Set Profile > 4 Pump Court (Chambers of Nick Vineall QC and Sean Brannigan QC) > London , London
4 Pump Court (Chambers of Nick Vineall QC and Sean Brannigan QC) Offices
4 Pump Court
TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 7AN
London
4 Pump Court (Chambers of Nick Vineall QC and Sean Brannigan QC) > The Legal 500 Rankings
IT and telecoms
4 PUMP COURT ‘combines IP and tech expertise’ with experience in a broad range of IT and telecoms disputes including those relating to licensing, royalties, outsourcing, infrastructure and cybersecurity. The set’s ’fantastic juniors are the cream of the crop’ and are complemented by ‘impressive silks’. In a recent high profile instruction Alex Charlton QC and Matthew Lavy are representing British Airways in a £70m dispute against CBRE Ltd, whose alleged breach of contract and negligence damaged and brought down its IT systems in May 2017 forcing the cancellation of many flights.
IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - 2018 Silks
IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Juniors
IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Silks
Set overviews: England and Wales
4 PUMP COURT offers ‘some very good silks and juniors who are very good value’ across the commercial, construction, and insurance/reinsurance sectors, as well as shipping, IT, arbitration, and professional negligence. Solicitors note how the set is very adept at ‘running very successful campaigns to corner a particular market’. Since the publication of our last guide, Sean Brannigan QC joins Nick Vineall QC as joint head of chambers; Rachel Ansell QC has been appointed chair of the Technology and Construction Bar Association; and James Watthey has been appointed to the council of the London Shipping Law Centre. James Leabeater QC and Jessica Stephens QC took silk in 2019, and chambers was further strengthen by the arrival of Lord Edward Garnier QC, Stephen Cogley QC, and Jennie Gillies from One Brick Court, XXIV OLD BUILDINGS, and in-house at Arup respectively, while Alexander Gunning QC joined One Essex Court. In the clerks’ room, Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs are joint senior clerks of a ‘responsive, helpful and accommodating’ team that is ‘very easy to work with, and help make the whole solicitor/counsel firm/chambers dynamic feel like a proper team’. Also of note, Lucy Burrows, formerly of 3 Verulam Buildings, has joined chambers as a new deputy senior clerk, and former chambers chief executive Carolyn McCombe is now head of ADR and professional standards at the set. Offices in: London and Hong Kong
Professional negligence Tier 1
4 PUMP COURT is an 'exceptionally friendly set' that 'understands the technical aspects of professional negligence cases'. Members handle claims involving a range of professionals, with expertise that covers technology, telecoms, construction, accountancy, auditors, financial, legal, surveyors and valuers negligence. The 'efficient' set has been involved in several high-profile solicitors' negligence cases: Nigel Tozzi QC acted for the defendant solicitors in Evans v Brabners LLP, a claim brought by professional footballer Ched Evans against the law firm which defended him in his first rape trial; Tozzi QC also appeared for the defendant solicitors in Goddard-Watts v Bristol-based Independent UK Law Firm, which alleged the firm failed to ensure the claimant made full disclosure in matrimonial ancillary relief proceedings. Elsewhere, Michael Douglas QC, Aidan Christie QC, Benjamin Pilling QC and Lynne McCafferty QC are involved in The Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, which examines the causes of the fire and the role numerous core participants may have played in the occurrence and spread of the blaze.
2018 Silks
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Construction Tier 2
'One of the go-to sets for construction matters', 4 PUMP COURT's barristers are involved in a number of PFI projects and instructed to advise public authorities, funders, and contractors. The 'technically excellent' Sean Brannigan QC led Matthew Thorne in representing the successful contractor in both the High Court and Court of Appeal in Cyden Homes v North Midland Building, a case which highlighted a key issue relating to contracting parties' ability to agree how extensions of time should be handled in periods of concurrent delay. The 'swift and compelling' Duncan McCall QC led James Bowling in Clancy Docwra v EON Energy Solutions, a large dispute arising from declarations regarding the responsibility for underground obstructions encountered during the installation of a district heat network in central London.
