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Rankings
Chambers & Partners 2025
We are delighted to announce our continued success in the latest edition of Chambers & Partners, highlighting collective strength across our core practice areas and the expertise and experience of members of Chambers and staff. We are recognised as a leading chambers in 12 areas (below), including five top-ranked set rankings. Overall, we have achieved a record 170 barrister rankings, which includes 23 new and improved individual rankings.
Full coverage in the 2025 guide can be found here.
Our expertise
Select an expertise from the filter below to learn more.
Art and Cultural Property Law
“Gilead Cooper is exceptional. His drafting and use of language is just as brilliant as his incisive legal mind. He is really user-friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about cultural heritage work.”
“He is one of the top people in this space and knows his way around tricky art law issues.”
“He is a chancery trust lawyer with a niche in art market work. Gilead is very cerebral and bright, as well as extremely nice and approachable.”
“Bobby is very good – hard-working and a delightful person.”
“Bobby is a great opponent. He is a confident and persuasive advocate.”
Chancery: Commercial (Leading Set)
An impressive set, noted for its expertise in complex Commercial Chancery litigation arising in the UK and across several international and offshore jurisdictions. The team is regularly instructed in company, insolvency and civil fraud disputes, and offers considerable strength when undertaking complex commercial litigation involving elements of pensions, trusts and property law. Members are instructed in high-profile matters of the greatest complexity, including BTA Bank v Ablyazov, and Steenbok & Anr v Formal Holdings & Ors, widely reported as South Africa’s largest ever private sector accounting fraud scandal, which led to the near collapse of Steinhoff International Holdings NV. The set was also involved in Mitchell v Al Jaber, a USD3 billion breach of fiduciary duties claim arising out of the liquidation of a company sitting within the MBI group.
Client Service
“Nicholas Luckman is extremely good. He is extraordinarily bright and his insight is incredible.”
“The clerks are responsive, cooperative, and people who go out of their way to meet your requirements.”
“The clerks are very commercial and understanding. They are realistic with how they deal with their fees and have experienced clerks who put us in touch with the right barristers.”
“The clerks are really good and very professional.”
Leading silks
“Alan is excellent at getting up to speed and can digest a lot of information in a short time. He is very willing to do the leg work and reads through all of the documents.”
“Alan comes up with excellent legal arguments that assist the case.”
“John is willing to make bold calls, stand by them and fight for the appellate courts if necessary. He is a great advocate, who is brilliant on his feet.”
“John is a really outstanding silk who has a very impressive cross- examination style. He is a first-rate commercial barrister.”
“John’s advice is really clear, even when relating to complicated subject matters. His opinions are easy to understand.”
“Tom is engaging, charming and incredibly good with clients. He is a powerful advocate, who is not overly aggressive but, rather, charming and persuasive.”
“Clare is a recognised talent, well deserving of the accolades she has received. A go-to choice for any difficult case, she leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of the client’s objectives.”
“Clare is an incredibly persuasive advocate, who is able to cut through a complex matter to identify the key issues that will be relevant to the judge.”
“A force to be reckoned with and at the top of her game. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and an absolutely formidable advocate.”
“Fenner is able to navigate complex matters with ease and is very robust in his advocacy, whilst at the same time having a sense of calm about him. He is a formidable barrister.”
“Fenner is truly excellent. He has an incredibly quick brain and gets people on his side very quickly.”
“He is brilliant and has great analytical skills, as well as a strong strategic mindset. Clients really take to him and he is a top advocate.”
“Terence is an excellent strategist and tactician, with an encyclopaedic grasp of the law.”
“Tim knows fraud like the back of his hand and gets to the point very quickly.”
“Tim is spectacular. He is a master practitioner, who is well prepared, very thorough, all over the detail and excellent on his feet.”
“Tim is effortlessly charming and has control of his witness and the trust of the court and his clients. He can absorb a huge amount of detail in a short space of time and he is wonderful to work with.”
“James is very willing to roll his sleeves up and get involved in the nitty gritty. He is very good on the papers and his pleadings and opinions are easily understandable and concise.”
“James is incredibly on the ball.”
“He is simply excellent and hugely intelligent. He is hard-working and a master tactician and superb on his feet.”
“Lawrence has the ability to apply in-depth knowledge contextually and against a backdrop of current legal positions and authorities.”
“Lawrence has an incredible strategic mind and really sees how things unfold well ahead of everyone else. He is able to lay the ground work in a case beautifully to our clients’ benefit.”
“Lawrence is at the top of his game and really has the ear of the court.”
“Lexa is a fantastic barrister to have on your side. She is so pleasant to work with, and extremely diligent and committed.”
“Lexa is a fierce advocate.”
“Lexa is a really tenacious advocate and a tough cross-examiner.”
“Nikki is brilliantly analytical and fantastically clever. You want Nikki on your side if you are going to trial.”
“Nikki is very good at giving the clients advice straight between the eyes.”
“He is very punchy and incredibly approachable, and can absorb information very quickly.”
“Thomas’s experience and familiarity with Cayman law are second to none.”
“Thomas can think on his feet and adjust to the court. Judges really love him, and he carries huge gravitas.”
“Thomas is a real company law expert. He is cerebral and speaks with considerable authority, such that judges listen to what he has to say.”
“Tiffany is so efficient and incredibly hard-working. She is thorough and leads very well.”
“She has a no-nonsense approach and is always so straightforward. She is very technical in her advocacy and a pleasure to work with.”
“She is exceptionally clever and focused on all aspects of the case. She really commands the respect of the court when she presents and is a ferocious and formidable advocate.”
“Andrew is really nice to work with and has a wonderful court manner. He is detailed, presents very fairly, is balanced and puts a punchy and succinct message across.”
“Andrew is extremely intelligent and nice to work with. He is very good at listening to clients and his written work is of very high quality.”
“He has an incredible ability to digest data points and wrap them into a coherent legal case.”
“James calls things as he sees them. He instils confidence and knows his law inside out.”
“He is really friendly, hands-on and the type of barrister that never lets the case drift. His skeleton arguments are excellent and extremely thorough.”
“She is knowledgeable, calm, organised and strategic.”
“Marcia is an incredibly focused practitioner who gets to the core issues and points very quickly.”
Leading juniors
“Edward is a very good barrister who is particularly strong on pensions. He is very considered and looks at all the detail in the case.”
“A very good senior junior, who has a good eye for forensic detail. He is very thorough and an excellent drafter.”
“Graeme is very impressive. He is very, very quick in terms of turnaround, covering the ground very quickly, and is very hot on the technical detail.”
“Graeme is technically brilliant, responsive and a fearless advocate.”
“Thomas is very calm and a great man to have in your corner in a crisis. He always gets his points across and is unfazed by the court or his opponent. A true class act.”
“Thomas is very calm, intelligent, easy to work with and measured.”
“Thomas works very well under pressure, is very creative in his advice and is willing to go the extra mile to get a good outcome for the clients.”
“Bobby is excellent for fraud and commercial chancery cases. He is really good with clients, really on top of the facts and someone who produces compelling and persuasive arguments.”
“Bobby provides outstanding written work and powerful advocacy.”
“Emer is an excellent senior junior in the property sphere. She is super-smart and has really good razor-sharp instincts – she always gets to the nub of the issue.”
“Emer is a cut above. Her ability to grapple with huge volumes of documentation and produce clear, precise and powerful submissions sets her apart from her peers.”
“She is commercial and collaborative. Her advocacy is low key but it goes down very well with judges.”
“Emily is a very good strategic thinker.”
“Emily produces consistently thorough and well-analysed advice on pensions matters.”
“Jack handles sophisticated matters with ease, makes time for the client and provides commercial, sensible advice.”
“Jack is tactically aware and is brilliant in submissions, both written and orally.”
“James is very intelligent and brilliant on strategy.”
“He is exceptional, extremely bright, easy to work with, good with clients and very humble.”
“Tom is a very strong advocate and is quite happy to roll his sleeves up. If you have a particularly contentious matter, he’s a good one to have on board.”
“Tom is a top junior for trusts and property work.”
