4 Pump Court > London, England > Set Profile

4 Pump Court (Sean Brannigan KC and Rachel Ansell KC)
4 Pump Court
TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 7AN
England

London Bar > IT and telecoms (infrastructure and contracts) Tier 1

4 Pump Court is ‘a true IT specialist set’ with ‘excellent IT disputes counsel at all levels’ covering the full breadth of technology and telecoms matters, including artificial intelligence, IT outsourcing matters such as syndicated services, software licensing and developing agreements. Alex Charlton KC acts for the claimant, leading Iain Munro in Topalsson GmbH v Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd, a TCC dispute in relation to a failed project implementation for visualisation sales systems, raising issues of unlawful termination, misrepresentation, and damages – Terence Bergin KC and Matthew Lavy KC appeared for the carmaker. Charlton KC also appeared for the claimant in IBM v LzLabs & Others, which includes claims for breach of licensing agreements and injunctions in relation to mainframe software, while Lavy and Gideon Shirazi are instructed as opposing counsel. Lynne McCafferty KC is appointed advisor on the independent advisory panel concerning the Post Office Horizon scandal, alongside Charlton KC and Benjamin Pilling KC.

Rising stars

Rebecca Keating  4 Pump Court ‘Rebecca is excellent: efficient, detailed and commercial. A brainbox when it comes to any and all IT and cyber disputes – she operates beyond her years.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Alex Charlton KC4 Pump Court ‘Alex is a very confident and highly effective advocate with excellent cross-examination skills. His written work is equally impressive. He is personable and easy to work with, and also very good with clients.’ 
Ranked: Tier 1
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘He manages to combine huge strategic nous with an incredible eye for detail. He effortlessly commands the respect of the court or arbitral tribunal, and is a highly effective cross-examiner.’ 
Ranked: Tier 2
Michael Douglas KC4 Pump Court ‘Michael has an excellent brain and from the detail can articulate clear and convincing arguments not just in paperwork and in conference but thinking on his feet in court. He is an excellent advocate.
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 4
Terence Bergin KC4 Pump Court 'Good IT expertise and experience.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Effective on her feet in a very measured and understated way – a nice change of pace from a lot of other senior counsel. Clear in her advice.’
Ranked: Tier 4

2023 Silks

Matthew Lavy KC4 Pump Court ‘Matthew is an extremely talented barrister, with a superb legal mind and an exceptional knowledge of all things technology related. He takes a commercially sharp approach to matters and is proving to be a formidable advocate on his feet, he is an absolute joy to work with.’
Matthew Lavy KC4 Pump Court 'Matthew is an extremely talented barrister, with a superb legal mind and an exceptional knowledge of all things technology related. He takes a commercially sharp approach to matters and is proving to be a formidable advocate on his feet.'

Leading Juniors

Simon Henderson4 Pump CourtBright and focussed.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
Iain Munro4 Pump Court 'Iain is a highly analytical and intelligent junior - his grasp of detail and superhuman levels of recall is very impressive, he is an ideal junior for document-heavy cases and will leave no stone unturned. As an advocate he is measured but quietly effective.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 3
Gideon Shirazi4 Pump Court 'He's really strong on technology and IT disputes. He has a very perceptive mind, and he will look at disputes from every angle, identifying innovative arguments and differing ways of solving problems.'
Ranked: Tier 3

Testimonials

‘The clerks are excellent across the board. Billy Griffiths is a particular stand-out – he is incredibly responsive, really goes the extra mile to ensure good service, and I trust his recommendations.’

‘A very strong, well-resourced and commercially astute clerks’ room. Stewart Gibbs has been clerking in the technology and telecoms space for many years and has a deep and wide understanding of the market, as does Will Jackman who focusses on the intersection between commercial and technology disputes.’

‘High quality set with many excellent barristers doing top quality work.’

‘4 Pump Court is a very strong set in the IT and telecoms sector, with a breadth of talent across multiple levels of call. Its members are involved in many of the largest IT and telecoms cases to hit the courts and arbitration. Its members are known not only for core IT project disputes, but also cutting-edge technology issues such as crypto asset disputes and AI. Several of its members contributed to the book ‘The Law of Artificial Intelligence’.’

‘For IT matters, 4 Pump Court is one of the strongest and most impressive sets.’

‘4 Pump Court are at the top of their game for tech work, including crypto work. All barristers from there in the past 12 months have been exceptional. ‘

‘They are rightly perceived as the ‘go to’ set for technology disputes.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Professional negligence Tier 1

4 Pump Court is a leading professional negligence set with a strong line-up of silks and juniors who handle professional negligence cases in areas such as energy, construction, engineering, infrastructure, and information technology. Michael Douglas KC has strong experience concerning technology and construction-related professional negligence, while Nigel Tozzi KC acts primarily for defendants, with strong experience in acting for professional indemnity insurers. Tozzi KC represented the company that manages the former Olympic Stadium in Stratford in a claim against a Magic Circle law firm concerning the allegedly negligent drafting of an agreement concerning the use of the venue by West Ham United. Rachel Ansell KC specialises in high value and technically complex construction and engineering professional negligence cases – she currently acts on cases arising out of the Beetham Tower in Manchester concerning allegedly failed glazing units.    

