Alistair Haggerty
Alistair is a specialist criminal and regulatory advocate with a busy Crown Court practice. He undertakes instructions to prosecute and defend in a wide variety of serious cases.
Guildhall Chambers
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Allan Roberts
Allan is a specialist employment and commercial barrister recognised in both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 where he has been described as “…astute, commercial and tenacious”, “approachable and inspiring of confidence”, and someone who is “…very well prepared, won't stop fighting, and can almost win the unwinnable”. He prides himself on being very client-friendly and takes a proactive role in case preparation and analysis. This allows him to provide clear and effective advice. At each stage of the process, Allan maintains a view on achieving a successful outcome in line with the client's objectives.
Allan has a national practice and regularly appears before the Employment Tribunal, High Court, disciplinary panels (both internal and regulatory) and at the appellate level. He has a particular expertise in complex discrimination claims, whistleblowing claims, actions for restraint of trade and breach of confidence and cases involving partnerships.
g very client-friendly, a quality recognised in Chambers & Partners. This involves taking a proactive role in case preparation and analysis, enabling him to provide clear and effective advice. At each stage, Allan maintains a view on achieving a successful outcome in line with the client’s objectives.
Andrew Langdon KC
Andrew is a criminal silk who regularly appears in cases of homicide, complex fraud and regulatory crime. He has appeared in some of the most notable cases on the Western Circuit including the Bristol trial concerning the murder of Becky Watts.
Ranked as a 'Star Silk' in the Chambers & Partners Guide he is reported by them as having "...all the gravitas, demeanour and intellect that one would hope for in a QC. There is no case that he could not handle. He is passionate, persuasive, forensic and delivers in a way that most barristers can only dream of emulating."
The Legal 500 reports: ‘An absolutely first-class criminal silk. He has it all. Extraordinarily bright, respected by the judiciary and a master at unearthing arguments or points that change cases. He is also great with clients and solicitors love him.’
A passionate believer in trial by jury, Andrew regards appearing as a barrister in the criminal courts of England and Wales 'an immense privilege that brings with it a heavy responsibility. The only recipe is hard work.'
Anna Vigars
Anna is a criminal, health and safety and environmental law barrister with 18 years’ experience. She is CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor and is on included in the ‘A’ List panel of specialist regulatory advocates in health and safety and environmental law.
Anthony Reddiford
Anthony (Tony) is a catastrophic injury and industrial disease specialist with 30 years’ experience. He regularly handles multi-million pound claims alone or led for Claimants and Defendants. His current cases include multi-million pound claims for brain, spinal and amputation injuries. He has substantial experience of chronic pain claims.
Anthony has a particular interest in complex fatal claims involving difficult issues in relation to family businesses and inheritance of assets. His asbestos disease cases include low-dose mesothelioma claims (breach and causation); lung cancer causation; and immunotherapy costs.
Anthony has substantial trial and pre-trial experience of claims where fraud/dishonesty is alleged.
Chambers UK has recognised him as ‘a terrifyingly effective advocate’ as well as being ‘bright, with an exceptional attention to detail’.
Caighli Taylor
Caighli is a criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends in both the Magistrates and the Crown Court. She also undertakes instructions to appear at inquests. She is a CPS panel advocate Grade 1 prosecutor, and also prosecutes for the Probation Service, G4S and the Home Office. Caighli has a particular interest in representing young defendants.
Charles Thomas
Charles is an experienced specialist criminal barrister. His practice encompasses the entire range of criminal work including murder, manslaughter, rape, serious fraud, drugs cases and slavery cases. He also has extensive experience of professional disciplinary work, which includes sitting as a Legally Qualified Chair at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and for Sport Resolutions UK. He is a Crown Court Recorder.
Christopher Quinlan KC
Christopher took silk in 2011. He has continued to prosecute and defend cases of the utmost gravity, including murder, manslaughter, and serious sexual allegations. He is instructed to prosecute a multi-handed slavery case, as well as two cases for the Environment Agency. He also specialises in sports disciplinary work, which complements his regulatory crime practice. In his extensive and varied sports law practice, he is involved in disciplinary tribunals at domestic, European and international levels. He advises, appears before as an advocate, and chairs disciplinary and other tribunals in a wide variety of sports, including rugby union, association football, horseracing and equestrian, motorsport, lawn tennis and golf. He is an expert in anti-doping law.
