Old Square Chambers > Bristol, England > Set Profile
Old Square Chambers Offices

Old Square Chambers
9 QUEEN SQUARE
BRISTOL
BS1 4JE
England
Old Square Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Employment Tier 1
Old Square Chambers was recently particularly active in relation to Covid-19's impact on employment. Oliver Segal QC and Stuart Brittenden acted for Unite in the Carluccio's insolvency case, the first to consider the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme's application; and Ben Collins QC, and senior juniors Eleena Misra and Nadia Motraghi, appeared for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain in the High Court, seeking to extend the furlough scheme's scope to gig economy workers. In other areas, several chambers' members (arguing on both sides), Lord Hendy QC, Ben Collins QC, Ben Cooper QC, Katharine Newton QC, Robert Moretto and Madeline Stanley, acted in the Court of Appeal in a test case on whether foster carers have worker status; and Ben Cooper QC acted for the claimant in Forstater v CGD Europe & others, a high-profile case concerning protection against discrimination in employment for expressing philosophical beliefs in the public debate about biological sex and trans rights.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good availability of counsel, and always with a range of experience and brief fees so that the client has lots of options. They also deliver regular training sessions with topical content, engaging speakers and useful insights.‘
‘A well-regarded set, with a strong range of barristers who rarely disappoint.‘
‘Very friendly, pleasant and skilled employment set with excellent juniors and QCs.‘
‘A great chambers for employment work, with a number of talented barristers on offer.‘
‘There are some brilliant counsel at Old Square.‘
Clerking
‘They always deliver a prompt response to queries, and have been willing to be flexible on fees in certain circumstances, which has been most appreciated by the client.‘
Western Circuit > Employment Tier 1
'First-class employment set' Old Square Chambers has 'real strength in depth', and houses a team which maintains a presence in London and Bristol. Michael Ford QC has 'a fantastic brain' and is 'an absolutely superb advocate, in both trials and appeal work'. Jack Mitchell has established expertise in whistle blowing cases, while the 'incredibly focussed' Spencer Keen is regularly sought after for his 'encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of disability discrimination issues'. Melanie Tether is 'a brilliant advocate' and 'extremely committed'; she is adept at representing employers and employees across the full range of employment law issues, with particular strength in TUPE, unfair dismissal, equal pay and discrimination matters.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A strong set for employment law‘.
‘An innovative and supportive chambers‘.
Clerking
‘William Meade runs a well organised team‘.
‘The clerks are down to earth and extremely helpful. They are always solutions driven‘.
‘Paul Adams is very approachable and sensible‘.
Western Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 2
The 'excellent' clinical negligence barristers at Old Square Chambers continue to undertake a range of complex cases for both claimants and defendants. The 'extremely thorough' Bella Webb is noted for her expertise in handling claims involving delayed cancer diagnoses. Naomi Rees is recommended for claims involving birth injuries and delayed or missed diagnoses, while the 'very approachable' Kara Loraine is instructed in cases involving psychiatric injury claims for parents arising from infant deaths, negligent obstetric care and delivery and negligent surgical procedures. Sophie Beesley is 'highly intelligent and technically brilliant' and 'impressive on her feet'.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A very well-managed set‘.
‘The barristers at Old Square Chambers are excellent‘.
Clerking
‘Extremely helpful and practical clerks‘.
‘Will Meade is very attentive to the needs of instructing solicitors, and offers strong leadership to an excellent clinical negligence group‘.
‘Olivia Moliterno is an excellent team leader – very efficient and responsive‘.
‘Joe Kallas is dedicated to his role‘.
Western Circuit > Personal injury Tier 2
Old Square Chambers is described as 'an excellent set with strength in depth', with 'a wide choice of specialised personal injury barristers'. The team is strong in both claimant and defendant work, with recent instructions including high-value catastrophic injury cases, fatal accident claims and employers' liability matters. Kara Loraine is well versed in handling complex multi-track claims in the County Court and High Court, while Toby Kempster is regularly instructed in claimant-based employer's liability cases, often involving disease claims and work-related accidents. Charlie Woodhouse stands out for his 'considerable knowledge and experience in the personal injury field'.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set for personal injury work. Counsel always make themselves available‘.
