Chambers UK Bar Guide 2017 Rankings

Number of Rankings

• Ranked in 19 practice areas – top of the table for the third year running.
• Sets with the most Barrister Rankings – position 2 in the table for the second: number of rankings up to 180  (171 last year) / number of Barristers 128 (125 last year)

39 Essex Chambers is a formidable force at the Bar with a broad sweep of specialisms.  The set continues to justify its market-leading reputation for matters of community care and mental capacity, with "the King and Queen of Court of Protection work" Alexander Ruck Keene and Victoria Butler-Cole each appearing this year in landmark cases concerning the jurisdiction of the court.  This practice forms a significant part of the set's wider expertise in administrative and public law, which sees its members instructed in human rights and civil liberties cases concerning detention, assisted suicide and hospitalisation, amongst others.  Members also represent a long list of local authorities in judicial reviews and disputes, including in the areas of education, planning and environmental law.  The set's expertise in built and natural environment matters is well known, and among the many factors recommending it to instructing parties in the presence of the outstanding Stephen Tromans QC, whom market sources consider "the leader in a field of his own, crossing both planning and environmental law".  For clients managing major construction and infrastructure projects at a late stage of development, 39 Essex represents a fine choice as it fields an impressive group of silks and juniors with expertise in international disputes, adjudication and arbitration.  Among them is the "devastating advocate" Stuart Catchpole QC, whose expertise sees him consistently rated as one of the leading silks for energy and projects disputes, as well as professional negligence claims against engineers, architects and builders.  The set's expertise in professional liability is not limited to the construction sector, however, with members handling disciplinary cases for regulators and defendants in the legal, financial services, medical and veterinary fields as well.  Here the set can offer leading counsel at all levels, including the stellar David Bradly and excellent fellow junior Andrew Tabachnik, as well as highly regarded silks Hodge Malek QC, and Gregory Treverton-Jones QC.  Joint head of chambers Neil Block QC specialises in medical negligence and personal injury cases, and is recognised – alongside the set's hugely impressive bench of personal injury counsel – for handling cases of the highest value and complexity in this field.