David Scutt
A highly accomplished and experienced barrister, David’s criminal practice includes homicide, other serious violent offending, firearms offending, serious sexual offending, drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, fraud and organised crime.
David is instructed in cases of the utmost seriousness, complexity and sensitivity. He is a “go to” barrister in cases involving vulnerable witnesses and defendants.
He has a reputation for excellent advocacy, meticulous case preparation, integrity and approachability – making him “a formidable opponent”.
David is an advocacy trainer, both in the UK and abroad (including the International Criminal Court in The Hague).
Debbie Grennan
Barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law (including transfer of undertakings, equal pay, discrimination, whistleblowing, unfair/wrongful dismissal and industrial relations) as well as professional disciplinary proceedings.
Douglas Leach
Douglas is a specialist employment and discrimination barrister. He has a well-rounded practice which encompasses all areas of employment, discrimination and collective labour law, including County/High Court matters and injunctive relief and sports-related disputes. He further deals with discrimination issues arising outside the employment context (eg in the provision of services, in education and in partnership settings). Douglas has extensive experience in conducting appellate work in the EAT and Court of Appeal, as well as complex multi-week trials.
Gabriel Farmer
Gabriel has a longstanding specialist practice in personal injury and clinical negligence. He enjoys a balanced claimant/defendant practice and brings robustness and sensitivity in equal measure. He is known for prompt delivery of written work as well as being highly pragmatic. His experience includes representation at all levels including the Court of Appeal. His cases often include QC opponents.
When instructed by Defendants he delivers early tactical/evidential advice as part of the CCMC process.
His PI caseload generally comprises catastrophic cases. He has broad experience of liability issues spanning fatal accidents, RTA/MIB claims, occupier/public liability claims, asbestos claims, cases of post-accident clinical negligence or involving technical factual issues. Quantum disputes regularly involve fatality, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and claims involving CRPS / Somatoform / or other chronic pain disorders.
His clinical negligence work has recently included GP and surgical breaches of duty including failures to respond appropriately to the formation of spinal abscesses and bowel perforation.
He has longstanding experience of inquest work having undertaken Treasury Panel work as well as a number of high-profile inquest cases. He has been chosen in a number of cases to act as counsel to the Coroner.
He is ranked in Chambers UK as "Extremely thorough in his preparation, and knowledgeable of the relevant law" and "Always on top of the detail." and has been described in Legal 500 as "highly effective" and "ultimately the advocate you want on your side".
Geraint Probert
Geraint is a specialist barrister in Employment and Discrimination law. He specialises in dismissal, whistleblowing and discrimination claims and appeals
Greg Gordon
Gregory is a criminal and regulatory barrister and joined Guildhall Chambers as a tenant in October 2013, following a successful pupillage at Chambers under the supervision of Rupert Lowe. He is a criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends in both the Magistrates’ and the Crown Courts, and is a CPS panel advocate Grade 1 prosecutor. He prosecutes on behalf of the CPS, Probation Service, UK Border Agency and DVLA.
Holly Doyle
Holly specialises in commercial law and insolvency and undertakes advisory work, drafting and litigation in all areas of commercial practice including contract, bailment, sale and supply of goods, corporate disputes (unfair prejudice petitions and derivative actions), insurance, restraint of trade, breach of confidence, consumer credit, credit hire, banking and finance and passing off (including the emerging tort of reverse passing off). She has substantial experience in the County Courts, including interlocutory hearings, injunctions, fast track and multi-track trials and appeals. Holly has a particular interest in the professional indemnity/negligence field after completing a secondment to the insurance and re-insurance group at CMS Cameron McKenna Solicitors during her pupillage, and this forms a substantial part of her commercial practice. She undertakes both claimant and defendant work in all areas, including claims against accountants, financial advisors, insurance brokers, construction professionals (architects, surveyors and valuers), solicitors, barristers and IT professionals. Her recent work includes advising, drafting pleadings and attending a mediation on behalf of the claimant in a solicitor’s negligence case valued in excess of £1m , which was successfully settled.
