One Essex Court in the Legal 500
One Essex Court has exceeded 2008’s top-tier rankings tally, with gains in banking and finance, commercial arbitration, and licensing. Laurence Rabinowitz QC’s shines in commercial litigation; he ‘continues to impress both as an advocate and on advisory work. His approach is highly appreciated by clients‘. New silks, Daniel Toledano QC, David Wolfson QC and Alain Choo Choy QC also have extensive commercial experience. Sa’ad Hossain is also recommended at junior level. ‘The clerking at One Essex Court is the best at any chambers. Darren Burrows runs things in a very modern and responsive way, and is a pleasure to deal with‘.
Administrative and Public Law
Alan Griffiths is recommended.
Banking and Finance
With three banking juniors ascending in the 2009 silk round, One Essex Court has a ‘strong set of leaders, well clerked‘. Pick of the bunch is Lord Grabiner QC who achieved an emphatic first-instance victory in SRM v HM Treasury: the ‘Northern Rock‘ case. Laurence Rabinowitz QC for whom 2008 meant “bank charges” is well-followed; Rhodri Davies QC’s ‘understanding of complex financial documents is very reliable, his finest attribute: his advocacy‘. John McCaughran QC gives ‘clear advice which clients understand, and gives proper direction‘. Stephen Auld QC is a ‘robust advocate‘. ‘Supplementary junior barristers are supplied at short notice‘ although a fêted trio of Anna Boase, Hannah Brown, and Ben Strong is already well known; Strong is ‘analytical, assimilating complex banking documents very quickly‘.
Ian Glick QC, Jeffery Onions QC, Anthony de Garr Robinson QC and Sa'ad Hossain are also recommended.
Commercial Arbitration
Offering ‘strength-in-depth and value for money‘. One Essex Court is ‘seriously focused on arbitral appointments‘; with arbitrators Alan Redfern, Andrew Foyle, Ian Glick QC and Peter Leaver QC ‘they have the players to do so‘. Alan Redfern ‘displays exceptional administrative and technical skills‘. Andrew Foyle is ‘conscientious, and commercial‘; and Ian Glick QC is ‘frighteningly intelligent, efficient and very fair.‘ Peter Leaver QC is ‘particularly good in helping the tribunal to gel‘. As advocate, Charles Graham QC is ‘convincing, with obvious integrity‘; Richard Gillis QC is ‘methodical and diligent, with excellent intuition‘. Michael Fealy has strong recent oil and gas experience. Michelle Menashy has an ‘extremely good grasp of legal and factual issues‘; (also demonstrated in complex share purchase case, SEB v Interamerican Assurance). Orlando Gledhill is ‘very good at drafting with attention to detail‘.
Commercial Litigation
One Essex Court’s Laurence Rabinowitz QC is ‘absolutely marvellous, really at the top of his game‘. Appearances in Buncefield, Berezovsky v Abramovich and the Grangemouth litigation, confirm his excellent 2008. Lord Grabiner QC is ‘impressive: people listen when he addresses them‘, whilst John McCaughran QC ‘takes complex arguments and strips them down to the key points‘. David Cavender is ‘someone to have alongside you in the trenches‘. Jamie Goldsmith is ‘capable of intense and prolonged focus. His cross-examination exceeds expectations‘. Clare Reffin is ‘terrier-like in her pursuit of a case‘, with ‘pleadings that are pithy and ingenious‘. Conall Patton is ‘exceptionally bright, quick and hard-working. He also retains his sense of humour and enthusiasm‘.
In addition, the following are recommended: Ian Glick QC, Jeffery Onions QC, Ken MacLean QC, Stephen Auld QC, Neil Kitchener QC, Andrew Lenon QC, Alain Choo Choy QC, Daniel Toledano QC, David Wolfson QC, Steven Elliott, Ben Strong, Anna Boase and Richard Boulton.
Company
‘Hard-working, commercially savvy, responsive and highly intelligent‘ Anthony de Garr Robinson QC at One Essex Court receives praise for ‘clear and sensible advice‘ and ‘extremely effective advocacy‘. In 2008, he acted in section 459/994 unfair prejudice proceedings in Solidbau Real Estate. ‘Prompt, clear and decisive‘ Richard Gillis QC acted in Dominion Petroleum v Carlo Seidel regarding the enforcement of compulsory share buy-out provisions in a company’s articles of association.
Alan Griffiths is also recommended.
