Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Leading Silks

Felicity Cullen KCDevereux ‘Reliably though in her approach and a real team player. She will always go above and beyond to point out things that may not have been in her instructions, but ought to have been.’
Jonathan Davey KCWilberforce Chambers ‘Jonathan's advocacy is the best in the business.’
David Ewart KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Very effective calm advocacy. Strategically excellent. Technically very sound and always a few steps ahead.’
Amanda Hardy KC5 Stone Buildings ‘Amanda has absolutely excellent technical skills and encyclopaedic knowledge of the relevant case law.’
James Kessler KCOld Square Tax Chambers 'A forensic approach leaving no stone unturned. You feel you're in very safe hands with James, and that he will have reviewed absolutely everything and thought about it.’
William Massey KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Superb attention to detail and very client-friendly. Excellent in keeping the clients informed at the hearing about what might happen. Very clear in his advice and superb in advocacy.’
Kevin Prosser KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Clear advice and thorough analysis.’
Rupert Baldry KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘He communicates well and is ready to give an honest opinion. He is wonderful to work with.’
Julian Ghosh KCOne Essex Court ‘He is able to handle the most complex and sophisticated matters. He is excellent in front of clients.’
David Goldberg KCGray’s Inn Tax Chambers ‘David combines a searing technical brilliance with humanity and an ability to win the confidence of a client and a court. He is a unique practitioner and is clearly the leader of his field at the private client tax Bar.’
Brian Green KCWilberforce Chambers 'Superb academic ability combined with an ability to resolve problems through a commercial lens. This combined with his engaging manner and genuine interest in clients as individuals is a rare thing.’
Rory Mullan KCOld Square Tax Chambers ‘Rory gives balanced, well-thought through, insightful advice. He puts the client first and his advice has a strong commercial dimension.’
Patrick Way KCField Court Tax Chambers ‘His advocacy is pretty unique. Few have his experience and wisdom.’
Jonathan Bremner KCOne Essex Court ‘He's a good listener, is collaborative, is client-friendly, and he works very hard. ’
Aparna Nathan KCDevereux ‘Aparna is an effective communicator who can explain complex issues to clients and provide pragmatic advice and solutions.’
Richard Vallat KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Extremely clever and technically excellent.’
David Yates KC – Pump Court Tax Chambers ‘David is absolutely excellent. He delivers technical advice at the highest possible level with a down to earth user-friendly approach.’

2023 Silks

Michael Thomas KCPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Michael is very strong on land based taxes and understands the agricultural community well.’

