Melanie Hall KC
Monckton Chambers 'Extremely personable. Very quick to grasp complex arrangements. Strategic thinker often outside the box. Very positive and reassuring - is confident in her position.'
Monckton Chambers includes members regularly active for both the taxpayer and HMRC, with strength in VAT buoyed by the set’s long track record of public law and EU law work. The group has experience in a range of sector-specific matters, including cryptocurrency, pension plans, and the transfer of assets abroad. Melanie Hall KC has key expertise in the financial services sector, and is noted for her strength in matters relating to the landfill tax. Hall KC acted for the taxpayer in HSBC v HMRC, a dispute as to if HSBC’s offshore companies are entitled to belong to UK VAT groups. Valentina Sloane KC is consistently active in innovative matters, appearing in the First Tier Tax Tribunal in 2023 on behalf of the taxpayer in Bolt v HMRC, a test case on the application of VAT to the ride-hailing industry. Philip Moser KC has an extensive background in cases involving alleged VAT fraud, with further expertise in customs cases and general VAT matters. Senior junior Raymond Hill has a long history in EU law, and appeared on multiple occasions before the European Court of Justice on VAT matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Extremely efficient, professional and friendly. Regular communication and able to find time at relatively short notice. Steven Duffett has been a stand-out over the past few years.'
- 'David Hockney is exceptionally proactive. His updates on counsel's availability are incredibly helpful in ensuring efficient scheduling.'
- 'Always very responsive and user-friendly and pragmatic'
- 'Clerks are approachable, helpful and flexible.'
- 'The clerks at Monckton are first class. Provide excellent support services.'
- 'Everyone at Monckton works well together, and there is good and efficient communications between the clerks and the barristers.'
- 'Each of the clerks are very efficient and work well.'
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.
Valentina Sloane KC
Monckton Chambers ‘Incredibly smart whilst being very user-friendly. A real team player and excellent advocate.’
2024 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.
Brendan McGurk KC
Monckton Chambers ‘A leader in the field and fully deserves silk. Both written and oral advocacy is first-rate.’
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.
Peter Mantle
Monckton Chambers ‘Peter is an exceptionally thorough and tireless advocate. He is relentless in his determination to put forward the best case for a client and ensures no stone is left unturned.’
