Fiona Farquhar
‘Fiona is a very strong and assertive advocate. She is always very empathetic to the client's needs and pragmatic. She will go over and above to assist.’
Albion Chambers is ‘an excellent set of family barristers and the go-to set in Bristol’ for advice on complex childcare cases. Fiona Farquhar is a ’tenacious advocate who commands the court room’ and specialises in complex fact-finding cases, while Sarah Pope is an expert at handling cases involving allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse. ‘Expert litigator’ Alice Darian specialises in public law proceedings, while Joanna Lucas is a ’strong and focused advocate’ with specific expertise in cases concerning older children and legal issues surrounding deprivation of liberty.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Michael Harding and Julie Hathway are well-organised, efficient and helpful.'
- 'All of the clerks are extremely helpful and accomplished. Michael Harding and Julie Hathway are excellent, knowledgeable, and always try their best to help.'
- 'The family clerks are responsive and go above and beyond. Michael Harding knows the issues inside out and never loses his cool. Grace Northeast is able beyond her years and can calmly manage tricky issues.
- 'Julie Hathway is helpful and quick to respond.'
- 'Albion Chambers has a strong private child set and a depth of barristers available.'
- 'Albion Chambers is a go-to set. Its counsel are technically experts in what they do and personable with clients.'
- 'Albion Chambers is an excellent set. All barristers are of a high standard from KC to pupils.'
- 'Albion Chambers is a great set offering a range of exceptional counsel.'
Lawyers
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.
Gemma Borkowski
‘Gemma has extraordinary attention to detail and is very meticulous. She is a fierce advocate, her legal knowledge is second to none, and her cross-examination skills are spectacular.’
Yasmine El-Nazer
‘Yasmine is excellent at keeping her instructing solicitors up-to-date in cases. She has the right approach with vulnerable clients, being empathetic but giving them firm advice. She is thorough when dealing with issues in the courtroom.’
Hayley Griffiths
‘Hayley is a first-class advocate. Her cross-examination is highly skilled. She is calm, approachable and very measured.’
William Heckscher
‘William is very knowledgeable. He has very calming manners with clients and is a strong advocate.’
Caroline Middleton
‘Caroline is very emphatic whilst being pragmatic with clients where necessary. She is a strong advocate, passionately putting forward a client’s case.’
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.