“Anna is an excellent lawyer. She is really good on paper and when she speaks in court everyone listens.”
“I am a huge fans of hers. She has great judgement, is tenacious as an advocate and has the ability to see where problems lie down the track.”
“Jonathan is so user-friendly. He gives sensible advice, is good on his feet and is able to get on well with all types of clients.”
“Jonathan is hands-on and makes things very easy. He distils cases to the absolute essentials and can see the wood for the trees, allowing the client to do the same.”
“Tim is measured and knows when to speak up and when not to in court. His written advocacy is excellent and he is a pleasure to work with.”
“Tim is a superstar. He is communicative and quick to respond, and he’s a genius.”
“Tim is detailed yet commercial, exemplary in being on top of lots of complex facts and super-approachable.”
Chancery: Traditional (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers has an impressive group of barristers who handle complex disputes surrounding trusts and estates, and demonstrate multi-jurisdictional knowledge of the law. “Undoubtedly a leading chambers for complex trusts issues, it is very strong across the board and has great people from baby juniors to leading silks”, comments a source. Members of the set appeared in a number of significant matters of late, including Byers v Saudi National Bank, a Supreme Court knowing receipt constructive trust case. Other matters undertaken include National Westminster Bank plc v Ludlow Trustees Ltd and Coutts & Co v Ludlow Trust Co Ltd, a case concerning the largest ever transfer of trusteeships, from NatWest, RBS and Coutts to a new trustee company.As one interviewee said: “All the counsel here handle matters with ease, and provide prompt and practical advice. The set offers expertise in all relevant areas and can assist with the most complex, multi-faceted disputes.”
Client Service
“Practice Assistant Jake Walker, in particular, is exceptional. He is eloquent, responsive and exceptionally well organised, and understands all the concepts that we discuss with counsel.”
“The clerks are organised, proactive and good at thinking ahead.”
“The Wilberforce clerks are exceptional. They are responsive and nothing is too much trouble for them.”
“Wilberforce has a powerhouse clerking team; the clerks are super-organised and really on it, and can have good, open conversations with you.”
Star Individuals
“Brian is supremely gifted, highly intelligent, very approachable and a man who explains things in a simple way. In court he can speak passionately for the cause.”
“He is very thoughtful, highly strategic and good with clients. He is an excellent and persuasive oral advocate, whom judges trust.”
“He’s probably the most well-respected and well-renowned barrister in his area. If you want an opinion that will carry the most possible weight in the court, you go to Brian.”
Leading Silks
“She is very highly regarded, especially for offshore matters. Working with her is always smooth sailing, as she is an elite litigator but also at the same time so compassionate.”
“Clare brings a huge amount of experience and breadth of knowledge to bear, and really knows her stuff on offshore trusts. She is so robust and so full on in protecting the client’s best interests.”
“Clare is an absolute pleasure to work with and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. She is also superb on her feet and can pitch an argument perfectly.”
“Fenner is so good at putting clients’ and solicitors’ minds at ease and is able to navigate complex matters with ease. He is very robust in his advocacy but at the same time he has this sense of calm.”
“When advising, he is brilliant as he can distil complicated principles into a readily digestible form for clients and lawyers. He is highly regarded and his advocacy skills are most impressive.”
“Likeable, charming and lovely to work with, he’s got tremendous energy.”
“He’s very thorough, commercially minded and not afraid to tackle new areas of law. He is extremely knowledgeable and a delight to be around.”
“Gilead has a very fine intellect and is someone who really does think laterally and approaches problem solving from quite unexpected angles. He is quick on his feet and a joy to work with.”
“A masterful advocate with the ability to read a courtroom and improvise impressively. He is somebody you go to when you really need an innovative and creative solution to a case.”
“A complete team player who’s very clever. His ability to be fully prepared for every meeting is extraordinary.”
“Jonathan is extremely thorough. He sees angles that others don’t see and is always five steps ahead.”
“Jonathan is a force of nature, who is at ease when tackling almost any complex trusts issue. He delivers clear, meticulous, well-thought-through advice and is extremely hard-working.”
“Michael is very eminent but also extremely thoughtful and engaged in the way that he works with clients. He gives very user-friendly advice, even when matters are complicated.”
“His advice is clear, user-friendly and totally accessible to clients, even when he’s faced with the most complex and knotty of problems. Michael is dependable, responsive and a pleasure to work with.”
“A straightforward player, who adopts a very measured approach to his advocacy and is brilliant in court. Judges really listen to him and respect him.”
“He is solution-orientated, measured in his approach and very client-friendly.”
“Robert is wise and extremely technically knowledgeable.”
“Robert is a reassuring barrister, who adeptly scrutinises matters before providing practical, prescient advice. He provides invaluable guidance due to his keen intellect and extensive experience.”
“Tiffany provides excellent technical advice and very strong client delivery. She is also a very savvy operator, who shows great commercial awareness.”
“Tiffany has a very nice, calm manner and is good with lay clients. She produces excellent written work and is pleasant to work with.”
“Tiffany takes a no-nonsense approach and is always so straightforward. She is very technical in her advocacy and a pleasure to work with.”
“Andrew is very strong technically and a smooth and unflappable advocate. Exceptional with clients and very accessible for instructing solicitors, he is an invaluable part of any team.”
“Andrew is meticulous, a man of intellectual might and someone who shows great attention to detail. He brings commerciality to everything he does and is a pleasure to work with.”
“Andrew is highly responsive and provides sound guidance. He skilfully leads discussions on technical aspects and excels at working with experts in other fields.”
“An excellent leader, who’s very communicative, supportive and responsive. Jonathan is an extremely smooth and persuasive advocate, who identifies the essence of the case very quickly.”
“A very persuasive oral advocate, who is able to convey detailed and complicated legal concepts with ease to lay clients and judges.”
“Jonathan wins cases that seem impossible to win. He is worth every penny.”
Zoë Barton KC has a broad chancery practice, which makes her a particularly fine choice of counsel for matters with commercial or real property aspects. She is also noted for her work on Court of Protection matters.
“Zoë is great in conference and in court. She delivers clear advice.”
“An extremely creative lawyer.”
Leading Juniors
“A very thorough barrister and a really lovely guy to deal with. His written work is excellent, and he’s also impressive on his feet.”
“Michael is very clear, straightforward in his dealings and thorough when advising on the interpretation of trust deeds.”
“Michael is a pleasure to work with. He is highly responsive and technically exceptional.”
“A quietly confident performer, who is very measured and thoughtful in her written work and advocacy.”
“Jennifer gets up to speed with complex material quickly and delivers succinct and practical advice.”
“Jennifer really understands the complexities in a case and explains her advice well. She is both easy to get hold of and easy to talk to.”
“Responsive, considered in his advice and really engaging. He has a great future ahead of him.”
“Edward is a lawyer with a brilliant technical mind, who’s conscientious and considerate. He parses weighty materials with ease, offering insight and direction.”
“His broad commercial chancery practice means he’s an excellent choice for cases that straddle multiple areas. He’s good at identifying a strategic path and finding ways to overcome apparent obstacles.”
“James is my “go-to” for commercial and trusts work. Extremely bright, very thorough and always detail-focused, he drafts elegant and persuasive documents.”
“James takes a considered approach to his work and advises eloquently. He reliably provides written work of the highest quality and is very nuanced in his approach.”
“The experience that he has accrued over a relatively short period of time at the Bar really demonstrates his quality as a junior. He is incredibly bright and has great depth of experience.”
“His advocacy is very strong indeed and his written work is amazing. I have seen how easily he instils confidence in clients. For complex points of trusts law, he is the one you want to go to.”
“Simon is very impressive and really gives it his all. He’s high energy, incredibly intelligent, and very good on his feet. One judge described his skeleton argument as a tour de force.”
“He has encyclopaedic knowledge and is a joy to work with. His lovely personality is only matched by his technical abilities.”
