We are delighted to announce that we have been hugely successful in this year’s Chambers UK Bar 2020 Guide. We have been recognised in a total of 19 major areas of law, with 2 of our barristers ranked as star individuals, 1 ranked in the spotlight table, and 15 of our barristers ranked in Band 1. This year, we have been described by one client as ‘the best in the West of the country.’
We have also recently been shortlisted ‘Regional Set of the Year’ by Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019. Read more here.
What does Chambers UK 2020 say about St John’s Chambers…
- Chancery (Band 1) – view rankings here
“St John’s Chambers is ‘a standout chambers for chancery work.’ The barristers are held in extremely high regard on the Western Circuit for both their traditional and commercial chancery expertise. The set is able to handle everything from complex property litigation and trusts disputes, to professional negligence claims. Members are frequently instructed in cases concerning valuable agricultural land. One source enthuses: ‘I cannot recommend the chambers and individual counsel enough. They are friendly, accessible and build a phenomenal rapport with instructing solicitors and the client. The language used in their advice is clear and understandable, which is welcomed and praised by clients.’ “ - Clinical Negligence (Band 1) – view rankings here
“Enjoys a rock solid reputation for quality whether fielding counsel for claimants or the defence. The set has continued to bolster its presence in this market by cultivating a strong bench of expert juniors in addition to its more established barristers, as evidenced by the entry of two up-and-comers into the ranks this year. Members possess deep experience across all facets of clinical negligence work, extending to fatal surgical error or misdiagnosis.” - Commercial Dispute Resolution (Band 2) – view rankings here
“An established set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers houses a strong bench of sought-after commercial barristers and a wealth of expertise in commercial litigation, mediations and arbitrations. Areas of particular expertise for the set include contract disputes, property litigation, professional negligence claims and shareholder disagreements, as well as fraud and chancery matters. The set’s tenants are regularly instructed to act on behalf of large corporations, SMEs and private individual clients across several sectors, including manufacturing, transport, banking and agriculture, amongst others. Instructing solicitors describe the set as “a modern, approachable chambers with a good spread of barristers to choose from.” - Company (Band 1) – view rankings here
“Houses considerable expertise in an array of company law matters. Members field notable experience in the handling of shareholder disputes, freezing order petitions and share purchase agreements. The team is also well regarded for its expertise in bribery and trade secrets claims. The set’s clients include several companies, as well as company directors and shareholders across a wide range of industries. Instructing solicitors praise the barristers as ‘very approachable, friendly and keen to help.’ “ - Construction (Band 1) – view rankings here
“St John’s dominates the construction law market on the Western Circuit. Its members are well equipped to deal with all forms of dispute resolution, including complex mediations. Barristers at the set frequently act on behalf of contractors, housing associations and local authorities in a broad range of construction matters, and are able to handle impressive international work, particularly in the Middle East. One commentator describes the set as ‘the best in the West of the country.’ “ - Family/Matrimonial (Band 1) – view rankings here
“St John’s is one of the foremost sets practising family law on the Western Circuit. Practitioners at the set are well known for their expertise in high-value financial remedy work as well as public and private child law. Its members regularly engage in highly complex cases regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and social care matters. Barristers at the chambers are also known for their experience in cross-border issues arising from financial remedy and child protection mandates. Interviewees regard this as ‘one of the top leading sets in Bristol and the South West.’ “ - Personal Injury (Band 1) – view rankings here
“A standout set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers remains highly regarded for its strong personal injury practice. The set offers expertise in a wide range of high-value catastrophic and fatal injury claims, and its members have experience of representing both claimant and defendant clients, including several leading insurers. The set’s barristers are regularly called upon to act for and advise clients on industrial disease and stress at work claims, and have further experience in costs matters and cases involving allegations of fraud. Instructing solicitors praise the set as ‘one of the leading sets for personal injury work in Bristol and the South West region.’ “ - Real Estate Litigation (Band 1) – view rankings here
“St John’s continues to feature as a leading set for real estate disputes on the Western Circuit. Its barristers act in challenging boundary and easement cases, as well as dilapidations disputes and litigation relating to leasehold property. The set’s impressive roster of real estate specialists appear before tribunals and courts of all levels and deal with a wide range of residential, commercial and agricultural property. Sources appreciate that “‘the set has high-quality members who are very easy to get on with and the work is of a high standard.’ “ - Motor Insurance Fraud (Band 2) – view rankings here.
“St John’s offers noted capabilities in relation to motor insurance fraud. Its members demonstrate strength handling claims which involve staged or induced accidents and exaggerated injury matters.”
Our barristers are also ranked in the following areas of law:
- Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Western Bar)
- Competition Law (The Regions Bar)
- Court of Protection (All Circuits)
- Ecclesiastical law (All Circuits)
- Health & Safety (Western Bar)
- Licensing (Western Bar)
- Personal Injury ‘Industrial disease’ (All Circuits)
- Planning (Western Bar)
- Professional Negligence (Western Bar)
- Tax (The Regions)
Our clerks are praised for providing an ‘outstanding service’, and have received fantastic feedback:
- “The clerking service is amazing. They are very quick to respond and very proactive. The clerks at St John’s are excellent.”
- “I think the set has one of the best clerking teams I know – they’re always very accommodating and always do their best to find someone at short notice.”
- “The clerks are very helpful, quick to respond and flexible.”
Whether you are a law firm, a business, a public sector organisation or a private individual, you can be sure you will receive legal expertise and client care of the very highest standards from St John’s, and these rankings clearly demonstrate this.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for their continued support and feedback provided to Chambers UK.