Members of Essex Court Chambers increase number of rankings to 185 in The Legal 500 2022

30 September, 2021

In the Legal 500 UK Bar 2022 members of chambers have received 17 new rankings bringing the total number of rankings to 185 across 23 practice areas.

The Legal 500 UK Bar, which was released on Wednesday 29 September 2021, highlights the UK’s most impressive barristers and chambers.

Special mention is given to the following members who have received a ranking in the Rising Star category:

The set has been ranked in the following categories:

  • Commercial Litigation: Tier 1
    “The ‘go-to commercial set above all others’ and ‘the universal quality of its counsel marks it out as exceptional.”
  • Fraud: Civil: Tier 1
    “The leading set for large, complex civil fraud cases’, commended for its ‘number of very impressive individuals, and huge strength in depth.”
  • International Arbitration: Counsel: Tier 1
    “Still for many ‘the leading set in this area’. In addition to its cadre of top tier silks who have dominated the market for years, the set has an excellent pool of younger QCs and juniors climbing the ranks.”
  • Public International Law: Tier 1
    “An excellent reputation for public international law, where ‘despite a heavy workload, the counsel have been available for working with us and for providing the expected qualities’. The set stands out for its combination of commercial and academic nous, with a selection of top quality silks and juniors who straddle both worlds with ease.”
  • Banking and Finance: Tier 2
    “Strong in banking litigation’ and has ‘unparalleled strength in depth’ for banking fraud cases. One of the set’s most notable cases is PCP Capital Partners LLP v Barclays Plc – a long-running dispute concerning Qatari investment in the bank during the 2008 crisis.”
  • Employment: Tier 2
    “Chambers is regularly instructed in high-profile, complex employment cases” “Excellent barristers in the restraint of trade area (dealing with restrictive covenants, team moves and confidential information).” “Essex Court has some of the best barristers around and some great juniors coming through, they are an outstanding set- full of quality from top to bottom.”
  • Energy: Tier 2
    “Chambers is ‘first-class in all departments, the barristers are universally first-rate and highly responsive’. One client describes it as ‘the Rolls-Royce of sets – everything purrs’. The set has a long-standing practice in high-value energy litigation, largely due to its market-leading practice in international commercial arbitration. Its members are frequently involved in international arbitrations and expert determinations in relation to the energy sector, often relating to state-owned entities.”
  • Shipping: Tier 2
    ‘A leading commercial set with a strong shipping practice’, the barristers at Essex Court Chambers are frequently instructed on wet and dry shipping disputes, in court and in arbitration.” 
  • Commodities: Tier 3
    ‘‘Very strong, particularly at the senior end, and it has incredible pedigree in commodities and shipping work with a host of names you would want to turn to for high-value, heavy and contentious disputes’. The set has a long track record of involvement in shipping, shipbuilding and commodities cases, with particular expertise in wet and dry shipping, as well as high-value fraud cases touching on those issues.”
  • Insurance and Reinsurance: Tier 3
    “Regularly represents the London market, international insurers, policyholders and brokers in major insurance and reinsurance disputes. Recent high-profile cases include Financial Conduct Authority v Arch (UK) Insurance & Others, the test case on Covid-19 business interruption, in which John Lockey QCand junior Jeremy Brier represented the first defendant in both the Divisional Court and the Supreme Court.”
  • Offshore: Tier 3
    “Members are frequent fixtures in in long-standing commercial dispute resolution and chancery commercial litigation across the Caribbean. Paul McGrath QChad a standout year, advising Convoy as the appellant in Convoy v Roy Cho and Broad Idea, which was heard by the Privy Council in February 2021. Appointed silk in March 2021, James Willan QC is retained to act for Madam Yao in her appeal to the Privy Council in shareholder dispute Yao Jun v Kwok Kin Kwok & Crown Treasure Group Ltd.”

Members of Essex Court Chambers are also delighted to congratulate its clerking team on receiving outstanding praise from clients collected by The Legal 500 again in 2022. The Essex Court Chambers team clerking team has received the following praise from clients:

“Top class service,” “The clerks are among the best in the business,” “Top of class – proactive, available, and nothing is too much trouble,” “Refreshingly clear and straightforward,” “They are excellent. Extremely responsive and very easy to deal with,” “The entire clerking team is excellent, very responsive and reliable.” ‘The clerks are extremely helpful and quick to acknowledge the type of assistance that is needed on particular cases,”

Special mentions are given to:

  • Joe Ferrigno who “sets the standard for modern clerking” and is described as ”very good and straight forward to deal with,” “he is proactive, available, and nothing is too much trouble.”
  • Ben Perry who is “responsive, helpful and extremely knowledgeable.” And described as “one of the best clerks one could ever dream of dealing with.”
  • Jack Wood who is “consistently outstanding. He delivers an extremely high level of service to solicitor clients.”
  • Katie Myles who “stands out for her efficiency, relationship building and commitment.”
  • Kevin Grubb is “particularly excellent.”
  • Oliver Butcher is “very responsive and helpful.”
  • Oliver Duane is “one of the best clerks one could ever dream of dealing with.”

Members, clerks and staff of Essex Court Chambers would like to thank our clients and colleagues for their kind feedback once again this year.