Hugh Sims KC
Hugh is recognised as a star of the UK Bar, with rankings in Chambers UK as a leading barrister across 7 practice areas: Commercial, Professional Negligence, Insolvency, Banking & Finance, Partnership, Chancery and Company.
He is instructed with juniors, and as sole leading counsel, in complex and substantial disputes where his advocacy and forensic skills are highly valued.
Ian Fenny
Ian Fenny was called to the Bar by Grays Inn in 1978. He is widely recognised as one of the leading criminal advocates on the Western Circuit for serious sexual offences, violent crimes and wider crimes against the person including fraud. Ian has unrivalled experience in dealing with young, old and all categories of vulnerable witnesses in the most challenging of prosecutions. He has held past advisory roles with Medical bodies and was a core trainer to his colleagues in the examination and cross examination of vulnerable witnesses. Ian has been a Category 4 prosecutor for over 25 years.
Ian has developed a strong reputation for his empathetic and sensitive approach to the needs of those disadvantaged by age (old or young), intellectual incapacity or physical disability. He has spent many years at the forefront of the development of measures designed to protect the vulnerabilities of witnesses and thus ensure that they are enfranchised by a system that might otherwise fail to protect them.
Ian’s lifelong enthusiasm and interest in motor vehicles has enabled him to develop a comprehensive understanding of the often-difficult issues that arise out of serious Road Traffic Offences.
James Fuller
James specialises in all areas of real property and landlord and tenant. He enjoys a busy court and advisory practice and regularly appears in the High Court, County Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), and First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He has a particular interest in agricultural matters and has been ranked as the sole ‘Rising Star’ in Agriculture in the 2025 Legal 500. James is also ranked in the 2025 Legal 500 as a ‘Rising Star’ in Chancery, probate and tax.
James Haskell
James is a specialist criminal advocate who prosecutes and defends in a wide range of criminal cases. He is consistently ranked in Chambers UK as a ‘leading junior’. He is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in cases involving serious sexual offences. James successfully defended only the second person in British legal history to be charged with exposing his daughter to Female Genital Mutilation. James is a Grade 4 CPS Prosecutor. He acts as Independent Counsel for reviewing material which might attract Legal Professional Privilege. He also represents professionals during disciplinary proceedings.
James Wibberley
James is a commercial specialist with experience of dealing with a wide range of disputes within the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. He has a particular interest is cases that throw up novel or complex points of law and regularly deals with cases that straddle the divisions between his main practice areas.
James has twice appeared in the Supreme Court in Swynson Limited v Lowick Rose LLP [2017] UKSC 21 (professional negligence; assessment of damages) and Gavin Edmondson Solicitors Limited v Haven Insurance Co Limited [2018] UKSC 21 (costs; solicitor’s equitable lien). He is recommended in Chambers and Partner and the Legal 500 in the fields of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Professional Negligence, and Costs and Litigation Funding.
James Hannant
James has been a member of Chambers since 2014. He has a broad commercial practice with a particular emphasis on disputes arising out of corporate insolvency and personal bankruptcy and is a member of Chambers’ insolvency and commercial teams. James appears in both the High Court and the County Court at court centres up and down the country. Before becoming a barrister, James had a previous career in the oil industry.
James Bentley
James Bentley is recognised as a leading junior on circuit for both personal injury and costs. He appears for Claimants and Defendants in broadly equal measure, with most of his caseload being in the multi-track. He also has a well-established and varied clinical negligence practice, receiving instructions on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants.
Jay Jagasia
Jay is a leading commercial and chancery junior and is recognised as such in the leading directories, where he is recognised in three different practice areas in both directories. He is the head of the Property and Estates team in Chambers. His work and experience extend across all areas of commercial and property litigation and principally involves work in the Business & Property Courts and specialist property tribunals. In addition to his commercial and chancery work, Jay also a has considerable advisory and litigation experience on matters relating to environmental and energy law.