EU and Competition
One Essex Court’s barristers are ‘pleasant people to work with, who have genuine integrity‘. One Essex Court’s Thomas Sharpe QC has the helm of the set’s growing ‘very high-quality‘ competition law practice, which also has ‘excellent administration‘. Together with Matthew Cook and Conall Patton, the team is ‘fast, accurate, with a quick grasp of underlying commercial and legal issues‘, whilst they also ‘properly challenge the client’s perspective‘, giving them an edge in appellate advocacy.
Energy
One Essex Court fields a ‘deep bench‘ and a ‘well-rounded group of energy experts‘. The set boasts ‘one of the most eminent QC’s in the field‘ in Lord Grabiner QC, most notably representing Total in the high profile ‘Buncefield‘ litigation. Other standout silk performers are Laurence Rabinowitz QC, who handles a steady flow of energy matters, Ian Glick QC who is ‘commercially oriented‘ and Jeffery Onions QC. Juniors are ‘good value for money‘ with a ‘modern approach‘ and ‘no airs and graces‘. Alan Griffiths and Sa’ad Hossain attract sterling praise.
Also recommended are: John McCaughran QC, Charles Graham QC, Andrew Lenon QC and Michael Fealy.
Fraud: Civil
Laurence Rabinowitz QC of One Essex Court is ‘first-class at everything he does‘, being ‘fantastically bright, a real pleasure to work with‘. Richard Gillis QC was also engaged on Tajik Aluminium - he’s a ‘tremendous advocate, with an acute analytical mind‘. Anthony de Garr Robinson QC is ‘terrifically smart and great in court‘. In Parabola Investments v MF Global Steven Elliott acted for a trader suing MF Global for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation.
Lord Grabiner QC and David Cavender are also recommended.
Information Technology
Geoffrey Hobbs QC is recommended, as is Philip Roberts who ‘is excellent for niche areas, including domain names and software copyright‘.
Insolvency
Richard Gillis QC at One Essex Court is ‘commercial, user-friendly, prompt and clear in his advice‘. Anthony de Garr Robinson QC and Edmund Nourse are also recommended in this category.
Insurance and Reinsurance
One Essex Court is noted for its expertise in ‘highly complex coverage matters‘ and has in Laurence Rabinowitz QC, a ‘star that finds solutions‘. Jeffery Onions QC acted for AIG in the Cantarell Project case, concerning the reinsurance of a policy covering a nitrogen separation plant in Mexico. He is noted for his ‘excellent advocacy and attention to detail‘.
Lord Grabiner QC is also recommended.
Intellectual Property
In 2008, Geoffrey Hobbs QC of One Essex Court acted for Direct Line in the Trade Marks Registry, Chancery Division and Court of Appeal in Esure Insurance v Direct Line. Clients say that he has ‘unparalleled knowledge of IP case law, a fantastic “gut feel” for the subject and understands the commercial drivers of the client very well. He is a pleasure to work with‘. ‘Incredibly intelligent‘ Philip Roberts is ‘client-focused and client-friendly‘, whose ‘high quality drafting is cleverly put together to anticipate opposition‘. Guy Hollingworth is increasingly well known as ‘an excellent IP junior‘.
Emma Himsworth is also recommended.
Licensing
One Essex Court’s ‘first-rate‘ Susanna Fitzgerald QC is a ‘clear expert in her field‘, and is ‘capable of doing a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances‘. Recent work includes a string of liquor and entertainment licensing appeals, and advice to the Isle of Man Gambling Commission on whether a company’s online business model constituted a ‘game of skill‘.
Media, Entertainment and Sport
Solicitors commend One Essex Court’s ‘excellent clerking‘. ‘Compelling advocate‘ Geoffrey Hobbs QC applies his ‘awesome breadth and depth of knowledge‘ to complex trademark and copyright matters as well as advising broadcasters including BSkyB. Peter Leaver QC is president of the National Anti-Doping Panel. ‘Genuine team player‘ Stephen Auld QC, who ‘is willing to roll up his sleeves and get into the detail‘, represented Digicel against the West Indies Cricket Board.
Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Anthony de Garr Robinson QC are also recommended.
Professional Negligence
Laurence Rabinowitz QC is recommended.
Tax (Corporate & VAT)
At One Essex Court, Malcolm Gammie QC ‘uses his intellect and keen eye for detail to ensure that everything is done to the best possible standard.‘ Gammie appeared in Prizedome in relation to the setting-off of pre-entry losses from chargeable gains, in the Court of Appeal.