Professional Negligence
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7306 0102Chambers Review
Wilberforce Chambers can bring to bear deep expertise in a wide range of professional negligence claims, acting for both defendants and claimants. The set is frequently sought out for solicitors' liability claims and matters involving financial services professionals, often complicated by fraud elements. Property-related work is a strong suit, and the barristers are an obvious choice for negligence claims concerning the more complex of conveyancing matters, or major development projects. Members continue to act in cases of considerable size and importance, including Mitchell v Al Jaber. One market commentator refers to Wilberforce as "a natural choice for claims against solicitors and other professional advisers."
Nicholas Luckman leads the team.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks are good - friendly and proactive. They have got a 'can do, fix it' attitude."
"It's a delight to work with the clerks to get the best possible results for the clients."
"The clerks are good - friendly and proactive. They have got a 'can do, fix it' attitude."
"It's a delight to work with the clerks to get the best possible results for the clients."
Notable Practitioners
Ian Croxford KC is an impressive advocate who boasts an extensive track record of dealing with large-scale professional liability cases. He takes on claims involving a wide range of professionals, including civil engineers, stockbrokers, solicitors and management consultants, among others.
"A superforce."
John Wardell KC maintains a strong commercial practice with a steady emphasis on professional negligence matters, in which he acts for claimants and defendants. He regularly takes on cases relating to legal, financial and property services, and also defends other barristers against claims of negligence. His professional negligence practice is supported by his experience of fraud-related work.
"Exceptional counsel."
"John is very clever and hard-working."
Jonathan Seitler KC commands an impressive professional negligence practice in the property sector, often advising on claims relating to very high-value transactions. He regularly advises on cases brought as the result of allegedly faulty advice given by solicitors and valuers.
"He has a fantastic reputation, deservedly, and is a very nice chap to deal with."
"Quite simply, Jonathan is the best of the best and I'm always trying to find cases to instruct him on."
Paul Newman KC has a wealth of experience handling professional negligence claims relating to pension schemes and other financial services. He has particular expertise in cases arising out of failure to equalise the retirement ages of pension schemes.
"Paul is a regular favourite, always practical and robust in his opinion. He never sits on the fence and is a punchy advocate."
"Superb. Paul gives clear, concise advice and inspires great confidence."
Thomas Grant KC acts mainly in financial and legal sector negligence claims, with broad experience in the senior courts. He has contributed to several leading texts on the subject of professional negligence.
"Thomas has an enviable profile in the professional negligence world."
"He is a confident advocate who is both entertaining and nice to work with."
"Excellent, a really good silk."
Clare Stanley KC represents a broad range of professionals in high-value negligence claims, including legal, financial, accountancy and insolvency practitioners. She is often involved in cases featuring highly complex and technical elements, especially in relation to trust law and fraud. She is regularly instructed to act on behalf of high-profile law firms and additionally represents claimants against lawyers.
"She is a real fighter and really pulls all the stops out for her clients, alongside being very technical and commercially minded."
"The thing that stands out for her is that clients absolutely love her. She has a killer instinct in court and is a strategic mastermind."
"She is amazing and is so good on her feet."
James Ayliffe KC is an experienced silk who regularly takes on high-value professional negligence claims. Particularly active in cases arising in the property and legal sectors, he also handles claims relating to accountants, actuaries and financial advisers, among others.
"Simply excellent and a master tactician. James is superb on his feet, hugely persuasive and always a real pleasure to work with."
"James is very good and wears his intelligence very lightly."
Benjamin Faulkner has notable experience in professional negligence claims concerning the sale of property and pensions advice, among other matters.
"Benjamin is completely wise beyond his years and a pleasure to work with."
"He is thorough and exceptionally hard-working."
Tiffany Scott KC is well regarded for her professional negligence-focused practice. She has experience of the full breadth of the field, having acted for both claimants and defendants in cases involving solicitors, barristers, finance professionals and insurance brokers.
"Tiffany is this massive brain. She's just such a good advocate - very clear, with great gravitas, while also being considered and thoughtful."
"Tiffany is a safe pair of hands and exudes calm."