Jay has been involved in a number of leading cases, including a case ranked in The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2018 (the Premier Motorauctions litigation, at first instance and in the Court of Appeal), Anderson v Sense (at first instance and in the Court of Appeal) and, most recently, in the very significant test case of Adams v Options (formerly Carey) (in the Court of Appeal). He has appeared in courts and tribunals up to and including the Court of Appeal.
Jay advises on all aspects of the law of real property and trusts (particularly those with a property element). He is the head of Chambers’ leading Property, Trusts & Estates team and is separately recognised in both directories as a leading junior for his property litigation work. He was recently involved as sole counsel at first instance and as co-counsel on appeal in the significant leasehold enfranchisement case of Field and others v Freehold Properties 250 Ltd [2020] Ch 665.
Jay has litigation and advisory experience in the following key areas:
Landlord and tenant (residential and commercial)
Boundary disputes and adverse possession
Easements and profits
Restrictive covenants
Cohabitation disputes and trusts of land
Mortgage disputes
Enfranchisement
Nuisance (private and statutory)
Pre-emption
Highways and public rights of way
Village greens
Torts affecting land
Conveyancing disputes
Title and registration
Trusts
Statutory compensation claims
Jennifer Tallentire
Jenny is a highly experienced criminal practitioner, with expertise in the most challenging and complex crime including murder, manslaughter and serious sexual offences. She is known for her particular skill in dealing with cases involving vulnerable or child witnesses or defendants. In addition, she is often counsel of choice to represent those appearing in the Crown Court for the first time, particularly in motor fatality cases.
John Churchill
John’s practice is predominantly in commercial and chancery law. He also handles cases in the Court of Protection relating to the property and financial affairs of incapacitated persons.
John appears in both the High Court and the County Court at all stages of proceedings, from interim relief and pre-action advice through to trials and appeals.
John’s recent commercial work has included disputes on: general contract law; sale of goods; consumer contracts; construction disputes; consumer credit; banking and financial services; partnership disputes and unfair prejudice petitions. John has also been involved in a number of cases concerning legal costs, and frequently acts and advises on discrete issues on costs.
John’s recent insolvency work has included: claims brought pursuant to s.212 Insolvency Act 1986 (often acting by or on behalf of the Official Receiver); examinations of bankrupts or directors; transactions at an undervalue or transactions defrauding creditors; bankruptcy petitions and winding-up petitions.
Amongst John’s recent cases are:
(i) Allner v Peters and May Group Ltd [2019] EWHC 3258 (Comm)—a case on to what extent BIFA terms and conditions could exclude statutory rights and remedies for consumers under the Consumer Rights Act 2015;
(ii) Newman v Gordon Dadds LLP [2020] EWHC B23 (Costs) – a decision on the preliminary issue on the effect of a solicitor’s estimate on the recovery of costs subsequently charged in excess of that estimate;
(iii) New Saints FC Ltd v Football Association of Wales Ltd [2020] EWHC 1838 (Ch)— in this case John acted as junior to Hugh Sims QC in a challenge to the national football league’s decision to terminate the football league because of COVID-19 and the subsequent decision on how to allocate rankings in the league.
John Virgo
John is a specialist commercial barrister, with a strong practice emphasis on high-value financial product mis-selling litigation. He has appeared in all the leading mis-selling cases, including: lead counsel appointment in a group pension mis-selling action (Cocking v Prudential); acting in a 400 strong group action in the Commercial Court on behalf of Equitable Life’s trapped annuitants (Abeles and Others v Equitable Life Assurance Society); acting for Zurich Life to defend claims for product mis-selling arising out of the collapse of the Bahamian Imperial Consolidated Fund (Seymour v Caroline Ockwell & Co; Zurich IFA Ltd); acting for investors into the AIG Enhanced Variable Rate Fund who suffered substantial losses following its collapse (Rubenstein v HSBC Bank); acting for a number of high-net-worth individuals and businesses in relation to the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products (Rowley and Green v Royal Bank of Scotland). He is instructed nationwide in complex and substantial disputes where his advocacy and forensic skills are highly valued.
