Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Insurance And Reinsurance

7 King’s Bench Walk

2 Temple Gardens

4 New Square

Crown Office Chambers

Fountain Court Chambers

Leading Silks

Aidan Christie KC – 4 Pump Court

Charles Dougherty KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘Charles is a brain on a stick. He is calm, assured, and consistent on his feet. He never flaps, he never fails to deliver, and he asks all the right questions in advance of a hearing.'

David Edwards KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He has very good judgement on what arguments will work before an arbitration panel and is very calm and collected when new points or new documents come up at a hearing. His advocacy is very clear and compelling.'

Peter MacDonald Eggers KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Knowledge of jurisdictional disputes and reinsurance, calm and gentle manner. Responsive. Very persuasive advocate. Excellent with clients.’

Jonathan Gaisman KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘ Very detailed preparation; clear vision; very clear in expressing himself, whether in court or Consultation. Hardly needs references after so long at the top.’

Siobán Healy KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Strong communicator, brilliant and commanding advocate. A real team player and a pleasure to work with.'

Stephen Hofmeyr KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Mark Howard KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Senior statesman and leader among the insurance Bar. His cross-examination is in a different league.’

Gavin Kealey KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Ruthless cross-examiner and possibly the most charismatic, effective advocate at the London Bar. Exceptional silk who you can rely on to get results, and is more creative in his legal arguments than most. Gavin is the best insurance silk at the bar who punches well above the mark.'

Dominic Kendrick KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk

John Lockey KC –Essex Court Chambers 'User-friendly, good strategic sense.'

Andrew Neish KC –4 Pump Court ‘A leading insurance and reinsurance KC.’

Ben Quiney KC –Crown Office Chambers 'Ben knows his subject matter in intimate detail, with a real expertise in W&I insurance. He is excellent at breaking down highly complex matters into easy to follow concepts and a clear strategy. He is also a very effective advocate, adopting a measured and methodical style.'

David Railton KC –Fountain Court Chambers

Andrew Rigney KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Andrew has deep knowledge of chestnut construction insurance issues, which means he does not need to be brought up to speed. It complements his 1st tier construction practice.'

Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Rebecca is especially strong on attachment and aggregation insurance coverage disputes.'

Alistair Schaff KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Great strength in depth. A force to be reckoned with.'

Tony Singla KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Tony is a great KC to work with. He's the definition of user-friendly: accessible and responsive to solicitors, great at dealing with clients directly and takes the fight to the other side, which the clients like to see. His star continues to rise.'

Bankim Thanki KC – Fountain Court Chambers

David Turner KC – 4 New Square ‘The go-to silk for policy coverage advice; David has a deep understanding of professional indemnity and construction disputes, which is the perfect combination for the types of matters he is retained on. Not shy to get into the details, but always provides clear and commercial advice. Fantastic service!'

Andrew Wales KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He is very thorough and well thought through. A man of great intelligence whose legal analysis is excellent. Never misses a point.'

Richard Waller KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Tom Weitzman KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘His attention to detail is excellent. His advice is to the point, and he will always provide precise advocacy.'

Guy Blackwood KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘Very user-friendly and responsive. Great on his feet.'

James Brocklebank KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘James is exceptional. He is a go-to for a tricky coverage instruction. Not only does he provide thorough and well-reasoned legal advice, but he is also extremely user-friendly.’

Bob Moxon Browne KC – 2 Temple Gardens 'Bob is highly knowledgeable in this sphere. He is extremely adept at unnerving the opponent due to his tenacity and unwavering confidence. At the same time, he is highly personable and he deeply cares about his clients.'

Anneliese Day KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘A strong practitioner, good with difficult clients, very down to earth, and easy to work with.’

Ben Elkington KC – 4 New Square ‘Quite simply, brilliant. Easy to work with, pragmatic and commercial. Excellent on his feet. Makes points forcefully but not in an aggressive tone.’

Adam Fenton KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Adam is very bright and extremely hardworking; nothing is too much trouble for Adam, and he always delivers. Great judgement- knows the English Commercial Court bench very well. Understated but effective, because he reads the room very accurately.'

Christopher Hancock KC – Twenty Essex

Jonathan Hough KC –4 New Square ‘Jonathan brings a clarity of thought and efficiency of communication, which makes his arguments appear like the only arguments that could sensibly be made. He works quickly, but is never rushed. His work is thorough, but he never gets lost in the details. He never sits on the fence and will always tell you what he thinks. He treats everyone with courtesy and respect.'

Jawdat Khurshid KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He is extremely user-friendly and responsive, and an excellent advocate. He had a very impressive handle on the complex and detailed quantum arguments in the cases and made very compelling submissions.'

Harry Matovu KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Incredibly clever, spectacular with details and one of the most charming advocates at the Bar.’

Graeme McPherson KC –4 New Square 'Graeme is able to see and formulate legal issues very clearly. Very hard-working and responsive.'

Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC –Fountain Court Chambers ‘Leigh-Ann is careful and considered and always completely masters the material. Leigh-Ann has been perfect. So refreshing that she combines intellectual excellence with user friendliness.'

Paul Reed KC –Gatehouse Chambers ‘His expertise and experience in relation to complex insurance dispute matters are excellent.'

Simon Salzedo KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Seriously good on his feed, and seriously intelligent.’

David Scorey KC –Essex Court Chambers

Nigel Tozzi KC –4 Pump Court

Rachel Ansell KC – 4 Pump Court

David Bailey KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He’s a calm but effective advocate, with an encyclopedic brain of insurance case law. An extremely charming, intelligent and strategically acute KC. A go-to KC.

Andrew Burns KC –Devereux

Nicholas Craig KC –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Nick is a very good advocate and is able to read the room well and adapt his advocacy depending on the judge and case in hand. His cross-examination is thoughtful, detailed and puts the witnesses under pressure.'

