Department profile
Twenty Essex

Dispute Resolution: Commercial

Global Guide 2026 : UK


Twenty Essex

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution: Commercial - UK

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Twenty Essex has excellent commercial litigation capability and barristers who are experienced in arguing matters in all of the highest courts. Barristers here have skill in a number of areas, including intellectual property, insurance, shipping, international arbitration and energy, and are particularly noted for their expertise in private international law. Recent examples of the set's work include: Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, Privinvest & others, involving allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption and conspiracy relating to the financing of a fisheries fleet; Diag Human v Czech Republic, an international commercial court action; and the Abraaj case, the largest piece of litigation in the Cayman Islands. One source remarks: "Their ability to grasp complex issues quickly, coupled with outstanding advocacy and a keen eye for detail, makes them an invaluable asset on any case."

Arron Zitver, Christopher Theobold and Anthony Carroll are the practice directors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Practice director Arron Zitver and assistant practice manager George Wootton are both excellent; they are very responsive and easy to deal with.

    Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • The clerks are very proactive in terms of business development, relationship management and work allocation. They are also very approachable, practical and commercial.

    Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Whether managing complex scheduling requests or providing timely updates, the clerks consistently go above and beyond to facilitate smooth operations and deliver exceptional support.

    Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • The clerks are very responsive and helpful.

    Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Practice director Chris Theobald is just first-class. Everything I need from him he just picks up on.

    Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Philip Edey
    Band 1Philip Edey

    Philip Edey

    • He has a massive brain, he really commands the respect of the judges and he knows the courts like the back of his hand.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Philip is the best silk I have worked with. He has everything you need from a top silk. He is a most persuasive advocate, who is passionate and works tirelessly.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • A leading figure at the Bar, he has extremely good legal and tactical judgement. He walks the court through each stage of his argument, clearly, concisely and calmly.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • He has a very reassuring manner with clients and produces excellent written work.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • He is smart and all over the detail.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Charles Kimmins
    Band 2Charles Kimmins

    Charles Kimmins

    • He is very responsive and always produces very helpful discussion notes in advance of calls.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Charles has the respect of the bench and sufficient gravitas and judgement to convince a commercial court judge that he is right. He is also extremely good at listening to clients.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Charles Kimmins is one of the top KCs for insurance cases, particularly those with commercial elements. His written and oral submissions are excellent, and clients love him.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Duncan Matthews
    Band 2Duncan Matthews

    Duncan Matthews

    • He is a superb arbitrator because he is on top of all of the factual detail.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Duncan's advocacy is impressive. He argues so persuasively and articulately, and is willing to make arguments that others might shy away from.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Duncan is a class act who provides robust and polished advocacy. He has a great technical mind and can come up with new and novel points.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Philip Riches
    Band 2Philip Riches

    Philip Riches

    • Clients definitely appreciate the pragmatic nature of his advice.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Philip is understated, has excellent client skills and is someone whose advice is always spot-on. He's very commercial in his approach and is a regular choice for really heavy, high-value cases.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Paul Lowenstein
    Band 3Paul Lowenstein

    Paul Lowenstein

    • Paul Lowenstein is a truly impressive KC who is able to simplify the most complex of cases.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • A superb litigator and a good technical lawyer, who is both robust and easy to work with. It's far nicer to be acting with him than against him.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Sam Goodman
    Band 3Sam Goodman

    Sam Goodman

    • Sam Goodman has been really effective. Very insightful, pragmatic and sensible, he is on top of all the details but also someone who sees the bigger picture.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Sam is sought after as a junior and is instructed on some of the most complex and high-profile matters. He has a strong and clear advocacy style, and is very good on his feet.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Sam is hard-working, user-friendly, approachable and intelligent.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Susannah Jones
    Band 3Susannah Jones

    Susannah Jones

    • Susanna Jones is the best senior junior I've worked with in terms of brain power. She has a photographic memory, and her eye for detail is up there with the best.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Susannah Jones is incredibly astute and shows strong attention to detail. She is knowledgeable, personable and easy to work with.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Susannah has an incredible eye for detail, a razor-sharp intellect and very good drafting skills. She is a fine choice for complex, high-value litigation.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Belinda McRae
    Band 4Belinda McRae

