Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023
About this event
We are delighted to host Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. The awards recognise a Chambers pre-eminence in the UK. They also reflect achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service. They honour the work of sets and individuals across the country based on the research for the recent edition of Chambers UK Bar.
Event Details:

6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
GMT

James Cowdell, Head of UK Bar Research, Chambers and Partners
Sue Perkins, Presenter, Writer, Actor, Director and Comedian
Highlights from 2022 UK Bar Awards
Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023 - Shortlist and Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award
Colin Edelman KC
Colin Edelman KC has, barring part of his time as a pupil, practised at Devereux Chambers, a career spanning more than 45 years, taking silk in 1995. Colin has specialised in high value complex commercial disputes with an emphasis on insurance, reinsurance, professional indemnity, and energy and, having ceased offering his services as counsel at the end of 2022, continues to practice as a full-time arbitrator. He has been involved in a significant number of high-profile matters affecting the London and international insurance markets, including disputes arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and major natural disasters as well as other catastrophic losses. He frequently appeared in leading insurance and reinsurance cases in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Colin was voted the Chambers UK ‘Professional Negligence Silk of the Year’ in 2014 and ‘Insurance Silk of the Year’ in 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2017 and for many years was listed in Chambers UK Bar Guide as the “Star Individual” in Insurance at the London Bar. He was a Recorder for 23 years and sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division and the Commercial Court. He was head of Devereux Chambers for 10 years, from 2002 until the end of 2011 and gave 15 years of services to the Bar as Director, Deputy Chair and then Chair of the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund – he was appointed as director in 2007, as Deputy Chair in 2011 and served as Chair from 2013 to July 2022. Starting in 1996 as one of the early trainers under the pioneering Advocacy Training Scheme instigated at Middle Temple, he has over the years provided advocacy training to Bar students, pupils and new practitioners through Middle Temple (of which he has been a Master of the Bench since 2003), being responsible for many years for the New Practitioners advocacy training programme at Middle Temple, and was instrumental in devising an advocacy training course for the employed Bar as part of that programme.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Julia Hornor
Julia Hornor is a Bar legend, effectively creating the role of Practice Manager, now adopted across the profession. At Blackstone Chambers for 31 years, ultimately as Chambers Director, Julia oversaw a period of stellar growth and modernisation that took Chambers from 33 to 121 barristers by the time she retired at the end of May 2023. An experienced solicitor, she joined what was then 2 Hare Court and subsequently oversaw Chambers’ move to Blackstone House, a change of name, and a significant redevelopment project which resulted in the doubling in size of Chambers’ building to incorporate Garden Court. Co-heads of Chambers, Tom Weisselberg KC and Jane Mulcahy KC, commented: “Much of the success and progress enjoyed by Blackstone Chambers over the last three decades is the result of Julia’s energy and dedication. We will always be grateful for her wise and compassionate leadership.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Orlando Pownall K.C
Orlando Pownall K.C. is a member of and former head of 2 Hare Court Chambers. He was called to the Bar in 1975 and has practiced exclusively in the Criminal Courts. In 1990, after over a decade of defending almost exclusively, he was appointed Junior Treasury Counsel. He was appointed First Senior Treasury Counsel in 2000 and made Silk in 2002. Over the years he has both defended in and prosecuted a number of celebrated cases and is unique in having both prosecuted the IRA in London and successfully defended the alleged IRA Omagh bomber. He also represented Michael Stone, an alleged Loyalist Paramilitary. He prosecuted the first trial of Barry George charged with the murder of Jill Dando. He has represented a number of sporting figures such as the cricketer Chris Cairns, Gary Neville’s father and Adam Johnson. Most recently he defended the CFO of Balli Steel who was charged with fraudulent trading. He is a Bencher of the Inner Temple.
