Leading Silks
Aidan Christie KC
1
Aidan Christie KC
4 Pump Court
‘Go-to leading counsel for the most complex and sensitive insurance and reinsurance matters. An outstanding knowledge of the market which is a real asset to clients, all delivered sensitively and commercially.'
Charles Dougherty KC
1
Charles Dougherty KC
2 Temple Gardens
'Charles is an eloquent and calm advocate who has a clear voice in the court room.'
Jonathan Gaisman KC
1
Jonathan Gaisman KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
'Jonathan is of course highly intellectual and his advocacy is clear and determined. He is a superb leader in a complex dispute and is advocacy is always well prepared and focused.'
Siobán Healy KC
1
Siobán Healy KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Extremely hardworking, resilient and a great team player.'    
Mark Howard KC
1
Mark Howard KC
Brick Court Chambers
‘Put simply, he has the court’s ear in a way that other senior silks do not. Always cuts to the heart of the issue with impeccable judgment.’
Gavin Kealey KC
1
Gavin Kealey KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘By far the leading advocate at the insurance Bar in a league of his own. Ruthless in cross-examination. Creative and ingenious when it comes to analyzing and developing complex legal arguments. A pleasure to work with and gets results.’
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC
1
Peter MacDonald Eggers KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Unmatched knowledge and recall of his subject. A calm level head and a charming advocate who is trusted by the judge or tribunal.’ 
Ben Quiney KC
1
Ben Quiney KC
Crown Office Chambers
‘Ben has a fantastic way of boiling down complex issues in an easy to understand way. His written advices are thorough and digestible. He is also very client friendly and great on his feet.’
Andrew Rigney KC
1
Andrew Rigney KC
Crown Office Chambers
‘Andrew is a brilliant advocate, extremely hardworking, impeccably-mannered, and a thoroughly decent human being.'
Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC
1
Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Rebecca is very gifted technically, she is also very hard working and has a very rounded view of the issues: sitting as an arbitrator assists in this. She has very good judgement and a very impressive client manner.’
Alistair Schaff KC
1
Alistair Schaff KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
'The go to person for insurance and reinsurance matters.  Clever, a pleasure to work with, and a calm, authoritative advocacy style.'
Tony Singla KC
1
Tony Singla KC
Brick Court Chambers
‘Tony is exceptional in every respect. As an advocate, he stands head and shoulders above almost all of his peers.’
David Turner KC
1
David Turner KC
4 New Square
‘Very client focused and accessible, responsive and a pleasure to work with.'  
Andrew Wales KC
1
Andrew Wales KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Andrew is an exceptional barrister. Not only is he one of the most intellectually able KCs of his generation, but he is also sensible, practical and commercial. His advocacy is understated but devastatingly effective.’
Richard Waller KC
1
Richard Waller KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Richard is an excellent advocate and a go-to KC. He is very sharp and provides high quality, reliable advice which takes into account the practical and commercial considerations of the matter.’
Tom Weitzman KC
1
Tom Weitzman KC
3 Verulam Buildings
‘Tom is excellent on his feet and extremely calming in conference.  He gets to the heart of the issue very quickly and is a pleasure to deal with.'
Ben Elkington KC
2
Ben Elkington KC
4 New Square
‘Ben is a superb advocate, a very smooth operator in court. He is very responsive and a real team player. Always a pleasure to work with.'
Adam Fenton KC
2
Adam Fenton KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Easy to work with. Adam works hard, provides useful advices and is a first choice for several clients.’
Jonathan Hough KC
2
Jonathan Hough KC
4 New Square
'Jonathan is quite exceptional. A fantastic brain, brilliant with clients, and the standard of his drafting is a model for others to aspire to.' 
Ben Hubble KC
2
Ben Hubble KC
4 New Square
‘Ben is excellent – he is superb with clients, simplifies the complex, and provides technical and commercial advice, and is not afraid of a fight.’
Jawdat Khurshid KC
2
Jawdat Khurshid KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘A very commercial and user-friendly silk, clients really like him. Exceptionally clever – clear, concise and persuasive both in written submissions and on his feet. All round impressive.’
