Guildhall Chambers > Bristol, England > Set Profile
Guildhall Chambers Offices
Guildhall Chambers
23 BROAD STREET
BRISTOL
BS1 2HG
England
Guildhall Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 1
At Guildhall Chambers, Andrew Langdon KC garners praise as ‘the best jury advocate in regulatory cases‘, in the words of instructing solicitors, and is highly regarded for his established track record in handling defence and prosecution work for the Health and Safety Executive. Alistair Haggarty acted for the defendant company in a prosecution brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act after a teenage employee lost two fingers in a mincer at a butcher’s shop. Samuel Jones ‘has acknowledged and particular expertise in fire safety cases‘.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Guildhall Chambers has excellent strength in depth in the business and regulatory field.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has a wealth of talent at every level.’
‘A consistently solid set.’
Clerking
‘The Guildhall clerks are exceptional: knowledgeable, reliable, approachable and efficient.’
‘Very helpful. Excellent and efficient communication.’
‘Grant Bidwell has always been extremely accommodating and efficient.’
Western Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers continues to undertake the full gamut of cases in this space for both defendants and claimants. Selena Plowden KC has ‘exceptional understanding of the medicine involved in clinical negligence cases‘; she is ‘pragmatic and calm with a tenacious approach to litigation‘. Sophie Holme is ‘an acute strategist‘ with established expertise in advising on cases involving claims concerning delayed diagnoses, surgical negligence and psychiatric injuries. Kriti Upadhyay is regularly instructed in cases involving delayed cancer diagnoses and negligent gynaecological and obstetric care. Martin Lanchester is recommended for claims involving spinal, neurological, cardiological and ophthalmological injuries.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth.’
‘Guildhall is a brilliant set of chambers.’
‘A trusted set.’
Clerking
‘Helpful and efficient clerking.’
‘The clerks are extremely approachable and helpful and go over and above to assist with anything. Olive Kavanagh can never do enough for you.’
‘Always helpful and supportive.’
Western Circuit > Commercial litigation Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers stands out as an ‘excellent go-to chambers for commercial disputes‘ and houses ‘specialists in financial services regulatory litigation‘. In a recent case highlight Hugh Sims KC, who heads up the practice, is leading James Wibberley in URE Energy Limited v Notting Hill Genesis, involving a £4m damages claim regarding the alleged wrongful repudiation of an electricity supply contract. Jay Jagasia provides ‘quick, efficient and commercial advice‘ on a broad range of contentious banking work. In May 2022 Samuel Parsons moved to Erskine Chambers.Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A good breadth of call from junior to silks.’
‘Extremely good value for the quality of service.’
‘A set of high quality barristers.’
‘Solid strength and depth within chambers.’
Clerking
‘The clerks always respond promptly. Nothing is too much trouble for Stephen Arnold.’
‘Very good, personable and responsive.’
Western Circuit > Company and insolvency Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers ‘offers a strong range of barristers in the field of insolvency‘. Practice head Simon Passfield is ‘the safest of hands for insolvency‘, with an excellent track record in handling a range of high-value contentious insolvency cases. The ‘very impressive‘ Hugh Sims KC has ‘a calm and structured approach that gives the client and the court real confidence.’ Stefan Ramel is sought after for his established strength in cross-border insolvency. Elsewhere in chambers, James Wibberley is representing zoologist and conservationist Dr Jake Veasey in an unfair prejudice claim against the owners and operators of Peak Wildlife Park. In May 2022 Samuel Parsons moved to elite London set Erskine Chambers.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Guildhall is my chambers of choice for all insolvency related matters. There is a very strong team of experienced juniors and silks.’
‘Good depth across the insolvency spectrum from juniors to silks.’
‘Real quality and depth.’
Clerking
‘The clerks at Guildhall are very proactive and user friendly.’
‘Very approachable and willing to be flexible to suit the commercial realities faced by clients.’
‘Joe Stayte is excellent. He is always friendly, efficient and reliable.’
Western Circuit > Costs Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers stands out on the Western circuit for its ‘dedicated costs team‘. Led by the ‘very approachable‘ Oliver Moore , the group has an established track record in handling costs appeals, enforceability of funding arrangements, professional negligence work pertaining to costs issues, and advising on assessments of costs involving issues of principle and of high value. James Wibberley is a key contact for advising on issues related to wasted costs and non-party costs applications. James Bentley has ‘a wealth of expertise‘ in assisting with costs matters arising from clinical negligence and personal injury cases.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Always available, approachable and extremely knowledgeable barristers.’
‘Always able to offer a range of alternative barristers of good calibre.’
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room is well run and always there to help. Rob McDonald has a fantastic knowledge of the market.’
‘Excellent clerking team who go the extra mile to ensure good service.’
‘Always very helpful and efficient.’
‘A solid clerking team.’
Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
In the words of instructing solicitors, the ‘dynamic set‘ Guildhall Chambers‘ crime team is ‘the best on the Western Circuit‘; ‘there is a real strength in depth, with quality practitioners at all levels‘. In recent instructions for the team, group head Christopher Quinlan KC led James Haskell in the prosecution of a woman who was charged and convicted of the murder of her husband; the case involved issues of ‘loss of control’ in the context of the defendant alleging domestic abuse. Ray Tully KC successfully prosecuted a man who was convicted of multiple counts of stranger rape. Turning to the junior end of chambers, Mark Worsley successfully prosecuted a man for the murder of a 77-year-old woman for whom the defendant had acted as a carer. Mary Cowe is highly regarded for her expertise in handling complex cases of large-scale fraud.Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An elite criminal set with an abundance of top class barristers.’
‘A go-to chambers for serious and complex crime.’
‘The set as a whole provides top class barristers who are very responsive and able.’
‘It has exceptional depth in quality of its advocates.’
‘Excellent chambers to work with.’
Clerking
‘An elite team of clerks.’
Western Circuit > Employment Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers is ‘an excellent chambers with exceptional employment barristers‘ – ‘the best set for employment law in the South West‘, according to instructing solicitors. Julian Allsop , who heads up the practice, is ‘a calm and confident advocate‘, and has an excellent track record in appearing before the Employment Tribunal in complex cases involving whistleblowing and disability and maternity discrimination claims. Douglas Leach has an ‘impressive analytical ability when assessing cases‘ and Debbie Grennan is ‘an exceptional advocate‘. Allan Roberts is sought after for his expertise in whistleblowing, TUPE and discrimination cases. In recent instructions for the group, Geraint Probert represented the claimant before the Appeal Tribunal in a case involving the issue of whether a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome is considered a disability under the statutory definition.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘The whole set is excellent and provides a good quality service.’
‘Guildhall is a brilliant set, providing a diverse range of barristers, at varying levels, meaning it always has the right person for the job.’
‘The quality on offer at all levels of call is exceptional.’
‘An incredibly strong set.’
‘The employment team at Guildhall is friendly and technically superb.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are responsive and efficient.’
Western Circuit > Professional negligence Tier 1
At Guildhall Chambers, the ‘exceptionally bright‘ Hugh Sims KC has an excellent reputation for representing claimants and defendants in professional negligence disputes involving solicitors, surveyors, accountants and other professionals. John Virgo has established strength in cases in the financial arena, while Oliver Manley has niche expertise in handling cases involving negligent immigration advice. Jay Jagasia regularly acts for financial institutions in professional negligence matters. James Wibberley is singled out for his solid experience in handling claims brought against solicitors.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good reputable set in the South West.’
‘Very good across the board.’
‘Members are very responsive.’
Clerking
‘All very helpful and efficient.’
‘Quick and reactive.’
‘Highly responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Joe Stayte couldn’t be more helpful.’
Western Circuit > Sport Tier 1
Highly regarded for its longstanding expertise in handling a range of sports law matters on the Western circuit, Guildhall Chambers‘ team is led by Christopher Quinlan KC, who stands out as ‘one of the leading sports barristers in the UK‘. Richard Smith KC is widely recognised for his specialisation in rugby discipline matters, and was appointed as counsel to the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. At the junior end of chambers, Samuel Jones represented Bath Rugby in a disciplinary case involving England winger Anthony Watson, who had criticised a referee’s decision on his Twitter account; Watson received a one-week suspended ban.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong in the sports sector.’
Clerking
‘Extremely efficient.’
Western Circuit > Personal injury Tier 2
Guildhall Chambers is described as housing ‘an excellent personal injury team‘; ‘the set offers a wide selection of barristers who cover the full spectrum of areas of personal injury law‘. The ‘always well-prepared‘ Oliver Moore fields expertise in fatal accident cases and catastrophic injury claims, with a specific focus on cases involving brain injuries. The ‘very intelligent‘ Anthony Reddiford appeared for the claimant in NAX v MAX & Liverpool Victoria General Insurance Group Ltd, concerning catastrophic injuries arising from a motorcycle accident. Martin Lanchester ‘s caseload includes catastrophic injury claims, road traffic accidents, employer’s and public liability claims and disease claims.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They have a number of experienced barristers and are adept at matching the right barrister to the right cases.’
‘Very good strength in depth.’
‘Excellent chambers.’
‘All the barristers I have instructed are knowledgeable, thorough and personable – I can trust them to do their very best for my clients.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are quick to respond and very helpful.’
‘Olive Kavanagh offers very efficient clerking with a friendly demeanour.’
