Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) 'offers the full range of family law expertise with high-calibre advocates across the board’. Tim Amos KC is an ‘extremely eloquent, elegant and thoughtful advocate'. Among the junior end of chambers, Elizabeth Clarke garners praise for 'her calm authority, wisdom, and thorough preparation'. In a boost to the senior end of the set, Daniel Bentham KC was elevated to silk in March 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are all more than happy to help whenever required. Jon Bartlett is always on hand to assist when needed.'
- 'The clerks go above and beyond to help. Harry Tennent and Callum Davison stand out.'
- 'Jon Bartlett is responsive and will always do what he can to help.'
- 'Howard Rayner is good. He is always helpful in trying to provide counsel, even at the last minute.'
- 'Queen Elizabeth Building is a well-organised, helpful and reliable set. The service is excellent throughout, from top to bottom.'
- 'Queen Elizabeth Building is a brilliant set.'
- 'Queen Elizabeth Building is a top finance set.'
- 'Queen Elizabeth Building is a go-to finance set for the big money, complex work.'
Silks
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.
1
Tim Amos KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Tim is at the top of his game. He is a hugely experienced, tough, and fearless advocate who works tirelessly for his clients, and gives thoroughly pragmatic advice.'
2
Stewart Leech KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Stewart’s advocacy is smooth. He can wrap a case in satin and drape it in diamonds until it becomes the latest piece of couture.’
3
James Ewins KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘James is fiercely intelligent, scrupulous in his preparation, definitive in his advice and fearless in court - the whole package.’
Katie Cowton KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Katie is incredibly thorough in her preparation and a great team player. She is always well prepared, and a persuasive advocate who holds the respect of the bench.’
Alexander Thorpe KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Alexander is clever, strategic and tough. An outstanding trial lawyer.’
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.
Sarah Phipps KC
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) 'Sarah is incredibly smart. She possesses a laser-sharp attention to detail, enhanced with incredible efficiency.'
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.
Juniors
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.
Elizabeth Clarke
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Elizabeth is an absolute star of the Bar. She brings calm authority to every case.'
Amy Kisser
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Amy is a terrific barrister. She will drill down to the essence of the case.’
Samantha Singer
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Samantha is a compelling advocate. She is measured and thoughtful and a consummate team player, making herself available when needed and going the extra mile.’
Joe Rainer
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Joe is great on his feet. His advocacy style is relaxed and self-assured. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of case law.'
Janine McGuigan
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Janine is meticulous and excels at distilling down key points to their essence, which makes her an exceptional talent. A powerful advocate.’
Fitzrene Headley
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Fitzrene is an excellent advocate: great on the details and can deal with the most difficult of cases.’
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.
Harry Campbell
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Harry has an excellent manner with clients: both compassionate and authoritative. He is a very safe pair of hands, providing sensible and commercial advice.‘