Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) is home to ‘some of the best financial remedy practitioners in the country’ who undertake cases surrounding the breakdown of relationships with international elements. Its practitioners are also active in matters concerning inheritance, TOLATA, and nuptial agreements. Former head of chambers Tim Amos KC is lauded as a ‘leading authority on international family law issues and brings unmatched expertise to cases involving jurisdictional complexity’. Fluent in English and French, Stewart Leech KC is ‘without a doubt one of, if not the, best matrimonial finances barrister around’ with substantial expertise in cases surrounding ultra-high-net-worth individuals, companies, and trusts. Among the juniors at the set, Elizabeth Clarke ‘continues to be at the top of her game’, and Amy Kisser frequently represents unmarried cohabits, unmarried parents, and divorcing married couples. Lucy Stone KC retired in June 2024, as did former senior clerk Howard Rayner; in his place, Jon Bartlett has been promoted to senior clerk.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Its a delight that Jon Bartlett has finally taken over as senior clerk and got the credit he deserves. He is a simply brilliant clerk and runs a brilliant team. There is nothing he cannot and will not do for you and his levels of professionalism are unmatched. An absolute gem!'
- 'Clerks are always extremely helpful and go the extra mile. Jon Bartlett has always been the first point of contact and is now doing a great job running the clerks's room.'
- 'Jon Bartlett will excel as the new senior clerk and is ably assisted by Harry Tennent and Callum Davison. '
- 'Jon Bartlett and Harry Tennent deserve special mention. Responsive and straightforward service.'
- 'The clerks room is entering a new phase under the stewardship of Jon Bartlett. He's always ready to back his barristers and their preparation but also work as part of a team to coordinate diaries and schedules. It's also great to see Harry Tennent step after years of diligent, friendly service.'
- 'Jon Bartlett is the best. His recent promotion very well deserved. Hal Laing is also a star.'
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.
Tim Amos KC
'Tim is universally considered to be one of London's leading barristers on matters of international family law, particularly with regards to jurisdiction and financial remedy claims. He is a very tenacious advocate who you would certainly want on your side rather than be against.'
Stewart Leech KC
'Stewart is one of the most polished and persuasive counsel on his feet. He argues a client's case with encyclopaedic knowledge of the law but with a style and flair to match, and he is the absolute go-to counsel for jurisdiction cases.'
Katie Cowton KC
Katie is quite simply at the top of the tree. She is the most meticulous and hardworking barrister, combined with outstanding numeracy and drafting, meaning she is the full package, with advocacy that is incredibly persuasive.'
James Ewins KC
Duncan Brooks KC
Sarah Phipps KC
'Sarah is a class act and her ability to quickly distil complex financial arrangements into a coherent strategy is particularly impressive. She combines intellectual rigour with practical judgment and offers clear, commercially focused advice that is both strategic and realistic.'
Alexander Thorpe KC
‘Alexander always has a completely thorough command of the papers and all the details therein and a readiness to go beyond the narrow confines of the instructions by looking at the overall and broader position for the client by anticipating what may be contended against the client’s position and preemptively and effectively addressing and disposing of that. Alexander demonstrates patience and engagement with even the more terse of clients and achieves their engagement with both the substance and detail of the relevant issues.’
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.
Daniel Bentham KC
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
'Elizabeth continues to be at the top of her game and she has chosen not to take silk, but her peers are a handful of top silks in matrimonial finance and she outshines them all. She is immensely thorough but her thoroughness is in order to ensure that she is unassailable in her advocacy, thinking fast and presenting her client's case with conviction and persuasion.'
Marina Faggionato
Amy Kisser
'Amy is immersed in the detail which she knows backwards, and seems to have committed to memory irrespective of its complexity or volume. Her written work is first-class, measured, persuasive and attuned to what a judge wants and needs for her client to prevail.'
Fitzrene Headley
Fitzrene is extremely able and is forensic in her review and knowledge of the papers. She is at ease with clients, which helps to build a good rapport with them swiftly, and she makes herself available to her instructing solicitor and offers sensible and pragmatic advice to clients.'
Marcus Lazarides
Joe Rainer
'Joe's advocacy is brilliant, his written work is brilliant, and his knowledge of the law is brilliant. He is flawless and also a thoroughly decent person with a wonderful sense of humour, which makes him a joy to work with, an he can turn his hand to anything, from the most complex of financial remedy cases, to international enforcement, to jurisdiction cases.'
Samantha Singer
'Samantha is simply sensational. She is the full package; always flawless preparation, excellent documents and skilled advocacy, and clients love her.'
Rosemary Budden
Rosemary knows the law backwards, she is bright and able, but most importantly practical. She always has a view, even without being sent any papers and or time to consider matters, and willingly speaks on the phone regularly before even taking instructions.'
Matthew Firth
'Matthew is extremely focussed and sharp on the issues both in pre-hearing conference with client and in advocacy. His written position statement and notes of judgment post hearing are also excellent.'
Janine McGuigan
‘Janine is a future hall-of-famer. Not only is she an absolutely delightful person, but she combines it with a fierce desire to advance her client’s best interests at all times, and her written work is powerful and persuasive, bettered only by her advocacy.’
Morgan Sirikanda
William Tyzack
Harry Campbell
‘Harry is exceptionally clever. He excels at unravelling a complex legal argument and holds his own against far more senior counsel. His written work is outstandingly good and persuasive and he is able to keep even the client who is the most disgruntled about the state of the law on board.’.’
Charanjit Batt
Roxanne King
'Roxanne is very calm under pressure and has a reassuring presence with clients. She is always well prepared and her advocacy is persuasive and highly effective.'
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.
Jessica O’Driscoll-Breen
is robust in cross-examination.'
Fiona Stewart
Fiona cannot be recommended highly enough for navigating complex financial remedy cases; she brings not only an impressive depth of legal expertise, but a rare combination of empathy, clarity and strategic thinking. What sets her apart is her ability to explain complex legal concepts in a way that is both understandable and empowering for the client, and every step of the process, from case preparation to her advocacy, is handled with precision and care.'