Wilberforce Chambers

wilberforce.co.uk

Zoë Barton

Wilberforce Chambers, London

Position

Call: 2003

Career

Zoë is “a forceful advocate” who has “exceptional attention to detail”, “she gets straight to the point and is very knowledgeable” (Chambers & Partners 2020). She is “very bright, proactive and innovative” and “has a calm disposition and is able to work with her opponents to achieve a satisfactory conclusion without giving them the upper hand” (Legal 500 2020). She has “real presence” (Chambers HNW), “is extremely eloquent and can think quickly on her feet” (Legal 500 2019).

Whilst she is particularly recommended for property, trusts and related professional negligence her practice encompasses the broader commercial chancery work that arises against the background of property ventures and relationships which give rise to fiduciary duties, both in traditional and commercial settings. She is frequently instructed in cases which involve fraud or call for equitable remedies as her appreciation of where the merit lies lends itself particularly well to cases concerning the exercise of discretion.

Zoë is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Memberships

Chancery Bar Association; Property Bar Association; ACTAPS and ConTrA; Professional Negligence Bar Association; MCIArb.

Education

MA (Hons) (Edin); Postgraduate Diploma in Law, City University.

Mentions

Commercial litigation

Zoe is an exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable silk, with a deep understanding of complex commercial disputes. She combines excellent technical expertise with a very strong grasp of the factual detail and commercial context of a matter. She is meticulous in her preparation and is able to identify and distill the key issues quickly, even in particularly complex cases. She is highly analytical, clear in her advice, and very effective at navigating difficult or evolving issues. Her experience and judgment are particularly valuable in providing strategic direction while maintaining close engagement with the detail of the case. She is also responsive, approachable, and a pleasure to work with. Her advocacy is confident, measured, and highly persuasive, with an ability to distill complex issues into clear and compelling submissions while responding effectively to the evolving points raised in the course of a hearing.

Private wealth and probate

Professional negligence

Property litigation

Zoe is among the very best in the field and has all the skill sets one could possibly need from a leading KC. Zoe's legal knowledge, experience, and expertise mean that she can absorb - and recall - huge amounts of material, bring clarity to confusion with clear advice, and perform at the highest levels in consultation with clients and on her feet as an advocate before the Courts too. Tribunals have absolute confidence in Zoe's professional integrity as an advocate and place great trust in her submissions.

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