1 King's Bench Walk

1 King’s Bench Walk boasts ‘phenomenal depth and strength across the board for both money and children and is unique in that regard’. ‘A leading light of the financial remedy Bar,’ Philip Marshall KC is a key silk at the set who is sought after for his notable expertise in finance matters with an international element, and he is also active in the drafting of nuptial agreements. Lauded as ’the best cross-examiner at the family bar‘, Charles Howard KC represents ultra-high-net-worth and high-profile clients from the business, sport, and media industries. Joint head of chambers Christopher Pocock KC ’is one of the leading silks in matrimonial finance‘ and is highly experienced in proceedings surrounding corporate and business assets, trusts, and asset-holding structures. Among the set’s juniors, the ’supremely calm’ Jennifer Palmer is highly experienced in handling maters surrounding high-value assets, and Peter Newman ‘is the best junior for complicated financial matters’. Complex corporate and tax elements are a key feature of Richard Castle‘s practice; he is lauded as ’the best junior barrister doing financial remedy proceedings‘. ’Star of the family law world‘ Katherine Kelsey MCIArb is a key player in both the children and finance arenas. Mark Betts was appointed senior clerk in March 2025.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Chris Young is very responsive and always goes the extra mile.'
'Mark Betts is about as good as it gets. A superb appointment as senior clerk and he knows the family division better than anyone. All the clerks know their stuff inside out.'

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.

Deborah Eaton KC

'Deborah is a force of nature who never stops fighting hard for clients, even when a case may look hopeless or lost. She is a dogged and detailed cross-examiner, approaches every consultation with a client with vigour, leaving no question unasked and no angle unconsidered.'

Charles Howard KC

‘Charles is the best cross-examiner at the family Bar, he is a tenacious litigator, a fearless advocate and is prodigiously clever. There is no better leader for your team in a tricky case, as he has so much courtroom experience, especially in the biggest ultra-high-net-worth cases.’

Philip Marshall KC

‘Philip is a leading light of the financial remedy Bar. He is incredibly bright and always willing to think outside of the box to best achieve his client’s aims.’

Deepak Nagpal KC

'Deepak is at the very top of his game; intellectually colossal and technically the very best. He is one of the go-to barristers for heavyweight, complex, ultra-high-value cases, often with an international element, and he is a true courtroom titan with advocacy that is robust and punchy.'

Harry Oliver KC

'Harry is the most indefatigable, energetic and fierce advocate in championing his client's case. He leaves no detail to chance and works harder and more strategically than most, and he is absolutely the go-to advocate for private equity cases.'

Christopher Pocock KC

‘Christopher is one of the leading silks in matrimonial finance, a reputation he has won by his winning combination of super-numeracy, forensic skill, and a compelling written and oral presentation. He is very comfortable in the most complex financial cases and has excellent judgement on where a case will land.’

James Roberts KC

‘James is highly experienced in UHNW cases and the particular demands of sensitive clients. A battler who every client can see lives and breathes their best interests with an uncanny ability to identify the best and worst points of a case, and to accentuate the former and give realistic advice on the latter.’

Frank Feehan KC

Frank excels in his ability to combine legal knowledge with a compassionate understanding of the personal and emotional aspects of family law. his advocacy in divorce and financial remedy cases is measured, persuasive, and highly effective, and he is particularly skilled at simplifying complex financial matters, making them accessible to clients and the court alike.'

Alexander Chandler KC

'Alex is simply first rate, always on point, and go-to for complex financial cases. He is across even the most complicated of legal and factual cases with ease, he can call a case from the outset and knows the strategy to get to the desired outcome.'

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.

Richard Castle

'Richard is like a silk; no case is too complex. Judges love him as he is always sensible and measured, he is very hardworking and thorough, and he is also kind and cares about domestic abuse, which is rare for a financial remedy barrister.'

Charlotte Hartley

Katherine Kelsey

'Katherine is a superb barrister who is all over the details and she is a silk in the making. She is incredible with complicated financial cases, gives clear and early advice on the parameters of settlement, and her notes are well thought through.'

Jennifer Palmer

‘Jenny’s financial and commercial knowledge and skills are unparalleled, no other junior gets close to her facility with financial structures and analysis and numeracy; her years as an equity analyst at a hedge fund before the Bar sets her apart. Utterly practical, never surpassed on dealing with the details of the most complex arrangements and hugely insightful, her written work is the best, and her advocacy is calm, measured, unflappable and received as authoritative by the tribunal.’

Peter Newman

‘Peter is the best junior for complicated financial matters. His understated and composed manner endears him to all judges, and his cross-examination is subtle and effective.’

Nicholas Anderson

'Nicholas's judgement on cases is perfect; he can predict a financial outcome even from an early stage and encourage clients to make sensible settlement proposals, saving them costs. He does not shy from arguing a case, he is tactical in his advocacy and his style and legal knowledge mean that he is universally respected by judges.'