Harry Matovu KC
2
Harry Matovu KC
Brick Court Chambers
'Harry has the gift of making complex matters seem simple. He definitely can see the wood through the trees. His drafting is a pleasure to read.'
Neil Moody KC
2
Neil Moody KC
2 Temple Gardens
‘One of the very, very best - charming, erudite and incredibly knowledgeable.'
Bob Moxon Browne KC
2
Bob Moxon Browne KC
2 Temple Gardens
‘Bob brings invaluable experience to every case. Nothing that arises during the course of a case that will surprise him.'
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC
2
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC
Fountain Court Chambers
‘Leigh-Ann is careful, as is vital in complex insurance, but keeps her eye on the main game.  She is hard-working and also has flair.’
Paul Reed KC
2
Paul Reed KC
Gatehouse Chambers
‘Paul is the leading authority on construction and engineering insurance. Having him on your team provides instant reassurance. His advice on difficult issues is consistently on point.’
Simon Salzedo KC
2
Simon Salzedo KC
Brick Court Chambers
‘Simon is hugely intelligent, delightful to work with and has a disarming ability to make the most complicated of propositions sound simple.'
David Scorey KC
2
David Scorey KC
Essex Court Chambers
'David is very much a team player, equally strong on paper and on his feet.'
Nigel Tozzi KC
2
Nigel Tozzi KC
4 Pump Court
‘Nigel is accessible, to the point and the point is always right – but importantly he is also incredibly well-viewed by lay clients.’
2
Guy Blackwood KC
Quadrant Chambers
‘Guy is the leading marine insurance and war risks KC in the market by a considerable distance.’  
David Bailey KC
3
David Bailey KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘David is exceptionally easy and pleasant to with with. He instantly understandable the various issues at stake even the most complex ones and never fails to come up with ingenious strategies and solutions, always considering what would serve the client best. He really is an extraordinarily skilled barrister.’
James Brocklebank KC
3
James Brocklebank KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘James is particularly excellent when it comes to understanding technical arguments and advocating his case clearly and persuasively in a way that is easy to understand. His cross examination is also excellent – sharp, clear, and to the point. He gets to the crux of the matter.’
Andrew Burns KC
3
Andrew Burns KC
Devereux
‘Andrew is a decisive and knowledgeable lawyer in the specialist area of top-ups. He is particularly good in conference, using his significant experience to give clients’ confidence. He is a confident advocate, often instructed on difficult matters.’
Nicholas Craig KC
3
Nicholas Craig KC
3 Verulam Buildings
‘His advocacy is powerful and persuasive. He remains approachable and calm under pressure. He is a pleasure to deal with.'  
Philip Edey KC
3
Philip Edey KC
Twenty Essex
‘Philip is one of the stars of the Bar – he is a brilliant technical lawyer, very easy to work with and commercial. He is listened to by the court and is a joy to watch on his feet or on paper.’
Andrew Green KC
3
Andrew Green KC
Blackstone Chambers
‘Amazing advocate and good client handling skills notwithstanding court pressures.'
Jeffrey Gruder KC
3
Jeffrey Gruder KC
Essex Court Chambers
‘Jeffrey is the consummate professional. He lives and breathes these Covid-19 claims. There is no-one who could be rated more highly in this arena.’
Neil Hext KC
3
Neil Hext KC
4 New Square
‘Excellent on his feet in court, very clear advice and well drafted pleadings. A great all-rounder.’
Isabel Hitching KC
3
Isabel Hitching KC
Crown Office Chambers
‘Isabel is a great team player, working with us as instructing solicitors and with the clients as needed. She is a strong advocate and is increasingly respected by the judiciary. She brings an intellectual rigour and attention to detail.’
Michael Holmes KC
3
Michael Holmes KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘A silk with encyclopedic insurance and reinsurance market knowledge who is a pleasure to work with.’
Michael Kent KC
3
Michael Kent KC
Crown Office Chambers
‘Michael is among the best appellate counsel in this area. He has a profound grasp of the case law and is always two steps ahead of others in the room – any room. His advocacy is diffident and highly effective. He can run rings around experienced silks with high reputations.’
