Gatehouse Chambers

gatehouselaw.co.uk

Adam is a specialist in property, private client, insolvency and commercial dispute resolution. He appears regularly in courts and tribunals representing a broad range of client from individuals to large financial institutions. He is frequently instructed on complex probate and commercial property disputes, both led and unled. Adam has a busy practice advising – both in writing and in conference with clients – as well as drafting applications and statements of case for proceedings in the High Court and County Court in a wide range of commercial, chancery, property and insolvency matters. Adam has a commitment to pro bono work, accepting instructions through Advocate and other schemes.

Aileen McErlean

Aileen is regarded as a go-to junior for both commercial and insolvency work. Her commercial practice encompasses domestic and international arbitration as well as litigation. She has considerable experience in a wide range of commercial disputes concerning breach of contract, penalties, civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and allegations of bad faith. Aileen has a wide ranging insolvency practice (both personal and corporate) and is regularly instructed to act in respect of high-value, complex and cross-border disputes. She acts on behalf of insolvency practitioners, technology multi-nationals, utilities companies, banks, accountants and insurers in complex, high value claims. A highly regarded team-player, she is a tenacious advocate and pragmatic tactical advisor.

Alaric Watson

Alaric is an experienced commercial barrister specialising primarily in business disputes and insolvency. His practice covers a wide range of commercial litigation, costs, civil fraud, employment related litigation, company and partnership disputes and all aspects of insolvency, both individual and corporate.

Alice Whyte

BA Jurisprudence, University of Oxford BPTC, City Law School

Alison Meacher

Alison’s practice is focussed on vulnerable and elderly clients and she has tailored her practice to meet the wide-ranging needs of her clients and those who provide them with services. She is an accredited Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) with the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Alison’s practice is focussed on vulnerable and elderly clients and she has tailored her practice to meet the wide-ranging needs of her clients and those who provide them with services. She is an accredited Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) with the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Her practice includes validity of wills, intestacy, inheritance act claims, removal/appointment of executors, deputies or attorneys, trusts of land claims (TLATA), administration of trusts and estates, prevention and recovery after financial abuse, Statutory Wills, care home charges, NHS CHC funding, adult community care, mental capacity law, mental health law, forced marriages, cross-border disputes, social housing, healthcare law, human rights, safeguarding, social welfare entitlement, discrimination, consumer rights and general public law. Alison is frequently instructed in complex and or hybrid cases in the Court of Protection, the Business and Property Court and Family Division. She is also happy to represent clients in all forms of ADR setting, formal and informal. She has a passion for and detailed understanding of the law, guidance and policy that affects her clients and is able to provide specialist advice and representation. She is a robust advocate when in the courtroom and negotiating outside court, yet possesses the patience and compassion needed to discuss difficult subject areas with family members and litigants in persons with sensitivity. Alison’s expertise in her fields of practice is reflected by her recommendations as a leading junior in the latest editions of both the Legal 500 (Court of Protection & Community Care, Civil Liberties & Human Rights and Social Housing) and Chambers UK (Court of Protection: Health and Welfare, Court of Protection; Property and Affairs as well as social housing). She is Chair of the Court of Protection Practitioner’s Association (CoPPA) London Region, and sits as a Recorder (Family) and Deputy District Judge. Alison is an ADR-ODR International accredited mediator.

Amanda Eilledge

Amanda is an experienced commercial chancery litigator with a thorough understanding of commercial realities having previously worked for law firms in both Hong Kong and Australia. She specialises in disputes involving property and has considerable expertise not only in property law issues but also in the related areas of secured lending, civil fraud and insolvency. In addition, she handles professional negligence work. Clients value her down to earth and no nonsense approach as well as her technical expertise in a number of areas.

Andrew Kearney

Andrew is an experienced and highly regarded construction and engineering barrister. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator, has judicial experience, and is an experienced construction Adjudicator accredited by both TeCSA and TECBAR. He is an accredited and active Civil Mediator with experience of mediating multi party construction disputes. He acts nationally and internationally in a wide range of energy, construction and engineering disputes and has over 30 years' experience advising developers, end users, national and international contractors, subcontractors and consultants and their insurers. He has acted for many household name main contractors. He also acts in commercial and property cases. Andrew originally qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and became a partner at Pinsent Masons, specialising in construction.

Andrew Skelly

Andrew’s practice encompasses all areas of real property law, with a particular focus on the areas of rights of way and other easements, public rights of way, and boundary disputes. Andrew has developed a special interest in the area of conduits: drains, sewers, pipes and cables. He has substantial experience dealing with disputes relating to the growing problem of Japanese Knotweed, and regularly advises a large national landowner on this issue. Andrew also practises in all areas of commercial and residential landlord and tenant law, dealing with both contentious and non-contentious matters. His clients include local authorities and estates, private and corporate land owners, developers and management companies, and private individuals (both private and publicly funded), and is happy to receive instructions from individuals and businesses through Direct Access. Andrew is regularly instructed by a number of Local Authorities and Councils, dealing predominantly with their commercial property issues, and is frequently commended for his practical, versatile and commercial approach. Andrew has considerable experience of litigation in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Courts across the country, the Upper Tribunal (Land Chamber) and the First-tier Tribunal. He also regularly represents parties in mediation, and at public inquiries regarding public rights of way. Andrew was a Deputy District Judge (Civil, Chancery and Family) between 2013 and 2023, sitting in the County Court in London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. He was appointed a Recorder in 2020, and sits in the County Court at Central London (Chancery) and the Crown Court on the South East Circuit (Crime).

Aneurin Moloney

Aneurin specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury claims. His clinical negligence practice covers a wide range of medical disciplines. He is regularly instructed in claims arising out of delays in diagnosing cancer, the management of neurological conditions, surgical errors, and birth injuries. He also has related expertise in inquests and medical product liability. Outside of the law, he has a keen interest in watching and playing cricket and has followed the England team on a number of overseas tours. Aneurin can also regularly be found at Anfield supporting his local football team, and continues to support his childhood local team Bristol Rovers. He also finds the time to sit on the Lexis PSL Consulting Editorial Board for Personal Injury, and to produce the clinical negligence barrister blog.

Brie Stevens-Hoare KC

Brie is recommended as a leading silk in the latest editions of The Legal 500 and Chambers UK . In recent years she won Barrister of the Year at the Modern Law Awards and Chambers UK’s Real Estate Silk of the Year Award. She is a client focused property barrister experienced at dealing with all aspects of property litigation, property related probate and professional negligence as well as franchising. Brie’s successful property practice, focusing in particular on real property, property development and, the more commercial aspects of property work continues to flourish. In addition she has developed a strong reputation for her contentious probate work, which frequently involves property issues. Property related professional negligence (particularly involving solicitors and surveyors), probate (often involving property issues) and franchising form the balance of Brie’s practice. Mediation is the other string to Brie’s bow and Chambers UK notes she is “a great mediator“. She has a great deal of experience of mediation from both angles: as a mediator and representing clients in mediations. She is increasingly in demand in both capacities and works as a mediator privately and in the FTT. Brie is also able to accept direct access instructions and is often instructed to provide an initial assessment of prospects and strategic advice.

Bryoni Kleopa

Byroni Kleopa specialises in all areas of Property and Planning Law.

Byroni Kleopa

Byroni Kleopa specialises in all areas of Property and Planning Law. Byroni frequently acts in areas where her specialisms overlap. She has developed a strong advisory practice and frequently appears as sole counsel in the County Court and First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in complex service charge cases. She acts for both commercial and residential landlords and tenants and large property investors.

Callum Reid-Hutchings

Callum is interested in work across Chambers’ practice areas, with a particular interest in commercial, construction, insolvency and professional negligence. Callum studied Law at University of Cambridge and Swansea University, gaining several academic prizes at both and received a merit-based scholarship to study at Cambridge and undertake the Bar Course in London. Callum has gained experience from working as a commercial litigation paralegal at a leading London boutique where he saw the full range of commercial litigation work with a focus on unlawful conspiracy claims and advising on what steps should be taken in relation to freezing orders. He has also gained extensive commercial law and company law knowledge by giving supervisions at the University of Cambridge in Company Law and lecturing Investment Banking Law (LLM) at Westminster University, as well as lecturing in contract law and property law at LSE and King’s College, London. Prior to starting pupillage, Callum gained further experience by working as a Judicial Assistant in the High Court (Commercial Division) for Cockerill J, Butcher J and HHJ Pelling KC and worked on several high-profile trials including: CRF I Limited v Banco Nacional de Cuba & Republic of Cuba [2023] EWHC 774 (Comm) Goyal & Anor v BGF Investment Management Limited & Ors [2023] EWHC 1180 (Comm) Virgin Enterprises Limited v Brightline Holdings Ltd [2023] EWHC 2240 Loreley Financing Jersey No.30 Limited v Credit Suisse FL-2018-00019 Callum has also been working as a Tribunal Assistant on a very high value construction arbitration under SIAC rules.

Cameron Stocks

Cameron specialises in property and private client matters with particular expertise in landlord and tenant and contentious trusts and estates. Ranked by Legal 500 as a “rising star”, Cameron is noted for his excellence in both capability and client relationships. He is widely recognised for his down to earth attitude and his ability to advise clients in an accessible manner. Cameron has a busy advisory practice and frequently appears in the High Court and County Courts in trials and applications and the First-tier Tribunal dealing with service charge and land registration matters. In addition to court, Cameron is regularly instructed to represent clients at mediation and other forms of ADR. Cameron is also one of the co-authors of the newest edition to Class Legal’s popular dictionary series Dictionary of TLATA and Inheritance Act Claims (2023) and authored the chapter concerning the ‘Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975’. Away from chambers, Cameron is an active conservationist and he currently serves as an executive board member of Save the Asian Elephants. Cameron is also very involved in FreeBar, an LGBT+ organisation established by Gatehouse Chambers along with other leading chambers, which aims to promote diversity and inclusivity of LGBT+ members and staff at the Bar.

Carl Brewin

Carl Brewin is a specialist property barrister with a particular focus on cases involving land and real property, landlord and tenant matters and disputes concerning and arising from property transactions. Recognised by The Legal 500 as a leading property practitioner, his clients include: well-known retailers, national housebuilders, institutional investors, property managers, insurers, local authorities and housing associations, as well as high net worth individuals. Carl is sought out as a confident and firm advocate and he is known for giving clear and concise advice that enables clients to understand their legal position as well as what that means for them in practical terms. He has a wide range and experience of advisory work, drafting and advocacy in all levels of court and tribunal. Carl studied Russian and Politics. Before coming to the Bar, he worked in a busy solicitors’ office and for a city-based firm of corporate governance consultants advising pension funds and other large investors. Carl has been appointed as a Deputy District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit and is also an accredited mediation advocate.

Catherine Piercy KC

Catherine Piercy KC is a successful commercial and insurance specialist with a particular focus on construction and engineering disputes, property damage and professional liability. She has a busy court and adjudication practice, acting for insurers, contractors, employers, construction professionals and insolvency practitioners. Catherine has an incredible rate of retention of clients, which shows that not only is she committed to fighting her client’s case to ensure a positive outcome, but that she is personable and works well as part of the team. Catherine appears in all levels of tribunal in procedural applications, substantive hearings and trials. Catherine has appeared in the all of the TCCs and acted in adjudications and mediations. Catherine is not only instructed when a dispute has arisen, but, as a result of the rapport she builds with her clients, she is often asked to advise client’s when they believe a dispute may be about to arise. Catherine is “innovative and commercially minded” and has a client focused and commercial approach to resolving disputes, giving “good, practical advice”. She effectively manages the legal, expert and client teams to achieve the most favourable outcome for her clients. She is described by her clients as “exceptional” and “phenomenally hardworking”. Chambers UK describes her as having a “great strategic mind” and “proactive, brilliant with clients and gives no-nonsense advice." Catherine won Construction Junior Barrister of the Year by Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019. She has previously also been shortlisted for “Best Woman in Construction Law” by the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. substantive hearings and trials. Catherine has appeared in the all of the TCCs and acted in adjudications and mediations. Catherine is not only instructed when a dispute has arisen, but, as a result of the rapport she builds with her clients, she is often asked to advise client’s when they believe a dispute may be about to arise. Catherine is “innovative and commercially minded” and has a client focused and commercial approach to resolving disputes, giving “good, practical advice”. She effectively manages the legal, expert and client teams to achieve the most favourable outcome for her clients. She is described by her clients as “exceptional” and “phenomenally hardworking”. Chambers UK describes her as having a “great strategic mind” and “proactive, brilliant with clients and gives no-nonsense advice." Catherine won Construction Junior Barrister of the Year by Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019. She has previously also been shortlisted for “Best Woman in Construction Law” by the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

Charles Raffin

Charles Raffin is a highly regarded commercial barrister specialising in the resolution of international and domestic commercial disputes through courts, arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR. Charles’ broad commercial and commercial/chancery practice encompasses civil fraud (with related contempt of court work), company/joint venture/partnership, CDR (including construction, franchising, sports and costs disputes), insolvency and trusts litigation. Charles advises and appears regularly in arbitration disputes under all the major international arbitral rules. Recommended by Chambers & Partners UK and Global and Legal 500 for his onshore and offshore work, Charles is known as: "incredibly bright, responsive, detail-orientated and thorough", "very commercial, very sharp and a delight to work with", "a very effective advocate" and "excellent on every level". Much of Charles’ work has a strong international edge. He is called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and acts regularly for clients based in, or involved in disputes in, jurisdictions including Europe, Russia, the Americas, the Caribbean (the BVI, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos), and the Far East, and he enjoys working with foreign counsel and experts of foreign law. Much of Charles’ work involves conflicts of laws, and he also acts as an expert on English law in foreign proceedings. Charles’ experience at the Bar is enhanced by his three years as an Associate in the International Arbitration & Litigation Group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP and then his later secondment with a major litigation funder. Charles is co-author of Electronic Disclosure: Law & Practice (OUP) and a regular speaker at online and in person national and international conferences and seminars (including at the Chancery Bar Winter Conference, various English-Cypriot Law Days, the Legal Business International Arbitration Summit and CDR Autumn Arbitration Symposium). A member of the Middle Temple International Sub-Committee, Charles has assisted and advised civil rules committees in various jurisdictions over pending amendments to rules concerning discovery/disclosure.

