In the latest edition of WWL:UK Bar, the researchers have identified Monckton Chambers as one of seven sets, with the most individual listings. “Monckton Chambers is a market-leading set which demonstrates the strength and depth of its offering with an impressive 57 listings across 10 different practice area chapters this year.” 33 individual members are recognised across 10 practices.

This is what the analysis highlights about Monckton Chambers:

“Competition is a key area in which the set excels, with an impressive total of 23 listings for its silks and juniors. These practitioners are recognised for their outstanding expertise across contentious M&A and state aid matters as well as complex cartel investigations.

The set distinguishes itself with a further 10 listings in our telecoms chapter, cementing its place as a go-to establishment for sector-related licensing, contractual and broadcasting disputes.
Government contracts is another area in which the set is highly esteemed, with 12 barristers noted in our corresponding chapter for their excellence in domestic and cross-border public procurement disputes.

Standout figures at the set include George Peretz QC, who is highlighted as a Global Elite Thought Leader for his encyclopaedic knowledge of competition and state aid law. Jon Turner QC and Anneli Howard QC are also highly regarded for their expertise in competition disputes, while Daniel Beard QC enjoys a strong reputation for his work on complex cases arising from the telecoms sector.”

The editorial also includes the following comments on individual members under the practice area analyses:

UK Bar 2021 – Arbitration
Steven Gee QC with Monckton Chambers is celebrated as “a brilliant strategist and advocate with very deep knowledge of law and industry”. One peer adds, “His knowledge of injunctions and pre-emptive remedies is second to none.”
Thomas Sebastian is recognised as a “star practitioner” who shines in domestic and international arbitration.

UK Bar 2021 – Competition
George Peretz QC is a “market-leading silk for state aid matters” according to impressed sources.
Daniel Beard QC is a “formidable adversary” and “effective litigator” who takes an “impressive strategic approach” to complex international competition disputes.
The “superb” Jon Turner QC is highlighted for his “unrivalled expertise”, with one peer adding, “The courts love him for his clear and robust submissions.”
Josh Holmes QC is regarded as an “excellent silk” with a highly sought-after competition practice.
Anneli Howard QC has amassed a stellar reputation for her “excellent work” and “pragmatic approach” in complex competition cases.
Paul Harris QC is a leading silk who excels in damages claims and abuse of dominance trials.
Mark Brealey QC is highly acclaimed for his strong advocacy in damages actions and pricing disputes.
Kassie Smith QC is recognised for her significant experience and expertise in high-profile damages cases and CAT appeals.
Alan Bates is recognised for his expansive knowledge of European competition law.
Anneliese Blackwood garners plaudits as a go-to competition specialist with deep expertise in damages claims and cartel investigations.
The “absolutely terrific” Ligia Osepciu applies a “practical approach” and “powerful but accessible intellect” to complicated competition cases.
Julianne Kerr Morrison is an “extremely impressive” junior who is “incisive and careful” and a “real star in the making” according to impressed peers.
Philip Woolfe is an “experienced and hard-working junior”, lauded for his “excellent work ethic” and expert handling of complex damages claims and telecoms disputes.
Tim Ward QC, Meredith Pickford QC, Robert Palmer QC, Ronit Kreisberger QC, Rob Williams QC, Alistair Lindsay, Ben Rayment, Laura Elizabeth John, Alison Berridge and Stefan Kuppen are also recognised.

UK Bar 2021 – Government Contracts
Michael Bowsher QC is considered the “Grandfather of procurement law” by peers who laud his “strategic view of complex matters” as well as his “deep knowledge of the field”.
The “excellent” Philip Moser QC is distinguished by his “lovely, smooth advocacy style” and is highly sought after for his expansive knowledge of domestic and EU trade law.
Valentina Sloane QC is a “very strong advocate” who draws high praise for her expertise in transport-related procurement disputes.
Rob Williams QC is highly esteemed for his in-depth understanding of complex procurement matters including damages claims and regulatory issues.
Fiona Banks is an “absolute star” who is “particularly good at getting up to speed very quickly in document-heavy cases” and applying “in-depth knowledge of complicated case law” to her “swift and accurate legal advice”.
Ewan West is lauded for his profound knowledge of regulatory law and is highly sought after by claimants and defendants in high-profile procurement disputes.
Anneliese Blackwood is a “very intelligent and hardworking junior” who regularly provides an array of clients with top-tier advice regarding government contracts.
Alan Bates is revered for his deep expertise in EU and domestic procurement law as well as complex telecoms regulations and state aid issues.
Ligia Osepciu receives plaudits for her “excellent work rate and clarity of analysis” and is regularly engaged in complex PPP and PFI disputes.
Ben Rayment is highly commended for his profound understanding of utilities regulations and EU procurement law.