Charles Kimmins KC
3
Charles Kimmins KC
Twenty Essex
‘Charles is a first rate silk and someone whom we work with extensively. His paperwork is exceptional and his oral advocacy is simply superb. He is also extremely user-friendly and can be relied upon without exception to be available to provide urgent and difficult advice. He is extremely reliable in front of clients and a very safe pair of hands for the toughest of cases.'
Adam Kramer KC
3
Adam Kramer KC
3 Verulam Buildings
‘Adam is in the super-hero league of KCs, and is amongst the very best acting on the policyholder side in insurance coverage disputes.  He has appeared in a number of high-profile test cases, in each of which he has been pitched against KCs many years his senior, but against whom he has won every time.’
Stephen Midwinter KC
3
Stephen Midwinter KC
Brick Court Chambers
‘Stephen has always been excellent on his feet. All his written work is punchy. His greatest asset is a very quick brain. Plus, he is very down-to-earth and responsive.’
Martin Moore KC
3
Martin Moore KC
Erskine Chambers
'One of the leaders, with unrivalled experience in insurance business transfer schemes.'
Alison Padfield KC
3
Alison Padfield KC
4 New Square
‘Alison is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is always prepared, calm and unflappable and has a very easy manner that puts clients from all walks of life entirely at their ease.'  
Howard Palmer KC
3
Howard Palmer KC
2 Temple Gardens
‘Howard has a superb technical knowledge with an ability to make difficult arguments digestible. He has a fantastic temperament, and is a pleasure to work with.'
Thomas Plewman KC
3
Thomas Plewman KC
Brick Court Chambers
‘He is extremely clever and hard-working. He finds and focuses on the core issue and presents his case with crystal clarity.'
Simon Rainey KC
3
Simon Rainey KC
Quadrant Chambers
'Top silk, very clear and concise in his presentation and cuts to the core points quickly.'
Daniel Shapiro KC
3
Daniel Shapiro KC
Crown Office Chambers
  ‘Danny is a highly capable lawyer. Danny has an excellent grasp of the legal principles at play and cuts through the detail to get to the most relevant and important points. He allies this with a very calming manner with both clients and the court as well as excellent judgement. He is firm with opponents but balanced and well-respected.’
Jamie Smith KC
3
Jamie Smith KC
4 New Square
‘Jamie is fiercely intelligent and can quickly get to grips with very complex matters. His methodical approach, together with his easy manner, inspire confidence and the collaborative approach he adopts with both his juniors and those who instruct him makes him a pleasure to work with.'  
Richard Southern KC
3
Richard Southern KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Richard is a very authoritative advocate.  He is always well-prepared and has the ability to gain the judge’s confidence based on his restrained and meticulous oral submissions.  Very good strategic judgement as well.’ 
Roger Stewart KC
3
Roger Stewart KC
4 New Square
‘Focused and succinct in oral and written advice. Sees the whole picture from the outset- particularly how a judge will look at a case at trial.'   
3
Colin Wynter KC
Maryon Wynter Chambers
‘Colin is excellent both on his feet and on paper, and does not back down from a contentious point.’
Michael Ashcroft KC
4
Michael Ashcroft KC
Twenty Essex
‘Michael is a good lawyer and a sensible arbitrator.'
Jeremy Brier KC
4
Jeremy Brier KC
Essex Court Chambers
‘Jeremy is incredibly responsive and keeps the team up to date  on his availability. When he promises something on a certain timeframe you will receive it - without fail. His drafting is powerful and persuasive. He prepares for cases extremely carefully and takes time to think through complex legal issues. He is always a pleasure to deal with.' 
Michael Curtis KC
4
Michael Curtis KC
Crown Office Chambers
‘Very experienced and well versed in property damage, product liability and insurance law.'
Michael Davie KC
4
Michael Davie KC
4 Pump Court
‘Michael's manner is generally cool, calm and collected. This gives off a general air of reassurance to instructing solicitors and clients alike.'
