1
Katharine Ferguson
Fenners Chambers 'Katharine's attention to detail in her preparation is exceptional. Her advice to clients is comprehensive, her advocacy outstanding, and clients fully understand the issues and can make informed decisions.'
Family: children and domestic abuse
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
1
Alex Forbes
Harcourt Chambers1
Sara Granshaw
Harcourt Chambers 'Sara is an effective communicator. She is courteous to her opponents and the court. Her calm approach is effective in obtaining a good outcome for her client.'
1
Jason Green
Harcourt Chambers 'Jason is exceptionally bright and able to handle the most complex of cases. He is a standout advocate.'
1
Simon Johnson
Pump Court Chambers 'Simon has an in-depth knowledge of the law, added to very good practical know-how. He is highly efficient, a good communicator, always responsive, helpful, calm and reassuring.'
1
Nicola Martin
3PB 'Nicola is organised and thorough in her practice. She is clear and concise in her advice.'
1
Kate Miller
East Anglian Chambers1
1
Stefanie Wickins
Trinity Chambers 'Stefanie is well-prepared, clear and thoughtful in her consideration of a case. She is practical and clear with clients regarding expectations and the strengths and weaknesses of a case. She is a highly skilled advocate, providing clarity to the judge and supporting arguments.'
2
Louisa Adamson
Becket Chambers2
Cecilia Barrett
Harcourt Chambers 'Cecilia is an outstanding barrister - a class act every time. She does exceptional paperwork and can navigate the most complex cases with ease.'
2
Eleanor Battie
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Eleanor is the complete package. She is unflappable and devastatingly effective in court. She is a go-to counsel in parental alienation cases and an absolute star.'
2
Timothy Bergin
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Timothy is patient with the clients but is not afraid to challenge them, which is to their benefit as it prepares them for the court hearing. His preparation and thorough consideration of the papers makes him a robust advocate.'
2
Debra Gold
Fenners Chambers2
Fiona Griffin
Guildford Chambers 'Fiona has the ability to communicate with a wide range of people. She has interpersonal skills, alongside the ability to express arguments and ideas clearly. She has an analytical mind and a logical approach.'
2
Christine Julien
Guildford Chambers 'Christine is client-focused and excellent with vulnerable individuals in particular. She is direct with her advocacy but also collaborative outside of the courtroom and willing to look beyond the conventional in order to make progress.'
2
Edward Kirkwood
Harcourt Chambers 'Edward is articulate and well-prepared. He is calm, approachable and knows this area of law extremely well.'
2
Emily Rayner
Harcourt Chambers ‘Emily is always well-prepared, knowing the cases inside out. She goes above and beyond for her clients. She is able to grasp the main issues of cases instantly, and her advice is firm but fair. Her advocacy is methodical and well-thought-through.’
3
Emma Gatland
Harcourt Chambers ‘Emma is a first-choice barrister for complex children matters. She is a barrister at the top of her game. She is fiercely intelligent, an exceptional advocate and always two steps ahead of everybody else. She has a thorough and tactical approach to the case from the outset.’
3
Martha Gray
Harcourt Chambers 'Martha is meticulous with her preparation of cases. She provides excellent skeleton arguments and builds up a rapport with clients very easily. She is very skilled in her advocacy and well-prepared in her submissions.'
3
Graeme Harrison
Pallant Chambers 'Graeme has a marvellous disposition and is widely experienced, knowledgeable and committed.'
3
Eleanor Howard
Harcourt Chambers 'Eleanor is outstanding. She has an excellent manner with clients and is willing to go above and beyond to try and get the best results. She is thorough in her preparation, and in court, she is robust and able to manage difficult opponents.'
3
Kirsten Japp
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Kirsten is a persuasive and talented advocate who grapples with complex children's matters with ease. She gives clear and calm advice, and her ability to establish a strong client rapport is exceptional.'
3
Kate Kochnari
42BR Barristers 'Kate is always well prepared for hearings, her attention to detail is excellent, and she always puts her client's case well.'
3
Colin Morgan
Pallant Chambers 'Colin is very experienced, able to analyse the issue and effectively cross-examine witnesses. He is always very thorough and approachable to talk through cases.'
3
Dylan Morgan
Pallant Chambers 'Dylan is confident and adept at getting a good grasp of the case. He is reliable and a favourite for contested hearings due to his advocacy skills, reputation with the client and ability to take on a case, whatever the complexity, intricacies or volume.'
3
John Nee
Anvil Chambers 'John is focused on the welfare of the child. He is courteous and polite, with a good eye for detail and can be robust in representing his client.'
4
Mavis Amonoo-Acquah
Harcourt Chambers 'Mavis is meticulous in her preparation for hearings and a strong advocate.'
4
Andrew Austin
Guildford Chambers 'Andrew is an excellent barrister. He has a good attention to detail, is very good with clients, and his advocacy is excellent.'
