taking a multi-discipline approach. Louis Browne QC represents parties in the high-profile Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena inquiries, acting for a senior commander of the London Fire Brigade and Salford University respectively. He also appeared for the Probation Board at the inquest into the murder of a young man on probation by others also supervised by the board. Sara Sutherland sits as an assistant coroner and advises both bereaved families and health boards throughout the process of an inquest, from advancing submissions to conclusion.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Mediators Tier 2
Paul Johnson - Exchange Chambers Paul Johnson at Exchange Chambers in Manchester is 'excellent at gaining the trust of all parties and very pragmatic and empathetic, which helps see where the settlement is likely to lie and encourage all parties towards it'. Johnson is exclusively focused on mediation work, and has mediated over 800 disputes. Representative work includes disputes involving commercial matters and employment, professional negligence, probate and landlord and tenant issues, along with financial services, banking, construction and sport-related disputes.
Professional disciplinary law Tier 2
'An efficient professional set', Exchange Chambers 'remains a go-to set for professional discipline matters', thanks to having 'a number of counsel with an excellent grasp and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter'. According to some, it is also becoming the North's go-to chambers for police misconduct instructions. 2019 silk Richard Littler QC regularly acts for the Police Federation defending high ranking police officers and he also defends at FA Disciplinary Panels. At the junior level, Jason MacAdam has experience of cases before the General Medical Council, Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, and the Teaching Regulation Agency. Nicholas Walker's practice centres on defending police officers in professional disciplinary cases. He also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair in police misconduct hearings.
2019 Silks
Leading Juniors
Professional negligence Tier 2
Exchange Chambers is 'a very good set' for professional negligence instructions, thanks to 'a variety of barristers for the job and knowledgeable and receptive clerks'. Mark Cawson QC has a strong presence within the professional negligence sector, acting for both claimants and defendants across a range of professions. In one example, Ahmed v Linder Myers, he successfully acted for a claimant developer in a £1.2m High Court claim against solicitors relating to failure to properly obtain an obligation to pay ground rents. The 'practical and pragmatic' James Malam has extensive experience acting for both claimants and defendants in professional negligence disputes including those within niche professions, such as agronomists. With 'unrivalled expertise in specialist tax law dove-tailed with a wide commercial law practice', George Rowell has particular expertise in negligence claims against accountants and tax advisers.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Property and construction Tier 2
Exchange Chambers provides a range of expertise in the property sector, including on cross-discipline matters such as probate. A specialist construction department advises on contracts and appears in the Technology and Construction Court. Neil Cadwallader takes on Chancery and commercial work in development disputes. Andrew Williams is instructed in property litigation, representing investors and leaseholders as well as an individual in an adverse possession claim. Lawrence McDonald handles work on boundaries, restrictive covenants, and rights to light, plus landlord and tenant issues. Paul Burns advises providers of social housing and local government and represented Wirral Council in a case regarding an unlicensed house in multiple occupation.
Leading Juniors
Social housing Tier 2
Exchange Chambers is 'a slick operation with very helpful and organised clerks'. Instructing solicitors and clients praise the set's 'great training opportunities – in particular the Social Housing & Local Government Seminar'. 'A free event it is absolutely invaluable to busy practitioners and unlike other training events completely focused on the issues relevant to local government.' The 'simply outstanding' Paul Burns has 'extensive knowledge and experience in ASB social housing cases'. Recent work of note has involved advising local authorities on strategies to manage rent arrears and possession claims, the development of private sector leasing schemes, and litigation risks. Also of note, Brynmor Adams successfully represented a local authority in a complicated housing-fraud claim against a secure tenant who had ceased to reside in the subject property as their principal home. Adams also successfully represented a different local authority in its claim for possession on anti-social behaviour grounds, namely that the defendant racially abused and harassed a neighbour.