Charles Bagot KC

For more than a dozen years, Charles has been recommended in the legal directories as a leading practitioner. He won Personal Injury Silk of the Year at the 2023 Legal 500 Bar Awards (and was nominated for the same award at the 2023 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards). He took silk in 2018 and is a specialist barrister in the fields of personal injury, clinical negligence, civil procedure and related insurance issues. He sits part-time as a Deputy High Court Judge, a Recorder (Crime & Civil) and as a Deputy King's Bench Master. He was successful in the election to be Chair of the Personal Injuries Bar Association, for a two year term from April 2022. He is a governing Bencher of the Inner Temple. He is on the Editorial Boards of Kemp & Kemp: the Quantum of Damages and also the Personal Injuries and Quantum Reports. Charles’ practice is in acting for Claimants and Defendants in complex and high value injury and clinical negligence claims as well as having a particular specialism in secondary victim litigation and fatal accident claims. He also has a niche practice in procedural law, having led on appeals in the Court of Appeal and Privy Council arising out of procedural points in his specialist fields and civil litigation generally, both domestic claims and appeals from overseas jurisdictions. He has advised major insurers in various high value cases being litigated in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Gibraltar respectively. He has acted as an expert witness on English law in foreign jurisdictions. He is sought after by insurers for cases where fraud and exaggeration are suspected in high value injury and clinical negligence claims. Charles also advises insurers on coverage and policy interpretation issues arising in his specialist fields.

Charlotte Wilk

Charlotte has a mixed civil practice, with a particular interest in Clinical Negligence, Costs and Litigation Funding, and Personal Injury. She also has a busy Housing practice and undertakes work in general Civil and Commercial Disputes. Charlotte has recently been instructed in the Supreme Court as second junior counsel to the RHA, led by PJ Kirby KC, in the case of R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) (Appellants) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others (Respondents) [2023] UKSC 28 – a case concerning third party litigation funding, which featured in The Lawyer as one of the Top 10 Appeal cases of 2023. Charlotte often appears 3-4 times a week in court, representing both claimants and defendants in interlocutory hearings and trials; she has appeared unled in the High Court on multiple occasions, tackling complex procedural issues.

Charlotte John

Charlotte’s practice focuses on Chancery and property litigation and encompasses both traditional Chancery and commercial work. She has particular expertise in matters concerning the administration of estates and trusts, contentious probate, real property as well as Court of Protection property and affairs matters. She is recommended in both the Legal 500, where she is ranked for Private Client and Property and Construction, and Chambers UK, where she is ranked for Real Estate Litigation. The editorial praises her for her encyclopaedic knowledge, commitment to her cases and her client care skills. Charlotte regularly produces articles relating to her specialist areas of practice and blogs at Equity’s Darling on private client and property law. Together with James Kessler KC, she has co-authored the latest edition of Drafting Trusts & Will Trusts (Sweet & Maxwell). Charlotte is an accredited Trust & Estates Practitioner with the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (“STEP”). She was recently co-opted to serve on the STEP working group which liaised with the Ministry of Justice during lockdown in the lead up to the introduction of the Remote witnessing of Wills: The Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020 and which produced guidance for STEP members on the remote execution of wills. She is also presently involved in the STEP working group set up to review the STEP Standard Provisions. She is a qualified arbitrator offering IFLA scheme arbitrations on TOLATA and 1975 Act claims. Charlotte sits as a Deputy District Judge in the County Court and Financial Remedies Court.

Clare Anslow

Clare is a specialist in all areas of Property and Housing Law, with a particular emphasis on residential and commercial landlord and tenant work. Clare also handles the full spectrum of land and real property cases and has a keen interest in disputes over beneficial ownership of property and trusts of land. Clare is widely recognised for her realistic and commercial advice and regularly appears in the High Court, County Court and First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) both in her own right and as Junior Counsel. Clare is an advocate for ADR and is particularly interested in utilising both court-offered and private mediation in appropriate cases. A popular trial advocate, Clare has successfully represented clients in a myriad of multi-track and fast-track hearings, where her arguments have been described as “eloquent and tenacious” by judges and clients alike. She is fast becoming a go-to junior for pursuing appeals.

Colm Nugent

Colm is a specialist barrister in the fields of personal injury and related insurance issues. He is also instructed in a variety of disputes outside these core fields including difficult interlocutory applications, having lectured extensively on the CPR and related costs issues. Colm acts for both Claimants and Defendants in all aspects of injury and related disputes with a particular focus on lower limb injuries, subtle brain injury (especially those leading to an increased risk of dementia), complex loss of earnings claims, hand injuries and long-term loss claims as well as fatalities. He is an acknowledged specialist in claims concerning the application of the Defective Premises Act, which has taken him to the Court of Appeal this year. He is sought after by insurers for cases where fraud and exaggeration are suspected and has had success at striking out a number of such claims. Colm lectures regularly on the CPR, litigation tactics, defending fraud claims, bringing complex loss claims and issues arising from disability and interpretation of the Ogden reduction factors. Colm is also an accredited ADR Group Mediator. Colm regularly speaks at training events and seminars, and also gives webinars for Practical Law, LexisNexis and others.

Daniel Gatty

Daniel specialises in disputes about property, with an emphasis on real property and commercial landlord and tenant. Daniel is also well known for his expertise in mortgages and secured lending. Daniel is known for his extensive knowledge of land registration law which is one of his strengths as a property litigator. Daniel’s other work tends to involve property but less directly. For example he is often instructed in professional negligence claims relating to conveyancing and surveyors/valuers and in partnership actions where the assets of the partnership include land/properties. In 2008 Daniel was appointed as a Deputy Adjudicator to HM Land Registry and since 2013 he has been a judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber, Land Registration). Daniel is an experienced, ADR Group accredited mediator.

David Peachey

David Peachey specialises in property work. His cases include commercial landlord and tenant, real estate disputes such as enforcement and modification of covenants, disputes over rights of way and other easements, and leasehold management disputes. David is recommended as a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 for Property Litigation. David is also experienced in property matters involving insolvency or company law issues, and issues arising under the School Sites Acts.

David Lipson

David is interested in work across Chambers’ practice areas, with a particular focus on commercial and property matters. Before commencing pupillage, David worked as an assistant to a barrister who specialised in Media and Communications claims. David completed an LLB at University College London and an LLM at Queens’ College, Cambridge. He obtained a Distinction in his Bar Practice Course at the University of Law, for which he was the recipient of two scholarships.

David Pliener KC

David Pliener KC is an expert in construction and engineering, insurance and commercial work. He also specialises in property damage and professional negligence work. Well versed in complex and high value disputes representing clients in litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation, his expertise covers the international as well as the domestic and he has worked across a number of jurisdictions including the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. Recent work has included disputes concerning claims in Peru, Zambia and Georgia. "David is unquestionably one of the leading [barristers] at the Bar for construction matters. He combines depth of legal knowledge with accessibility, clarity of expression, and an unparalleled ability to make the complex seem simple. He is a very strong and convincing advocate and is on the top of his game." (The Legal 500, 2023) "Solicitors are running out of superlatives to describe David. One of the most talented barristers of his generation and a breath of fresh air for the profession. Perhaps his key skill is turning the complex and convoluted into something that is clear, accessible and practical. A golden thread runs through his advice, guiding the reader through the maze, step by step." (The Legal 500, 2023) David was shortlisted for Insurance Junior of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards 2018 and 2021, was awarded the prestigious Construction Junior of the Year Award at The Legal 500 Awards 2020 and he took Silk in 2023. David is a regular and popular speaker both for seminars offered by Gatehouse and for external conference providers such as the Society of Construction Law and the White Paper Conference. He also writes for Practical Law, LexisNexis and other publications.

David Lewis KC

David Lewis KC has very substantial experience in commercial disputes. His broad-based commercial practice spans domestic and international litigation and arbitration as well as other forms of ADR, securities and financial services litigation, contractual disputes, directors and shareholders disputes, joint ventures and partnerships disputes, civil fraud, sales of goods and services, franchising, professional negligence, and agency (in particular commercial agency). He is recommended by both Chambers UK and Legal 500 for commercial dispute resolution. They refer to him as "a bright and strategically creative silk" who is “incredibly impressive”. They note the fact that not only is he “an excellent advocate” but also that he is “highly user-friendly”, “down to earth, very commercial”. “When you have a difficult court case, he’s the guy you want. He really fights your corner, he’s extremely thorough and he knows his stuff”. David Lewis KC is an accredited mediator.

Ebony Alleyne

Ebony handles a wide variety of commercial disputes and has particular expertise in construction and engineering, construction insurance, professional negligence and property damage. She acts for a wide variety of clients both domestically and internationally. An experienced trial advocate, both as sole counsel and as a junior to leading counsel, she is regularly instructed in multi-week trials in the Commercial Court, the TCC and the Chancery Division as well as in major and complex international and domestic arbitrations, adjudications and mediations. Ebony is recommended for Construction by Chambers Global, Chambers UK and Legal 500 as well as for Professional Negligence by Legal 500. Described as “simply phenomenal” (Legal 500) and “a brilliant barrister”, she is commended for her effective court advocacy, the quality of her written work and her personable, commercial and straight-forward style. Ebony contributes to Construction All Risks Insurance and Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (both Sweet & Maxwell) as well as Emden’s Construction Law (LexisNexis). Ebony sits as an Arbitrator and is a Deputy King’s Bench Master of the High Court. Outside of her legal practice, Ebony is currently enjoying working towards her private pilot’s licence.

Edward Rowntree

Edward combines academic excellence with an acute sensitivity to the commercial needs of his clients. His practice encompasses a wide range of commercial and property work before all levels of tribunal. He also has a significant niche practice in contentious probate. He enjoys working as part of a team, whether with solicitors or other counsel (both leading and led) and is known for his pragmatic and well-informed advice. He aims to ensure that his clients are always aware of the options available to them enabling them to appreciate the merits and risks of contemplated courses of action. Edward was called to the Bar of the Cayman Islands in 2002 and has wide experience of substantial commercial and insolvency work, often with an international aspect.

Emily Husain

Emily Husain specialises in commercial litigation and construction disputes and has considerable experience of both domestic and international litigation. She has particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional cases involving fraud, insolvency, banking and financial services. She also has significant experience in the construction sector in both adjudications and High Court matters and handles professional negligence claims in both the financial and construction contexts. Emily was instructed in 2020 as junior counsel in the five-week trial of a substantial and highly technical commercial dispute in the renewables sector with an approximate value of c.£50m (Toucan Energy Holdings Limited v Wirsol Energy Limited & Ors [2021] EWHC 895 (Comm)). Emily was also instructed in 2021 as junior counsel in Pipia v BGEO Group Limited, involving claims for $300m in Commercial Court proceedings brought by a Georgian businessman against the English branch of a Georgian financial institution. Led by Nigel Jones KC. Emily is regularly instructed as sole counsel across her areas of specialism for advisory work and frequently appears in both the High Court and County Courts including the TCC. Emily’s recent instructions include: Advising in relation to a property transaction involving restrictive covenants with a value of c. £25m Acting unled in the two-day trial of a consumer construction dispute Applications relating to personal and corporate insolvency in the Insolvency Court Advising on a fraud claim against the former financial controller of a limited company Advising a local authority in a commercial claim with a value of £1.5m Applications for interim relief, including those engaging cross-jurisdictional principles Construction dispute adjudications and enforcement proceedings in the TCC Advising a CIC in the energy sector seeking injunctive relief Emily’s international experience extends to Georgia, the Channel Islands, BVI, Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Before joining Gatehouse Chambers Emily undertook pupillage at a leading set of commercial chambers in London, following which she was employed at a major London firm of solicitors handling a wide variety of commercial litigation and arbitration. She previously worked in publishing and her commercial experience has also been enhanced by her years in the editorial team at Simon & Schuster UK.

Emily Betts

Emily is an experienced commercial barrister specialising in all aspects of commercial and property law. She has particular expertise in areas such as commercial fraud, shareholder/company disputes and secured lending. Emily is an experienced trial advocate, both as sole counsel and as a junior to leading counsel, and has appeared in multi week trials in both the Commercial Court and the Chancery Division. The legal directories note she is “an exceptional lawyer with very strong advocacy skills”. Also renowned for being “hard-working, personable and really bright”, she is seen as “a go to junior: there is no client or issue that she cannot deal with.”

Emma Zeb

Emma is a highly experienced and well-respected barrister who has always successfully balanced a practice acting for both claimants and defendants in all types of personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She is also a highly specialist inquest advocate, dealing with the most complex of inquest cases. Consistently ranked since 2008 by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests and inquiries, she is known for her user friendly yet no-nonsense approach and is a fierce and fearless advocate who is always meticulously prepared. Emma has experience and expertise in all types of personal injury work (including all procedural and costs matters) but her seniority and ability particularly lends her to work at the complex and high value end of personal injury litigation including fatality cases. She deals with all types of clinical negligence claims with particular experience in pressure sore cases and delayed cancer diagnosis cases. She is a sought after and very experienced inquest advocate and regularly represents the interests of the bereaved family as well as public/private bodies and state agencies. Her experience in and understanding of cases engaging Article 2 and often before a jury is first class both for the purposes of the inquest itself and any related litigation thereafter, including claims under the Human Rights Act. She has been instructed in a number of high profile cases with related public inquiries and often stretching to many weeks. Emma is part of the Counsel team instructed by the Cabinet Office on the national Covid-19 Inquiry. Emma is a qualified mediator (see separate profile) and her experience in this regard complements and enhances her approach to litigation through all forms of ADR as she recognises the importance of a practical and commercial approach. Emma sits as a Recorder in both civil and criminal jurisdictions. She has been appointed junior counsel to the crown and undertakes complex inquest and high value personal injury and clinical negligence work for the prison estate, probation service and MOD. Emma is a seasoned seminar speaker, both in person and online, and also produces articles on her areas of expertise.