2019 Silks
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Energy Tier 2
4 PUMP COURT provides 'excellent service – it sets the standard for commercial sets' and one client remarks that 'the clerks really feel like part of the team'. The set brings commercial, construction and maritime expertise to bear on a broad spectrum of disputes in the energy sector, including those involving highly technical issues. Its barristers frequently act in matters in the oil and gas, renewables and power sectors. Leading light Sean Brannigan QC focuses predominantly on high-value disputes arising from energy and offshore infrastructure projects. He secured more than £35m in damages in Fluor v ZPMC, a prolonged dispute that arose from the construction of a windfarm in the North Sea. Sean O’Sullivan QC's recent work includes high-value LCIA arbitrations relating to rights to oil and gas discoveries in Europe, and the construction of offshore vessels in Asia. In CIECO v Dana, Nigel Tozzi QC represented E&P company CIECO in an application for an urgent injunction prohibiting Dana from commencing the drilling of a well off the coast of Scotland. Prominent junior Kate Livesey is involved in high-value LMAA arbitrations.
2019 Silks
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Insurance and reinsurance Tier 3
4 PUMP COURT is a 'fantastic set for insurance and reinsurance disputes' where it fields a 'raft of top-quality barristers' often instructed in cross-border litigation. Andrew Neish QC is representing ADNEC in the Commercial Court proceedings relating to the enforcement of an UAE arbitration award against various layers of London market insurers under the Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930. Also of note, Cultural Foundation and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company v Beazley Furlonge. Aldridge & others v Liberty Mutual Insurance and Arch Insurance was a key case for Aidan Christie QC in which he acted for the insurers.
Leading Silks
International arbitration: counsel Tier 3
4 PUMP COURT is home to a versatile group of highly rated barristers with strong expertise across a range of areas, including infrastructure, shipping, insurance, and general commercial. Members are very active in Asia and the Middle East, where several members, including Sean Brannigan QC and Rachel Ansell QC, are facing each other in a significant airport-relate dispute.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Shipping Tier 3
4 PUMP COURT offers 'in-depth expertise for shipping disputes'; the set is noted for its' members experience across dry shipping, shipbuilding, marine insurance admiralty and other maritime disputes. Manchester Shipping v Sochin and Balfour Shipping was a key case for Nicholas Vineall QC, a $10m claim for damages for the unlawful diversion of charter hire. The set is particularly praised for its experience in working for a number of Chinese clients; Nicholas Vineall QC and Neil Henderson acted on behalf of a Chinese trading corporation in Sinocore v RBRG, which involved the enforcement of an arbitration award.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Commercial litigation Tier 4
4 PUMP COURT is 'very good value' with 'some very good silks and juniors', so say instructing solicitors. The versatile chambers has barristers with a good spread of expertise, from acting on high-end commercial, banking, and insurance claims, to international commodities, shipping, and trade disputes. Nigel Tozzi QC recently represented Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia in a dispute with Motortrak before the Commercial Court.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 5
4 PUMP COURT is praised for helping 'make the whole solicitor-counsel-firm-chambers dynamic feel like a proper team'. The set has made strong inroads into the banking arena, and has a talented cadre of juniors coming through to support the more well-established silks. Members have been involved in several major cases, including Golden Belt v BNP Paribas and Fortress Securities v BNP Paribas, in which Nigel Tozzi QC represented the claimants in the consolidated claims.
Leading Juniors
Leading Silks
4 Pump Court (Chambers of Nick Vineall QC and Sean Brannigan QC) > Firm Profile
The Chambers 4 Pump Court is a leading commercial set of barristers’ chambers. Members provide specialist advice, support and advocacy, with expertise in arbitration, dispute resolution, litigation and regulation for UK and international clients worldwide.
The set Chambers comprises 71 barristers, including 27 Queen’s Counsel. Commercial advocacy is central to the set’s offering and practitioners appear before tribunals at every level. This is combined with a user-friendly, client-centric house style. A distinguishing feature is commercial work with complex technical and factual detail, a theme that runs through all sectors.
Members provide commercial, innovative and practical advice. Professional service is provided efficiently and thoroughly, with the highest standards. This is completed by some of the most experienced, persuasive and skilled advocacy available, uniquely honed from the earliest stage.
Advocates appear in domestic and international cases, with members receiving instructions heard in local courts, to major international or cross-border disputes. Barristers act on matters arising in the UK, Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. In particular 4 Pump Court has an established presence in the Middle East, and Far East assisted by its office in Hong Kong.
