1Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
‘Simply at the top of his game: the go-to person for the most complex cases, legally and factually. In the top handful of advocates at the Bar.’
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is ‘a market leading set with an excellent line up of senior and junior counsel’ for international arbitration work. Members are instructed as counsel to lead on the most complex, high-profile arbitrations and often politically sensitive matters, from commercial to investment treaty claims, involving the full spectrum of arbitral rules, spanning a broad geographical area and sectors. Alison Macdonald KC is representing the claimant telecom operator in Axiata Investments v Nepal, an ICSID case in concerning a disputed 22.5bn NPR (£134m) tax bill. Governments draw on Ben Juratowitch KC’s expertise for sensitive arbitrations, including an Energy Charter Treaty dispute concerning the RAFO Onești refinery in Romania. Angeline Welsh KC and Siddharth Dhar KC and took silk in March 2023, boosting the set’s senior ranks further. With expertise in international commercial arbitration, Thomas Sebastian, who is also qualified in India, joined the set in July 2023 from Monckton Chambers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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.
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1Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
‘Joe’s experience shines through and his reputation is well-earned. He has gravitas without being grand and has the ability to read how points will play out before a tribunal and can carry the tribunal with him. He is a first-class lawyer, hard working and on top of the detail.’
2Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
‘A strong sense of what really matters in a case, what a tribunal will be interested in and needs to be emphasised in a hearing. Very personable and good at dealing with solicitors at all levels.’
2Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
‘David is very user-friendly and flexible, adapting without hesitation to any grouping of international lawyers brought together for a multi-jurisdictional dispute.’
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3Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
‘Ben is persuasive, concise, responsive, reasonable, fair, honest and powerful. His pleadings are based on thorough preparation and awareness of all details in the file. Strategic thinking, excellent planning and sound decision making. His conduct of cross-examinations – including on very technical causation and quantum points – are outstanding.’
4Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
'Great preparation and attention to detail; powerful and persuasive submissions, and great with witnesses - a top class team player.'
4Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
'The finest legal mind of his generation particularly in matters of public and private international law and English law. Superb advocate.'
4Hall of fameEssex Court Chambers
'He is incredibly clever, can assimilate huge amounts of complex detail in no time at all, and is also a pleasure to work with.'
2022 Silks
Essex Court Chambers
‘He may be a relatively new KC but Lucas is already a leading player in the field – a mover of the market, an innovator and one of the handful of silks of choice for investment arbitrations.’
2023 Silks
Essex Court Chambers
‘Sid is first and foremost an excellent lawyer. He is a very impressive advocate - his presentation is clear and persuasive and he thinks well on his feet. He is equally strong on paper, producing excellent, clearly and thoroughly argued written submissions.’
Essex Court Chambers
'Very calm and unflustered, very willing to help out on any aspect of a case and provides highly sophisticated advice and advocacy.'
Essex Court Chambers
‘Exceptionally user-friendly, with experience from a former life as a solicitor and so understanding the needs on this side of the practice. Insightful yet commercial advice a real strength, and a strong work ethic. An invaluable part of any team she joins.’
2024 Silks
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.
2Essex Court Chambers
‘Matthieu is among the best counsel of his generation. Very hard-working, brilliant advocacy skills and extremely responsive. Moreover, he’s very commercially-minded and great with clients. A very effective cross-examiner.’
2Essex Court Chambers
‘Outstanding analysis and a lovely drafting style. Great team player, contributes strongly to all aspects of a case – he is a pleasure to work with.’
Essex Court Chambers
'Fabulous attention to detail and an ability to advise on an unusually wide range of issues. Very user-friendly and a pleasure to deal with.'
2Essex Court Chambers
'An outstanding junior; incisive, creative, and solicitors love working with him. His advocacy is mature and effective - one to watch.'
3Essex Court Chambers
‘A fantastic lawyer – legally sharp, incredibly knowledgeable with great attention to detail and huge commitment to her cases. Naomi has a first-rate academic mind, coupled with a practical and no-nonsense approach to the details of a case. This is a formidable combination, and means that she performs well beyond her years.’
3Essex Court Chambers
‘Benedict is an absolute star: he has perfect command of the law, works incredibly hard, and is a fantastic team player. He is a consummate advocate, who uses his complete command of the documentary record and of the witness evidence to develop and present his arguments in a way which always invariably finds favour with the tribunal.’
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.
2Essex Court Chambers
‘Matthieu is among the best counsel of his generation. Very hard-working, brilliant advocacy skills and extremely responsive. Moreover, he’s very commercially-minded and great with clients. A very effective cross-examiner.’
2Essex Court Chambers
‘Outstanding analysis and a lovely drafting style. Great team player, contributes strongly to all aspects of a case – he is a pleasure to work with.’
Essex Court Chambers
'Fabulous attention to detail and an ability to advise on an unusually wide range of issues. Very user-friendly and a pleasure to deal with.'
2Essex Court Chambers
'An outstanding junior; incisive, creative, and solicitors love working with him. His advocacy is mature and effective - one to watch.'
3Essex Court Chambers
‘A fantastic lawyer – legally sharp, incredibly knowledgeable with great attention to detail and huge commitment to her cases. Naomi has a first-rate academic mind, coupled with a practical and no-nonsense approach to the details of a case. This is a formidable combination, and means that she performs well beyond her years.’
3Essex Court Chambers
‘Benedict is an absolute star: he has perfect command of the law, works incredibly hard, and is a fantastic team player. He is a consummate advocate, who uses his complete command of the documentary record and of the witness evidence to develop and present his arguments in a way which always invariably finds favour with the tribunal.’