St Ives Chambers

‘Go-to’ set St Ives Chambers is ‘firmly established within the Midlands’ and has experienced significant growth, with a number of barristers from KCH Garden Square joining the set in September 2024, and subsequently a new Nottingham office was opened in March 2025. Having previously worked as a child protection social worker, Elizabeth Isaacs KC is exceptionally well-placed to handle both complex private and public law proceedings, and she is ‘restless in her pursuit of justice’. Timothy Bowe KC is ‘extremely intelligent and has an excellent knowledge of the law’, and he has appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal on behalf of local authorities, parents, and children in cases surrounding allegations of sexual abuse, fabricated and induced illness, and fatal injuries. Among the juniors, Justine Lattimer is a key name to note as an ‘absolutely unshakable’ practitioner with significant experience in cases surrounding forced marriages, FGM, and sexual abuse allegations, as well as deprivation of liberty. Family law specialist Matthew Maynard, who is ‘always impeccably prepared’, predominantly practices in public children law, especially complex care proceedings, with expertise in human trafficking and severe injuries to children. Tom Lawal is joint head of the private family law team and exclusively represents parents, grandparents, and children through guardians.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The clerks are personable and it feels like they care. They can make recommendations based on the nature of the case which is invaluable. Sarah Robinson, Nick Burdon and Asma Akhtar run matters like a well-oiled machine!'
'The clerks provide an excellent service. They are highly responsive and user friendly. Stuart Walker and Nick Burdon are standouts.'
'Clerks are superb. Nick Burdon in particular will aways do his utmost to help even in an emergency.'
'All of their clerks are professional, friendly and helpful, especially Nick Burdon and Asma Akhtar.'
'Sarah Robinson, Nick Burdon, Asma Akhtar, and Stuart Walker are outstanding. Whenever you speak to any of the clerks, you are greeted with warmth. Nick has an ability to light up a room even if he is in it.'
'The clerks are really helpful and will do their very best to accommodate your request and choice of counsel, often going above and beyond. David Walters gets to know who you like to instruct in particular form their set which demonstrates his commitment to solicitor relationships.'

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.

Timothy Bowe KC

‘Timothy is very much a measured advocate. As a junior silk he has quickly established himself as a go-to silk for thorough understated representation which enables him to stand out above more flamboyant advocates, as judges listen to him.'

Elizabeth Isaacs KC

‘Elizabeth is a powerhouse at the family Bar. She has a deserved reputation for a forensic approach to her cases and leaves no stone unturned, and you know that she has considered every possible permeation in the evidence and can persuade the tribunal with her knowledge of the facts and law.’

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.

Tom Harrill

‘Tom is an exceptional advocate, he is always thoroughly prepared and his knowledge of the law and case law is phenomenal. He can calmly cross-examine lay and expert witnesses in a way that the judge finds helpful and the client can follow, he is precise and only asks questions that are necessary and pertinent, and can explain to any client what is happening so that they can follow, and feel listened to.’

Justine Lattimer

‘Justine is a phenomenal barrister and her natural ability to absorb, retain and analyse huge amounts of information never ceases to amaze. She is particularly experienced in representing extremely vulnerable persons, such as those with severe learning difficulties, and she regularly appears as a leading junior against silks and is a particular favourite of local authorities for this reason.'

Matthew Maynard

Mark Cooper-Hall

Mark is one of the most outstanding care practitioners; he is the whole package. He leaves no stone unturned in his preparation, the documents he produces assist the court and all advocates with the direction of the case irrespective of who he is representing, and as an advocate, he is calm, kind, unflappable, and deeply effective.’

Kirstie Danton

‘Kirstie is a fluent and persuasive advocate who has a great attention to detail and excellent ability to explain complex matters succinctly. She is a trusted favourite and a first choice for complex matters at all levels, she is responsive and extremely helpful, and she is also adaptable.’

Tracy Lakin

Moira Ashton-Walsh

Moira demonstrates exceptional skill and professionalism in her work. She quickly grasps the complexities of cases, showing both empathy and understanding, which allows her to offer clear and realistic counsel, and her meticulous preparation and ability to present accurate, well-balanced statements ensures that legal terminology is effectively used without overwhelming the audience.'

Matthew Fiddy

‘Matthew is always extremely well prepared, he is calm and thoughtful even on the most complex of cases, and he is able to put the local authority’s position to the court in a convincing manner. He has excellent client care skills and ensures that full details of the hearing are sent to those instructing in a timely manner.’

Louise Sapstead

is very capable and strong advocate. She always is well-prepared, organised and thorough, she always presents her case with admirable clarity and persuasiveness, and her cross-examination is focused and highly effective.’

James Cleary

David Payne

‘David is extremely thorough and meticulous in his approach to cases and will always make time to talk before a hearing and ensure that the issues have been properly considered with the client. David is approachable and always happy to go out of his way to assist on matters to ease some of the pressures on the solicitor.'

Sian Waldron

Thomas Bramall

Ben Chapman

Samuel Coe

‘Sam is an excellent barrister, and his standards have always been consistent since the first instruction to the most recent. He excels at every stage and goes above and beyond, his communication is detailed and prompt, and his client care is understanding and approachable.'

Anthony Finch

Tom Lawal

'Tom is an exceptional barrister, he has an extremely caring nature, putting the client at the heart of everything, and the advice given is proactive, realistic and robust. He is not afraid to highlight the weaknesses of a clients position but will readily advise on how to counter such a problem, and his advocacy skills are exceptional, he fights clients corners and strives for the best possible outcome.'

Rebecca Cross

presents arguments with confidence and precision, remaining composed under judicial scrutiny and can pivot effectively in response to unexpected developments.'

Lawren Dobson

‘Lawren is a tenacious advocate and extremely hard working, she fights every case with passion and commitment, and she also works incredibly well with vulnerable clients, accommodating their additional needs with great care and skill. She remains calm in a crisis and any client is fortunate to have her representation as she always goes the extra mile.'

Malvika Jaganmohan

‘Malvika is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her advocacy. She knows the facts of the case inside out, has a careful ear to every intricate detail of the other party's case, and her way with the client is personable, creating a great rapport with the client and explaining matters in a way that is understandable to them, in what is generally a very stressful time.'

Gregory Rogers

‘Gregory's strength is his preparation and presentation in complex cases. He is a very well-respected advocate who is regularly instructed by all parties in family public law cases, he is known for his straightforward and informed approach in complex and sensitive care cases, and he is one of the best in his field and parties always want to instruct him before others do.'

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.

Holly Hilbourne-Gollop

he is extremely confident and impressive in terms of her advocacy and will always fight on the client’s behalf.’

George Smith

‘George is a very capable and confident junior who often punches above his weight in terms of year of call. He is extremely well-prepared for every hearing, and having been led by leading juniors and silks on several big cases, he has learned a lot about how to handle complex proceedings.'

Thomas Duggan

Zara Mahmood

‘Zara is a passionate and dedicated barrister, who prepares her cases excellently and has a strong attention to detail and firm advocacy skills. She has consistently achieved very good outcomes for the clients, going the extra mile to ensure their case is well represented, and she provides accurate and sensible advice, maintaining the focus on the key issues to ensure the best results and client satisfaction.'

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