Set Profile > Chambers of Mark Ellison QC > London, England

Chambers of Mark Ellison QC Offices

Chambers of Mark Ellison QC
QEB Hollis Whiteman
1-2 LAURENCE POUNTNEY HILL
LONDON
EC4R 0EU
England
Visit website 020 7933 8855 020 7929 3732

Chambers of Mark Ellison QC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Crime Tier 1

QEB Hollis Whiteman has a track record of prosecution work, including some of the most serious cases, but also handles a diverse range of defence instructions. Philip Stott prosecuted thrice-bankrupt hereditary peer Rhodri Philipps, who received a 12-week sentence for sending menacing racist messages to anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, one of which purporting to offer a £5,000 bounty for ramming her with a vehicle. Turning to defence work, Stott and Zoe Johnson QC also represented a GP who was accused of the gross negligence manslaughter of a patient who died of a rare adrenal gland disorder – the case was dismissed on no case to answer after the prosecution's case was heard. In a more unusual matter, Johnson QC represented the Crown Prosecution Service to defeat an attempt by two men convicted of the murders of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare in 2005 to discharge the order which anonymised a witness for the first time in an English criminal trial. Defence work in sex offences is one area where the set is particularly strong; Eleanor Laws QC and Polly Dyer defended a doctor who was acquitted on 11 counts of sexual assault on ten male patients.

Leading Juniors

Orla Daly - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A real superstar – a real calming energy in a case. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Philip McGhee - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ An exceptional advocate who always commands the confidence of the court. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Paul Raudnitz - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A very able advocate with an incisive mind which cuts through the thorniest of legal issues. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Susannah Stevens - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A strong advocate willing to persist with unpopular points when needed. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Philip Stott - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ An exceptionally talented advocate. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Fallon Alexis - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ She handles serious cases, primarily for the defence. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tom Broomfield - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A persuasive advocate both on paper and on his feet. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Julian Evans - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He embodies all that is best in the tradition of treasury counsel. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Alexandra Felix - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Very professional and approachable. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Ben Fitzgerald - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Incredibly clever, great with clients, completely dependable and an extremely good advocate. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Adam King - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A confident and skilled advocate in court. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Rhys Meggy - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A commanding advocate whose client handling skills are also very good. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Karen Robinson - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ An exceptionally talented junior. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Linda Strudwick - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Juries really seem to warm to her and her skill in cross-examination is like watching a masterclass, particularly with regards to her handling of vulnerable witnesses. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Paul Wakerley - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He commands attention in court in a very understated way, which means judges and juries really warm to him. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Leading Silks

Eleanor Laws QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Her significant reputation in cases of sexual offending is wholly deserved. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Zoe Johnson QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Truly superb on any case with medical issues involved. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Crispin Aylett QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A devastatingly effective advocate. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
William Boyce QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ The silk other silks would pay to see. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Philip Evans QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is able to win the trust and confidence of any client extremely quickly. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Peter Finnigan QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He prosecutes and defends in serious violence cases. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
David Jeremy QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He has a commanding courtroom presence. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tom Kark QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He deals with opponents and challenging points of law with skill, professionalism and calm. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sean Larkin QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is tenacious, calm and an absolute pleasure to work with. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
David Spens QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ His ability to get to the detail of a case is outstanding. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Fraud: crime Tier 1

'Premier set' QEB Hollis Whiteman has an 'impressive breadth and depth' of 'high-quality, talented, and experienced barristers handling criminal fraud cases', a team of barristers which is 'equally sought after to prosecute as well as defend'. The set has reported an uptick in private prosecution work, and has been handling cases involving, for example, carbon credit frauds, investment schemes, and VAT fraud.

