Department profile
11KBW

Employment

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


11KBW

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

11KBW is a pre-eminent employment set boasting considerable depth at the silk and junior levels. The barristers earn widespread praise from instructing solicitors with one highlighting their "formidable intellect and abilities in employment law." The set remains a popular choice for high-profile individuals and organisations in numerous sectors, from financial services to the gig economy. Members' expertise covers the full spectrum of employment law issues; they are leaders in the fields of equal pay, worker status and team moves. The barristers can boast involvement in noteworthy recent cases in the highest courts such as Miller v University of Bristol, a high-profile case in which a successful claim for unfair dismissal and direct discrimination on grounds of philosophical belief saw the Tribunal assess that anti-Zionist beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010. With its broad range of experience, 11KBW is praised for its "technical excellence, strength in depth, and exceptional client service."

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Lee Cutler is always responsive and helpful.

    Employment respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks at 11KBW are proactive and good at getting out in front. Mark Dann at 11KBW as a clerk is amazing.

    Employment respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks at 11KBW are willing to go the extra mile to set up work for clients.

    Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Mark Dann is faultless. He is incredibly responsive and solution-driven.

    Employment respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are extremely strong from top to tail. They are always very friendly, good fun, and they're solution-focused.

    Employment respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsSean Jones
    Star IndividualsSean Jones

    Sean Jones

    Sean Jones KC is renowned among peers and clients alike for his robust style of advocacy and extensive employment law knowledge, particularly in relation to discrimination. He is regularly instructed in highly complex employment cases, handling everything from unfair dismissal cases to holiday pay and equal pay matters, as well as cases examining workers' rights to the national minimum wage.

    • Sean Jones is someone of formidable intellect and huge emotional wisdom and, as such, is trusted by everyone - courts, opponents and clients alike.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Sean Jones is outstanding. He is extremely bright, but also very practical at the same time, and speaks to clients in a simple and direct way which they understand.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • He combines deep knowledge of all areas of employment law, is eloquent and has focused written submissions and crisp oral advocacy that cuts to the quick of the other side's arguments.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • His phenomenal gift is making complex concepts understandable. He is such a master of advocacy.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Andrew Edge
    Band 1Andrew Edge

    Andrew Edge

    Andrew Edge is repeatedly singled out by sources for his exceptional client-handling skills and his approachability. Specialising in both employment and commercial law, he is recognised for his aptitude in handling complex injunctive relief issues and his expertise in more traditional employment law matters, such as discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

    • Andrew Edge is a superb barrister with exceptional drafting skills.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew Edge was very good, robust and clear; he was very good all round and easy to work with.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew is an excellent advocate, professional, and on the ball.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Andrew Smith
    Band 1Andrew Smith

    Andrew Smith

    Andrew Smith represents clients in complex Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and High Court cases. He has notable expertise in bonus disputes and other contractual issues, mainly acting for clients in the financial services sector.

    • Andrew is a preferred junior on simple and complex cases alike.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew is an absolutely excellent senior junior. He is my go-to.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Daniel Stilitz KC
    Band 1Daniel Stilitz KC

    Daniel Stilitz KC

    Daniel Stilitz KC has extensive experience acting both for and against financial and professional services employers across the spectrum of employment law. He often handles difficult discrimination, whistle-blowing and constructive dismissal claims, and has notable experience advising clients in the sports sector. He is also often sought out as a mediator for employment disputes.

    • Daniel Stilitz has great experience in appellate advocacy, including in the Supreme Court, and judges are always attentive to his winning, authoritative and persuasive oral advocacy.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Daniel is extremely clear-thinking and able to cut through a lot of noise to input on the strategy.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Daniel is technically outstanding and gives confidence to the client.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Dan is second to none. He is very good with lay clients as well as instructing solicitors. He is responsive and excellent on strategy.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Daniel Stilitz is measured and effective. He is very unflappable, chooses his words carefully, and is very effective. He is very effective in cross-examination and very persuasive.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jane McCafferty
    Band 1Jane McCafferty

    Jane McCafferty

    Jane McCafferty KC has established a reputation for handling complex employment issues including multi-jurisdictional team moves, restrictive covenant enforcement and multiparty litigation. She regularly supports high-profile financial services clients through sophisticated injunctive relief applications. She also has experience advising on more traditional employment law matters, such as sex and race discrimination.

    • Jane McCafferty is very good with difficult clients and at being direct. She is a great advocate.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Jane McCafferty is really at the top of her field. She can compare to a surgeon; people are in awe of her, she is super hard-working, and for big cases she is a go-to.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Jane McCafferty is super-smart and really good to work with.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Patrick Halliday
    Band 1Patrick Halliday

    Patrick Halliday

    Patrick Halliday handles complex discrimination, whistle-blowing and mass litigation cases for a range of clients across the public and private sectors. He is experienced in both High Court and Employment Tribunal cases.