Julian Benson
Julian is a personal injury barrister whose work is focused chiefly on a balance of complex and/or high-value claimant and defendant work, typically involving brain injuries, catastrophic limb injuries (and amputations), chronic pain syndromes and disorders, and psychiatric injuries. He is frequently instructed in difficult fatal accident claims and has been instructed in cases against leading counsel several times in recent years.
Julian Allsop
Julian has a specialist employment practice which covers all aspects of the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal jurisdiction and employment and discrimination claims in the High Court. He is a highly skilled, authoritative and pragmatic employment law practitioner with a largely respondent-based practice. In addition to private sector businesses, his respondent clients include housing associations, local authorities, NHS trusts and schools. He also represents government departments such as the MOD, MOJ and DWP in employment and discrimination matters. He has the expertise (and security clearance) to act in cases that involve material and subject matter that would attract the operation of Rule 94. In addition to his employment practice, Julian has a niche specialist construction practice and has considerable experience in the litigation arising out a variety of projects, from domestic building claims to commercial construction disputes in an industrial setting. Julian is a qualified mediator and adjudicator.
Katie Gibb
Katie specialises in commercial law, company and insolvency matters. Her commercial law practice covers commercial agreements; sale of goods; banking, including surety and bank guarantees and mortgage disputes (for both commercial lenders and borrowers); breach of warranties in business sales and applications for, and resisting, freezing and search orders. Katie also specialises in company law, insolvency (personal and corporate), partnership and shareholder disputes. Katie is instructed in advocacy, advisory work and mediation, and regularly appears in the High Court. In 2007, Katie was appointed to the Attorney General’s panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.
Kerry Gardiner
Kerry is a specialist employment barrister. She acts for both Claimants and Respondents in all matters relating to employment law including unfair, constructive & wrongful dismissal, redundancy, TUPE, whistleblowing, breach of contract and discrimination.
Kriti Upadhyay
Kriti is a medical lawyer, specialising in clinical negligence, Court of Protection health and welfare, professional discipline, and personal injury. Her expertise allows her to advise on a wide range of legal issues arising in the healthcare sector, including civil claims, inquests, representing medical professionals before regulatory bodies, advising on health and welfare cases involving vulnerable adults in the Court of Protection and advising on cases involving issues of mental health law. Kriti has been commended by instructing solicitors for her preparation, attention to detail and her advocacy skills.
Kriti jointly heads the Court of Protection and Public Law team in Chambers.
Lucy Walker
Lucy is a specialist in consumer credit and in the financial services regulatory regime. Lucy undertakes contentious work and non contentious advisory work in relation to all aspects of financial services regulation, including consumer credit, the mortgage and home finance regulatory regime, payment services, cryptocurrencies and cryptoassets, financial promotion, crowd funding, peer to peer lending and general banking and commercial matters, including data protection and the General Data Protection Regulation.
Mark Worsley
Mark is head of Guildhall's Crime Team and defends and prosecutes serious crime. Mark also has a wealth of experience in dealing with regulatory matters such as defending DVSA prosecutions, prosecutions arising from Directors' disqualifications and Ofsted - related appeals. He is instructed both on his own and as a leading junior.
Martin Lanchester
Martin is a member of the Guildhall Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team. Martin is able to take instructions covering a whole range of personal injury and clinical negligence matters representing both Claimants and Defendants.
Martin is instructed to assist with fast track trials, multi-track trials, infant approvals, costs advocacy, and provides thorough and timely advices on liability and quantum.
Martin is regularly instructed in Inquest hearings acting for families of the deceased and other interested parties.
Martin has an increasing costs practice. He is regularly instructed for both paying and receiving parties and undertakes all areas of work including detailed and provisional assessments.
He is an experienced advocate having spent a number of years as a criminal practitioner and was included on the specialist panel for prosecutors undertaking serious sexual crime. Following on from this Martin has a particular interest in abuse claims.
Martin is approachable and flexible and more than happy to undertake cases on a CFA basis.
Mary Cowe
Mary is a criminal barrister and a fraud specialist with a reputation for incisive advocacy and high calibre legal analysis. Now often called upon to provide pre-charge advice, clients compliment her ability to master complex issues of fact and law rapidly and to provide advice that is clearly expressed and comprehensive. Mary is sought after for her advocacy, and for her ability to pursue a good point tenaciously but graciously, taking the Judge or jury with her. She was described in a recent legal directory recommendation as ‘a class act – precise, considered, clever and persuasive’.