Derrick Dale KC –Fountain Court Chambers 'Derrick is very clear in his advice, and despite being technically excellent, he is able to communicate difficult legal principles clearly and effectively.'

Philip Edey KC –Twenty Essex ‘Very good manner and able to deliver difficult advice calmly and clearly and diplomatically. Very hands on and in the detail. Very approachable. Excellent writing and very clear advocate.'

Justin Fenwick KC – 4 New Square

Andrew Green KC – Blackstone Chambers ‘Andrew is an exceptional advocate, and it is a true pleasure to watch him in action - assuming he is on your side. He has a talent for making the most complex points easily digestible and for taking apart opponents' arguments with finesse. He is extremely practical, and his strategic advice is always superb. Andrew is absolutely first-rate.'

Jeffrey Gruder KC – Essex Court Chambers

Neil Hext KC –4 New Square ‘Excellent advocate - succinct and compelling style. You want him in your corner.'

Josephine Higgs KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Jo is incredibly detailed and thoughtful in her approach. Her written advice is first-rate, clear, and digestible even when dealing with complicated, multi-faceted issues. In consultation, she is engaging and takes the time to work through in a careful, considered manner.’

Isabel Hitching KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Technically brilliant. Her written advice is clear and straightforward, and she is good with clients. Her advocacy is also impressive, calm and clear.

Michael Holmes KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Michael has unbeatable knowledge of the insurance and reinsurance market. Consistently a go-to leader for tricky insurance issues. Gets stuck in and is great with clients.'

Timothy Howe KC –Fountain Court Chambers 'Tim is very responsive, hardworking and a pleasure to deal with; he is decisive and convincing on his feet.'

Ben Hubble KC –4 New Square ‘The go-to silk for a knotty problem, Ben has a detailed knowledge of the insurance world and knows his way around different policy wordings. He has a very analytical approach and is tactically astute. He is also very good with clients, focusing on the key issues, explaining clearly the risks whilst putting forward the best possible arguments. His advocacy skills are outstanding'

Michael Kent KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Michael is the most effective appellate barrister ever seen. His diffident style and character complement a complete mastery of the law. He is a collegiate member of a broader legal team and is always a joy to work with.'

Charles Kimmins KC –Twenty Essex ‘Immensely detail-focused. An imaginative thinker who looks for solutions to complex problems and is excellent at evaluating the merits of legal arguments. A pleasure to work with.'

Adam Kramer KC – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Adam is an outstanding insurance silk. A fantastic advocate who is trusted by the Court and Tribunals. Also extremely diligent and responsive, and is all over the details of a case, which is particularly helpful.'

Ben Lynch KC – Fountain Court Chambers

Roger Masefield KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Excellent advocacy – clear, fluent and convincing. Also extremely good with lay clients, personable, patient and clear in his explanations. A pleasure to work with.’

Stephen Midwinter KC –Brick Court Chambers ‘Stephen's incredible speed of analysis is accompanied by great judgement on the big calls. And when on his feet, the advocacy is so crisp and effective that other senior counsel in court are visibly impressed.’

Andrew Mitchell KC – Fountain Court Chambers

Martin Moore KC – Erskine Chambers ‘Excellent interaction with the judges. Thorough review of the brief and anticipation of issues. Second to none understanding of the Part VII area and precedents.'

Jeremy Nicholson KC –4 Pump Court

Alison Padfield KC – 4 New Square ‘Alison is one of the very best out there for coverage advice on professional negligence policies. She has an unrivalled mastery of the law and provides detailed, well-reasoned and thorough advice.'

Howard Palmer KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘Decades of knowledge of insurance law. Very hard working and a smooth talker.’

Thomas Plewman KC – Brick Court Chambers

David Pliener KC – Gatehouse Chambers ‘David is quickly establishing himself as one of the leading construction-related insurance disputes KCs at the Bar. He has a balanced practice split between insurers and policyholders, which gives him a valuable perspective from both sides of the market.’

Akhil Shah KC –Fountain Court Chambers

Daniel Shapiro KC –Crown Office Chambers ‘Danny is not only a fantastic legal mind, but he has a deep knowledge of the insurance industry, which allows him to give very high-quality strategy and commercial advice. Although he is a leader in his field, he makes everyone on the team feel important and has a great balance between having strong views and being open-minded to the views of others in the team.'

Jamie Smith KC – 4 New Square

Richard Southern KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Very good judgment, pleasant courtroom demeanour, and on top of the details.'

Roger Stewart KC –4 New Square ‘Roger is a genuine big hitter in the construction-related insurance liability disputes space. His appetite for work is astonishing. His advice is bold and positive, but he backs it up with results.'

Mark Templeman KC – Essex Court Chambers

Alex Potts KC - 4 Pump Court

Michael Ashcroft KC –Twenty Essex ‘Strong analytical skills and very clear written communications.'

Simon Atrill KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Very hard worker – always on top of the detail and prepared to discuss difficult questions. Strong advocate – he conducts difficult cross-examination on foreign law calmly and forcefully – very impressive.’

Jeremy Brier KC –Essex Court Chambers

Michael Curtis KC –Crown Office Chambers

James Cutress KC –Fountain Court Chambers

Michael Davey KC – Quadrant Chambers

Michael Davie KC – 4 Pump Court

Clare Dixon KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Clare is a star of the Bar. She has gone from strength to strength since taking silk. She has superb judgement; her written work is beautifully clear and concise; and her advocacy is up there with the most hard-hitting and senior silks.’

Philippa Hopkins KC –Essex Court Chambers

Stephen Kenny KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Stephen is a great mind and is so vastly experienced in the world of insurance and maritime law. His advice is clear and persuasive, and he is a pleasure to work with.'