Western Circuit > Property and construction Tier 2
Guildhall Chambers attracts praise for its ‘significant expertise and depth in property disputes‘. Jay Jagasia heads the set’s property and estates team, and regularly represents claimants and defendants in a range of contentious work, including adverse possession, landlord and tenant and boundary disputes. Recent highlights include Oliver Mitchell acting as junior counsel before the Court of Appeal in Promontoria (Oak) Limited v Emanuel, concerning combined appeals arising from long-running litigation involving redacted documents of title. William Batstone is sought after for his established expertise in handling agricultural and rural property disputes, and Julian Allsop is a key name for construction law. In 2021 Ewan Paton was appointed a Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal; Matthew Wales was appointed to the district bench; and Brittany Pearce moved to St John’s Chambers.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very able set.’
‘Good strength in depth.’
‘Very good across the board.’
‘Always helpful and responsive.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient service.’
‘All proactive and helpful.’
Western Circuit > Agriculture
Leading Juniors
Western Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
Leading Juniors
Western Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
Leading Juniors
Western Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety) Tier 1
At Guildhall Chambers, Andrew Langdon KC garners praise as ‘the best jury advocate in regulatory cases‘, in the words of instructing solicitors, and is highly regarded for his established track record in handling defence and prosecution work for the Health and Safety Executive. Alistair Haggarty acted for the defendant company in a prosecution brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act after a teenage employee lost two fingers in a mincer at a butcher’s shop. Samuel Jones ‘has acknowledged and particular expertise in fire safety cases‘.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Guildhall Chambers has excellent strength in depth in the business and regulatory field.’
‘Guildhall Chambers has a wealth of talent at every level.’
‘A consistently solid set.’
Clerking
‘The Guildhall clerks are exceptional: knowledgeable, reliable, approachable and efficient.’
‘Very helpful. Excellent and efficient communication.’
‘Grant Bidwell has always been extremely accommodating and efficient.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers continues to undertake the full gamut of cases in this space for both defendants and claimants. Selena Plowden KC has ‘exceptional understanding of the medicine involved in clinical negligence cases‘; she is ‘pragmatic and calm with a tenacious approach to litigation‘. Sophie Holme is ‘an acute strategist‘ with established expertise in advising on cases involving claims concerning delayed diagnoses, surgical negligence and psychiatric injuries. Kriti Upadhyay is regularly instructed in cases involving delayed cancer diagnoses and negligent gynaecological and obstetric care. Martin Lanchester is recommended for claims involving spinal, neurological, cardiological and ophthalmological injuries.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth.’
‘Guildhall is a brilliant set of chambers.’
‘A trusted set.’
Clerking
‘Helpful and efficient clerking.’
‘The clerks are extremely approachable and helpful and go over and above to assist with anything. Olive Kavanagh can never do enough for you.’
‘Always helpful and supportive.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Commercial litigation Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers stands out as an ‘excellent go-to chambers for commercial disputes‘ and houses ‘specialists in financial services regulatory litigation‘. In a recent case highlight Hugh Sims KC, who heads up the practice, is leading James Wibberley in URE Energy Limited v Notting Hill Genesis, involving a £4m damages claim regarding the alleged wrongful repudiation of an electricity supply contract. Jay Jagasia provides ‘quick, efficient and commercial advice‘ on a broad range of contentious banking work. In May 2022 Samuel Parsons moved to Erskine Chambers.Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A good breadth of call from junior to silks.’
‘Extremely good value for the quality of service.’
‘A set of high quality barristers.’
‘Solid strength and depth within chambers.’
Clerking
‘The clerks always respond promptly. Nothing is too much trouble for Stephen Arnold.’
‘Very good, personable and responsive.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Company and insolvency Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers ‘offers a strong range of barristers in the field of insolvency‘. Practice head Simon Passfield is ‘the safest of hands for insolvency‘, with an excellent track record in handling a range of high-value contentious insolvency cases. The ‘very impressive‘ Hugh Sims KC has ‘a calm and structured approach that gives the client and the court real confidence.’ Stefan Ramel is sought after for his established strength in cross-border insolvency. Elsewhere in chambers, James Wibberley is representing zoologist and conservationist Dr Jake Veasey in an unfair prejudice claim against the owners and operators of Peak Wildlife Park. In May 2022 Samuel Parsons moved to elite London set Erskine Chambers.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Guildhall is my chambers of choice for all insolvency related matters. There is a very strong team of experienced juniors and silks.’
‘Good depth across the insolvency spectrum from juniors to silks.’
‘Real quality and depth.’
Clerking
‘The clerks at Guildhall are very proactive and user friendly.’
‘Very approachable and willing to be flexible to suit the commercial realities faced by clients.’
‘Joe Stayte is excellent. He is always friendly, efficient and reliable.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Costs Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers stands out on the Western circuit for its ‘dedicated costs team‘. Led by the ‘very approachable‘ Oliver Moore , the group has an established track record in handling costs appeals, enforceability of funding arrangements, professional negligence work pertaining to costs issues, and advising on assessments of costs involving issues of principle and of high value. James Wibberley is a key contact for advising on issues related to wasted costs and non-party costs applications. James Bentley has ‘a wealth of expertise‘ in assisting with costs matters arising from clinical negligence and personal injury cases.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Always available, approachable and extremely knowledgeable barristers.’