Emma Woods

Emma specialises in personal injury and clinical negligence, and is also developing her experience in Inquests work. She is regularly instructed to appear in the County Court, dealing with a range of hearings, including Small Claims, Fast Track Trials, CCMCs, and interlocutory applications arising out of personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Emma has also recently represented Defendants in Clinical Negligence cases at CCMCs in the High Court. Emma has a commitment to pro bono, accepting instructions through Advocate. Outside of Chambers, Emma enjoys hiking and baking.

Emma Hynes

Emma specialises in construction and commercial matters, including professional negligence claims. She is appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel and instructed as counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and for the Cabinet Office and Number 10 on the Covid-19 Inquiry. In legal circles she is known for her tenacity, meticulous preparation, and poise under pressure. She is a clear and articulate speaker and a skilled advocate. Emma combined her sporting accomplishments with a successful career in business communications, working for organisations as diverse as Serco, The Carbon Trust, and Microsoft. This experience has given her a particular understanding of multinational commercial clients and a pragmatic and business-minded approach. She currently sits on the board of Lifesafe Holdings plc, an AIM-listed fire safety products company, as a non-executive director.

Faisel Sadiq

Faisel Sadiq is a property specialist whose practice has a particular emphasis on five areas: landlord and tenant, trusts and the co-ownership of land, property acquisition and development, regulation of land use (e.g. licensing of houses in multiple occupation), and non-domestic rates. In addition, Faisel has complimentary expertise in commercial, chancery, and planning and local government work, usually where those matters involve interests in property and he is particularly sought out for more unusual cases where property or trusts intersect with other areas of law - e.g. judicial review and charities. Faisel’s recent notable cases include: Daff v Gyalui [2023] UKUT 134 (LC) – impact of landlord’s conduct on the level of a rent repayment order. Ludgate House v (1) Ricketts & (2) Southwark LBC [2023] UKUT 36 (LC) – impact of property guardians on the valuation of a Central London office block. Wehage v Dennis [2023] – successful 5 Day trial in the high court of a will validity dispute over the ownership of a £1m watermill. Reported in the press here and here. Wilson v Charity Commission for England and Wales [2023] UKFTT 562 (GRC) – disqualification of a trustee of the Professional Footballers Union arising from, inter alia, administration of the charity’s property portfolio. Tann v Bhundia [2022] UKUT 268 (LC) – landlord’s liability to carry out repairs to a roof. R. (on the application of Batmanghelidjh) v Charity Commission for England and Wales [2022] EWHC 3261 (Admin) – judicial review arising out of the collapse of the charity Keeping Kids Company. Batson v Charity Commission for England and Wales [2022] EWHC 2609 (Ch) – application for permission to bring company proceedings in respect of a charity. The Knightland Foundation v Charity Commission of England and Wales [2021] UKFTT 365 (GRC) – charity proceedings arising from mismanagement of a charity’s property portfolio. Southwark LBC v Ludgate House Ltd [2020] EWCA Civ 1637 – impact of property guardians on a landowner’s liability for non-domestic rates. Kahrmann v Harrison-Morgan [2019] EWCA Civ 2094 – constructive trust over land to be acquired in the future. Golding v Martin [2019] EWCA Civ 446 – relief from forfeiture for non-payment of service charge. Southwark LBC v Royce [2019] UKUT 331 (LC) – liability of lessees to pay for major works to a district heating system. Between 2008 and 2012, he was assistant editor of the Housing Law Reports and contributed to Current Law Statutes commentary on the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Localism Act 2011. He regularly writes articles and gives seminars on property law. Faisel believes strongly in contributing towards the profession. He was involved with the Bar Council’s ED&I work between 2012 and 2023, being Vice Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee and Chair of the Disability Panel between 2019 and 2023. His work on ED&I led to his winning the Chambers and Partners Award 2019 for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion. Since 2008 he has been an accredited advocacy trainer. He has taught at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and for the Cypriot Bar Association, and he is a member of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy International Committee.

Frederico Singarajah

Frederico has developed a successful practice in international dispute resolution that encompasses commercial litigation and international arbitration. He is a specialist in international trade and investment disputes. He practiced law as a solicitor and in-house lawyer before being called to the bar and that experience leads him to undertake highly complex, high value and high-profile cases. Frederico is especially sought out for his unique expertise, drafting and advocacy skills in matters involving emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia, by English, international and foreign firms as well as third-party funders and government entities. Many of his instructions have been borne from his unique profile. His practice spans across a wide spectrum of industry sectors including banking & finance, corporate, M & A, commodities, maritime, aviation, energy, mining, infrastructure, and insurance cases. He is an experienced trial advocate, having advised and acted for states, state entities, public and private companies in English court proceedings. In international arbitration he acts both as counsel and arbitrator and has substantial experience (including under the institutional rules of the LCIA, ICDR, ICC, LMAA, DIAC, CAM-CCBC, AIAC, ACICA and UNCITRAL). Frederico is recognised in the International Arbitration Powerlist by Legal 500, Legal 500 UK Bar and Whoswholegal, amongst the most experienced and notable international arbitration practitioners at the English bar. A considerable proportion of his practice consists of acting as an arbitrator and he is included in the lists or panels of arbitrators in many institutions across the world including the VIAC, HKIAC, AIAC, KCAB, ACICA, CAM-CCBC, CAMARB, CBMA and CACM to name a few. In 2017, Frederico was appointed by the Ministry of Justice as a Court Examiner (a quasi-judicial appointment), undertaking depositions predominantly for the district courts of New York, Texas and California. Frederico is also an accredited mediator and is happy to accept appointments. He is one of the first barristers to become an accredited Digital Dispute Resolution Specialist. As well as practicing law Frederico also is a faculty member for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a course leader at Gray’s Inn and ADR-ODR for international arbitration; is the course leader at University College London for procurement, construction and engineering for major projects; and a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster for commercial dispute resolution.

Gemma de Cordova

Gemma de Cordova is an experienced property litigator. She has a busy practice encompassing the full breadth of landlord & tenant and real property disputes. Gemma’s practice encompasses property litigation in the County Court; First Tier Tribunal; High Court; and the Court of Appeal. She has extensive trial experience, winning praise from solicitors and judges for her skills in cross-examination and handling the unusual and often-unexpected issues that multi-day trials can throw up. She also undertakes advisory work and drafting and is an experienced mediation advocate. She is known for her ability to engage well with both professional and lay clients at all levels of seniority. Businesses, professionals and members of the public can instruct Gemma through the Public Access scheme.

George Eyre

George Eyre specialises in commercial disputes and is identified as a “rising star” by the Legal 500 in three categories: Commercial Litigation, Insurance and Reinsurance, and Construction. He is recommended for his “impressive ability to absorb large quantities of information and papers and produce incisive accurate drafting and advice”, has “gravitas, knowledge, and confidence way beyond his years”, and is “recommend[ed] for trials without hesitation”. George has a busy commercial litigation and arbitration practice. He is frequently instructed in high value and complex commercial disputes including insurance, civil fraud, and professional negligence matters. The Legal 500 commends George’s “impressive knowledge” of commercial matters, making him “definitely a rising star and one to watch”. He is also a “name to watch” for his extensive insurance expertise, which encompasses a broad range of insurance issues across several sectors, including coverage disputes and professional indemnity and CAR policies. George also has signiﬁcant experience in construction, energy and infrastructure claims and is therefore often sought after for cases involving a combination of general commercial and construction/infrastructure issues. His recent instructions include several cases where fraud is alleged in the context of commercial and residential developments, insurance disputes concerning international energy production programmes, and professional negligence claims arising from construction and infrastructure projects. Since 2018, alongside his regular practice, George has been acting as Junior Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. George was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of London counsel in 2022 and represents the UK Government in commercial disputes. Before joining Gatehouse Chambers, George graduated from the University of Oxford with a First-Class degree in History and then completed the GDL and BPTC at the City Law School, during which time he was awarded a number of scholarships and academic prizes. George regularly contributes to Gatehouse Chambers' programme of seminars and articles on key and emerging issues in his practice areas. He is the author of Practical Law’s guidance note on Insurance and Reinsurance Arbitration, and a contributor to Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance and Insurance Broking Practice and the Law.

Graham Cunningham

Graham is an unregistered barrister. He is also part of the Gatehouse Chambers Alumni. Graham spent the first part of his career as a lawyer in industry. He specialised in intellectual property licensing and technology transfer for US multinational ITT Corporation. He then spent 10 years with the UK subsidiary of Wang Laboratories Inc, a well-known computer company in the 1980s. He was the first in-house lawyer, with responsibility primarily for establishing the legal department and for commercial transactions. He then became the legal director and company secretary and was a member of the management team for several years. Lengthy in-house experience allowed him to bring a broad commercial perspective to his work at the Bar and he was mentioned as an IT junior over many years in the Chambers UK directory. He returned to practice in 1994. Graham's career spanned a wide range of contentious and non-contentious work in: Information Technology: including hardware and software procurement, software licensing, outsourcing, turnkey projects, systems integration, support and maintenance issues, software development, website development, and cloud computing. Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) Telecommunications: including radio communications, broadcasting, regulatory and commercial work. He was seconded for several months to a new telecommunications company as it was building out its network, has drafted several telecommunications laws, advised on commercial and regulatory matters in the UK, and handled complex telecoms litigation. Data Protection and Freedom of Information Intellectual Property: including database rights, copyright, trade marks, service marks, passing off, design rights, domain names, cybersquatting, breach of confidence, counterfeit goods and merchandising. Research & Development and Technology Transfer UK/EU Trading and Commercial Agreements: including franchising, sales and purchase, licensing distribution, joint ventures, leasing and hiring, commercial agents, and consumer credit. He has particular interest in franchising issues and has been regularly involved in this area as adviser, principal counsel, mediation advocate, mediator and junior counsel to Nigel Jones QC. Utilities: especially sector reform and regulation in water and energy, transport and communications, including legislative drafting to support the creation of regulatory bodies. UK/EU Competition Laws related to the above issues. Graham is an accredited mediator (see his separate Mediator Profile). He also has experience of Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) work - eg a dispute between a high street bank and a major telecommunications provider concerning international data transfer by satellite.

Greg Laughton (SC) KC

With chambers in Sydney and London, Greg is a leading Australian Silk with a broad practice in domestic and international commercial dispute resolution. He has considerable experience acting for, and advising, clients globally. The matters in which he appears typically consist of high value, complex, disputes involving multiple parties. Greg’s primary areas of practice include complex cross-border maritime and transportation law, commercial law, building & construction and infrastructure law, commodities, IT, professional negligence and insurance-related disputes. He has appeared in a broad range of jurisdictions at trial and appellate level, including in leading cases in the High Court of Australia and New South Wales Court of Appeal. His international practice has seen him appear as counsel in international commercial arbitrations in Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai, Germany, Frankfurt, Brazil, Fiji, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. Complementing his practice as a leading advocate and advisor, Greg accepts arbitral appointments as sole arbitrator or as part of a three-member tribunal. He has experience with a wide range of arbitral institutions and accepts both institutional and ad hoc appointments. Greg is the Chair of the International Committee of the NSW Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (FACICA) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). Greg is a graded arbitrator with the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators and a BarADR approved arbitrator by the NSW Bar Association. His ADR practice also extends to acting as a mediator in a wide range of disputes. Greg was previously awarded Australian Arbitration Barrister of the Year in the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards, and in 2021 was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Australia for his work in international arbitration. He contributes to the professional development of legal professionals world-wide through his advocacy training in an international arbitration and cross-cultural context. In addition to his legal qualifications, Greg holds a Master of Laws in International Trade and Corporations Law and a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from the University of New South Wales.

Helena Drage

Helena accepts instructions in all areas of our work and has a particular interest in personal injury and clinical negligence. Helena frequently appears in the County Court for Claimants and Defendants in trials, applications and case management hearings. She has also appeared in the High Court on multiple occasions in her own right. She is developing a reputation as a persuasive and effective advocate who is always thoroughly prepared. Her instructing solicitors are always impressed with her precise and organised approach. Recent Work: Junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Representing a Mayfair casino in a jurisdiction challenge in the High Court. Advising on a personal injury and clinical negligence claim arising out of an accident in Italy. Representing Network Rail in a slip and trip accident at London Bridge Station.

Helena White

Helena is an insurance and commercial practitioner, with a particular focus on construction and engineering disputes, professional negligence and property damage. Her experience includes public procurement and utilities work. Recommended for Construction in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, Helena is known for being a robust trial advocate and providing clear and accessible advice either in writing or in conference. She is regularly instructed by a range of clients, including employers, contractors, construction professionals, insurers and insolvency practitioners to act in litigation, both in the TCC and the county courts, as well as arbitration, adjudication and mediation. Helena accepts instructions on a direct access basis in appropriate cases.

Henry Slack

Henry is a specialist practitioner in the fields of personal injury, clinical negligence, health and safety law, coronial law and related insurance issues. He has experience of acting for both Defendants and Claimants and has a varied practice encompassing employer, public liability, motor claims and occupiers’ liability with a strong interest in health and safety law and environmental law. Henry is on the approved panel for many insurers for motor fraud work, in which he is frequently instructed due to his trial advocacy skills, thorough drafting and tactical acumen.