‘A high quality chambers with a number of “go-to” counsel for personal injury claims‘.
‘The set is supportive, dependable, and offers strength in depth‘.
Clerking
‘Senior clerk William Meade runs a tight ship‘.
‘The clerks’ service is excellent. Olivia Moliterno in particular is a joy to work with and always willing to help‘.
‘The clerks provide a first class service. They are very responsive and nothing is too much trouble‘.
London Bar > Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud Tier 3
With its 'mix of highly skilled barristers' who are 'always well prepared, clever and good operators in court' and its clerking team who 'really go the extra mile', Old Square Chambers is 'very deserving of the excellent reputation it holds'. Ben Collins QC is noted for his expertise in high-value brain injury cases; one recent example sees him acting for the claimant in AM v Ortec and others, a matter with multiple defendants, including one located overseas, arising from a brain injury sustained in a fall from height at work. In addition, he and Bruno Gil are acting for the defendant in Eaglesham, Bass and others v MoD, a multi-claimant case arising from Q Fever among armed forces in Afghanistan.
Personal injury - Rising Stars
Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Personal injury - Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Old Square Chambers are always efficient and provide an outstanding service.’
‘Old Square Chambers are first rate. They are always well prepared, clever and good operators in court.’
‘A very professional set. A good mix of highly skilled barristers in the personal injury arena.’
‘Old Square Chambers is a powerhouse in the defendant personal injury space, with strength-in-depth.’
‘Great set. Always works really hard to help. Very deserving of the excellent reputation it holds.’
Clerking
‘The clerking team at Old Square is one of the best at the Bar. William Meade is simply excellent and leads a team who really go the extra mile.’
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 3
Old Square Chambers stands out for its 'unrivalled experience and knowledge', and has 'excellent coverage at all levels'. The set has a solid reputation for representing healthcare practitioners before all major regulatory bodies. Mark Sutton QC has an excellent reputation for being 'the leading QC on doctor injunction cases'. In recent instructions of note, Mary O’Rourke QC is defending a prominent oncologist against allegations of inappropriate provision of medication, in an attempt to keep multiple terminally ill patients alive. Betsan Criddle QC is noted for her expertise in acting for doctors in disciplinary procedures.Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Good strength in depth.’
‘Fantastic chambers. They are my go-to set for all matters involving the employment of doctors and the associated challenges including High Court work.’
‘A go-to set in regard to NHS Trust disciplinary matters.’
Clerking
‘The clerks service is excellent, very responsive and personable. Senior Clerk Will Meade goes above and beyond to find an available barrister with the appropriate specialism to assist.’
‘Will Meade, as Senior Clerk, is particularly impressive – if any issue does arise it is invariably sorted via a quick call to him which really helps to maintain confidence in the service.’
‘Will Meade is outstanding and will go above and beyond to ensure effective client delivery.’
London Bar > Clinical negligence Tier 4
‘Well respected set‘ Old Square Chambers is home to a ‘wide range of very experienced barristers‘. Ben Collins QC, who provides ‘strategic and tactical advice‘ and ‘fights hard for the client‘, has solid expertise in handling high value cerebral palsy claims, and recently appeared for the claimant in GX v Portsmouth Hospitals, a claim involving issues concerning the inter-relationship between psychiatric and neurological injuries, as well as for multiple claimants in Stewart and others v Secretary of State for Health, involving ongoing claims arising out of the Infected Blood Inquiry. At the junior end, the newly ranked Sophie Beesley is ‘efficient, practical and easy to work with‘, ‘very talented‘ and has ‘experience beyond her years‘; the 'academically impressive' Victoria Webb is another notable junior in the set.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers is excellent, with a wide range of very experienced barristers‘.
‘Old Square Chambers is a well respected set‘.
‘The set has an excellent clinical negligence team‘.
‘A good, solid set‘.
‘The set has a good eye for recruiting talented juniors.’