‘Always able to offer a range of alternative barristers of good calibre.’
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room is well run and always there to help. Rob McDonald has a fantastic knowledge of the market.’
‘Excellent clerking team who go the extra mile to ensure good service.’
‘Always very helpful and efficient.’
‘A solid clerking team.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
In the words of instructing solicitors, the ‘dynamic set‘ Guildhall Chambers‘ crime team is ‘the best on the Western Circuit‘; ‘there is a real strength in depth, with quality practitioners at all levels‘. In recent instructions for the team, group head Christopher Quinlan KC led James Haskell in the prosecution of a woman who was charged and convicted of the murder of her husband; the case involved issues of ‘loss of control’ in the context of the defendant alleging domestic abuse. Ray Tully KC successfully prosecuted a man who was convicted of multiple counts of stranger rape. Turning to the junior end of chambers, Mark Worsley successfully prosecuted a man for the murder of a 77-year-old woman for whom the defendant had acted as a carer. Mary Cowe is highly regarded for her expertise in handling complex cases of large-scale fraud.Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An elite criminal set with an abundance of top class barristers.’
‘A go-to chambers for serious and complex crime.’
‘The set as a whole provides top class barristers who are very responsive and able.’
‘It has exceptional depth in quality of its advocates.’
‘Excellent chambers to work with.’
Clerking
‘An elite team of clerks.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Employment Tier 1
Guildhall Chambers is ‘an excellent chambers with exceptional employment barristers‘ – ‘the best set for employment law in the South West‘, according to instructing solicitors. Julian Allsop , who heads up the practice, is ‘a calm and confident advocate‘, and has an excellent track record in appearing before the Employment Tribunal in complex cases involving whistleblowing and disability and maternity discrimination claims. Douglas Leach has an ‘impressive analytical ability when assessing cases‘ and Debbie Grennan is ‘an exceptional advocate‘. Allan Roberts is sought after for his expertise in whistleblowing, TUPE and discrimination cases. In recent instructions for the group, Geraint Probert represented the claimant before the Appeal Tribunal in a case involving the issue of whether a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome is considered a disability under the statutory definition.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘The whole set is excellent and provides a good quality service.’
‘Guildhall is a brilliant set, providing a diverse range of barristers, at varying levels, meaning it always has the right person for the job.’
‘The quality on offer at all levels of call is exceptional.’
‘An incredibly strong set.’
‘The employment team at Guildhall is friendly and technically superb.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are responsive and efficient.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Professional negligence Tier 1
At Guildhall Chambers, the ‘exceptionally bright‘ Hugh Sims KC has an excellent reputation for representing claimants and defendants in professional negligence disputes involving solicitors, surveyors, accountants and other professionals. John Virgo has established strength in cases in the financial arena, while Oliver Manley has niche expertise in handling cases involving negligent immigration advice. Jay Jagasia regularly acts for financial institutions in professional negligence matters. James Wibberley is singled out for his solid experience in handling claims brought against solicitors.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good reputable set in the South West.’
‘Very good across the board.’
‘Members are very responsive.’
Clerking
‘All very helpful and efficient.’
‘Quick and reactive.’
‘Highly responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Joe Stayte couldn’t be more helpful.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Sport Tier 1
Highly regarded for its longstanding expertise in handling a range of sports law matters on the Western circuit, Guildhall Chambers‘ team is led by Christopher Quinlan KC, who stands out as ‘one of the leading sports barristers in the UK‘. Richard Smith KC is widely recognised for his specialisation in rugby discipline matters, and was appointed as counsel to the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. At the junior end of chambers, Samuel Jones represented Bath Rugby in a disciplinary case involving England winger Anthony Watson, who had criticised a referee’s decision on his Twitter account; Watson received a one-week suspended ban.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very strong in the sports sector.’
Clerking
‘Extremely efficient.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Personal injury Tier 2
Guildhall Chambers is described as housing ‘an excellent personal injury team‘; ‘the set offers a wide selection of barristers who cover the full spectrum of areas of personal injury law‘. The ‘always well-prepared‘ Oliver Moore fields expertise in fatal accident cases and catastrophic injury claims, with a specific focus on cases involving brain injuries. The ‘very intelligent‘ Anthony Reddiford appeared for the claimant in NAX v MAX & Liverpool Victoria General Insurance Group Ltd, concerning catastrophic injuries arising from a motorcycle accident. Martin Lanchester ‘s caseload includes catastrophic injury claims, road traffic accidents, employer’s and public liability claims and disease claims.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They have a number of experienced barristers and are adept at matching the right barrister to the right cases.’
‘Very good strength in depth.’
‘Excellent chambers.’
‘All the barristers I have instructed are knowledgeable, thorough and personable – I can trust them to do their very best for my clients.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are quick to respond and very helpful.’
