The Bar - Regional Bar • Midland Circuit
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Family: children and domestic abuse

St Philips Chambers

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St Philips Chambers is widely praised as ‘an excellent family set providing support at every level’ from experienced silks to juniors just beginning their careers. With a reputation as a ‘robust advocate’ and benefiting from a background as a neuropsychologist, Sara Lewis KC regularly appears in medically complex cases heard in the High Court – she is often instructed to represent parents facing serious allegations of abuse resulting in brain injuries and/or death. Gemma Bowes is well known as a ’skilled advocate’ with an ‘empathetic bedside manner’. William Horwood’s growing practice sees him act on behalf of local authorities, parents, children, and extended family members, impressing for his ‘exemplary’ oral and written advocacy as well as his ’excellent grasp of statute and case law’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Kelly Fullwood is very professional and works effectively alongside counsel and her clerking colleagues.'
  • 'The clerks' room is very responsive, dealing with all queries within 15 minutes. Clerks are friendly, helpful and polite and will do all possible to assist clients with any problems they may have. Kelly Fullwood is excellent, friendly and goes above and beyond to ensure all your needs are met.'
  • 'The clerks are always very helpful. Anthony Burgess in particular will go out of his way to assist.'
  • 'The family clerks as a whole are excellent; they are responsive, reliable and efficient.'
  • 'St Philips is an excellent family set providing support at every level, with in-house silks as well as door tenants to ensure a seamlessly high level of service.'
  • 'St Philips has a broad depth of experience within its family team. It has a strong recruitment history, taking on pupils annually, and provides an excellent training programme. The judiciary respects St Philips enormously, recognising the high standards of its members.'
  • 'St Philips' family team is of the highest calibre, with strength at all levels of seniority.'

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.
Sara Lewis KC
St Philips Chambers
 ‘Sara is a very robust advocate who is not afraid to rock the boat where necessary. Sara has a medical background which is immensely helpful in cases of non-accidental injury and means her ability to cross-examine medical experts is second-to-none.’

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.
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Christopher Adams
St Philips Chambers
‘Chris is an exceptional advocate, vastly knowledgeable, meticulous and authoritative. His strength is in his command of complex matters and his calm, focussed and persuasive advocacy. He works collaboratively and supportively with professional clients, and is much sought after and respected.'
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Yolanda Pemberton
St Philips Chambers
‘Yolanda has an exceptional ability to drill down into the key issues in any case to be able to identify key strengths and weaknesses. Her approach is forensic and she is able to distil into an easily and accessible chronological format significant amounts of complex factual and medical information. Yolanda is a force in cross-examination but empathetic with vulnerable witnesses.'
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Michelle Christie
St Philips Chambers
 ‘Michelle is a force to be reckoned with. She is a great advocate with strong advocacy skills and her knowledge of the law is excellent.'
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Christopher Watson
St Philips Chambers
‘Christopher is a skilled and persuasive advocate who fights his clients case with great determination. His experience, expertise and detailed knowledge of the law means that he can present even the most difficult legal arguments with a lightness of touch.'
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Carolyn Jones
St Philips Chambers
‘Carolyn is a formidable advocate. She is brutally effective in cross-examination. A real leading light at the Birmingham family Bar.’
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Gemma Bowes
St Philips Chambers
‘Gemma is a tenacious and confident advocate. She has an understanding and sensitive bedside manner with extensive knowledge. Gemma has a wealth of experience and her advocacy skills are to be admired. She is a very safe pair of hands.'
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Nicholas Brown
St Philips Chambers
‘Nick is one of the most determined barristers on the circuit. He is a personable and popular barrister but once his game face is in place, there it remains. He is an intelligent and thoughtful advocate, whose submissions are measured, pertinent and carefully crafted.'
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Abigail Turner
St Philips Chambers
‘Abigail is brilliant with vulnerable clients and she approaches every case with empathy and sensitivity. She is a tenacious advocate who has a firm and measured style. Her attention to detail and preparation is meticulous!'
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William Horwood
St Philips Chambers
'William is a very confident and well-prepared advocate which is backed up by his excellent grasp of statute and case law. He is incredibly approachable and is always happy to discuss matters. His advocacy style is measured and non-confrontational which proves highly effective.'
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Molly Giles
St Philips Chambers
 ‘Molly is outstanding in both private and public law. She is a tenacious and compelling advocate who quickly grasps all of the issues. She is much respected by professional clients and loved by lay clients, who appreciate her kind but pragmatic approach.'

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