    • Patrick Halliday is always willing, keen to get stuck in, hands-on, and good on his feet.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick Halliday is an all-round exceptional barrister with extremely acute advocacy skills.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick Halliday is always impressive and completely in control of his cases. Patrick is also excellent with lay clients.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick is very easy to work with, responsive, and an excellent advocate in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Richard Leiper
    Band 1Richard Leiper

    Richard Leiper

    Richard Leiper KC is an impressive advocate with a broad employment practice. He acts for both claimants and defendants and has particular expertise in difficult restrictive covenant issues and high-profile discrimination and dismissal claims.

    • Richard Leiper is excellent and a great advocate who knows exactly what the judges want to hear.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Richard Leiper's written and oral advocacy is fluent, persuasive and charming. He manages to express with great clarity the most impenetrable legal problems.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • He is very clever, easy to work with, and super-responsive. He is brilliant.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Richard Leiper is just insanely charming, intelligent and brilliant at what he does, and his advocacy skills are second to none.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Simon Devonshire
    Band 1Simon Devonshire

    Simon Devonshire

    Simon Devonshire KC handles commercially sensitive employment law issues and has established himself as a notable advocate for restrictive covenant and confidentiality issues. He also has experience acting before the High Court. His practice is strengthened by his knowledge of whistle-blowing, discrimination, equal pay and TUPE disputes.

    • Simon Devonshire is very good, very talented and capable.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Simon Devonshire is supremely bright and the person to go to for highly technical work.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Simon is very good at teasing the facts out and great at cross-examining. He's a very experienced adviser and gives practical, commercial advice which is important.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Hannah Slarks
    Band 2Hannah Slarks

    Hannah Slarks

    Hannah Slarks is particularly skilled in handling cases in the financial sector, including those concerning senior managerial staff. She is an expert in cases involving discrimination, whistle-blowing and harassment.

    • Hannah is a highly talented junior. Her star shines brightly.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Hannah Slarks is very user-friendly and has a good client rapport.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Hannah Slarks is a very good technical lawyer, but she also has a really good instinct for the best judgement and likely outcome.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Michael Lee
    Band 2Michael Lee

    Michael Lee

    Michael Lee has an impressive employment law practice and is noted for his work on injunctive relief and restraint of trade matters. He has also appeared at both tribunal and appellate level in cases concerning discrimination and whistle-blowing. His clients hail from a variety of industry sectors including finance and education. He acts for both claimants and defendants.

    • Michael Lee has a very clear mind and understanding of employment law.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Michael Lee is very smart, committed, and he has excellent judgement. He rolls up his sleeves and gets involved and produces excellent-quality work.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Michael is clear and responsive and draws on his breadth of experience to give persuasive and detailed advice. His natural, relaxed advocacy style finds favour with judges.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Michael Lee is responsive, thoroughly on top of his brief and the relevant law, and a pleasure to work with.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Aileen McColgan
    Band 3Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan

    Aileen McColgan KC focuses on discrimination and equality issues, while maintaining an interest in the wider area of employment law as a practising academic. She has extensive experience handling complex holiday pay and restrictive covenant issues, appearing before the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the High Court for both employers and employees.

    • Aileen has provided excellent, detailed advice about complex legal issues and robust advice on strategy. Aileen's approach has been calm and measured, which has been of huge assistance.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Aileen McColgan is a very articulate and unshowy barrister. She is very effective.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Amy Rogers
    Band 3Amy Rogers

    Amy Rogers

    Amy Rogers KC has a broad employment practice, often acting in High Court commercial employment issues. She is especially recognised for her expertise in team move cases and employee competition litigation. She has also been involved in a number of market-leading discrimination cases.

    • Amy provided all-round fantastic service and hugely contributed to the team.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Amy is really empathetic, really sharp, and completely on top of her brief. She is a razor-sharp leader and a surgical advocate.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Amy already has a reputation for her powerful intellect, and her written arguments are a model of clarity and incisiveness.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Anya Proops
    Band 3Anya Proops

    Anya Proops

    Anya Proops KC is a well-known silk who can boast wide experience across the spectrum of employment law. She is commended for her expertise in whistle-blowing and discrimination claims, as well as in applications for injunctions, and matters crossing over with data and information law.

    • Anya Proops is an absolute joy to work with. She has the ultimate iron fist in a velvet glove, which is perfect for the discerning client.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • She is a class act and has super client skills.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Jamie Susskind
    Band 3Jamie Susskind

    Jamie Susskind

    Jamie Susskind is recognised for his work acting in complex and high-profile litigation in the Employment Tribunal and the High Court. He offers notable expertise in handling whistle-blowing, harassment and TUPE matters, often acting as sole counsel.