Rising stars

Jennie Gillies – 4 Pump Court ‘Jennie is very sharp. She is always on top of the detail and produces clear, precise and user-friendly drafting. She is a pleasure to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Michael Douglas KC4 Pump CourtMichael is a go-to KC for insurance professional negligence work. His advice is full of clarity and common sense.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court - 'Nigel has been a pleasure to work with - providing constructive and highly pertinent guidance, cutting to the key issues and conveying them in appropriate terms for his audience - be it senior or junior team members or directly client-facing.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Rachel Ansell KC4 Pump Court ‘Rachel is definitely a team player. She does not sit on the fence with her advice and is very supportive of her instructing solicitors. She is an effective and measured advocate and analytical skills are second-to-none.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Sean Brannigan KC4 Pump Court 'Strategically and tactically savvy.  A strong litigator.  Good under pressure and an impressive advocate.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Aidan Christie KC4 Pump Court - 'Aidan has an encyclopaedic knowledge of insurance law and cases. He is authoritative whilst being collaborative, creative with arguments, and hugely patient.'
Ranked: Tier 3
James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court 'Very thorough. Provides sensible and coherent advice that is applicable to the commercial realities of the matter.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is an excellent barrister, her cross examination skills are second to none and certainly not to be underestimated. She is especially gifted at very complex and detailed cases with an ability to quickly absorb a lot detail and hone in on the critical issues.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Jeremy Nicholson KC4 Pump Court ‘Jeremy is a top class construction silk. He retains fantastic attention to detail and precision in his drafting, whilst getting the big strategic decisions right.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Benjamin Pilling KC4 Pump CourtA superb all-rounder. A fantastic advocate, calm under pressure and with the ear of the court, because he has the ability to pick out the key points and present them in simple terms to the judge. Lovely drafting too.’
Ranked: Tier 3
James Cross KC - 4 Pump CourtHis understanding of the interaction between the construction and insurance markets is unrivalled. Charming and ruthless in equal measure.
Ranked: Tier 3
Claire Packman  - 4 Pump Court  'Claire is responsive, a team player and a pleasure to work with. Great with clients and complete mastery of the technical detail of a case.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Simon Davenport KC - 4 Pump Court ‘Decisive, robust, commercial and a good motivator and team leader. He gets the bigger picture.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Andrew Neish KC4 Pump Court 'Andrew is very knowledgeable in this field - he is highly intelligent and very experienced. He gets right to the point and identifies what matters early on. He is very good on his feet and is a very strong cross examiner. He is also very good with clients.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Kate Livesey4 Pump Court ‘Kate has excellent judgement, is forensic and determined. She is also an excellent advocate – well-prepared, and with a real feel for the temperature of the court and the views of the judge.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Simon Hale4 Pump Court ‘Simon is excellent to work with.  He is extremely bright but very personable and great to put the clients at ease as well as being great on his feet.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Simon Henderson4 Pump Court ‘Deep IT expertise, with excellent client skills, impeccable judgement and pleasure to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Luke Wygas4 Pump CourtA sensible, reliable barrister who responds very quickly.  Luke can cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issues very quickly.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Kate Vaughan-Neil4 Pump Court ‘Kate is technically proficient, user friendly and helpful throughout.’
Ranked: Tier 3
James Purchas4 Pump CourtJames is very easy to work with. A great team player whose attention to detail and analytical skills really make him stand out from the pack.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Thomas Crangle  – 4 Pump Court  ‘Tom is responsive and easy to use and get on with. He is pragmatic and exhumes confidence which the clients love. He is very good on his feet and judges listen to him.’
Ranked: Tier 5
James Bowling4 Pump Court 'James is extremely reliable for honest and thorough advice. He is easy to work with and is open to collaborative discussions relating to the matter.'
Ranked: Tier 5
Martyn Naylor4 Pump CourtMartyn has fantastic attention to detail and the ability to produce high quality pleadings and written submissions against very tight deadlines. He has the ability to distil very complex or extensive facts down to a few pertinent points and is a highly effective and persuasive advocate.'
Ranked: Tier 5
Laurence Page4 Pump Court ‘Laurence is approachable and responsive.’
Ranked: Tier 5
James Hatt  – 4 Pump Court  ‘He is unflappable, thoughtful and has a good manner with clients.’
Ranked: Tier 6
James Hatt   – 4 Pump Court  ‘He is unflappable, thoughtful and has a good manner with clients.’
Ranked: Tier 6
Peter Oliver 4 Pump Court  ‘Peter is a go-to barrister for professional negligence work. He is always responsive and builds a good relationship with the team that he is working with, including the client.’
Ranked: Tier 6
Matthew Thorne4 Pump CourtMatthew is prompt at responding to communications and always keeps his clients updated on his progress.’
Ranked: Tier 6
Simon Goldstone  – 4 Pump Court ‘Simon has a forensic attention to detail, and prepares meticulously.  As a leader, he is calm and authoritative, and never afraid to interrogate and adapt his own position where appropriate.'
Ranked: Tier 6

Testimonials

‘Sam Penny is an outstanding clerk who is extremely approachable and passionate in his work. Nothing is too much of an ask for Sam and his responses and follow ups on matters are quick.’

‘The clerks are courteous and efficient. We deal mainly with James Tanner.’

‘The clerks’ room is professional and responsive: they go out of their way to get information to you in a timely manner, and are good at being proactive in managing diaries and any issues that may arise.’

‘Very happy with the clerks.’

‘Clerks are good.’

‘Very strong on construction professional negligence and on insurance too.’

‘Top Chambers for construction/professional negligence.’

‘Chambers hosts a number of valuable seminars and its information newsletters are very useful. There is a good mix of experience across the sectors for which 4 Pump Court has built its reputation.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Construction Tier 2

4 Pump Court handles a myriad of substantial contentious construction matters both in the UK and abroad, offering a ‘first-class service’. In addition to the members' work in heavyweight arbitrations across Asia, the Middle East and further afield, Sean Brannigan KC and Jennie Gillies represented the claimants, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in a high-profile case against Lendlease and Balfour Beatty resulting from the defective construction of a PFI hospital. Members of the set were enlisted by various parties to defend against claims brought forward by Shepherd Construction Limited, pertaining to alleged defects in the design and construction of cladding systems on residential blocks in London. Among them, Lynne McCafferty KC represented Drytech Façades , while Rachel Ansell KC acted for Kingspan. Jeremy Nicholson KC represented Aecom in the complex multi-party proceedings case of Willmott Dixon Construction v. Prater, Lindner Exteriors Holding, Sheppard Robson, AECOM, and AIS Surveyors, which arose from alleged defective cladding in a Woolwich Central commercial and residential development. Jonathan Lewis KC took silk in March 2023, and Fiona Sinclair KC retired.

Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC4 Pump Court ‘Sean is strategically and tactically savvy. A strong litigator. Good under pressure and an impressive advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Rachel Ansell KC4 Pump Court ‘Rachel remains one of the hardest working, sharpest minds at the Bar and is absolutely at the top of her game. Her work ethic knows no bounds.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Jeremy Nicholson KC4 Pump Court ‘Superb all-rounder. Fantastic advocate: calm under pressure and has the ear of the court, because he has the ability to pick out from a mass of detail only the key important points and present them in simple terms to the judge. Lovely drafting too.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Benjamin Pilling KC4 Pump Court ‘Benjamin is skilled on paper, drafting clearly and precisely, and with surprising speed. He has an impressive ability to cut through large swaths of material to the heart of complex issues, and to provide solutions, including innovative solutions when required. His knowledge of English law is impressive, as is his ability to pick up and understand points of foreign law, and his ability to understand complex construction issues.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Alexander Hickey KC4 Pump Court ‘Alex is excellent to work with, very low maintenance and user-friendly. An excellent cross-examiner and advocate with an innate sense of what will resonate with a tribunal.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is an excellent barrister, dives straight into the detail and provides consistently high-quality strategic advice. She is a determined and robust advocate, combining the skill of putting clients at ease and being a fierce cross-examiner of witnesses and experts in the box. Her cross-examination skills are second to none. She is especially gifted at very complex and detailed cases with an ability to quickly absorb a lot of detail and hone in on the critical issues.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 5
James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court ‘James is very thorough. He provides sensible and coherent advice that is applicable to the commercial realities of the matter.'
Ranked: Tier 5
Jessica Stephens KC4 Pump Court ‘Jessica gives no nonsense, practical and commercial advice.'
Ranked: Tier 5
Claire Packman KC4 Pump Court ‘Claire is a naturally gifted and formidable advocate and an extremely able and effective cross-examiner. She has a razor-sharp intellect but combines this with a disarming and highly personable manner. She is brilliant to work with and very down to earth.’
Ranked: Tier 5

2023 Silks

Jonathan Lewis KC4 Pump Court ‘Jonathan is extremely adaptable and has an excellent approach when it comes to dealing with arbitral tribunals with whom he seems to build rapport with ease. His advocacy is rapier-like and he is a great team player who isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and get into the detail.’