Leading Juniors
Crime (general and fraud) Tier 3
Exchange Chambers 'is a top drawer set across three northern cities' with 'an incredibly high level of expertise across the whole spectrum, but in serious fraud and serious crime are particularly strong, with a strength in depth which other sets can only dream of'. Andrew Haslam QC, who joined from St Paul's Chambers in 2019, prosecuted a 12-defendant, ten-week heroin, cocaine, and money laundering case featuring covert surveillance and cell site evidence. Andrew Petterson represented a solicitor who received a suspended sentence for running a fraud through a supposed PPI claims company.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Family and children law Tier 3
Exchange Chambers offers a 'high-quality service' to its clients on the Northern circuit and members are highly experienced in all manners of family law and provide specialist advice representing parties in difficult and complex Children Act proceedings. 'An excellent negotiator', Judith Fordham leads the team and has particular strength in financial relief and matrimonial finance; she has been appointed as a Deputy District Judge and is also a family arbitrator who deals with private FDRs. Appointed Deputy District Judge in 2019, Sheren Guirguis is 'a pleasure to work with' and has expertise in financial remedy proceedings and Inheritance Act claims.
Leading Juniors: Divorce and Financial Remedy
Personal injury Tier 3
Exchange Chambers has 'a wide selection of barristers from the very junior end to silk' and clerks who 'are proactive and helpful'. The set's personal injury team handles high value, complex cases involving injuries of the utmost severity, fatal accidents, industrial disease, and severe brain and catastrophic spinal cord injuries. The 'very knowledgeable' Paul Kirtley undertakes work in all areas of the personal injury field and is experienced in complex, high-value claims. Pankaj Madan specialises in very serious and catastrophic injury cases, with most of his work being traumatic brain injury and high-value pain cases. The set has recently been strengthened by the arrival of Simon Ross from the now-closed Zenith Chambers. Being an ex-solicitor, Ross he 'is focused not only on directions and the end result but also acutely understands the pressures upon the solicitor, which helps when looking at proportionality and keeps client's expectations reasonable'.
Leading Juniors
Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
Members of Exchange Chambers' team regularly work on multi-discipline matters, particularly those involving commercial regulatory, inquests, and personal injury. Louis Browne QC sits on the government silk panel and successfully acted for the senior coroner in a challenge to an inquest, involving complex medical issues. His sectoral experience includes care and social services, housing, immigration, and transport. Brynmor Adams acts exclusively for public authorities, from central government departments to housing associations. He recently acted for the Environment Agency in judicial review proceedings with aspects of property and environmental law.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
Exchange Chambers' Nicholas Johnson QC is described as a 'phenomenal advocate' for complex financial and business crime disputes prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office. Johnson QC has particular expertise in bribery and corruption cases, including multi-jurisdictional investigations. He was retained as UK counsel in a criminal trial before the Fraud Court in Athens, and on appeal, in relation to an investigation into alleged corporate bribery of surgeons to use Johnson & Johnson medical devices.
Leading Silks
Clinical negligence
Known for being 'extremely empathetic with clients', Paul Kirtley is a key name to note within Exchange Chambers' clinical negligence team. The team acts for a range of private and publicly-funded claimants, and our defendant clients include hospitals, NHS organisations, medical defense organisations, and insurance bodies. Kirtley's clinical negligence practice encompasses hospital, general practitioner and health practitioner claims, birth-related injuries, and surgical.
Leading Juniors
Commercial litigation
At Exchange Chambers, David Went has a practice across the gamut of competition law, including merger control, cartels, dominance, and State Aid. He is instructed in Road Haulage Association Limited v MAN SE and Others, a collective proceeding valued at over £1bn before the Competition Appeal Tribunal against the major European truck manufacturers who engaged in a price-fixing cartel over a 14-year period. Alfred Weiss is an experienced junior with a broad commercial disputes practice, instructed in litigation and arbitration proceedings, and he is particularly known for his expertise in shareholder and partnership disputes.