Richard Liddell KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Incredibly user-friendly. Sees the issue and has a client-centric approach.'

Stephen Moriarty KC –Fountain Court Chambers

Luke Parsons KC –Quadrant Chambers

Ben Patten KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Ben is extremely bright and able to distil the most complicated into the readily understandable. Ben is a first-rate advocate.’

Simon Rainey KC –Quadrant Chambers ‘Very insightful analysis, tremendous legal and commercial judgement.'

Amanda Savage KC – 4 New Square ‘Amanda is an excellent court advocate. She has a relaxed and straightforward manner in court and on paper, she is clear, concise and robust.’

Paul Stanley KC – Essex Court Chambers

Geraint Webb KC –Henderson Chambers 'An intellectual heavyweight. Able to work through the most knotty of issues and find a way through. Considered, persuasive and good on his feet - reads the judge and the room well. A pleasure to work with, and clients have real confidence in him.'

Colin Wynter KC – Maryon Wynter Chambers

Neil Block KC –39 Essex Chambers

Noel Casey KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Nigel Cooper KC –Quadrant Chambers 'Nigel is a very clear thinker. He analyses the issues and gets to the nub of the matter. He can absorb and sift through a lot of information, identifying the key pieces of evidence.'

Helen Evans KC – 4 New Square Chambers

Saima Hanif KC – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Saima is highly intellectual, knowledgeable and user-friendly. She provides clear and considered advice and helpfully brings blue-sky thinking to a case when required.'

Marie Louise Kinsler KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘One of the leading authorities on matters of jurisdiction and applicable law. It's hard to imagine that there are many Counsel with Marie Louise's superlative knowledge and experience of these issues. Brilliant communicator and robust on her feet. The complete cross-border package.'

Siân Mirchandani KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Sian is a ferocious advocate – always fantastically well-prepared and ready to adapt her arguments as the evidence develops. She has a first-class brain and is ready to get into the smallest detail of the claim, to ensure she has covered all the arguments that might come up on a claim.’

Sonia Nolten KC –2 Temple Gardens ‘Extremely bright. Her written prose is the best I have encountered at the Bar. Brave and commercially savvy.'

Rory Phillips KC –3 Verulam Buildings

Catherine Piercy KC - Atkin Chambers ‘Catherine is a real pleasure to work with, very user-friendly and passionately fights for her clients. She is technically strong and a very capable advocate.’

George Spalton KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘George is a class act. He works incredibly hard, so he is always on top of his brief. He is both a strategic thinker and a detail man. I'd back him against pretty much any other barrister.’

Crispin Winser KC – Crown Office Chambers ‘Crispin is the go-to barrister for complex claims, in particular complex coverage claims. His advice is clear, concise, and he cuts through complex issues with ease. His turnaround is swift.'

2024 Silks

Oliver Caplin KC – Twenty Essex ‘Oliver is very responsive and user friendly. The advice he provides is clear and concise. He also gets the commercial levers and understands what our clients are trying to achieve.'

Shail Patel KC – 4 New Square ‘Shail is approachable, responsive and highly experienced. He's super bright, meticulous with the detail and offers pragmatic and well-considered commercial advice whilst remaining down-to-earth and engaging. Always a first choice for complex matters.'

Michael Wheater KC – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Michael is technically excellent and very good on strategy, both procedurally and commercially. He is very personable and great with clients. Also, a clear and persuasive advocate. Well-deserved recent appointment to KC. ‘

2025 Silks

Jason Robinson KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Jason is very impressive. He is prompt to respond and turns things around quickly, he is commercially-minded and gives clear advice. His drafting is succinct and persuasive, and he is all-around great to work with.’

David Walsh KC –Essex Court Chambers

Leading Juniors

Sushma Ananda – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Sushma is quite simply the cleverest and hardest-working barrister. She is all over the details but able to see the big picture. She is excellent with clients and in consultation.'

Richard Harrison –Devereux

Sandra Healy – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Sandra is an excellent barrister; she works very hard, she is knowledgeable, she has very good judgment, and she has an attractive advocacy style.'

Keir Howie – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Timothy Kenefick – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘ Tim is an intelligent barrister who has very good judgement. Tim demonstrates an assured understanding of the issues in a case.'

Simon Kerr – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A detail-oriented and forensic operator, Simon's written work is consistently excellent.'

Timothy Killen - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Tim is a master on his feet. He is calm, fearless, and deadly. He has been operating at a silk-level for a long time now.’

Alexander MacDonald – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Undoubtedly, Alex is the most capable senior junior to work with. His intelligence, clear communication skills, commitment and approachability are second to none, making him a go-to barrister for any complex insurance litigation. Alex has consistently demonstrated strong advocacy, both in written and oral form, and his contribution is highly sought and valued by all who work with him.’

Marcus Mander – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Well-versed in handling complex insurance-related matters, including Bermuda Form disputes. Incredibly bright and creative in his legal analysis and thinking. Practical, efficient and a pleasure to work with. Marcus is a silk in the making!'

Caroline McColgan –Crown Office Chambers ‘Caroline is extremely bright, responsive and has the ability to digest, analyse and form a pragmatic and well-reasoned opinion very quickly. She grapples with the issues and can get to the heart of the dispute with ease.'

Benjamin Parker – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Ben is super bright, has great attention to detail, and is collaborative.’

James Purchas –4 Pump Court ‘James is very easy to communicate with, very thorough and detailed, and very hardworking and responsive at all times. His written advocacy is excellent.’

Peter Ratcliffe –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Peter is an exceptional barrister with a formidable command of complex insurance litigation. His meticulous attention to detail, particularly in drafting and skeleton arguments, is second to none. He takes decisive control of cases from the outset, instilling confidence in both instructing solicitors and clients alike.'

