Set Profile > Oriel Chambers > Liverpool, England
Oriel Chambers Offices
Oriel Chambers
14 WATER STREET
LIVERPOOL
L2 8TD
England
Oriel Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
The head of Oriel Chambers, Richard Bradley is seen as 'a fierce litigator who thrives in a trial environment'. He is noted for his experience in regulatory law, particularly in relation health and safety Law and environmental law, where he acts for clients including the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Clinical negligence
Oriel Chambers' Yaqub Rahman is considered 'friendly, approachable, and good on the papers and in person' by instructing solicitors. His clinical negligence experience includes high-value cases involving birth injuries and claims for failed or delayed diagnoses of cancer, as well as claims for psychiatric injury, both for claimants and defendants.
Leading Juniors
Commercial litigation
Oriel Chambers is 'a friendly and approachable set of chambers. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and the clerks are very knowledgeable.' The head of Chambers, Richard Bradley, is 'a fierce commercial litigator who thrives in a trial environment'. The set is also home to Paul Brant, who acts for both commercial and public sector clients in complex disputes.
Leading Juniors
Inquests and inquiries
Timothy Holloway at Oriel Chambers represents the prison service in death in custody cases and the probation service in inquests involving persons released on licence.
Personal injury
Yaqub Rahman is a key practitioner at Oriel Chambers with regard to personal injury law. He is particularly experienced with defendant work, as well as cases involving complex medical causation arguments. John Gray is instructed in high-value litigation, including subtle brain injury cases, permanent restriction/diminution in the ability to work, industrial disease claims, and overseas accident claims.
Leading Juniors
Set overviews: England and Wales
Oriel Chambers is a Liverpool-headquartered set with a strong track record in personal injury, regulatory, and commercial matters as well as a well-respected family team. Further up the A59, the set also has a Preston annexe. John Gray and Mark Cooper are two new recorders, while Lindsay Jane Clarke and Peter Harold Wolfende departed the set for district judge and FTT tribunal judge positions respectively.Clerks:
Testimonials
Clerks:
Paul Thompson is the senior clerk and simply gets things done. If he says he will do something, he does.
He has been an ever present for many years, and is the backbone to the Set.
The clerks are very helpful and well organised.
Set:
Oriel Chambers are a friendly and approachable set of Chambers. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and the clerks are very knowledgeable.
Whilst not the largest of sets, Counsel is always found to cover a hearing or do paperwork, and the fees are reasonable for such quality counsel. The Commercial Litigation counsel are very knowledgeable.
Regularly use this chambers in relation to fraud matters, there is a good choice of well respected Counsel. One barrister has attended at our office to give training on several occasions.
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
The head of Oriel Chambers, Richard Bradley is seen as 'a fierce litigator who thrives in a trial environment'. He is noted for his experience in regulatory law, particularly in relation health and safety Law and environmental law, where he acts for clients including the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence
Oriel Chambers' Yaqub Rahman is considered 'friendly, approachable, and good on the papers and in person' by instructing solicitors. His clinical negligence experience includes high-value cases involving birth injuries and claims for failed or delayed diagnoses of cancer, as well as claims for psychiatric injury, both for claimants and defendants.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation
Oriel Chambers is 'a friendly and approachable set of chambers. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and the clerks are very knowledgeable.' The head of Chambers, Richard Bradley, is 'a fierce commercial litigator who thrives in a trial environment'. The set is also home to Paul Brant, who acts for both commercial and public sector clients in complex disputes.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Inquests and inquiries
Timothy Holloway at Oriel Chambers represents the prison service in death in custody cases and the probation service in inquests involving persons released on licence.
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Personal injury
Yaqub Rahman is a key practitioner at Oriel Chambers with regard to personal injury law. He is particularly experienced with defendant work, as well as cases involving complex medical causation arguments. John Gray is instructed in high-value litigation, including subtle brain injury cases, permanent restriction/diminution in the ability to work, industrial disease claims, and overseas accident claims.
Leading Juniors
Regional Bar > Set overviews: England and Wales
Oriel Chambers is a Liverpool-headquartered set with a strong track record in personal injury, regulatory, and commercial matters as well as a well-respected family team. Further up the A59, the set also has a Preston annexe. John Gray and Mark Cooper are two new recorders, while Lindsay Jane Clarke and Peter Harold Wolfende departed the set for district judge and FTT tribunal judge positions respectively.Clerks:
Testimonials
Clerks:
Paul Thompson is the senior clerk and simply gets things done. If he says he will do something, he does.
He has been an ever present for many years, and is the backbone to the Set.
The clerks are very helpful and well organised.
Set:
Oriel Chambers are a friendly and approachable set of Chambers. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and the clerks are very knowledgeable.
Whilst not the largest of sets, Counsel is always found to cover a hearing or do paperwork, and the fees are reasonable for such quality counsel. The Commercial Litigation counsel are very knowledgeable.