Leading Juniors
Company and insolvency
Exchange Chambers' Lisa Linklater is currently acting for the defendant in FOPCP (in liquidation) v PT, a complex £5m misfeasance claim brought by the liquidators of an offshore partnership, and successfully acted for the administrators of the holding company of Bolton Wanderers FC in obtaining indemnity costs following an unsuccessful application for an injunction. The 'very technical' Steven Fennell has 'made the transition from solicitor to barrister perfectly' and is 'very calm when curveballs are thrown'. He has been acting for PricewaterhouseCoopers, the administrators of Crispy Crust Limited, a Pizza Hut franchise; the case is a dispute between the administrators and Allied Irish Bank plc about the value of the business sold following it entering administration.
Leading Juniors
Costs
Richard Wilcock is the key name and head of the costs team at Exchange Chambers. Wilcock regularly advises solicitors, costs lawyers and other barristers on all aspects of costs, including funding, recoverability of additional liabilities, retainers, cost budgeting, security for costs and solicitor and client assessments. High-profile costs cases that Wilcock has been instructed in over the last few years include a case involving challenges by the defendant on matters of conduct during the detailed assessment process under CPR 44.11. and whether such issues could and should have been raised before the original trial judge.
Leading Juniors
Employment
Active on the Northern Circuit, Exchange Chambers' 'thorough and efficient advocate' Catherine Knowles is primarily instructed by respondents in the public sector, including government departments, local authorities, and NHS Trusts, across the full spectrum of employment issues, with a particular focus on claims involving allegations of discrimination and whistleblowing. She successfully appeared for the revenue in Wareing v The Commissioners for HM Revenue & Customs, an action by the claimant alleging their employer had failed to comply with a duty to make reasonable adjustments; all claims were dismissed following a four-day hearing.
Leading Juniors
Intellectual property
An 'excellent set to instruct on a variety of commercial matters', Exchange Chambers is home to the user-friendly Christopher Cook who is a specialist in intellectual property and technological commercial law, including issues relating to patents, registered designs, unregistered design right, copyright, passing off, and trade marks.
Leading Juniors
IT, telecoms and data protection
Exchange Chambers' Louis Browne QC has extensive experience in the field of claims by individuals and companies that have had their personal and sensitive data breached by third parties. He was instructed as lead counsel in the multi-party litigation, involving more than 650 claimants, relating to the 2018 Ticketmaster data breach; a High Court claim has been issued for damages of up to £5m against the ticketing giant. Browne QC also has a niche practice in 'right to be forgotten' claims. At the junior end, Ian Whitehurst represents individuals, public organisations, and companies in litigation and criminal and civil enforcement proceedings brought by the Information Commissioner's Office. He also advises companies on data protection compliance for new business ventures.
Leading Juniors
Planning and environment
A former planning consultant, the 'very composed and articulate' Peter Dixon leads the planning practice group at Exchange Chambers. Dixon advises landowners, developers, community organisations, and public authorities across the gamut of planning, environmental, and property law, including planning applications and appeals, enforcement, and compulsory purchase and compensation.
Leading Juniors
Professional disciplinary law
Exchange Chambers is a go-to for criminal and police misconduct work. 'They are fantastically clerked and are always willing to offer training'. With a background in criminal law, Sarah Barlow acts for police officers and healthcare workers requiring representation in inquests, disciplinary tribunals, and the criminal courts. Barlow is described as 'an excellent advocate, tactically shrewd, fearless, and exudes calm'. Recent cases of note for Barlow include police officers facing allegations of using excessive force on suspects, assault, and misconduct in a public office by failing to arrest a suspect.
Leading Juniors
Property and construction
The team at Exchange Chambers is experienced in planning and highways, rights of way and registration disputes, complemented by expertise in wills and probate, insolvency and trusts. Sixteen members are appointed by the Attorney General and a number of members also undertake property arbitration. William Hanbury frequently advises on professional negligence, such as errors in conveyancing, as well as working on a range of litigation including landlord and tenant, easements and boundary disputes.
