Selborne Chambers is delighted to announce that 28 members have been listed in the Legal 500 UK Bar Guide 2022. We are very pleased to announce the following four new listings for Richard Clegg in Commercial Litigation, James Newman in Professional Negligence, Rahul Varma in Property Litigation and George Woodhead in Private Client: Trusts and Probate.
We would like to thank the research team at Legal 500 and our clients for taking the time to provide feedback.
Property Litigation – Set
Selborne Chambers combines broad real property expertise with a ‘truly fantastic’ landlord and tenant offering, with members handling complex cases in areas including rights to light, easements, adverse possession, and trespass, alongside estates and development disputes, lease renewals, and breach of covenant cases. Jonathan McNae acted for the successful manager in the Canary Riverside Estate Management Limited & others v Coates & Circus Apartments Limited case, a long-running dispute between owner, landlord, and tenants including the creation of a confidentiality club. Mark Warwick KC maintains a leading practice across real property and landlord and tenant cases, and appeared for the appellant before the Court of Appeal in Dhillon v Barclays Bank plc & the Chief Land Registrar, a Land Registration Act case concerning whether, for the purposes of paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 4 to the Land Registration Act 2002, there were exceptional circumstances which justified the Court not making an order rectifying the land register in the wake of a mortgage fraud. Nicholas Trompeter KC took silk in 2021, and was involved in the Supreme Court test case Hurstwood Properties (A) Ltd v Rossendale Borough Council, concerning schemes designed to avoid the payment of national non-domestic rates on empty properties by leasing them to SPVs, acting for the respondents. Ian Clarke KC acted for the successful defendant in Richards v Harvey, a case concerning a high-value contractual claim relating to the sale of units at a development.
Property Litigation – Silks
Mark Warwick KC – ‘ Mark is simply tremendous and is absolutely someone who you would want to have on your team. He is unquestionably hard working, always makes himself available and is always one step ahead. A leader in his very own right. ’
Gary Blaker KC – ‘ Gary is calmness incarnate. He has a wealth of knowledge and is able to put clients at their ease. In court he is tenacious but always with respect. With judges he is firm when he needs to be and always seems to have the ear of the court. ’
Romie Tager KC – ‘ He boldly goes where other barristers fear to tread, but always exercising good judgment; excellent tactician; utter command of the court room; able to store vast quantities of data in his head. ’
Ian Clarke KC – ‘ User friendly, bright, pragmatic ’
Clifford Darton KC – ‘ An excellent advocate who always appears unflustered in court. He has strong attention to detail and provide excellent client care. ’
Property Litigation – 2021 Silks
Nicholas Trompeter KC – ‘ Softly spoken, but packs a big punch. Good attention to detail. ’
Property Litigation – Leading Juniors
Justin Kitson – ‘ A formidable advocate with an ability to assimilate a vast amount of information in a short space of time whilst applying the law swiftly and effectively, to provide detailed, practical and realistic advice. Always accommodating and goes more than the extra mile to make sure of a first rate service every time. ’
Stuart Hornett – ‘ Stuart is extremely conscientious and has an a good approach with clients and a very good understanding of the more complex legal issues. He is also very tactically minded, giving good practical advice. ’
Philip Kremen
Jonathan McNae – ‘ Jon is a genuine problem solver. He is extremely patient and clear thinking in high pressure situations. Tenacious, detailed but also pragmatic. ’
Neil Mendoza – ‘ Neil is an excellent trial advocate and particularly distinguished at cross-examination. He is very reliable, pragmatic and a safe pair of hands. ’
Richard Clegg – Absolutely brilliant and tenacious with opponents. Very clear and precise advice, well explained for clients; an absolute pleasure to work with. Cannot recommend highly enough. ’
Robert Brown – ‘ In-depth knowledge of the law. Excellent analytic approach to cases, with clear and considered advice. Keen eye to the practicalities of a matter and the client’s best interests. Measured, effective advocacy. ’
David Warner – ‘ A first-class advocate who doesn’t mess around in the courtroom. His written advice is clear and unequivocal no matter how complex the matter. Clients appreciate his approachable manner coupled with his clear advice when he advises in conference. He is my go to for all complex property and commercial matters. ’
Alice Hawker – ‘ Alice is an exceptional junior barrister. She digests complex material with seeming ease and at pace, whilst completely grasping all elements and demonstrating an encyclopaedic knowledge of the materials. She is contactable, approachable and entirely dependable. She also works incredibly hard and manages to give the impression that she is always prioritising you and your instruction. Her advocacy comes across as beyond her years and she has an excellent feel for the court room and the direction of the judge. ’
Simon McLoughlin – ‘ Talented, bright, technically adept and tactically astute. He has good calm measured client manner and strong communication and advocacy skills – a bright future beckons. ’
Isabel Petrie – ‘ Isabel is excellent. She is proactive and to the point. Nothing is too much trouble. ’
Rahul Varma – ‘Rahul is professional, practical and provides in-depth advice. He is supremely approachable and calm under pressure.’