Leading Juniors

Paul Raudnitz - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A very assured and impressive advocate. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ben Fitzgerald - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He remains calm under fire. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Rhys Meggy - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is bright, witty, all over the details and calm in the face of adversity. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Rachna Gokani - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Her advice is cogent and clear, and she is excellent with clients. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Polly Dyer - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Noted for her capacity for forensic dissection of complex evidence. ’
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Silks

Sean Larkin QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He grasps the key issues of a case with lightning-quick speed. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
William Boyce QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ His advocacy can spell-bind a court. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations) Tier 2

QEB Hollis Whiteman's members garner praise from solicitors for their 'impressive range of experience defending and prosecuting in cases brought by both the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Conduct Authority'. Multiple members of the set continue to act in long-running trials concerning the SFO's investigation into Alstom; Peter Finnigan QC is representing the SFO in the prosecution of the Alstom group of companies. Also of note, Mark Ellison QC has been representing a former senior employee of Rolls-Royce (pre-charge and up to the discontinuation of the SFO's investigation in February 2019) following the company's deferred prosecution agreement in 2017.

Leading Juniors

Ben Fitzgerald - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He has the ear of judges, yet is unafraid to stand up to them. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Rachna Gokani - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Intelligent and insightful; a star at the junior Bar. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Jason Mansell - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He has great insight and pitch-perfect instincts. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Mark Aldred - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is an accomplished strategist. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tom Broomfield - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A persuasive advocate in writing and on his feet. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tom Doble - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Self-possessed, cerebral and very user-friendly. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Jocelyn Ledward - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ She has an incredible work ethic and a formidable intellect. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Paul Raudnitz - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He has impressive experience in handling SFO and FCA work. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Leading Silks

Adrian Darbishire QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A truly great silk, demonstrating impressive legal knowledge, a relentless work ethic and top-class courtroom advocacy. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Mark Ellison QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A class act with a fantastic legal brain; judges love him. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
William Boyce QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He combines a warm and solicitous bedside manner with a razor-sharp intellect. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Peter Finnigan QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A shrewd lawyer; his composed manner conceals steely determination. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Sean Larkin QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ His empathetic and imperturbable manner puts people at ease. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
David Spens QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A very good performer. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 2

QEB Hollis Whiteman is 'very strong in professional discipline and regulation', according to clients who are made up of both regulators and professionals in the medical, dental, legal, and accountancy fields, among other areas. In one recent highlight, Paul Raudnitz prosecuted a General Medical Council fitness to practise case against a doctor who had been convicted of possessing child pornography; the doctor was removed from the register.

Leading Juniors

Lydia Barnfather - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ She is a formidable advocate, charismatic, persuasive and extremely well prepared. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Rebecca Harris - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Her advocacy is eloquent and balanced, which she combines with great personal charm. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Paul Raudnitz - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is sought after to present cases for the GMC and GDC. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Alexandra Felix - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ Noted for her expertise in misconduct cases. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Philip McGhee - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A charismatic, robust and intellectual advocate. ’
Ranked: Tier 4

Leading Silks

Zoe Johnson QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ She possesses a rare ability to truly connect with clients. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Tom Kark QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ A consummate professional. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Sean Larkin QC - QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘ He is very analytical, focused and level-headed. ’
Ranked: Tier 3

Set overviews: England and Wales

The ‘pre-eminent’ criminal and regulatory chambers in the UK, ‘big hitter’ QEB Hollis Whiteman has ‘a number of real star performers’ ‘from top to bottom’ whose cases are ‘rarely out of the headlines’. Chambers ‘continues to produce stars of the future’, and its strength in depth and ‘dedication to quality’ can be seen in its pupils, ‘who are amongst the most impressively trained at the London Bar’. Since the publication of our last guide, Nick Corsellis took silk in 2019 and Anne Whyte joined from Atlantic Chambers on the Northern Circuit. Described as ‘an efficient, commercial machine’, the clerks’ room is ‘at the top of its game’, led by ‘quality operators’ senior clerk Chris Emmings and first junior Faye Patis. ‘Leading the pack of new breed senior clerks’, Emmings is ‘wonderful and straightforward’ to deal with, and ‘always very approachable if issues do arise’. The ‘charismatic’ Patis is ‘one of the top clerks in London’ and is respected by barristers, fellow clerks, and solicitors alike. Second junior David O’Sullivan is ‘the junior clerk to watch’; ‘he is able to quickly grasp the issues of a case and secure the best possible counsel, even at short notice’. Diary clerks James Booth and Jonathan Wagstaff ‘provide brilliant support’ and junior clerk Sam Window is ‘very good’. Stacey Hunt is chambers manager. Offices in: London

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