Leading Juniors
Set overviews: England and Wales
In an eventful year for the Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds-based Exchange Chambers, Jonathan I’Anson was appointed the set's new chief executive following the retirement of Tom Handley. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, chambers launched a new defendant personal injury and private prosecutions teams, as well as a maternity and parental support mentoring network for its members. Duncan Hedar has joined chambers from Linklaters; Kristian Cavanagh , Simon Ross , and Helen Rutherford joined from Zenith Chambers; David Sandiford arrived from Cobden House Chambers. Meanwhile, Frida Hussain QC took silk; Michael Maher , Imran Shafi , Ashley Serr, and Jon Close were appointed Recorders; Sarah Johnston was appointed a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal assigned to the Social Entitlement Chamber, while Daniel Prowse has been assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber; Ashley Serr and Simon Lewis were appointed deputy district judges. Finally, Alexandra Sutton appointed as Junior of the Northern Circuit.Clerks:
Testimonials
Clerks:
All the commercial/chancery clerks, whom I deal with, provide an excellent and proactive service.
Each and every one of the criminal clerks are extremely professional, including the newly appointed Andy Leech. They are all extremely efficient and nothing is too much trouble for them.
Nick Buckley, the senior clerk in Manchester, is in particular very reliable and knowledgeable. He seems to know everything that’s going on with each and every one of the Barristers and is a pleasure to deal with.
Excellent service from clerks in general but Rachel Williams, Neil Wright and Ben Kierman stand out as particularly effective and conscientious. They are friendly, helpful and present as extremely well organised and professional individuals.
I think Exchange Chambers is well operated and have always found the clerks to be helpful and accommodating. Rachel Williams is particularly pleasant to deal with and has developed a good relationship with the fee earners in our team. The clerking team follow up on when papers are expected, which is reassuring.
Ian Spencer is one of the best clerks I have worked with. He will go out of his way to assist and knows his barristers inside out.
In particular Dave Haley provides excellent service. Nick Buckley is the glue that binds clerks and Counsel always able to offer a resolution.
In particular we use Rachel Williams who is a designated Family Law clerk. She is extremely efficient as well as being a pleasure to work with.
Proactive, knowledgeable and responsive clerks – would single out Joe Mawson for good relationships with the courts
Rachel Williams is superb. Always prompt at responding with a positive attitude. Josh Finn is great to work with.
The clerks are fantastic – particularly Ian Spencer and Nicole Haigh who go out of their way to ensure the delivery of a great service (including making numerous copies of documents during a hearing and running them across to Court when needed!).
The Clerks at Exchange are ever helpful. They are keen to foster excellent working relationships with instructing solicitors and make an effort to understand individual ways of working.
The clerks at Exchange are really super, they come back to you quickly and are very efficient and friendly. In over 15 years I’ve never felt let down or left hanging by them and have dealt with several clerks over the years; they are a great team.
The Criminal Clerks in Liverpool are outstanding . Nothing is ever too much trouble and they go out of their way to assist in any way they can .
The service is responsive, realistic, and efficient. Senior clerk Nick Buckley is just incredible. He is available 24/7 and his ‘can do’ approach has clearly been instilled in his team.
When instructing Chambers, you are as equally confident that the Clerks are equally committed to ensuring your experience at Chambers is as positive. They are approachable, will attempt to accommodate your requests.
Set:
A very good set of chambers which I have used extensively. Clerk is knowledgeable and receptive to feedback whether good or critical. The set is able to offer a variety of barristers for a particular job and the clerk is fair and objective in recommending a barrister for the case. Training programs are good.
A leading set, which boasts a wealth of talent, efficient clerks and all round high standards.
An excellent set. Number 1 commercial chambers in North West. Quality of barristers and strength in depth. Very commercial in approach to dealing with instructing solicitors. Good training programme.
Chambers as a whole is excellent – they have a good mix of experience in its barristers – if a barrister is booked they seldom return cases unless absolutely necessary – competent and proactive clerking – offer a varied training program – they provide bespoke training to my staff and colleagues and also an excellent program of seminars and forums led by the barristers in chambers.
