Oriel Chambers > Liverpool, England > Set Profile

Chambers of Paul Brant
Oriel Chambers
14 WATER STREET
LIVERPOOL
L2 8TD
England

Northern Circuit > Inquests and inquiries

Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation

Northern Circuit > Personal injury

Leading Juniors

Ranked: Tier 2
John GrayOriel Chambers  ‘John cuts through the issues and is sensible and pragmatic. He is a superb tactician and can turn even a weak case into a winner. Exceptional on his feet, he is a worthy match for any KC. When challenged at court, John is usually firm but fair which successfully leads to him often gaining the respect of any opponent and judge.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Personal injury

Leading Juniors

Ranked: Tier 2
John GrayOriel Chambers  ‘John cuts through the issues and is sensible and pragmatic. He is a superb tactician and can turn even a weak case into a winner. Exceptional on his feet, he is a worthy match for any KC. When challenged at court, John is usually firm but fair which successfully leads to him often gaining the respect of any opponent and judge.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Oriel Chambers is a Common Law set in Liverpool

The set: Since its inception in 1965, Oriel Chambers has retained an established and well-deserved reputation as a leading set on the Northern Circuit.

Oriel has long been the set of choice for the Crown Office, Local Government, Global insurers and local law firms. Oriel has consistently been retained as panel chambers for a number of large national firms.

Oriel is proactively engaged within the local legal community, most notably with its in-demand, Family Practice Group. Oriel’s clients are viewed as real stakeholder partners and chambers’ strategic planning is approached with that relationship in mind, ensuring that our clients are provided with the levels of service that both they and their own clients’ demand.

Adding value” to our clients’ practice is ingrained in Oriel Chambers’ culture.

Our barrister’s expertise is additionally evidenced by their presence in the judicial ranks, holding roles as Recorders, District Judges, Assistant Coroners and members of the Attorney General Panel.

The directory describes Oriel as “Housing some excellent Counsel” (The Legal 500) and “Well clerked and administered” (The Legal 500)

Our clerks are friendly, proactive, knowledgeable and provide chamber’s clients with a consistent high level of service.

Types of work undertaken

Civil law: Oriel Chambers has a strong reputation for personal injury, industrial 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 accepted in appropriate cases.

Commercial and Chancery: The Commercial and Chancery Group 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 UK.

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 client’s 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 particularly prominent in large 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 defendant 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.

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.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Chambers Director Nicholas O'Neillnicholas.oneill@orielchambers.co.uk0151 236 7191
Chambers Manager Paul Thompsonpaul.thompson@orielchambers.co.uk0151 236 7191
Members of Chambers/ Head of Chambers BRANT, Paul (1993)
Members of Chambers BENNETT, Martyn (1969)
Members of Chambers ALLDIS, Christopher (1970)
Members of Chambers COWAN, Peter (1980)
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 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 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 MCKECHNIE, Amy (2021)
Members of Chambers MOORE, Jack (2021)
* Door tenants
SCOLICAR Anne
LEWTHWAITE Joanne
NICHOLLS Jane
LIDDY Michelle
MCMURTRIE Chris
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Christopher Alldis photo Christopher AlldisChristopher has a strong practice in the field of personal injury and…
Heather Belbin photo Heather BelbinHeather has a strong civil practice particularly specialising in the area of…
Martyn Bennett photo Martyn BennettMartyn Bennett specialises in family law and particularly in money cases. He…
James Benson photo James BensonJames is an extremely busy civil practitioner who has always relished the…
Karl Berry photo Karl BerryKarl Berry is a skilled trial advocate, whose practice encompasses all aspects…
Paul Brant photo Paul BrantHead of Chambers, Paul Brant’s cases cover commercial, chancery, insolvency (corporate and…
Gillian Bundred photo Gillian BundredFamily lawyer dealing with public and private children work, financial relief applications…
Judith Burns photo Judith BurnsJudith is a personal injury specialist with particular experience in serious and…
Karina Champion photo Karina ChampionOn the foundations of a Classics degree from Exeter College, Oxford, a…
Mark Cooper photo Mark CooperMark has been a tenant at Oriel Chambers since 2006 and has…
Matthew Cottrell photo Matthew CottrellMatthew specialises in personal injury, insurance and counter-fraud litigation in relation to…
Peter Cowan photo Peter CowanPeter has a wide ranging civil practice covering personal injuries (with a…
Harry East photo Harry EastHarry is an energetic and diligent Junior and is approachable and knowledgeable.…
Catherine Ellis photo Catherine EllisCatherine is proud to be an old-style common law practioner covering a…
Suzanne Evans photo Suzanne EvansDuring her years at the Bar, Suzanne has developed a specialised practice…
Anna Fox photo Anna FoxAnna is experienced matrimonial counsel and is head of the Oriel Chambers…
Alexander Frodsham photo Alexander FrodshamAlex has a strong personal injury practice and he undertakes all areas…
Peter Goodbody photo Peter GoodbodyExperienced, sympathetic and will work to solve the client’s problems Peter’s practical…
John Gray photo John GrayJohn Gray has more than 20 years experience in civil litigation. He…
Sarah Gruffydd photo Sarah GruffyddSarah has a mixed Civil and Criminal practice.  On the Civil side…
Tim Holloway photo Tim HollowayPractising barrister approaching 30 years’ call with a well-established practice in Crown…
Andrew Howe photo Andrew HoweA highly regarded personal injury specialist, instructed in complex, high value claims,…
Rachel Hughes photo Rachel HughesRachel undertakes personal injury work on behalf of claimants and defendants and…
Tom Hynes photo Tom HynesTom is very familiar with the principles and practicalities of representing spouses…
Mark McCormick photo Mark McCormickPrior to coming to the Bar, Mark practised as a solicitor. During…
Amy McKechnie photo Amy McKechnieAmy joined Chambers as a tenant in September 2022 after successfully completing…
Christopher Middleton photo Christopher MiddletonChris’ principal area of practice is personal injury, acting on behalf of…
Stuart Mills photo Stuart MillsStuart is a successful and well-respected jury advocate. He has a wealth…
Jack Moore photo Jack MooreJack joined Chambers as a tenant in 2022 following a successful completion…
Darren O Darren O"KeeffePersonal injury litigation (mostly employers or public liability claims, or from road…
Cecilia Pritchard photo Cecilia PritchardCecilia has particular expertise in the field of personal injury law. She…
Deirdre Purcell photo Deirdre PurcellDeirdre has a strong common law practice specialising in personal injury litigation…
Yaqub Rahman photo Yaqub RahmanYaqub has a substantial civil practice covering all aspects of personal injury…
William Rankin photo William RankinBill Rankin specialises in personal injury work on behalf of Claimants (25%)…
Indunee Seneviratne photo Indunee SeneviratneAdaptable and friendly, the hallmark of Indunee’ s practice is her person-centred…
Marc Tyler photo Marc TylerMarc has a busy, mixed practice which is spread in equal measure…
Melissa Vaughan photo Melissa VaughanMelissa is a barrister specialising in family law, with a focus on…
Alexander Williams photo Alexander WilliamsAlexander has nearly 20 years of experience in civil litigation and employment…
Graham Williams photo Graham Williams      Graham is a dual qualified lawyer who acts in…