In addition to her fraud practice, Mary appears for both defence and prosecution in cases where expert evidence is central, including understanding and challenging clinical evidence in cases involving sudden infant death and traumatic brain injury to children. She has a built a reputation as someone who can confidently lead a team and understands when and how medical experts may assist in the building of a case. Mary also appears in cases of rape and serious sexual offences, often instructed when issues relating to a defendant’s functioning arise, given her professional and academic interest in ensuring defendants’ effective participation in trials. This interest prompted a sabbatical in 2011, in which Mary pursued an MPhil in criminology with a dissertation concerning mental health and the criminal process.
Mary is currently a member of the Criminal Bar Association Law Reform Committee and has recently co-edited a book about criminal advocacy. She has been a pupil supervisor and currently acts a mentor with the Inner Temple and as an advocacy trainer on the Western Circuit.
Matthew Brown
Matthew is a specialist property and estates barrister who practises exclusively in the areas of real property, estates, landlord and tenant and trusts. Matthew is an Accredited Mediator with the Bristol ADR Group.
Matthew is currently on sabbatical and is not taking instructions.
Michael Selway
Michael practises in Property & Estates and Commercial law, appearing in the High Court, County Court and other tribunals, acting in mediations and doing advisory and drafting work in a wide range of cases in these areas, and has done so since 2008.
He more recently expanded his practice to include the related field of Property and Affairs work in the Court of Protection.
Nicholas Smith
Nick is a specialist Employment & Discrimination Barrister and has been band 1 ranked in both Chambers and Partners and the legal 500 directories since the late 1990’s. In 2018 he stood down as Employment & Discrimination team leader having overseen considerable success and growth of his team at Guildhall Chambers (following a team move in 2012).
He has a genuine passion for employment law since undertaking his first ET in the spring of 1991. Though his practice is predominantly respondent focussed, Nick enjoys acting for the individual particularly where there is a significant imbalance of power and resource. Given his vast experience he is genuinely a ‘go-to’ advocate for complex or high value cases. Nick can also undertake Direct Access work across the spectrum of cases from a high level and critical review of proposed settlement agreements to conducting complex cases. In most cases Nick will be able to sign off legal adviser certificates within the traditional fee boundaries provided by the employer for such work.
During these very difficult times Nick is happy to advise DA clients on the phone and via a number of virtual platforms such as Zoom and MS Teams.
Nick acts for a wide range of clients across the complete spectrum of employment. This is reflected in the body of his work spanning 3 decades referenced below.
Nick has unrivalled experience in the spectrum of matters that are heard in the Employment Tribunal. Commonly these will include:
Unfair and wrongful dismissal especially constructive dismissal.
Whistleblowing.
Discrimination in all its forms.
Redundancy and reorganization, TUPE and insolvency (in particular collective actions resulting from failures to inform and consult/ claims for protective awards).
Trade union law.
Contractual disputes, Covenants, breach of confidence, breach of implied duties (including fiduciary duty), database abuse, Collective bargaining and consultation, Industrial disputes.
Territorial jurisdiction.
He also undertakes High Court litigation in respect of breach of employee’s express and implied obligations and appellate work in both the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the higher courts.
Nick has just been awarded a place in the Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom (2021). Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. This is a recognition that he is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals. This list is compiled by conducting exhaustive peer review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.
Oliver Manley
Oliver is a commercial, property & estates and personal injury barrister with considerable experience in resolving all manner of disputes arising from his practice areas. He regularly appears in both the High Court and County Court and is consistently instructed in cases at all stages, from advisory, pre-action, interlocutory applications, trial, costs and appeals.
Oliver has been invited and thereafter spoke at the annual Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA) conference and the Public Law Project annual conference. He is also happy to offer talks and presentations specifically tailored to instructing solicitors needs if required.
Oliver Moore
Oliver is a very experienced specialist Personal Injury and Costs Litigation barrister. He was a solicitor (with Higher Rights) before transferring to the Bar.