Chambers is a good set with excellent barristers at both Manchester and Liverpool that I know. I have no hesitation to briefing them on a number of varied cases with a lot of highly qualified barristers. Should a case need to be returned then they will always offer a similar category alternative.
Exchange are a very strong set in terms of insolvency and corporate recovery work – comfortably the strongest in Manchester.
Exchange Chambers are a fantastic set with vast experience and strength in depth. They have provided us with comprehensive training in all areas of clinical negligence and serious injuries work.
Exchange chambers are highly professional approachable and give confidence that any case will be dealt with with the highest skills and professionalism . Their strength and in-depth knowledge skill second to none. High availability of counsel, and carry out bespoke training programmes when ever asked.
Exchange chambers are in my opinion unchallenged on client care and willingness to help. Their range of barrister talent is unbelieveable for a set outside London.
Exchange Chambers as a whole is an outstanding set of Chambers . They offer a very personal service and we are always kept fully informed in respect of availability and any potential difficulties.
They are a well-established leading chambers that rivals any other in the North West. They are a leading set for Claimant personal injury and have extensive strength in depth.
I always use exchange chambers as the quality of their counsel is second to none.
I would recommend Exchange Chambers for criminal and police misconduct work. They are fantastically clerked and are always willing to offer training often at no cost. I am offered suitable counsel when availability is requested and they will not offer unsuitable counsel simply to get the work.
In my experience, Exchange Chambers have significant strength in depth in numerous difference areas of practice. Unlike other chambers, I am happy to allow the clerks to suggest suitable Counsel as I have confidence that whichever Barrister accepts instructions they will do a good job.
In my opinion they are the stand out Chambers for catastrophic injury work. They have real expertise and strength in depth. Their specialism in this work goes back decades, and it shows.
They provide good quality, informative breakfast seminars and have other quality counsel.
Very strong in depth in almost all areas of commercial and chancery work. They also provide an excellent seminar programme.
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Personal injury Tier 3
Exchange Chambers has 'a wide selection of barristers from the very junior end to silk' and clerks who 'are proactive and helpful'. The set's personal injury team handles high value, complex cases involving injuries of the utmost severity, fatal accidents, industrial disease, and severe brain and catastrophic spinal cord injuries. The 'very knowledgeable' Paul Kirtley undertakes work in all areas of the personal injury field and is experienced in complex, high-value claims. Pankaj Madan specialises in very serious and catastrophic injury cases, with most of his work being traumatic brain injury and high-value pain cases. The set has recently been strengthened by the arrival of Simon Ross from the now-closed Zenith Chambers. Being an ex-solicitor, Ross he 'is focused not only on directions and the end result but also acutely understands the pressures upon the solicitor, which helps when looking at proportionality and keeps client's expectations reasonable'.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
Exchange Chambers' Nicholas Johnson QC is described as a 'phenomenal advocate' for complex financial and business crime disputes prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office. Johnson QC has particular expertise in bribery and corruption cases, including multi-jurisdictional investigations. He was retained as UK counsel in a criminal trial before the Fraud Court in Athens, and on appeal, in relation to an investigation into alleged corporate bribery of surgeons to use Johnson & Johnson medical devices.