Charities (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is a highly distinguished chancery set whose charities specialists frequently advise foundations, charities themselves and the Charity Commission on a diverse range of issues including those concerning commercial and tax questions as they impact charitable bodies. Individuals are active on behalf of these clients in contentious matters as well and also represent trustees and HMRC in cases concerning the meaning of a ‘charity’. Clients further benefit from the set’s well-renowned high-quality offshore expertise.
“Jonathan is incredibly knowledgeable on tricky charity issues and is helpful in turning things around quickly.”
“Jonathan is thorough and bright, exactly what you want in a barrister.”
Michael Furness KC is an accomplished silk with long experience, most notably in trust-related matters. He is particularly active advising in relation to onshore and offshore tax issues, and on matters involving the international transfer of charitable assets and the international structuring of charitable organisations. Furness is highly versed in contentious trust litigation in a variety of jurisdictions.
Commercial Dispute Resolution (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers has at its disposal a strong bench of commercial barristers, with particularly impressive capability at silk level. Its members are capable of handling a wide spectrum of commercial matters, including cases arising out of company law, insolvency and civil fraud. The set’s barristers are well known for their ability to represent clients in international disputes and regularly appear in a range of jurisdictions, such as Hong Kong, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Recently, its members have appeared in Bourlakova & Others v Bourlakov & Others, a USD3 billion family dispute concerning alleged fraud, and Invest Bank v El-Husseini, a claim seeking relief under Section 423 of the Insolvency Act. Its members also continue to act on Tulip LLP v Bitcoin Association, a very high-profile case from the crypto sector. One interviewee commented: “Wilberforce Chambers is a leading set with some very bright minds who are very capable of taking on the most complicated and sophisticated litigation.”
Client Service
“The Wilberforce Chambers clerks are really responsive and go above and beyond.”
“The clerking team are very professional and are really integrated into the team, supporting as best they can.”
“The clerking team at Wilberforce is fantastic. They know what they are talking about and are adept at dealing with tricky situations.”
“Deputy practice director Andrew Barnes and practice manager Conor Michaels are commercial and responsive, and get the big picture.”
“Practice director Nick Luckman is just super-friendly and will always find you the right person for the job.”
Leading Silks
“Alan Gourgey KC is a highly intelligent and experienced lawyer who is able to navigate complex issues with ease. His client service is excellent.”
“Alan is an all-around barrister in that he embodies everything that you would want in a silk. He is wonderful with clients, on top of the detail and someone who provides high-quality written work.”
“John’s opinions are really clear, even in cases with complicated subject matter. He condenses the complex aspects of a brief into an easy-to-understand form.”
“John is sensible, commercial and good on his feet.”
“John is a really outstanding silk, who has a very impressive cross-examination style. He is a first-rate commercial barrister.”
“John is fantastic to work with and a voice of reason during incredibly high-stakes pieces of litigation with demanding time pressures.”
“Tim is focused and effective in cross-examination. He makes concise and compelling submissions and has the ear of the court.”
“Tim is an excellent KC and a real team player. A barrister with an excellent legal mind who is very user-friendly, he is all-round brilliant and he gets the job done.”
“Tim is effortlessly charming and has control of his witness and the trust of the court and his clients. He can absorb a huge amount of detail in a short space of time and he is wonderful to work with.”
“Tim is a master practitioner. He is well prepared, very thorough, all over the detail and excellent on his feet.”
“She is flexible in her approach, very patient and extremely good at making complex things very easy to understand.”
“Marcia is a force to be reckoned with. She is always in control and takes things forward.”
“The way he deals with a judge is masterful.”
“He is an extremely good trial lawyer.”
“James is really friendly, hands-on and the type of barrister that never lets the case drift.”
“His star qualities are his advocacy and his manner with the judge. He knows how to present a point and assess how the court is taking it.”
“He instils confidence and his knowledge of the law is top-notch.”
“Max has a very strong commercial practice and brings a lot of numeracy and clear thinking to his matters.”
“Max is a very good advocate. He is user-friendly for clients and approachable, and he communicates in an easy-to-understand manner.”
“He is a true team player.”
“Max is very calm under pressure and easy to work with. He is also good in the courtroom.”
“A lawyer with great cross-examination skills, who is excellent in terms of his strategy for handling the case.”
“A barrister of gravitas, who commands the respect of the judge.”
Leading Juniors
“Bobby is very robust, very commercial and an excellent person to deal with.”
“Bobby is incredibly commercial and not afraid to give very direct advice. He’s a joy to work with and he cuts through the academic matter in a case to deliver commercial advice.”
“Bobby is a very safe pair of hands. The solicitor team trusts him to take charge of matters and advocate persuasively on behalf of the client.”
“His written work is superb and he has a great eye for detail.”
“Jack is adept at navigating complex matters and difficult circumstances. His written submissions are excellent and he is impressive on his feet.”
“Jack is a computer on legs – he is very clever and logical in his approach.”
“Jack is an excellent barrister whose talent for lateral thinking far exceeds his year of call.”
“Jack is great on the detail and turns work around very quickly.”
“Sri is all over the detail, a brilliant drafter and a good team player.”
“She has excellent commercial awareness and strong technical expertise.”
“Sri is fantastic to work with. She is able to turn her hand to matters with great speed and deal with detailed technical matters with ease. A fantastic senior junior.”
“James is wise beyond his years. He really gets involved with cases and client objectives, and understands the commercial drivers.”
“Tim absorbs information at a staggering rate and condenses it into relevant points.”
“Tim’s written advocacy is excellent. He is a pleasure to work with and a good strategist.”
“Tim is very meticulous, very considered in his opinions and just all over the detail in very complex cases.”
“Emily is really good for technical and detailed cases. She can easily digest and command a lot of data and process and present it in a very simple way.”
“Emily never disappoints and is loved by clients. She is phenomenally bright and she offers the complete package. She is a KC without the title and that is sure to change very soon.”
“She is commercial, collaborative and a lawyer whose advocacy is brilliant.”
“Emily is very good in terms of her eye for detail. She’s also very accessible and really hands-on.”
“Emily is user-friendly and delivers pinpoint advice in a sensible and comprehensive way. She’s on top of the facts and works well with all members of the team, however senior or junior.”
“He can find the points that make the difference.”
“Stephen used to be a solicitor, which is a big selling point. He knows how it works on both sides of the fence.”
“Extremely well prepared and professional, he has strong commercial vision and always understands the client’s needs.”
“A calming presence and a really industrious barrister.”
Company (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers represents an excellent choice of set for company matters. Its barristers frequently represent clients faced with domestic and cross-border shareholder disputes, issues of directors’ duties and breaches of fiduciary duty, among other matters. Its reputation for handling offshore work is particularly strong. Notable recent instructions include: Garafalo v Crisp; Re Valorem Holdings, an unfair prejudice and breach of directors’ duties case involving the breach of government sanctions; and Say Chong Lim v Francis Ong et al, which involves the intersection of company law and fraud relating to a high-value property portfolio.
Client Service
“The clerks at Wilberforce Chambers are responsive and ensure matters are progressed smoothly.”
“The clerking at Wilberforce Chambers is very smooth and efficient. Practice director Nicholas Luckman and deputy practice director Andrew Barnes are a pleasure to deal with.”
“The clerking team is very professional and extremely supportive.”
Leading Silk
“Lexa is a guru in the world of cross-border insolvency. Her attention to detail is incredible and she is on-hand when you need her the most.”
“Lexa is an excellent barrister, who is very clever but also very sensible in running points that are commercially strong. She has lots of experience and goes above and beyond for her clients.”
“Lexa is a fierce advocate who is incredibly generous with her time.”
“Marcia is creative, responsive and a pleasure to work with.”
“Marcia is an incredibly focused practitioner who gets to the core issues and points very quickly.”
“Marcia is calm, organised, strategic and highly knowledgeable.”
“Terence is both able and experienced. Softly spoken but very effective, he has a very good grasp of the underlying law and is strong on strategy and tactics.”
Family/Matrimonial : Trusts/Tax Experts
Star Individuals
“A fantastic lawyer who leaves no stone unturned.”
“He is extremely clever. He’s very good at the interface between family law and the offshore world of trusts. He’s very knowledgeable, very clear and gives commercial advice.”
