Essex Court Chambers stands out as a ‘strong set with an excellent reputation and quality advocates’, handling a myriad of substantial commercial litigation including civil fraud, insurance, banking and finance, and shipping-related work. In NMC Healthcare v Shetty, Ruth Den Besten KC is defending the founder of NMC Healthcare amidst allegations of fraudulent activity following the Middle Eastern hospital group’s collapse into administration in 2020. Joe Smouha KC is leading Ciaran Keller in Nex Group Limited’s defence against TP ICAP, a case relating to the non-disclosure of alleged liabilities arising from the German cum-ex trading scandal. In another high-profile matter, Nathan Pillow KC and Tim Akkouh KC are representing Eurasian Natural Resources Company in claims against Dechert LLP, Neil Gerrard, and the Serious Fraud Office, pertaining to the SFO’s investigation into and the solicitors firm’s advice about alleged corruption in ENRC’s international operations. Daniel Oudkerk KC is representing hundreds of thousands of claimant vehicle owners in six separate group actions concerning diesel emissions against major motor manufacturers. Adding to the chambers’ distinguished roster, David Peters KC and James Sheehan KC were elevated to silk status in March 2024 and Paul Stanley KC was appointed Deputy High Court Judge with effect from January 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Joe Ferrigno runs a top team and is very approachable and helpful.'
- 'Joe Ferrigno and Ollie Butcher are outstanding - without the exceptional levels of organisation, astuteness and dedication of these clerks, the set would not function anywhere near as well as it does. They know their barristers very well and understand exactly what (and who) even the most complex case requires.'
- 'Excellent clerking staff - Sam Wright and Demi Woogler are fantastic to deal with.'
- 'Very ably led by Joe Ferrigno who has a clear vision of the level of service that Chambers should provide and where the future of dispute resolution lies.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers is a strong set with an excellent reputation and quality advocates.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers is the leading commercial litigation set in the country.'
- 'Essex Court Chambers is the best commercial Chambers in London with an amazing bench strength.'
- 'Essex Court's commercial litigation offering is exceptional.'
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.
Paul McGrath KC
Graham Dunning KC
Jeffrey Gruder KC
Andrew Hochhauser KC
Stephen Houseman KC
David Joseph KC
Nathan Pillow KC
Huw Davies KC
Richard Millett KC
Daniel Oudkerk KC
Paul Stanley KC
Tim Akkouh KC
Anna Dilnot KC
Jeremy Brier KC
Edward Brown KC
James Collins KC
David Davies KC
Philippa Hopkins KC
Paul Key KC
John Lockey KC
Iain Quirk KC
David Scorey KC
James Willan KC
Emily Wood KC
2023 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.
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.
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.
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.
