Twenty Essex is ‘an excellent set’, with established expertise in handling shipping, trade and international public law work, however the group reports an increase in work concerning high-value and complex energy disputes, often within the LNG and oil and gas sectors. The team is also active in renewable energy and energy transition projects and drill- and rig-focused litigation. Michael Ashcroft KC excels in commodities and shipping matters, and is also well versed in advising on construction, transportation, storage, sales, de-commissioning and insurance matters and contractual disputes in the energy sector. Among the juniors, key contacts include Monica Feria-Tinta, who is sought after for her expertise in handling cross-border mandates, and Malcolm Jarvis, who is well known for his experience in advising on commercial disputes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Arron Zitver and Chris Theobald always have it covered and are proactive and commercial in their dealings.'
  • 'The clerks are helpful, responsive and flexible. Catherine Reeves, who works with the arbitrators, stands out.'
  • 'Very personable and professional clerks. Aaron Zitver, Chris Theobald and Anthony Carroll spring to mind.'
  • 'The clerks room is always friendly and helpful. Anthony Carroll is outstanding.'
  • 'Arron Zitver is a standout clerk and Chris Theobald is very good.'
  • 'I have always found the clerks to be very helpful and to work with me and clients in agreeing acceptable brief fees and refreshers.'
  • 'The clerks and practice managers are really good. Arron Zitver is particularly good to work with.'
  • 'Twenty Essex is my go-to chambers for international trade, commodities and shipping disputes with a particular bias towards energy.'

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.
David Lewis KC
2
David Lewis KC
Twenty Essex
 ‘A superb tactician and a highly accomplished advocate, David is extremely quick to grasp the key issues and the underlying commercial drivers.’
Duncan Matthews KC
3
Duncan Matthews KC
Twenty Essex
‘Truly a pleasure to work with, he is incredibly bright, practical, and able to quickly synthesize difficult issues and get to the point.’
Michael Ashcroft KC
3
Michael Ashcroft KC
Twenty Essex
‘Unflappable in difficult situations, he is also commercial and pragmatic.’
Charles Kimmins KC
3
Charles Kimmins KC
Twenty Essex
‘Charles approaches every matter with a sense of humour, which allows him to communicate very well with lay clients.’
Andrew Fulton KC
4
Andrew Fulton KC
Twenty Essex
‘Andrew is great on tactics, always fights the clients’ case with vigour, and cuts to the heart of the dispute quickly.’
Philip Riches KC
4
Philip Riches KC
Twenty Essex
‘Philip is a creative barrister with deep legal knowledge.’
Timothy Hill KC
4
Timothy Hill KC
Twenty Essex
‘An invaluable presence in complex matters, he is a first-class advocate who takes no prisoners.’
Gordon Nardell KC
4
Gordon Nardell KC
Twenty Essex
‘Gordon is exceptionally knowledgeable, clear and commercial in his advice, and creative in looking for solutions to complex problems.’
2023 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.
Luke Pearce KC
Luke Pearce KC
Twenty Essex
‘A superstar in waiting, with bags of talent.'

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.
Monica Feria-Tinta
3
Monica Feria-Tinta
Twenty Essex
‘Very user-friendly and responsive, she has detailed knowledge of complex areas and is well-versed in advising on multi-jurisdictional matters.’
Malcolm Jarvis
3
Malcolm Jarvis
Twenty Essex
‘Malcolm has a good grasp of the facts in a case, and is adept at managing clients’ expectations.’
Andrew Feld
4
Andrew Feld
Twenty Essex
‘Extremely bright and capable, but also very approachable, Andrew always gives clear and decisive advice and understands client dynamics well.’