Department profile
Ten Old Square

Chancery: Traditional

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Ten Old Square

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chancery: Traditional - London (Bar)

Band 1

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 is definitely the go-to for us for traditional chancery: both international and domestic trust and probate disputes. It has particularly excellent juniors who are up-and-coming.” An impressed source echoes this, adding: “Ten Old Square have shown themselves to be strong across every aspect. They are unfazed by complex legal points and provide first-class advice whatever the topic.” Barristers at the set have been involved in several high-profile matters recently, including Dawson-Damer v Grampian Trust Co Ltd regarding a large breach of trust claim in the Bahamas and the legal test for setting aside the exercise of a fiduciary power.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Ten Old Square's clerking is very good. Both Marc Schofield and Keith Plowman are very helpful in all admin tasks and work well for boutique firms as much as large firms.

    Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • The barristers and clerks at Ten Old Square are second to none when it comes to providing top-level service. Marc Schofield's ability to juggle diaries is something to behold.

    Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are really accommodating and have never let me down on availability and turnaround time.

    Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Marc Scofield is a particularly responsive clerk in the team. Senior clerk Keith Plowman is also excellent. They are very prompt and great with organisation.

    Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsRichard Dew
    Star IndividualsRichard Dew

    Richard Dew

    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.

    • He is a powerhouse. In terms of probate and tax disputes, there are few in the area better than him. He has enormous experience, combined with service levels. I am a big fan.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Richard Dew is such a calm and inspiring barrister. He inspires confidence in clients.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Richard really inspires confidence. He has a lot of chancery experience and knowledge of trusts, but what stands out is his practical application of this for his clients.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsSimon Taube
    Star IndividualsSimon Taube

    Simon Taube

    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 incredibly user-friendly. He breaks things down and makes things very easy to understand. He also turns things around quickly. You can't fault him.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Simon Taube is very thoughtful, robust but also sensible. He is great at getting into the detail, and clients have complete faith and confidence in him.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Simon Taube's reputation within the field is well deserved. He is truly outstanding.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Georgia Bedworth
    Band 1Georgia Bedworth

    Georgia Bedworth

    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 is a particularly fine choice of counsel for matters with a substantial real property aspect.
    • I have always found Georgia excellent. She is responsive, thorough and knows the area inside out. She knows how to deal with complex issues very simply.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Georgia Bedworth has a super brain, she is so clever.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Georgia Bedworth is excellent. She is one of my go-tos for this area. She is meticulous and great with clients.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Susannah Meadway
    Band 1Susannah Meadway

    Susannah Meadway

    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.
    • Susannah Meadway is brilliantly commercial; she's always looking for client-focused and efficient solutions. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Susannah Meadway is very creative and extremely knowledgeable on variation of trust applications. She is an excellent advocate and gives really sensible advice.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Susannah is simply brilliant. Her powers of analysis, depth of knowledge and attention to detail are second to none, and are coupled with a helpful and pragmatic attitude.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Susannah has a really excellent trust law brain. In complex scenarios she is really helpful in terms of reaching a view and a solution, and guiding us and the clients to the right outcomes.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Susannah's advice is second to none for clarity and pragmatism.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2James MacDougald
    Band 2James MacDougald

    James MacDougald

    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 bright, easy to work with, understands the value of teamwork and is extremely responsive in terms of work product. He is extremely good.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James MacDougald is one of the best team players and can put his hand to pretty much anything complex. He is happy to work with anyone he needs to as he is really collegiate. He has a superb mind.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James MacDougald is very good at absorbing information. He is just a thoroughly safe pair of hands.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4James Egan
    Band 4James Egan

    James Egan

    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.

    • I have been blown away by how thorough and commercial he is. I would not hesitate to use him again.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • He is unbelievably bright and can always find answers even in murky issues or complex areas of law. He is just very pleasant to deal with and meticulous in his preparation as well.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James Egan is a great choice. He is extremely responsive, sharp and intelligent.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James Egan is a great choice. He is extremely responsive, sharp and intelligent.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4James Poole
    Band 4James Poole

    James Poole

    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 Poole is a force of nature in how he runs a case. He is incredibly clever. He is definitely a future KC.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James Poole is easy to work with. He thinks his arguments through and has a great grasp of technical knowledge. He is able to articulate that well. Clients really feel he has fought their corner.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James is a very genuine, fun person who is also intellectually outstanding. He brings dynamism to the work, can really connect with people and has strategic and deep knowledge.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Philip Jenkins
    Band 4Philip Jenkins

    Philip Jenkins

    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 very impressive. He is user-friendly and turns things around well.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Philip Jenkins is friendly and approachable, clients like him and he's incredibly good at what he does.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • Philip Jenkins is excellent. He is really easy to work with, a very good advocate, very clear and thorough in written work, and empathetic with clients.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingJames Kirby
    Up and ComingJames Kirby

    James Kirby

    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 knowledgeable and has an eye for the most minute of details. He is hands-on, and his advice never fails to combine his technical knowledge with practicality.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James Kirby is technically great and can turn his hand to anything. Clients and lawyers like him equally and enjoy working with him.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar
    • James Kirby is a very talented practitioner. He is approachable too.

      Chancery: Traditional respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Ten Old Square (9)

London (Bar)

Ten Old Square has rankings in the following guides

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