Clare Dixon KC
4
Clare Dixon KC
4 New Square Chambers
‘Clare is a fantastic advocate. She is very persuasive and engaging. She has an ability to make complicated points appear simple, and her submissions are always clear and well-structured. Judges love her.’
Josephine Higgs KC
4
Josephine Higgs KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
‘Meticulous and very hard working. Works very well as part of the team, providing clear and helpful advice on strategy and merits.’  
Philippa Hopkins KC
4
Philippa Hopkins KC
Essex Court Chambers
'Philippa has always impressed with her ability to make the complex seem straight forward.  She is meticulous, thoughtful, and always gives sensible, commercially astute advice.'
Richard Liddell KC
4
Richard Liddell KC
4 New Square Chambers
'Richard is a consummate team player, who is always up to speed on the details of even very complicated matters.'
Roger Masefield KC
4
Roger Masefield KC
Brick Court Chambers
'Not afraid of expressing an opinion, sticks to his guns, team player.'
Amanda Savage KC
4
Amanda Savage KC
4 New Square
‘Amanda is excellent. A very fine, collaborative and responsive member of a team and always good to have on-board. She is to-the-point and practical, and great with clients.' 
Paul Stanley KC
4
Paul Stanley KC
Essex Court Chambers
'Paul is astonishingly quick to get to the heart of the issues. Refreshing economy and effectiveness in oral and written advocacy.  And critically tells it like it is, always courteously.'
Geraint Webb KC
4
Geraint Webb KC
Henderson Chambers
'Incredibly intelligent and immerses himself in the detail, strategic and excellent manner.'         
4
Stephen Kenny KC
7 King’s Bench Walk
Neil Block KC
5
Neil Block KC
39 Essex Chambers
‘Neil’s knowledge and experience in insurance related disputes is second to none. Neil can explain complex insurance policy and cover issues to clients very simply.’
Helen Evans KC
5
Helen Evans KC
4 New Square Chambers
‘Helen is incredibly clever, user-friendly, astute – the complete package.’
Marie Louise Kinsler KC
5
Marie Louise Kinsler KC
2 Temple Gardens
‘She is the go-to barrister for any conflict of law dispute. Absolutely top rate.'  
Rory Phillips KC
5
Rory Phillips KC
3 Verulam Buildings
‘Rory has the ability to simplify the most complex of insurance matters and explain the implications of policy wording in the context of potential liabilities, commercial impacts and also from a PR perspective. Rory is well rounded and is able to consider things from all angles.'
George Spalton KC
5
George Spalton KC
4 New Square Chambers
‘George is the complete package: legal and commercial acumen combined with charm and drive. One would back him against any opponent.’
Crispin Winser KC
5
Crispin Winser KC
Crown Office Chambers
'Crispin is an incredibly talented advocate who is persuasive, calm, and comprehensive, and who delivers oral submissions in a thorough and thoughtful way.'
2023 Silks
Richard Eschwege KC
Richard Eschwege KC
Brick Court Chambers
'A towering intellect with a prodigious work rate and a joy to work with.'
Sonia Nolten KC
Sonia Nolten KC
2 Temple Gardens
‘Sonia's knowledge of reinsurance and insurance law is pre-eminent.  She knows insurance law inside-out.  She is also particularly good at dealing with technical expert evidence.'  
David Pliener KC
David Pliener KC
Gatehouse Chambers
‘David’s elevation to KC was richly deserved.  He goes from strength to strength.’
2024 Silks
Oliver Caplin KC
Oliver Caplin KC
Twenty Essex
'Oliver is extremely calm and collected under pressure. His advice is always reasoned and sound. Overall, Oliver is incredibly reliable and makes every effort to accommodate any urgent needs the client may have.'
Shail Patel KC
Shail Patel KC
4 New Square
‘He is very incisive and knowledgeable, thinks of creative ways to address issues, is very client focused, commercial and has an excellent reassuring manner with clients. His advocacy is top notch.'   
Michael Wheater KC
Michael Wheater KC
Gatehouse Chambers
‘Technically excellent, very user friendly and good with strategy. Also very commercially minded and great with clients. Well deserved recent promotion to KC.'