2024 Silks

Sanjay Patel KC4 Pump Court ‘Sanjay is an incredibly bright senior junior barrister and is surely a step away from KC. He integrates himself into a team and is excellent with solicitors, clients, witnesses and experts alike. His drafting is absolutely first-class and his advocacy is incisive and intelligent.’

Leading Juniors

James Bowling 4 Pump Court ‘A very confident and accomplished advocate, with the maturity and presence of mind of a silk. James is very personable and easy to work with.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Kate Livesey 4 Pump Court ‘Kate has excellent judgement, is forensic, and is determined. She is an excellent advocate – well-prepared, and with a real feel for the temperature of the court and the views of the judge.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Luke Wygas 4 Pump Court ‘A sensible, reliable barrister who responds very quickly. He is a safe pair of hands, has sound judgement and a personable manner.  He is able to cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issues very quickly.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Thomas Crangle 4 Pump Court ‘Thomas is very user-friendly. He is responsive and easy to use and get on with. He is pragmatic and exhumes confidence which the clients love. He is very good on his feet and judges listen to him.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Simon Hale 4 Pump Court ‘A formidable advocate – his courtroom skills are second to none. He gets to the crux of complex issues quickly and provides practical, real world advice. He is a team player, ready to roll his sleeves up to get the best result for the client.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Jennie Gillies 4 Pump Court ‘Jennie is very quick to get to grips with technically complex claims. She is commercial in terms of her advice and assessment of prospects. She is excellent on her feet - calm and persuasive.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Daniel Goodkin  – 4 Pump Court ‘Daniel is extremely clever and one to watch as a future silk. His legal analysis is second to none, and he is effective and efficient in cross-examination. He remains calm under pressure.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Matthew Thorne 4 Pump Court ‘Matthew is extremely intelligent and his legal research and analysis are absolutely superb. He is also a first-rate advocate, and can patiently explain the most complex points in a way which is both attractive and easy to follow. He easily operates at the level of a strong KC.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Helen Dennis - 4 Pump Court 'Helen has strong legal knowledge coupled with strong business acumen and understanding of practical implications and strategic considerations for the client.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Ed Jones 4 Pump Court ‘Extremely good on detail. Very good in contentious, scrappy adjudications.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Robert Scrivener - 4 Pump Court 'Robert is a star in the making. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of English law and is profoundly diligent. He approaches issues intelligently, is a good strategist, and is an excellent problem solver providing sound, practical views and advice. His written work is clear, precise and well-crafted.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Quentin Tannock - 4 Pump Court 'Quentin provides a pragmatic approach to litigation. His understanding of documents and advice given is detailed and well-advanced. Quentin thinks on his feet and is very approachable. Quentin’s advocacy is persuasive and detailed. He has experience way beyond his call year which he puts to good use.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Gideon Shirazi 4 Pump Court ‘Able to assimilate information quickly; a calm, persuasive advocate; easy to work with; good at developing a strategy.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Daniel Churcher 4 Pump Court ‘Daniel is one of the London Bar’s most promising and talented construction juniors. He is 100% committed to his cases and clients and is extremely user-friendly. Intellectually dexterous and lightning quick on his feet.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Laurence Page – 4 Pump Court ‘Laurence has a phenomenal work rate with an unparalleled ability to turn complexity into simplicity at speed. He gives a level of assurance beyond his years and is also great fun to work with. A real one-to-watch who is destined for big things at the Bar.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

‘4 Pump Court’s clerking is modern, practical and efficient. Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs are both very experienced, competent clerks who run a very good ship.’

‘Carl Wall is very friendly and helpful. The clerking team overall takes a pragmatic and tailored approach to fees and to any unforeseen issues that may crop up, which makes our life easier as instructing solicitors.’

‘The clerks are excellent. Carl Wall and the team always provide top-notch service.’

‘Excellent set of chambers, which is our “go-to” set for our construction dispute work. Their members are both technically excellent and well-grounded in the realities of the construction sector, engaging very effectively with clients, experts and the like.’

‘4 Pump Court is always able to recommend appropriate Counsel when we require it and has great strength in depth.’

‘4 Pump Court is a powerhouse of a set with quality throughout. I know that we are in safe hands when we instruct a member of 4 Pump Court. Their counsel are easy to work with and always deliver a first-class service.’

‘A strong set for construction and engineering disputes, with a good range of KCs and Juniors.’

‘4 Pump Court has an incredible variety of counsel who deal with construction disputes and we can always find someone suitable with availability.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Energy Tier 2

4 Pump Court has ‘a culture of thoughtful, hard-worked advocacy’, and clients remark that it is ‘sharpest and most user-friendly of chambers’.  Particularly strong on matters concerning energy infrastructure, its members frequently handle cases involving the energy aspects of commercial and construction law, as well as disputes arising directly from large-scale energy projects. Their work is supported by the set’s experience in the related areas of technology and maritime law. Sean Brannigan KC acted for a Saudi Arabian state entity in a case concerning the construction of power infrastructure for the world’s largest phosphorus plant. Rachel Ansell KC acted for insurers in a claim brought by the owner and developer of a renewable energy plant under an Advance Loss of Revenue policy. Sanjay Patel KC, who acted for the claimants in Energy Works Hull v MW High Tech Projects UK, a high-value construction dispute related to the renewable energy sector, is among the set’s many prominent juniors.

Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC4 Pump Court ‘Undoubtedly the standout advocate of his generation, Sean combines exceptional intelligence and commercial nous with an unrivalled work ethic.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Sean O’Sullivan KC4 Pump Court ‘Sean is a great silk to work with - he is excellent on his feet, rigorous in his trial preparation and a top team member for shipping and energy work.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘Nigel is an outstanding lawyer and a team player who is really down to earth and brisk, with a no-nonsense and effective style.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Stephen Cogley KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Stephen’s advice is timely and insightful, and he is able to step in and get up to speed in no time.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Rachel Ansell KC4 Pump Court ‘Rachel remains one of the hardest working, sharpest minds at the Bar who is absolutely at the top of her game. Her work ethic knows no bounds.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Alexander Hickey KC4 Pump Court ‘Alex is very user-friendly, creative and quick on his feet, and he combines incisive advocacy with an unrivalled ability to grasp the bigger picture.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Nick Vineall KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Nick is a superb advocate and a brilliant intellect, who wears his brilliance very lightly and is extremely charming.’
Ranked: Tier 4
James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court ‘James is very thorough and provides sensible and coherent advice that is applicable to the commercial realities of the matter.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is calm, personable, easy to work with and committed to the client’s cause. Her advocacy can be serene and measured or punchy and stern as required.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Claire Packman KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Claire is commercially astute and technically brilliant, and she quickly cuts to the key issues in complicated legal matters.’

Ranked: Tier 4

2022 Silks

Alexander Wright KC4 Pump Court ‘Self-confident and robust, he is very effective in arbitration and has no problem advancing a weaker case, putting it with force and vigour.’
Alexander Wright KC – 4 Pump Court  ‘Alex is a brilliant advocate, super-agile on his feet and no question fazes him.’

2024 Silks

Sanjay Patel KC4 Pump Court ‘Sanjay is fantastically energetic, showing great attention to detail. He is very commercial and good on his feet.’