Jonathan Bellamy –39 Essex Chambers

Jocelin Gale – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Jocelin is highly knowledgeable of general insurance and reinsurance principles and practices and, importantly, very quick to understand and absorb particular and complex issues. He communicates very effectively and listens well when in discussion on technical subjects, essential when considering the application of related legal aspects and when pursuing persuasive legal arguments to a successful outcome.’

Anna Gotts – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Anna is an extremely bright and capable barrister, with extensive knowledge and experience of insurance and reinsurance matters. Not only is she exceptionally good at identifying points that will appeal to the court, she is also able to deliver them in an easy, authoritative and persuasive way. Highly regarded and in demand, Anna works equally well on her own and as part of a larger team.’

Kate Holderness – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Kate's attention to detail is exemplary and she gets to grips with complex legal issues immediately and can distil them into easy-to-digest bites when providing advice to solicitors or clients.'

Tim Jenns – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He has an exceptional ability to quickly get on top of voluminous and complex material. He is extremely bright. He has great recall. He has a huge appetite for hard-work. He has first-class legal knowledge. He is also a good oral advocate, whether in making submissions or cross-examining witnesses.’

Christopher Langley –Fountain Court Chambers ‘Christopher is one of the best barristers ever seen. He is polite and easy to work with. He is a very good advocate and very clever on the law, and also strong on procedure, and practical and commercial points.’

Elizabeth Lindesay – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Liz is one of the very best insurance and reinsurance barristers. Her attention to detail and thoroughness are phenomenal, and her drafting is impeccable. She is incredibly bright and has a searching, forensic approach which produces excellent results. She is a pleasure to work with.'

Sarah Martin – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘A star at the bar. Exceptionally bright, detail-oriented, hard-working and practical. Great grasp of complex insurance issues and an absolute delight to work with. Well-liked by clients.'

James Medd –Crown Office Chambers ‘One of the best senior juniors in the property damage arena. Really great at matters involving complex and technical underlying facts.'

Henry Moore – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Henry's advocacy is very calm. He has a phenomenal memory, which makes him stand apart from his peers, especially on his feet. His written work is equally as good, concise and persuasive.'

Simon Paul – Fountain Court Chambers 'A star in the insurance market. Simon has a wealth of knowledge of insurance case law and is able to apply this effectively in finding solutions to difficult problems. Simon is a highly effective advocate.'

Michael Ryan – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Michael is technically excellent and has also first-rate judgment. He is also a compelling advocate and an excellent cross-examiner.'

James Sharpe - 3 Verulam Buildings 'He is an excellent communicator who is prepared to get into the details of difficult legal issues.'

Ben Smiley –4 New Square ‘Incredibly good on his feet and gives succinct advice.'

Jessica Sutherland – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Excellent drafting, Great manner in court - judge's listen to her, A delight to work with, very bright.'

Harry Wright – 7 King’s Bench Walk 'Harry is absolutely excellent, very responsive and great at cutting through complex areas.'

Ebony Alleyne – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Ebony is very personable and easy to work with, and a good lawyer.'

Edward Batrouney – Essex Court Chambers

Tom Bell – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Tom is an exceptional team player. Picks up the work quickly, analyses it, and produces sensible, compelling work. Is happy to pick up big claims and small claims as necessary.'

Clara Benn – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Exceptional judgement and real common sense, combined with an acute legal mind. A fantastic team player and valuable support. Her written advocacy is clear, focused and effective.’

Alexandra Bodnar – Keating Chambers 'Alexandra Bodnar is an incredibly sharp barrister who provides commercial and client-focus advice. Her approach is user-friendly, which has been a bit hit with underlying clients. She had advised on a number of highly technical construction and engineering disputes, and has very quickly got to the nub of the issues.'

Michael Bolding – Brick Court Chambers ‘Michael combines a massive brain with total dedication, lots of insurance experience and superb drafting skills. He runs a major insurance dispute as part of a large counsel team as if he were a silk already.’

Nicholas Broomfield –4 New Square ‘Nick is personable, pragmatic and great to work with. He’s hugely responsive, very bright and yet down-to-earth. He offers insightful and commercial advice.’

Andrew Brown – Crown Office Chambers

Alice Carse – 4 Pump Court

Suzanne Chalmers – Crown Office Chambers ‘Able to produce fantastic work in double quick time. Brings a different dimension to the work.'

Niamh Cleary – Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is a very clever and very hardworking barrister. She is easy to work with - rolls up her sleeves and takes charge of things - while also being insightful and thoughtful.'

William Clerk –2 Temple Gardens ‘William is a star performer. What he does not know about Insurance and Reinsurance is not worth knowing. William punches well above his weight in terms of his years of call.'

Benjamin Coffer – Quadrant Chambers ‘Ben is an excellent and experienced junior, with particular expertise in marine insurance disputes and MII insurance and an accomplished advocate, appearing before silks on a regular basis. He is succinct and persuasive.'

Daniel Corteville – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Daniel is a very good and effective junior. He is intelligent, hard-working and delivers work of an excellent standard. He takes ownership of any task that is assigned to him, and his contributions are valued by more senior members of the counsel team.'

Daniel Crowley – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Daniel is forensic in his attention to detail, particularly during cross-examination. He leaves no stone unturned.'

Nick Daly – Fountain Court Chambers ‘An excellent barrister who has very good judgement.’

William Day – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Will is a highly compelling advocate whose courtroom gravitas far exceeds his level of call. His written advocacy is thorough and meticulous, and his oral advocacy puts judges, solicitors and clients alike at ease. He provides sharp and strategic advice through the life cycle of cases. He is pragmatic, commercially minded and a pleasure to work with.'

