Department profile
9 Park Place

Family/Matrimonial

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Wales & Chester (Bar)

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9 Park Place

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - Wales & Chester (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

9 Park Place is a well-established and highly regarded set that offers expertise across the spectrum of family law. Members act on financial remedy proceedings that involve share dissipation, property portfolios, corporate structures and agricultural assets. Barristers are frequently instructed on public and private children matters of the utmost severity, including sexual abuse, incest, placements and care proceedings. A source reports that the set has "a very impressive set of counsel." Another interviewee adds: "This set has a well-earned reputation for its ability to handle highly complex and demanding matters with confidence and precision. The barristers bring strong analytical skills, strategic insight and exceptional advocacy to each case, ensuring that even the most challenging matters are approached with clarity and rigour."

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Strengths

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  • The clerking team is approachable and communication is rock-solid.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

  • James Watson, lead family clerk, and Lee Fifield, family clerk, are amazing.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

  • 9 Park Place has an excellent clerking team. The clerks are very responsive.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are very responsive and accommodating.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Christopher Felstead
    Christopher Felstead

    Christopher Felstead

    Christopher Felstead is a standout junior who specialises in family finance with a significant focus on complex ancillary relief. He is well versed in dealing with high-value settlements, tax considerations, family businesses and farming cases.

    • Chris is an exceptional barrister. He always has an eye on proportionality and seeking to achieve an agreed outcome.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • He is a go-to counsel for complex financial remedy proceedings due to his experience and excellent advocacy skills.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • A brilliant barrister - razor-sharp in all that he does.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Chris is always pragmatic and doesn't waste time on insignificant matters.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • David Gareth Evans
    David Gareth Evans

    David Gareth Evans

    David Gareth Evans is an experienced barrister undertaking a broad spectrum of family law cases, including private and public law children matters. He regularly deals with the most serious of allegations, including sexual abuse.

    • His advocacy is consistently well structured, persuasive and strategically astute, with a clear ability to adapt arguments in real time to changing dynamics during hearings.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Gareth is always willing to guide during a case as well as strategise, is reassuring for clients, organised and a sensible advocate who does not inflate or inflame.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Gareth is an exceptional barrister - well prepared with an eye for detail.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • He provides warm, safe and second-to-none representation. He is just as brilliant in the conference room as he is in his advocacy.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • James Lewis
    James Lewis

    James Lewis

    James Lewis acts for clients in a wide range of children law matters and is noted for his Children Act work. He deals with cases concerning allegations of abuse and injury, which often involve the examination of complex medical evidence.

    • A careful and thoughtful advocate who is able to get to the bottom of issues quickly.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • James Lewis is warm and supportive with clients and detailed and accurate in his cross-examination.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • An excellent advocate - clients feel at ease when he represents them.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • James is very approachable and well prepared. His written work is as impressive as his advocacy.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • James Lewis is warm and supportive with clients and detailed and accurate in his cross-examination.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • Lisa Thomas
    Lisa Thomas

    Lisa Thomas

    Lisa Thomas is an impressive junior with a broad family law practice. She is frequently instructed in financial remedy proceedings, including those involving property in the UK and abroad. Her practice also covers children matters.

    • Lisa brings a sensible but sophisticated approach to every case.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • One of the best financial remedy barristers in Wales.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • A very thorough and extremely hard-working barrister. Lisa always goes above and beyond and is incredibly patient with clients and attentive to their needs.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Lisa is the safest pair of hands that you can find. You do not need to look any further.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • Natalie Sandercock
    Natalie Sandercock

    Natalie Sandercock

    Natalie Sandercock is an experienced junior who is particularly well known for taking on high net worth financial remedy cases. She is skilled at dealing with tax, trusts and business issues. Her caseload demonstrates additional expertise in proceedings involving international aspects.

    • She is into every detail and misses nothing.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Excellent senior counsel who is extremely knowledgeable in her field. Natalie is always impeccably prepared and provides sensible and realistic advice to clients.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • She will always ensure that nothing is missed in her preparation and will ensure that she always addresses the commercial aspects.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • Natalie is a very experienced financial remedy barrister with excellent knowledge and the ability to put forward persuasive arguments on the most difficult of issues.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • Kate Hughes
    Kate Hughes

    Kate Hughes

    Kate Hughes KC is an experienced advocate with a strong childcare practice. She frequently represents local authorities, but also has experience acting for guardians, parents and prospective adopters in complex care cases. She handles serious charges such as head injuries, neglect and sexual abuse, as well as advising on adoption issues.

    • Kate Hughes is very experienced, professional and relates well to clients.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • Owen Thomas
    Owen Thomas

    Owen Thomas

    Owen Thomas KC is a highly respected advocate whose broad knowledge covers the full family law spectrum. His roster includes complex public law children work, where he regularly represents local authorities in serious sexual abuse or injury cases.

    • Absolutely awesome and a strong choice to instruct on complex children cases. Gifted with language, both written and in advocacy.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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  • Rhian Kirby
    Rhian Kirby

    Rhian Kirby

    Rhian Kirby is a strong junior with a wide-ranging care practice. She acts for local authorities and parents in challenging matters such as those involving sexual abuse and non-accidental injury.

    • Rhian is incredibly hard-working and able. She has an unrivalled understanding of her papers and gives thorough and excellent advice.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

    • She is a fierce advocate. Clients find her very supportive.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at 9 Park Place (8)

Wales & Chester (Bar)

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