Garden Court Chambers

Garden Court Chambers has been acclaimed as ‘outstanding in the field’ and for having ’a great range of barristers at all levels of experience’, and are known for representing claimants in complex administrative and human rights law cases. A ‘uniquely talented barrister’, Marc Willers KC led Ollie Persey in R (Smith) v SSHD, in which provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 regarding unauthorized traveller encampments were subjected to a declaration of incompatibility. Especially strong at the junior level, key members of the set include Bijan Hoshi, who has experience acting in appeals against the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of benefits claimants.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The clerks are excellent, Helen Louise D'Agostino and Harriet Massie are particularly responsive and always able to assist.'
'The clerks at Garden Court are super helpful and response. Tim Hempstead in particular is very accommodating and helpful.'

Lawyers

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

Stephanie Harrison KC

'Stephanie is a formidable court advocate, who is highly persuasive, and a real fighter. She is very good on her feet. She is an expert on the law relating to civil liberties and protest rights. She is very down to earth and approachable.'

Marc Willers KC

‘Marc is an absolute legal powerhouse bringing together deep technical knowledge with fantastic overall legal strategy. He is adaptable, creative, and a pleasure to work with.’

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

Owen Greenhall

'Owen is the go-to barrister for anything to do with human rights law. He is deeply committed and incredibly hard working. He has a formidable intellect and always provides detailed thorough and well considered advice and submissions. He is an excellent and persuasive advocate.'

Gráinne Mellon

‘Willing to get into the weeds of a case, and great in conference with clients.’

Patrick Roche

'Patrick has a great sense of judgment. Patrick is also dogged and determined. He fights for his clients with great skill and total commitment.'

Tom Wainwright

‘Fantastic on the law, excellent with clients and smooth and silk with witnesses. A fantastic advocate who has forgotten more law than most of us know. Witness don’t even realise it as their credibility dissolves.’

Michael Goold

'Michael is a go-to barrister in protest and human rights cases. He is brilliant with clients, down to earth, and has exceptional drafting skills. He gets the best results for his clients.'

Bijan Hoshi

‘Excellent, intellectual, dedicated claimant focussed barrister. Very good analytical abilities and strategic insight.’

Tim Baldwin

‘Tim is an excellent barrister – with an encyclopaedic knowledge of administrative and human rights law and civil procedure which has proved invaluable in numerous cases on which we have worked together. Tim works tirelessly for his clients and is a great team player – making him a joy to work with.’

Jodie Blackstock

‘Technically impressive, compassionate towards the client’s circumstances and someone who instills a lot of confidence.’

Audrey Cherryl Mogan

‘Audrey is brilliant at thinking outside the box and then boldly presenting them in court. She does not shy away from challenges, and her confidence is highly appreciated from clients.’

Ollie Persey

'Ollie is an exceptional litigator with a real knack for spotting and tenaciously pursuing interesting public law cases. He cares deeply about his clients and is relentless in his pursuit for justice through their cases. He is a great communicator and his advice and advocacy is clear and carefully considered. It is a joy to instruct him, as you really know you're in a safe pair of hands.'

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.