Barristers at 4 Pump Court appreciate the pressures that solicitors, in-house lawyers and clients operate in and the need to work together as a team. The set takes the time to invest in client relationships and understand their business needs.
Pupillage 4 Pump Court attracts some of the best calibre candidates coming to the Commercial Bar, ensuring high standards and continued growth. Pupils benefit from an unusual number of court instructions, providing vital experience that continues through Chambers.
The clerks’ room, led by senior clerks Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs, is recognised and renowned for being responsive, commercially aware and efficient, with extremely high standards. They consistently deliver an exceptional professional service, with an experienced and knowledgeable team able to tailor recommended counsel, teams and financial options for clients.
Work Undertaken 4 Pump Court have a particular focus on the following areas:
Arbitration: Members act in a broad range of domestic and international arbitrations covering all areas, including institutions such as CIETAC, DIAC, HKIAC, ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC and UNCITRAL.
Commercial Dispute Resolution: 4 Pump Court is a leading commercial set, providing practical, effective advice across the full spectrum of commercial practice areas.
Construction: Covering all aspects of construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes, both domestic and international, across all forums including adjudication, dispute boards and expert determination.
Energy: Uniquely combining the strongest elements of commercial, construction and maritime expertise. Work includes on and offshore, renewable and pipeline, and is often cross-border.
Financial Services & Banking: Work comprises both financial regulation and investment / retail banking litigation. Members frequently act for regulators and have in-depth knowledge of a variety of financial products, collective investment schemes, SIPPSs, perimeter policing, enforcement and FSMA. They regularly receive instructions involving ISDA, the GRMA, the GMSLA, cyber fraud, FOREX trading, LIBOR manipulation, IRHP / swaps mis-selling, PPI and various other complex instruments.
Insurance: Chambers’ highly recommended insurance and reinsurance group are instructed on numerous significant events affecting the London insurance market. Members act on behalf of UK and international insurance / reinsurance companies, Lloyd’s syndicates and brokers. Barristers appear in domestic and international arbitrations (including Bermuda Form), and all tiers of domestic courts.
Professional Negligence: The professional negligence team at 4 Pump Court is one of the most formidable and largest at the Bar. Members have experience in claims for and against professionals across the whole spectrum of liability, including breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. Chambers has particular expertise in disputes concerning architects and engineers, IT consultants, solicitors and barristers, accountants and auditors, financial advisers, insurance brokers and underwriting agents, and surveyors and valuers.
Shipping: 4 Pump Court has an outstanding reputation for marine related disputes, including wet and dry shipping and shipbuilding. Members are instructed by international law firms and P&I clubs on behalf of ship owners, charterers, shipyards, drilling contractors, cargo interests and banks. Barristers have expertise in charterparty and bill of lading disputes, ship sale and purchase, ship mortgages, liens, admiralty matters including collision, towage and pilotage, and also commercial shipbuilding, super / mega yacht disputes, including brokers commission claims and disputes concerning refund guarantees.
Technology & Telecoms: 4 Pump Court is recognised both domestically and internationally as the leading set for technology disputes. Barristers are uniquely positioned to deal with commercial, technical and intellectual property disputes now challenging the world’s top lawyers and businesses in a complex and rapidly-changing technological environment. The set has been involved in the majority of leading cases, where work on data and cyber security disputes ensures they retain their presence at the forefront of this constantly developing commercial area.