    • Jamie Susskind's written work and advocacy skills make him a leading light of the future.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Jamie is a technical master and a go-to junior for difficult cases.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Jamie is incredibly smart and user-friendly.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Julian Milford
    Band 3Julian Milford

    Julian Milford

    Julian Milford KC offers valuable experience across issues including equal pay and industrial action. He typically acts for employers, including major entities in the private and public sectors.

    • Julian Milford combines incredible intellect with pragmatism and exceptional client service.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Julian Milford is really at the top of his game. He is very bright, incisive and clear.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Julian Milford is hugely intelligent, very strategic, calm, and has a very good bedside manner.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Julian Milford is great with advice, client-friendly, and a strong advocate.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Katherine Eddy
    Band 3Katherine Eddy

    Katherine Eddy

    Katherine Eddy is an accomplished employment barrister who is admired for her knowledge of discrimination and whistle-blowing cases, including those arising in the financial services sector. She is also well versed in restrictive covenant cases.

    • Katherine Eddy's attention to detail is fantastic. She has an analytical way of thinking, is resilient, and stays calm under pressure.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Katherine Eddy has clarity in her written style and is very persuasive.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Katherine is technically fantastic, both in terms of her ability to absorb and process huge volumes of factual information and her legal technical expertise.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Marcus Pilgerstorfer
    Band 3Marcus Pilgerstorfer

    Marcus Pilgerstorfer

    Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC handles a wide employment practice but is particularly known for his expertise in all types of discrimination claims. He is instructed by individuals, financial institutions, SMEs and trade unions in connection with a wide variety of issues, including holiday pay, redundancy and strike action.

    • His client-handling skills and approachability, together with his ability to explain very complex law in an intelligible manner without ever appearing patronising, make him very popular with clients.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Marcus Pilgerstorfer is as sharp as a tack, a brilliant cross-examiner, and a pleasure to work with.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Marcus Pilgerstorfer builds rapport quickly and provides reasoned, helpful, and insightful advice in what can be highly pressured situations and concerning complex legal issues.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Rupert Paines
    Band 3Rupert Paines

    Rupert Paines

    Rupert Paines is a well-respected barrister with noteworthy employment experience before the senior courts. His broad market knowledge ranges from discrimination claims to disputes over breach of contract, and he is also able to draw on expertise in data protection for employment cases requiring this specialist knowledge.

    • Rupert Paines is really good, has lots of experience, and is very good in commercial employment cases.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Thomas Ogg
    Band 3Thomas Ogg

    Thomas Ogg

    Thomas Ogg is recognised for his considerable expertise in matters at the intersection of financial services regulation and employment law. He is regularly called upon for his experience in complex whistle-blowing cases.

    • Thomas Ogg is calm and measured. He is an excellent analyst and advocate, and he goes above and beyond in terms of work product.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • He's very forensic in his approach. He is always calm and analytical.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Tom Ogg is really brilliant, really approachable, and willing to get involved. He is very measured; there are no theatrics and he gets all the points.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Harini Iyengar
    Band 4Harini Iyengar

    Harini Iyengar

    Harini Iyengar undertakes a wide range of employment law work for both respondents and claimants and is known for her expertise in discrimination, whistle-blowing and TUPE issues. Her employment practice is bolstered by her extensive knowledge of the law in relation to education, procurement and equality.

    • Harini is really easy to work with and has good attention to detail.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Judy Stone
    Band 4Judy Stone

    Judy Stone

    Judy Stone KC advises both claimants and respondents across a wide range of employment matters, with a particular focus on whistle-blowing and discrimination issues. She is a skilled litigator, handling complex employment cases at both tribunal and appellate levels. She also has experience of cases with an international element.

    • Judy always adds value with her perspective and ideas. She is responsive and her drafting is very clear.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Judy Stone is commercially astute and legally sharp.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Judy Stone is an excellent advocate on her feet as well as being very able in client management.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Ronnie Dennis
    Band 4Ronnie Dennis

    Ronnie Dennis

    Ronnie Dennis is a highly regarded barrister who regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal and High Court. He has notable experience in cases involving equal pay, harassment, discrimination and TUPE.

    • Ronnie is the complete, all-round package; he is incisive, professional, approachable, knowledgeable, personable and inspires confidence every step of the way.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Ronnie Dennis is really responsive, supportive and pragmatic.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Ronnie Dennis is a calm and confident advocate who instils confidence.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Simon Forshaw
    Band 4Simon Forshaw

    Simon Forshaw

    Simon Forshaw KC is admired for his impressive advocacy style, and he has a strong reputation for his restrictive covenant and other High Court litigation work. He has a developing commercial aspect to his employment practice, assisting clients in disputes involving various allegations, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and breach of contract. He has further notable experience acting in major whistle-blowing and unfair dismissal claims.

