Cornerstone Barristers

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

• Cornerstone offers an excellent choice of barristers and is always helpful.
• Cornerstone is really very helpful, offers a good choice of barristers and is easy to deal with.
• An exceptionally reliable set of chambers. Professional, responsive, and well-organized, with an excellent clerking team that consistently meets deadlines and provides outstanding client service.
• The chambers are well organized. The clerks are always accessible and appreciative of client needs, turning around counsel availability and quotes within hours. The set offers a one-stop shop for the local authority in planning matters and is my go-to set.
• This set has a huge breadth of talent and vast experience across many areas that rightly inspires client confidence and provides top-level service.
• Cornerstone Barristers acts as a team with excellent, superior level clerking at its core. In terms of its clerks, Daniel Gatt, Senior Practice Manager, is a standout for excellence in client-focused relationships, a skill that is emulated by his team.

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

Thomas Cosgrove KC

Tom is good at breaking things down into easily understandable elements. He is very patient and very easy to talk to, and makes his audience comfortable. He is also very quick to respond and helpful in fitting in with tight timescales.

1

Estelle Dehon KC

2

Michael Bedford KC

Michael provides the highest level of expertise in planning matters. A fine silk who is both likable and persuasive with exceptional advocacy. He gives clear and unequivocal practical advice. A marvel at getting to grips with highly technical detail and explaining complex issues.

2

Richard Ground KC

Richard has great knowledge of planning and environmental law. He takes great care with the case details, and always combines this with a supportive and approachable manner.

3

James Findlay KC

James Findlay is highly intelligent, approachable, and consistently demonstrates an ability to think outside the box. He brings real insight to his work, combining strong analytical skills with creativity and sound judgment. He is someone who inspires trust and works constructively with clients. He is a very thoughtful advocate.

4

Paul Shadarevian KC

Paul has many positive qualities, including in particular his mastery of dealing with inspectors during the Local Plan Examination Hearings process. Paul has a very human quality in dealing with officers at all levels and is incisive in his approach.

4

Josef Cannon KC

2026 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

Robin Green KC

Robin is an exceptionally determined barrister who is fearless in advancing his client's case.

1

Robert Williams KC

Rob's advice is clear, concise, and commercial, and it is easy to digest.

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

Harriet Townsend 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.

1

Nina Pindham

1

Wayne Beglan

Wayne is always very calm and totally professional. Wayne’s calm and reassuring manner id extremely valuable throughout the Local Plan process.

1

Ruchi Parekh

Extremely competent, professional; clear advice and an excellent advocate.

2

Emmaline Lambert

A highly skilled, strong advocate with an excellent manner at planning inquiries and before the courts. Emmaline is impressive with a persuasive and engaging voice. She is amenable, constructive and pragmatic, providing clear and practical advice.

3

Riccardo Calzavara

Incredibly bright, with a fantastically analytical legal brain and a great client manner.

3

Ryan Kohli

We were very impressed with Ryan when he represented us at a public inquiry. He was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. He is very knowledgeable, clear in his advice, and personable in his approach. His guidance and advocacy helped to secure an excellent outcome for the authority, and we would not hesitate to use him again.

3

Jack Parker

Jack has the ability to cut through the detail and focus on the pertinent issues. With regard to advocacy, he is persuasive and persistent, putting forward excellent questions and arguments. He is also able to think and act quickly, responding to difficult situations decisively and appropriately.

3

Clare Parry

Clare is always fully prepared and appreciates the requirement for both timely and practical advice. Her advocacy is succinct, methodical, and always to the point. She understands how to deal with complicated cross-examinations on technical matters. Her submissions advocacy in the High Court is always a delight to watch. Clare's written paperwork, such as skeleton arguments and statements of case, is extremely thorough, illustrating a commanding overview of all points in a case.

3

Ben Du Feu

Ben is committed to his work and can be relied on to deliver. He provides accurate, timely, pragmatic advice in clear terms. He is thoughtful and has an incisive mind.

3

Edward Grant

Edward was very user-friendly. He worked very well with expert witnesses. His advocacy was excellent, including cross-examination and re-examination on technical issues. His oral submissions were well received by the tribunal.

4

Asitha Ranatunga

Asitha is a very calm and knowledgeable planning barrister on whom I rely a lot. My clients think he is fantastic, not just for his legal knowledge, but also for his calm manner in court and when advising.

4

Olivia Davies

Olivia presented a strong case for the Council and gave clear guidance on the best way to present that case.

4

John Fitzsimons

Very professional, perceptive, calm under pressure. Can multitask. Good customer service. Goes out of his way to explain things and appeal tactics, even when complicated. But does not "sugar coat" his opinion. Clear, polite, and displays confidence.

4

Rowan Clapp

Rowan is an excellent advocate. He is very switched on and good at adapting his line of questioning. He is polite, and clients like his approach.

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

Lois Lane

1

Hannah Taylor

The advice she provided was excellent as it was clear and precise, and the reasons for the same were presented in a way that non-legal employees would not have a problem understanding. When preparing our response to the proposed legal challenge, Hannah took those employees' views on board and suggested an approach to defend that challenge that was followed.

1

Jack Barber