Stephen Du – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Tremendously responsive and helpful with fine attention to detail. Extremely good.'

Max Evans – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Max’s knowledge of the area of law and subject matter is outstanding.’

Lucas Fear-Segal –2 Temple Gardens ‘Lucas is highly intelligent and can assimilate vast quantities of complex information in record time. He is razor sharp and gets to the point very quickly indeed. At the same time, he is very easy to get along with and clients love his relaxed and approachable style.'

Julian Field –Crown Office Chambers ‘Really great on his feet – massively experienced and knows exactly what is needed in a tight spot in court.’

Doré Green – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Dore is an exceptional barrister. He is extremely hard working, goes the extra mile for those who instruct him, and his attention to detail is second to none. He is also a highly skilled advocate. He has been the match of any KC he has appeared against.'

Michele De Gregorio –Crown Office Chambers ‘Skilled and highly knowledgeable. Pleasant to deal with and approachable - explains everything clearly, and drafting is impeccable.'

Miles Harris – 4 New Square ‘Exceptionally impressive in conference and really responsive and helpful.’

Emma Hilliard – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Emma is incredibly bright and identifies the issues swiftly. She is very responsive and a pleasure to work with.'

Rebecca Jacobs – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Rebecca is very responsive and approachable – it is very easy to establish a good working relationship. She provides good advice on tricky and novel areas of law, particularly orally.’

Anthony Jones – 4 New Square ‘Anthony employs excellent oral and written advocacy skills, and offers clear and practical advice. In particular, he is very good at dealing with professional insured clients in a conference setting, putting out his views and what he considers to be the best way forward in plain language.'

Susannah Jones – Twenty Essex ‘A real heavyweight junior in this sector.’

Max Kasriel – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Great lawyer, knowledgeable about both substance and procedure and a pleasure to deal with it.’

Simon Kerry – Gatehouse Chambers

Christopher Knowles –Fountain Court Chambers 'Very hard worker. Produces clear pleadings and submissions. Always courteous and calm. An asset to any team.'

Athena Markides –Crown Office Chambers ‘Athena is extremely bright, she has an investigative, sharp mind and is able to see through the detail to get to the heart of the matter, particularly brilliant on fraud matters. Responsive and lovely to work with'

Sarah McCann – Gatehouse Chambers

Mek Mesfin – 4 Pump Court 'Mek is an extremely good advocate, he is clear and engaging. He is able to make sense of complex issues, explain them well to the client and to opponents. He is also good at thinking of creative or novel solutions to issues.'

Helen Morton – Essex Court Chambers

Martyn Naylor – 4 Pump Court

Rani Noakes – 4 Pump Court

Richard Sage –Crown Office Chambers 'Richard is an all-rounder who consistently performs at an extremely high standard. To illustrate by way of example, Richard has been heavily involved in a very hands-on, litigated, complex policy coverage dispute'

Theodor van Sante –3 Verulam Buildings ‘Extremely bright and clever in complex issues of indemnity and international law.'

Richard Sarll – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Peter Stevenson – Quadrant Chambers ‘He is good to work with and practical. He is happy to roll his sleeves up and get involved and is not afraid to voice his opinion. KC quality as a junior. Does not need to be led. Definitely recommended.’

Carlo Taczalski –Crown Office Chambers ‘Carlo is a fantastic advocate and leader in his field.'

David Thomas – 2 Temple Gardens ‘David has developed real expertise in commercial insurance, especially in the context of major construction disputes. His written submissions are always of a very high standard, displaying his considerable learning. He is a great team player and excellent at working with expert witnesses in the construction field.’

Carl Troman – 4 New Square ‘Very bright, always on top of the detail, with analysis that is razor sharp. He is also an excellent strategist and a compelling orator.’

Mubarak Waseem – Essex Court Chambers ‘Mubarak is a star of the junior Bar. He has been immersed in Covid litigation in the Commercial Court in addition to forging an enviable practice in the closed shop of Bermuda Form arbitrations. He has a staggering amount of experience with hearings.’

Frederick Alliott – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Fred is intelligent, hard-working and easy to work with. His written work is of a very good standard, and he communicates clearly and confidently.'

Tom Asquith – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Excellent strategic advice, bearing in mind the distinct commercial pressures of insurer clients.’

John Bignall – 7 King’s Bench Walk

Joshua Brown – Crown Office Chambers ‘Josh has excellent analytical skills and gives deep thought to legal and strategy issues in the cases he works on. He is not afraid to challenge orthodoxies.’

Steven Coles –Crown Office Chambers ‘When it comes to insurance cover advice, there is no one better. Clear and pragmatic advice is always given.’

Ivor Collett – Crown Office Chambers

Sarah Cowey – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Intellectually strong, practical in advising, highly responsive and pleasant to work with.'

Sophia Dzwig – 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Extremely hard-working and thorough; drafting and written advocacy are excellent.'

Joseph England – Quadrant Chambers ‘Joseph is very enthusiastic, hard-working and responsive.'

George Eyre – Gatehouse Chambers

Joshua Folkard – Twenty Essex ‘Joshua is a capable junior barrister. His legal analysis is thorough and well-structured, and he has a good grasp of both legal principles and commercial realities. He is skilled at drafting and can present complex information in a clear way. He is particularly good at explaining technical insurance concepts in a way that is easy for clients to understand.'

Douglas Grant – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Doug is proactive, polite and sharp. He handled advocacy with unpretentious charm and confidence even when the cards were stacked against him.'

John Greenbourne –Crown Office Chambers ‘Very user friendly'

Michal Hain– Twenty Essex ‘Michal is a fiercely intelligent junior who can hold his own in court against anyone. Just as comfortable on his feet in the Supreme Court as he is in the Commercial Court. He has a great awareness of the issues that matter and writes well. Has been a leading junior in the Russian aircraft litigation. A star of the future.’

