Set Profile > Six Pump Court > Maidstone, England
Six Pump Court Offices
Six Pump Court
6-8 MILL STREET
MAIDSTONE
ME15 6XH
England
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Six Pump Court > The Legal 500 Rankings
South Eastern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
Six Pump Court is 'an excellent set' with a notable presence in Kent, where members of the team prosecute and defend in a range of high-profile criminal cases. In the Court of Appeal, Oliver Saxby QC acted for Carl Page, a former subpostmaster who was convicted of fraud as part of the Horizon scandal. Elsewhere, Danny Moore successfully defended a man in a murder case, where it was alleged that the victim identified the defendant as the killer. In a separate case, rising star Emin Kandola prosecuted a woman who was convicted of glassing a professional golfer and Miss England finalist, who was left with vision damage after the attack.Rising stars
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are always available and responsive, in particular Graham Colloff and Michael Hearn. Outstanding organisational and people skills. Nothing is ever too much trouble‘.
‘Graham Colloff is an extremely helpful clerk who is happy to help wherever possible‘.
South Eastern Circuit > Employment Tier 1
At Six Pump Court, Gordon Menzies is instructed on behalf of claimants and respondents in complex employment cases, with particular strength in discrimination cases. Grace Cullen regularly acts for employers and employees across a range of employment matters, including unfair dismissals, discrimination claims and constructive dismissal cases. In a recent highlight, Cullen successfully represented the claimant in an age discrimination and unfair dismissal claim brought against Oxford University by one of its senior academics.Leading Juniors
London Bar > Consumer Tier 2
Six Pump Court is a specialist regulatory set, praised for its ‘strength in depth of the team, the breadth of their expertise and their ability to see the wider picture without losing sight of the detail‘. Pascal Bates has a particular specialism in consumer issues with environmental or safety concerns and he has acted for the Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority in several importation cases, most recently involving a consignment of honey. In food law, David Hercock is a key contact, advising in the majority of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases in that field, including acting for the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) against the FSA in proceedings that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘There is counsel at all levels from very junior to QC and there is always someone suitable to deal with any particular case.‘
‘The strength in depth of the team, the breadth of their expertise and their ability to see the wider picture without losing sight of the detail is second to none.‘
‘The best regulatory set in the country, without a doubt!‘
‘I have used many barristers over the years and found them all to be high calibre and accomplished advocates.‘
‘The set offers a broad range of specialisms, with knowledgeable clerks, high-quality pupils, experienced and expert juniors and highly regarded QCs.‘
Clerking
‘Excellent. I deal mostly with Michael Hearn who is an asset to Chambers. Nothing is too much trouble.‘
‘A fantastic team – always available, realistic and keep everyone informed.‘
‘I have always found Richard Constable and Ryan Barrow to be good, professional and easy to deal with.‘
‘Richard Constable is one of the hardest working and diligent people I have ever met. He is also very wise.‘
‘Whenever I need to speak to counsel or have an urgent matter, they can be relied on to provide options of junior/ senior junior and leading counsel who could assist.‘
London Bar > Environment Tier 2
Six Pump Court is ‘a go-to set for regulatory work’, remarks a client, who notes that it has ‘real strength in depth and is good at suggesting an appropriate counsel for any given matter’. Many members specialise in environmental law, while bringing to bear accompanying skills in areas such as planning, health and safety, energy and natural resources to provide comprehensive advice on regulatory matters. Members frequently act in leading cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court, while also representing industry and regulators at public inquiries and statutory appeals, and representing major developers and waste companies in the criminal courts. Stephen Hockman QC, who is defending a prosecution by Natural Resources Wales in respect of breaches of waste recovery permit, is a leading silk with more than 30 years’ experience in environmental law. Specialist environmental regulatory junior Christopher Badger frequently handles high-profile cases against and on behalf of the Environment Agency.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘One of the top Chambers for environmental law. Chris Badger deserves a special mention as a stand-out barrister.’
‘Six Pump Court are the only chambers I would consider instructing counsel from for regulatory work. Every counsel instructed has been excellent and the clerks are very helpful and quick to reply.’
‘Six Pump Court is one of our go-to sets for regulatory work. They do have a real strength in depth and are good at suggesting an appropriate counsel for any given matter. They’re also very good at providing training events, which are always well pitched and on point.’
