Tax: VAT and excise

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Kieron Beal KC
Blackstone Chambers
‘One of, if not, the finest VAT litigators at the tax Bar. Extremely approachable, tenacious and incredibly successful.’
1
Roderick Cordara KC
Essex Court Chambers
1
Sam Grodzinski KC
Blackstone Chambers
‘His advocacy is superb. Clear, incisive, and beautifully-structured. He makes good points and he makes them well. He can read a courtroom well.’
1
Melanie Hall KC
Monckton Chambers
Extremely personable. Very quick to grasp complex arrangements. Strategic thinker often outside the box. Very positive and reassuring - is confident in her position.'
1
Andrew Hitchmough KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
‘Andrew is a star in the world of VAT. He has encyclopaedic knowledge of all areas of VAT and is my first choice for the most high stakes VAT cases. Andrew's advocacy is superb - his preparation is meticulous.’
1
David Milne KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
1
Jonathan Peacock KC
11 New Square
1
Nicola Shaw KC
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
2
Felicity Cullen KC
Devereux
‘The best VAT advocate at the Bar. She has a direct and clear presentation and an excellent rapport with all judges. Her written work is strong and quick. Other barristers are more interested in their presentation than winning the case.’
2
Hui Ling McCarthy KC
11 New Square
2
Kevin Prosser KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
2
Valentina Sloane KC
Monckton Chambers
‘Incredibly smart whilst being very user-friendly. A real team player and excellent advocate.’
2
Owain Thomas KC
1 Crown Office Row
Owain provides perceptive legal analysis but then turns it into practical advice which gives clients a clear view of options and potential outcomes.’
3
Rupert Baldry KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Rupert is a consummate professional and always a pleasure to work with. His ability to understand a complex factual matrix in short order is very impressive.'
3
Francis Fitzpatrick KC
11 New Square
3
Julian Ghosh KC
One Essex Court
Formidable breadth of knowledge. Powerful advocate for his client's case.'
3
Eleni Mitrophanous KC
Matrix Chambers
3
Philip Moser KC
Monckton Chambers
 
3
James Rivett KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
‘Tenacious advocate. Free thinking and collaborates extremely well with his solicitors and clients.’
3
David Southern KC
Field Court Tax Chambers
3
Laurent Sykes KC
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
4
Jeremy Benson KC
Red Lion Chambers
4
Jonathan Bremner KC
One Essex Court
‘He's a good listener, is collaborative, is client-friendly, and he works very hard.’
4
Edward Brown KC
Essex Court Chambers
4
Mark Fell KC
Radcliffe Chambers
4
Michael Jones KC
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Compelling advocacy style. Attention to details and fine points of law. Fantastic thinker.'
4
Paul Key KC
Essex Court Chambers
4
Rory Mullan KC
Old Square Tax Chambers
'Very user-friendly and response. Very practical and knowledgeable. Advocacy was clear and concise and very persuasive.'
4
George Peretz KC
Monckton Chambers
 
4
Jessica Simor KC
Matrix Chambers
Clarity of thought and expression, in oral submissions and in writing.'
4
Philip Simpson KC
Old Square Tax Chambers
Philip is frighteningly intelligent. He is calm and collected in court, and handles the most intense judicial scrutiny with a self-assured authority.'
4
Sarabjit Singh KC
1 Crown Office Row
‘An incredible advocate and tactician. He provides hands-on and easy to digest advice and on the substantive elements of a case and overall litigation strategy.’
4
Richard Vallat KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Richard is extremely responsive and always over the detail. He gets stuck in to the work and meets deadlines.’
4
David Yates KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
 

2025 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
David Bedenham KC
Devereux
‘He has tremendous knowledge of VAT law, but is most impressive as an advocate. He has excellent judgment and is very well regarded by the Tax Tribunal judiciary.’
1
Marika Lemos KC
Devereux
1
Laura Poots KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Laura is outstanding, she is excellent with clients and superb at distilling complex tax into easy advice for the clients to follow.’

2023 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
John Brinsmead-Stockham KC
11 New Square
1
Michael Thomas KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers

2024 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Sadiya Choudhury KC
Pump Court Tax Chambers
‘Excellent grasp of the case law, which is extensive in this area, and the nuances of the appeals procedure.’
1
Michael Firth KC
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
1
Brendan McGurk KC
Monckton Chambers