1 King’s Bench Walk is lauded as ‘the best set to provide a mixture of finance and children counsel’, and is home to Alexander Chandler KC, whose ‘judgement is second-to-none’; he is skilled in financial remedy and co-habitee matters, and frequently acts as a PFDR evaluator and arbitrator. Joint head of chambers Christopher Pocock KC is sought after as a PFDR judge on account of his expertise in high-value matrimonial finance cases, especially those involving corporate and business assets, as well as those with cross-border elements. Chair of the Family Law Bar Association and joint head of chambers James Roberts KC is another notable silk at the set as an early proponent of family-related alternative dispute resolution, and ‘is outstanding in the role of PFDR judge’. Turning to the juniors, ‘sound and effective PFDR judge’ Richard Castle boasts expertise in cases surrounding complex corporate and tax dimensions, while deputy district judge and ‘one of the best PFDR judges on the circuit’ Nicola Fox is well-equipped to handle arbitrations engaging both finance and children law, either separately or concurrently.
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Mentions
Profile
Position
James is a silk who has been ranked for many years in the professional directories as a barrister specialising in “heavy” and high net worth financial remedy cases and particularly those with an international element. He is extremely numerate and is recognised as being a formidable advocate. He sits as a part-time Judge dealing with complex financial remedy cases. He is Chair of the Family Law Bar Association.
Career
Called 1993, Gray’s Inn; Recorder 2009 (family at CFC and crime); Silk 2019; Head of Chambers (2020- ).
Memberships
Recorder (2009); Executive Officer (Treasurer) of the Family Law Bar Association (“FLBA”) (2006-2021), Vice Chair (2022 –2023 ) and Chair (2024-); Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers; Bencher of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn (2022 - ); Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple; Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Board member and Advisory Committee member of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators Ltd (“IFLA”); Elected National Committee Member FLBA (1999 to date); Past Member of the Remuneration Committee of the Bar Council; Member of the Bar Council Quality Advisory Panel; Accredited Pupil Supervisor; Accredited Advocacy Trainer.
Education
Oxford University (MA Jurisprudence).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent. Chris Young is standout.'
- 'Excellent. Mark Betts and Chris Young and both are really helpful and responsive.'
- '1KBW is an excellent set and indeed a preferred set for finances and often for children matters too. They are always ready to help and do excellent lectures and offer seminars.'
- 'They have some of the best junior and senior counsel on financial and children matters and a history of supplying the judiciary with excellent judges. They are also a very fair set and open to NCDR and that places them very well for providing trusted private FDR judges and arbitrators who you can have faith in.'
- '1KBW are a go-to Chambers. They are friendly, and will always respond to queries in a timely way. They have a wide range of Counsel available at all levels and are always super helpful.'
- 'Market-leading set.'
- '1KBW have leading barristers at every level.'
- 'The clerks are brilliant and their new senior clerk is incredibly helpful and leads a talented team. Nothing is too much trouble for them.'