5 Stone Buildings > London, England > Set Profile
5 Stone Buildings Offices

5 Stone Buildings
LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3XT
England
5 Stone Buildings > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Media and entertainment (including art and cultural property) Tier 1
The experienced group of art barristers at 5 Stone Buildings act in complex disputes for buyers, sellers, and auction houses. In Gelber v Christie’s, Henry Legge QC represented a claim against Christie’s in relation to the alleged negligent handling of a $100m collection. Luke Harris acts for the claimants in QIPCO and Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Thani v Eskenazi, which concerns the Qatari investment company's purchase of allegedly forged antiquities from a dealer for a combined total of $4.9m. He is also providing English law expert advice for the owner and insurers of a Picasso in a damages claim in the Bavarian courts.
Art and cultural property - Leading Silks
Art and cultural property - Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘I have worked with a few art barristers at 5SB and they are all very knowledgeable on this area as well as chancery matters generally.’
‘Very user-friendly.’
‘Wide range of good juniors at all levels offering a good variety of expertise so you can always find someone who is able to deal with your problem.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are always helpful. Paul Jennings will see to any issues quickly.’
‘Helpful and efficient.’
‘Very responsive and efficient, which is what you want.’
London Bar > Private client: trusts and probate Tier 1
5 Stone Buildings is one of the ‘best traditional Chancery sets.’ In one major case Penelope Reed QC acted for Alan Graham through his litigation friend in a case whereby the court ordered the rectification of four trusts that had been established in the British Virgin Islands Graham v Lynch. Tracey Angus QC acted for the Michael Cowan Foundation in Cowan v Foreman, an Inheritance Act claim over an estate worth over £20m with issues concerning time limit extensions. At the senior end the set was strengthened even further when Sarah Haren QC took silk in 2021.
Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘This is to my mind is the best set for domestic trusts and probate work. It has great depth of experience and offers fantastic, free seminars for solicitors.’
‘The go to set for trusts disputes.‘
‘Very impressive from top to bottom. It recruits excellent juniors, who are always very well trained. Everyone there is extremely approachable and hardworking.‘
‘The pre-eminent Chancery set.’
‘We rate 5 SB very much, probably one of the top sets, amazing set of barristers and clerks who want to make the transition and working arrangements with the solicitors work properly.‘
Clerking
‘The clerks are fantastic (Paul Jennings and Dan Coote in particular).’
London Bar > Court of Protection and community care Tier 2
The ‘fantastic’ 5 Stone Buildings has ‘a number of high quality Court of Protection practitioners at all levels, from very junior to silk.’ Tracey Angus QC is ‘an expert in her field‘ and ‘a brilliant team player‘, with ‘excellent powers of analysis‘. Penelope Reed QC is ‘calm, persuasive, firm and technically excellent‘, and ‘masterful in court, able to handle the most difficult judge‘. David Rees QC and Ruth Hughes appeared for multiple parties in Re ACC & Others, a test case concerning issues of potential conflicts of interest that could arise when a professional deputy instructs their own law firm to carry out work for a person who is subject to a deputyship order. Barbara Rich has extensive expertise in advising on statutory wills and property-related issues. The senior end was bolstered by Sarah Haren QC‘s elevation to silk in March 2021.Leading Silks
2021 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘It is exceptionally good in its field.’
‘5 Stone Buildings is at the top for private client work.’
‘A go-to set for difficult Court of Protection work.’
‘Extremely knowledgeable and proactive barristers.’
Clerking
‘Always willing to help and go the extra mile.‘
‘A very responsive and helpful clerking team.’
London Bar > Offshore Tier 4
Praised for its work trusts and financial remedy cases, 5 Stone Buildings has a small but strong team of members dedicated to offshore work. Shân Warnock-Smith QC continues to be involved in major trust and estate cases across the Caribbean, while Penelope Reed QC specialises in trusts, wills, probate and related tax issues, and is acting for the latter party in the long-running Hayward v Bloom and others trusts dispute before the Grand Court of the Bahamas, concerning the estate of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers owner. On the junior side, Matthew Paton remains involved in complex litigation in the Bahamas, and Jordan Holland is noted for his Channel Island practice.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Clerking
‘The clerks’ room led by Paul Jennings is regularly praised. it is efficient but also easy for clients to deal with.‘
‘Excellent clerking service.‘
Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 4
Penelope Reed QC – 5 Stone Buildings Penelope Reed QC at 5 Stone Buildings 'has a constant and reassuring calmness, sensitivity and empathy, combined with a determination to explore and exhaust all possibilities to achieve a settlement'. Accredited since 2009, her experience includes over 100 mediations, predominantly involving probate claims, trust litigation, applications under the Inheritance Act 1975, and Court of Protection and proprietary estoppel claims.