Banking
Banking – Juniors
Adam Sher – Fountain Court Chambers
James Duffy – Fountain Court Chambers
Nehali Shah – One Essex Court
Banking – Silks
Bankim Thanki KC – Fountain Court Chambers
Ewan McQuater KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
Hugh Sims KC – Guildhall Chambers
Banking – Sets
3 Verulam Buildings
Fountain Court Chambers
One Essex Court
Winners
Junior - Nehali Shah – One Essex Court
Silk - Ewan McQuater KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
Set - 3 Verulam Buildings
Chancery
Chancery – Juniors
Georgia Bedworth – Ten Old Square
James Weale – Serle Court Chambers
Ruth Hughes – 5 Stone Buildings
Chancery – Silks
Alexander Learmonth KC – New Square Chambers
Paul McGrath KC – Essex Court Chambers
Tim Penny KC – Wilberforce Chambers
Chancery – Sets
5 Stone Buildings
Serle Court Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers
Winners
Junior - James Weale - Serle Court Chambers
Silk - Tim Penny KC - Wilberforce Chambers
Set - Wilberforce Chambers
Clinical Negligence
Clinical Negligence – Juniors
Esther Gamble – No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Matthew Barnes – 1 Crown Office Row
Dr Tejina Mangat – Hailsham Chambers
Clinical Negligence – Silks
Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC – 1 Crown Office Row
Robert Weir KC – Devereux Chambers
William Latimer-Sayer KC – Cloisters
Clinical Negligence – Sets
1 Crown Office Row
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Winners
Junior - Matthew Barnes - 1 Crown Office Row
Silk - Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC - 1 Crown Office Row
Set - No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Commercial Dispute Resolution – Juniors
Ciaran Keller – Essex Court Chambers
Laura Newton – Brick Court Chambers
Niranjan Venkatesan – One Essex Court
Commercial Dispute Resolution – Silks
Laurence Rabinowitz KC – One Essex Court
Patrick Goodall KC – Fountain Court Chambers
Shaheed Fatima KC – Blackstone Chambers
Commercial Dispute Resolution – Sets
Brick Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers
One Essex Court
Winners
Junior - Ciaran Keller - Essex Court Chambers
Silk - Laurence Rabinowitz KC - One Essex Court
Set - One Essex Court
Company/Insolvency
Company/Insolvency – Juniors
Andrew Blake – Erskine Chambers
Georgina Peters – South Square
Nigel Dougherty – Erskine Chambers
Company/Insolvency – Silks
Andreas Gledhill KC – Blackstone Chambers
David Allison KC – South Square
Jonathan Crow KC – 4 Stone Buildings
Company/Insolvency – Sets
4 Stone Buildings
Erskine Chambers
South Square
Winners
Junior - Nigel Dougherty – Erskine Chambers
Silk - Andreas Gledhill KC – Blackstone Chambers
Set - South Square
Competition
Competition -Juniors
Anneliese Blackwood – Monckton Chambers
David Bailey – Brick Court Chambers
Philip Woolfe – Monckton Chambers
Competition -Silks
Marie Demetriou KC – Brick Court Chambers
Rhodri Thompson KC – Matrix Chambers
Rob Williams KC – Monckton Chambers
Competition - Sets
Brick Court Chambers
Matrix Chambers
Monckton Chambers
Winners
Junior - David Bailey – Brick Court Chambers
Silk - Rob Williams KC – Monckton Chambers
Set - Monckton Chambers
Construction
Construction – Juniors
Lucie Briggs – Atkin Chambers
Paul Cowan – 4 New Square Chambers
Tom Owen – Keating Chambers
Construction – Silks
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers
Jonathan Selby KC – Keating Chambers
Simon Hughes KC – Keating Chambers
Construction – Sets
4 New Square Chambers
Atkin Chambers
Keating Chambers
Winners
Junior - Tom Owen - Keating Chambers
Silk - Jonathan Selby KC - Keating Chambers
Set - Keating Chambers
Crime
Crime – Juniors
Orla Daly – QEB Hollis Whiteman
Paul Jarvis – 6KBW College Hill
Shauna Ritchie – Mayfair Place Chambers
Crime – Silks
Edward Henry KC – Mountford Chambers
Oliver Glasgow KC – 2 Hare Court