Regularly use this chambers in relation to fraud matters, there is a good choice of well respected Counsel. One barrister has attended at our office to give training on several occasions.
Oriel Chambers > Set Profile
Oriel Chambers meets the market very well and houses some excellent Counsel (The Legal 500); well clerked and administered in Liverpool is Oriel Chambers (The Legal 500).
The set: Oriel Chambers have a long and well-deserved reputation as a leading set in the Liverpool City Region.
Chambers have been the set of choice for the Crown Office, local government, global insurers and local firms since its inception in 1965.
Oriel Chambers retains a panel practice for a number of high-profile national firms, including Hill Dickinson, Weightmans, BLM and Keoghs.
Chambers is proactively engaged within the local legal community, most notably with the in-demand Family practice group, who regularly receive instructions from a large number of firms within the surrounding area.
Chambers’ clients are viewed as real stakeholder partners and all strategic planning is approached with that relationship in mind.
To provide our clients with the levels of service that they demand, Chambers ensures that its technological advancement is aligned with that of its clients, ensuring that high level management information is available when required.
During the 2020/21 pandemic, Chambers provided and continues to provide its clients with a high level of service.
Clerks
Oriel Chambers’ well established clerking team is renowned on the Northern Circuit for their “nothing is too much trouble” approach.
The clerks are friendly, proactive, knowledgeable and provide Chamber’s clients with a consistently high level of service.
Nick O’Neill has recently joined Chambers as Chambers Director and as a former solicitor of some 22 years PQE brings with him a wealth of knowledge. Nick was a long-standing client of Oriel Chambers and fully appreciates the level of performance that his clerking team can deliver.
Paul Thompson is Chambers’ manager and works closely with the clerking team, ensuring that client care and practice innovation are always at the forefront of their minds.
The 2020/21 pandemic gave the clerking team the opportunity to show how they work as a team and they have delivered consistently, ensuring a seamless offering for Chambers’ diverse client base.
Types of work undertaken: Civil law: Oriel Chambers has a strong reputation for personal injury, disease and clinical negligence work. Its members provide experience and strength at all levels and in all areas of civil practice. Clients range from individuals, companies, insurers and public bodies including NHS trusts, local authorities and the police. A number of the barristers are members of the Treasury Solicitors Regional Panel. Conditional fee work is also accepted in appropriate cases.
Commercial and chancery: The Commercial and Chancery team offers a dedicated and efficient litigation and advisory service. The team prides itself on high-quality, commercially focused, specialist advice and representation to individuals through to blue-chip companies, not only in the North West but throughout the country. Regular clients recognise that London is not the only centre that can meet their specialist needs.
Family law: family and matrimonial law are at the cutting edge of the social and economic changes taking place in society. The Oriel Chambers family team recognises this. It provides a specialist service, which is both sympathetic to the clients needs and aspirations, while providing practical and constructive advice to its solicitors. Members of the team undertake all aspects of public and private law, and a number are recognised to be among the most experienced practitioners in these spheres. Chambers is prominent in big money financial relief cases.
Criminal law: Members of the team provide excellence in advocacy across all areas of criminal law, including homicide, offences against the person, drugs and drug trafficking, fraud, sexual offences and theft. These are just some of the areas the team is instructed in on a regular basis, by both defence solicitors and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Employment law: Regarded on the Northern Circuit as one of the leading Chambers for employment law, members of the team regularly act for both the private and the public sectors, appearing throughout the country before tribunals, the EAT and Court of Appeal. Members are also regularly instructed to appear at internal disciplinary meetings and appeals. Clients range from individual, or groups of employees, to corporate bodies, in-house legal teams, trade unions, public authorities and NHS trusts.
Regulatory law: In the 21st century Regulatory law is an area of increasing concern and importance. The team is known for its work and expertise in all aspects of this field both in the criminal and civil jurisdictions. In criminal cases appearing for both prosecution and defence. Areas of specific expertise include statutory nuisance, waste management, water pollution, contaminated land, air pollution, sewerage, meat hygiene, health and safety, and environmental offences.