Leading Juniors

Emma ChamberlainPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Technically brilliant, commercial, and really the only person anybody with complex offshore trust affairs should go to when the stakes are high. Her experience in domicile is second to none.’
Marika LemosDevereux ‘Marika is a real expert in non-domicile matters and personal taxation. She is able to come up with technical and persuasive arguments and spot points many others miss.’
Imran AfzalField Court Tax Chambers ‘He is ruthlessly thorough in his preparation and misses nothing. He is also very creative and often sees novel ways to structure arguments.'
Barrie AkinDevereux ‘Barrie is very forensic and reads his brief carefully before advising. His advice is always clear and well presented. He’s incredibly bright and great with clients.’
Harriet BrownOld Square Tax Chambers 'Harriet combines very strong technical abilities with astute commercial and practical understanding. She is very approachable and easy to communicate with.'
Ben Elliott Pump Court Tax Chambers ‘Very strong advocate, thinks fast and is always on top of the detail, both the evidence and the technical legal points.’
Ruth Hughes 5 Stone Buildings ‘Ruth is an extremely hard worker. Always prepared to go the extra mile for the client. A tenacious litigator.’
Oliver Marre5 Stone Buildings ‘Oliver is fantastic to work with in every respect. He is very responsive, works well as part of a wider legal team, is forensic in his approach and very thorough and balanced in his thought process.’
Susannah MeadwayTen Old Square ‘Susannah’s advice is unfailing timely, clear, sensible, proportionate and pragmatic. One could not ask for anyone better.’
Nikhil MehtaGray’s Inn Tax Chambers ‘His strengths include: approachability, in depth knowledge of his subject, and speedy turnround.’
Rebecca MurrayDevereux 'She has the ability to focus on the salient points and to weed out the extraneous issues instinctively.'
Jonathan SchwarzTemple Tax Chambers ‘He is the real deal on cross-border tax matters. He is far beyond anyone else - no-one else gets close. He is so meticulous.’
Stephen ArthurTemple Tax Chambers 'Incredibly proactive and great at finding practical solutions - will even frequently think of other valid points and communicate them even after the instructions are over.'
Barbara Belgrano – Pump Court Tax Chambers ‘Barbara is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is highly diligent, responsive and practical. Her legal knowledge and reasoning abilities are exceptional. Clear, powerful advocacy.’
Ross Birkbeck  – Old Square Tax Chambers ‘Very articulate, commercial, down-to-earth.’
Calypso Blaj - Pump Court Tax Chambers - 'Fantastic in getting to grips with a matter, very knowledgeable on the law, empathetic, and very powerful and tenacious.'
Sam Brodsky – Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers ‘Sam is very insightful and approachable. He is very willing to engage on complex tax topics with the wider team.’
Oliver ConollyPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Very calm and friendly. Technically superb.’
Marcus Flavin  - Radcliffe Chambers 'Marcus provides detailed and commercial advice, going above and beyond in his instructions and making time for developments where needed.'
Laura InglisGray’s Inn Tax Chambers ‘Excellent understanding of tax. Extremely thorough and responsive.’
Nicholas Macklam  - Gray's Inn Tax ChambersNick is exceptionally talented. Extreme clarity of expression, both in writing and orally. Can unravel the most complex legal problems. Excellent client manner. Someone you always want on your side.
Laura PootsPump Court Tax Chambers ‘Laura Poots has extensive tax experience backed by vast knowledge and analytical powers in addressing tax issues.’
Stephen WoodwardThree StoneHe has the ability to explain complex ideas to clients, and to offer pragmatic and workable solutions.’

Rising Stars

Emile Simpson4 New Square ChambersExcellent grasp of this subject area. Aware of commercial sensitivities. Able to think laterally.’
Harry Winter – Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers ‘A strong advocate with an instinctive sense of what will play well with a judge. A real future star of the tax Bar.’

Tax: personal in London Bar

Pump Court Tax Chambers


‘Go-to set for tax’ Pump Court Tax Chambers holds ‘some of the finest minds in the business’, with expertise in the full scope of advisory and contentious private client matters, including offshore work. William Massey KC is a key name for inheritance tax, with a practice which covers issues relating to trusts, land, and landed estates. James Rivett KC has strength in offshore taxation, and has represented prominent individuals in contentious tax matters. Kevin Prosser KC has significant litigation experience, including recently appearing in the Upper Tribunal on behalf of hedge fund HFFX concerning the taxation of individual member’s profits. Elizabeth Wilson KC maintains a practice in property relief and estate planning, with a growing offering in trusts. Emma Chamberlain is highly regarded in trust and tax work, with a client base of both UK and foreign domiciliaries.

Les références

‘We have been working with John Poyser, who we have found to be excellent and incredibly helpful. He makes himself available, deals with matters quickly and makes good recommendations of available barristers.’

‘Bruno Antoniotti is particularly efficient.’

‘Pump Court Tax Chambers are the go-to set for tax.’

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Devereux


Devereux‘s private client offering covers estate planning, residence and domicile issues, and trust and tax matters relating to charitable donations, in addition to a range of other contentious and advisory instructions. Felicity Cullen KC advises high net worth individuals and their families in the full range of tax and trust issues, with experience acting for owner-managed businesses. Residence and domicile issues are Akash Nawbatt KC‘s area of particular specialism. Nawbatt KC represented HMRC in Gaines-Cooper v HMRC, a long-running domicile and residence appeal which has been heard before the Supreme Court. Marika Lemos advises in personal tax matters in the UK and internationally, and appears for both HMRC and prominent taxpayer clients in litigation.