“He’s one of the go-to barristers in this jurisdiction. If you’ve got offshore issues he’s very able.”
Leading Silks
“Andrew is meticulous, mightily intellectual and someone who shows great attention to detail. He brings commerciality to everything he does and is a pleasure to work with.”
“Absolutely remarkable at handling cases concerning the crossover between family law and trusts law. He’s incredibly intelligent and practical, but what surprises me is how friendly he is.”
“He’s just a very smooth operator. You can tell judges trust exactly what he says.”
Leading Juniors
“He is able to hold his own against leading silks as his advocacy is always on-point. He works tirelessly and clients love him.”
“A real go-to for matrimonial trusts work. What he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing.”
“Joseph is able to explain complicated trusts matters in a very simple way. He is very good at identifying practical steps to achieve what is needed.”
Fraud: Civil (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is “a leading set with some very bright minds who are very capable of taking on the most complicated and sophisticated frauds.” Its strong bench of experienced barristers are regularly instructed in high-value and multi-jurisdictional civil fraud disputes. The team is noted for its expert handling of cases involving offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands and the BVI, as well as matters arising in Asia and Europe. Members offer expertise in claims stemming from allegations of misrepresentation, conspiracy and breach of duty. Cases involving complex jurisdictional issues and contempt proceedings are also key areas of strength for the set. The set has recently been instructed on matters including Steenbok & another v Formal Holdings & others, a multimillion-euro case before the Commercial Court concerning the collapse of the Steinhoff Group.
Client Service
“Practice director Nick Luckman is extremely good. He is extraordinarily bright and his insight is incredible.”
“Working with the clerks is a seamless process. They are very good, and I appreciate the work Stewart Cameron and Nick Luckman do.”
“Senior practice manager Stewart Cameron is brilliant and deals with all my service requirements.”
“The clerks are very responsive and incredibly able in terms of directing work to the appropriate barristers at the right level. They are attuned to client requirements.”
Leading Silks
“Alan gets to grips with complex issues, both factual and legal. He’s a good leader of a team and a great advocate.”
“Alan is wonderful with clients – they have complete confidence in him. He’s on top of the detail, and his oral advocacy is persuasive and compelling.”
“John is willing to make bold calls and stand by them. He’s a great advocate and brilliant on his feet.”
“He is fantastic to work with and a voice of reason during incredibly high-stakes litigation with demanding time pressures.”
“He is a really outstanding silk who has a very impressive cross-examination style. He works very hard and is across the details in the bundles.”
“He carries himself authoritatively in court and he’s very well prepared. His advocacy is excellent.”
“He can read the court very well and he is very accessible. He has a really good sense of what the judges are likely to think.”
“Tom is at the top of his game.”
“Tim is an excellent KC who is a team player and has an excellent legal mind. He’s very user-friendly and all-round brilliant.”
“He’s a real heavy hitter with a huge brain. He works exceptionally hard and very collaboratively.”
“Ian has great courtroom presence and gets to the heart of the case.”
“Jonathan is very good – knowledgeable and bright.”
“He is a real star but a formidable opponent when you are against him. His ability to get on top of the detail quite quickly is extraordinary.”
“Max is a real fraud expert, and is very calm under pressure and easy to work with. He is also good in the courtroom.”
“His command of the courtroom, fortified by incisive understanding of the interplay between law and commerce, is masterful. Max’s thorough preparation and tailored advice reflect a premier standard.”
“Max is easy to work with and responsive.”
Leading Juniors
“Bobby is superb. He is incredibly bright and affable.”
“He is really good with clients, really on top of facts and produces compelling and persuasive arguments.”
“Bobby is very bright, articulate and good on his feet in difficult hearings. He is very robust when he needs to be.”
“He’s an excellent communicator and is always clear and thoughtful. He is always on top of it and giving extremely sound advice.”
“Bobby is fantastic to work with, and able to turn his hand to matters with great speed and deal with detailed technical matters with ease.”
“Jack is down to earth and great on detail. He turns work around very quickly.”
“Jack is an excellent barrister with strong lateral thinking. He has been highly helpful and user-friendly.”
“Sri is a fantastic advocate and great on written work.”
“Sri is very good on her feet and with clients. She understands client needs.”
“Sri is very efficient, has good attention to detail and is good on her feet.”
“She is fantastic to work with, able to turn her hand to matters with great speed and deal with detailed technical matters with ease. She is a fantastic senior junior.”
“Sri is diligent, hard-working and likes to deal with things comprehensively.”
“Emily produces good written documents and analysis, and is very good at getting into the weeds.”
“She is user-friendly and delivers advice in a sensible and comprehensive way. She’s on top of the facts and works well with the team. Her written work is to the point and very good technically.”
“Emily is really good on the detail and really sharp as well as very responsive.”
“Emily is really good for technical details cases. She can easily digest and command a lot of data and process and present it in a very simple way. She has a lovely manner with clients.”
“Emily has a great eye for detail. She is grounded and good at the black letter law.”
Up and Coming
“He is knowledgeable and strategic, and he knows the facts of the case inside out.”
“His analytical prowess and commercial awareness have provided insights that steer the strategy towards favourable outcomes. Jia Wei shows exceptional dedication and meticulous attention to detail.”
“Jia Wei is tactical, very intelligent and has great judgement on matters. He is also very user and client friendly.”
Offshore (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers offers significant strength and depth in all the major offshore jurisdictions, including those in the Channel Islands, the Caribbean and Asia. An instructing solicitor refers to it as “a powerhouse of a set”, adding that “everyone at this set is good quality“. Members of the set are instructed to act in matters such as trust litigation, high-value commercial disputes, fraud claims and insolvency matters. Its barristers continue to appear in a number of high-profile cases, such as FamilyMart Holding v Ting Chuan, a highly publicised Privy Council appeal in the Cayman Islands. One source states that “the set as a whole is the pinnacle of the London Bar – a great bench of juniors and KCs“.
Civil Service
“The clerking is second to none. Practice director Nicholas Luckman and deputy practice director Andrew Barnes are the gold standard in London right now.”
“The clerks are a real pleasure – they’re really responsive and go over and above. They are really impressive. Senior practice manager Fraser Geddes and practice manager Antonia Matthew are very good.”
“The clerking at Wilberforce is among the best. Nick Luckman, practice director, is exceptionally good.”
“The clerks are highly responsive and always willing to assist with the extra administrative layer that comes with working offshore.”
“Brian is our number one choice silk for offshore trusts disputes. He is a superb advocate who never fails to impress. The best of the best.”
“Brian truly goes above and beyond. He is attentive, accessible and at all times across every aspect of large and complex trusts matters.”
“He is the best. Very thoughtful, strategic and good with clients. He is an excellent oral advocate, very persuasive.”
“Clare is very highly regarded for offshore matters. Working with her is always smooth sailing, She is an elite litigator but at the same time she is so compassionate. She is my go-to offshore silk.”
“Clare is superb, one of the most popular silks in Cayman. She’s very client-friendly and extremely good at getting into the detail. She’s a first-rate advocate too.”
“Clare is tenacious and formidable, and no stone is left unturned with her.”
“She brings a huge amount of experience, breadth of knowledge and really knows her stuff on offshore trusts. She is so robust and protects the client’s best interests.”
“Jonathan has just been superb. His written product and advice is absolutely spot on.”
“An extraordinary force. Jonathan is a powerhouse and a pleasure to work with. He is possessed of an intense and fierce intelligence that you want on your side.”
“Jonathan possesses unique qualities that are unrivalled – the quality of his written work is excellent, and his friendly and accessible manner makes it a pleasure to work with him.”
“Robert is an extremely experienced counsel. He is extremely pragmatic and approachable, responsive and an excellent person to have on the team.”
“Robert has been really excellent. He gives really robust advice on areas that are often unclear.”
“Robert is a reassuring presence, adeptly scrutinising before providing practical and prescient advice. He provides invaluable guidance drawn from his keen intellect and extensive experience.”