Leading Silks
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Clinical negligence
Known for being 'extremely empathetic with clients', Paul Kirtley is a key name to note within Exchange Chambers' clinical negligence team. The team acts for a range of private and publicly-funded claimants, and our defendant clients include hospitals, NHS organisations, medical defense organisations, and insurance bodies. Kirtley's clinical negligence practice encompasses hospital, general practitioner and health practitioner claims, birth-related injuries, and surgical.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Commercial litigation
At Exchange Chambers, David Went has a practice across the gamut of competition law, including merger control, cartels, dominance, and State Aid. He is instructed in Road Haulage Association Limited v MAN SE and Others, a collective proceeding valued at over £1bn before the Competition Appeal Tribunal against the major European truck manufacturers who engaged in a price-fixing cartel over a 14-year period. Alfred Weiss is an experienced junior with a broad commercial disputes practice, instructed in litigation and arbitration proceedings, and he is particularly known for his expertise in shareholder and partnership disputes.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Company and insolvency
Exchange Chambers' Lisa Linklater is currently acting for the defendant in FOPCP (in liquidation) v PT, a complex £5m misfeasance claim brought by the liquidators of an offshore partnership, and successfully acted for the administrators of the holding company of Bolton Wanderers FC in obtaining indemnity costs following an unsuccessful application for an injunction. The 'very technical' Steven Fennell has 'made the transition from solicitor to barrister perfectly' and is 'very calm when curveballs are thrown'. He has been acting for PricewaterhouseCoopers, the administrators of Crispy Crust Limited, a Pizza Hut franchise; the case is a dispute between the administrators and Allied Irish Bank plc about the value of the business sold following it entering administration.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
Exchange Chambers is a go-to for criminal and police misconduct work. 'They are fantastically clerked and are always willing to offer training'. With a background in criminal law, Sarah Barlow acts for police officers and healthcare workers requiring representation in inquests, disciplinary tribunals, and the criminal courts. Barlow is described as 'an excellent advocate, tactically shrewd, fearless, and exudes calm'. Recent cases of note for Barlow include police officers facing allegations of using excessive force on suspects, assault, and misconduct in a public office by failing to arrest a suspect.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Property and construction
The team at Exchange Chambers is experienced in planning and highways, rights of way and registration disputes, complemented by expertise in wills and probate, insolvency and trusts. Sixteen members are appointed by the Attorney General and a number of members also undertake property arbitration. William Hanbury frequently advises on professional negligence, such as errors in conveyancing, as well as working on a range of litigation including landlord and tenant, easements and boundary disputes.
Leading Juniors
Exchange Chambers > Set Profile
Exchange Chambers is a multidisciplinary progressive northern powerhouse set, with offices in Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester.
The set: Exchange Chambers is a long-established set, formed during World War II in Liverpool.
The set moved to its current Liverpool premises in 1991, which prompted substantial growth in the following years. The set opened chambers in Manchester in 2000 and in Leeds in 2011. With 195 members, it is the third largest chambers in the UK.
It is a multi-disciplinary set, and has practitioners who practise in all major areas of law, with specialists in very niche areas such as construction, competition, data protection, IP, pensions and tax. It is particularly lauded for expertise in insolvency and professional negligence. Our barristers act in cases on a national scale, covering the full breadth of England and Wales.
Exchange Chambers is a progressive, forward-thinking set, recognised for its dynamic approach and strong clerking team, which is described as “innovative and cutting edge”.
Exchange is known for having one of the largest criminal departments in the country, with a high number of fraud specialists and more Category 4 prosecutors than any other barristers’ chambers. It also has a large number of specialist regulatory practitioners.
Types of work undertaken:
Alternative dispute resolution: Exchange Chambers covers all forms of ADR including arbitration, adjudication, dispute resolution boards, expert determination, early neutral evaluations and mediation.
Commercial: Exchange Chambers is widely acclaimed for its array of commercial and chancery services, including mediation, across a range of sectors and professions. Its members offer significant expertise in commercial litigation, commercial fraud, insolvency, professional negligence, and property, and niche areas such as competition, IP and tax. Several of our barristers have this year been instructed in one of the biggest legal claims ever filed in a British Court: Municipio De Mariana and others v BHP Group. The mining company is being sued for around £5bn by Brazilian victims of the Samarco dam collapse, the worst environmental disaster in Brazil’s history that occurred three years ago.
Construction: Barristers at Exchange provide specialist expertise for clients across the full spectrum of the construction industry including all aspects of alternative dispute resolution. The team comprises members with industry specific qualifications such as Charted Quantity Surveyors and a Chartered Builder.
Court of Protection: Our Court of Protection barristers have significant experience in bringing and acting in complex proceedings in relation to the welfare and rights of vulnerable adults and children. We also provide expert advice in relation to property and monetary affairs.