‘Olive Kavanagh offers very efficient clerking with a friendly demeanour.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Property and construction Tier 2
Guildhall Chambers attracts praise for its ‘significant expertise and depth in property disputes‘. Jay Jagasia heads the set’s property and estates team, and regularly represents claimants and defendants in a range of contentious work, including adverse possession, landlord and tenant and boundary disputes. Recent highlights include Oliver Mitchell acting as junior counsel before the Court of Appeal in Promontoria (Oak) Limited v Emanuel, concerning combined appeals arising from long-running litigation involving redacted documents of title. William Batstone is sought after for his established expertise in handling agricultural and rural property disputes, and Julian Allsop is a key name for construction law. In 2021 Ewan Paton was appointed a Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal; Matthew Wales was appointed to the district bench; and Brittany Pearce moved to St John’s Chambers.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Very able set.’
‘Good strength in depth.’
‘Very good across the board.’
‘Always helpful and responsive.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient service.’
‘All proactive and helpful.’
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Agriculture
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
Leading Juniors
Guildhall Chambers > Set Profile
One of the UK’s leading multidisciplinary sets with a national reputation for formidable advice, advocacy and client service. Chambers handles the full spectrum of crime and specialises in key civil practice areas. The barristers are consistently top ranked and recognised as leading specialists in their fields. Chambers is renowned for its client-focussed approach offering professionalism and approachability with a strong commitment to efficient case management and exceptional client care.
Types of work undertaken
Banking and financial services: Expertise includes disputes such as mortgages and charges, guarantees and indemnities, other third-party securities, issues relating to the Consumer Credit Act, receiverships and retail banking transaction. Regulation and Compliance, Data Protection Act & GDPR, consumer and business finance issue, lender and bank liabilities, cryptocurrencies and cryptoassets, crowd funding and peer to peer lending.
Clinical negligence: The team covers all aspects of clinical negligence litigation from minor to catastrophic claims acting for public and privately funded claimants, the NHSLA, NWSSP, Legal and Risk Services, Medical Defence organisations, and commercial providers of care. The team has specialist knowledge in associated fields such as professional disciplinary hearings, professional negligence, inquests and costs.
Commercial litigation: The team is nationally recognised and handles the full spectrum of commercial dispute resolution cases at all levels, from small claims through to the most serious and high value claims. The team benefits from experience of work in a wide variety of industry sectors and are recognised as having strong sector expertise for commercial disputes. Key areas of practice include breach of contract, banking and finance, civil fraud and recovery of assets, injunctions, competition law, consumer credit, corporate and partnership, professional negligence, sale and supply of goods and services and TCC.
Company law: The team handles a wide range of company and commercial disputes including the interpretation and dispute resolution of commercial contracts and partnership and joint ventures, shareholder agreements, the allotment and transfer of shares, directors’ duties, shareholder disputes, derivative claims, just and equitable windings up. We have significant experience handling unfair prejudice disputes and director qualification proceedings.
Costs and litigation funding: The team includes some of the most prominent regional specialists in this field, offering advice and representation across the whole breadth of costs procedure and law. Members provide advice and representation in respect to the full range of inter partes costs disputes and costs issues arising in litigation generally. The work of our specialists includes advice and representation in respect to assessments of costs involving issues of principle and of high value, costs appeals, and costs management. The teams experience and expertise also covers advising on enforceability of funding arrangements, issues of coverage and indemnity relating to BTE and ATE insurance, solicitor – own client disputes and professional negligence cases relating to costs and funding.
Crime: One of the foremost criminal sets in the country and the leading set on the Western Circuit, the crime team has five silks and 20 juniors. The team provides specialist expertise in all areas of criminal defence and prosecution work from murder, serious sexual allegations, slavery, terrorism and serious fraud, to road traffic cases, drug and vehicle crime. Chambers has an outstanding reputation for the provision of a complete, efficient, effective and genuinely top quality service. Excellence in barristers and clerks alike ensures that chambers attracts instructions from prosecution authorities and leading firms of solicitors nationwide.
Employment and discrimination: The team offers a depth of expertise and quality of service across the full range of employment and discrimination issues including unfair, constructive and wrongful dismissal, contractual disputes, actionable discrimination, complex discrimination, whistleblowing and TUPE matters, breach of confidence, equal pay employment status, redundancy and restructuring, professional discipline, industrial action and injunctions. Our members regularly appear in the EAT and Court of Appeal and in front of a variety of professional disciplinary bodies, such as the GMC and NMC.
Insolvency: Guildhall Chambers is recognised as ‘a centre of excellence for insolvency counsel’ and ‘the go-to set for insolvency matters in the West of the country’. The team provides specialist advice and advocacy on all aspects of insolvency and company law, including corporate, partnership and personal insolvency, corporate and partnership break-up, and company directors and disqualification. Several members of our team are members of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, and we receive instructions from Government departments, leading firms of insolvency lawyers, insolvency office holders and regulatory bodies. Team members also advise on non-contentious insolvency issues, corporate recovery and turnaround.