Clerking
‘William Meade is an excellent clerk – responsive, friendly, and professional‘.
London Bar > Administrative and public law (including elections)
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)
South Eastern Circuit > Employment
Leading Juniors
Western Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Aviation
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Environment
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Education
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Employment Tier 1
'First-class employment set' Old Square Chambers has 'real strength in depth', and houses a team which maintains a presence in London and Bristol. Michael Ford QC has 'a fantastic brain' and is 'an absolutely superb advocate, in both trials and appeal work'. Jack Mitchell has established expertise in whistle blowing cases, while the 'incredibly focussed' Spencer Keen is regularly sought after for his 'encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of disability discrimination issues'. Melanie Tether is 'a brilliant advocate' and 'extremely committed'; she is adept at representing employers and employees across the full range of employment law issues, with particular strength in TUPE, unfair dismissal, equal pay and discrimination matters.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A strong set for employment law‘.
‘An innovative and supportive chambers‘.
Clerking
‘William Meade runs a well organised team‘.
‘The clerks are down to earth and extremely helpful. They are always solutions driven‘.
‘Paul Adams is very approachable and sensible‘.
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Clinical negligence Tier 2
The 'excellent' clinical negligence barristers at Old Square Chambers continue to undertake a range of complex cases for both claimants and defendants. The 'extremely thorough' Bella Webb is noted for her expertise in handling claims involving delayed cancer diagnoses. Naomi Rees is recommended for claims involving birth injuries and delayed or missed diagnoses, while the 'very approachable' Kara Loraine is instructed in cases involving psychiatric injury claims for parents arising from infant deaths, negligent obstetric care and delivery and negligent surgical procedures. Sophie Beesley is 'highly intelligent and technically brilliant' and 'impressive on her feet'.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘A very well-managed set‘.
‘The barristers at Old Square Chambers are excellent‘.
Clerking
‘Extremely helpful and practical clerks‘.
‘Will Meade is very attentive to the needs of instructing solicitors, and offers strong leadership to an excellent clinical negligence group‘.
‘Olivia Moliterno is an excellent team leader – very efficient and responsive‘.
‘Joe Kallas is dedicated to his role‘.
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Personal injury Tier 2
Old Square Chambers is described as 'an excellent set with strength in depth', with 'a wide choice of specialised personal injury barristers'. The team is strong in both claimant and defendant work, with recent instructions including high-value catastrophic injury cases, fatal accident claims and employers' liability matters. Kara Loraine is well versed in handling complex multi-track claims in the County Court and High Court, while Toby Kempster is regularly instructed in claimant-based employer's liability cases, often involving disease claims and work-related accidents. Charlie Woodhouse stands out for his 'considerable knowledge and experience in the personal injury field'.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set for personal injury work. Counsel always make themselves available‘.
‘A high quality chambers with a number of “go-to” counsel for personal injury claims‘.
‘The set is supportive, dependable, and offers strength in depth‘.
Clerking
‘Senior clerk William Meade runs a tight ship‘.
‘The clerks’ service is excellent. Olivia Moliterno in particular is a joy to work with and always willing to help‘.
‘The clerks provide a first class service. They are very responsive and nothing is too much trouble‘.
Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
Leading Juniors
Old Square Chambers > Set Profile
Old Square Chambers (www.oldsquare.co.uk) is widely respected as one of the leading sets for employment and personal injury law, both in London and Bristol. Further specialisms include professional discipline, clinical negligence, environment, health and safety, product liability, motor defence, public inquiries, and mediation/ADR.
The set: Old Square Chambers has over 79 members including 14 silks. It is known for being unstuffy, responsive in understanding client needs and pro-active in meeting them. It adopts the highest standards of advocacy, drafting, advice and client service and is well known for having an excellent clerking team.
Types of work undertaken:
Employment: Old Square is a leading set in employment law with a strong respondent/defendant practice as well as maintaining its longstanding claimant/union practice. It is instructed increasingly in High Court matters and injunctions while developing its well established reputation for expertise in discrimination, equal pay and industrial relations. It has been instrumental in establishing recent legal precedents on fees, holiday pay and discrimination.