Leading Juniors

Kate Livesey4 Pump Court ‘Kate is outstanding: exceptionally bright, immensely hardworking, and a delight to work with. A terrific barrister.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Thomas Crangle4 Pump Court ‘Thomas provides commercial and clear advice, is excellent with clients, and meets tight deadlines without fail.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Stevens4 Pump Court ‘Andrew is exceptionally bright and able to get to the nub of the issue quickly. He is a robust yet charming advocate that wins the trust of the judge with ease.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Daniel Khoo 4 Pump Court ‘Daniel is a stellar junior who really stands out amongst his peers. He is extremely hard working and quick to pick up on the detail.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Robert Scrivener4 Pump Court ‘Robert’s worth ethic and attention to detail are exemplary. In cross-examination, his knowledge of the issues and evidence is a formidable challenge for any witness.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Daniel Goodkin 4 Pump Court ‘Really hardworking, Daniel is a clinical and methodical cross-examiner, which can be deadly for the other side.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

‘Clerks room is very good and efficient – Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs in particular head up a great team.’

‘Great clerks team. Billy Griffiths, Steward Gibbs and Carl Wall are all very professional.’

‘Superb clerks – Paul Bloxham is to be commended for being very service minded and very responsive.’

‘The joint senior clerks – Stewart Gibbs and Carl Wall – are excellent. Very responsive but also able to propose barristers with the required skill set and approach that fits with my own practice.’

‘Stewart Gibbs at the top end and Bill Griffiths below him in the clerks team are masters at client service – they’re diplomatic, get the point immediately, remember your likes/dislikes and find solutions.’

‘The sharpest and most user-friendly chambers I work with. For construction, head and shoulders above most of the competition. Co-head of chambers Sean Brannigan KC, building on the legacy of his predecessors, sets a great tone that permeates all the way down from him to the most junior clerk. They are superbly easy to work with on even the toughest of cases.’

Led from the top, they have a culture of thoughtful, hard-worked advocacy. Some of the best barristers in the market across a wide range of complimentary practice areas.’

‘First class – by far the best set for construction and energy work.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Crypto and blockchain assets Tier 2

4 Pump Court‘s expertise in technology and banking has helped the chambers develop its interest in the cryptocurrency area, with members possessing an understanding of the cryptocurrency markets and related ecosystems. Alongside this, the set has good expertise in relation to representing clients in crypto-fraud and crypto asset recoveries, with Daniel Khoo  involved in Tulip Trading Limited v Bitcoin Association for BSV and ors, a professional negligence case brought by the owner of assets against developers of several cryptocurrencies.

London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance Tier 3

4 Pump Court includes members involved in cases which reflect critical issues affecting the insurance market, including members such as Martyn Naylor  and Rani Noakes  involved in matters arising out of the Covid-19 lockdowns, and professional liability insurance, D&O cover, insurance of financial institutions and cyber risks. Beyond the pandemic, barristers such as Mek Mesfin  have been involved in cases revolving around the construction field, with claims arising across the world including major construction projects in the Middle East and Africa. Andrew Neish KC has a strong cross-border practice, having been involved in disputes acting for major UK, US and Bermudian insurers, while Aidan Christie KC has had a busy year in insurance, with cases involving Covid-related claims, both direct and reinsurance, and heavyweight arbitrations in the industry.

Leading Silks

Andrew Neish KC4 Pump Court 'Andrew is very knowledgeable in this field - he is highly intelligent and very experienced. He gets right to the point and identifies what matters early on. He is very good on his feet and is a very strong cross examiner. He is also very good with clients.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Aidan Christie KC4 Pump CourtHe is one of a handful of KCs with a well-deserved, stellar reputation for providing insurance coverage advice. His work is detailed and meticulous, and he is very user-friendly.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court 'Bright and commercially minded - very articulate.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 4
Michael Davie KC – 4 Pump Court 'Very detailed focused - you know that Michael won't leave things to the last minute.  Great for written opinions.'
Ranked: Tier 5

Leading Juniors

James Purchas4 Pump CourtJames is very good to work with. His analysis is first class, he is a great team player and whose advice and support reflects a deep understanding of clients' commercial drivers.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
Martyn Naylor4 Pump CourtMartyn is an incredibly capable junior and gets up to speed very quickly with the issues at hand. His analytical and drafting skills are very impressive.’  
Ranked: Tier 3
Rani Noakes  – 4 Pump CourtRani is truly outstanding.  She is highly intelligent and able to analyse complicated claims in a forensic and clear way, and is also great to work with. Rani is very responsive and provides clear and well thought through, practical advice.’ 
Ranked: Tier 4
Peter Oliver  – 4 Pump CourtPeter is easily the most personable barrister I have ever worked with. He is responsive, user-friendly and is adept at getting to the nub of tricky issues.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4
Alice Carse4 Pump Court ‘Alice is a star for insurance related work. She has a clear grasp of the area, in terms of knowledge, tactical awareness, commercial realities and client priorities. In addition, she is a strong advocate. She is a delight to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

‘The clerks always provide a first class service, particularly Carl Wall.’

‘The clerks are flexible and keen to assist; Richard Sumarno is a great new addition.’

‘The clerks are excellent, ever reliant, client friendly, keen to help and commercial.  Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs are outstanding.’

‘4 Pump Court offers solid bench strength for insurance work, with plenty of options for high-performing senior and junior counsel.’

‘4 Pump Court are a long established leading set for insurance, professional negligence, construction and international arbitration work. They are led by some excellent silks.’

‘4 Pump Court offers strength in depth in insurance and reinsurance.’

Work highlights

London Bar > International arbitration: counsel Tier 3

4 Pump Court ‘has a strong practice and presence in international construction arbitration and related dispute resolution procedures’ with specialist expertise in large-scale commercial engineering and infrastructure disputes, with a strong Middle East focus besides China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Members stand out for their ability to handle complex technical claims before the full range of arbitral institutions and rules acting for an impressive client portfolio. Among the set’s ‘highly competent silks’ is Claire Packman KC who is advising on two high value ICC arbitrations: a professional negligence claim in relation to a large city centre development in the Middle East, and a contractual dispute relating to the supply of solar panels to solar power projects worldwide. Benjamin Pilling KC, Rachel Ansell KC, Sean Brannigan KC and Sanjay Patel KC‘give the set an exceedingly strong depth on construction matters.’ 

Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC4 Pump Court 'Sean is an incredible advocate and is very much a strategist and leader of a litigation team. He is now incredibly experienced in the Middle East and works exceptional well with lay clients.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Rachel Ansell KC4 Pump Court 'Rachel is an effective and measured advocate. Her analytical skills are second to none. She is definitely a team player, does not sit on the fence with her advice and is very supportive of her instructing solicitors.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 3
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is the epitome of an iron fist in side a velvet glove. She is a tough opponent – she is on top of all the material, and delivers her arguments in such a reasonable and effective manner that judges cannot help but agree with her. Lynne is calm, personable and has a grasp of the detail.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4
James Leabeater KC – 4 Pump Court ‘James is an intellectual powerhouse: extremely detailed and precise and cuts straight to the issues that the client or tribunal needs to be concerned with. James collaborates well as a team and he is responsive with consistent added value.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4
Claire Packman KC4 Pump Court ‘Claire is commercially astute and technically brilliant. She is able to quickly cut to the key issues in complicated legal matters, she has excellent communication skills and empathy with clients, and is an outstanding advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 4

2022 Silks

Alexander Wright KC – 4 Pump Court ‘The very epitome of what a KC should be – brilliant advocate: planet sized intellect, encyclopedic knowledge of the law, very easy to work with, and Alex’ command of the detail of any case is completely unsurpassed by any barrister I have ever worked with.’
Alexander Wright KC4 Pump Court ‘The very epitome of what a KC should be – a brilliant advocate: planet sized intellect, encyclopedic knowledge of the law, very easy to work with, super agile on his feet, very strong cross examiner, and a command of the detail of any case which is completely unsurpassed by any barrister.’