Miranda Allardice – 5 Stone Buildings In conjunction with her Chancery work, 5 Stone Buildings' Miranda Allardice has developed a successful practice as a specialist mediator, and is 'very good with clients, being sympathetic and realistic in equal measures'. Specialising in probate, Inheritance Act, constructive trust, estoppel and vulnerable elderly claims, Allardice's experience includes over 125 mediations.
London Bar > Private client: personal tax
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Pensions
Leading Silks
London Bar > Tax: corporate and VAT/indirect tax
Tax: corporate - Leading Silks
London Bar > Company and partnership
Partnership - Leading juniors
London Bar > Property litigation
5 Stone Buildings > Set Profile
Members of this chambers are specialists in a wide variety of areas, including trusts law, the administration of estates, taxation, real property, landlord and tenant, pensions, charities, partnership, Court of Protection, insolvency, art and cultural property, and all chancery-related commercial matters. Members also advise and act in relation to professional negligence cases associated with these practice areas.
The set: Members of chambers are noted for providing a fast and effective service in both litigation and advisory work, and for their approachability. Members appear in courts at every level, both national and international.
Types of work undertaken: Advice and litigation expertise is provided in cases relating to property, wills, trusts, capital and other taxation and charity matters. Advice is given in relation to onshore and offshore tax planning at the very highest level and members lecture widely in this area, and publish leading works. Members at all levels advise on and deal with contested probate, executorship, Inheritance Act proceedings, estate planning and breach of trust. As counsel for HMRC, members have appeared in cases covering many aspects of income and capital taxation. Members appear regularly in the Court of Protection and on behalf of the Official Solicitor, in both property and affairs and health and welfare cases.
Occupational pensions are also an area of expertise, with members appearing in leading cases dealing with such issues as trustees duties and pension fund surplus.
Members undertake work in the field of professional negligence, working both for claimants and defendants.
Land law expertise includes disputes relating to conveyancing, land registration, easements, restrictive covenants, status of mortgages, trespass, misrepresentation, mistake and undue influence.
Landlord and tenant work covers creation, renewal and termination of leases, remedies for non-payment of rent, commercial and agricultural tenancies, residential tenancies and long leaseholds.
Chambers offers notable experience in all aspects of partnership disputes, and two members are the authors of a leading book on the subject.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior clerk | Paul Jennings | ||
Members of Chambers | HARROD, Henry (1963) | ||
Members of Chambers | WARNOCK-SMITH QC, Shân (1971) | ||
Members of Chambers | BLACKETT-ORD, Mark (1974) | ||
Members of Chambers | SIMMONDS QC, Andrew (1980) | ||
Members of Chambers | ALLARDICE, Miranda (1982) | ||
Members of Chambers | REED QC, Penelope (1983) | ||
Members of Chambers | TIDMARSH QC, Christopher (1985) | ||
Members of Chambers | O'SULLIVAN, Michael (1986) | ||
Members of Chambers | ROLFE, Patrick (1987) | ||
Members of Chambers | RICH, Barbara (1990) | ||
Members of Chambers | ANGUS QC, Tracey (1991) | ||
Members of Chambers | LEGGE QC, Henry (1993) | ||
Members of Chambers | HARDY QC, Amanda (1993) | ||
Members of Chambers | REES QC, David (1994) | ||
Members of Chambers | SARTIN, Leon (1997) | ||
Members of Chambers | HAREN QC, Sarah (1999) | ||
Members of Chambers | ENTWISTLE, Thomas (2001) | ||
Members of Chambers | HARRIS, Luke (2001) | ||
Members of Chambers | PATON, Matthew (2005) | ||
Member of Chambers | BAXTER, Mark (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | EDGE, Charlotte, (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | HUGHES, Ruth (2007) | ||
Members of Chambers | HEWITT, Edward (2007) | ||
Members of Chambers | EAST, William (2008) | ||
Members of Chambers | BISHOP, Toby (2008) | ||
Member of Chambers | ARUMUGAM, Raj (2008) | ||
Members of Chambers | HOLLAND, Jordan (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | ROPER, Mathew (2011) | ||
Members of Chambers | MARRE, Oliver (2011) | ||
Members of Chambers | DRAPKIN, Alexander (2012) | ||
Members of Chambers | MARTIN, Harry (2012) | ||
Members of Chambers | CHANDLER, Sam (2013) | ||
Members of Chambers | CUMBER, Hugh (2013) | ||
Members of Chambers | EAGLING, Eliza (2015) | ||
Members of Chambers | FETHERSTONHAUGH, Rose (2016) | ||
Members of Chambers | DOUGLAS, Simon (2018) | ||
Members of Chambers | ADAMS, Arabella (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | CARSLAW, Emilia, (2020) |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Arabella Adams | Called in 2019 | View Profile |