Ian Silcock

Ian began his career as a barrister specialising in IP litigation in the legal department of The Body Shop Intl Plc. Before commencing independent practice at the bar in 2002, he worked as in-house counsel to a global domain name consultancy, and later as technical assistant to a leading firm of patent & trade mark attorneys, as well as undertaking a post-graduate degree in computer science, which he obtained with a distinction, having been awarded a scholarship by the European Physics & Science Research Council. Ian’s practice covers all aspects of intellectual property, information technology, telecoms and media law, including the law of trade marks and passing off, copyright, designs, and patents, as well as related fields, such as franchising (including post-termination restrictive covenants), media and entertainment law (including defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, and data protection law). Ian has experience of acting for clients in mediation, as well as in arbitrations, and has also been instructed as an expert witness in the field of copyright law. In November 2014, Ian was identified by the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys Review as being one of the top 10 most frequently instructed counsel in hearings before the UK Intellectual Property Office. In addition, to his dispute resolution practice, Ian is also frequently instructed to draft and provide advice in relation to commercial agreements, assignments and licences falling within his areas of specialisation, including copyright and trade mark licences and assignments, trade mark co-existence agreements, NDAs, TV format licensing agreements, software development agreements and licences, publishing agreements, and franchising agreements, among others. He has represented a diverse range of clients, from individuals, including high profile performers and entertainers, as well as start-up businesses and SMEs, through to substantial global corporations. He also has experience acting both against, and defending, various police forces, local authorities, universities, and other public sector organisations, as well as trusts and charities. Ian lectures regularly in the field of intellectual property law. He has lectured to the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO), the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (epi) in Munich, and to the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA), as well as having been for many years a Visiting Lecturer both to the Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, London (2001-2020), and to the Centre d’Etudes Internationales de la Propriété Industrielle (CEIPI), Strasbourg (2003-2017).

Jack Dillon

Jack Dillon is a well-regarded specialist commercial, property and professional negligence barrister. He is ranked as a leading junior and comes highly recommended by his instructing solicitors, who appreciate his pragmatic advice and persuasive advocacy. He is an experienced trial advocate, both as sole counsel and as a junior, with experience of multi-week trials in the High Court and Commercial Court. Jack has experience across all aspects of commercial disputes, including substantial international arbitrations and frequently appears as sole counsel in multi-million pound claims and arbitrations. His property work focusses on real property and ownership and use of land disputes, and commercial landlord and tenant work. Jack’s professional negligence practice has a focus on legal and financial professionals, and the property and financial sectors. Jack’s clients range from major multi-nationals to government departments and local authorities, banks and insurers, smaller companies and start-ups, and to high net worth and other individuals. Jack accepts direct access instructions and often advises in this way at the very outset of a case. Jack has contributed to various textbooks, including Electronic Disclosure Law and Practice (1st edition, 2017), Construction All Risks Insurance (2nd edition, 2017), and Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (1st edition, 2018), and frequently gives training seminars and talks.

Jake Rowley

Jake Rowley is a specialist personal injury, costs and litigation funding, commercial, and insurance law barrister. He also has a particular interest in, and aptitude for, technical and novel procedural points. Jake is an experienced court room and trial advocate and is known for his forensic ability, robust cross-examination, and persuasive style. Jake understands the broader context of his clients’ disputes and complements his oral advocacy skills with a commercially sensitive approach to litigation with the aim of achieving the most favourable outcome possible in the circumstances. Jake is instructed in high value and complex personal injury litigation on behalf of both claimants and defendants. He is known for his particular expertise in dealing with cases involving allegations of fraud or fundamental dishonesty. Jake has a varied commercial litigation and insurance practice, having been instructed in a broad array of matters including breach of director’s duties; and insurance coverage and recovery claims. Jake’s clients have included private individuals; local authorities; major UK insurers; and large national commercial entities (including British Airways, Heathrow Airport, the TUI Group, Wilko, and the ISS Group). Jake recently represented the successful Defendant/Respondent in the case of Correia v Williams [2022] EWHC 2824 (KB), the leading authority on the approach to be adopted by the Court in relation to the admission (or otherwise) of witness statements for non-English speaking witnesses, which have been prepared in a procedurally defective way. Before joining Gatehouse Chambers, Jake was engaged as a Consultant Barrister at CANDEY, one of the UK’s top ranked and leading disputes only firms, specialising in high value international commercial litigation, arbitration and complex regulatory disputes. During his time at CANDEY, Jake dealt with a diverse number of matters including: acting for a private individual defending a multi-million pound international fraud claim (which was reported in the legal press); a claim for declaratory relief arising from a property investment scheme; advising an internationally acclaimed artist on possible remedies to recover a number of valuable art works; and Solicitors Act 1974 assessment proceedings in the SCCO. Jake regularly delivers seminars and in house training across his areas of specialism.

Jamal Demachkie

Jamal Demachkie is a very experienced commercial barrister who specialises in property related work. “A junior to behold; persuasive and devastating on his feet” (Legal 500; Who’s Who Legal), his practice focuses on land and real property as well as both residential and commercial landlord and tenant work, having been involved in some of the leading cases in these areas. He also handles a variety of other claims with a property related element, ranging from arguments between beneficiaries to multi-million pound development projects and joint ventures where the main assets are property or property related. Jamal’s expertise covers professional negligence claims in relation to property associated disputes, having acted for and against numerous legal and property professionals in matters concerning property transactions, advice and litigation. Outside of law, he is passionate about sport (both participating and watching) and is a keen Parkour enthusiast. Jamal won the prestigious Real Estate Junior of the Year Award at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023, as well as Property and Housing Junior of the Year Award at the Legal 500 Awards in 2020 and 2022. In 2020 Jamal was appointed as both a Deputy District Judge and Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit. In 2021 he was appointed a specialist Chancery Recorder in the County Court at Central London. Jamal is the author of the definitive practitioners’ guide, Forfeiture of Leases published by The Law Society.

James Shaw

James is experienced in all manner of commercial disputes, most notably shareholder and company disputes, civil fraud, insolvency, and complex insurance claims. James is regularly instructed as sole counsel and in a counsel team across his specialisms. Examples of James’ recent work include: Acting in a £100m+ insurance dispute in the Commercial Court (with Paul Reed KC and Ebony Alleyne). Trial in January-February 2023. Acting for the successful Claimant in a Commercial Court action to enforce a US judgment at common law. Obtained judgment for c.$82 million (USD) and stayed Defendant’s counterclaim on jurisdictional grounds. Initially instructed as sole counsel and subsequently with Simon Atrill KC of Fountain Court Chambers. Acting in a number of unfair prejudice actions under s.994 Companies Act 2006 and related interlocutory and injunctive matters (led and unled). Acting (with Tom Bell) in a representative action concerning allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, and knowing receipt against a number of defendants. Advising the claimant in a high value commercial claim against a major bank arising out of the disposal of a property portfolio following a very substantial mortgage fraud. Advising with David Quest KC of 3 Verulam Buildings. Acting as sole counsel in Chancery Division proceedings concerning alleged ultra vires exercises of powers by a company and its directors in connection with the alleged wrongful appropriation of shares/takeover of a company. Acting as sole counsel in a number of fraud actions, including claims concerning alleged deceit and conspiracy and raising (among other things) issues of forgery. Acting in a £80 million contractual dispute arising out of the liquidation of public sector contractor Carillion (with Paul Reed KC and Sri Carmichael). You can find further detail on James’ experience within each of the specialist area tabs on the side of this page. Before coming to the Bar, James read Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford and gained experience at a leading litigation firm in the City, advising and representing clients in highly contested and high-value litigation. In his spare time, James plays football and is learning to speak Hindi/Urdu.

James Hall

James specialises in professional negligence, commercial litigation and property disputes. His professional negligence work relates primarily to the financial services and property sectors though he also deals with a wide variety of claims arising from transactions, projects and misconduct of litigation. He deals with a variety of commercial claims with a focus on disputes connected with his professional negligence practice, such as insurance disputes, conspiracy claims and FS sector work including claims against the FSCS. His property work generally relates to title issues, land registration issues, mortgages and trusts issues and often overlaps with his professional negligence practice. James is instructed in many high-value and complex matters; details of many of his cases are set out in the CVs available in the practice area links on the left. He understands the need not only for technical excellence but also the commercial imperatives of his clients, which range from large lending institutions and professional indemnity insurers to self-insured businesses, other businesses and high net worth individuals. He focuses on strategy and cost-benefit analysis as well as legal finesse. Earlier in his career he spent several years as an employed barrister in an international law firm, developing and leading a team of specialist lawyers, giving him invaluable insight and understanding of the workings of solicitors’ firms and their clients. He has regularly contributed to leading texts and had many articles published in industry periodicals and peer-review journals. He has also spoken at the CML Fraud Conference; The Legal Week Banking Litigation and Regulation Forum; the Legal Business Financial Regulation and Disputes Summit; and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association 2022 Online Conference; as well as having been quoted in the Times and insurance sector magazine Post. He frequently provides seminars and training on a diverse range of topics. James has been shortlisted for the Legal 500 Professional Negligence Junior of the Year Award 2024.

Jasmine Murphy

Jasmine specialises in personal injury and professional negligence cases involving solicitors. Representing both Claimants and Defendants, Jasmine is known for her particular expertise in cases involving the Animals Act 1971 or the Montreal Convention. Jasmine is ranked in both Chambers UK and the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior with her attention to detail and client handling skills being noted as particularly strong skills by those who instruct her. In addition Jasmine is an accredited ADRg Mediator. Jasmine regularly delivers seminars in house and for external training organisations. She is an editor of the Personal Injury and Quantum Reports and is a sub-editor of Kemp & Kemp: The Quantum of Damages.

Jaysen Sharpe

Jaysen is a commercial barrister with expertise in property, commercial dispute resolution, and insolvency. He is regularly instructed in possession hearings, interim applications, trials, and committals. Jaysen also has a busy advisory and drafting practice.

John Beresford

John Beresford specialises in commercial and property law. John has appeared in levels of tribunal up to and including the Court of Appeal. He has experience of a wide variety of commercial matters including contractual disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, fraud, joint venture disputes, shareholder disputes, tracing claims, agency disputes, breach of confidence claims and financial services regulation. John’s substantial property practice encompasses commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes, leasehold management matters, secured lender claims and various matters heard in the First-Tier Tribunal. Notable current and past instructions include: Tillman v Lloyds Bank Plc and Better Capital LLP: John acts for the Claimant (a former owner of the Jaegar and Aquascutum fashion brands) in his c£150m unlawful means conspiracy claim which is being heard in the Commercial Court. John is led by Brie Stevens-Hoare KC. Toner v Telford Homes Ltd [2021] EWHC 516 (QB): John acts for the Fourth Defendant in these ongoing proceedings which concern a property purchased ‘off plan’ by the Claimant who is making allegations of breach of contract, negligence, deceit, harassment and defamation against various parties. John was successful in securing strike out of the defamation and breach of contract claims made against his clients. Freear v Andrews [2020] EWHC 3497 (QB): John successfully represented the Defendant in resisting the Claimant’s application for summary judgment / strike out in a claim concerning a £1.6m property investment. This ongoing matter raises some interesting points of law concerning Quistclose Trusts. Ramjotton v Patel [2020] UKUT 19 (LC), [2021] 2 WLUK 148: Upper Tribunal decision concerning the scope of the jurisdiction under paragraph 5A of Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. John acted successfully for the Appellant. A v B: John acts for the Respondents in an ongoing HM Land Registry rectification claim where serious allegations of fraud are being made. John is led by David Lewis KC. Holyoake v Candy [2017] EWHC 3397 (Ch): John acted for the Claimants in their £132m claim against the Candy Brothers & others arising out of a property development gone wrong (led by Roger Stewart KC of 4 New Square Chambers). The 9 week trial of this matter (which featured in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2017) was heard in the Chancery Division and judgment was handed down in December 2017. These proceedings generated a number of interlocutory decisions (([2017] EWHC 387 (Ch), [2018] EWHC 377 (Ch), [2018] 2 WLUK 495, [2018] EWHC 502 (Ch)). R v J: John was instructed by a high-end fashion label to defend a £3m claim for statutory compensation under the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (led by David Lewis KC). This matter settled. B v S: John acted (as sole counsel) in Queen’s Bench Division proceedings on behalf of a start-up drinks company defending allegations that it had wrongfully terminated an exclusive distribution agreement. This matter settled John acted successfully for an entrepreneur in seeking an order for pre-action disclosure against a publicly listed real estate services company. This matter received coverage in the Guardian, the Times and the Financial Times. John graduated from the University of Oxford with a Double First in Law where he received numerous university and college prizes including the Gibbs Prize (Proxime Accessit) for the best university performance in Contract, Tort, Trusts and Land Law.

John Clargo

John’s practice is primarily based on advice and representation in relation to the law of property, dealing regularly with owners of freehold and leasehold interests in land. He also handles professional negligence litigation in relation to property professionals as well as commercial insolvency and general contractual disputes, where his property expertise gives him the edge. “An extremely capable and experienced advocate”, the legal directories recommend him not only as “the quality of his work is excellent” but also because he is “very easy to deal with” and “highly approachable”. In a previous life John was a civil servant working in matters concerning defence and foreign affairs.

John de Waal KC

John de Waal KC divides his time between practising as a barrister at Gatehouse Chambers and as a mediator with The Property Mediators. The directories say that he “is able to see through the confusion and noise created, guiding you to a strong commercial resolution. He is knowledgeable, measured and good with clients” (Legal 500, 2024”) and is “a go-to mediation Silk for property and professional negligence matters” (Legal 500, 2024). He is regularly instructed in complex property-related litigation in the Chancery Division and the Court of Appeal. In 2015 John appeared in the Supreme Court in Cavendish v Makdessi [2016] AC 1172, the decision that is now the leading case on the law of penalties. John is the editor of the title “Risk and Negligence in Property Transactions” published by the Law Society in October 2018. John was a recent winner of Real Estate, Environment and Planning Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards. Mediation John particularly enjoys working as mediator and conducts about 40-50 mediations every year. For more information about his mediation practice, please go to www.thepropertymediators.co.uk.