    Belinda McRae

    • Belinda McRae impressed us. She was super well organised and excellent at drafting submissions.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Belinda has this organisational approach that just means nothing is ever forgotten. She's always two steps ahead with everything, whether that's with advocacy or drafting.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Belinda McRae is a silk in the making. She is very, very efficient and thinks of all the angles.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Blair Leahy
    Band 4Blair Leahy

    Blair Leahy

    • Blair is highly intelligent and very hard-working. She is someone you want to have on your team as she is an extremely formidable opponent to be against.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • She is extremely well prepared, very thoughtful and someone who makes logical, winning arguments.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 4David Lewis
    Band 4David Lewis

    David Lewis

    • David is skilled and determined. He listens to all points of view, and, at trial, displays tactical thinking.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • He prepares phenomenally well and his advocacy is the best I've seen in years.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • David Lewis has handled very important, very difficult commercial cases in the Supreme Court. He is a very able advocate.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Mark Tushingham
    Band 4Mark Tushingham

    Mark Tushingham

    • Mark is a future star for complex commercial disputes. He is extremely bright and his written advocacy is second to none. He's also very user-friendly and responsive.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Mark is very responsive and knowledgeable, and gets up to speed with claims very quickly. He provides extremely practical advice and clever legal analysis. His drafting is crisp and clear.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Andrew Ayres
    Band 5Andrew Ayres

    Andrew Ayres

    • He is extremely responsive, which is good when you have a case with different deadlines and jurisdictions. He is also excellent on his feet, which inspires the confidence of the court and clients.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Andrew Fulton
    Band 5Andrew Fulton

    Andrew Fulton

    • Andrew is an excellent barrister, who has a good feel for the right answer. He knows when to be assertive and when to be more nuanced.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Andrew has one of the sharpest legal brains in London and is someone who always fights hard for his clients

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • A really good technical lawyer, who puts his points across forcibly and is very persuasive as a result.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • He is a creative thinker, who is and brilliant in cross-examination.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Clever and very good, he is extraordinarily confident and a barrister who makes himself available.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Thomas Raphael
    Band 5Thomas Raphael

    Thomas Raphael

    • Thomas is a quietly spoken barrister, with an almost self deprecating style, who comes up with incredibly clever points.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • He is a go-to lawyer on certain jurisdiction points and a very good international commercial silk.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 6Andrew Dinsmore
    Band 6Andrew Dinsmore

    Andrew Dinsmore

    • Andrew Dinsmore is a brilliant junior, who is equally adept at handling cases led or unled.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Andrew Dinsmore is pragmatic and tactical in his approach.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Andrew Dinsmore is an excellent junior barrister.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 6Harris Bor
    Band 6Harris Bor

    Harris Bor

    • Harris is really dynamic, commercial and fleet of foot in terms of his thinking. We have seen him in action in court, and it’s difficult to describe his approach with any word other than 'amazing'.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Harris Bor's written advocacy is excellent and he is an effective oral advocate. He is very hard-working, and someone who integrates well within our team and deals with clients effectively.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 6Josephine Davies
    Band 6Josephine Davies

    Josephine Davies

    • Clients love her and she is a dream to work with.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Josephine is a good strategic thinker, who always has fresh ideas. She is completely dedicated to representing her clients.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
  • Band 6Luke Pearce
    Band 6Luke Pearce

    Luke Pearce

    • Luke grasps the issues quickly and displays a wonderful touch in hearings, both in terms of his oral submissions and his cross-examinations. He knows how to judge which way the wind is blowing.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Luke is very good at analysing cases and his written advocacy is first-rate; he is concise, to the point and considered.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Luke Pearce is thorough, very smart, so confident in his analysis.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal
    • Luke works very hard and is strong on the detail. His written advocacy is clear and concise.

      Dispute Resolution: Commercial respondentGlobal

Ranked Barristers at Twenty Essex (18)

UK

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