4
Matthew Brookes-Baker
Harcourt Chambers 'Matthew is a fearless advocate with an exceptional work ethic. His ability to digest voluminous medical evidence is impressive; his cross-examination of medical experts is extremely thorough and effective. His knowledge of case law is encyclopaedic, and he runs legal arguments with enthusiasm and great skill.'
4
Jane Campbell
Harcourt Chambers ‘Jane is extremely sensitive to clients’ needs and delivers difficult advice tactfully and supportively. Her advice is pragmatic and accurate.’
4
Akta Chipalkatty
East Anglian Chambers4
Clare Ciborowska
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Clare is a wonderful children’s barrister, quick on her feet and with a meticulous eye for detail, goes the extra mile for her clients.'
4
Rachael Claridge
1 Crown Office Row ‘Rachael is committed, hardworking and knows her case inside out.’
4
Adam Clegg
Pump Court Chambers4
Amy Connell
Pump Court Chambers4
Patrick Freer
Regency Barristers Chambers 'Patrick is a calming and reassuring presence in the courtroom. He is a persuasive advocate who holds the attention of the court. He has solid legal knowledge and is able to provide clear and straightforward advice to clients.'
4
Dominique Gillan
Guildford Chambers ‘Dominique is an effective, precise and detail-orientated advocate. She is also not afraid to challenge clients’ positions during conferences to help direct the case.’
4
Rachel Gimson
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Rachel's strength lies in her pragmatism and superb client care. Her advocacy is top-notch, and she really knows her stuff. She is great to work with and goes above and beyond to support her clients.'
4
Katrina Hambleton
Pallant Chambers 'Katrina is professional and friendly in her approach to matters, putting clients at ease. She is meticulous in her case preparation, written case summaries and skeleton arguments.'
4
4
Zosia Keniston
Pallant Chambers ‘Zosia has an excellent manner with clients and is very adept at handling vulnerable clients. Her advocacy on a complicated fact-finding matters shows excellent preparation.’
4
Alex Perry
Harcourt Chambers ‘Alex is an exceptional advocate. He is calm, measured, intelligent, well-prepared, professional and has an excellent manner. His written work is also outstanding, as his ability to get to grips with the key facts and issues.’
4
Annie Sayers
Deans Court Chambers ‘Annie is very hard-working and will go the extra mile in her preparation. She is organised, dedicated and remains calm during challenging times.’
4
Adam Smith
1 Crown Office Row Brighton4
Matthew Stott
Harcourt Chambers 'Matthew is an incredible advocate. He is able to pick up extremely complex matters and run with it. He is very efficient and meticulous in all the work.'
4
Sarah Taite
Westgate Chambers 'Sarah is an exceptional barrister. She is able to manage complex cases for often very vulnerable clients. She always goes the extra mile, and her level of competency and experience are valuable to the clients who benefit from her extensive expertise.'
4
Nadia Tawfik
Pallant Chambers4
Alison Underhill
East Anglian Chambers4
Christopher Wall
Becket Chambers5
Richard Ager
1 Crown Office Row Brighton ‘Richard is very thorough, knowledgeable, well-prepared and spends time with clients to make sure they understand everything.’
5
Michael Allin
East Anglian Chambers5
Daniel Attridge
Trinity Chambers 'Daniel is intelligent, quick-thinking, incisive and thorough. He is an excellent advocate, quick to turn things around and absorbs details incredibly. He is focused and accurate.'
5
Laura Bayley
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Laura is an excellent barrister who possesses so many skills and provides a high level of advice. She provides honest and practical advice and has a very reassuring manner about her. Her advocacy is very good and measured.'
5
Christopher Bramwell
Regency Chambers ‘Christopher is a thorough and highly skilled advocate who leaves no stone unturned.’
5
Eve Chowdhury
Fenners Chambers ‘Eve can grasp detailed and complex information and has great attention to detail.’
5
Amanda Clarke
Westgate Chambers5
Sian Cox
Harcourt Chambers ‘Sian has a relaxed style supported by preparedness and excellent legal knowledge. She is a strong advocate in court, direct and passionate about representing clients and children and protecting those at risk.’
5
Samuel Davis
42BR Barristers ‘Samuel has excellent advocacy skills. He is professional and courteous and can build a good rapport with clients. He goes above and beyond his role.’
5
Jodie Drummond
Fenners Chambers ‘Jodie is a go-to junior. She is always robust in her representation in the court.’
5
Gareth Frow
Regency Barristers Chambers ‘Gareth is a strong advocate. He thoroughly prepares for the hearings he conducts regardless of the position he is adopting at the hearing.’
5
Katelyn Gottschling
1 Crown Office Row ‘Katelyn is extremely able and has a very supportive demeanour with clients. She has a brilliant manner with clients and is persuasive in her advocacy.’
5
Sophie Gray
Becket Chambers ‘Sophie is numerate and has good attention to detail in both children and financial cases.’