2024 Silks

Sanjay Patel KC4 Pump Court ‘Sanjay is an incredibly bright senior junior barrister. He integrates himself into a team and is excellent with solicitors, clients, witnesses and experts alike, his drafting is absolutely first class and his advocacy is incisive and intelligent.’

Leading Juniors

Andrew Stevens4 Pump Court ‘Andrew's attention to detail and responsiveness is valuable. He is very talented in analysing and preparing complex fact sets and laying out a respective case strategy.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
Rani Noakes4 Pump Court ‘Rani is truly outstanding: she’s highly intelligent and able to analyse complicated claims in a forensic and clear way and great to work with. She’s very responsive and provides clear and well thought through, practical advice – a star for the future.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Testimonials

‘4PC’s clerking is modern, practical and efficient. Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs are both very experienced, competent clerks who run a very good ship, and who are always available if needed.’

‘The clerks are always friendly and approachable both on resourcing and fees.’

‘The clerks are excellent across the board. Bill Griffiths is a particular stand-out – he is incredibly responsive, really goes the extra mile to ensure good service.’

‘The clerks are excellent. They always provide a top-notch service.’

‘Excellent set for IT and construction work.’

‘4 Pump Court remains one of the go-to sets for high value infrastructure disputes in the Middle East.’ 

Work highlights

London Bar > Shipping Tier 3

4 Pump Court fields an in-depth shipping practice, which sees members of the set regularly appear in arbitration and litigation concerning substantial disputes in relation to shipbuilding, commercial shipping, as well as yachts. James Leabeater KC and Sean O’Sullivan KC are two of the group’s leading silks, with the latter appearing in and leading Rani Noakes in Havila v Hijos de J Barrerras, a shipbuilding dispute about two LNG powered ferries. Nick Vineall KC also continues to have a strong practice, having been instructed in a case arising out of a drill ship construction which went to the Supreme Court on appeal. The highly publicised Eternal Bliss was scheduled for the Supreme Court but ultimately settled beforehand; Alexander Wright KC acted in this case about demurrage on behalf of the charterers.

Rising stars

Ranked: Tier 1
Anna Hoffmann4 Pump Court 'Anna is very bright and diligent and always willing to go the extra mile as a junior.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Clementine Makower – 4 Pump Court  ‘Her written-advocacy is first class and she is always on top of the issues and ahead of the witnesses.’
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Sean O’Sullivan KC4 Pump Court 'Sean combines a super forensic brain with silky advocacy skills.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 3
James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court  ‘A top silk for all things shipping. Very clever and able to break down complex legal issues and give clear and practical advice.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘Very pleasing advocate, takes sensible points and strong on law but keeps it relevant. Very user-friendly and pragmatic.’
Ranked: Tier 5

2022 Silks

Alexander Wright KC4 Pump Court 'Sees the big picture and good on his feet.'
Alexander Wright KC4 Pump Court 'Super smart and quick to turn work around.  Also sees the big picture and good on his feet.'

Leading Juniors

Rani Noakes4 Pump Court 'Rani is a superstar.'
Ranked: Tier 2
James Watthey4 Pump Court 'An experienced and approachable barrister who is fantastic with clients.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Robert Scrivener4 Pump Court ‘Energetic, responsive and with great commercial nous.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Ranked: Tier 3
Ed Jones4 Pump Court 'Ed is very bright, super hard-working, creative and extremely personable.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Thomas Steward –4 Pump Court 'Thomas has a knack for simplifying matters and not sitting on the fence when advising on the merits.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Andrew Stevens4 Pump CourtVery clever and extremely detailed in his work. Also prepared to be commercial when necessary. A good advocate.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Gideon Shirazi4 Pump Court 'Gideon has a great grasp of the details.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Neil Dowers 4 Pump CourtGood eye for detail, hard-working, accessible and conscientious.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

‘An excellent set for shipping work with a deep selection of KCs and juniors. 4PC barristers stand out for their commercial and practical approach which goes down well with clients.’

‘Worked with Paul Bloxham – very cooperative and helpful.’

‘The shipping team has gone from strength to strength, recruiting new members and increasing its profile with the big shipping firms and the clubs.’

‘Always responsive. Paul Bloxham is an institution. James Tanner very attentive.’

‘James Tanner has provided an excellent service throughout the duration of the matter. He is diligent, responsive and very efficient.’

‘4 Pump Court is our first port of call when it comes to shipping work. The clerks are helpful and prompt and have had great results with a number of their counsel.’

‘Very good strength in depth in these chambers – across all areas of maritime work.’

‘4PC is very focussed on providing a service, with a fantastic clerking team who ensure that the client gets what they need at the right price.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Commercial litigation Tier 4

A ‘very good set with lots of depth‘, 4 Pump Court is ‘strong at both KC and junior level‘. In recent highlights, Nigel Tozzi KC defended Brightline Holdings against a $250m-plus claim that was brought by Virgin Enterprises, in relation to a trade mark licence agreement for the use of its name and brand in the US; and Laurence Page acted for the claimant in a £200m FSMA class action relating to an allegedly negligent share prospectus, which was said to have led to the defendant's share price being listed at an inflated level. In a boost to chambers, senior commercial and chancery silk, Simon Davenport KC, joined in May 2023 from 3 Hare Court.

Rising stars

Kajetan Wandowicz – 4 Pump CourtBrilliant ability to absorb large amounts of material and quickly produce clear advice. He’s also an excellent advocate.
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘Extremely responsive and immensely personable, despite his seniority. He listens to his clients and instructing solicitors, and gets clients the results they want.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Stephen Cogley KC4 Pump Court ‘Very knowledgeable of the law, a tenacious advocate, and fights the client's corner, but also realistic with his advice. Produces excellent written documents.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Aidan Christie KC4 Pump Court 'Strong technically and will give realistic advice. Calm and reasoned advocacy.'
Ranked: Tier 4
Simon Davenport KC - 4 Pump Court  ‘Simon has the ability to get up to speed quickly on complicated facts. Provides very sensible advice on strategy, and is skilled at pleading a complicated factual case in a simple manner. Very easy to get along with.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Ranked: Tier 4

2022 Silks

Leading Juniors

Laurence Page  – 4 Pump Court ‘Laurence has a phenomenal work rate and an unparalleled ability to turn complexity into simplicity at speed. He gives a level of assurance beyond his years and is also great fun to work with. A real one to watch, who is destined for big things at the Bar.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Matthew Thorne  – 4 Pump Court ‘Matthew is extremely intelligent and his legal research and analysis is absolutely superb. He is also a first-rate advocate, and can patiently explain the most complex points in a way that is both attractive and easy to follow.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Testimonials

‘Mark Latham and Richard Sumarno, in particular, are always super-responsive and willing to work with clients to find a solution.’