John Gallagher

John Gallagher has an extensive practice with experience in professional indemnity and malpractice, clinical negligence, personal injury, general contract and insurance claims and disciplinary tribunal inquiries, and contested probate claims.

Jonathan Titmuss

Jonathan Titmuss is a highly regarded senior junior who specialises in insolvency and restructuring. Ranked for his insolvency expertise in both Chambers UK and Legal 500, he is noted as having “wide knowledge of technical insolvency and exceptional attention to detail” and having “sound commercialism”. He also accepts instructions in insolvency related commercial and property disputes. Jonathan is known as a tenacious advocate and skilled strategist and tactician. He is popular and well respected by both his lay and professional clients for whom he is often seen as “go to” counsel. Jonathan has an established practice dealing with the negligence of professionals involved in his core areas such as insolvency practitioners, solicitors and surveyors. He is recommended by Legal 500 in this area as well where he is recognised as being “responsive and knows his stuff”. Jonathan is happy to consider different ways of funding cases including conditional fee agreements and he works with practitioners and funders to enable litigation to be funded to a successful conclusion whether following purchase and assignment or otherwise. As an ADR Group accredited mediator, Jonathan is frequently involved in mediations and all forms of alternative dispute resolution. Training Jonathan takes a keen interest in training. He regularly delivers talks to professionals in all areas of his work including solicitors, insolvency practitioners, accountants and surveyors as well as speaking for external organisations such as R3. He is also an accredited advocacy tutor for Lincoln’s Inn, a mentor on the pupillage foundation scheme and a registered pupil supervisor.

Joshua Griffin

Josh specialises in commercial dispute resolution, insurance, property and professional negligence work. He has a busy practice, appearing at all levels from the County Court and First-tier Tribunal to the High Court, and has recently appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal in [Ceredigion Recycling and Furniture Team v Pope [2022] EWCA Civ 22.] His reported cases as sole counsel also include Thandi v Saggu [2023] EWHC 1379 (Ch) and Patel v Awan [2024] EWHC 464 (Ch). He is also experienced acting as junior counsel, having been led by Brie-Stevens-Hoare KC and Nigel Jones KC, among others. In addition to his case work, Josh has extensive additional experience across his areas of practice. Building on his pupillage at a leading commercial set specialising in international trade, banking and insurance, Josh worked as a judicial assistant in the Commercial Court, sitting with Mr Justice Henshaw and Mr Justice Andrew Baker. As an adjutant to his insurance practice, he is a contributor to the leading practitioner text Insurance Broking Practice and the Law, edited by CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang. As well as his experience acting in all manner of commercial and residential property disputes, Josh worked at the Law Commission for a year on the ‘Updating the Land Registration Act 2002’ project. Josh adopts a pragmatic approach to litigation and is well versed in with all manner of procedural issues and applications. As a result, he was invited to join the Witness Evidence Working Group and worked on the implementation of Practice Direction 57AC. He is well-placed to advise on issues of compliance under the new witness statement regime. Josh is deeply committed to pro bono work. He was nominated for Young Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2020 and won the John Collins Pro Bono Excellence Award in 2022. Josh studied law with French law and speaks conversational and legal French. He is comfortable working on cases with substantial French documentation. He was recently instructed to assist the BVI office of a leading global law firm in identifying relevant French-language documents in a case involving claims of unfair prejudice and claims against directors.

Karl King

Karl is a property practitioner with extensive experience dealing with both commercial and residential matters at all court and tribunal levels. Karl’s practice, whether advising or litigating, has had an emphasis on landlord and tenant and real property as well as cases involving trusts and wills and insolvency either in connection with property disputes or as independent areas. An important part of Karl’s practice involves claims about restrictive covenants, easements, trespass, party wall and boundary disputes but Karl is also very comfortable dealing with issues arising out mortgage transactions. Karl has seen a complementary professional liability practice develop alongside his property work and this is mainly focused on lawyer and surveyor liability. In addition to that Karl has substantial experience of acting for local authorities in cases involving contractual and property disputes with third parties. He is very often instructed by local authorities and housing providers in the most serious claims for possession and disrepair. His work with local authorities has also resulted in Karl being retained to undertake various enquiries. Karl is a former member of the Civil Justice Council and has also served on the Bar Council where, having been appointed as a Tribunal member, he has adjudicated in numerous controversial professional misconduct cases. In addition Karl served for 9 years as a Board Member of a top 15 housing Trust where he gained unique first-hand experience of the management, regulatory and governance environment operating in this sector. Away from practice, Karl is a genuine sports fan who has a very special passion for the beautiful game for which he became a qualified coach. Karl’s other passion is astronomy and he is comfortable discussing a whole range of topics whether it be about the intricacies of quantum mechanics, relativity, the cosmological constant, the meaning of time or the big crunch versus the big freeze.

Katie Lee

“Excellent communication skills and an eye for detail. Katie also has a very good grasp of construction jargon” - The Legal 500, 2023 Katie is a commercial barrister with particular expertise in construction, engineering, energy and technology-related law. Recommended in Construction by The Legal 500, she is well-known as a hard-working and reliable junior, and is highly regarded for her attention to technical detail and commercial awareness, as well as for her cross-examination and trial work. She acts and has acted for employers, developers, contractors, construction professionals and local authorities. For example, Katie recently acted as part of a multi-counsel team on a $2 billion international construction arbitration involving allegations of defective design, and has recently advised (as leading counsel) in relation to a claim under the DPA 1972 as leading counsel in a multi-million pound dispute concerning blocks of high rise luxury flats. Katie is regularly instructed as sole counsel to act and advise in relation to both High Court and County Court disputes. Katie was recently successful in a four-day trial in the TCC (High Court) as sole counsel in a case involving the construction of a multi-million pound develop for student accommodation (reported), and a five-day TCC trial concerning defective works to a high-end residential premises. Katie has particular expertise in construction adjudication and enforcement; acting for both referring and responding parties in both smash and grab and true value adjudications. Katie has also accumulated a breadth of experience encompassing several niche areas of construction, and has advised in relation to various construction insurance and coverage issues (including PI insurance, CAR insurance, and NHBC/new home warranties), insolvency, the effects of Covid-19 on construction projects, asbestos-related defects, sanitary issues under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, energy from waste plants, and bio-mass energy output under the Non-Domestic RHI Scheme. Katie is currently a co-editor of the Construction, Engineering and Energy Law Journal of Ireland and regularly writes articles and case updates. She has been published a number of times in the Construction Law Journal and the Construction, Engineering and Energy Law Journal of Ireland. Katie has also a contributed to the following leading practitioners texts: Delay and Disruption in Construction Contracts (Burr 2016); Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (Reed 2018 and 2022); and Construction Insolvency (McCann, 2022).

Katrina Mather

Katrina has a busy advisory and court practice specialising in insolvency, commercial and property law. She is particularly sought after for cases which straddle one or more of her specialist areas. She is listed as a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 and is frequently instructed on complex matters which are of commercial significance as well as high value. Katrina prides herself on providing clear, practical, commercially astute advice. Clients appreciate her tactical judgement and her genuine commitment to their best interests. She is approachable and personable which makes her a popular choice with lay and professional clients. She is retained as standing counsel by institutional clients including investment, hedge and pension funds as well as major financial institutions. She is noted for taking a rounded approach to cases where reputational risk can be as important as winning a particular dispute. Katrina is an experienced advocate and is frequently instructed as sole counsel to appear in the higher courts. She is a popular choice as junior counsel on large scale litigation due to her dedicated and hardworking nature. Judges have rated her submissions as “exceptionally intelligent and well measured” and cross-examination as “remarkable, particularly for one so junior”. Before commencing practice at the Bar, Katrina had a successful career in politics which saw her sit on a government select committee for two years during which time she was instrumental in bringing about legislative reform. Her natural oratory ability secured her reputation as a ‘go-to’ media spokesperson and led to her giving speeches to EU summits and in the House of Lords chamber.

Kort Egan

Kort specialises in domestic and international commercial disputes with particular expertise in construction, energy and related insurance matters. Kort is trusted to handle high value and complex disputes as sole counsel. Recent work as sole counsel includes advising a sub-contractor in respect of a dispute worth over £15 million concerning a power plant and defending a £2.5 million claim in the TCC. In addition to his work as sole counsel, Kort has acted as junior counsel for leading silks and senior juniors. Recent led work includes a coverage dispute worth £15 million concerning cladding (led by Paul Reed KC) and a multi-million pound professional negligence dispute (led by David Pliener KC). In addition to his domestic practice, Kort has worked on disputes in continental Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Publications “‘Smash and Grab Adjudications’ – What are we still arguing about” – Society of Construction Law, September 2023 Contributor to Paul Reed KC’s Construction All Risks Insurance, 3rd edition, 2021 and Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance, 2nd edition, 2022 Contributor to Understanding the FIDIC Red and Yellow Books, Simon Hughes KC and Jeremy Glover, 2018

Laura Tweedy

Laura is a very experienced and sought-after barrister who specialises in residential and commercial landlord and tenant and property litigation, as well as in social housing. She is recommended for real estate litigation and social housing in Chambers & Prs and Legal 500. She is described as always looking for “solutions rather than problems” and “taking a pragmatic, commercially minded approach to matters”. It is also noted that she is “compelling and persuasive” in court and has a “steely determination to fight her client’s corner”. She is also known for being “incredibly impressive on the client care front”. Laura’s landlord and tenant litigation practice is extensive including issues relating to possession, notices, long leasehold, AST, service charge and management disputes, dilapidations, 1954 Act claims, forfeiture, rent reviews and pub work. Her practice encompasses all aspects of real estate litigation including TOLATA claims, rights to light, rights of way, easements and covenants, trespass and nuisance and adverse possession. Laura has particularly strong experience dealing with harassment cases, injunctions and guardian occupation. Laura has cross-over experience dealing with property related offences in the Magistrates Court and FTT, including HMO licensing, rent repayment orders, civil penalty notices, breaches of the environmental legislation, Housing Act 2004 and s21 and s25 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 service charge claims. Laura is experienced in private prosecutions and appeals in these matters, as well as with rates mitigation. She is regarded as a leading junior for social housing work. She frequently acts for housing associations and local authorities in relation to all aspects of housing law from ASBIs, closure orders, tenancy fraud, possessions, trials and applications, to bigger policy decisions and strategic advice. Her related property expertise sees her instructed in important cases where property law and social housing law overlap. Laura is a first-rate accredited mediator and really enjoys her role in settling disputes. Additionally, her experience and insight as a mediator means she is an excellent choice as counsel in mediation. She is regularly instructed in the High Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), FTT Property Chamber and County Court and also appears in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Laura is at the forefront in training on the changes afoot due to Renters Reform and the Building Safety Act. Laura is the editor of the Gatehouse property team newsletter.

Lauren Godfrey

Lauren is a commercial chancery practitioner. The focus of his practice is cases involving allegations of fraud and dishonesty. Many of his cases have required careful witness handling or raise specific specialist procedural issues such as the clean hands doctrine, res judicata and the consequences of perjury and contempt of court. The core of Lauren's practice engages issues of professional negligence, restraint of trade, company, partnership, LLP, trusts, employment, breach of fiduciary duties, directors’ duties, unfair prejudice, insolvency, derivative claims, confidential information, intellectual property rights, defamation, data protection and discrimination. Lauren has acted for a full range of clients including banks, insurers, finance companies, directors, shareholders, partners, senior employees, local authorities, central government, trade unions, and not-for-profit entities. Prior to the Bar, Lauren had a successful career as a senior trade union advocate representing executives and senior staff in the Telecoms sector, the Civil Service and the NHS. Lauren has 18 years’ experience as a Senior Lecturer in Law (Sessional) at Birkbeck College, where he studied as an undergraduate, most recently teaching Company Law.

Lesley Anderson KC

Lesley Anderson KC is a senior silk who practises in all aspects of chancery and commercial disputes especially those involving companies, corporate and personal insolvency, professional negligence and commercial property. Lesley has been consistently ranked in Chambers & Partners as a Bank 1 silk (Northern) in six areas: chancery, commercial dispute resolution; restructuring/insolvency; professional negligence; partnership and real estate litigation and as a leading silk by the Legal 500 in the areas of chancery, probate and tax; commercial litigation; company and insolvency; professional negligence and property and construction. For 2020, 2021 and 2022 she has been named by Chambers & Partners as one of only a handful “Stars at the Bar”. She has appeared three times in the Supreme Court since 2013 - in Re Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd [2013] UKSC 7; in Re North East Property Buyers Litigation: Rosemary Scott v Southern Paciﬁc Mortgages Ltd [2015] AC 385 and in Gavin Edmondson Solicitors Ltd v Haven Insurance Co Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 1230. Clients include banks, multi-nationals and major public companies as well as a number of smaller manufacturing and e-commerce companies and professional ﬁrms. She has acted for and against the Government including on public interest winding up and directors’ disqualiﬁcation – most recently for the Official Receiver in the attempt to disqualify the directors of the failed high-profile charity: Keeping Kids Company. Known for her expertise in complex and sensitive shareholder/unfair prejudice disputes, breaches of trust and ﬁduciary duties and share and asset sale claims. Many of her cases arise in the context of difficult family breakdowns. Lesley often works with those from other areas of the Bar (such as planning lawyers and personal injury lawyers) and with other professionals (such as planners, accountants and financial advisers). Lesley sits regularly as a Deputy High Court Judge of the Chancery Division and as an arbitrator. Her decision (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) in Re Idessa UK Ltd [2011] EWHC 804 on the correct burden of proof on directors’ withdrawal of monies from a company is regularly cited and followed. She acts often as a mediator (including multi-party and remote mediations) and offers Early Neutral Evaluation. She also acts as an expert (including as an expert on the English law applicable to derivative claims in a claim about Standard Chartered Bank in New York); as an appointed expert under dispute resolution clauses (including recently in relation to the construction of a bridge over the River Mersey) and as Counsel in relation to expert determinations. Lesley continued to work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and conducted several fully contested trials on a fully remotely and on a hybrid basis. She also sat remotely as a Deputy High Court Judge and as a mediator. Lesley is a former legal academic at the University of Manchester and former training manager for Norton Rose M5 Group and contributes regularly to legal and professional conferences and in- house training for solicitors and other professionals and to books and journals. She is the editor of five chapters in Tolley’s Insolvency Law and a member of the editorial board for Lexis Nexis Restructuring and Insolvency. Lesley also practises (since 1991) at Kings Chambers in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. In 2016 she was shortlisted as Regional Silk of the Year in the Legal 500 Awards.