‘Six Pump Court is one of the leading specialist environmental sets in the country for criminal work. Their counsel are excellent, and chambers has real strength in depth.’
‘I certainly consider them to be a leading environmental law set and I benefit greatly from the podcasts and other updates they produce.’
Clerks
‘The clerks at Six Pump Court are excellent. Of particular note is Michael Hearn. He is always helpful and is able to get answers from courts far easier and quicker than I can manage! If there is ever any confusion with fees and payment, Michael is always able to sort it.’
‘Excellent clerking. Ryan Barrow is very user-friendly.’
‘The clerks at this chambers are a pleasure to work with, they are also helpful and are accessible. Michael Hearn is amazing, always willing to offer assistance when we are up against it. Ryan Barrow is also extremely helpful and they are always polite and courteous.’
‘The clerks provide an excellent service. Richard Constable and Ryan Barrows engage and take active control of case management. I always feel in safe hands with the clerks at Six Pump Court.’
‘The clerks are excellent. Ryan Barrow in particular is always helpful, sensible and open.’
London Bar > Health and safety Tier 2
The ‘phenomenal set’ at Six Pump Court exudes ‘charm, discretion, and confidence’ whilst representing clients involved in health and safety matters, aiding with food and environmental issues. The set also acts for both regulated defendants and local authorities across sectors including maritime, retail, construction, hospitality, and nuclear. In R (Dacorum Borough Borough Council) v Tesco Stores Limited Stephen Hockman QC acted for Tesco against a prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, stemming from a 2015 incident in which a customer slipped and fell on water leaking from a drain. In London Borough of Lambeth v. Schindler Limited and various others, which involved an accident where the arm of a lift engineer had to be amputated, Pascal Bates represented the local authority and was opposed by Mark Watson QC. Bennett Lee acted for Kent County Council in HSE v Kent County Council, a case involving asbestos exposure in schools.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘I regard the set as one of the best for environmental and health and safety work. On the occasions that leading counsel has been unavailable to cover preliminary hearings, the chambers have been able to cover these with senior juniors who have steered the ship in leading counsel’s absence.’
‘6 Pump Court are a phenomenal set. Their lawyers and support team exude charm, discretion, and confidence. Clients are immediately reassured by their wisdom, commercial pragmatism, and superlative case strategies. They go the extra mile developing a strong solicitor/ barrister partnering culture.’
‘6 Pump Court is a strong set for health, safety, and environmental work. The chambers is led by the almost legendary Stephen Hockman QC and has great strength in depth.’
‘Very strong all-round set in the regulatory field.’
‘One of my go-to sets for inquests, safety and environmental.’
Clerking
‘Clerking is excellent. Richard Constable is particularly helpful.’
‘The clerks are second to none, helpful, available, knowledgeable, and affable. We are kept informed, given notice of changes and they are always prepared to take the lead in relation to listings, conferences, and availability. They provide assistance with everything you would expect to be given assistance on. We predominately deal with Richard Constable, Ryan Barrow, and Dan Jenkins but we have always found others happy to assist where necessary.’
‘A very strong clerks room led by Richard Constable benefits from his great wisdom and experience and his striking commitment to doing the best for clients old and new.’
‘The clerking is led by Richard Constable, who is exceptional – a modest and charming man who leads a team of matchless clerks. Whenever I need to speak to counsel or have an urgent matter, they can be relied on to provide options of junior/ senior junior and leading counsel who could assist. It’s always good to know that they have your back.’
‘Richard Constable is a complete star, accommodating, thoughtful. and always ready to find a solution. If I was a barrister, I’d want Richard to clerk for me!’
London Bar > Licensing
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Crime Tier 4
Members of Six Pump Court have solid expertise in handling prosecution and defence work, often concerning cases of serious sexual offences and murder. In a recent highlight for the set, Oliver Saxby QC successfully prosecuted a husband and wife who were charged with the murder of their live-in landlord by deliberate starvation after forging his will; the wife was convicted of murder, and the husband was convicted of allowing his death. In 2021 Simon Taylor QC took silk, while Catherine Donnelly moved to 2 Harcourt Buildings.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They have a good array of middle to senior level criminal barristers and I get a great service from them.’
