Outer Temple Chambers is 'an excellent chambers for professional disciplinary matters', with 'extensive experience in healthcare regulatory work'. The team is equally adept at handling matters within the legal and financial services sectors. Fiona Horlick KC acted for the BSB in a case involving multiple allegations of sexual misconduct brought against the former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, Jo Sidhu KC; the tribunal upheld three of the allegations and Sidhu was subsequently disbarred. James Counsell KC is sought after for his expertise in prosecuting cases on behalf of the SRA. At the junior end, Sophie O'Sullivan is well versed in handling proceedings involving allegations of sexual misconduct and dishonesty.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Clinical Negligence, Professional Negligence, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Commercial Disputes, Personal Injury, Sports Law
Position
Barrister specialising in Clinical Negligence, Professional Negligence, Disciplinary and Regulatory, Commercial Disputes, Personal Injury, Sports Law.
Career
James Counsell KC was called to the bar in 1984 and took silk in 2017.
James Counsell KC is widely recognised in the fields of Clinical and Professional Negligence, Personal Injury, regulatory and disciplinary hearings and Financial Services claims, both in the UK and abroad.
His clinical negligence work, acting both for claimants and for defendants, is combined with a busy disciplinary and regulatory practice, regularly representing doctors, dentists, barristers, solicitors and those in the financial services sector in their respective disciplinary tribunals. He acts both for practitioners and also for the BSB and the SRA.
In the field of financial Services, James acts for defendants in contempt proceedings in the Business and Property Courts, brought against individuals for alleged breaches of freezing and disclosure orders and for claimants and financial institutions in mis-selling claims and other regulatory breaches. He represents litigants in the UK and also in the Middle East with ongoing clients in the DIFC Courts in Dubai (leading Stephen Doherty).
He also specialises in acting for survivors of non-recent sexual abuse, having recently acted as lead counsel (leading Benjamin Bradley) in two claims against the Jehovah’s Witness organisation, the second of which is now a leading Supreme Court authority on vicarious liability and limitation. He has acted for numerous claimants in cases against football and other sports clubs and entities, religious and educational organisations and the Scout Association.
James is a Head of Chambers at Outer Temple Chambers and its Head of Governance.
Languages
Conversational French, Basic Spanish.
Education
Marlborough College; Magdalene College, Cambridge.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Mark Gardner is an excellent clerk. He is clear in his communications, and always available.'
- 'An approachable and well-organised clerking team.'
- 'The clerks' room is great. A solid team.'
- 'The clerks’ room at Outer Temple Chambers provides a consistently high standard of service.'
- 'Excellent chambers for professional disciplinary matters.'
- 'A strong regulatory set.'