Twenty Essex

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

• 'Arron Zitver is responsive and approachable.'
• 'Jack Leppington has been very helpful, always responsive and on top of the issues we raise with him. Pleasant to deal with.'
• 'Good clerking across the clerks room, led by the excellent Chris Theobald.'
• 'The clerks at Twenty Essex have been a pleasure to deal with over the years. They’re straightforward, reliable, and always quick to respond—no fuss, just very capable. They understand how to make things work, especially when timelines are tight or arrangements are complex. That kind of support behind the scenes really matters, and they get it right.'
• 'The service from the clerks’ room has been exemplary. The clerks are highly professional and possess an in-depth understanding of the barristers’ capabilities. They always anticipate our needs, ensuring that all administrative aspects of our instructions are handled efficiently, from scheduling conferences to coordinating document exchanges.'
• 'Twenty Essex has broadened out its offering and is now a top player across commercial arbitration and commercial Chancery work.'

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.

1

Charles Kimmins KC

1

Duncan Matthews KC

'First and foremost, Duncan is a classy courtroom advocate. He is a heavy hitter and when he speaks, people listen. He prepares immaculately for a hearing and always has at his fingertips the answers to the judge's questions. Further, he is a brilliant tactician. He will always ensure that a strategy is mapped out in advance to ensure that there are no surprises. He is very good with clients. Arbitrators love him - he has them eating out of the palm of his hand. Duncan is a supersilk.'

2

Michael Ashcroft KC

‘Michael is one of the best advocates at the Bar. He is unbelievably bright and has impeccable judgement.’

2

Philip Edey KC

‘Philip is brilliant on his feet, an excellent strategist and a wonderful team player – a rare combination indeed.’

2

David Lewis KC

He is a fine advocate who remains polite and controlled. He is always measured.'

2

Wendy Miles KC

'Very good judgement. Very good client liaison skills.'

2

Timothy Young KC

Top-class legal knowledge and advocacy - all delivered with panache and a sense of humour.'

3

Timothy Hill KC

Timothy is an outstanding barrister. A real heavyweight.’ 

3

Paul Lowenstein KC

'Paul is a pleasure to work with, easy-going, commercially minded, a team player that rolls up his sleeves and is excellent on his feet.'

3

Sara Masters KC

ry efficient, manages proceedings with ease, very astute.'

3

Philip Riches KC

'Philip has the client's confidence entirely. He is able to read the court well.'

3

Lord Verdirame KC

4

Andrew Fulton KC

'Andrew is incredibly bright and very commercial.  He is like a dog with a bone and will fight for clients to the end.'

4

Luke Pearce KC

2025 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

Nakul Dewan KC

  'A class act. Commercial, smart and easy to work with.'

1

Angharad Parry KC

'A delight to work with. Super bright. Great team player. Clients love her. Very knowledgeable.'

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.

1

Belinda McRae

'Belinda is a superstar: she has amazing energy and industry, delivers astonishing turnaround times, and brings very strong written and oral advocacy. Plus she has dedicated expertise across both arbitration and public international law.'

2

Harris Bor

'Always willing to help, approachable, client friendly.'

2

Andrew Dinsmore

'Tough, tenacious, and thorough.'

2

Joshua Folkard

'Joshua is a capable junior barrister. His legal analysis is thorough and well-structured, and he has a good grasp of both legal principles and commercial realities. He is skilled at drafting and can present complex information in a clear way.'

2

Sam Goodman

‘Sam’s international arbitration expertise is invaluable. He operates with the confidence and strategic judgement of a silk, bringing a level of preparation and clarity that is rare at any level of call. Sam brings heavyweight advocacy, deep technical expertise, and a forward-thinking approach to international arbitration.’

2

Mark Tushingham

'Mark is extremely diligent, responsive, and user-friendly. His written and oral advocacy were clear and effective.'

3

Manuel Casas

 ‘Manuel is, without question, the hardest-working barrister I have come across. His dedication, thoroughness, and work ethic are truly exceptional. Manuel approaches matters with remarkable attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of the case is rigorously analysed and strategically addressed.’

3

Richard Greenberg

  ‘Richard is a real pleasure to work with. He is responsive, approachable, all over the detail and grasps complexity quickly. He does not shy away from putting forward a challenging case and is creative and flexible in his approach.’

3

Rishab Gupta

'Rishab is commercial and outcome oriented. His preparation is unforgiving and he is fully in control of any matter he is briefed on. He assists the client in taking strategy calls in addition to persuading the court.'

3

Jonathan Ketcheson

'He's excellent. Very user friendly and sharp. Equally strong on paper and on his feet. Would recommend.'

3

Kevin Lee

'Kevin is a clear thinker who is able to articulate complex factual scenarios simply. His ability to think laterally and strategically is a great strength of his. A persuasive speaker, Kevin is charming while on his feet and is able to convince even the toughest tribunal.'

3

Kate Parlett

'Highly authoritative. She has judges awestruck as she explains difficult points of law, or just writing down everything she says. Wonderful to work with and a superlative advocate. Knows her law inside out.'

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.

1

Matthew Chan

1

Thomas Wong

‘Thomas impresses with his mastery of the law and his quick turnaround time.’