Patrick Gibbs KC – Three Raymond Buildings
Crime – Sets
Doughty Street Chambers
Garden Court Chambers
Three Raymond Buildings
Winners
Junior - Shauna Ritchie – Mayfair Place Chambers
Silk - Oliver Glasgow KC – 2 Hare Court
Set - Doughty Street Chambers
Employment
Employment – Juniors
Anna Beale – Cloisters
Melanie Tether – Old Square Chambers
Rad Kohanzad – 42BR Barristers
Employment – Silks
Daniel Oudkerk KC – Essex Court Chambers
Paul Goulding KC – Blackstone Chambers
Schona Jolly KC – Cloisters
Employment – Sets
11KBW
Cloisters
Old Square Chambers
Winners
Junior - Anna Beale – Cloisters
Silk - Paul Goulding KC – Blackstone Chambers
Set - Cloisters
Environment/Planning
Environment/Planning – Juniors
Edward Craven – Matrix Chambers
Monica Feria-Tinta – Twenty Essex
Rebecca Clutten – Francis Taylor Building
Environment/Planning – Silks
Paul Tucker KC – Kings Chambers
Stephen Tromans KC – 39 Essex Chambers
Tom Cosgrove KC – Cornerstone Chambers
Environment/Planning – Sets
Francis Taylor Building
Kings Chambers
Matrix Chambers
Winners
Junior - Monica Feria-Tinta - Twenty Essex
Silk - Paul G. Tucker KC - Kings Chambers
Set - Matrix Chambers
Family
Family – Juniors
Andrzej Bojarski – 36 Family
Lily Mottahedan – 1 Hare Court
Richard Jones – 1GC|Family Law
Family – Silks
Alexis Campbell KC – 29 Bedford Row
James Ewins KC – QEB
Richard Harrison KC – 1KBW
Family – Sets
1 Hare Court
1KBW
4PB
Winners
Junior - Lily Mottahedan - 1 Hare Court
Silk - Richard Harrison KC - 1KBW
Set - 1 Hare Court
Health and Safety
Health and Safety – Juniors
James Buchanan – 2 Hare Court
Malcolm Galloway – Crown Office Chambers
Miles Bennett – 5 Paper Buildings
Health and Safety – Silks
Dominic Kay KC – Crown Office Chambers
Keith Morton KC – Temple Garden Chambers
Tim Green KC – Henderson Chambers
Health and Safety – Sets
2 Bedford Row
Crown Office Chambers
Henderson Chambers
Winners
Junior - Miles Bennett - 5 Paper Buildings
Silk - Dominic Kay KC - Crown Office Chambers
Set - Crown Office Chambers
Human Rights and Public Law
Human Rights and Public Law – Juniors
Christopher Knight – 11KBW
Jason Pobjoy – Blackstone Chambers
Tom Royston – Garden Court North Chambers
Human Rights and Public Law – Silks
Angus McCullough KC – 1 Crown Office Row
Raza Husain KC – Matrix Chambers
Sonali Naik KC – Garden Court Chambers
Human Rights and Public Law – Sets
Blackstone Chambers
Doughty Street Chambers
Landmark Chambers
Winners
Junior - Jason Pobjoy – Blackstone Chambers
Silk - Raza Husain KC – Matrix Chambers
Set - Blackstone Chambers
International Arbitration
International Arbitration – Juniors
Can Yeginsu – 3 Verulam Buildings
Edward Ho – Brick Court Chambers
Jane Davies Evans – 3 Verulam Buildings
International Arbitration – Silks
Ricky Diwan KC – Essex Court Chambers
Toby Landau KC – Duxton Hill Chambers
Veronique Buehrlen KC – Keating Chambers
International Arbitration – Sets
3 Verulam Buildings
Essex Court Chambers
Keating Chambers
Winners
Junior - Can Yeginsu - 3 Verulam Buildings
Silk - Toby Landau KC - Duxton Hill Chambers
Set - Essex Court Chambers
Insurance
Insurance – Juniors
Alexander MacDonald – 7 King’s Bench Walk
Peter Ratcliffe – 3 Verulam Buildings
Sushma Ananda – 7 King’s Bench Walk
Insurance – Silks
Ben Lynch KC – Fountain Court Chambers
Gavin Kealey KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk
Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk
Insurance – Sets
4 New Square
7 King’s Bench Walk
Fountain Court Chambers
Winners
Junior - Sushma Ananda - 7 King’s Bench Walk
Silk - Ben Lynch KC - Fountain Court
Set - 7 King’s Bench Walk
IT/IP
IT/IP – Juniors
Daniel Selmi – Three New Square
James Whyte – 8 New Square
Kathryn Pickard – 11 South Square
IT/IP – Silks
Adrian Speck KC – 8 New Square
Brian Nicholson KC – 11 South Square
Simon Malynicz KC – Hogarth Chambers
IT/IP – Sets
11 South Square