Criminal: The criminal team is one of the largest, most successful teams in the country, with 40 Category 4 Prosecutors and many appointed to specialist CPS panels. The team defends in equal measure, in all types of serious and general crime, financial crime and criminal regulatory work. The financial crime and fraud team act in cases of national and international stature, and are perfectly adept at handling cases where there are crossover aspects.
Data Breach and Privacy: Exchange Chambers have a dedicated team of barristers who specialise in this fast-developing area of law. Our members have significant experience advising both individual claimants and group actions in relation to data breaches, and regularly receive a range of high-profile instructions in this specialist practice area, including “right to be forgotten” claims.
Employment: Exchange Chambers is a distinctive force in the employment field, known for its strength in handling complex and sensitive issues. Five members of the team are appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel.
Family: The family team provides specialist advice and representation throughout the field of family law. We cover all manner of private and public children law, and financial relief work in equal measure. We are particularly renowned for handling substantial matrimonial finance cases concerning complex assets.
Inquests and inquiries: Exchange Chambers’ coronial law barristers have been involved in some of the most significant inquests and public inquiries of recent times. We have particular expertise in inquests which engage ECHR Article 2. A number of the team are currently instructed to review the unused material following the Hillsborough Investigation, and one of our silks is currently representing The Fire Officers’ Association at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Local government and social housing: This specialist department is independently acclaimed as ”first-class” in the provision of legal services to the legal government and social housing sectors in England and Wales. Exchange has sixteen barristers appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel for central government work.
Personal injury and clinical negligence: The department covers claimant/defendant personal injury, clinical negligence and industrial disease, as well as a variety of niche matters. They have a proven track record in handling the most severe catastrophic claims on a national level.
Police law: The specialist team has extensive experience of representing police officers facing misconduct proceedings. Their barristers are routinely instructed in sensitive, high profile cases on a national scale. They particularly excel in defending disciplinary proceedings with potential or concurrent criminal proceedings.
Property and planning: Exchange Chambers has renowned expertise with barristers covering commercial, agricultural and residential property and planning matters. Clients range from individual landlords and tenants, to local authorities, large corporations and national property developers.
Public law/Judicial Review: The team is dedicated to ensuring that the interests of individuals, companies and regulated bodies are recognised and protected. Exchange also offers broad experience in judicial review claims before the Administrative Court and a range of courts and tribunals in the UK.
Regulatory: Exchange Chambers has teams dedicated to the full range of regulatory practice areas, including environmental, health and safety, healthcare (predominantly for the GMC), inquests and inquiries, police law, and professional discipline. Barristers draw on their experience from areas such as general crime and public law to bring unrivalled strength and depth.
Restructuring and Insolvency: The nationally reputed team undertakes all manner of personal and corporate insolvency work. Many of barristers have experience of acting in other jurisdictions, including Gibraltar and the Seychelles.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head of Chambers | Bill Braithwaite QC | ||
| Chief Executive | Jonathan I'Anson | ||
| Practice Manager | Neil Wright | ||
| Senior Clerk | Nick Buckley | ||
| Senior Clerk | Ian Spencer |
Barrister Profiles
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Ms Caroline Abraham | Caroline was called to the Bar in 2013. She is an experienced… | View Profile |
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Ms Sarah Barlow | Sarah has been practising as a barrister for over 20 years and… | View Profile |
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Ms Holly Betke | Holly is an experienced criminal practitioner. She acts for both the prosecution… | View Profile |
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Ms Anna Bond | Anna joined Exchange Chambers in February 2021 after completing a criminal pupillage… | View Profile |
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Mr Kristian Cavanagh | Prior to coming to the Bar, Kristian was a solicitor advocate for… | View Profile |
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Ms Fiona Clancy | Fiona has a well-established criminal and regulatory practice. She is regularly instructed… | View Profile |
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Mr Steven Fennell | Steven specialises in commercial, financial and insolvency litigation, professional negligence and regulatory… | View Profile |
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Mr Eddison Flint | Eddison was called to the Bar in 2015 and became a tenant… | View Profile |