‘Excellent – particularly Mark Latham, who always responds quickly and is extremely personable.’

‘Sam Penny is an outstanding clerk, who is extremely approachable and passionate about his work. Nothing is too much of an ask for Sam, and his responses and follow-ups on matters are quick.’

‘Niki Merison is a good clerk, who is very easy to deal with and follows up on matters quickly.’

Very strong at all levels and always responds quickly and with enthusiasm.

4 Pump Court is a very strong set.

Very good set with lots of depth.

Strong at both KC and junior level.

Work highlights

London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators

Leading arbitrators

Christopher Moger KC4 Pump Court ‘One of the best arbitrators in the business. Consistently excellent, very hard working, always on top of the case, and very easy to work with. His work ethic is his greatest strength, along with his ability to get on with just about anyone.’
Ranked: Tier 1

London Bar > Consumer

London Bar > Financial services regulation

Leading Juniors

James Purchas4 Pump Court ‘James has a forensic eye for detail in financial services statutes and rules, and approaches everything with a high degree of analysis.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2

London Bar > Fraud: civil

Rising stars

Kajetan Wandowicz - 4 Pump Court 'Kajetan is an outstanding junior barrister. He is fantastically smart and has a clear thirst for the work itself, which makes piloting cases alongside him a pleasure.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Simon Davenport KC – 4 Pump Court 'Decisive, robust, commercial, and a good motivator and team leader. Gets the bigger picture.'
Ranked: Tier 2

London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

Leading Silks

Nigel Tozzi KC4 Pump Court ‘Nigel is a supreme advocate who is excellent with clients. His preparation and case management are second-to-none.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Benjamin Pilling KC4 Pump Court Ben is one of the finest advocates on his feet, which is belied by his mild-mannered approach and easy charm. He defends his clients’ interests as robustly as necessary whilst maintaining the confidence of judges and tribunals. He is a class act.’ 
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Juniors

Ruth Bala – 4 Pump Court ‘Ruth is simply the best for detail and can be trusted to get to the core issues whilst pulling no punches about weaknesses in our case. Her advice and document work is clear. She is fantastic to work with, easily approachable and very quick to respond and work to clients’ deadlines requirements.’
Ranked: Tier 2

London Bar > Commodities

Leading Silks

Sean O’Sullivan KC4 Pump Court ‘Sean has an excellent grasp on the law, delivers expeditious turnaround times, and delivers measured but exciting cross-examination and argument at closing.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

James Watthey 4 Pump Court ‘You can always rely on James to provide accurate, clever but, most of all, commercial advice, which is why clients like and trust him.’
Ranked: Tier 3

London Bar > Defamation and privacy

Leading Silks

Edward Garnier KC4 Pump Court ‘Edward is an exceptional advocate and has the ability to resent complex cases in an understandable way which judges find persuasive.’
Ranked: Tier 3

London Bar > Insolvency

Leading Silks

Simon Davenport KC4 Pump CourtGreat on his feet.’
Ranked: Tier 3

London Bar > Employment

Leading Juniors

Alice Carse4 Pump Court 'Alice is always prepared and insightful. An articulate and credible advocate, who doesn't pull any punches in cross examination.'
Ranked: Tier 3

Middle East: The English Bar > Construction Tier 1

Boasting in-depth expertise in the full gamut of construction and engineering matters, 4 Pump Court remains at the forefront of airport, hospital, and university developments. Rachel Ansell KC is often instructed on significant energy and engineering disputes, Sean Brannigan KC is reputed for his strength in infrastructure arbitration, and Alexander Hickey KC is a key port of call for energy and natural resources matters across the Gulf. Claire Packman KC’s expertise includes cases with professional negligence elements, while Thomas Crangle has experience of work concerning railways. Simon Hale is noted for his international energy arbitration capabilities, while Laurence Page is also a key member of the set.

Leading silks

Sean Brannigan KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Sean is incredibly clever, a good strategic thinker, reads tribunals well, and is excellent on his feet. He is a leading star.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Lynne McCafferty KC4 Pump Court ‘Lynne has excellent cross examination skills and is able to get to grips with complex issues very quickly.'
Ranked: Tier 2
James Leabeater KC4 Pump Court ‘James is precise and thorough. He works well as part of a team and is hugely responsive to instructing solicitors and clients alike.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2
Claire Packman KC4 Pump Court ‘Her advocacy is excellent. She clearly completes extensive and thorough preparation. She is extremely personable and easy to work with. Her construction knowledge is a real asset as well.’
Ranked: Tier 2

2022 Silks

Leading juniors

Thomas Crangle4 Pump Court ‘He is a fantastic advocate and is very good with clients.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 1
Luke Wygas4 Pump Court ‘Luke is very easy to work with, he really understands the technical issues and gets to grips with them very quickly.’  
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 2
Simon Hale4 Pump Court ‘Very client friendly, hard working, well-prepared, and excellent advocacy.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

‘The clerks room is efficient and forward thinking with Carl Wall and Niki Merison being the standout clerks.’

‘4 Pump Court remains one of the premier go-to sets for construction infrastructure disputes. All members of chambers I have instructed or seen as opposing counsel are of a consistently high calibre.’

‘As well as counsel, there are also a number of leading arbitrator individuals from 4 Pump Court who we would recommend and look to when nominating an arbitrator.’

‘A fantastic set – they know how to work seamlessly with solicitors. A delight to work with.’

‘They are incredibly well-run and now have some of the best silks in the market: as a result the chambers is now the go-to chambers for many serious players.’

Work highlights

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitrators

Leading arbitrators

Christopher Moger KC4 Pump Court ‘Christopher is simply one of the best arbitrators practising in the Asia-Pacific region.  He is through, careful diligent and extremely perceptive.  He manages the procedural aspects of the case very well and gets to the right answer in his awards.  Superb all around.’ 
Ranked: Tier 1

Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Construction, energy and infrastructure

4 Pump Court features a strong team within the construction, infrastructure and energy space, with cases crossing over with shipping matters in this area. Offshore construction matters have been prominent in the group’s recent workload, and the set reports an uptick in renewable energy mandates. Sean Brannigan KC‘s caseload includes handling high-value claims for Korean contractors, and Sean O’Sullivan KC is well known for advising on disputes arising from oil projects. Robert Scrivener has a solid track record in advising on international arbitrations concerning infrastructure and energy projects, and Andrew Stevens is highly regarded for handling disputes from major Asia Pacific arbitral centres.

Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC – 4 Pump Court 'A very persuasive, silver-tongued silk.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Ranked: Tier 3

2022 Silks

Leading Juniors

Andrew Stevens – 4 Pump Court 'A highly capable junior.'  
Ranked: Tier 1
Robert Scrivener – 4 Pump Court 'Robert has an incredible ability to get to grips with the detail of a complex construction case. He is brilliant at matters of strategy, and is always thinking two or three steps ahead.'
Ranked: Tier 1

Testimonials

Clerks are very efficient and responsive and always personable.’

