Simon Rainey KC
‘Simon is a brain. His approach is one of practical and commercial experience applying the law at every step. He is excellent to work and that is an unrivalled trait for a barrister so senior.’
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Quadrant Chambers is ‘certainly the lead set in international trade and shipping in a highly competitive market’, according to one client, and the related area of commodities is a growing source of work for many members. Simon Rainey KC was involved in Fimbank v KCH Shipping The Giant Ace, which saw him represent bulk ship wwners in a Commercial Court appeal concerning a claim for misdelivery of cargo that raises questions about the correct construction and effect of the Hague and Hague-Visby Rules time limit. Also prominent in this space is Chirag Karia KC, who successfully acted for the Claimant GAFTA appellant, along with leading junior Ben Gardner, in Sharp Corp Ltd v Viterra BV. This is the first case to rule on the proper construction and effect of the GAFTA Default Clause and the quantification of losses for non-acceptance of goods under that clause.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are fantastic! Friendly, fast to respond and commercial.'
- 'Quadrant is the go-to shipping set with a depth of knowledge throughout the different levels of barristers.'
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.
Simon Croall KC
‘He understands the client very well and his advice is always helpful. He works hard to provide his feedback efficiently.’
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Chirag Karia KC
‘Chirag’s written work is clear and thorough and he is good to work with.’
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John Russell KC
‘Excellent on paper and on his feet, he is insightful and succinct, and he has a gift for getting the judge on his side from the outset.’
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Michael Nolan KC
‘Michael is strong on the law, providing sharp and incisive legal advice in a user-friendly manner. He is always alive to the commercial background to a dispute.’
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Luke Parsons KC
‘He is extremely clever and able very quickly get to the heart of legally and factually complex cases. He has a real gift for expressing complicated points in a concise fashion.’
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Yash Kulkarni KC
‘Calm and measured on his feet and a shrewd tactician, he is much liked and respected by courts and tribunals and gets them on his side quickly.’
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Guy Blackwood KC
‘Guy is knowledgeable and able to express submissions and conduct cross-examination in a succinct and focused manner. He has an engaging manner and is a pleasure to listen to.’
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Stewart Buckingham KC
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Chris Smith KC
‘He listens, is responsive, and provides helpful insights. He is also incredibly sharp and excellent on his feet, both in submission and cross-examination.’
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.
Koye Akoni
‘His biggest strengths are his gravitas, presence, and tactical nous. His advocacy is formidable – in a room full of silks, he held his own.’
Tom Bird
‘He is very bright and works hard. Someone to watch out for.’
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Max Davidson
‘He is simply excellent on the law and strategy, and is very hardworking and calm.’
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Henry Ellis
‘Henry is unquestionably a lead counsel of his age and experience. He an excellent advocate and extremely clever at analysis of the adversarial position before trial.’
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Jamie Hamblen
Paul Henton
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Andrew Leung
‘A clear advocate, thorough and obviously hardworking. His advocacy is tenacious and effective.’
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Saira Paruk
‘Saira is calm and thoughtful in her approach. She remains unflustered and clear in her answers.’
James Shirley
‘Top of the pile in commodities and shipping.’
Andrew Stevens
‘Andrew provides excellent written advocacy and really gets to grips with commercial and legal risks of the case.’
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.