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Mr Jonathan French | Jonathan has an extensive commercial practice, focusing on asset finance, commercial fraud,… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Grattage | Stephen is a highly experienced criminal barrister, particularly renowned for his fraud… | View Profile |
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Ms Harriet Hartshorn | Harriet was called to the Bar in 2016. She became a tenant… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Haslam | Andrew is a highly experienced criminal and regulatory barrister with over 28… | View Profile |
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Ms Frida Hussain | Frida has extensive experience in all areas of criminal work, as a… | View Profile |
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Mr Nicholas Johnson | Nick specialises in criminal fraud and associated commercial and financial work. He… | View Profile |
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Mr James Kinsey | James was called to the Bar in 2018 and became a tenant… | View Profile |
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Mr Paul Kirtley | Paul is a leading civil practitioner on the North Eastern Circuit, his… | View Profile |
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Ms Susanna Kitzing | Susanna has a broad common law practice encompassing social housing, personal injury… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Lewis | Simon practises almost exclusively in employment and commercial law. He frequently represents… | View Profile |
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Ms Lisa Linklater | Lisa has forged an excellent reputation as a leading junior in Commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Pankaj Madan | Pankaj is an experienced personal injury barrister, specialising in high value brain… | View Profile |
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Mr Alex Menary | Alex is a criminal practitioner, acting on behalf of the prosecution and… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Petterson | Andrew’s criminal practice covers the full spectrum of criminal law on behalf… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Ross | Simon is an experienced personal injury practitioner. He is dual-qualified and practised as a… | View Profile |
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Mr Ashley Serr | Ashley is an employment law specialist. He specialises in all aspects of… | View Profile |
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Mr Sean Smith | Sean, as the former managing partner of a leading criminal law firm… | View Profile |
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Ms Victoria Smith-Swain | Victoria is a specialist criminal and regulatory advocate. Acting for both the… | View Profile |
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Mr Chris Tehrani | Chris specialises in all forms of serious crime including murder, manslaughter, serious… | View Profile |
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Mr Keith Walmsley | Throughout his career, Keith has had a hugely varied practice that has… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Wastall | Andrew has a broad practice encompassing family, personal injury and employment law.… | View Profile |
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Ms Rachel Webster | Rachel qualified as a solicitor in 2015 and has over 7 years’… | View Profile |
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Mr Alfred Weiss | Experienced Counsel who enjoys building a good rapport with his professional and… | View Profile |
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Mr David Went | David is internationally renowned as a leading competition law specialist, having been… | View Profile |
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Ms Ceri Widdett | Ceri is a specialist employment barrister. She has extensive experience in equality… | View Profile |
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Ms Jodie Wildridge | Jodie was called to the Bar in 2018, and became a tenant… | View Profile |
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Mr Alex G. Williams | Alex has experience of a wide range of criminal proceedings. He regularly… | View Profile |
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Regional Bar Commercial litigation
- Regional Bar Company and insolvency
- Regional Bar Crime (general and fraud)
- Regional Bar Personal injury
Set Rankings
- Regional Bar Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Regional Bar Chancery, probate, and tax
- Regional Bar Clinical negligence
- Regional Bar Employment
- Regional Bar Inquests and inquiries
- London Mediators
- Regional Bar Professional disciplinary law
- Regional Bar Professional negligence
- Regional Bar Property and construction
- Regional Bar Social housing
- Regional Bar Crime (general and fraud)
- Regional Bar Family and children law
- Regional Bar Personal injury
- Regional Bar Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
- Regional Bar Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Regional Bar Clinical negligence
- Regional Bar Commercial litigation
- Regional Bar Company and insolvency
- Regional Bar Costs
- Regional Bar Employment
- Regional Bar Intellectual property
- Regional Bar IT, telecoms and data protection
- Regional Bar Planning and environment
- Regional Bar Professional disciplinary law
- Regional Bar Property and construction
- Regional Bar Set overviews: England and Wales
- London Bar Set overviews: England and Wales