Les références

‘Chris Downes and his team are always helpful and available. They like to solve problems and will always find a way forward if they can do so.’

‘Glenn Billenness has always been responsive and friendly.’

‘Good variety of practice areas, and sufficient depth in the tax arena to ensure the set is a heavy hitter.’

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GRAY'S INN TAX CHAMBERS


Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers, a ‘very established and strong set’, caters to a prestige client base of high and ultra-high net worth individuals based within the UK and internationally. David Goldberg KC‘s expertise covers residency issues and the taxation of offshore structures. Senior junior Nikhil Mehta is dual-qualified in the UK and India, with prior experience working as a solicitor - he recently acted for the taxpayer in Shah v HMRC, an inheritance tax dispute concerning the applicability of UK-India Estate Taxes Treaty, due to questions regarding the place of domicile of the deceased. Laura Kathryn Inglis regularly appears unled in disputes, and covers capital gains tax, among other issues.

Les références

‘Ben Stern is brilliant.’

‘Ben Stern runs a very tight ship and has never let me down. He is a modern head clerk and a leading light.’

‘The clerks are excellent. Ben Stern and Jamie Hall are invariably efficient and easy to deal with.’





Old Square Tax Chambers


Old Square Tax Chambers‘ private client group covers both advisory and contentious mandates, with notable strength in international matters. Head of chambers James Kessler KC is a leading name on offshore tax matters, and has expertise in trusts and wills. Rory Mullan KC specialises in domicile and residence issues, as well as offshore structures, an area of focus shared by Robert Venables KC. Harriet Brown provides support in contentious and non-contentious private client matters, with a client base of UK and international individuals and families.

Les références

‘Cliff Holland and his team are the best in the business. Clients and instructing accountants/lawyers are always very well looked after and the quality of service is 100%.’

‘The clerks were very responsive and easy to deal with.’

‘They have some really strong KCs.’

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Wilberforce Chambers


Wilberforce Chambers‘ group of ‘high-quality barristers’ has expertise in the taxation of estates and trusts, including issues relating to offshore structures. Jonathan Davey KC is regularly active on behalf of HMRC in high-stakes disputes, including Levack and others v Bay Trust International Ltd and others, a test case concerning potential tax avoidance schemes. Brian Green KC‘s advises a range of high net worth individuals in estate planning, domicile issues, and matters relating to offshore structures, in addition to other issues.

Les références

‘High quality barristers, efficiently run set and very friendly clerks.’

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11 New Square


11 New Square fields a well-regarded group of barristers, recognised for their strength in a broad range of tax issues. Hui Ling McCarthy KC is highly active as an advocate, regularly representing high net worth clients in disputes relating to trusts, employment, and other issues, as well as appearing in significant test cases. John Brinsmead-Stockham KC has expertise in inheritance tax.

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Field Court Tax Chambers


Field Court Tax Chambers, described as an ‘excellent set’, is noted for its strength in international matters. Patrick Way KC has both advisory and advocacy practices, and covers a range of matters including matrimonial and domicile issues. Philip Baker KC is an expert in international taxation. Imran S Afzal, who co-founded the set in 2014, acts in both domestic and international matters, and was led by Baker KC in Fisher v HMRC on behalf of the Fisher family, in a case concerning the transfer of assets abroad which was heard by the Supreme Court. Patrick Soares specialises in the taxation of property transactions, with supplementary expertise in trusts and offshore tax.

Les références

‘Just generally an excellent set.’

‘A wide range of Counsel dealing with all aspects of tax, and well-known and respected KCs.’

‘Efficient and very polite.’

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