Michael Harper – Crown Office Chambers ‘Michael is truly a master of his trade. He is extremely thorough in his work and will go the extra mile to secure the result for the client. His advice is meticulous, and his advocacy is superb.'

Jack Harris – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Jack is an articulate lawyer with outstanding knowledge in the field of property damage.'

George Hilton – Monckton Chambers ‘George is a delight to work with. He has a charming manner with clients. Technically very good and has a great way of making difficult points seem easy. Calm and persuasive in court and liked by judges.'

Edward Ho – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ed is incredibly bright but user-friendly, always very responsive and pragmatic. He is unflappable in conference, giving clear and succinct advice and instilling confidence among instructing solicitors and clients.’

Diarmuid Laffan – 4 New Square ‘Diarmuid is a clear and concise communicator, strong commercial wordsmith.'

Kate Livesey – 4 Pump Court ‘Kate is outstanding – immensely hard-working, a brilliant lawyer, exceptionally bright, fantastic at drafting, and wonderful with clients.’

Ralph Morley – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Ralph has encyclopedic knowledge of not only legal principles and developments, but also factual matters that inevitably bear on disputes. He has a keen sense for distilling key legal and factual points and honing in on the strengths of the relevant arguments. He is also extremely diligent and accessible, making him a pleasure to work with. He is a true star.'

David Myhill – Crown Office Chambers

Peter Oliver – 4 Pump Court

Rowan Pennington-Benton – 3 Hare Court ‘Rowan is a tremendous barrister. He is able to digest vast amounts of information and can easily navigate to the crux of an issue, all while applying a commercial and pragmatic approach. His legal knowledge is superb.'

Benjamin Phelps –2 Temple Gardens ‘A diligent and academic junior with a keen eye for detail.’

Adam Sher – Fountain Court Chambers

Quentin Tannock – 4 Pump Court

Adam Turner – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘He is superb in every way, his written submissions are elegant, his advocacy is measured, to the point and persuasive, and he is brilliant at working with solicitors and other professionals. The best insurance junior at the bar.'

Jessica van der Meer – 2 Temple Gardens ‘A first-class insurance barrister. Jessica is incredibly hard-working and easy to work with. She quickly wins the client’s confidence. Her advice on insurance disputes is meticulous, easy to read and pragmatic and commercial in its strategy. A real asset to have on your team.'

Kate Vaughan-Neil – 4 Pump Court

Emma Catia Walker – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Emma is an exceptionally well-rounded counsel with no discernible weaknesses. She consistently balances the client's commercial objectives with sound legal reasoning when providing advice, running trials, and bringing matters to a close. Her written and oral advocacy is second to none, often leading to swift resolutions through robust defences and well-crafted responses.'

Helena White – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Very diligent and familiarises herself with the details of the matter within a short span of time, able to produce persuasive, concise and clear written arguments to put to the insurers.'

Tom Wood – Brick Court Chambers ‘Tom is an outstanding junior who has appeared in a number of heavy commercial cases. His drafting is always first-class, and he is very good with clients.'

Louis Zvesper – Gatehouse Chambers 'Louis is a very bright individual who relishes the challenge of intellectual problems. He is also an effective communicator who can convey complex ideas in a way that is easily understood by clients.'

Rising Stars

James Bailey – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘James is very responsive and provided effective and meaningful support to leading counsel.’

Toby Chandler - Quadrant Chambers

Hamish Fraser – Crown Office Chambers ‘Hamish is exceptional for his level. The quality of his advice, written work, and advocacy is well beyond his years. He is a pleasure to work with and not afraid to offer his views even when he is being led by Leading Counsel. He doesn’t have any weaknesses.’

Julia Gibbon – 7 King’s Bench Walk ‘Julia demonstrates impressive legal insight and professionalism in every aspect of her work. Her thorough understanding of insurance law, combined with clear communication and a pragmatic approach, adds real value to every case. Sharp, responsive, and diligent, Julia is my go-to junior counsel for insurance-related instructions.'

Kate Legh – 2 Temple Gardens ‘Kate is approachable and offers thorough and clear advice. She is a fantastic advocate with extensive knowledge of the Package Travel Regulations.'

James Partridge – 2 Temple Gardens ‘James is exceptional on the detail. He has excellent recollection for difficult points, and he has a way of breaking them down that assists everyone on the team. He is determined to find the best answer for the client.'

Insurance and reinsurance in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

7 King's Bench Walk

Known as the ‘go-to’ for insurance cases, 7 King’s Bench Walk brings ‘unparalleled bench-strength for insurance and reinsurance expertise’. The set's members often act on a wide array of cases spanning the insurance and reinsurance field. For the past few years, the set has been involved in some of the leading COVID-19 business interruptions and Russian aviation cases. The Russian aircaft litigation had 29 members of chambers involved, with among others taking leading roles Gavin Kealey KC acting for AIG. In another matter, Peter MacDonald Eggers KC is appeared in Hamilton Corporate Member Ltd v Afghan Global Insurance Ltd, which concerns a claim under the War Risks Policy for deprivation of use of property, namely a warehouse used to distribute food for the US military in Afghanistan. David Edwards KC handles Bermuda Form cases, and Timothy Kenefick is a name to note for his work on the Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance case, a case that involves fraud allegations, various coverage issues, and non-disclosure and misrepresentation. Jason Robinson KC took silk in March 2025

Les références

‘Under Greg Leyden’s visionary leadership, the clerks’ room is very strong. Trusted with solicitors and clients, it is a client-focused, commercially savvy clerks’ room, where the objective is to deliver the service clients want. ‘

‘Top of their field for insurance and reinsurance work, housing some real stars.’