The clerks are helpful, experienced and easy to deal with.’

4 Pump Court has good construction barristers.’

An excellent set.’

Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Shipping and commodities

4 Pump Court is a ‘great set for shipping disputes‘. Members are well known for appearing in Hong Kong, China and Singapore in complex, long-running disputes in the maritime sector, and are equally adept at advising on a broad range of commodities matters. Sean O’Sullivan KC is singled out for his strength in handling commodities and dry shipping disputes. Alexander Wright KC‘s busy practice includes charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightments, commodity sale and purchase agreements and shipbuilding matters. At the junior end, Rani Noakes is ‘a powerhouse‘, and Andrew Stevens is regularly instructed by Chinese owners and charterers in shipping mandates.

2022 Silks

Alexander Wright KC –4 Pump Court 'An extremely bright silk. He demonstrates great clarity of thought, and is approachable. Someone you want on your team.'

Leading Juniors

Rani Noakes  – 4 Pump Court 'Rani is fiercely intelligent. She has great commercial acumen and provides sound, concise and timely legal advice.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Ranked: Tier 2
Gideon Shirazi4 Pump Court 'Gideon is very responsive and proactive.'
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Stevens4 Pump Court 'Andrew shows exceptional legal prowess, unwavering dedication, and an unparalleled commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients.'
Ranked: Tier 2

Testimonials

James Tanner is an excellent clerk.’

James Tanner is always very helpful.’

4 Pump Court has a good mix of breadth and talent.’

The clerks are very responsive and helpful.’

The English Bar Offshore > The English Bar Offshore

Middle East: The English Bar > Commercial

Leading juniors

Laurence Page  – 4 Pump Court ‘Laurence is commercially minded and is someone who instructing solicitors are comfortable introducing to clients. He is a go-to junior for the jurisdiction.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Gideon Shirazi 4 Pump Court 'Boldness, creativity and calmness under pressure.'
Ranked: Tier 2

Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Commercial

Leading Juniors

Rani Noakes – 4 Pump Court 'A star of the future.'
Ranked: Tier 2

The chambers: 4 Pump Court is a leading commercial set of barristers’ chambers. Members provide specialist advocacy, advice and support, with expertise in arbitration, dispute resolution, litigation and regulation for UK and international clients worldwide.

The set: Chambers comprises 83 barristers, including 30 King’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, practical and innovative 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 the Far East, assisted by its office in Hong Kong.

Barristers at 4 Pump Court understand the pressures that solicitors, in-house lawyers and clients operate under 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 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 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 has 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: 4 Pump Court has a reputation as one of the leading construction sets, 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 and 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 global insurance markets. Members act on behalf of UK and international insurance / reinsurance companies, Lloyd’s syndicates, brokers and insureds. 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, 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, shipbuilding and marine insurance. 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. Barristers also specialise in commercial shipbuilding and super / mega yacht disputes, including brokers commission claims and disputes concerning refund guarantees.

Technology and 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 aviation, 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.