Sarah Walker – ‘ A supremely bright, reliable and hard-working barrister. The quality of Sarah’s written work is always of an extremely high standard and she has the persuasive and intelligent advocacy style to match. ’
Commercial Litigation – Leading Silk
Romie Tager KC – ‘Romie boldly goes where other barristers fear to tread, but always exercising good judgement. He is an excellent tactician with utter command of the court room and is able to store vast quantities of data in his head ’
Commercial Litigation – Leading Junior
Stuart Hornett – ‘ He has very good judgement and is good at anticipating outcomes. A very confident advocate who drafts clear paperwork. ’
Richard Clegg – ‘ Absolutely brilliant and tenacious with opponents. He provides very clear and precise advice, well explained for clients – and is an absolute pleasure to work with.’
Private Client: Trusts and Probate – Leading Silks
Ian Clarke KC – ‘ Ian is a fierce litigator with a fantastic intellectual mind. His analytical mind is a force to be reckoned with ’
Private Client: Trusts and Probate – Leading Juniors
George Woodhead – ‘ George is a rare breed, a brave tenacious advocate, coupled with a exceptional client handling skills and impressive solicitor handling skills. Solicitors have no qualms in instructing him on a heavy hitting case against QC opponents given his sharp intellect and excellent tactical skills. ’
Francis Ng – ‘ Francis has a keen tactical brain and is great at looking at the strategy of a case. His advice is pointed, accurate and practical with an eye for detail. He is a rising star in the field of contentious trusts and probate and destined for great things. Excellent in Court and his preparation is second to none. ’
Professional Negligence – Set
The ‘excellent’ Selborne Chambers has ‘a depth of counsel’, with noted expertise in handling professional negligence claims in relation to property transactions. Gary Blaker QC is ‘very thorough’ and ‘his advocacy is very measured, calm and convincing’, and has notable expertise in advising on claims involving property identity fraud. Hugh Jackson has extensive experience in multi-party cases, and acts in claims brought against solicitors, surveyors and valuers. Nicholas Trompeter QC was elevated to silk in the 2021 round.
Professional Negligence – Leading Silks
Gary Blaker KC – ‘ Gary is calmness incarnate. He has a wealth of knowledge and is able to put clients at their ease. In court he is tenacious but always demonstrates respect. ’
Professional Negligence – 2021 Silks
Nicholas Trompeter KC – ‘ Clients always feel that he is part of the team, and there with the client all the way. ’
Professional Negligence – Leading Juniors
Hugh Jackson – ‘ He is very hard-working and provides clear and measured advice. Well-respected by clients. ’
Justin Kitson – ‘ A formidable advocate. He is always accommodating and goes more than the extra mile to make sure of a first-rate service every time. ’
James Newman – ‘ He has a great manner with clients and is quick to grasp the key issues of a case.’
Edward Bennion-Pedley – ‘ Edward has keen analytical skills and is very persuasive. He provides commercial advice. ’
Company/Partnership – Leading Silks
William McCormick KC – ‘ A seasoned practitioner who inspires instant confidence with the clients. ’
Environment – Leading Silks
Clifford Darton KC – ‘ An excellent advocate who appears unflustered in court and shows strong attention to detail. ’
Defamation/Privacy – Leading Silks
Media and Entertainment (including Art and Cultural Property)