Personal injury: The team is highly regarded for their expert handling of a wide range of high-value and complex personal injury claims. Work includes serious brain injury, chronic pain, psychological injury, product liability, workplace accidents, public liability, highways, road traffic accidents – with particular experience of acting for insurers in complex group claims, inquests and industrial disease. Specialisms also include animals act claims, sports related injuries and members regularly advise on related costs and professional negligence claims.
Professional negligence and indemnity: Chambers provides expertise in disciplinary proceedings across all professions and at all levels, from healthcare and education sectors, to assisting police officers. We handle employers’ internal disciplinary procedures and proceedings before regulators. The team represents both claimants and defendants / insurers in relation to the full range of professional advisers, including solicitors, accountants, constructions professionals, financial advisors, surveyors, valuers and brokers.
Property, estates and planning: Chambers advises and act in all forms of real property law including landlord and tenant, agriculture, trusts, inheritance, wills and probate, estates and commons, towns and village greens, planning and property-related insolvency and professional negligence cases associated with property transactions. Chambers also handles the full range of planning matters offering advisory and advocacy services in the full range of tribunals including planning appeals and inquiries, enforcements, injunctions and development plan examinations.
Regulatory and discipline: The teams work encompasses all aspects of criminal prosecutions, professional disciplinary proceedings and regulation in the fields of financial services, education, healthcare, environment, fraud, animal welfare, heath and safety, licensing, inquests and professional discipline. They deal with professional conduct proceedings and undertake internal investigation processes for employer clients dealing with such issues as disciplinary, grievance, whistleblowing and health and safety.
Sport: Guildhall’s sports barristers provide expertise and experience across the sports sector, throughout the United Kingdom and abroad. Their unique knowledge, experience and proven expertise gives all our clients a genuinely competitive edge in the prompt, cost effective resolution of sports-related disputes. We represent a wide range of clients from renowned sportsmen, professional clubs and national sporting bodies, to individual amateur athletes. We are highly experienced in disciplinary and regulatory hearings; sports-related contract, professional negligence, insolvency; commercial, competition, criminal and employment law matters. The winning mentality of our barristers is recognised across a broad spectrum of sporting disciplines including rugby, football, horse racing, motor-racing, athletics, fencing, snooker and swimming.
Technology and construction: The teams construction work includes advice and representation in relation to payment claims, whether as a debt action or arising in adjudications and the enforcement of adjudication decisions by the High Court. We also act in relation to claims in relation to defective work, delay and disruption and loss and expense claims. We also handle disputes arising in projects which have used standard form contracts, such as those published by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (‘JCT’) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (such as the ICE / ICC and NEC3 forms).
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Practice Manager - Civil | Oliver Edwards | oliver.edwards@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Senior Practice Manager - Crime, Regulatory & Discipline, Sports | Lucy Northeast | lucy.northeast@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Practice Manager - Commercial and Insolvency | Stephen Arnold | stephen.arnold@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Practice Manager - Crime | Grant Bidwell | grant.bidwell@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Practice Manager - Commercial and Insolvency | Joe Stayte | joe.stayte@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Practice Managaer - Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence | Caroline Evans | caroline.evans@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Practice Manager - Employment and Costs & Litigation Funding | Rob McDonald | robert.mcdonald@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Crime | Elena Brake | elena.brake@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Crime | Michael Cregg | michael.cregg@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Civil | Dan Cuthbertson | dan.cuthbertson@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence | Olive Kavanagh | olive.kavanagh@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Commercial and Insolvency | Jordan Yandell | jordan.yandell@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Civil | Emily Webb | emily.webb@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Assistant Practice Manager - Crime | Shannon Winstone | shannon.winstone@guildhallchambers.co.uk | 0117 930 9000 |
| Head of Chambers | VIGARS KC, Anna (1996) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DAVIDSON KC, Nicholas (1974)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | SMITH KC, Richard (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LANGDON KC, Andrew (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STONER KC, Christopher (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WHITTING KC, John (1991)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | QUINLAN KC, Christopher (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SIMS KC, Hugh (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PLOWDEN KC, Selena (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TULLY KC, Ray (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FENNY, Ian (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BATSTONE, William (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VIRGO, John (1983) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SCUTT, David (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SMITH, Nicholas (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMAS, Charles (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CORNWALL, Virginia (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENSON, Julian (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | REDDIFORD, Anthony (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BINDER, Peter (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FARMER, Gabriel (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WORSLEY, Mark (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ASCROFT, Richard (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PAKROOH, Ramin (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | POSTA, Adrian (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRENNAN, Debbie (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARE, Christopher (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GIBB, Katie (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALLSOP, Julian (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TALLENTIRE, Jenny (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOHIL, Pushpanjali (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SOWERSBY, Robert (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LANCHESTER, Martin (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RAMEL, Stefan (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEACH, Douglas (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROBERTS, Allan (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HASKELL, James (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CAVENDER, Susan (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOORE, Oliver (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MANLEY, Oliver (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COWE, Mary (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GARDINER, Kerry (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SELWAY, Michael (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEWIS, Paul (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TYZACK*, William (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLLINGSWORTH, Edward (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOYLE, Holly (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALKER, Lucy (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JONES, Samuel (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WIBBERLEY, James (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PASSFIELD, Simon (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLME, Sophie (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MITCHELL, Oliver (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAYLOR, Caighli (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PROBERT, Geraint (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GORDON, Gregory (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STAUNTON, Suzanne (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BROWN, Matthew (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | UPADHYAY, Kriti (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JAGASIA, Jay (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAGGERTY, Alistair (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENTLEY, James (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HANNANT, James (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NDLOVU, MANDLA (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHURCHILL, John (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROWLANDS, Manon (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUGHES, DR. Philip (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALMSLEY, Sophie (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEE, Nicholas (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EVANS, Nicholas (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHAMBAY, Govinder (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEWIS-BALE, James (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS, Anna (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MALLIN-MARTIN, Charlotte ( 2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EVANS, Caitlin (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FULLER, James (2020) |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Julian Allsop | Julian has a specialist employment practice which covers all aspects of the… | View Profile |
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| Richard Ascroft | Richard is a barrister who specialises in insolvency law, company law and… | View Profile |
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| William Batstone | For 20 years, William has practised exclusively in the resolution of agricultural… | View Profile |
 | Julian Benson | Julian is a personal injury barrister whose work is focused chiefly on… | View Profile |
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| James Bentley | James Bentley is recognised as a leading junior on circuit for both… | View Profile |
 | Matthew Brown | Matthew is a specialist property and estates barrister who practises exclusively in… | View Profile |
 | Susan Cavender | Susan specialises in a variety of areas of law that includes criminal,… | View Profile |
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| John Churchill | John’s practice is predominantly in commercial and chancery law. He also handles… | View Profile |
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| Mary Cowe | Mary is a criminal barrister and a fraud specialist with a reputation… | View Profile |
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| Holly Doyle | Holly specialises in commercial law and insolvency and undertakes advisory work, drafting… | View Profile |
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| Gabriel Farmer | Gabriel has a longstanding specialist practice in personal injury and clinical negligence.… | View Profile |
 | Ian Fenny | Ian Fenny was called to the Bar by Grays Inn in 1978.… | View Profile |
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| Miss Kerry Gardiner | Kerry is a specialist employment barrister. She acts for both Claimants and… | View Profile |
 | Katie Gibb | Katie specialises in commercial law, company and insolvency matters. Her commercial law… | View Profile |
 | Pushpanjali Gohil | Anjali is known for her fearlessness in court, down to earth style,… | View Profile |
 | Greg Gordon | Gregory is a criminal and regulatory barrister and joined Guildhall Chambers as… | View Profile |
|
| Debbie Grennan | Barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law (including transfer of undertakings,… | View Profile |
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| Mr Alistair Haggerty | Alistair is a specialist criminal and regulatory advocate with a busy Crown… | View Profile |
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| Mr Alistair Haggerty | Alistair is a specialist criminal and regulatory advocate with a busy Crown… | View Profile |
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| James Hannant | James has been a member of Chambers since 2014. He has a… | View Profile |
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| James Haskell | James is a specialist criminal advocate who prosecutes and defends in a… | View Profile |
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| Sophie Holme | Sophie Holme is a leading junior with a strong reputation for representing… | View Profile |
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| Jay Jagasia | Jay is a leading commercial and chancery junior and is recognised as… | View Profile |
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| Samuel Jones | Sam is a specialist advocate who prosecutes and defends a wide variety… | View Profile |
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| Martin Lanchester | Martin is a member of the Guildhall Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence… | View Profile |
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| Andrew Langdon | Andrew is a criminal silk who regularly appears in cases of homicide,… | View Profile |
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| Douglas Leach | Douglas is a specialist employment and discrimination barrister. He has a well-rounded practice… | View Profile |
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| Oliver Manley | Oliver is a commercial, property & estates and personal injury barrister with… | View Profile |
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| Oliver Mitchell | Oliver’s practice encompasses property (commercial and residential), probate and trusts and commercial… | View Profile |
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| Oliver Moore | Oliver is a very experienced specialist Personal Injury and Costs Litigation barrister.… | View Profile |
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| Ramin Pakrooh | Ramin is a leading junior, with extensive experience in murder and other… | View Profile |