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior Clerk Carl Wall cwall@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Senior Clerk Stewart Gibbs sgibbs@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Head of Business Operations Jon Robinson jrobinson@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Head of Business Operations Neil Dougall ndougall@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Senior Communications and Marketing Executive Jade Rawlinson jrawlinson@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Marketing Executive Georgia Smalley gsmalley@4pumpcourt.com +44 (0) 20 7842 5555
Joint Head of Chambers BRANNIGAN KC, Sean (1994)
Joint Head of Chambers ANSELL KC, Rachel (1995)
Member of Chambers MOGER KC, Christopher (1972)
Member of Chambers MARKS KC, Jonathan (1975)
Member of Chambers GARNIER KC, Edward (1976)
Member of Chambers ROWLAND KC, John (1979)
Member of Chambers DOUGLAS KC, Michael (1974)
Member of Chambers NICHOLSON KC, Jeremy (1977)
Member of Chambers TOZZI KC, Nigel (1980)
Member of Chambers CROSS KC, James (1985)
Member of Chambers CHARLTON KC, Alex (1983)
Member of Chambers CHRISTIE KC, Aidan (1988)
Member of Chambers NEISH KC, Andrew (1988)
Member of Chambers DAVENPORT KC, Simon (1987)
Member of Chambers DAVIE KC, Michael (1993)
Member of Chambers DUNLOP KC, Roddy (1998)
Member of Chambers COGLEY KC, Stephen (1984)
Member of Chambers O'SULLIVAN KC, Sean (1997)
Member of Chambers PILLING KC, Benjamin (1997)
Member of Chambers BERGIN KC, Terence (1985)
Member of Chambers HICKEY KC, Alexander (1995)
Member of Chambers McCAFFERTY KC, Lynne (1997)
Member of Chambers POTTS KC, Alex (2000)
Member of Chambers LEABEATER KC, James (1999)
Member of Chambers STEPHENS KC, Jessica (2001)
Member of Chambers PACKMAN KC, Claire (1996)
Member of Chambers LEWIS KC, Jonathan (1996)
Member of Chambers LAVY KC, Matthew (2004)
Member of Chambers DYER, Allen (1976)
Member of Chambers HENDERSON, Simon (1993)
Member of Chambers VAUGHAN-NEIL, Kate (1994)
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 GOLDSTONE, Simon (2004)
Member of Chambers WYGAS, Luke (2004)
Member of Chambers CROWLEY, Laura (2005)
Member of Chambers OSBORNE, Richard (2005)
Member of Chambers HALE, Simon (2006)
Member of Chambers BALA, Ruth (2006)
Member of Chambers WRIGHT, Alexander (2007)
Member of Chambers STEVENS, Andrew (2007)
Member of Chambers GOODKIN, Daniel (2008)
Member of Chambers CARSE, Alice (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)
PAGE, Laurence (2010)
Member of Chambers THORNE, Matthew (2011)
Member of Chambers STEWARD, Tom (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 MESFIN, Mek (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)
Member of Chambers HOFFMANN, Anna (2018)
Member of Chambers WANDOWICZ, Kajetan (2018)
Member of Chambers COOK, Elliott (2019)
Member of Chambers O'BRIEN O'REILLY, Samantha (2019)
Member of Chambers TAYLOR, Alex (2020)
Member of Chambers MAKOWER, Clementine (2020)
Member of Chambers HANDLEY, Katy (2021)
Member of Chambers HADDAD, Jacob (2021)
Member of Chambers JACKSON, Caroline (2022)
Member of Chambers KING, Natasha (2022)
NICHOLL, Richard (2019)
Photo Name Position Profile
Rachel Ansell photo Rachel Ansell Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration with an emphasis on…
Ruth Bala photo Ms Ruth Bala Ruth has built up a specialist practice in regulated lending, retail banking…
Terence Bergin photo Terence Bergin Barrister specialising in IT. Cases of note include: AFD Software Ltd v…
James Bowling photo James Bowling Commercial practice focusing principally on energy and construction (including adjudication). He also…
Sean Brannigan photo Sean Brannigan Joint head of chambers, Sean specialises in high-value domestic construction cases and…
Alex Charlton photo Alex Charlton Barrister specialising in all commercial and technical disputes with particular experience in…
Rangan Chatterjee photo Rangan Chatterjee Ron has a wide-ranging commercial practice which encompasses both litigation and international…
Aidan Christie photo Aidan Christie Barrister specialising in general commercial law including insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence…
Daniel Churcher photo Daniel Churcher Daniel has a commercial practise with particular emphasis on construction, banking and…
Stephen Cogley photo Stephen Cogley Stephen is a commercial chancery trial advocate, specialising in multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional…
Elliott Cook photo Elliott Cook Elliott has a broad and varied commercial practice with experience in shipping…
Thomas Crangle photo Thomas Crangle Junior counsel specialising in technology and construction work and professional negligence. He…
James Cross photo James Cross Barrister specialising in construction and engineering (including adjudication), professional negligence (especially construction…
Laura Crowley photo Laura Crowley General commercial law, including construction, insurance and professional negligence.
Simon Davenport  photo Mr Simon Davenport Simon Davenport KC is a senior commercial and chancery silk who specialises…
Michael Davie photo Michael Davie Barrister specialising in property damage insurance; jurisdiction/choice of law; professional negligence; and…
Helen Dennis photo Helen Dennis General commercial practice in line with chambers’ expertise, specialising in construction, energy,…
Michael Douglas photo Michael Douglas Barrister specialising in commercial, professional negligence and information technology fields.
Allen Dyer photo Allen Dyer Barrister specialising in professional indemnity, construction, contract and other commercial cases; has…
Jennie Gillies photo Jennie Gillies Jennie Gillies is a commercial barrister specialising in construction, engineering and adjudication,…
Simon Goldstone photo Simon Goldstone Commercial: banking, finance, insurance, commercial fraud. Insolvency and Company. Professional negligence: especially…
Daniel Goodkin photo Daniel Goodkin Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, insurance, construction, professional negligence and shipping.
Simon Hale photo Simon Hale Simon is an experienced commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on construction,…
James Hatt photo James Hatt Barrister specialising in commercial law and international arbitration. Substantial experience as an…
Simon Henderson photo Simon Henderson Barrister specialising in commercial work, with an emphasis on information technology, construction…
Neil Henderson photo Neil Henderson Shipping and international trade: cargo claims, charterparty disputes, arrests, bunker disputes, shipbuilding…
Alexander Hickey photo Alexander Hickey Barrister specialising in litigation, domestic and international arbitration and adjudication of disputes…
Anna Hoffmann photo Anna Hoffmann Anna is regularly instructed in a broad range of commercial and regulatory…
Ed Jones photo Ed Jones Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration with particular expertise in…
Rebecca Keating photo Rebecca Keating Rebecca has a broad commercial practice with experience in banking and financial…
Daniel Khoo photo Daniel Khoo Commercial practice including litigation and arbitration with particular experience in civil fraud;…
Matthew Lavy KC photo Dr Matthew Lavy KC A commercial practice with a particular specialism in technology, telecoms, IP licensing…
James Leabeater photo James Leabeater Barrister specialising in general commercial law; especially insurance, shipping, professional negligence and…
Jonathan Lewis KC photo Jonathan Lewis KC Commercial barrsiter principally specialising in construction and engineering disputes in litigation, arbitration and…
Kate Livesey photo Kate Livesey General common law and commercial law, including insurance, professional negligence, energy and…
(Jonathan) Marks Of Henley-on-Thames photo Lord (Jonathan) Marks Of Henley-on-Thames Barrister specialising in construction and engineering, commercial dispute resolution, international arbitration and…
Lynne McCafferty photo Lynne McCafferty Barrister specialising in general commercial and common law experienced in construction and…
Mek Mesfin photo Mek Mesfin Specialises in commercial dispute resolution, with particular emphasis on construction, energy &…
Iain Munro photo Iain Munro Professional negligence; commercial; information technology; construction; general common law, shipping, international arbitration.
Martyn Naylor photo Martyn Naylor Barrister with broad commercial experience across all of chambers’ principle practice areas.…
Andrew Neish photo Andrew Neish Barrister specialising in general commercial law including insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence…
Jeremy Nicholson photo Jeremy Nicholson Barrister and arbitrator specialising in commercial disputes including construction & engineering, energy,…
Sean O Sean O"Sullivan Sean is a widely acclaimed commercial silk at 4 Pump Court, whose…
Samantha O'Brien O'Reilly photo Samantha O'Brien O'Reilly Barrister with a broad common law and commercial law practice, with particular…
Richard Osborne photo Richard Osborne Barrister specialising in general commercial and common law, including contractual disputes, insurance,…
Laurence Page photo Mr Laurence Page Laurence Page is a leading commercial and infrastructure advocate who is regularly…
Sanjay Patel KC photo Sanjay Patel KC General commercial practice in line with chambers’ profile with specialisms in banking,…
Benjamin Pilling photo Benjamin Pilling Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, banking and finance, professional negligence, construction and…
Alison Potter photo Alison Potter Experienced barrister and mediator with experience in commercial, financial services, professional negligence,…
Alex  Potts photo Mr Alex Potts Alex is a leading Silk with expertise covering all areas of commercial…
James Purchas photo James Purchas Barrister specialising in commercial law, including financial services, insurance and reinsurance, and…
John Rowland photo John Rowland Insurance and Reinsurance/Construction/Energy and resources/Finance and banking/Arbitration. Admitted to practice in England…
Jonathan Schaffer-Goddard photo Jonathan Schaffer-Goddard Jonathan has a broad commercial practice. He is presently instructed in a…
Robert Scrivener photo Robert Scrivener Broad commercial practice, in line with chambers’ expertise. Robert has particular experience…
Gideon Shirazi photo Gideon Shirazi Barrister with a broad commercial practice with expertise in banking and finance;…
Fiona Sinclair photo Fiona Sinclair Specialises in construction, energy, transport, construction professionals’ liability and insurance. First class…
Jessica Stephens photo Jessica Stephens Barrister specialising in construction and related professional negligence disputes. Acts for employers,…
Andrew Stevens photo Andrew Stevens Commercial barrister specialising in complex and high-value international disputes in arbitration and…
Quentin Tannock photo Quentin Tannock Barrister with a broad commercial practice, combining legal excellence with practical business…
Matthew Thorne photo Matthew Thorne Commercial – broad range of work; insurance – secondment at major international…
Nigel Tozzi photo Nigel Tozzi Nigel has a wide ranging commercial practice, with particular expertise in commercial…
Kate Vaughan-Neil photo Kate Vaughan-Neil Barrister dealing in general commercial and common law work with an emphasis…
Kajetan Wandowicz photo Mr Kajetan Wandowicz Barrister with a broad commercial practice, both as a junior and as…
James Watthey photo James Watthey An experienced commercial barrister handling heavyweight international arbitration and litigation. In addition…
George Woods photo George Woods Barrister specialising in IT, commercial, insurance and construction work.
Laura Wright photo Laura Wright Barrister with a broad commercial practice and particular experience of IT, IP,…
Alexander Wright KC photo Alexander Wright KC Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration with particular expertise in shipping…
Luke Wygas photo Luke Wygas Luke’s practice focuses on domestic construction, energy, IT and professional negligence (with…