Chambers of Ewan McQuater KC and David Quest KC
‘A very good, go-to set, with true bench strength at all levels’, 3 Verulam Buildings routinely acts in large-value, multi-jurisdictional, complex cases, both at all levels of the English court system and globally. In the leading 2023 COVID-19 business interruption test case London International Exhibition Centre v RSA and others, Adam Kramer KC and rising star William Day acted for the lead claimants. In Argentum Exploration Ltd v The Republic of South Africa, Liisa Lahti was part of the legal team that successfully represented treasure hunters, who resisted South Africa’s state immunity claims in relation to 2,391 bars of silver salvaged from the wreck of the SS Tilawa, which was sunk during World War II. Elsewhere in chambers, Christopher Harris KC and James McWilliams, in Labrador Marine Corporation v Petroserv Marine Inc, are acting for Petroserv in major Commercial Court proceedings concerning Labrador’s entitlement to substantial sums under a promissory note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are superb clerks. They intimately understand clients' needs and are adept at suggesting the best candidates for the mandates at hand - a very strong clerking team.'
- 'The clerks are wonderfully helpful. Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are amongst the best clerks in London.'
- 'Stephen Penson and Lucy Burrows are a dream to work with - responsive, available (even at odd hours) and supremely helpful.'
- '3VB is a very good, go-to set, with true bench strength at all levels.'
- 'Great strength in depth and an impressive junior roster.'
- '3VB is strong on a number of levels.'
- '3VB is a set of choice. They have incredible strength in depth and their clerking is second to none.'
- 'The juniors are great and 3VB is rightly renowned as one of the leading sets.'
- 'Very efficient, easy to work with, and responsive - no complaints.'
- 'The clerks are sophisticated, provide excellent client service, and are very responsive.'
Silks
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
1'Understands how judges think and has a unique ability to understand clients' commercial imperatives.'
1‘Ewan is a really high-class operator and at the top of the market. He has a very clear strategic view, but is not afraid to get into the details. His advocacy is always persuasive, and he knows instinctively which points to press and which to leave behind.’
2‘A favourite KC – David is fearsomely bright and tenacious, and with an urbane courtroom style.’
3‘Great advocate, excellent strategist, and very good with clients.’
‘Clear, concise and commercial. A great team player, who is an intelligent, articulate and persuasive advocate.’
4‘Andrew delivers very clear and decisive advice. There is no sitting on the fence.’
‘Peter remains good-humoured and approachable through very challenging processes. He is able to get to grips with legally and factually complicated scenarios without skipping a beat. ’
5‘Matthew is a details person, but to a different degree. His preparation, even by the standards of the best KCs is truly exceptional. No stone is left unturned in any way. He is also very user friendly and accessible. A real team player who immediately earns and retains claimants' respect and confidence.’
‘A very user-friendly silk – a no-nonsense barrister who gets the job done.‘
‘Very professional in handling disputes and he has a deep understanding of what the client needs.’
‘Brilliant, very clever and user-friendly.‘
6‘Adam is an all-round superstar. He is a true expert across a wide number of areas and balances it all whilst being exceptionally user-friendly and making himself available, even when in a trial on another matter.’
6'Raj is incredibly strong on his feet - equally comfortable in cross-examination as he is in appellate submissions.'
Juniors
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
2‘Richard is extremely incisive. His advocacy is excellent and his written work is of the highest quality. He is a silk in waiting.’
‘He has exceptional written advocacy skills, which are in advance of what one would expect of someone of his vintage.’
2‘Can is a superb commercial senior junior who is a dream to instruct. He really comes into his own as an advocate against silks in the Commercial Court and is a great cross-examiner. Clients love him, opponents respect him, and judges listen to him. Absolutely top class.’
3‘One of the best and most sought-after juniors in relation to commercial litigation disputes. He is always responsive and is adept at devising creative solutions for clients. His advocacy is measured and calm, which typically builds a good rapport with judges. He is always on top of the facts and works relentlessly to fight for the client.’
3‘Lisa is highly intelligent, great with clients, and goes above and beyond for her clients - she is always contactable, offers quick advice when needed, and very commercial in her overall strategy. Her advocacy and written work are equally impressive, and she can do both to an exceptional standard.’
3‘James is a confident advocate, who shows good judgement. He is also good on his legal analysis and a pleasure to work with.’
4‘William is extremely intelligent and able to advance sophisticated arguments in support of a client's position. He is tenacious in seeking out resolutions for clients, and willing to think outside the box to find workable solutions. His advocacy is impressive, and he is very able and quick on his feet when addressing complex and challenging questioning from appeal judges.‘
5‘Hannah is excellent. Extremely responsive, pragmatic, and all over the detail.’
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
2‘Richard is extremely incisive. His advocacy is excellent and his written work is of the highest quality. He is a silk in waiting.’
‘He has exceptional written advocacy skills, which are in advance of what one would expect of someone of his vintage.’
2‘Can is a superb commercial senior junior who is a dream to instruct. He really comes into his own as an advocate against silks in the Commercial Court and is a great cross-examiner. Clients love him, opponents respect him, and judges listen to him. Absolutely top class.’
3‘One of the best and most sought-after juniors in relation to commercial litigation disputes. He is always responsive and is adept at devising creative solutions for clients. His advocacy is measured and calm, which typically builds a good rapport with judges. He is always on top of the facts and works relentlessly to fight for the client.’
3‘Lisa is highly intelligent, great with clients, and goes above and beyond for her clients - she is always contactable, offers quick advice when needed, and very commercial in her overall strategy. Her advocacy and written work are equally impressive, and she can do both to an exceptional standard.’
3‘James is a confident advocate, who shows good judgement. He is also good on his legal analysis and a pleasure to work with.’
4‘William is extremely intelligent and able to advance sophisticated arguments in support of a client's position. He is tenacious in seeking out resolutions for clients, and willing to think outside the box to find workable solutions. His advocacy is impressive, and he is very able and quick on his feet when addressing complex and challenging questioning from appeal judges.‘
5‘Hannah is excellent. Extremely responsive, pragmatic, and all over the detail.’