Lina Mattsson

Lina is a specialist property practitioner who is widely recognised as an excellent trial advocate and for her common sense commercial advice. She is recommended for property work in both Chambers UK and Legal 500. Lina practises in the full range of property disputes, including commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes, easements, restrictive covenants, adverse possession, and land registration. She has particular expertise in commercial property disputes, including development and joint venture agreements. She also acts in professional negligence claims involving property transactions. She is regularly instructed in High Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), FTT Property Chamber, and County Court hearings as well as a junior to leading counsel in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. She also frequently represents clients at mediations and other forms of ADR. Lina regularly writes “Did you miss”, the monthly update on recent case law in Gatehouse Chambers' property team newsletter.

Louis Zvesper

Louis Zvesper has a busy practice, specialising in construction, insurance, and commercial disputes. He is ranked as a "rising star" by The Legal 500 in both construction and insurance & reinsurance; as a leading junior in professional negligence; and as “up and coming” by Chambers and Partners in commercial dispute resolution. Louis regularly appears in the High Court and County Courts, acting for a wide range of clients including insurers and policy holders, and (within the construction industry) employers, contractors, site-owners, developers, construction professionals etc. Louis is regularly instructed to advise, draft documents, and represent parties from pre-action through to trial and appeal, including in various forms of ADR. His experience ranges from relatively modest disputes through to billion-pound claims. Louis’ recent instructions include: Instructions from Fenchurch Law to act for Stonegate Pub Company Ltd in Stonegate v MS Amlin & Ors. Louis is being led by Ben Lynch KC, Adam Kramer KC, and David Pleiner KC. The case was listed as one of The Lawyer magazine’s top 20 cases of 2022. It concerns a £1 billion claim for business interruption losses due to COVID-19, and is a market leading case addressing issues arising from COVID-19 in relation to aggregation, post-policy period causation, treatment of furlough and government support, and AICW. The Stage 1 Judgment was handed down in October 2022, with an appeal to the Court of Appeal due to be head in November 2023, and a Stage 2 trial thereafter. Instructions from Burges Salmon to act for a UK café chain in a £17m business interruption insurance claim, led by David Pleiner KC. Instructions from Herbert Smith Freehills in a multimillion-pound PII coverage arbitration, led by Nigel Jones KC, Chambers Bar Awards Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year for 2022. Instructions from Fieldfisher to act for a property developer in a £7m insurance claim for water damage to a luxury apartment development in London, led by David Pleiner KC. Instructions as sole counsel from Acuity Law to act for an RMC in a £5m claim relating to roofing defects and water penetration affecting a development of apartment blocks. Instructions as sole counsel from Fenchurch Law to act for a pharmaceutical R&D company in a £3m business interruption insurance claim. Louis has contributed chapters to Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell); Construction All Risks Insurance 3rd edition (Sweet & Maxwell); Construction Insolvency 7th edition (Sweet & Maxwell); and Risk and Negligence in Property Transactions (The Law Society).

Mark O'Grady

Mark is instructed to act on a wide range of contentious and advisory matters including in the following areas: commercial litigation, construction, insolvency and professional negligence. There is often a property related dimension to much of Mark’s work. Clients value Mark’s approachability, as well as his impressive advocacy and cross examination skills.

Mark Stephens

Mark specialises in employment and executive disputes, discrimination, restraint of trade and commercial litigation. He is recommended by the Legal 500 for Employment. Known for his excellent inter-personal skills and depth of legal knowledge, Mark is experienced at acting at all levels of the judicial system and at mediation for claimants and defendants, and for corporate and individual clients.

Martyn Griffiths

Martyn specialises in costs, professional liability and commercial disputes. He is recognised as a leading junior in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK where he is complimented for his forensic approach and outstanding advocacy. Martyn is sought out by clients because of his robust advocacy and his adept technical submissions in complicated areas of the law. He is an experienced trial advocate who advances his client’s case eloquently and determinedly. Martyn prides himself on providing practical and commercially astute advice. He goes the extra mile to understand not only his client’s case but the broader implications and concerns involved.

Matthew Hodson

Matthew is recognised for his expertise in private client, commercial and employment law. He has a formidable courtroom presence and is noted for his incisive cross-examination and persuasive advocacy. His practice includes particular specialism in contentious probate, company and shareholder disputes and employee competition. He is valued by solicitors and clients for having a breadth of experience and the ability to provide lateral solutions to just about any legal conundrum. Matthew’s growing reputation has resulted in his being called upon in recent years by many high profile clients including several politicians, a famous author, high profile racing industry figures and the nation state of Kuwait. He is recommended in the Legal 500, and sits as both a Recorder and a Deputy District Judge. Following on from his interest in programming, Matthew is putting himself at the forefront of the legal issues arising from the deployment of AI decision making. This is particularly relevant to employment law where examples of discriminatory AI decisions are becoming more and more common in the areas of recruitment and performance management particularly. It also has ramifications in the commercial and insurance industries where sometimes significant losses can arise from arguably negligent AI decision making or deployment. With his technical understanding Matthew is perfectly positioned to assist on any issues arising in these areas, and is staying abreast of the interesting developments at national and international levels.

Michael Tetstall

Michael works across Gatehouse Chambers' core practice areas with a particular focus on professional liability, commercial and property law. He is an experienced and confident advocate, who is frequently instructed in high value and complex disputes. He is comfortable being instructed as sole counsel or as part of a legal team. Clients value Michael’s practical and focussed advice. In particular, they appreciate the value of his clear, strategic approach to litigation, which underpins the advice he gives. Michael has recently returned from living and working in Melbourne, Australia. He worked for the state Department of Justice as a mediator in cases regarding professional liability, contractual disputes and construction matters. Prior to working at the bar, Michael worked at an international law firm, where he was involved in a number of international arbitrations including disputes over major infrastructure projects and power plants.

Michael Wheater KC

Michael Wheater KC is a respected and sought-after specialist in Construction and Insurance litigation with a particular focus on domestic and international construction and engineering disputes, professional negligence claims and property damage. A robust advocate and pragmatic advisor, Michael has a busy practice dealing with high-value, technical and complex cases and is described by clients as “an excellent ally to have in the most difficult cases” (Chambers UK). Prior to taking Silk, Michael was ranked as a Band 1 Junior in three practice areas by Chambers UK Bar, with recommendations including: “Very user-friendly, down-to-earth and provides excellent written advice. He’s also an excellent advocate and is one of the best counsel strategically that I’ve come across.” He has also been recommended as a leader in his fields in the Legal 500, Chambers Global and Who’s Who Legal for many years. He was nominated for Construction & Energy Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards 2022. Michael is also well placed to advise as to effective and efficient methods of handling e-disclosure and information management. He is the author of the leading textbook on e-disclosure together with Charles Raffin (published by OUP in 2017) and he regularly lectures on the topic. Michael is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, is a TECBAR accredited adjudicator and an ADR Group Accredited Mediator.

Michael Levenstein

Michael specialises in construction and engineering disputes and general commercial litigation. Michael’s cases frequently involve high-value and technically-complex disputes, both in the TCC and international litigation and arbitration. His commercial practice tends to focus on difﬁcult issues of contractual interpretation, including heavily-amended standard form and third party agreements. Michael serves as a member of the Executive Committee of TECBAR and Council of the Society of Construction Law. He is also a TECBAR-accredited Adjudicator and Mediator. In addition to his practice, Michael is a Visiting Lecturer and an LLM supervisor at The City Law School, University of London, and lectures at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London.

Miguel Henderson

Miguel specialises in construction, insurance and commercial work. His work focusses chiefly on commercial dispute resolution, insurance, civil fraud, and franchising. He has experience of litigation both in the High Court and County Court and has appeared in a range of small claims and fast track hearings and trials remotely and in person. Miguel has experience in adjudications, arbitrations and construction disputes arising out of standard form and bespoke construction contracts. Please refer to the tabs along the side of this page to see specific examples of his work. Prior to joining Gatehouse Chambers, Miguel spent three months as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court. He is fluent in Spanish and German and can accept instructions in these languages.

Monty Palfrey

Monty is a very experienced barrister who has an established successful "Court based" property law practice. Recommended by both Chambers UK and Legal 500 as a leading property junior, his expertise covers the full ambit of commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters, service charges, social housing, enfranchisement, mortgages (regulated and un-regulated), easements, boundaries, adverse possession, party wall disputes, proprietary estoppel, co-ownership, title disputes, trusts for sale, and professional negligence claims and insolvency relating to these areas. Monty has significant experience in dealing with “pub” cases (over 400), representing various PubCos and tenants in all manner of disputes surrounding such leases covering: forfeiture and relief, “buying out”, unlawful use, consents to assign or alter, dilapidations and 54 Act renewals. In addition to being in Court, Monty is regularly involved in advising and appearing in cases before all of the various division of the FTT and the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber. He has extensive experience as an advocate in mediations. Monty’s practice is supported by a large and varied lay client base comprising companies, financial institutions, housing associations, trust funds, surveyors, and private individuals. More and more work is now coming by way of direct access. He has a solid track record of establishing long term client relationships and his high level of accessibility and responsiveness have made him many of his clients’ barrister of choice. The extent of Monty’s repeat instructions show how much he is appreciated by his clients who value his strong, persuasive advocacy skills allied to his ability to apply commercial reality as well as resolve fraught and difficult situations and achieve a successful outcome either at trial, mediation or earlier settlement. Clients also appreciate his attention to the individual and his ability to develop a good working relationship, retain a commercial perspective over the dispute and often achieve a successful outcome at an early stage in the litigation.

Nigel Jones KC

Nigel Jones KC is a highly experienced courtroom and advisory leader who specialises in complex and high value, international and domestic commercial litigation & arbitration, insurance, construction and professional negligence. He is acknowledged as a leading silk in these areas and is well-known for bringing a business-like and commercial approach to his work. "Nigel is highly unusual in being as pragmatic a lawyer as he is a fabulous intellect. Nigel answers the questions we have not even thought of and is incredibly reassuring to work with. His accessibility and willingness to help is fantastic – he really is one of the best silks around." - The Legal 500, 2023 Within his specialist areas he has significant experience of banking & finance and joint venture disputes, commercial fraud, private international & conflict, insurance coverage and insolvency, large infrastructure design and construction disputes and property damage. Alongside these he has considerable experience in niche areas such as franchising and commercial agency and sports law as well as the utilities sector (principally electricity). He is also a specialist class/group action lawyer and understands the complex area of costs and the third party funding of costs in domestic and international dispute resolution. These skills led to his appointment in 2014 as chair of the investment committee of the Harbour Funds (the UK’s largest litigation funder). Harbour is involved in investing over £400m in litigation and arbitration worldwide. Nigel is an experienced mediation advocate and a regular lecturer who has presented lectures for the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, the Franco-British Lawyers Society, the British German Jurists Association, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UAE and the Annual Arbitration Summit. In recognition of his market leading skills and expertise, Nigel received the prestigious Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year Award 2021 (Chambers Bar Awards). Nigel provides his services as a director of NJ (Gatehouse) Legal Limited. Registered in England & Wales, company number 10742202. Registered office: Quadrant House Floor 6, 4 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YW. Both Nigel and the company are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.

Paul Reed KC

Paul Reed KC is a leading international commercial practitioner specialising in construction, engineering disputes, professional liability, property damage and insurance. He is regularly instructed in substantial, technical and complex civil, commercial, construction, insurance and professional negligence disputes. As well as being a popular and experienced advocate in court and in arbitration, he is also highly regarded for adjudication and advisory work. Paul has an extensive domestic and international practice, working regularly in the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Asia Pacific region as well as other areas. He is known as an approachable and client-focused silk and a team player who gives clear and consistent advice. Paul has particular expertise in large infrastructure projects (including nuclear), ports, shipbuilding, power plants, airports, commercial buildings, roads, rail, process and other plants, energy and natural resources. He is also an occasional postgraduate tutor and lecturer in construction law, arbitration and insurance and a highly experienced mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator and the author of the leading text on Construction All Risks Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell) and Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell), with contributions from the Construction Team. He has been shortlisted as Construction Silk of the Year in the Legal 500 Awards. Paul has experience of other legal systems including in the Pacific regions (including South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand), South America and Canada and the Middle East, including Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Paul Strelitz

Paul is widely considered a leading junior at the top of his game and is the first port of call for most solicitors in his areas of expertise. Solicitors describe him as ‘the one to have on your side’. He is a noted litigator and tactician whose strong and wide-ranging commercial practice has a particular focus on shareholder and partnership disputes, franchise disputes, claims relating to directors and employment-related litigation. His keen intellect combined with his robust tactics has served to earn Paul a highly impressive list of clients as well as appearing in many leading Court of Appeal cases as sole counsel and the Supreme Court (led) within the last 12 months. Equally at home leading, being led or appearing on his own, often against much more senior opposition, Paul regularly deals with multi-million pound litigation for multi-nationals and public organisations as well as individuals. Paul is often praised by the judges who he appears in front of, and his opponents whom he is against, for his advocacy. “A noted advocate, fierce when he needs to be and clients like him as well”, he “impresses with his forthright advice and clarity of expression” and is recommended in the legal directories “for his preparation, client care and advocacy”. He is incredibly user-friendly and is particularly known for his expertise with figures which makes him ideally suited for complex financial claims. He is recommended as a leading junior for his commercial dispute resolution and employment work in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500. He also sits as a Deputy District Judge in London and the South East.