“Tom is very well known to the Cayman court and is a trusted practitioner. His encyclopedic knowledge is very impressive.”
“Thomas is always first choice silk for a Cayman case. He’s very highly regarded and is head and shoulders above anyone else. He can think on his feet and adjust to the court. He carries huge gravitas.”
“A real company law expert, he really knows his stuff. He’s cerebral and can speak with considerable authority, and the judges listen to what he has to say.”
“Gilead is great. Very thorough, commercially minded and I admire his ability to tackle new areas of law. He is extremely knowledgeable and is a delight to be around.”
“He has this ability to take the most complex of problems and break them down into simple terms and untie knotty and intertwined situations. He is incredibly bright, technical and very user-friendly.”
“Gilead knows his trust work inside out. An easy person to work with – a solicitor’s delight.”
“Gilead is very user-friendly, very responsive, able to turn things around quickly on short timescales and has a lot of inventive ideas. He’s at the top of his game.”
“He is a really outstanding silk who has a very impressive cross-examination style. A first-rate commercial barrister.”
“John is a passionate advocate, he’s very strong.”
“John is a superb advocate. He’s absolutely top notch. If you have a ‘must win’ commercial litigation he comes at the top. He is a rare talent and an absolute maestro in the courtroom.”
“Michael is a delight to work with. He is very intelligent. He picked up the issues very quickly and was able to navigate the difficulties with ease.”
“He’s a real pleasure to work with and knows everything you’d possibly want to know about trust law. Absolutely brilliant.”
“Terence is very good on complex work.”
“Andrew is really good at structuring claims and thinking around how best to land them. He’s really nice to work with and has a wonderful court manner – he puts a punchy and succinct message across.”
“He is just excellent. He has the technical expertise that you need especially for complicated matters – he’s not one to get lost in the weeds. He’s very straightforward and a pleasure to work with.”
“Andrew is a delight to work with. He is highly responsive and provides sound guidance. He skilfully leads discussions on technical aspects and excels in working with experts in other fields.”
“Nikki is very good. He cuts through to the core arguments of a case, and he is technical, commercially minded and very methodical in his written work. He’s not one to get caught up in the weeds.”
“Nikki Singla ranks among the best litigators we have come across in the United Kingdom.”
Leading Juniors
“Graeme Halkerston is phenomenally clever and knows Cayman like the back of his hand, having been a partner for a number of years.”
“Graeme is excellent. He is responsive, proactive and dedicated.”
“He’s a master of offshore litigation. He’s wonderfully intelligent and technically brilliant. He’s a breath of fresh air and more talented and experienced than many silks.”
“She has great judgement, she is tenacious as an advocate and she has the ability to see where the problems lie down the track.”
“Anna is an absolute standout. a powerhouse from start to finish. She is exceptionally clever and produced exceptionally high-quality work in a very tight timeframe.”
“Anna is perceptive and her work product is exceptional. She has an affable manner and engages proactively, providing outstanding advice and support on large and complex matters.”
“Tom has been an absolute star. He just went above and beyond trying to help. He’s excellent – a real trooper producing top-rate work and produced on time.”
“Tom is very capable. He is willing to give strong advice looking at long-term solutions. He is also very client-friendly and gives practical advice.”
“Tom is always a favourite to go to. He’s a very strong advocate and quite happy to roll his sleeves up. If you’ve got a particularly contentious matter, he’s a good one to have on side.”
“Tom is an incredibly smart, hard-working junior. He is our go-to junior for complex cross-border litigation. A valuable member of any team, he is also down to earth and approachable.”
“Tom is always on our list to consider for any offshore trust matters. Tom is very bright, dedicated and articulate in advice. He’s very able to make complex facts understandable and simple.”
Pensions (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is a distinguished set with a market-leading group of both silks and juniors capable of handling the full spectrum of pensions work. Members are thoroughly experienced in handling large-scale, high-profile cases at the forefront of the pensions industry. Wilberforce’s barristers are equipped for advice and advocacy in relation to a host of regulatory matters and act for employers, trustees and the Pensions Regulator. The set is able to act in complex cases with elements of employment, trusts and tax law. Described by clients as “one of the pre-eminent sets” in the space, Wilberforce Chambers has represented Newell Rubbermaid UK Services in a Part 8 claim relating to the conversion of DB pension rights to DC benefits.
Client Service
“The clerks are quick to respond to queries and where any issues arise are able to sort them quickly and efficiently.”
“The clerks are always happy to help us in terms of counsel availability and their respective specialist areas, as well as responding quickly to requests for information.”
“Clerks at Wilberforce work as a team and cover each other’s absences seamlessly.”
“The clerks have been responsive and pragmatic throughout.”
Star individuals
“Brian Green is absolutely the cream of the crop. He is probably the most illustrious barrister. He has real gravitas and superlative confidence.”
“Brian has a superb mind, is a wonderful advocate and cares deeply about winning.”
“He is a big gun that gets the big jobs. If he is on a case you know it’s a big deal.”
“Brian’s analysis and advocacy are always incisive and creative. He goes straight to the heart of the issue and spots the angles that other counsel miss.”
Leading Silks
“Jonathan is an intellectual and lateral thinker and super hard-working.”
“Jonathan is phenomenally clever and drives things forward. He sees things that others don’t.”
“Jonathan’s technical ability is second to none. He is also very open and easy to deal with.”
“Jonathan looks at a problem from all angles and provides clear and pragmatic advice. He is open to discussing alternative views and responds quickly to queries.”
“Mike is a fighter in court and leaves no stone unturned.”
“Michael is a stellar strategist and he is someone that you will never be concerned about putting in front of clients.”
“Michael Tennet is exceptionally bright and is able to convey complex issues in an easily understandable manner.”
“He is extremely responsive, including where there are very compressed timescales on urgent matters, and is open to considering questions and alternative perspectives.”
“He brings clear expertise in pensions and standout strategic vision.”
“His energy and drive to find the answer and work with us to meet our objectives is second to none.”
“Paul is great technically. He is very obviously committed to winning and is full of ideas.”
“Paul is amazing, what more can I say? He is highly professional, straightforward and thoroughly prepared for the advocacy.”
“He is commercially astute and tactical in his approach to cases, making concessions where necessary to retain credibility.”
“Paul is always practical and robust in his opinion. He never sits on the fence and is a punchy advocate.”
“He is brilliant in court. Judges really listen to him and respect him, and he has a very measured approach to his advocacy.”
“Michael Furness is intellectually brilliant but also very practical and easy to deal with.”
“Fenner is truly excellent and has got an incredibly quick brain, but he can pick up both the mood of a meeting and a courtroom very quickly and adjust the submissions.”
“Fenner is clearly able to get the judge on side and he is very efficient.”
“He’s very robust and cuts right to the issue and is able to convey his advice.”
“Fenner is really responsive, very experienced and really good to work with.”
“Andrew is the right level of cautious yet commercial and is very user-friendly.”
“Andrew Mold is quietly brilliant. His razor-sharp intellect enables him to see to the heart of a problem very quickly and to marshal his arguments clearly.”
“Andrew provides clear and succinct advice in a timely fashion.”
Leading Juniors
“Edward is capable of working on complex matters at a very high level of skill and expertise.”
“Edward is thorough, calm and collected, and very reliable. He is a good all-round junior.”
“Edward is very good. He’s very considered and looks at all the detail.”
“Edward covers the technical and practical sides. He sees things from different angles.”
“James turns things around very promptly and provides considered and pragmatic advice.”
“James is incredibly thorough and a fantastic team player.”
“Jenny is an excellent junior who provides clear advice that is pragmatic and offers the clients commercial solutions.”
“She is very measured and thoughtful in her written work and as an advocate. She is very quietly confident.”
“Jennifer is willing to engage directly with the clients and comfortable taking on additional responsibility as instructions progress, making her extremely easy to work with.”
“She is incredibly bright and very quick off the mark.”
“Sebastian is a pleasure to work with – responsive, technically very strong and pragmatic.”
“Sebastian is very friendly. He works very well in a team and is somebody who is an absolute workhorse as well.”