Personal injury: Old Square members are regularly instructed in cases concerning high-value head, brain and spinal injury. It has particular expertise in disaster litigation, industrial disease, complex multi-party actions and injuries suffered abroad (including those involving package holiday regulations and the Ministry of Defence).
Clinical negligence: Old Square members have extensive experience in claims relating to cerebral palsy, brain damage and catastrophic injuries. These regularly involve high-value awards of several million pounds. Members have acknowledged expertise in periodic payments and indexation.
Professional discipline: Old Square is at the forefront within a variety of sectors, including healthcare, legal services, education, financial services, police and sport. Members frequently appear before, chair and sit as legal assessors on disciplinary tribunals at all stages of the process, including safeguarding rights by recourse to the High Court and the Privy Council. Several of our silks and juniors regularly appear in cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.
Environment: Old Square’s expertise includes prosecution and defence in the criminal courts, statutory appeals, scientifically complex nuisance and personal injury claims, major group litigation and judicial review. Areas of particular specialism include water law, contaminated land, statutory nuisance, waste management and the application of European law.
Health and safety: Old Square members are frequently involved in health and safety litigation. This can range from client defence in regulatory prosecutions to representing injured, bereaved and dependent clients in public inquiries. Cases are often high-profile, involving serious injury, fatality, and corporate manslaughter. Operating throughout the UK, Old Square has extensive experience in diverse sectors including construction, transport, farming, quarrying, leisure and healthcare.
Product liability: Old Square members are highly experienced in multi-claimant litigation and in individual cases relating to medical appliances, motor vehicles, cosmetics, toys and other consumer goods. Members also undertake Consumer Protection Act and related prosecutions and product recall.
Public inquiries: Old Square members have been instructed in most of the significant inquires of recent years, drawing on their expertise in health and safety and industrial relations law in public inquires concerned with major accidents or disasters. These include: Leveson, Potters Bar, Ufton Nevert Train Crash, Mubarek, Shipman, Climbie, Ladbroke Grove, Marchioness, Southall Train Crash, North Wales Child Abuse and Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Mediation: as accredited CEDR mediators, Old Square members regularly act as neutral evaluators in a wide range of disputes, particularly employment law, discrimination, personal injury and clinical negligence.
Pupillage: Old Square offers outstanding training to outstanding candidates in both London and Bristol. Reflecting their interests and supportive in approach, this training carries an excellent chance of tenancy and we have an outstanding retention record of keeping pupils.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior clerk | William Meade | ||
Deputy Senior Clerk | Graham Smith | ||
Senior Team Leader | Paul Adams | ||
Chambers Director | Sarah Earl | ||
Marketing Manager | Phil Desmondez |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Jonathan Clarke | Barrister specialising in all aspects of personal injury claims (including accidents at… | View Profile |
![]() | Michael Ford | Main areas of practice are employment law (including equal pay, working time,… | View Profile |
![]() | Helen Gower | Helen’s main area of practice is discrimination law and equal pay. She… | View Profile |
![]() | Toby Kempster | Toby Kempster specialises in personal injury and employment law, the common denominator… | View Profile |
![]() | Kara Loraine | and collective employment tribunal work, including equal pay, unfair and constructive dismissals,… | View Profile |
![]() | Andrew Midgley | Andrew is an employment law specialist with 18 years’ experience, and 12… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon O’Dwyer | Simon is a specialist personal injury practitioner of over 5 years experience.… | View Profile |
![]() | Christopher Walker | Christopher is a catastrophic personal injury specialist, instructed on behalf of both… | View Profile |
![]() | Hilary Winstone | Hilary Winstone is a talented and knowledgeable junior specialising in employment and… | View Profile |
- Employment
- Western Circuit > Employment
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Personal injury, industrial disease and insurance fraud
- Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
- Administrative and public law (including elections)
- Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)
- South Eastern Circuit > Employment
- Western Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
- Aviation
- Environment
- Education
- Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Employment