The ‘excellent’ team at Essex Court Chambers handles a broad spectrum of employment law matters, including discrimination claims, restrictive covenant disputes and cross-border team move cases. The ‘calm and confident’ David Craig KC continues to act in a wide range of complex contentious matters, often before the Employment Tribunal. Daniel Oudkerk KC is ‘brilliant and extraordinarily strategic’, with established strength in advising on wrongful dismissal cases and whistleblowing claims. Charles Ciumei KC regularly handles restrictive covenant cases for clients in the financial services sector, and Andrew Hochhauser KC is ‘a formidable advocate and an exceptional strategist’. At the junior end of chambers, Jane Russell is highly regarded for her specialist expertise in discrimination matters, including belief, maternity and sex discrimination claims.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Ollie Butcher is very helpful and responsive.'
  • 'The clerks at Essex Court are excellent.'
  • 'The clerks are all very good, commercially minded and easy to deal with and get along with.'
  • 'A fantastic set.'
  • 'Very strong set.'

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.
Daniel Oudkerk KC
1
Daniel Oudkerk KC
Essex Court Chambers
'Daniel is a great tactician and an exceptional silk. A go-to name for team move cases.'
Andrew Hochhauser KC
1
Andrew Hochhauser KC
Essex Court Chambers
'Andrew is a crystal-clear thinker, who is rigorous in his approach to investigations and brings vim and vigour along the way. A very experienced individual with an eye for detail and a formidable style.'
David Craig KC
1
David Craig KC
Essex Court Chambers
'He is authoritative but very engaging and delivers advice in a practical and clear way.'
Edward Brown KC
4
Edward Brown KC
Essex Court Chambers
'He is unflappable, very intelligent and direct in his advice.'

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.
Jane Russell
1
Jane Russell
Essex Court Chambers
'Jane brings fantastic energy to a case. She is steely in the tribunal, but calm and measured in conference.'
Andrew Legg
5
Andrew Legg
Essex Court Chambers
'A junior with an engaging persona that enables him to get judges onside.'