‘The set as a whole are experienced in crime and provide good advice as well as excellent advocacy skills.’
‘The criminal team at Six Pump Court has great strength-in-depth. There are no weak links. There is good communication and team spirit amongst the members and if cases have to be covered by others, there is always a good hand-over. All high quality advocates.’
Clerking
‘The clerks have excellent contacts with the Crown Courts and can assist in any listing difficulties. Michael Hearn and Graham Colloff always try to help.’
‘The clerks room are very helpful and proactive.’
‘They are my go-to chambers because of the level of service I get from the clerks. Alternative cover is always proactively arranged if necessary.’
London Bar > Employment
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Costs
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Planning Tier 4
‘Excellent, friendly’ Six Pump Court provides ‘first rate’ advice on a range of planning matters, with criminal and regulatory expertise to complement its strengths in planning. Megan Thomas QC, a 2021 silk appointment, successfully represented Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in a judicial review of its decision to grant planning permission for retirement living apartments near a busy crossroads. Amongst the juniors, Giles Atkinson represented the local council in R (oao Patricia Shave) v Maidstone Borough Council, which explored the design or appearance of caravans, whose siting and retention would be authorised by permitting the change of use of land.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘I have found working with this Chambers most successful and pleasant.’
‘I have worked with other Counsel in this Chambers and always been guided to Counsel with the specialist knowledge and advice/assistance sought.’
‘Good strength in depth and they hold interesting seminars.’
‘This is an excellent, friendly set who are always keen to assist where possible, and to offer alternative counsel where a preferred barrister is unavailable. The advice has always been first rate.’
Clerking
‘The clerk’s room service is first class, always pleasant and willing to help.’
‘The service provided by the clerk’s room has always been of a high standard – prompt, polite and helpful in the extreme’
‘Ryan Barrow is very good and deals with issues in a timely expeditious fashion.’
‘All clerks are through and very personable.’
Regional Bar > South Eastern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 1
Six Pump Court is 'an excellent set' with a notable presence in Kent, where members of the team prosecute and defend in a range of high-profile criminal cases. In the Court of Appeal, Oliver Saxby QC acted for Carl Page, a former subpostmaster who was convicted of fraud as part of the Horizon scandal. Elsewhere, Danny Moore successfully defended a man in a murder case, where it was alleged that the victim identified the defendant as the killer. In a separate case, rising star Emin Kandola prosecuted a woman who was convicted of glassing a professional golfer and Miss England finalist, who was left with vision damage after the attack.Rising stars
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are always available and responsive, in particular Graham Colloff and Michael Hearn. Outstanding organisational and people skills. Nothing is ever too much trouble‘.
‘Graham Colloff is an extremely helpful clerk who is happy to help wherever possible‘.
Regional Bar > South Eastern Circuit > Employment Tier 1
At Six Pump Court, Gordon Menzies is instructed on behalf of claimants and respondents in complex employment cases, with particular strength in discrimination cases. Grace Cullen regularly acts for employers and employees across a range of employment matters, including unfair dismissals, discrimination claims and constructive dismissal cases. In a recent highlight, Cullen successfully represented the claimant in an age discrimination and unfair dismissal claim brought against Oxford University by one of its senior academics.Leading Juniors
Six Pump Court > Set Profile
This is one of the leading common law sets in London and the south east, with particular specialist expertise in civil and commercial, criminal, employment, family, inquests and inquiries, licensing personal injury, public, planning and environmental, and regulatory law.
The set: Chambers was founded in the 1920s and whilst originally recognised as a specialist criminal, civil and family set, has evolved to become one of the strongest sets in environmental, local government, planning, health and safety and all forms of regulatory law as well.
The profile of chambers and the quality of work continues to be maintained at a very high level. Six Pump Court has an ethos of approachability and friendliness, as well as strong administration that delivers solutions. It offers a first-class team of advocates and advisers.
Types of work undertaken:
Regulatory and competition law: chambers prosecutes and defends regulatory criminal offences particularly health and safety (including the construction, energy and transport sectors), food, consumer protection/trading standards, licensing, intellectual property protection, environmental protection, and planning enforcement. All financial litigation including fraud, confiscation, corporate governance and financial conduct.
