‘Charles is exceptionally strong in his practice. His client management skills and ability to judge a tribunal are second to none. He is the best counsel to work with in terms of client confidence. His advice is pragmatic, full of good sense and strategic- all delivered in a way that a client can understand and support.’
4PB is an ‘exceptional and first-rate family set, with expertise in all areas’ of divorce and financial remedy. ’Superb, persuasive and powerful advocate’ Charles Hale KC successfully acted on behalf of a wife seeking proceedings from the English divorce of a Moroccan marriage in the case Boughajdim v Hayoukane, while ‘brilliantly bright and tenacious advocate’ Judith Murray KC who was appointed as silk in 2023 is notable for her involvement in large-value cases. Other key members of the team include ’brilliant advocate’ Samantha Woodham and Henry Clayton , who is praised for his ‘immense attention to detail’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Michael Reeves is a legend and one of the best clerks around. Paul Hennessy and Kenny Martin are top-notch and will go the extra mile to try and help.'
- 'Paul Hennessey is always very helpful and accommodating.'
- '4 Paper Buildings is a superb set with a huge array of talent.'
- '4 Paper Buildings is a reliable and solid set, providing top quality legal expertise.'
- '4 Paper Buildings is the standout family set in the UK.'
- '4 Paper Buildings is an excellent set of barristers, with fantastic children and finances advice.'
- '4 Paper Buildings is an incredibly reliable set. It has a huge number of skilled family law barristers across all sub-disciplines.'
- '4 Paper Buildings has strength and depth across all areas of family law.'
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.
‘Christopher is professional, knowledgeable, driven, confident, disciplined and able to analyse complex facts and lots of information within a limited timeframe. He is excellent at keeping the client focused.’
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.
‘Judith is very calm, puts the client at ease, provides clear, straightforward advice and gets straight to the heart of complicated issues, distilling them down and focusing on the key issues to present a persuasive case to the court succinctly and directly.’
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.
‘Samantha is an intelligent and persuasive advocate. She is deeply committed to her clients and always well-prepared. She remains calm under pressure and builds rapport with her clients. She is fantastic to work with and extremely supportive of her instructing solicitors.’
‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
‘Francesca is a powerhouse when it comes to financial work. She gets to the heart of the case immediately and knows where to take the case.’
‘Harry has a calm manner and gives clear and sensible advice. He is good with difficult clients and able to get them to focus on the real issues.’
‘Rhiannon possesses a high level of skill and attention to detail that is second to none. She has assisted me with complex cases, demonstrating her sharp analytical mind in complex financial remedy cases.’
‘Nicholas is one of those rare lawyers at the Bar, constantly evolving. He is very bright, more tactical and has a phenomenal memory. He is a go-to for financial claims.’
‘Sophie is at the top of her game and the best of her generation. She is incredibly bright and has a unique combination of exceptional client manners and impressive, tenacious advocacy. She is a strong opponent and fights when a case needs a fight but knows when to advise on settlement and pragmatism. She is a star in both money and children's work.’
‘Stephen is thorough, articulate, and excellent in preparation and presentation.’
‘Harry has a calm manner. He is self-assured and has gravitas above his level of call. He is extremely well-prepared, strong and confident in his advocacy.’
'Kate is the consummate performer with an eye for detail. She is able to distil complex legal concepts into succinct and powerful advocacy. She is pragmatic and reasonable, always fearless in her advocacy if the case requires it.'
‘Julia is a superb advocate with a great eye for detail, meticulous in her preparation and quick on her feet. She is calm, reassuring and pragmatic with clients.’
‘Katie is cool, calm and collected and can put the client immediately at ease. She is well prepared and brings that coolness to her advocacy where nothing phases her. She can present and argue the case with ease.’
Leading Juniors
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
‘Samantha is an intelligent and persuasive advocate. She is deeply committed to her clients and always well-prepared. She remains calm under pressure and builds rapport with her clients. She is fantastic to work with and extremely supportive of her instructing solicitors.’
‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
‘Francesca is a powerhouse when it comes to financial work. She gets to the heart of the case immediately and knows where to take the case.’
‘Harry has a calm manner and gives clear and sensible advice. He is good with difficult clients and able to get them to focus on the real issues.’
‘Rhiannon possesses a high level of skill and attention to detail that is second to none. She has assisted me with complex cases, demonstrating her sharp analytical mind in complex financial remedy cases.’
‘Nicholas is one of those rare lawyers at the Bar, constantly evolving. He is very bright, more tactical and has a phenomenal memory. He is a go-to for financial claims.’
‘Sophie is at the top of her game and the best of her generation. She is incredibly bright and has a unique combination of exceptional client manners and impressive, tenacious advocacy. She is a strong opponent and fights when a case needs a fight but knows when to advise on settlement and pragmatism. She is a star in both money and children's work.’
‘Stephen is thorough, articulate, and excellent in preparation and presentation.’
‘Harry has a calm manner. He is self-assured and has gravitas above his level of call. He is extremely well-prepared, strong and confident in his advocacy.’
'Kate is the consummate performer with an eye for detail. She is able to distil complex legal concepts into succinct and powerful advocacy. She is pragmatic and reasonable, always fearless in her advocacy if the case requires it.'
‘Julia is a superb advocate with a great eye for detail, meticulous in her preparation and quick on her feet. She is calm, reassuring and pragmatic with clients.’
‘Katie is cool, calm and collected and can put the client immediately at ease. She is well prepared and brings that coolness to her advocacy where nothing phases her. She can present and argue the case with ease.’