Other: Additional areas of expertise include corporate advisory, defamation and privacy, financial crime including fraud, and offshore work. Non-UK jurisdictions in addition to those above include the Channels Islands, the Isle of Man, the Caribbean, Bermuda and beyond.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Clerks | Carl Wall | cwall@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Senior Clerks | Stewart Gibbs | sgibbs@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Deputy Senior Clerks | Oliver Miney | ominey@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Deputy Senior Clerks | Lucy Burrows | lburrows@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Head of Business Operations | Jon Robinson | jrobinson@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Head of ADR & Professional Standards | Carolyn McCombe | cmccombe@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Head of Finance | Neil Dougall | ndougall@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Marketing Executives | Isobel Holland | iholland@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Marketing Executives | Kate Guckian | kguckian@4pumpcourt.com | +44 (0) 20 7842 5555 |
| Joint Head of Chambers | VINEALL QC, Nicholas (1988) | ||
| Joint Head of Chambers | BRANNIGAN QC, Sean (1994) | ||
| Member of Chambers | FRIEDMAN QC, David (1967) | ||
| Member of Chambers | MOGER QC, Christopher (1972) | ||
| Member of Chambers | MARKS QC, Jonathan (1975) | ||
| Member of Chambers | SPEAIGHT QC, Anthony (1973) | ||
| Member of Chambers | GARNIER QC, Edward (1976) | ||
| Member of Chambers | ROWLAND QC, John (1979) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DOUGLAS QC, Michael (1974) | ||
| Member of Chambers | NICHOLSON QC, Jeremy (1977) | ||
| Member of Chambers | TOZZI QC, Nigel (1980) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CROSS QC, James (1985) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CHARLTON QC, Alex (1983) | ||
| Member of Chambers | McCALL QC, Duncan (1988) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CHRISTIE QC, Aidan (1988) | ||
| Member of Chambers | NEISH QC, Andrew (1988) | ||
| Member of Chambers | COGLEY QC, Stephen (1984) | ||
| Member of Chambers | SINCLAIR QC, Fiona (1989) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DAVIE QC, Michael (1993) | ||
| Member of Chambers | ANSELL QC, Rachel (1995) | ||
| Member of Chambers | O'SULLIVAN QC, Sean (1997) | ||
| Member of Chambers | PILLING QC, Benjamin (1997) | ||
| Member of Chambers | BERGIN QC, Terence (1985) | ||
| Member of Chambers | HICKEY QC, Alexander (1995) | ||
| Member of Chambers | McCAFFERTY QC, Lynne (1997) | ||
| Member of Chambers | LEABEATER QC, James (1999) | ||
| Member of Chambers | STEPHENS QC, Jessica (2001) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DYER, Allen (1976) | ||
| Member of Chambers | HENDERSON, Simon (1993) | ||
| Member of Chambers | VAUGHAN-NEIL, Kate (1994) | ||
| Member of Chambers | PACKMAN, Claire (1996) | ||
| Member of Chambers | LEWIS, Jonathan (1996) | ||
| Member of Chambers | PURCHAS, James (1997) | ||
| Member of Chambers | POTTER, Alison (1987) | ||
| Member of Chambers | BOWLING, James (1999) | ||
| Member of Chambers | GILLIES, Jennie (2000) | ||
| Member of Chambers | WATTHEY, James (2000) | ||
| Member of Chambers | LIVESEY, Kate (2001) | ||
| Member of Chambers | OLIVER, Peter (2002) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CRANGLE, Thomas (2002) | ||
| Member of Chambers | WOODS, George (2003) | ||
| Member of Chambers | HATT, James (2003) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CHATTERJEE, Rangan (2004) | ||
| Member of Chambers | LAVY, Matthew (2004) | ||
| Member of Chambers | GOLDSTONE, Simon (2004) | ||
| Member of Chambers | WYGAS, Luke (2004) | ||
| Member of Chambers | HENDERSON, Neil (2004) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CROWLEY, Laura (2005) | ||
| Member of Chambers | OSBORNE, Richard (2005) | ||
| Member of Chambers | HALE, Simon (2006) | ||
| Member of Chambers | WRIGHT, Alexander (2007) | ||
| Member of Chambers | STEVENS, Andrew (2007) | ||
| Member of Chambers | TEMPLE, Adam (2008) | ||
| Member of Chambers | GOODKIN, Daniel (2008) | ||
| Member of Chambers | MUNRO, Iain (2009) | ||
| Member of Chambers | NAYLOR, Martyn (2009) | ||
| Member of Chambers | PATEL, Sanjay (2010) | ||
| Member of Chambers | NOAKES, Rani (2010) | ||
| Member of Chambers | THORNE, Matthew (2011) | ||
| Member of Chambers | SHIRAZI, Gideon (2012) | ||
| Member of Chambers | JONES, Ed (2012) | ||
| Member of Chambers | CHURCHER, Daniel (2012) | ||
| Member of Chambers | SCRIVENER, Robert (2013) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DENNIS, Helen (2013) | ||
| Member of Chambers | KHOO, Daniel (2014) | ||
| Member of Chambers | TANNOCK, Quentin (2016) | ||
| Member of Chambers | WRIGHT, Laura (2014) | ||
| Member of Chambers | DOWERS, Neil (2016) | ||
| Member of Chambers | KEATING, Rebecca (2017) | ||
| Member of Chambers | SCHAFFER-GODDARD, Jonathan (2017) | ||
| HOFFMANN, Anna (2018) | |||
| WANDOWICZ, Kajetan (2018) |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Rachel Ansell QC | View Profile | |
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Terence Bergin QC | View Profile | |
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James Bowling | View Profile | |
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Sean Brannigan QC | View Profile | |
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Alex Charlton QC | View Profile | |
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Rangan Chatterjee | View Profile | |
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Aidan Christie QC | View Profile | |
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Daniel Churcher | View Profile | |
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Stephen Cogley QC | View Profile | |
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Thomas Crangle | View Profile | |
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James Cross QC | View Profile | |
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Laura Crowley | View Profile | |
