Asia-Pacific Australia Dispute Resolution: The Bar

Banco Chambers is one of Sydney's younger commercial sets, established in 2005, and is noted for having attracted some of Australia's leading junior barristers, in addition to a core of established and respected silks. A recent relocation allowed it to expand its complement to a total of roughly 60 barristers. The chambers are especially well resourced when it comes to providing advice or advocacy on competition, equity or public law issues, it is also home to barristers with significant expertise in the areas of construction, defamation and insolvency. A significant proportion of set members possess appellate experience or have acted as arbitration counsel or arbitrators in both domestic and international cases. Interviewees testify extensively, both to the set's widely perceived pre-eminence in the Sydney market and to its possession of a clear collective identity; one observes: "Over the last decade, Banco Chambers has become widely recognised as one of or even the leading commercial sets in Sydney." Another describes Banco Chambers as "a commercial and clever set of barristers with a high level of professionalism and service focus. Clerk Jeh Coutinho is a key contact for all enquiries.

List G Barristers constitutes a substantial Melbourne offering, mustering some 160 counsel. It focuses principally on commercial and public law issues and commands respect in the market, with one commentator noting: "List G barristers has counsel at all stages of experience, from new juniors to experienced KCs, with diverse technical expertise." The list brings together advocates with particularly impressive track records in such specialised areas as employment, native title and shipping, as well as those maintaining broader commercial practices, and it attracts especially high praise for having assembled a notable cohort of IP practitioners. One interviewee observes that the list "includes a number of specialists who are pre-eminent in various areas of IP law." Another finds that the list is "extremely capable of handling complex and sophisticated matters." CEO and senior clerk Jane King is the principal contact.

5 Wentworth Chambers houses nearly 40 barristers with expertise ranging across the full commercial and public law spectrum and experience extending to the highest level in both Commonwealth courts and, on a pan-Australian basis, individual state courts. Within this varied offering, the set fields particularly noteworthy expertise in the intellectual property and employment spheres, with one interviewee observing: "Strategy and tactical advice is always provided, with an eye to differing client needs, including government clients." Speaking more generally, another source finds: "Their service levels are outstanding and they are extremely responsive. They go above and beyond in relation to their willingness to assist." Clerk to chambers Sarah Tiffen is the recommended contact.

Level Twenty Seven Chambers is widely regarded as being pre-eminent in Brisbane, its 40-plus members also making it the city's largest set. The set offers a comprehensive range of practice area capabilities, and members experienced in all forms of dispute resolution at state, Commonwealth and international levels, it also enjoys a particularly high reputation for the quality of its construction-related expertise. It regularly receives a particularly large body of positive interviewee feedback, with one sources referring to it as "the best chambers in Queensland." Interviewees also pay enthusiastic tributes to the quality of Level Twenty Seven's administrative team, headed by practice manager Daniel Perry. Another interviewee states: "It's the standout set in Australia in terms of the way they organise, promote and understand their barristers."

New Chambers is a Sydney set home to over 50 barristers, practising in over 50 practice areas and appearing in court, administrative tribunal and public inquiry proceedings and a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes across Australia and abroad. The chambers' versatile offering includes strong concentrations of expertise in the financial services and insolvency spheres, and its members include a star of the appellate Bar and pre-eminent providers of advice and advocacy on taxation and shipping issues. Interviewees are quick to praise the exceptional quality of the advocacy and advice that the set offers, one observing that "the set represents a high calibre of candidates with outstanding achievements and work ethic." Another identifies it as the "go-to chambers for tax litigation, and significant disputes with the government," adding that its barristers "are fearless in their advocacy." A third singles it out as "one of the premier tax sets in the country, with broad skills and seniority." Clerk and practice manager Angela Noakes is a recommended contact.

Tenth Floor Wentworth Selborne Chambers is noted for the high proportion of senior counsel in its membership and for an especially strong group of barristers acting across the full range of intellectual property issues. Other areas of noted strength are the taxation and insurance fields, and the set also hosts noteworthy class action prowess and a wealth of international experience, putting it on more than one instructing solicitor's list of most favoured sets. Emma Hoolahan is the clerk and chief contact for enquiries.

12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers enjoys a strong reputation in the Sydney market, boasting over 60 members who offer expertise across a significant range of commercial, regulatory, property and public law practice areas. The set is particularly well regarded for competition/antitrust, white-collar and employment matters. It is often used by government and regulators.

7 Wentworth Selborne is a well-regarded Sydney set that delivers advice and advocacy across the gamut of commercial and public law but is especially in demand for its provision of outstanding talent in the construction and infrastructure arenas, some 20 of the set's 50-odd barristers practising in this space. The chambers also fields several barristers with extensive class action experience. Managing clerk Simon Walker is the principal contact.

North Quarter Lane is one of the larger Brisbane-based sets, with nearly 30 members. Its barristers field expertise across a wide range of commercial, competition and contractual disputes and attract particular praise within the tax, construction and energy sectors.

Young's List is a boutique, Melbourne-based list with over 90 affiliated barristers who handle the full range of commercial and public disputes. In addition, the set also attracts praise for its capabilities within the employment, shipping and environmental sectors. One interviewee comments: "Young's List is known for providing commercial barristers who provide practical and sensible advice and representation." Founder and barristers' clerk Tammy Young is a key contact.