Joe Smouha KC
Joe’s oral advocacy is very strong. He has a relaxed manner but is precise and persuasive in his presentation.’
Essex Court Chambers handle high-profile and high-value international banking and finance litigation, with members regularly for blue-chip city and US firms, offshore and in domestic litigation. Joe Smouha KC is noted for his ‘strong advocacy, and precise and persuasive presentation,’ and alongside Louise Hutton KC represented the Prime Minister of Georgia against Credit Suisse’s Bermuda life insurance subsidiary for losses incurred to the assets held by two life insurance policy wrappers as a result of fraud of the relationship manager in Bidzina Ivanishvilli v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) Ltd. Stephen Houseman KC is focused on disputes within banking, finance and investment, acting for both major banks and financial institutions. Sophia Hurst acts for major banks and funds as well as regulators, and has experience on the consumer credit aspects of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. James Sheehan KC took silk in 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Joe Ferrigno is very smooth and is a real operator - very responsive and commercially savvy.'
- 'Very responsive and client friendly.'
- 'Great set, full of first class minds with deep commercial experience.'
- 'The clerks are responsive and helpful.'
- 'Excellent service at every level.'
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.
Stephen Houseman KC
Stephen is very smart, even by the standards of the commercial Bar. He is also cool under pressure, and generates confidence in his instructing solicitors and the client. His advocacy is focused and persuasive. Finally, he is a pleasure to work with and a real team-player.’
David Davies KC
Louise Hutton KC
Nathan Pillow KC
Nathan is exceptional – a go-to silk for me. Fabulous in writing, and a particularly effective advocacy style which puts judges at ease. Always calm and collected even under the most immense pressure. And tops it all off by being a real pleasure to work with, and very good with clients.’
Iain Quirk KC
Iain is very user-friendly and collaborative. Iain’s advocacy style is very calm and conversational. He is not a grandstander.’
James Willan KC
James has a razor sharp mind. He is one of the brightest minds at the Bar of his or any generation. His advocacy and cross-examination is both brutal and deft. He has a great future ahead of him having made silk at an unusually early stage in his career.’
James Collins KC
James is a compelling advocate, winning the ear of the tribunal by maintaining absolute credibility and through his understated charm. James does not descend into the theatrics often seen with other advocates, he is the real deal.'
Paul McGrath KC
Richard Millett KC
Richard is a master advocate.’
Emily Wood KC
Careful, calm and considered. Her advocacy style allows the court to follow points quickly. She is also adept at responding to tricky questions.’
2025 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.
Anton Dudnikov KC
‘Anton is a star. He is brilliant on his feet – assured, calm, and has the judge with him on every point. He is also incredibly easy to work with, and has great rapport with both solicitors and clients.’
Ciaran Keller KC
Ciaran’s written advocacy is outstanding. His ability to take complex and intricate arguments and present them compellingly and in a straightforward manner is extraordinary.’
2024 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.
James Sheehan KC
James was in my view the best senior junior in London until he recently took silk. I have no reason to doubt that he will thrive as a KC. He is incredibly bright and has a depth of knowledge that is, at times, hard to believe.’
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.
Tom Ford
‘He is very intelligent and tenacious.’
Sophia Hurst
Sophia is incredibly bright and is able to quickly digest huge volumes of information and complex law, and then distill this all down into a compelling and precisely drafted skeleton argument. Sophia is also a pleasure to work with and incredibly user-friendly from a client care perspective.’
Owen Lloyd
Owen has incredible attention to detail and very strong written advocacy. He is instrumental in developing litigation strategies and is very responsive and dedicated. It is also a pleasure to work with Owen.’
Stephen Donnelly
Stephen is the exact kind of barrister that you want to work with as a solicitor. Stephen takes a collaborative approach to everything he does and strives to work with the solicitor team to the greatest extent possible.’
Richard Hoyle
Excellent barrister. Very strong written and oral advocacy. Good on strategy. Client and user-friendly.’
John Robb
‘His intellect, ability to focus on the essential and to draft submissions with clarity. John is also a pleasure to work with.’