Juliet Chapman

'Juliet is an exceptional barrister and one of the most skilful advocates of her generation. Her written work is immaculate, she is all over the detail of every brief and a pleasure to instruct, and she consistently delivers outstanding results with grace and finesse.'

Thomas Dance

'Thomas is a passionate and determined advocate, he is careful, thoughtful and diligent, and his written work is exemplary. In both written and oral submissions, he packs a punch with unparalleled wit and lands the same with precision.'

Nicola Fox

‘Nicola brings a wealth of experience to her practice in family law, particularly in complex financial remedy proceedings and cases involving serious welfare issues relating to children. Nicola is exceptionally thorough in her preparation and delivers consistently high-quality advocacy, both written and oral.’

Caroline Lister

'Caroline is quite simply excellent, she has her eye on the ball and has an impressive knack for picking up the finer details whilst delivering a sharp strategy. She is well prepared, hugely intelligent and she works for the best outcome for her clients.'

Jennifer Perrins

Mandy Tanner

‘Mandy is a fantastic barrister, she is incredibly knowledgable and very good with clients, and she gives what can sometimes be difficult advice to clients with a personal approach and clients always feel in safe hands with her. She is not afraid to be robust and fight hard for clients whilst at the same time being pragmatic, and her advocacy is clear concise and straight to the point which clients are always impressed with.’

Alex Tatton-Bennett

Max Turnell

'Max is a wonderful barrister to work with; he is always well prepared, very knowledgeable and the safest pair of hands when dealing with clients. His advocacy is measured, clear and persuasive, he is charming with clients and easy to work with from a professional viewpoint, and he is also responsive should there be any queries or follow up work to be carried out.'

Millie Benson

Katy Chokowry

Lucia Crimp

‘Lucia is one of the most able juniors at the family Bar. Her case preparation is extremely thorough, she is great on paper and fantastic in court, and she is able to cope with the most difficult and demanding clients and never pulls her punches.’

George Gordon

George is undoubtedly a leader in the field of financial remedy work. His in-depth knowledge of financial matters, combined with a meticulous attention to detail, makes him a standout in this area, and he is highly skilled at navigating complex financial cases and has an excellent track record of achieving favourable outcomes for clients.'

Stephen Jarmain

'Stephen is one of the leading barristers in the country for both complex finance and complex children work. He has the unique quality that he has great strength in both areas, his preparation for cases is faultless, and he knows his papers inside out and is always three steps ahead.'

Imogen Lloyd-Thomas

‘Imogen is unflappable, very good technically and is a clever negotiator. Her advocacy is firm and persuasive, she is well liked and respected by judges and opponents alike, and her client manner is excellent as she makes clients feel at ease.’

Christopher McCourt

Kelan McHugh

‘Kelan is a magnificent barrister and a go-to counsel for both money and children cases, a premier league expert in both which is quite rare. He is very approachable, always contactable and incredibly hardworking, and he has the ear of judges with a lovely advocacy style.’

Laura Moys

‘Laura is a brilliant advocate with phenomenal attention to detail. She has a lovely manner with clients and is clear and concise with her advice, her experience sitting as a Recorder gives her a brilliant insight into what judges are looking for, and she ensures that she matches her style to each individual judge and client.’

Kate Ozwell

'Kate is very personable and establishes a good rapport with clients from an early stage. She is great at delivering news which is not always welcomed, and very pragmatic in finding solutions to cases where negotiations have become stuck.'

Helen Pomeroy

‘Helen is an all round exceptional advocate and captures both the judge’s attention and the client’s trust. She masters both financial and children issues effortlessly which makes her so versatile, and she has so much to offer clients.’

Perican Tahir

Perican is one of the most formidable and skilled barristers in the field and she brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge to every case, carefully examining all the financial intricacies to provide precise and actionable advice. What truly sets Perican apart is her forceful and dynamic advocacy, and she has an impressive ability to take control of challenging financial proceedings, confidently presenting her client’s position with clarity and determination.'

Emma Wilson

'Emma is incredibly thorough in her preparation and is persuasive when putting forward a case, including being able to think on her feet when challenged. Her manner with clients is a good balance between being sympathetic and providing clear, measured advice.'

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.

Tadhgh Barwell O’Connor

'Tadhgh is exceptionally talented. He embodies everything you want in a family law barrister: he is intelligent, a persuasive advocate, an excellent team player, and incredible with clients – he delivers advice in a kind and empathetic manner, even when it is advice that clients do not want but need to hear.'

Zoe Harrison

'Zoe is an exceptionally good barrister with a gravitas which belies her year of call. Her research is extensive and meticulous, and her notes for final hearings are persuasive.'

Edward Wells

Edward is much more accomplished than his years of call would suggest; he is an excellent advocate, with sensitivity to the tribunal, and he was impressive in cross-examination of a dishonest witness. He has an empathetic manner with clients, he is clever and inventive, and from a solicitor's perspective, he is great to work with as he is responsive and good humoured whatever the pressures.'

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