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Michael Davie QC | View Profile | |
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Helen Dennis | View Profile | |
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Michael Douglas QC | View Profile | |
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Neil Dowers | View Profile | |
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Allen Dyer | View Profile | |
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David Friedman QC | View Profile | |
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Lord Edward Garnier QC | View Profile | |
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Jennie Gillies | View Profile | |
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Simon Goldstone | View Profile | |
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Daniel Goodkin | View Profile | |
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Simon Hale | View Profile | |
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James Hatt | View Profile | |
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Neil Henderson | View Profile | |
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Simon Henderson | View Profile | |
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Alexander Hickey QC | View Profile | |
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Ed Jones | View Profile | |
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Rebecca Keating | View Profile | |
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Daniel Khoo | View Profile | |
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Dr Matthew Lavy | View Profile | |
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James Leabeater QC | View Profile | |
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Jonathan Lewis | View Profile | |
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Kate Livesey | View Profile | |
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Lord (Jonathan) Marks Of Henley-on-Thames QC | View Profile | |
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Lynne McCafferty QC | View Profile | |
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Duncan McCall QC | View Profile | |
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Iain Munro | View Profile | |
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Martyn Naylor | View Profile | |
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Andrew Neish QC | View Profile | |
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Jeremy Nicholson QC | View Profile | |
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Rani Noakes | View Profile | |
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Sean O’Sullivan QC | View Profile | |
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Dr Peter Oliver | View Profile | |
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Richard Osborne | View Profile | |
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Claire Packman | View Profile | |
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Sanjay Patel | View Profile | |
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Benjamin Pilling QC | View Profile | |
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Alison Potter | View Profile | |
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James Purchas | View Profile | |
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John Rowland QC | View Profile | |
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Jonathan Schaffer-Goddard | View Profile | |
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Robert Scrivener | View Profile | |
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Gideon Shirazi | View Profile | |
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Fiona Sinclair QC | View Profile | |
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Anthony Speaight QC | View Profile | |
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Jessica Stephens QC | View Profile | |
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Andrew Stevens | View Profile | |
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Jeremy Storey QC | View Profile | |
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Quentin Tannock | View Profile | |
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Adam Temple | View Profile | |
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Matthew Thorne | View Profile | |
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Nigel Tozzi QC | View Profile | |
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Kate Vaughan-Neil | View Profile | |
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Nicholas Vineall QC | View Profile | |
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James Watthey | View Profile | |
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George Woods | View Profile | |
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Laura Wright | View Profile | |
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Alexander Wright | View Profile | |
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Luke Wygas | View Profile |
Top Tier Set Rankings
- 2018 Silks
- 2018 Silks
- 2019 Silks
- 2019 Silks
- 2019 Silks
- 2019 Silks
- IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - 2018 Silks
- IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Sets
- Professional negligence
- Professional negligence - Leading sets
Set Rankings
- Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
- Banking and finance (including consumer credit) - Leading sets
- Commercial litigation
- Commercial litigation - Leading sets
- Construction
- Construction - Leading sets
- Energy
- Energy - Leading sets
- Insurance and reinsurance
- Insurance and reinsurance - Leading sets
- International arbitration: counsel
- International arbitration: counsel - Leading sets
- IT and telecoms
- IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Juniors
- IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Silks
- Leading arbitrators
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Juniors
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Leading Silks
- Set overviews: England and Wales
- Shipping
- Shipping - Leading sets