“Sebastian is a strong technical barrister who is very approachable and good with clients.”
“Sebastian has always been very responsive and knowledgeable on the matters in question.”
“Technically Tom is excellent, and he’s very calm and present and just easy to deal with.”
“Thomas was very calm, intelligent, easy to work with and measured.”
“Tom is a charming senior junior who works in true partnership with instructing solicitors. Clients appreciate his calm and measured approach to matters and recognise his intellect.”
“A talented barrister with a lovely way with clients.”
“James is phenomenally clever, unflappable and doesn’t make a fuss.”
“James is very intelligent and brilliant on strategy.”
“He is a delight to work with, extremely clever and combines insight with very sound judgement.”
“James is very clever and across all of the detail. He is very personable and easy to work with.”
“Emily can explain complicated things simply and is very calm and lovely to deal with.”
“Emily produces consistently thorough and well-analysed advice on pensions matters.”
“Jonathan is excellent. He is very technical, thorough and commercially minded.”
“Jonathan is a very good junior. He is commercially astute and very user-friendly.”
“Joseph Steadman is good on the detail, commercial and turns the work around quickly.”
“He is sound and completely gets it. He has great judgement and gives advice that everyone understands.”
“Joseph is extremely responsive and understands the wider objectives and perspectives of both instructing solicitors and the client.”
“Michael is a pleasure to work with. He is user-friendly and unbelievably smart.”
“Michael is definitely a rising star.”
“Michael is attuned to the needs of his client and is completely on top of the facts.”
“Thomas is charming to deal with and highly experienced.”
Paul Newman KC
“Paul stands out from the crowd as a pensions silk. He is incisive, purposive and passionate in his work, and incredibly responsive. He’s not willing to descend into needless litigation tactics, and does everything with a sense of fairness and good humour.
Professional Negligence (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers can bring to bear deep expertise in a wide range of professional negligence claims, acting for both defendants and claimants. The set is frequently sought out for solicitors’ liability claims and matters involving financial services professionals, often complicated by fraud elements. Property-related work is a strong suit, and the barristers are an obvious choice for negligence claims concerning the more complex of conveyancing matters, or major development projects. Members continue to act in cases of considerable size and importance, including Mitchell v Al Jaber. One market commentator refers to Wilberforce as “a natural choice for claims against solicitors and other professional advisers.”
Client Service
“The clerks are good – friendly and proactive. They have got a ‘can do, fix it’ attitude.”
“It’s a delight to work with the clerks to get the best possible results for the clients.”
Leading Silks
“A superforce.”
“Exceptional counsel.”
“John is very clever and hard-working.”
“He has a fantastic reputation, deservedly, and is a very nice chap to deal with.”
“Quite simply, Jonathan is the best of the best and I’m always trying to find cases to instruct him on.”
“Paul is a regular favourite, always practical and robust in his opinion. He never sits on the fence and is a punchy advocate.”
“Superb. Paul gives clear, concise advice and inspires great confidence.”
“Thomas has an enviable profile in the professional negligence world.”
“He is a confident advocate who is both entertaining and nice to work with.”
“Excellent, a really good silk.”
“She is a real fighter and really pulls all the stops out for her clients, alongside being very technical and commercially minded.”
“The thing that stands out for her is that clients absolutely love her. She has a killer instinct in court and is a strategic mastermind.”
“She is amazing and is so good on her feet.”
“Simply excellent and a master tactician. James is superb on his feet, hugely persuasive and always a real pleasure to work with.”
“James is very good and wears his intelligence very lightly.”
“Tiffany is this massive brain. She’s just such a good advocate – very clear, with great gravitas, while also being considered and thoughtful.”
“Tiffany is a safe pair of hands and exudes calm.”
Leading Juniors
“Benjamin is completely wise beyond his years and a pleasure to work with.”
“He is thorough and exceptionally hard-working.”
Paul Newman KC
“Paul stands out from the crowd as a pensions silk. He is incisive, purposive and passionate in his work, and incredibly responsive. He’s not willing to descend into needless litigation tactics, and does everything with a sense of fairness and good humour.
Real Estate Litigation (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers acts on a wide range of property matters, including both residential and commercial landlord and tenant cases, development disputes, title disputes and agricultural property cases. Members appear frequently in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. This year the set has been instructed in such matters as Annington Property Ltd & Others v The Secretary of State for Defence, and Manchester Ship Canal Company v United Utilities Water. A source reports: “The Wilberforce team is able to deal with the most complex and difficult cases with great skill and care.” Another interviewee adds: “Wilberforce Chambers is one of the best in the market, and its bench strength is stellar.”
Client Service
“The clerks at Wilberforce go the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction. They are super responsive and can be the difference on a case due to their proactive approach and contacts in the court.”
“The clerks at Wilberforce are very personable, quick to help and really user-friendly.”
“The clerking at Wilberforce is fantastic. They are responsive, personable and understand what their clients need.”
“Frasier Geddes, senior practice manager, is excellent. The clerking team is an excellent, highly professional group who put in the effort to assist clients.”
“Andrew Barnes, deputy practice director, is an available, efficient clerk who knows what his clients need and makes it happen.”
Star Individuals:
“Joanne is at the top of the tree when it comes to property disputes. She has an extremely calming presence and is popular with clients.”
“Joanne is one of the towering figures of the property Bar and is extremely easy to deal with.”
“Joanne is phenomenal and regularly appears in the Supreme Court in large cases. She is very approachable to everyone, excellent in court, straightforward and highly technical.”
“Joanne is one of the leading property silks and is an absolute pleasure to work with. She gives plain-speaking advice that is carefully considered and manages client expectations well.”
“Joanne is a star. She is a top barrister in her written and oral advocacy, as well as in her way with clients.”
Leading Silks
“John is a top property barrister and a go-to silk. He is a master tactician and is extremely clever.”
“John is a leading silk on rights of light work, and is both hard-working and accessible.”
“John is a master of his craft who is well regarded and gets to grips with issues very quickly. He is a real star and a standout member of the property Bar.”
“John is an extremely good, highly regarded and sought-out figure in the property Bar.”
“Jonathan is an incredibly clever thinker and strategist.”
“Jonathan is authoritative and impressive both with clients and with the court.”
“Jonathan is phenomenal. He is a smooth operator, massively experienced and a total expert in the field.”
“Jonathan is so creative with arguments and always thinks outside the box.”
“Martin is always available, and he really rolls up his sleeves and works hard for his clients.”
“Martin is an exceptional barrister. He’s incredibly good and so easy to work with.”
“Martin is clear, succinct and always willing to assist when he’s needed.”
“Martin is down to earth, very approachable, adept at handling large workloads and has a very high level of intelligence.”
“Martin is very easy to deal with and mixes technical excellence with practical and commercial advice.”
“Tom is a compelling advocate who is very good on his feet.”
“Julian has an excellent intellect and really gets to the nub of an issue.”
“Julian is a very methodical and detailed barrister who is strong on highly complicated matters.”
“Julian is a fantastic operator who is calm and precise.”
“Tiffany is incredibly bright, very pragmatic, and her work is always of the highest quality.”
“Tiffany is a bright and tenacious advocate who has a broad chancery and commercial practice that spans from commercial fraud to real property.”
“Jonathan is a fantastic court advocate who reads the room and adjusts on the fly.”
“Jonathan’s presentation is brilliant and he is great with clients.”
“Zoë is highly versatile in how she can deal with cases in a property context. She is absolutely brilliant to work with and is highly impressive in the way she handles matters.”
“Zoë is calm under pressure, really strong in court and is very user-friendly.”
“She is very commercially astute, highly attuned to the mood music of litigation and tactics, very impressive on her feet and makes compelling submissions.”
Leading Juniors
“Benjamin provides proactive and sophisticated thinking on tricky cases. He’s very impressive and goes over and above in terms of client service.”
“Benjamin is completely wise beyond his years, a pleasure to work with and impressive in court.”
“He’s an exceptional barrister who goes above and beyond, giving 110% for his clients. He is also very strategic in his advocacy and is sharp, focused and a pleasure to deal with.”