‘7KBW remains a leading insurance specialist with very good strength in depth’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 2 sets

2 Temple Gardens

Known in the industry as ‘the leading set for property damage claims’, 2 Temple Gardens ‘is an excellent set with strong juniors and powerful silks’. Members here work in a range of sectors, from construction and aviation to life and health insurance. Charles Dougherty KC appeared in the Court of Appeal in the Various Eateries v Allianz case, concerning claims for business interruption due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Bob Moxon Browne KC is involved in a case concerning if vandalism by Palestine Action – prior to the group’s proscription in 2025 – was caught by a terrorism exclusion in an insurance policy. Timothy Killen left the set in October 2025. Neil Moody KC, as was, was announced as a High Court judge in December 2025.

Les références

‘Lee Tyler and Billy Hammond stand out as exceptional clerks – simply in a different category when compared to their peers. They are not only highly skilled but also genuinely supportive and always accessible.’

‘Lee Tyler leads a great team of Clerks, all of whom work really well together to provide a great service. I have been particularly impressed with Leanne Taylor.’

‘2TG has an incredibly deep bench from silks, to exceptional senior juniors, to juniors of less than four years’ call.’

Principaux dossiers

4 New Square Chambers

With ‘strength in commercial, professional negligence and insurance claims’, members of 4 New Square Chambers continue to be instructed on significant insurance and reinsurance cases, some of which involve professional indemnity, D&O, commercial litigation, and property damage. Noted for his niche on property and professional indemnity risks, David Turner KC leads on several cases, one being the Opia Limited v CFC Underwriting Limited & others case involving a claim under a contingency over-redemption policy. Jonathan Hough KC appeared in the World Challenge Expeditions Ltd v Zurich Insurance Co Ltd case, in which a claim for £11m was made regarding the cancellation of numerous school trips due to COVID-19. Acting on multiple fire-related claims is Ben Smiley advises on a claim that was made due to an individual’s property insurer refusing to pay out following a fire on the property.

Les références

‘4 New Square remains a benchmark set for insurance disputes. Their roster is extensive, and impressive in their experience, which they are keen to share freely, whether by way of online publications or via online training.’

‘The set is excellent overall, particularly in professional indemnity, construction and property damage, including coverage.’

‘Excellent strength in commercial, professional negligence and insurance claims. It is the go-to set for the majority of our work, and we always feel well supported and in good hands.’

Principaux dossiers

Crown Office Chambers

Crown Office Chambers is a ‘good all-around set’, particular strength in handling work for clients in the construction and energy sectors. The team’s workload includes business interruption, property damage, employers’ liability, and public liability cases. Andrew Rigney KC is leading a team of 3 counsel for the insurers in the Sky & Mace v Riverstone and other Insurers case, a case arising from damage done to the roof of Sky’s global headquarters, leading to a coverage dispute claim under a construction all risks policy. Elsewhere in chambers, James Medd is representing AXA Insurance Limited in a case involving a fire at a warehouse; it is alleged that the fire started due to the improper disposal of cloths that were soaked with linseed oil, which eventually self-heated, leading to the fire. Michael Curtis KC has retired.

Les références

‘The clerks are strong, particularly Steve Purse, who really looks after solicitors and makes sure to deliver the right barrister for them and their client, and the new senior clerk, James Wilkinson.’

‘Steve Purse is one of the leading clerks of his generation. Andy Flanagan is one of the best clerks operating at the bar today – incredibly helpful, commercial, likeable, knowledgeable, and simply an all-round star who knows his team and his instructing solicitors inside-out.’

‘Clearly top tier for any sort of insurance work.’

Principaux dossiers

Fountain Court Chambers

Fountain Court Chambers has a strong reputation for its insurance work, with members representing both insurers and insureds on coverage disputes and in underlying third-party liability claims. The set is often involved in various types of insurance claims, including warranty and indemnity insurance and directors’ and officers’ liability claims. Bankim Thanki KC is recognised for his strong work in the aviation, commercial, and banking sectors, and is acting for Zurich Insurance on the Greensill Capital and Greensill Bank v Zurich Insurance case. Elsewhere in chambers, David Railton KC is continuously acting on high-profile, complex insurance claims, particularly, he acts for war risk insurers in the Russian Aircraft litigation. Niamh Cleary is another name to note for her work in complex insurance and reinsurance claims evolving from the war in Russia and Ukraine.

Les références

‘Excellent, very business development and client relationship oriented. We have relationships at all levels, with specific mentions to Alex Taylor and Alfie Harper.’

‘Fountain Court are outstanding for insurance-related disputes work. Right at the top of the tree.’

‘An excellent set of chambers with strength-in-depth’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 3 sets

3 Verulam Buildings

3 Verulam Buildings continues to act on big-ticket insurance litigaiton such as the Russian aviation insurance claims and Covid-19 lockdown business interruption claims. Tom Weitzman KC and Kate Holderness are acting on behalf of the Operator Policy claimants represented by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in that tranche of the multi-faceted litigation concerning aircraft effectively seized by Russia after it invaded Ukraine. Adam Kramer KC has handled a number of Covid-19 lockdown business interruption claims, including Liberty Retail v Liberty Mutual, concerning prevention of access, limitation clauses and issues of if payments under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme were deductible from insurance indemnities. James Sharpe joined the team and William Edwards KC took silk in March 2025, and Timothy Killen joined the group in October 2025.

Les références

‘Traditional solid clerking.’

‘3VB has some fantastic people, and they have been a go-to set in the past few years.’

‘A superb set with excellent counsel.’