He is recommended as a Leading Junior in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK for Personal Injury and Costs Litigation. He is the only barrister on the Western Circuit recommended in both directories for both Personal Injury and Costs Litigation.
He is the co-head of Chambers’ PI/Clinical Negligence Team and head of the Costs and Litigation Funding team.
Oliver Mitchell
Oliver’s practice encompasses property (commercial and residential), probate and trusts and commercial work. He has extensive experience acting for corporate clients, individuals and insolvency practitioners.
Oliver appears in the High Court, County Court and First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), and has been led in the Court of Appeal and High Court. His practice involves court and tribunal work on matters ranging across the field of property and estates, as well as a broad range of advisory and drafting work.
Pushpanjali Gohil
Anjali is known for her fearlessness in court, down to earth style, pleasing to juries and clients alike, and her ability for careful and sensitive yet robust cross-examination. She is also renowned for her no-nonsense approach to criminal litigation and her ability not only to properly consider the legal implications of presenting a case, but also her capacity to effectively manage the tactics involved.
Ramin Pakrooh
Ramin is a leading junior, with extensive experience in murder and other homicide cases. Ramin also practises in police disciplinary hearings, fatal road traffic accidents and large scale drugs and firearm conspiracies.
Ray Tully KC
Ray is a heavyweight criminal law and sports law barrister who is currently head of the Chambers’ crime team. With 20 years’ experience of practice at the very top level he is well recognised for the thoroughness of his preparation coupled with superb court room presentation to both judge and jury. Excellent client relationships. Well used to leading litigation teams in the most complex of cases.
Richard Smith KC
Richard is a criminal and sports law barrister, with over 30 years’ experience at the Bar and some 20 years described as a "Leading Silk". He has been described in the independent Chambers UK Guide as a barrister who "achieves incredible results from seemingly impossible situations" and as being "refreshingly unstuffy, proactive and a high-quality lawyer." “An outstanding criminal barrister who is held in the highest regards by peers and clients alike”. Those who have instructed Richard note that “his client care and courtroom skills are exemplary; he prepares very thoroughly and is very responsive."
Richard Ascroft
Richard is a barrister who specialises in insolvency law, company law and commercial litigation. He has over 20 years advisory and advocacy experience and has appeared in courts at all levels including the House of Lords. Richard is identified in the major legal directories as a leading junior in his chosen fields and was on the Attorney General's Regional Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown for 16 years. He is also a contributor to the leading work on directors' disqualification.
Robert Sowersby
Rob’s busy practice is centered around defending clinical negligence claims and he has worked as a practitioner in this field for over 15 years.
Initially best known for claimant work, having followed the well-worn “poacher turned gamekeeper” path, Rob now acts principally for doctors, health boards and hospital trusts, no longer accepting instructions to act on behalf of claimants.
He has a reputation for success in unusually difficult cases and is well regarded for being strongly client-focused, ‘down to earth’ and skilled in dealing with experts. He is consistently recommended by the leading legal directories and is recognised for his ability to approach cases forensically but with an eye on the ‘bigger picture’.
Rob sits locally as an Assistant Coroner and as result of this, along with regularly being instructed to provide representation, he has acquired extensive experience of large and high-profile inquests.
Samuel Jones
Sam is a specialist advocate who prosecutes and defends a wide variety of the most serious of criminal cases, including murder, serious violence, rape and sexual offences, drugs and fraud.
He was initially recognised in Chambers UK as a 'Rising Star' at the bar and has ranked as a 'Leading Junior' on the Western Circuit year on year since then. He has a proven track record of success in serious cases and has consistently been described in Chambers UK and Legal 500 as 'impressive' and 'unflappable', 'a superb first class-advocate' and as ‘talented beyond his call’.
Sam is also a specialist regulatory lawyer and is an established member of the list of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law; as a Level A member of that list he undertakes both prosecution and defence work in this field at all levels of seriousness.
He is also a recognised sports law lawyer, with particular skills and experience in appearing before sports tribunals and conducting other advisory work in the sports of rugby, football, athletics and horse racing.
