Chancery: Traditional - London (Bar)
Band 1
What the Team is Known For
Ten Old Square remains a premier set for handling trusts, probate and estates matters. The bench strength at the set is highlighted as a particular asset, with one interviewee commenting: “Ten Old Square offers an impressive depth and breadth of expertise across all levels of seniority. There is a strong cadre of silks for the most complex and high‑value matters, supported by highly capable senior juniors who provide strategic, commercially focused advice.” Another source says: “Ten Old Square are a technically brilliant set who can cut through the most complex cases and provide practical and pragmatic solutions.”
Strengths
The clerking at Ten Old Square is very good. The clerking team are very responsive and quick to let the instructing solicitor know availability and issues. They are just proactive.
They are incredible clerks at Ten Old Square, and what's so nice about them is that if they say they will do something, they deliver. They are very responsive and they really value the repeat custom.
Ten Old Square demonstrate an excellent ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters. Counsel consistently provide incisive analysis, strategic insight and a strong grasp of the nuanced issues that arise in high‑value chancery and trusts disputes. Their written and oral advocacy is of a very high standard, and they are adept at navigating both technical legal questions and broader commercial or family dynamics.
Notable practitioners
Richard Dew is a notable junior with a comprehensive traditional chancery practice that includes high-value probate and trusts matters. He is primarily instructed in contentious matters.
Richard is really superb at tricky estates issues. He has huge experience. He is really incisive, and really practical and sensible as well. He's absolutely excellent.
Richard is phenomenal – very easy to work with, very analytical, and he will really work through a case.
Richard Dew is a very well-respected and trustworthy choice. He is particularly good at giving straightforward, realistic advice.
Simon Taube KC is a respected silk who is regularly sought after for the most complex trust disputes, both domestically and overseas, within a wider practice that covers all areas of traditional chancery. He is frequently trusted with the most high-value work.
Simon Taube is absolutely a standout. He is a go-to for the most sophisticated matters.
Simon is always very helpful and clear.
Simon Taube is an exceptional KC. He is highly responsive, consistently articulate, and immediately able to secure the client’s confidence. He has strategic insight and assured advocacy as well as being easy to work with.
Georgia Bedworth is a highly respected junior whose practice is primarily focused on trusts and estates matters. She is often instructed in both contentious and non-contentious matters, and particularly for matters with a substantial real property aspect.
Georgia Bedworth is a fantastic technical lawyer.
Georgia Bedworth is absolutely fabulous. She's very, very bright; she's definitely one of the go-to people. She is delightful to work with, great with drafting, great in court, and someone I'd instruct again.
Georgia Bedworth is excellent. She is a gifted practitioner with an approachable manner and a high level of technical ability.
Susannah Meadway is a well-known senior junior who is recognised for her exceptional expertise when handling non-contentious, technical trust questions. She has a well-respected general traditional chancery practice.
I rate Susannah very highly. She is extremely knowledgeable about trusts and tax.
Susannah is helpful and good on drafting, advice and getting you to a solution. She's also proactive and suggests things before we ask about them.
Susannah Meadway is extremely knowledgeable, efficient and pragmatic.
James MacDougald is a rising star in the traditional chancery market, who is regularly instructed in trusts, wills, probate and Inheritance Act claims. He has a growing offshore and cross-border practice.
James is practical, good with clients and responsive. He gives clear advice and doesn't get too bogged down in the legalese. He is very practical.
James is such a good technical lawyer. He really knows his stuff and he has a great manner about him. He is just such a good lawyer. The quality of his work is really something else.
James MacDougald provides very pragmatic advice with the appropriate level of technical explanation. He puts clients at ease.
James Poole is a rising star who often handles disputes that fuse probate, trust and property law. He handles offshore work and domestic cases.
James is an excellent litigator. His technical expertise, ingenuity and commercial focus set him apart. James is always reliable and responsive.
James Poole is not only amazing legally, but also great on a personal level with clients. He is not just really good at delivering technical advice but is able to communicate with lay people too. We're big fans of James.
James is charming with lay clients and very enjoyable to work with. He is very responsive and provides clear and practical advice, navigating complex issues efficiently and communicating well with clients, solicitors, opponents and the judiciary alike. He is reliable and effective on the matters I have worked on with him.
Philip Jenkins is an experienced traditional chancery practitioner who is often instructed to advise on wills, trusts and estates matters. He is regularly trusted with high-value and high-profile cases.
Philip Jenkins is exceptionally quick‑thinking and consistently demonstrates robustness when required. He is always available with practical, solution‑focused help and advice. His ability to think creatively and approach issues from fresh angles adds real value, and he unfailingly gets the job done.
Philip Jenkins is highly commercial and quickly identifies the key issues, demonstrating exceptional expertise. He provides clear, timely advice on complex matters and consistently delivers outstanding support. He is approachable and client-friendly.
Philip is my go-to chancery counsel. Quite often with contentious probate there are several options to get what you want, and Philip is very good strategically at figuring out which is best. He is good in writing too.
James Egan advises on contentious and non-contentious private client matters. He also acts in Court of Protection cases and has a real property practice.
James is an outstanding chancery barrister who combines excellent technical ability with clear, pragmatic judgement. His strategic insights are exceptional, and he consistently focuses on achieving the best practical and commercially sensible outcomes for clients. He is very effective with lay clients, communicating with clarity and building a high degree of trust, particularly in sensitive disputes, enabling them to make informed decisions in complex matters. He is reliable, responsive and a pleasure to work with.
James is very personable and great to work with. He provides very straightforward advice and creates a rapport very easily. I have always found him to be extremely knowledgeable and am confident to instruct him.
James Egan is a brilliant advocate and has a fantastic bedside manner with clients. He provides eminently sensible advice and is cautious when appropriate. His drafting is impeccable and user-friendly.
Elizabeth Atkinson advises on contentious trust and estate cases, and also works with clients on non-contentious mandates. She is also able to advise on tax matters.
Elizabeth is approachable, considered, and has a good client manner. She looks for solutions while balancing the potential risks.
Elizabeth has both high IQ and EQ. She is a rising star and one to watch. She quickly gets to the root of a problem or issue and provides practical and insightful advice about how to progress a case. Elizabeth understands the pressures of solicitors and is proactive in helping to find creative and collaborative solutions.
Elizabeth is able to very quickly get to the heart of a complex matter and brings her commercial experience when providing in-depth but practical advice.
James Kirby works on significant trust and estate disputes. He also advises clients on Court of Protection issues and contentious and non-contentious tax matters.
James Kirby is very impressive. He has great understanding of tax, provides clear advice and drafting, and offers very quick turnaround of work. I would not hesitate to recommend him.
James is brilliant – an excellent junior and really on top of everything. He's technical and good with clients; he can explain technical issues to them. He's also got a great eye for strategy.
James Kirby writes very well, identifies the key issues, and can express himself in a way that a layman can understand. He produces excellent written submissions and is a great all-rounder.