Principaux dossiers

4 Pump Court

Members of 4 Pump Court cover work across a range of claims in the insurance market, and often act for (re)insurers, insurance brokers, and insured parties. In a Russian aviation litigation case, Andrew Neish KC represents several war risk reinsurers in claims against the Russian insurers’ reinsurers of Russian airlines. Aidan Christie KC is active in lockdown business interruption claims, while James Purchas. is notable for his advice on coverage, cover-holder disputes, and aggregation difficulties, particularly for insurers and reinsurers, is

Les références

‘Highly responsive clerking team. Carl Wall is excellent.’

‘Very good support from the clerks.’

‘Excellent clerking, commercial and down to earth. Excellent set of barristers’

Principaux dossiers

Brick Court Chambers

Brick Court Chambers is noted as being a ‘stellar set, with great strength both at the silk level and among juniors’. Members of this set regularly act on high-profile cases, including the Nord Stream AG v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA case, where Simon Salzedo KC and Michael Bolding advised several insurers on a claim under an offshore operating all risks insurance policy after the Nord Stream pipeline was damaged - allegedly by state actors. Elsewhere in the set, Mark Howard KC is appeared in the mammoth AerCap v AIG trial, in which AerCap has sued its All Risks and War Risks insurers for insurance coverage, following the imposed sanctions in the EU prohibiting the leasing of aircraft and parts to Russian airlines. Whereas Tony Singla KC is seen acting for primary layer insurers in a claim under a construction all risks policy in a dispute arising from the abandonment of a mobile offshore production unit in the Norwegian North Sea.

Les références

‘Clerks are first-rate – Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison run a tight ship and are focused on top-quality client service.’

‘The clerks team is excellent and really looks to build relationships with the solicitor team at all levels. They are very responsive and easy to work with.’

‘Brick Court is a stellar set, with great strength both at the silk level and among juniors.’

Principaux dossiers

Essex Court Chambers

Essex Court Chambers regularly acts on the full range of insurance and reinsurance disputes, some being complex cross-border disputes, and some involving high-profile clients. John Lockey KC is a known name in Russian aircraft claims, David Scorey KC, on the other hand, appears in business interruption claims for losses brought on by Covid-19 lockdowns. In all of the several test scenarios that are being handled, Scorey KC represents Liberty Mutual Insurance in Gatwick Investments, Hollywood Bowl and Liberty Retail v Liberty Mutual Insurance. Helen Morton can be seen in other areas of the chambers in the Greensill Bank AG v Zurich Insurance Company Limited case, in which the bank’s administrators are suing Zurich, their insurer, for losses allegedly covered by trade credit insurance contracts. David Walsh KC took silk in 2025.

Les références

‘The clerks provide a wonderful service. From initial contact through to engaging a barrister, they have all of the administrative and practical matters covered.’

‘A first-class magic circle set’

Principaux dossiers

Quadrant Chambers

With a balance between marine and non-marine insurance claims work, Quadrant Chambers has a robust insurance and reinsurance practice. Members of the set have been involved in several high-profile insurance claims, including the Russian aviation litigation. Guy Blackwood KC is a major name on Aercap (and others) v. AIG (and others), a claim resulting from the restriction of return flights from the Russian Federation for hundreds of leased aircraft. Elsewhere in chambers, Benjamin Coffer represents the reinsurers of a shipment of fuel that Yemeni officials rejected due to suspected water contamination. Luke Parsons KC is representing the reinsurers in a high-profile litigation that stems from a 2002 oil disaster off the coast of Spain.

Les références

‘A set with a wide variety of talent which is accessible and practical.’

‘Quadrant’s strength in depth is very good. They have some of the best KCs in the Shipping field, and they also have some excellent juniors.’

‘Very strong set for commodities work generally, and arbitration specifically.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 4 sets

Gatehouse Chambers

Members of Gatehouse Chambers have extensive expertise working on behalf of reinsurers, insurers, and assureds regarding policy coverage. They frequently act on all kinds of insurance policies, including bespoke wording and standard forms, and they cover all kinds of liability insurance. Paul Reed KC acts on Sky Broadcasting Ltd, Mace Ltd v Insurers, where Sky UK sought compensation for all damages, including those that occurred after the insurance period, due to a leaky roof at its headquarters. Simon Kerry and David Pliener KC represented Butlins in a clame after extremely high rainfall caused flooding, necessitating the closure of its Minehead site - at issue was if the claim was encapsulated by a storm sublimit.

Les références

‘Generally good service from the clerks, especially when compared to some of their competitors.’

‘Gatehouse Chambers is a true market leader in construction-related insurance disputes, particularly in relation to Construction All Risks insurance, where their publication is the leading academic text not just in the UK, but globally.’

‘Good, reliable set.’

Principaux dossiers

Twenty Essex

A broad range of commercial insurance and reinsurance disputes, both in arbitration and in court, have been handled by the membership of Twenty Essex. Members in this set act for policyholders, insurers and reinsurers on a number of high-value, complex cases. Michael Ashcroft KC is representing insurers in claims involving fines imposed against the assured by US Customs authorities for violating the Jones Act, which requires US-built, US-crewed, US-owned and US-flagged vessels to be used for journeys between US ports. Elsewhere in chambers, Michal Hain is representing Mediterranean Shipping Company regarding claims pertaining to the correct interpretation of the 1976 Limitation Convention, which restricts shipowners’ liability for specific claims.

Les références

‘The service from the clerks’ room has been exemplary. The clerks are highly professional and possess an in-depth understanding of the barristers’ capabilities. They always anticipate our needs, ensuring that all administrative aspects of our instructions are handled efficiently, from scheduling conferences to coordinating document exchanges.’

‘Excellent set in terms of strength and depth.’

‘The chambers, as a whole, have proven to be a stalwart in the insurance law area. Their strength-in-depth is evident in the diverse expertise of their barristers.’

Classements par PratiqueLondon Bar