8 New Square
Hogarth Chambers
Winners
Junior - Katherine Pickard – 11 South Square
Silk - Brian Nicholson KC - 11 South Square
Set - 11 South Square
Inquests and Public Inquiries
Inquests and Public Inquiries – Juniors
Georgina Wolfe – 5 Essex Court
Jesse Nicholls – Matrix Chambers
Una Morris – Garden Court Chambers
Inquests and Public Inquiries – Silks
Andrew O’Connor KC – Temple Garden Chambers
Bridget Dolan KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Jason Beer KC – 5 Essex Court
Inquests and Public Inquiries – Sets
1 Crown Office Row
5 Essex Court
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Winners
Junior - Jesse Nicholls - Matrix Chambers
Silk - Jason Beer KC - 5 Essex Court
Set - 5 Essex Court
Media, Privacy and Information Law
Media, Privacy and Information Law – Juniors
Greg Callus – 5RB
Jonathan Price – Doughty Street Chambers
Nikolaus Grubeck – Monckton Chambers
Media, Privacy and Information Law – Silks
Adam Wolanski KC – 5RB
Gavin Millar KC – Matrix Chambers
Heather Rogers KC – Doughty Street Chambers
Media, Privacy and Information Law – Sets
5RB
Doughty Street Chambers
Matrix Chambers
Winners
Junior - Greg Callus – 5RB
Silk - Gavin Millar KC – Matrix Chambers
Set - Doughty Street Chambers
Personal Injury
Personal Injury – Juniors
Catherine Foster – Crown Office Chambers
Justin Levinson – 1 Crown Office Row
Meghann McTague – 2 Temple Gardens
Personal Injury – Silks
Edward Faulks KC – Deka Chambers
Stephen Killalea KC – Devereux Chambers
William Audland KC – 12 King’s Bench Walk
Personal Injury – Sets
12 King’s Bench Walk
Byrom Street Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers
Winners
Junior - Catherine Foster - Crown Office Chambers
Silk - Stephen Killalea KC - Devereux Chambers
Set - Outer Temple Chambers
Professional Discipline
Professional Discipline – Juniors
Nicholas Yeo – Three Raymond Buildings
Peter Mant – 39 Essex Chambers
Simon Cridland – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Professional Discipline – Silks
Ivan Hare KC – Blackstone Chambers
John Beggs KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Selva Ramasamy KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman
Professional Discipline – Sets
39 Essex Chambers
5 Essex Court
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Winners
Junior - Simon Cridland - Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Silk - Ivan Hare KC - Blackstone Chambers
Set - Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Professional Negligence
Professional Negligence – Juniors
Ivor Collett – Crown Office Chambers
Kate Livesey – 4 Pump Court
Michael Bowmer – 4 New Square Chambers
Professional Negligence – Silks
Jonathan Gaisman KC – 7 King’s Bench Walk
Jonathan Seitler KC – Wilberforce Chambers
Nigel Tozzi KC – 4 Pump Court
Professional Negligence – Sets
4 New Square Chambers
7 King’s Bench Walk
Brick Court Chambers
Winners
Junior - Michael Bowmer - 4 New Square Chambers
Silk - Jonathan Seitler KC - Wilberforce Chambers
Set - Brick Court Chambers
Real Estate
Real Estate – Juniors
Elizabeth Fitzgerald – Falcon Chambers
Jamal Demachkie – Gatehouse Chambers
Justin Bates – Landmark Chambers
Real Estate – Silks
Joanne Wicks KC – Wilberforce Chambers
Philip Rainey KC – Tanfield Chambers
Tom Weekes KC – Landmark Chambers
Real Estate – Sets
Falcon Chambers
Landmark Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers
Winners
Junior - Jamal Demachkie - Gatehouse Chambers
Silk - Tom Weekes KC - Landmark Chambers
Set - Landmark Chambers
Shipping
Shipping – Juniors
Caroline Pounds – Quadrant Chambers
Nevil Phillips – Quadrant Chambers
Oliver Caplin – Twenty Essex
Shipping – Silks
Elizabeth Blackburn KC – 36 Stone
Luke Parsons KC – Quadrant Chambers
Michael Collett KC – Twenty Essex
Shipping – Sets
7KBW
Quadrant Chambers
Twenty Essex
Winners
Junior - Caroline Pounds - Quadrant Chambers