5
William Green
Trinity Chambers5
Emma Griffiths
3PB 'Emma is a first rate advocate and fully commits to any case she is briefed on. She is an excellent advocate and her written material is also excellent.'
5
Maria Hancock
Westgate Chambers 'Maria is calm and empathetic in her approach to clients and is an excellent advocate. She always ensures that if questions are not answered during advocacy, she can take a different approach to glean the response during cross-examination.'
5
Alex Hodge
3PB ‘Alex is a hard-working and responsive barrister and a safe pair of hands. He is an effective advocate for all his clients and is thorough in case reading and presentation.’
5
Nicola Holland
Guildford Chambers ‘Nicola is extremely competent. Her attention to detail is second-to-none. She is always fully prepared and a robust advocate in court yet emphatic towards vulnerable clients.’
5
Caroline Horton
Fenners Chambers ‘Caroline is meticulous in her preparation. She is approachable and quick to respond to queries.’
5
Nicole Jennings
Becket Chambers 'Nicole is a very competent advocate. She is always very efficient in providing notes of the outcome of hearings and orders when drafting is needed.'
5
Philip McCormack
42 Bedford Row ‘Philip is a formidable barrister and an absolute go-to for parents and professional clients. He is a very highly-regarded advocate.’
5
Sarah Moon
Guildford Chambers ‘Sarah is approachable, adaptable, compassionate, thorough, and exactly the right balance of collaborative and tenacious. Her advocacy and cross-examination skills are second-to-none, and she can adapt her style to suit the particular facts of the case and the client.’
5
Alice Newton
Trinity Chambers ‘Alice is a persuasive advocate – determined, well-prepared, focused and thoughtful. She is organised and thorough in her work, always very well-prepared for both conferences and hearings.’
5
Sophia O’Hagan
Guildford Chambers 'Sophia has excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills. She grasps the detailed aspects of cases quickly, and her empathy and sensitivity to the emotional aspects of family disputes are her true strengths.'
5
Benjamin Phillips
Fenners Chambers 'Ben is very calm and has an excellent manner with clients, which is reassuring and supportive. He is clear about expectations and is exceptionally good at dealing with clients facing difficult circumstances and allegations.'
5
Adrian Pidduck
Becket Chambers ‘Adrian has a thorough, pragmatic and analytical approach. He is always on top of his brief.’
5
Joanne Porter
42 Bedford Row5
Oliver Powell
Harcourt Chambers 'Oliver shows empath and understanding to lay and professional clients. He is extremely thorough in his reading of the papers and forensic in his approach to each matter, identifying the issues and the applicable legal principles.'
5
Julia Shillingford
Harcourt Chambers ‘Julia is excellent, always the first choice for complex children matters. She engages so thoroughly with the clients that no stone is left unturned.’
5
Lydia Slee
42 Bedford Row ‘Lydia is diligent and conscientious. She manages a vulnerable client in a sensitive and difficult case with delicacy and compassion.’
5
5
Elaine Strachan
3PB 'Elaine is meticulous in her preparation and is very knowledgeable. She tenaciously defends her clients' positions and can quickly build a rapport with them. She always provides a thorough and timely update following a hearing.'
5
Shabnam Walji
Regency Barristers Chambers5
Alison Williams
Harcourt Chambers5
Anna Yarde
Harcourt Chambers ‘Anna is an excellent barrister who has an exceptional way of communicating with clients. Her legal advice is easy to understand and very helpful.’
5
Jennifer Youngs
42 Bedford Row ‘Jennifer is an exceptionally calm and collected barrister who can focus on matters at hand.’
5
Rebecca Davies
1 Crown Office Row ‘Rebecca works hard on behalf of clients, providing good quality advocacy and can strike the perfect balance between giving good, clear advice, also treating vulnerable parents with kindness and patience.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Fazeela Ishmael
Harcourt Chambers 'Fazeela is excellent with clients. She is hugely conscientious and always very well-prepared.'
Adam Kayani
Harcourt Chambers 'Adam is knowledgeable and efficient and is a skilled advocate, presenting clients' positions confidently and accurately whilst demonstrating a thorough understanding of the law.'
Natasha Miller
Harcourt Chambers 'Natasha is knowledgeable. She is always on hand to offer advice and support to instructing solicitors and clients before, during and after hearings. She is compassionate with the client and has the judge's ear. She is very calm, collected and a top-class advocate.'
Sam Pentony
3PB 'Sam is knowledgeable and robust as an advocate whilst being extremely personable and empathetic towards clients and their needs. His advice is measured and resolution-focused. He is a fantastic negotiator.'
Emily Quinn
Trinity Chambers 'Emily is a magician in the courtroom, can be presented with the most challenging of cases and achieve an outcome better than anyone expected. Her skills are far beyond her years of experience and on par with barristers who have twice as much experience as her.'
Anogika Souresh
1 Crown Office Row Brighton 'Anogika is knowledgeable and empathetic. Her position statements are always well-researched and detailed. She has an eye for detail and explains points clearly and concisely to clients.'