“Jonathan is one of the top junior property barristers. He is a fantastic advocate with strong cross-examination skills.”
“Jonathan is a great barrister – very easy to work with, responsive and good at helping and supporting his clients.”
“Jonathan is a responsive, pragmatic and creative property barrister.”
“Emer is incredibly smart, has really good razor-sharp instincts and gets to the nub of issues. She is straightforward, clear, careful and a pleasure to work with.”
“Emer turns work around very quickly, is very clear and is helpful for clients.”
“Emer has full command of the facts of a case and the law itself. She is impressive in court and has good client service.”
“Emer is extremely knowledgeable in the field of real estate, very hard-working, very user-friendly, extremely bright and really good on client conferences.”
“Emer is extremely articulate and a pleasure to work with.”
“Harriet provides strong intellect and insight.”
“Harriet is easy to deal with, very bright and very commercial.”
“Harriet equips herself brilliantly. She is very good in court and has great case management.”
“Harriet deals with complex cases with great skill and remains aware of the commercial realities of litigation for her clients.”
“Alice is personable and is very good at the crossover of property and insolvency.”
“Alice is a joy to work with. She is completely on the ball, very comforting, encouraging to work with and very experienced.”
“Alice instils confidence in her clients and produces brilliant advocacy and submissions.”
“Alice is able to achieve excellent results for her clients, even when the odds are against her.”
“Alice is very smart, client-friendly and able to turn around work quickly.”
“James is an extremely able and diligent lawyer with an ability to get on top of extremely difficult factual problems.”
“James is very intelligent and is brilliant on case strategy.”
“James has an amazing legal brain and is very tactically astute.”
“James is an exceptional barrister who is extremely bright, easy to work with, good with clients, humble and good on his feet. He really immerses himself in each case.”
“James is an academic powerhouse with a strong personable nature.”
“Simon is unflappable, calm and a very safe pair of hands. He is also very good on his feet and strong in terms of his written work.”
“Tom is very bright, good to work with and very reliable.”
“Tom is excellent with clients, really down to earth and always manages to get judges on his side.”
“Tom is strong on the commercial chancery and insolvency sides as well. He’s a very strong advocate and is happy to roll his sleeves up on contentious matters.”
“Joe is a great up-and-coming junior who provides clear written advice and very good client service.”
“Joseph is very impressive. He is incredibly professional and doesn’t miss a beat on the law and in terms of putting his case across.”
“Joe is incredibly bright, very sensible, commercial, empathetic and shows a great level of maturity.”
“Joseph is very good on his feet, quick, responsive, astute and has a lovely manner with judges through which he connects with them very well.”
“Joseph is incredibly intelligent, very switched on and a good advocate. He builds a good rapport, and is very clear in his submissions and at tailoring them to the audience.”
Up and Coming
“Daniel is very bright, personable and gets stuck into cases.”
“Daniel is a good team player who is very bright and perceptive.”
Restructuring/Insolvency (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is noted for its impressive work tackling both corporate and personal insolvency matters. Members are frequently called upon to undertake cases arising both in the UK and further afield, and offer significant expertise in the handling of complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Market commentators note that “it is a leading set with some very bright minds who are very capable of taking on the most complicated and sophisticated cases,” with particular areas of strength for the set spanning administrations, CVAs, restructurings and schemes of arrangement. The team is also regularly instructed in cases involving complex pensions and property elements, owing to the set’s established strengths in these areas. An enviable client list includes creditors, debtors and insolvency office holders. Recent cases of note include the Lehman Brothers litigation, and Halabi v Equity Trust (Jersey).
Client Service
“Stewart Cameron, senior practice manager, is brilliant and deals with all service requirements.”
“Andrew Barnes, deputy practice director, is a responsive and flexible clerk.”
“The clerking team are very professional and are really integrated into the team. They are good at running trainings and events.”
“The clerks are responsive and on top of their barristers’ workloads. They’re incredibly able in directing work to the appropriate barristers and being attuned to client requirements.”
“The clerks are a delight to work with and add value in situations where time can often be of the essence.”
Leading Silks
“Lexa is strategically fantastic and extremely powerful in cross-examinations. She’s very easy to work with, personable and unshakeable.”
“She is very impressive, works hard and has clear advocacy.”
“Lexa is a silk of the highest calibre. She is approachable but razor sharp. Clients really like her down-to-earth approach and ability to come up with solutions to the most complex of issues.”
“She is experienced, highly intelligent and combines this with a sense of humour.”
“Marcia is a force to be reckoned with. She has control of a case and really takes things forwards.”
“She is very client-friendly and extremely good at getting into the detail. She is also a first-rate advocate.”
“Clare is very impressive and engaging in court. She has a pleasant style and a lightness to her approach.”
“Clare is tenacious, formidable and leaves no stone unturned.”
“James is strong at identifying strategies and rolling up his sleeves to get to the detail of the case.”
“James is very good with the complexities of insolvency law. He leads the client to great success. He’s a great communicator and a successful adviser.”
“He is excellent – very smart, experienced, good with clients and a go-to for commercial disputes.”
Leading Juniors
“Thomas is an incredibly user-friendly and highly regarded lawyer. He is detail-oriented, reliable and a very calm advocate. He’s very eloquent in his style and is affable and well informed.”
“He is specialised in contentious insolvency matters. He is calm and on top of the detail.”
“Thomas is a fantastic lawyer. He managed to deliver advice on the complicated matters in a way which the lay clients understood.”
“Daniel is an excellent and persuasive advocate and has the art of making complicated matters straightforward.”
“Daniel Lewis is charming, charismatic and calm, which are traits you want during advocacy and also in reassuring clients. His advice is clear and commercial.”
“Daniel provides advice of the utmost quality. He has an excellent manner when delivering advice that instils confidence and puts the clients at ease.”
“Bobby is responsive and quick to identify complex issues.”
“She is responsive and able to provide a quick view on issues, followed by an in-depth analysis. She’s capable, bright and gets among the issues.”
“Jessica is a very good advocate. She is strong technically, has a strong knowledge of insolvency and is able to grasp complexity very well.”
“Jessica Brooke is very conscientious, resilient and persistent. She covers every base and is very thorough.”
“Rachael is a pleasure to work with. She’s down to earth and makes herself available. She fiercely defends her client’s position and is a future star of the Bar.”
“She is user-friendly, cuts right to the issues in a case and has a pleasant court manner.”
“Rachael is delightful to deal with. She is user-friendly, bright, commercial and puts herself out to accommodate clients’ needs. She is also a great advocate.”
“Sri is very detail-oriented, careful with the facts and competent in applying the law. She is approachable, friendly and happy to go the extra mile.”
“She is a great advocate. She’s very good on her feet and understands client needs.”
“She is very detailed in her analysis, has a clear view on how points will land and is very trusted by silks. She is thoughtful in her presentation.”
Sport
“David Phillips KC is a decision maker and brings huge credibility to any matter.”
Tax
“An excellent advocate, who is very smooth and polished. He is extremely persuasive and always very clear about his view on a case.”
“A very impressive strategist, who is good at thinking through the consequences of actions.”
“Jonathan is very good at reading the room and pitching submissions accordingly. He’s a real joy to work with.”
“Bright and exactly what you want in a barrister – he’s thorough in his approach; he fights hard and he tries the case properly.”
“He is able to convey detailed and complicated legal concepts with ease to both lay clients and judges.”
Tax: Indirect Tax
“Jonathan is an excellent advocate, who does a wide variety of work and is a real joy to work with. He’s very good at reading the room and pitching submissions accordingly.”
“He fights hard and conducts his cases properly.”
“Really hard-working and very well prepared. Clients love him.”
Tax: Private Client (Leading Set)
Wilberforce Chambers is widely known as one of London’s top chancery sets and regularly involved in the largest litigation matters in the UK and offshore. It also has a high-end tax practice for private client matters.
Client Service
“Wilberforce show great communication to clarify any areas of complication which need exploring.”
Leading Silks
“Jonathan Davey is very communicative, supportive and responsive. He is also an extremely smooth and persuasive advocate; he identifies the essence of the case very quickly.”