Silk - Luke Parsons KC - Quadrant Chambers
Set - Quadrant Chambers
Tax
Tax – Juniors
Imran Afzal – Field Court Tax Chambers
Jonathan Schwarz – Temple Tax Chambers
Laura Poots – Pump Court Tax Chambers
Tax – Silks
David Ewart KC – Pump Court Tax Chambers
Michael Jones KC – Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Valentina Sloane KC – Monckton Chambers
Tax – Sets
11 New Square
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Pump Court Tax Chambers
Winners
Junior - Laura Poots - Pump Court Tax Chambers
Silk - Michael Jones KC - Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Set - Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Regional Set of the Year
Deans Court Chambers
Exchange Chambers
Guildhall Chambers
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Parklane Plowden
St Philips Chambers
Winner
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
Client Service Set of the Year
12 King’s Bench Walk
Deka Chambers
Devereux Chambers
Garden Court Chambers
Parklane Plowden
St Ives Chambers
Winner
Devereux Chambers
Set of the Year
Wilberforce Chambers
Our set of the year was, in terms of nominations, well represented in several categories at the Chambers Bar Awards, proving successful in a good number of them. Constantly buttressing its strength through impressive lateral hires in recent years, it is a major player in the chancery and commercial spheres both domestically and offshore, a noted pensions specialist and a set that has this year secured a band one ranking in Real Estate in our latest guide to the legal profession. Chambers UK Bar set of the year for 2023 is Wilberforce Chambers.
Chambers D&I Awards: UK Bar Awards 2023 – Shortlist and Winners
Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader
Danielle Manson - Garden Court Chambers
Jessica Powers - New Square Chambers
Jo Moore - 1 Crown Office Row
Niamh Cleary - Fountain Court Chambers
Ruchi Parekh - Cornerstone Barristers
Sarah Williams - Keating Chambers
Winner
Jessica Powers - New Square Chambers
Jessica Powers is awarded for playing a key role in launching the EDI committee at New Square Chambers. Highlights of the committees work include updating parental leave policies, a social mobility mentoring programme and university-blind assessments for written pupillage applications.
Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Contribution
Fallon Alexis - QEB Hollis Whiteman
Grace Brown - Garden Court Chambers
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC - Fountain Court Chambers
Lucy Garrett KC - Keating Chambers
Sheryl Nwosu - 25 Bedford Row
Winner
Sheryl Nwosu - 25 Bedford Row
Actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion both at the Bar and in wider society, Sheryl Nwosu is an inspirational leader. Amongst other positions, she is the Chair of the Black Music Coalition and the Senior Diversity Officer at 25 Bedford Row. In recent years she has ensured the recruitment and work allocation process is equitable and created an E&D handbook, while continuing her long-term mentoring commitments.
Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Set
7BR
12 King's Bench Walk
Brick Court Chambers
Coram Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers
Garden Court Chambers
Keating Chambers
Matrix Chambers
New Square Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers
Highly Commended
Fountain Court Chambers – Highly Commended
Winner
7BR
With a comprehensive, holistic suite of policies and initiatives designed to advance justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, 7BR stand out as a Set determined to make a positive change. Highlights include undertaking a major refurbishment to improve disabled access to their building and a proactively inclusive recruitment process that ensures they recruit a diverse range of talented pupils.


