Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex is a ‘top quality chambers of commercial arbitration’ housing ’excellent talent at all levels with exceptional experience.’ The set has ‘some of the best and broadest expertise in international trade, shipping and insurance’ that aligns with significant strength in international commercial and public international law, translating into the ability to provide teams for global cases with instructing parties based across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the US, African and Middle East. Members are routinely instructed on cases relating to the impact of major global events, including Covid, Brexit and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chambers is jointly led by renowned commercial silks Charles Kimmins KC and Philip Edey KC. Other notable members include Wendy Miles KC who is instructed in a set of globally significant cases spanning energy, environment, climate and finance, and Belinda McRae on the junior end with expertise spanning commercial arbitration, arbitration appeals and enforcement, and investment treaty arbitration.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'This set is always super friendly. Arron Zitver is a star of the clerking world.'
- 'Good reputation in shipping, good strength in depth, particularly at KC level.'
- 'A strong and go-to set for a range of international arbitration and PIL work.'
- 'Twenty Essex is an excellent set of chambers with vast experience and depth. One of the best in international arbitration.'
- 'Back office runs very smoothly and clerks are very efficient and helpful.'
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.
1Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘He is a master tactician and a brilliant advocate. When he speaks, everyone listens: he has a style that combines gravitas with eloquence. He is a real supersilk.’
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘Incredibly clever, focussed, hard-working, absolutely first-rate. He must be one of the best KCs at the commercial and shipping Bars. His submissions are well-presented and forceful but never over the top.’
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘David is incredibly thorough and meticulously prepared for every conference and every hearing. He has deep expertise in international trade matters. A team player who interacts wonderfully with lay and professional clients.’
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘Extremely user-friendly and honest about the merits of the case, Timothy fights tooth and nail for a good result and is utterly fantastic on his feet.’
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘Sara is a fantastic silk to have on your team. She is thorough, sensible, willing to look at creative approaches to difficult issues. She is impossible to intimidate, and expresses herself with a clarity and emphasis which makes her very effective.’
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
'Intellectually very able, extremely knowledgeable on trade and Banking ; always fights the clients’ case with vigour; able to cut to the heart of the dispute quickly.'
Hall of fameTwenty Essex
‘A stand-out silk and undoubtedly one of the very best at the Bar for investment treaty arbitration. A supremely polished and persuasive advocate. Guglielmo has excellent understanding of a client business and industry specifics, including in different regions of the world. ‘
2023 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.
Twenty Essex
‘ Highly personable and intelligent. Great judgement – a silk in the making. She is an excellent lawyer. She is quick on her feet, very clear in her advocacy, and is very skilled as a cross-examiner.’
Twenty Essex
‘Jonathan is excellent. An encyclopedic knowledge of public international law and a top-rate advocate both on paper and on his feet.’
Twenty Essex
'Mark is one of the best juniors around. His knowledge of law and an ability to produce concise advice fast is very impressive. Mark is an exceptional writer: his written advocacy is extremely persuasive and eloquent. Excellent and incisive oral advocacy.'
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.
Twenty Essex
‘ Highly personable and intelligent. Great judgement – a silk in the making. She is an excellent lawyer. She is quick on her feet, very clear in her advocacy, and is very skilled as a cross-examiner.’
Twenty Essex
‘Jonathan is excellent. An encyclopedic knowledge of public international law and a top-rate advocate both on paper and on his feet.’
Twenty Essex
'Mark is one of the best juniors around. His knowledge of law and an ability to produce concise advice fast is very impressive. Mark is an exceptional writer: his written advocacy is extremely persuasive and eloquent. Excellent and incisive oral advocacy.'