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| Simon Passfield | Simon is a specialist insolvency barrister who undertakes litigation and advisory work… | View Profile |
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| Selena Plowden | Selena specialises in complex and high value clinical negligence and personal injury… | View Profile |
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| Geraint Probert | Geraint is a specialist barrister in Employment and Discrimination law. He specialises… | View Profile |
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| Christopher Quinlan | Christopher took silk in 2011. He has continued to prosecute and defend… | View Profile |
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| Stefan Ramel | Stefan is a specialist insolvency and commercial barrister who accepts instructions in… | View Profile |
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| Anthony Reddiford | Anthony (Tony) is a catastrophic injury and industrial disease specialist with 30… | View Profile |
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| Allan Roberts | Allan is a specialist employment and commercial barrister recognised in both Chambers… | View Profile |
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| David Scutt | A highly accomplished and experienced barrister, David’s criminal practice includes homicide, other… | View Profile |
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| Michael Selway | Michael practises in Property & Estates and Commercial law, appearing in the… | View Profile |
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| Hugh Sims | Hugh is recognised as a star of the UK Bar, with rankings… | View Profile |
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| Nicholas Smith | Nick is a specialist Employment & Discrimination Barrister and has been band… | View Profile |
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| Richard Smith | Richard is a criminal and sports law barrister, with over 30 years’… | View Profile |
 | Robert Sowersby | Rob’s busy practice is centered around defending clinical negligence claims and he… | View Profile |
|
| Jennifer Tallentire | Jenny is a highly experienced criminal practitioner, with expertise in the most… | View Profile |
 | Caighli Taylor | Caighli is a criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends in both the… | View Profile |
 | Charles Thomas | Charles is an experienced specialist criminal barrister. His practice encompasses the entire… | View Profile |
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| Ray Tully | Ray is a heavyweight criminal law and sports law barrister who is… | View Profile |
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| Kriti Upadhyay | Kriti is a medical lawyer, specialising in clinical negligence, Court of Protection… | View Profile |
 | Anna Vigars | Anna is a criminal, health and safety and environmental law barrister with… | View Profile |
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| John Virgo | John is a specialist commercial barrister, with a strong practice emphasis on… | View Profile |
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| Lucy Walker | Lucy is a specialist in consumer credit and in the financial services regulatory regime.… | View Profile |
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| James Wibberley | James is a commercial specialist with experience of dealing with a wide… | View Profile |
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| Mark Worsley | Mark is head of Guildhall’s Crime Team and defends and prosecutes serious… | View Profile |
Diversity
We are committed to the values of Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity across all aspects of Chambers and Chambers life. We have two ED&I offices who are both highly motivated in bringing forward new ideas and ways to further enhance our ways of working in order to underpin these values, not just within our policies, but also our ethos.
We have recently arranged talks to members and discussion sessions about E&D in the workplace with a view to discussing ways in which any discrimination can best be addressed. Further, in order to ensure awareness across the clerking teams, specific training with a particular focus on Unconscious Bias has been undertaken. We closely monitor allocation of work, and we ensure that practice review meetings are focussed around the desires of the individuals so that we can best support each and every member to fulfil their aspirations.
We have promised transparent commitment to change by pledging our support the Bar Council’s Women in Law programme, for the progression of women into senior roles, with a focus on retention and development opportunities to aid true gender equality.
The Women in Law programme requires chambers to agree a number of pledges, which are practical steps towards furthering gender equality. We have prepared a number of pledges, which we will review and assess for progress in the 12 months.
During the course of the year, our clerking and staff teams have undergone several training courses including fair allocation of work, led by our EDI representatives, Jenny Tallentire & Debbie Grennan. This is an ongoing process. Our senior clerks attended the Bar Council’s Race Awareness training, and since this we have attended a number if virtual events on the subject of race awareness at the Bar.
Our EDI officers have recently had a specific focus on the retention of women in chambers, particularly in the first few years of practice. They have prepared a detailed reports with a number of recommendations that was approved by our management committee.
Selena Plowden QC is an active member of the Western Circuit Women’s Forum and Kriti Upadhyay is involved in the activities of the Women Lawyers Division (Bristol). We already have a near equal proportion of women to men in the clerks room.
Here are a few highlights of what we will be focussing on over the next 12 months:
a) Completing the latest gender pay review and reporting our findings to Guildhall’s Management Committee for consideration;
b) Putting into place the recommendations of our earlier report supporting members of chambers to deliver and access the support required and devising a suitable system for assessing the effectiveness of these measures;
c) Conducting regular workshops for junior tenants, pupils and pupil supervisors, addressing the challenges of the early years of practice and providing an open forum for discussion about the challenges individuals may face.
d) Implementing Chambers’ Race Awareness Action Plan and rolling out the Race Awareness training more widely;
- Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Western Circuit > Clinical negligence
- Western Circuit > Commercial litigation
- Western Circuit > Company and insolvency
- Western Circuit > Costs
- Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
- Western Circuit > Employment
- Western Circuit > Professional negligence
- Western Circuit > Sport
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Western Circuit > Agriculture
- Western Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
- Western Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
- Western Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Clinical negligence
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Commercial litigation
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Company and insolvency
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Costs
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Employment
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Professional negligence
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Sport