Selena Plowden KC
Selena specialises in complex and high value clinical negligence and personal injury cases. She has expertise in dealing with particularly sensitive and legally complex issues such as those arising from the treatment of mental illness; the provision of public health services; the funding of health and social care in the community; management of the interface between different health services; intimate birth and brain injuries.
Selena is ranked by Legal 500 as a First Tier Silk:
‘Selena is a super brain. She has a great ability to organise, analyse and distil the essence from huge quantities of material. She never misses an important point in the evidence.‘ She is ‘willing to tackle the novel and the challenging, with unrivalled commitment and insight‘; ‘she brings with her such experience and such tenacity that if she’s on your case you feel confident in taking it forward‘. [2022]
And by Chambers UK as a Band 1 Silk:
“Absolutely excellent – she really stands out for her acumen and expertise in clinical negligence cases.” “She’s truly meticulous and incredibly sharp.” “Completely dedicated to her clients, approachable, personable and always goes the extra mile.” [2022]
As a junior, Selena also represented clinicians before disciplinary tribunals and for a time she sat as a Legal Assessor for the GMC. She has sat part time as a Judge on Mental Health Tribunals since 2007 and continues to do so.
Selena is shortlisted for 'Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year' at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022.
Simon Passfield KC
Simon is a specialist insolvency barrister who undertakes litigation and advisory work in all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency law. He has been consistently recognised as a leading junior in this field by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 and has appeared in more than 40 reported insolvency cases. He is regularly instructed to act in high value and complex insolvency litigation and against leading counsel.
Simon is a member of the Attorney General's Regional A Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown and regularly acts for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Official Receiver in directors' disqualification cases.
In December 2020, Simon was appointed as a Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge.
Sophie Holme
Sophie Holme is a leading junior with a strong reputation for representing Claimants and Defendants in clinical negligence and personal injury claims. Sophie acts in cases involving the full range of medical specialisms and a wide range of injuries.
In inquests, Sophie has experience of difficult cases involving a wide range of healthcare matters involving medical and psychiatric treatment including prison deaths and those within Hospital Trusts. Sophie appears on behalf of families, Trusts and represents the interests of doctors. Sophie is happy to consider acting pro bono in appropriate cases given the difficulty faced by many seeking to fund representation in the coronial setting.
Sophie has significant experience of Regulatory and Discipline law and has enjoyed considerable success acting for nurses before the NMC and as prosecuting for the GDC.
Sophie is tier 1 ranked in Legal 500 for clinical negligence which describes her as ‘a phenomenally capable counsel who combines intellectual rigour, impeccable judgement, attention to detail, and determination.’.
Stefan Ramel
Stefan is a specialist insolvency and commercial barrister who accepts instructions in all aspects of insolvency and commercial litigation work.
He is recognised by the legal directories as a leading junior in both insolvency and commercial litigation work and is often instructed in substantial and complex insolvency and commercial litigation. Stefan is noted as a cross-border expert and has recently worked on two CJEU cases, and is regularly instructed directly by insolvency lawyers and practitioners from other jurisdictions.
Stefan is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, Insol Europe, the Insolvency Lawyers Association and R3. He is also a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) and regularly acts for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Official Receiver in director disqualification cases and bankruptcy restrictions order cases. He also acts for HMRC.
Susan Cavender
Susan specialises in a variety of areas of law that includes criminal, licensing, driving defence cases, regulatory/disciplinary and inquest hearings. She works primarily in crime covering a wide range of cases for both prosecution and defence. Susan has maintained her licensing expertise before Licensing Authorities and on appeal in the Magistrates' Court.
William Batstone
For 20 years, William has practised exclusively in the resolution of agricultural tenancy and related disputes, having learned the trade as a solicitor and later partner at Burges Salmon from 1994 to 2001 before returning to the Bar, having been called by Middle Temple in 1982.
William is instructed by solicitors and chartered surveyors on behalf of their clients, by arbitrators appointed to resolve disputes concerning agricultural holdings and he accepts appointments himself to act as arbitrator in such disputes. William is a trained mediator and his part-time judicial role as a Deputy District Judge since 2001 adds to his experience.
Alistair Haggerty