Public: members undertake a full range of judicial review and related advisory work, often with a planning/environmental or regulatory subject matter.
Planning and environmental: members appear for and against regulators and public authorities. Proceedings include public inquiries and regulatory criminal proceedings. The team has established a particular niche in relation to work on the interface between environmental, planning and human rights law.
Personal injury: chambers covers all aspects of personal injury for both claimants and defendants. Cases include employers liability, RTA, clinical negligence and professional negligence arising out of the conduct of claims. Claims at all levels of value are conducted from the earliest stages through to trial including settlement through ADR.
Inquests: members appear for the full range of interested persons (including regulators, employers, site operators and families) at inquests and inquiries, tackling the wider issues raised by article 2 inquests and reports to prevent future deaths.
Family: members of the family team advise and appear in the private and public law arenas. In private cases dealing with financial and child care applications, including removal from the jurisdiction. The expertise in matrimonial finance extends to corporate, agricultural and high-value matters, including overseas trusts.
Employment: the team covers all aspects of employment law and provide a service that is available from advising on the formation of company disciplinary and grievance procedures through to representing at Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
Criminal: the team has a proven track record in the whole range of criminal work from pre-charge advice onwards, both for the prosecution and the defence. It undertakes publicly and privately funded work. Members represent individuals and corporations (and officers thereof) in proceedings brought against them; and also undertakes private prosecutions brought by business and local authorities, as well as by the orthodox prosecuting agencies.
Civil and commercial: commercial disputes (including arbitration), professional negligence, and landlord and tenant work. The work is split between claimants and defendants and undertaken, inter alia, on behalf of a range of substantial insurers, public companies, local authorities and government departments.
For more information visit www.6pumpcourt.co.uk.
Languages spoken: French, German, Russian and Japanese.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior clerk | Richard Constable | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOCKMAN QC, Stephen (1970) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GRIFFITHS QC, Robert (1974) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BARRACLOUGH QC, Richard (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TRAVERS QC, David (1981) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMAS QC, Megan (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | UPTON QC, William | ||
| Members of Chambers | SAXBY QC, Oliver (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WATSON QC, Mark (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAYLOR QC, Simon (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WRIGHT QC, Richard (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CONNERTY, Anthony (1974) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ARMSTRONG, Grant (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORGAN, Charles (1978) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARRIS, Mark (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS, Anne (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BALDOCK, Nicholas (1983) | ||
| Members of Chambers | TAYLOR, Paul (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WIGNALL, Gordon (1987) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FORBES, Peter (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | O'HIGGINS, John (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOORHOUSE, Brendon (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | THOMAS, Ian (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOGBEN, Paul (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ELLIN, Nina (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOORE, Danny (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BATES, Pascal (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ALCOCK, Peter (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STERN, Thomas (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BEARD, Mark (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROBINSON, Tanya (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BANWELL, Richard (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MENZIES, Gordon William (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FITZGERALD, John (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BENNETT, Lee (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DUNN, Tom (1998) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NICHOLSON, Amy (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LUTTMAN, Lucy (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HERCOCK, David (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ATKINSON, Giles (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JESSOP, Stuart (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STEVENSON, Daniel (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BADGER, Christopher (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BYRD, Noémi (2004) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CULLEN, Grace (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KHAN, Thaiza (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | IRWIN, Ben (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STRACHAN, Nicola (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CROWDY, Isabella (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRAND, Kieran (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | REES PHILLIPS, Ian (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | OSTROWSKI, Nicholas (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PHILLIPS, Laura (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLIAMS, Fiona (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EVANS, Craig (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ROKAD, Angelica (2014) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KANDOLA, Emin (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HAUSDORFF, Natasha (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DAVIES, Mark (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McBARNETT, William (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DOBBIE, Alice (2007)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOTHAM, William (2009)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | McGRENERA QC, Noelle (1978)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | WALKER QC, STEVEN (2008)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOOD, Simon (2001)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | REED, Kristiina (2013)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORAN QC, Andrew (1976)* | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUMPHREYS QC, Richard (1986)* |
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Regional Bar Crime (general and fraud)
- Regional Bar Employment
- Regional Bar Planning and environment