The Bar - Regional Bar • Midland Circuit
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Planning

No5 Barristers' Chambers

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No5 Barristers’ Chambers has a strong reputation as a ‘great set with broad and deep expertise’ in planning law. ’Strategic thinker’ Christopher Young KC works exclusively in town and country planning, highways, and compulsory purchase law. Sioned Davies acts for developers, local planning authorities, and public authorities, regularly handling cases concerning residential, commercial, and renewable energy developments. She recently appeared in judicial review case Bentley Pauncefoot Parish Council v Redditch BC, concerning a hybrid application for 2,560 dwellings as well as retail floorspace and health and community facilities, challenged on the grounds that the committee did not have all the necessary information on the matter to reach a lawful conclusion and the decision did not require developers to contribute to educational transport.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'A strong clerking team. Andy Bisbey is excellent.'
  • 'Andrew Bisbey stands out for excellent client care. He is always helpful, available and has a genuine interest in making things better.  He is one of the best clerks in the planning sector at the moment - top of his game.'
  • 'The clerks are always very courteous and easy to talk to, and respond in a timely manner.'
  • 'No5 has matured into a great set with broad and deep expertise. Their training programme is well established and the clerks are good and efficient, unstuffy and very pleasant to deal with.'
  • 'No5 are a go-to chambers for planning matters.'
  • 'No5 has a wide range of expertise across junior to senior level, making for good availability. No5 offers valuable local authority seminar opportunities at value which brings engagement and understanding.'

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 Young KC
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
‘Christopher is without doubt one of top planning KCs in the country. He is the consummate advocate as well as a fantastic team player that is always working to bring the best out of the whole team. It is always a pleasure working with Christopher.’
Peter Goatley KC
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
‘Peter is calm and measured under pressure and carefully analyses and strategizes. he thrives when put to the test by an opponent, judge or difficult witness. Nothing escapes him. He is a canny and eloquent advocate as well as a personable and effective team leader.’
Richard Kimblin KC
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
 ‘Richard is one of the best barristers in a very technical and competitive sector. He is able to take very complex legal and technical matters and distil them for a lay client. His advocacy is brilliant, sharp, concise but all the time being very calm - it can be devastating for an opponent.'

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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Satnam Choongh
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
'Satnam is to be commended for the respect he has for the people he advises. He is honest in his views, direct and open. He takes care to consider the client's views and offers if necessary an alternative approach. He presents his case clearly with adequate references to planning law and current policies.'
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Howard Leithead
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
‘Howard gets to the nub of issues in a clear and concise manner. His explanation to and communication with the client is excellent. He listens whilst offering appropriate challenge to ensure the client is well and robustly represented. His advocacy is calm, authoritative, and persuasive.'
Rising stars
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.
Sioned Davies
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
 ‘Sioned is meticulous in her preparation and has an excellent presentation style. Her written opinions are also of the highest quality. She is a very bright junior with a finger on the pulse of the latest legal and commercially relevant developments.’

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