Mediation: Trained by the Academy of Experts, Oriel Chambers mediation team is one of very few within Liverpool and the North West. It is able to offer services in all civil and commercial disputes, whether within court proceedings or otherwise. Insofar as practicalities are concerned, chambers can offer facilities for mediation.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambers Director | Nicholas O'Neill | nicholas.oneill@orielchambers.co.uk | 0151 236 7191 |
| Chambers Manager | Paul Thompson | paul.thompson@orielchambers.co.uk | 0151 236 7191 |
| Members of Chambers/ Head of Chambers | BRANT, Paul (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRADLEY, Richard (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENNETT, Martyn (1969) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALLDIS, Christopher (1970) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COWAN, Peter (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WELLS, Graham (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BUNDRED, Gillian (1982) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'KEEFFE, Darren (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EVANS, Suzanne (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FOX, Anna (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOODBODY, Peter (1986) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ELLIS, Catherine (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NICHOLLS, Jane (1989)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEWTHWAITE, Joanne (1990)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | RAHMAN, Yaqub (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOLLOWAY, Timothy (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BELBIN, Heather (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MILLS, Stuart (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RANKIN, William K (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUGHES, Rachel (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENSON, James (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COTTRELL, Matthew (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FRODSHAM, Alexander (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PRITCHARD, Cecilia (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BERRY, Karl (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUYTON, Katherine (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PURCELL, Deirdre (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHOLICAR, Ann (2000)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | BURNS, Judith (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRAY, John (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS, Graham (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MIDDLETON, Christopher (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOWE, Andrew (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRUFFYDD, Sarah (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS, Alexander (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COOPER, Mark (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHAMPION, Karina (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LIDDY, Michelle (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOLFENDEN, Peter (2007)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | EAST, Harry (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VAUGHAN, Melissa (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HYNES, Tom (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TYLER, Marc (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SENEVIRATNE, Indunee (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MCCORMICK,Mark (2019) | ||
| Members of Chambers | * Door tenants |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Christopher Alldis | Christopher has a strong practice in the fields of personal injury and… | View Profile |
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Heather Belbin | Heather has a strong civil practice particularly specialising in the area of… | View Profile |
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Martyn Bennett | Martyn Bennett specialises in family law and particularly in money cases. He… | View Profile |
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James Benson | James is a common law practitioner although his work predominantly relates to… | View Profile |
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Karl Berry | Karl is a skilled trial advocate, whose practice encompasses all aspects of… | View Profile |
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Richard Bradley | Richard specialises in all aspects of employment law including discrimination, in technology… | View Profile |
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Paul Brant | Paul Brant has an expertise in civil and commercial work, especially commercial,… | View Profile |
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Gillian Bundred | Family lawyer dealing with public and private children work,financial relief applications and… | View Profile |
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Judith Burns | Judith Burns is a personal injury specialist with particular experience in serious… | View Profile |
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Karina Champion | Karina is regularly instructed in the following fields: Commercial Litigation General contractual… | View Profile |
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Mark Cooper | Mark has built a thriving civil practice at Oriel Chambers and is… | View Profile |
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Matthew Cottrell | A large proportion of his practice arises from road traffic accidents including… | View Profile |
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Peter Cowan | Peter has a wide-ranging civil practice covering personal injuries (with a particular… | View Profile |
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Catherine Ellis | Catherine is proud to be an old-style common law practioner covering a… | View Profile |
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Suzanne Evans | During her years at the Bar, Suzanne has developed a specialised practice… | View Profile |
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Anna Fox | Anna is experienced matrimonial counsel and is head of the Oriel Chambers… | View Profile |
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Alexander Frodsham | Personal injury litigation: Alex has a strong personal injury practice and he… | View Profile |
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Peter Goodbody | Peter has developed a strong commercial practice, especially in the field of… | View Profile |
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John Gray | John Gray is a barrister who is fascinated by and has a… | View Profile |
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Sarah Gruffydd | Sarah has a predominantly criminal practice with substantial experience in prosecution (CPS,… | View Profile |
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Timothy Holloway | Practising barrister approaching 30 years’ call with a well-established practice in Crown… | View Profile |
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Andrew Howe | A highly regarded personal injury specialist, instructed in complex, high value claims,… | View Profile |
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Rachel Hughes | Rachel undertakes personal injury work on behalf of claimants and defendants and… | View Profile |
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Katherine Huyton | A matrimonial finance specialist, Kate has a particular interest in cohabitee disputes… | View Profile |
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Tom Hynes | Tom is very familiar with the principles and practicalities of representing spouses… | View Profile |
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Christopher Middleton | Chris’ principal area of practice is personal injury, acting on behalf of… | View Profile |
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Stuart Mills | Stuart is a successful and well-respected jury advocate. He has a wealth… | View Profile |
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Darren O’keeffe | Personal injury litigation (mostly employers or public liability claims, or from road… | View Profile |
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Cecilia Pritchard | Cecilia has particular expertise in the field of personal injury law. She… | View Profile |
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Deirdre Purcell | Deirdre has a general common law practice covering all aspects of civil… | View Profile |
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Yaqub Rahman | Yaqub has a substantial civil practice covering all aspects of personal injury… | View Profile |
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William Rankin | William specialises in personal injury work on behalf of claimants (30%) and… | View Profile |
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Indunee Seneviratne | Indunee is a common law practitioner with a firm foundation in the… | View Profile |
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Melissa Vaughan | Melissa is a barrister specialising in family law, with a focus on… | View Profile |
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Graham Wells | Graham Wells has a practice that does not fit neatly into any… | View Profile |
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Alexander Williams | Alexander joined the Treasury Solicitor’s Regional Panel in 2007 and practices predominately… | View Profile |
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Graham Williams | Graham is a dual qualified lawyer who acts in Employers’ Liability, Public… | View Profile |