“Jonathan’s oral advocacy is very persuasive; he is able to convey detailed and complicated legal concepts with ease to lay clients and judges. Frankly, he is just an all-rounder as a barrister.”
“He is an excellent advocate and has a commanding presence in court.”
“Brian is absolutely phenomenal. People from other countries like working with him; people feel they can’t go wrong with him.”
“The matters Brian is involved with are pretty significant, with huge sums. I was impressed when working with him.”
Telecommunications
Leading Silks
“Jonathan Seitler is straightforward and knows telecommunications.”
Leading Juniors
“Emer is incredibly hard-working and delightful to work with.”
“Emer Murphy is one of the best counsel I have worked with in terms of responsiveness and quality of output.”
“She provides very solid advice to clients and simplifies matters to ensure a commercially viable outcome.”
Trusts
Leading Silks
“Andrew is a meticulous barrister, who has intellectual might and is great when it comes to attention to detail. He brings commerciality to everything he does and is a pleasure to work with.”
“Andrew is highly responsive and provides sound guidance. He skilfully leads discussions on the technical aspects of the case and excels when working with experts.”
“Andrew is fiercely bright and has the ability to explain complex points clearly and succinctly. He is also excellent with clients.”
“It is a pleasure to work with Andrew. He has a remarkable intellect and stunning clarity of thought, coupled with an unassuming and down-to-earth manner.”
“Andrew is personable, commercial and a pleasure to instruct. The speed at which he immersed himself in the details of our matter was staggering.”
“Brian is the best barrister. He’s very thoughtful, strategic and good with clients. Judges trust his views – he is an excellent oral advocate who is very persuasive.”
“Brian is accessible, assiduously attentive to the case and someone who goes above and beyond. He has an unequalled ability to immediately understand the details of other technical disciplines.”
“Brian is incredibly passionate and is an absolute perfectionist, who is strategic in his thinking. He really rolls his sleeves up and is definitely someone whom you want to have in your corner.”
“Working with Claire is always smooth sailing. She is an elite litigator, but at the same time she is so compassionate and she understands the emotions involved.”
“Clare brings a huge amount of experience and breadth of knowledge to bear. She is so robust and full-on in her desire to protect the client’s best interests.”
“Clare is a force to be reckoned with and just an absolutely formidable advocate. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and someone who leaves no stone unturned.”
“Clare is a leader in trusts work. She is very capable and always responsive to our needs.”
“Clare is commercially minded, very easy to deal with and so good on her feet. She provides insightful advice in all situations.”
“He is very strong technically and his opinions are very clear and to the point. When he comes to a view, he then stands behind it.”
“Fenner is a truly excellent, very persuasive barrister with an incredibly quick brain. He is hugely knowledgeable and someone who gets people on his side very quickly.”
“Fenner is technically brilliant, commercially-focused and very practical.”
“Good at handling clients and absolutely brilliant in court as he is very single-minded in cross-examination . If you need a top-notch KC, he is someone worth looking up.”
“A brilliant barrister with great analytical skills, who has a strong, strategic mindset. Clients really take to him and he is a top advocate.”
“Gilead is very bright and has this ability to take the most complex of problems and break them down into simple terms. He unties knotty and intertwined situations and turns them into clear concepts.”
“Gilead has a very fine intellect and is someone who approaches problem-solving from unexpected angles. He anticipates situations and thinks of potential solutions to problems that not many would.”
“A masterful advocate, with the ability to read a courtroom and improvise very impressively. He is somebody you go to when you really need an innovative and creative solution to a case.”
“One of the most intelligent barristers out there. His brain works in the most incredible way, and he is able to make fantastic arguments.”
“Helpful, sensible, clear in his drafting and a man with huge integrity. His advice was extremely sound and really helpful.”
“Super bright, very hands-on and a leader in this field.”
“A formidable opponent whose ability to get on top of the details quickly is extraordinary.”
“Extremely responsive, incredibly analytical, very clever and exceptionally personable. He’s always friendly and it is a pleasure and a privilege to work with him.”
“Jonathan is a fantastic lawyer who leaves no stone unturned.”
“He is very technical, highly commercial and easy to work with.”
“Nikki is incredibly approachable and his commitment to the client is unwavering. He is collaborative, humble, client-friendly and able to absorb a lot of information very quickly.”
“Nikki is very good and cuts through to the core arguments of a case quickly. Not one to get caught up in the weeds, he is technical, commercially minded and very methodical in his written work.”
“He is very easy to work with. He is solution-oriented, measured in his approach and very client-friendly.”
“Robert is a reassuring presence, adeptly scrutinising matters before providing practical and prescient advice. He provides invaluable guidance drawn from his keen intellect and extensive experience.”
“Robert is extremely intelligent, articulate and very experienced. He is incredibly calm under pressure and a superb strategist. He is a pleasure to work with.”
“Robert responds quickly and there is always a clear focus on the key issues. He discusses complex legal issues in a manner that is easily accessible and remains focused on the client’s key outcomes.”
“What he does particularly well is summarise complex points and provide advice extremely pithily. He really is one of the best barristers I know at cutting through the noise.”
Leading Juniors
“Joseph is able to handle complex matters with ease, and always focuses on how best to achieve the client’s desired outcome.”
“A super hard-working and responsive barrister, whose drafting is particularly good.”
“Just great and so easy to work with. Really nice and very clever, he’s cheerful and will keep you going when the case gets serious and heavy.”
“Joseph is well prepared and all over the details.”
“Michael has an academic background, and you can see that in what he does, as he translates incredibly in-depth technical knowledge into a work product that is commercial and user-friendly.”
“Exceptionally bright; you want him on your side when there you have something complicated and technical. He takes great pleasure in analysing documents in great detail.”
“A remarkably poised advocate, who is unflappable in difficult situations.”
“A technically brilliant barrister whose advocacy is very good. He is very clever and easy to work with.”
“Michael is user-friendly and unbelievably smart. He makes himself available and is always happy to jump on a call.”
“A very strong advocate, who is more than happy to roll his sleeves up and wade into the fight. If you’ve got a particularly contentious matter, he’s a good one to have on board.”
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The history of Wilberforce Chambers
- 1928
- 1932
- 1943
- 1948
- 1954
- 1961
- 1976
The set now known as Wilberforce Chambers was founded by Andrew Clark in 1928, not long after he was called to the Bar. He served in the First World War and won an MC, but delayed his call to the Bar until 1928. His chambers were in 11 New Court, an attractive red brick Victorian building that used to stand on the corner of Carey Street and Serle Street.
There he was joined, among others, by Richard Wilberforce in 1932 and Irvine Goulding in 1936.
Chambers closed down during the Second World War, thereafter re-opening in rooms on the first and upper floors of 3 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn. Andrew Clark took silk in 1943.
He inherited his baronetcy on the death of his father in 1948. Between 1952 and 1960, when no new Chancery judges were appointed, he and Charles Russell QC were widely regarded as the leading advocates of the Chancery Bar.
Richard Wilberforce took silk in 1954. His most famous case was the Spanish Champagne case, in which he established for the first time that a passing off action could be maintained by a class of champagne producers to protect the name champagne, and that it was not limited to the protection of the goodwill of one individual producer as had previously been considered the case.
In 1961 he was appointed a Judge of the High Court. Within three years he was appointed a judicial member of the House of Lords, where he earned a high reputation for the quality of his judgments. Irvine Goulding took silk in 1961, and was appointed a High Court Judge in 1971. He was succeeded as head of chambers by Victor Hallett.
The modern incarnation of chambers began in earnest in 1976 when Edward Nugee became the new head, taking silk the following year. From 10 juniors when he became head until he retired as head 30 years later, chambers expanded enormously. Many outstanding pupils became tenants, and experienced counsel from other sets also joined. The premises in 3 New Square were enlarged, but by 1993 proved too small; and the chambers moved, with half of its members occupying the Northern half of 8 New Square and further rooms in 7 and 9, and the other half occupying the new building, now 16 New Square, as remains the case today.