![]() | Miranda Allardice | Experienced Chancery and Family Finance Barrister and Mediator. Miranda offers a specialist… | View Profile |
![]() | Tracey Angus | Barrister specialising in general Chancery work with an emphasis on equity and… | View Profile |
![]() | Raj Arumugam | Raj has a broad Commercial Chancery practice with a particular emphasis on… | View Profile |
![]() | Mark Baxter | Contentious and non-contentious traditional chancery practice, with particular emphasis on estates and… | View Profile |
![]() | Toby Bishop | Toby is a contentious Chancery practitioner focused on succession and trusts disputes,… | View Profile |
![]() | Mark Blackett-ord | Barrister specialising in trusts, partnership, professional negligence, probate and general Chancery litigation.… | View Profile |
![]() | Emilia Carslaw | Emilia joins 5 Stone Buildings in October 2021 following the successful completion… | View Profile |
![]() | Sam Chandler | Joined chambers after completion of pupillage in 2014. Experience of contentious probate,… | View Profile |
![]() | Hugh Cumber | Joined chambers after completion of pupillage in 2014. Spent nine months seconded… | View Profile |
![]() | Simon Douglas | Called 2018 | View Profile |
![]() | Alexander Drapkin | Traditional Chancery practice with experience in a wide range of contentious and… | View Profile |
![]() | Eliza Eagling | Eliza has a chancery practice specialising in contentious trusts and probate, 1975… | View Profile |
![]() | William East | Barrister with general Chancery practice, including wills and probate, estates and family… | View Profile |
![]() | Thomas Entwistle | Barrister with a practice covering all areas of Chancery work including both… | View Profile |
![]() | Rose Fetherstonhaugh | Called 2016 | View Profile |
![]() | Amanda Hardy | Barrister – Year of Call 1993, Silk 2015 | View Profile |
![]() | Sarah Haren | Barrister with a practice incorporating a wide range of Chancery work, both… | View Profile |
![]() | Luke Harris | Luke has a commercial chancery practice and has particular expertise in claims… | View Profile |
![]() | Henry Harrod | Barrister specialising in traditional Chancery work including trusts, tax, probate, administration of… | View Profile |
![]() | Edward Hewitt | Edward has a broad Chancery practice with a particular emphasis on private… | View Profile |
![]() | Jordan Holland | General chancery, private client, succession, trusts; Court of Protection; related professional negligence.… | View Profile |
![]() | Ruth Hughes | Ruth has a private client practice focusing on taxation, trusts and estates… | View Profile |
![]() | Henry Legge | Barrister dealing with non-contentious and revenue work as well as litigation; particular… | View Profile |
![]() | Oliver Marre | Barrister, Year of call 2011 | View Profile |
![]() | Harry Martin | Harry has experience across the range of traditional Chancery and private client… | View Profile |
![]() | Francis Ng | Francis Ng is a chancery practitioner specialising in private client work. | View Profile |
![]() | Michael O'Sullivan | Barrister whose current practice incorporates: trust litigation and advice both onshore and… | View Profile |
![]() | Matthew Paton | Matthew has a wide practice encompassing all aspects of traditional and commercial… | View Profile |
![]() | Penelope Reed | Barrister with a wide Chancery practice and a special emphasis on trusts,… | View Profile |
![]() | David Rees | Barrister with a traditional Chancery practice encompassing trusts, probate, wills, adminstration of… | View Profile |
![]() | Barbara Rich | Barrister specialising in trusts and estates litigation, property and affairs jurisdiction of… | View Profile |
![]() | Patrick Rolfe | Barrister with a contentious Chancery practice, specialising in real property. He deals… | View Profile |
![]() | Mathew Roper | Chancery barrister specialising in contentious and non-contentious trusts and estates, related… | View Profile |
![]() | Leon Sartin | Barrister whose practice covers all areas of Chancery work, with an emphasis… | View Profile |
![]() | Andrew Simmonds | Barrister specialising mainly in pensions work, but also undertaking litigation in the… | View Profile |
![]() | Christopher Tidmarsh | Barrister with a wide ranging Chancery practice. Since taking silk, he has… | View Profile |
![]() | Shan Warnock-Smith | Barrister who is an adviser and a litigator in the whole range… | View Profile |
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Philip Youdan, partner at Cripps Pemberton Greenish
TESTIMONIAL: The team at 5 Stone Buildings consistently delivers exceptional client service and legal advice. This comes from their depth of legal knowledge, their practical approach and their commitment to placing the client’s interests at the heart of their work. It is a pleasure to continue to work with them.
- Media and entertainment (including art and cultural property)
- Private client: trusts and probate
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Court of Protection and community care