    • Simon grasps the issues very fast, provides clear and sensible advice, and always adds value when assisting with correspondence or other documents.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Simon Forshaw is extremely bright, good with clients, and good on his feet.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Simon is excellent to work with. He was responsive, thorough and helpful throughout our case.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Zac Sammour
    Band 4Zac Sammour

    Zac Sammour

    Zac Sammour is recognised for his experience in high-profile cases, particularly those involving executives in financial services and other high-paying industries. He is proficient in whistle-blowing and team move cases, and a range of other complex issues.

    • Zac is an exceptional barrister whose written work is very tightly drafted. He is an excellent, confident advocate.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Zac Sammour is an impressive advocate who is able to demonstrate an impressive range of cross-examination approaches to fit any situation.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Nigel Porter
    Band 5Nigel Porter

    Nigel Porter

    Nigel Porter frequently represents clients in claims for discrimination, harassment, unfair dismissal and whistle-blowing, accepting instructions from both individuals and employers.

    • In addition to his great expertise, Nigel brings considerable empathy to the cases he works on.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Ruth Kennedy
    Band 5Ruth Kennedy

    Ruth Kennedy

    Ruth Kennedy is an experienced advocate with particular expertise in discrimination, whistle-blowing and unfair dismissal cases. She is frequently instructed by governments, NHS trusts, universities, charities and clients in the financial services sector.

    • Ruth is just incredibly user-friendly and very good with clients.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Ruth Kennedy is bright and excellent with clients.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Ruth Kennedy is an excellent barrister. She is intellectually robust, provides a great analysis, and her written advocacy is excellent.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Katherine Taunton
    Band 6Katherine Taunton

    Katherine Taunton

    Katherine Taunton is a well-regarded junior sought out for her experience in the Employment Tribunals and the High Court. She is instructed to handle a range of employment matters, including everything from discrimination and whistle-blowing matters to commercial work such as breach of contract claims.

    • Katherine Taunton is always very well prepared and ready to advise in relation to strategy and approach. She is great with clients and witnesses alike.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Katherine Taunton has judgement decades beyond her year of call - her star is burning bright and rising.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Leo Davidson
    Band 6Leo Davidson

    Leo Davidson

    Leo Davidson's employment practice covers a range of disputes from unfair and wrongful dismissals to trade union disputes. Such work sees him regularly appear in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal.

    • Leo Davidson's drafting is excellent. He is really intelligent and astute, gets to the nub of issues quickly, and wades through nonsense.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Leo Davidson has great legal knowledge, his writing skills are good, and he makes himself available.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Michael White
    Band 6Michael White

    Michael White

    Michael White is a talented junior barrister who boasts impressive experience acting for claimants and respondents in the Employment Tribunal through to the High Court. His cases span a broad range of matters, from discrimination and whistle-blowing to restrictive covenants.

    • Michael's help was invaluable. He was phenomenal, focused, intelligent and thorough.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Michael White is phenomenally hard-working and very bright, with impressive practical judgement and strategic prowess.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Michael is super-bright yet practical. His written work is outstanding.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingLucy Jones
    Up and ComingLucy Jones

    Lucy Jones

    Lucy Jones's expertise covers commercial and statutory employment law, as well as professional discipline matters, appearing before the High Court and Employment Tribunal.

    • Lucy Jones is extremely bright and helpful. She works incredibly hard.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Lucy provided very capable assistance on a complex and difficult matter.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Lucy Jones works extremely hard. She puts tremendous energy into cases, which is much appreciated.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingRaphael Hogarth
    Up and ComingRaphael Hogarth

    Raphael Hogarth

    Raphael Hogarth has notable expertise in employment law, where he often acts for employers in various sectors, like financial services, technology and retail. He often appears before the tribunals and the senior courts.

    • Raphael Hogarth does superb written work and is highly skilled.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Raphael Hogarth is extremely clever, with an elegant and precise writing style.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Raphael Hogarth as a junior is very bright and clever.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksSophie Belgrove
    New SilksSophie Belgrove

    Sophie Belgrove

    Sophie Belgrove is regularly instructed in high-profile discrimination and whistle-blowing matters. She is accustomed to handling technically complex cases and is regularly instructed by clients in the financial services and media sectors.

    • Sophie Belgrove is client-friendly and has the ability to absorb a lot of detail.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Sophie Belgrove is calm under pressure. She's very clear in her thought process, good at bringing the judge along with her line of thinking, and has particularly good skill in arguments.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksTom Cross
    New SilksTom Cross

    Tom Cross

    Tom Cross is a skilled employment barrister who has a broad range of expertise across an array of complementary practice areas. He is particularly notable for his work in discrimination and whistle-blowing matters, and has significant recent experience acting in major 'gig economy' cases.

    • Tom is always across all the issues and presents very effectively.

      Employment respondentUK Bar
    • Tom Cross is very good. He is good on anything with human rights elements.

      Employment respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 11KBW (33)

London (Bar)

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