Peter Petts

Peter is ranked as a leading junior in Property Litigation. He regularly accepts all levels of court and tribunal instructions, predominantly in the fields of landlord and tenant, and real property. He has wide-ranging trial and appellate experience in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), and the Land Registration and Residential divisions of the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. As well as trial advocacy, Peter has wide experience of more complex interim application, including security for costs, interim injunctions and committal proceedings. His drafting and advisory work is held in high regard. Peter’s clients particularly appreciate the clarity and commercial reality of his advice. Having operated on a completely paperless basis for more than 4 years, Peter is a doyen of electronic working, providing a speedy and efficient service to clients and the court. As Secretary of the Property Bar Association, Peter was regularly involved in court and tribunal consultations; working closely with the PLA. Peter is the co-author of the definitive practitioner guide, "Forfeiture of Leases" published by The Law Society.

Philip Marriott

Philip specialises in Property, Construction, Commercial, and related Professional Negligence. Philip is in court regularly, for both applications and trials, appearing in the High Court, County Court, and FTT (Property Chamber). He also has a busy paperwork practice, both advising and settling pleadings. Recent instructions as sole counsel have included: A two-day TOLATA trial involving issues of resulting and constructive trusts. Advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants on a high value private estate. Advising a landlord in a commercial service charge dispute following significant capital expenditure. Representing clients in several consumer construction disputes. Advising on a complex possession claim following the death of a resident landlord. Representing a local authority in a residential service charge dispute before the FTT. Advising on a final account dispute involving questions of delay, adequacy of notices, and defective work. Recent instructions as junior counsel have included: Assisting Brie Stevens-Hoare KC on a boundary dispute with background allegations of harassment and professional misconduct. Acting as junior (led by Michael Wheater KC) in a construction dispute concerning the defective renovation of a school hall roof. Advising on a claim based on adverse possession following expiry of a grazing licence. During pupillage, Philip’s work included: Assisting on FM Conway Ltd v The Rugby Football Union & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 418, the leading authority on the operation of the co-insurance defence. Assisting on an application regarding service by alternative means of a claim form out of the jurisdiction. Assisting on a high profile, 3-day trial in the FTT (General Regulatory Chamber) concerning disqualification of a charity trustee. Philip has experience in Non-Domestic Rates litigation, having assisted with Ludgate House Limited v Andrew Ricketts (VO) and London Borough of Southwark [2023] UKUT 36 during pupillage and appearing in the Magistrate’s Court in an application to set aside a Liability Order. Philip is also committed to pro bono work, appearing in the winding up court via the COIN scheme and representing a tenant in a possession trial where he was able to achieve a favourable settlement shortly before court. Philip also completed Advocate’s ‘Pupil Pledge’ during pupillage. Philip accepts instructions through the Fixed Fee Adjudication Scheme. Philip studied Law at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he received the Thomson Reuters and David Gottlieb Prizes for academic performance after coming first overall in his year, as well as the Land Law Prize, and passed the BCL with Distinction at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Philipp Simon

Philipp Simon is a commercial barrister who draws on experience as a legal professional in not only England & Wales, but also Luxembourg and Germany. He is qualified to practice law in all of these jurisdictions and has rights of audience in the courts of these countries. Philipp's focus is on cross-border work in a corporate and commercial context where he can assist clients not only with the legal challenges of different foreign jurisdictions but also on differences in process, procedure, language and culture. His expertise ranges from cross-border mergers/company/joint venture work through jurisdiction issues and enforcement of judgments to advising government figures on European Competition Law matters and the so called "passporting" of rights and licences. Banking and finance as well as corporate insolvency are particular areas of strength. Philipp is one of very few people able to advise on both English and Luxembourg law issues and this expertise gives him an undoubted edge given that Luxembourg is one of Europe's principal financial centres and the biggest centre of the Investment Fund outside the USA. His clients include major corporates, inhouse counsel, high net worth individuals and litigation funders. With a view to Germany, Philipp has recently acted in the Hamburg Registry of the German High Court (Landgericht Hamburg) where he successfully defended a negligence claim against two board members of an insolvent listed company.

Phillip Patterson

Phillip Patterson has a wide-ranging commercial dispute resolution and insolvency practice with experience of high value and complex disputes in a variety of courts and tribunals, including the Business and Property Courts and the Privy Council. As part of the commercial dispute resolution work he has undertaken, Phillip has represented clients in key industries such as aviation, construction/engineering and financial services. He has an astute business understanding which helps him give focused and practical advice to commercial clients. He has particular expertise in technical company law issues, which makes him an obvious choice for claims involving allegations of misfeasance, mismanagement and breach of duty as well as shareholder disputes. Phillip has extensive experience of partnership and joint venture disputes, often in relation to large construction projects. A significant proportion of Phillip’s current and recent work concerns corporate and personal insolvency, a field in which Phillip is fast becoming a go-to junior for a range of applications, acting both for and against office-holders. Phillip has acted for many of the largest firms of insolvency practitioners in the UK in recent years. Phillip has a significant and growing civil fraud practice, with recent experience of major and high-profile fraud claims, including many with a cross-border element. Phillip has acted for clients and in relation to claims concerning a number of foreign jurisdictions including the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Kuwait and Trinidad and Tobago. He speaks and understands French to a high level.

PJ Kirby KC

PJ has enjoyed a long and successful career at the Bar having previously been a partner in a Holborn firm of solicitors. He took silk in 2013 – the only costs specialist to do so that year. PJ’s practice covers costs litigation, commercial dispute resolution and professional negligence. Recommended by the legal directories for his "great knowledge in relation to complex,cross-border, multi-party-funded litigation", he is instructed by a wide range of solicitors from City firms to High Street practitioners. As well as cases in England & Wales PJ has appeared in the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal in relation to the legality of CFAs and in the DIFC in Dubai and much of his work has an international dimension. PJ is recognised as an expert in the field of costs and is often instructed on appeals in relation to problems over retainers, CFAs etc. He is also often instructed to draft bespoke DBAs, CFAs or CCFAs for firms of solicitors. PJ sits as a Deputy District Judge and is a Bar Council appointed High Court costs assessor. PJ is also an ADR group accredited mediator and is on the Costs ADR (CADR) panel of mediators.

Priya Gopal

Priya’s practice encompasses all aspects of Property Law, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Professional Liability and Costs. She is uniquely placed to deal with disputes where her specialisms overlap. She is an experienced court advocate, appearing in trials, interim applications, appeals and hearings on ancillary matters, often against counsel who are more senior to her in call. Priya has a loyal client base and is regularly instructed by clients who have worked with her in the past. She is frequently asked to advise on procedure and strategy and remains heavily involved in cases from the pre-litigation stage to trial or settlement. Priya also worked as Judicial Assistant to Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Hamblen (now Lord Hamblen) prior to joining Chambers. During her time at the Court of Appeal, Priya gained valuable insight into the appeals process and was involved in numerous high-profile cases. Priya is the author of 'A Practical Guide to Easements, Restrictive Covenants and Rights of Way' (2023, Law Brief Publishing).

Rahim Shamji

Rahim is a qualified barrister who now practices as a mediator (please see his Mediator Profile). He is a truly passionate supporter of ADR around the world and thus, to enlighten the new world of mediation for the world to reap the benefits he founded ADR ODR International (AOI), a leading international dispute resolution organisation in 2016. The company has since expanded into 36 countries and become the thought leader in progressive dispute resolution and training from international conflict management to negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. As AOI’s Head of the International Training Faculty, Rahim not only teaches mediation all over the world with particular emphasis on the importance of trainee mediators’ listening skills to ensure they understand the parties’ needs (which he feels is a vital skill in reaching a meaningful settlement) but also constantly refines new techniques to ensure that parties feel the process has served their interests.

Rajiv Bhatt

Rajiv Bhatt is a specialist commercial, employment and construction law barrister. He has extensive experience as a trial advocate. He is ranked as leading junior in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for employment law. His clients comment that Rajiv is a “meticulous barrister”, he “gets to grips with the details, he is hands-on, he is a very strong advocate and deals well with issues that arise during hearings”, “he gets into the detail, he’s there by your side the whole way, he provides commercial advice, he is hard-working and responsive, and he is very good on his feet” and with one client commenting in particular that “I’d always want him on my team”. Rajiv was awarded the Lexology Client Choice Award 2021 for employment law. He was nominated for this award by his clients and was shortlisted following market analysis by Lexology. In winning this award Rajiv beat off competition from Partners and KCs specialising in employment law. The award recognises the value Rajiv’s clients place on his work. Rajiv’s commercial practice covers areas such as civil fraud, partnership and shareholder disputes, banking and finance related disputes, contractual disputes, breach of fiduciary duties and trusts disputes. Rajiv’s employment practice complements his commercial practice and he has significant experience of employee competition cases including applying for and obtaining injunctive relief. Rajiv is also a specialist in discrimination and whistleblowing law. Rajiv undertakes a wide variety of construction related disputes including disputes concerning interim payments, allegations of professional negligence and defects. Rajiv acts in adjudications for both referring and responding parties. Rajiv is currently acting in a multimillion dollar dispute on behalf of an owner of a hotel building in West Africa against an international hotel brand in a case concerning mould infestation with allegations of mismanagement and design issues. Rajiv has a significant international practice having been instructed in disputes in Luxembourg, France, Pakistan, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Guinea, and the Cayman Islands. Rajiv is also registered in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). Rajiv also has a particular interest in Sports law and is a panel member of Sports Resolutions. Prior to coming to the Bar Rajiv trained as a commercial solicitor at the international law firm, Reed Smith LLP. Whilst at Reed Smith, Rajiv worked on various commercial disputes ranging from intellectual property to shipping, insurance and finance law. His prior experience of being a solicitor makes him perfectly placed to meet client expectations and provide an effective and tailored service. Rajiv is a contributor to Paul Reed KC’s book, “Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance” 2nd edition.

Rob Hammond

Rob’s practice centres on commercial disputes and civil fraud, alongside insolvency and construction work. Regularly instructed as part of a counsel team, he also frequently appears unled in the High Court. Rob is a contributor to both Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell) and Insurance Broking Practice and the Law (Informa) and is a member of the Government Legal Department’s Junior Junior panel. Rob previously worked at the Serious Fraud Office on the cross-border investigation of a former FTSE 100 company, and on the SFO v ENRC [2018] EWCA Civ. 2006 privilege litigation. He then worked in the London disputes practice of a directory-ranked US law firm. He therefore understands his clients’ needs, and has experience beyond his call, in civil fraud, general commercial disputes and investigations.

Robert Whittock

Robert has a broad civil litigation practice focused on Intellectual Property, Professional Negligence and Personal Injury. He handles a wide range of claims including multi-claimant £multi-million professional negligence cases concerning off-plan property developments and complicated cases concerning patents. He has appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal & High Court and regularly appears in interlocutory matters, trials and appeals in the County Court. Robert also considers accepting instructions on a direct access basis. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Robert was employed as a scientist at AstraZeneca, worked at Molecular Profiles on patent infringement testing of pharmaceutical drug substances & drug products and on a multi-national patent litigation case concerning extended wear contact lenses in the IP/IT department at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. Robert has a keen interest in pharmaceutical patents and has been invited to give presentations and chair sessions at international conferences in this field, including Assa International IWPCPS-13. He is known for his attention to detail and achieving the best result for the client even in the most challenging case.

Robin Dunne

Robin Dunne is a specialist in costs and litigation funding. He has focused on this complex area of law since qualification and is recommended for costs litigation in both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. As well as his inter-partes practice, Robin is a specialist in solicitor and client disputes and has been instructed in many of the leading cases dealing with this specialist area of costs law. In 2018 Robin’s book A Practical Guide to Solicitor and Client Costs was published, with an updated second edition released in August 2020. Robin is a contributor to Friston on Costs (4th Edition), which is the leading practitioner textbook on costs. He also acts in professional negligence claims involving solicitors, particularly where the dispute involves issues relating to costs. Prior to independent practice, he was an employed barrister and partner in a City of London firm of solicitors. In addition to his practice at the Bar, he sits as a Tribunal Judge in the First Tier Tribunal (HESC) in the mental health jurisdiction. Robin prides himself on combining a friendly manner with a commercially astute approach.

Rupert Higgins

Rupert Higgins is a specialist commercial and property practitioner who deals with all aspects of property and commercial litigation, with a particular focus on professional negligence work. Rupert has particular expertise in commercial dispute resolution, professional and fiduciary liability including directors’ and officers’ duties in a company context, and civil fraud. He acts both against and on behalf of solicitors, surveyors, accountants, costs draftsmen and property professionals, and has developed a strong specialist practice in costs, including alternative funding arrangements, wasted costs and third party costs applications. He advises clients, insurers and litigation funders, and appears in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Senior Courts Costs Office and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. He has also been instructed in the Isle of Man. He welcomes instructions not only through the traditional channels but also from professionals and lay clients through the Bar’s Licensed Access and Direct Public Access schemes. Rupert has been commended for his “practical and commercial approach to litigation”, which he combines with a “real attention to detail and a fearless tenacity” when appearing in Court, and was called a ‘skilled cross-examiner’ by Fraser J in Beattie Passive Norse Ltd v Canham Consulting Ltd [2021] EWHC 1116 (TCC). Rupert was amongst the first wave of barristers to recognise the importance of mediation as a form of dispute resolution and became an accredited mediator in 2004. Since then he has been involved in all aspects of mediation and was counsel in Frost v Wake Smith & Tofields Solicitors [2013] EWCA Civ 772, the leading Court of Appeal authority on the role of solicitors and the enforceability of settlement agreements reached at mediation. He has also provided early neutral evaluations in the context of protracted mediations. Rupert lives in rural Northamptonshire where he sits as a both a Deputy District Judge and a Recorder on the Midland Circuit.

Ryan Hocking

Ryan has a busy, broad-based commercial and civil fraud practice which sits alongside, and is complemented by, his specialist practice in insolvency and company law. He is a sought-after trial and appellate advocate, and is often trusted with high-stakes litigation involving wider commercial or reputational significance for the client. Ryan’s tactical acumen, robust advocacy, and user-friendly approach make him an invaluable member of any legal team. Ryan’s expertise in relation to cross-border work and his experience of work in offshore jurisdictions is of particular assistance in fraud and asset tracing cases – he is called to the Bar in the British Virgin Islands, and additionally has experience of litigation in the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, the Bahamas, and Antigua (amongst other places). Ryan’s insolvency and restructuring practice includes both personal and corporate insolvency, acting for office-holders as well as creditors, individuals and directors. He advises and acts in respect of (amongst other things) antecedent transactions, misfeasance, disputed proofs of debt, litigation brought by office-holders, restructuring plans, and voluntary arrangements. Ryan’s commercial practice encompasses complex contractual disputes, civil fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, partnerships and LLPs, unjust enrichment, emergency injunctive relief, and cases with an international dimension (including jurisdictional disputes and cross-border insolvencies). Ryan’s company law experience bridges the divide with his specialist insolvency practice, and includes a variety of shareholder disputes: unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up petitions, and misfeasance proceedings.

Sam Karim KC

Sheikh Mohammed Samiul Karim KC (Sam Karim KC) is dynamic silk who has been consistently regarded as a leading practitioner by the legal directories. His specialist areas are four-fold: International arbitration in which he acts as counsel and sits as panel or sole arbitrator; Procurement; Judicial review/human rights; and Court of Protection. Sam is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is admitted as a practitioner in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Court and the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM). Sam is also a panel arbitrator for the ADGM and the International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation.

Sara Ibrahim

Sara Ibrahim is recognised as a leading junior for professional negligence and employment and is noted to have ‘exemplary’ legal knowledge as well as being ‘switched on to the needs of the end client’ (Legal 500). She has a wide ranging practice and is able to advise on complex discrimination claims as well as employee competition issues and director disputes. Sara is on the panel of counsel for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Sara was shortlisted as the Professional Negligence Junior of the Year by The Legal 500 (2022). She is sought after to provide assistance in matters with an international element, including other common law jurisdictions such as the Caribbean and Gibraltar. Sara appeared recently in the Privy Council on the matter of Gordon v Havener (Antigua and Barbuda) [2021] UKPC 26 which clarified the law of proprietary estoppel. Sara has a keen interest in emerging areas of law that intersect with her practice areas such as Artificial Intelligence, which she has written about here. She is a founder member of Bar Standards Board Race Equality Task Force and is a trainer for the Bar Council’s introduction to race course.

Sara Benbow

Sara is a property and commercial specialist who is equally at home in a domestic or an international context. She brings particular expertise to matters involving insolvency, issues arising in relation to property development and disputes concerning ownership of and rights in land. Recognised as a leading mediator and maintaining an impressive rate of success, Sara’s mediation practice continues to go from strength to strength. She manages to combine a friendly and accessible approach with a keen practical and business sense, regularly dealing with complex factual and legal disputes whilst remaining focused on the practical realities of the situation and helping the parties to find sensible and inventive solutions. A long-standing member of Gatehouse Chambers' Property and Commercial Teams as well as being a founder-member of The Property Mediators, and a particularly highly-regarded advocate whether in court, arbitration, planning hearings, or before the various specialist property and commercial tribunals, Sara brings all of that experience and expertise to bear in her mediation work.

Sarah Clarke

Sarah is a commercially astute advocate with extensive experience of commercial chancery litigation in all courts. She is praised for her technical knowledge, her attention to detail and her ingenuity in identifying practical, solutions for those who seek her advice. Her clients particularly value her responsiveness and her ability to work in a team under intense pressure. Her particular specialisms are insolvency, commercial law, company law and shareholder disputes.

Sarah McCann

Sarah is a specialist Commercial and Insurance practitioner with a particular expertise in Civil Fraud, Construction and Engineering, Property Damage and Professional Negligence and Indemnity work both in the construction and non-construction field. Sarah also carries out a significant amount of insolvency work in those areas and has specific expertise in the insolvency of insurers and the cross-border effects of such insolvency. Sarah has a wealth of experience in high value, technically and legally complex cases in all forums: litigation, arbitration (both domestic and international), adjudication and mediation. Sarah is also an active TECBAR accredited adjudicator and a CEDR accredited mediator. Sarah is recommended as a leading junior in the Directories for her work in the fields of commercial litigation, construction, insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence and property damage work. She is described as a “clear orator, who is extremely knowledgeable and approachable”, noted for her “tenacious” advocacy and negotiating skills (Chambers UK) and her “analytical”, “pragmatic and commercial” approach (The Legal 500). Sarah is the author of the leading textbook, Construction Insolvency, published by Sweet & Maxwell in 2022 as well as contributing to a number of other legal texts.

Shazia Akhtar

Shazia practises in public and administrative law - including education law, discrimination, community care and human rights. She has a particular interest in the impact of AI within the public sector and associated regulatory bodies and has given seminars in this area. She also acts for individuals and on behalf of the Official Solicitor within the Court of Protection both in relation to health and welfare and property and affairs. Her practice also includes commercial work such as contractual disputes, property disputes relating to academies, advising on pensions in the context of local government, judicially reviewing decisions of the Financial Conduct Authority and procurement matters, particularly in relation to public authorities. She has a diverse practice, acting for local authorities; public bodies; NGOs; commercial organisations and individuals. She has been consistently ranked as a leading junior by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Shazia is a part-time judge sitting in the Educational Tribunal for Wales (ETW), which makes decisions on appeals about special educational needs and disability discrimination. Shazia is also a qualified mediator (ADR Group). Where appropriate Shazia is happy to receive instructions on a direct access basis. Shazia has worked internationally in jurisdictions such as the United Nations in Geneva and Nigeria. Shazia is a committee member of the Education Law Association. Shazia is an active member of the Middle Temple Talent Retention Committee and is particularly focused upon supporting those who have had career breaks from the Bar. She was one of 36 barristers selected for the inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme. Shazia took part in the Bar Standards Board Race Equality Taskforce pilot reverse mentoring scheme, in which she mentored Derek Sweeting KC, former Chair of the Bar. Race Equality Taskforce Reverse Mentoring Scheme (barstandardsboard.org.uk). Shazia is Consultant Editor of Halsbury’s Laws of England, Education (Vols 35-36A) 2020.

Simon Kerry

Simon is a specialist commercial, construction and insolvency barrister. He regularly acts for clients in complex and high value disputes, both in his own right and as part of a counsel team. He has extensive experience of High Court and County Court litigation, adjudication and all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Simon is qualified as a chartered accountant (ACA) and has a thorough grasp of statutory and management accounts. He has a strong understanding of numerical analysis, which he has successfully brought to bear in many construction and insolvency disputes. Before coming to Gatehouse Chambers, Simon worked for 4 years at PwC, where he assisted FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and private companies on a range of tax and accounting issues. In particular, he advised on employee remuneration and share incentive arrangements, and spent his final year in a team advising banks and other financial services companies on regulatory issues.

Stephen Lennard

Stephen’s practice is firmly focused on business, his clients more often – though by no means exclusively – being corporate rather than individual. Within that broad commercial context, he concentrates on employment, property and professional liability work, in both the contentious and non-contentious fields. Described in the Legal 500 as a “very reliable all rounder” , he is always accessible to clients who appreciate his friendliness and his clear, commercial approach. He is very happy to conduct work on a public access basis when it is appropriate. Stephen is also a part time judge, sitting as a Recorder in the civil and criminal jurisdictions of County and Crown Courts.

Steven Woolf

Steven is primarily a specialist property barrister with over 30 years' experience. Steven has many reported cases in the House of Lords, Court of Appeal, High Court and Upper Tribunal with the seminal case of London Borough of Barking & Dagenham v Persons Unknown relating to the application of injunctive relief in cases involving trespass and nuisance being one of the most recent. Steven also has a thriving successful commercial practice which has developed significantly in recent years and is reported in leading cases in the areas of Professional Negligence and Partnership Law. Cases in which he has been involved have frequently been reported in the Legal Action Group (LAG) journal, Family Law Reporter, Times Law Reports, New Law Journal, and Family Law Cases. Steven was formerly Chair of Governors of the secondary Jewish Free School. Recent work University of Brighton v Persons Unknown [2023] EWHC 1485 Djurberg v Thames Properties (Hampton) [2023] EWHC 1444 Barking and Dagenham v Persons Unknown [2022] EWCA Civ 13 London Borough of Bromley v Persons Unknown & London Gypsies and Travellers [2020] EWCA 12 Hillingdon London Borough Council v Persons Unknown & Others [2020] EWHC 2153 London Borough of Sutton v (1) Persons Unknown Occupying Land and (2) Persons Unknown Depositing Waste [2018] 11 WLUK 819 Naresh Bhatija v Lloyds TSB Bank PLC [2014] EWHC 4092 (Ch) A claim in negligence against a Bank for failing to honour a direct debit. Charlie Properties Ltd v (1) Risetall Ltd (2) Warmhaze Ltd [2014] EWHC 4057 A claim relating to trespass over a right of way and land. Eastleigh Borough Council v (1) Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government (2) Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd [2014] EWHC 4225 (Admin) An appeal against the decision of a Planning Inspector. Re Davie’s Application [2016] UKUT 462 Cheema v Jones [2017] EWCA Civ 1706

Thomas Mitty

Tom accepts instructions in all of chambers’ practice areas, with a particular focus on commercial dispute resolution, construction (and associated professional negligence and insurance), and insolvency. Tom is equally happy acting as sole counsel. He acts unled in multi-day trials, and regularly appears in all manner of interim applications in both the High Court and County Court. Prior to pupillage, Tom worked for a Legal Tech company where he taught a machine learning programme to recognise different types of contractual terms. The programme is used by M&A lawyers at leading firms to undertake due diligence more quickly and more accurately.

Tim Stow KC

Tim is ideally qualified for the role of arbitrator being a highly experienced advocate who followed an extremely successful civil law practice as a KC (2 years of which was as head of chambers at 12 King’s Bench Walk) with 12 years’ experience as a Circuit Judge. His legal experience relates to insurance, construction, professional negligence (in particular architects, engineers, surveyors, valuers and accountants), highways, sale of goods and personal injury. As a barrister, he appeared in substantial arbitrations including a large international arbitration involving the docks in Dubai. He also dealt with other dispute resolution procedures akin to arbitration such as a Lands Tribunal reference where he successfully argued that a major landslide at Bolsover was caused by coal mining subsidence.

Tom Bell

Tom Bell is a highly experienced junior, specialising in commercial, professional negligence and insurance disputes. Tom is sought after for both his courtroom skills and advisory work. Clients value his commercially minded advice, attention to detail and tactical acumen. Tom is a contributor to Paul Reed KC’s Construction All Risks Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell) Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance (Sweet & Maxwell) and the loose-leaf Insurance Broking Practice and Law (Informa).

Vanessa McKinlay

Vanessa is a very experienced clinical negligence barrister whose expertise covers areas such as surgical negligence, delayed diagnosis of cancer, obstetric and midwifery care, delayed treatment of sepsis, pharmaceutical negligence, cardiac treatment and the treatment of renal conditions. She also specialises in representing parties at inquests. Having worked as a Senior Physiotherapist in the NHS before being called to the Bar in 2000, Vanessa brings a strong medical knowledge to her practice enabling her to handle authoritatively the most complex medical issues. She is known for her ability to distil the essential elements of a particular case and give practical advice in understandable terms. A robust and clever negotiator, clients value her kind and thoughtful approach to difficult and sensitive issues. Vanessa is also a trained mediator.

Victoria Dacie-Lombardo

Victoria joined Gatehouse in 2023, following the successful completion of her pupillage. Before joining Chambers, Victoria qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and spent a decade in private practice as a property litigator at two major law firms. Victoria was a Managing Associate at Mishcon de Reya LLP, where she acted for a varied client base including: property funds & investors, developers, commercial landlords, serviced office providers & occupiers and HNW individuals. In addition to her technical expertise, Victoria brings with her to the Bar years of experience in providing strategic and pragmatic advice to clients across a wide spectrum of issues, both in the context of active litigation and more broadly. Victoria is adept at and comfortable with working with a diverse client base, from individuals to large commercial entities. She prides herself on being attuned to a client’s particular needs and tailoring her approach to suit that person or entity, in order to help them identify and achieve their particular objectives. Victoria is interested in all areas of Chambers’ practice with a particular focus on property and related specialisms including insolvency and commercial work.

Wendy Parker

Wendy is a member of Gatehouse Chambers' Commercial, Property and Insurance Groups and undertakes most areas of work within those fields. She has developed a strong practice both as an adviser and advocate and has experience of appearing in the specialist commercial and property forums as well as Tribunals and the Court of Appeal. Wendy has been involved in many technically complex cases. Wendy has a strong academic background which she combines with a practical and common sense approach in order to assist clients in achieving their objectives.

William Golightly

William joined Gatehouse Chambers in October 2020. He is interested in all aspects of Chambers’ practice, particularly in commercial, property and private client related work. William regularly appears in the High Court and County Court as a sole advocate and junior. Prior to joining Chambers, William worked as a teacher, a parliamentary researcher and in the litigation team at a Chambers UK and Legal 500 ranked commercial litigation firm.

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