UK Bar 2021 – International Trade & Commodities
Peers say Thomas Sebastian from Monckton Chambers is “very experienced in WTO matters” and recently acted for Gazprom in a multi-billion-dollar arbitration.

UK Bar 2021 – Sports
Fiona Banks at Monckton Chambers is “a really fantastic sports specialist” who regularly represents national governing bodies, individual players, managers and clubs in disciplinary issues, arbitration proceedings and High Court matters.
Paul Harris QC is also ranked.

UK Bar 2021 – Telecoms
Daniel Beard QC is renowned for representing high-profile clients in complex telecoms appeals.
Josh Holmes QC is held in high esteem by sources thanks to his “incredibly personable advocacy style” and strong expertise in telecommunications regulation and related disputes.
Jon Turner QC is an accomplished silk with a well-developed practice, which sees him regularly representing big-name clients in telecoms disputes.
Meredith Pickford QC is a prominent name in the TMT space where he regularly represents high-profile clients in regulatory proceedings.
Tim Ward QC is recognised for his expansive knowledge of competition and public law, earning him a strong reputation as as a go-to barrister in the telecoms sector.
Anneli Howard QC is revered for her in-depth understanding of EU and public administrative law, with one peer adding, “Her reputation precedes her as an outstanding barrister in the telecoms field”.
Alan Bates from Monckton Chambers is an exceptional junior who “always does an excellent job” for clients in complex telecoms cases.
Stefan Kuppen garners widespread plaudits for his profound knowledge of competition and regulatory law issues facing clients in the telecoms sector.
Fiona Banks is a standout junior, widely acclaimed for her first-rate work acting for telecoms companies and regulators in complex disputes.
Ligia Osepciu is also recognised for the practice.
Members are also recognised in the following categories but without editorial comment:
UK Bar 2021 – Energy & Natural Resources – Kassie Smith QC
UK Bar 2021 – Corporate Tax – Melanie Hall QC and Valentina Sloane QC
UK Bar 2021 – Environment – Jon Turner QC, Gerry Facenna QC, Alan Bates
UK Bar 2021 – Media & Entertainment – Jon Turner QC

Who’s Who Legal is published by Law Business Research, an independent London-based publishing group, which provides research, analysis and reports on the international legal services marketplace.

Congratulations to Daniel Witt for taking the prize for best overall mooter at the annual Ian Hutton Memorial Moot held on 23 March 2021. Owen Sparkes and Sophie Clay represented the appellant, and Lea As and Daniel Witt represented the respondent in the online moot, using a criminal law problem which required competitors to grapple with abuse of process and the law of attempts. The audience was made up of NLS students and friends and Monckton’s Andrew Macnab and Tom Sebastian acted as judges.

For further information on the moot please click here.

Monckton Chambers congratulates former Member of Chambers, Lady Justice Rose, on her appointment to the Supreme Court.

Dame Vivien Rose was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1984 and was in practice at Monckton Chambers for ten years.

She became a Chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2006, a High Court Judge in 2013, President of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) between 2015 and 2018 and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in January 2019.

Members and staff offer our warmest congratulations to Lady Justice Rose who will join the Supreme Court as a Justice on 13 April.

The Lawyer has highlighted 15 disputes set to be heard in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in 2021. Thirteen members of Monckton Chambers are instructed in the following four highlighted cases.

Phones 4U v Orange, Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom
For the defendant, EE:
Meredith Pickford QC and David Gregory, instructed by Clifford Chance partners Samantha Ward and Jeremy Kosky.
For the defendant, Vodafone Limited and Vodafone Group Plc:
Rob Williams QC instructed by Hogan Lovells partner John Tillman

Royal Mail v Ofcom
For the appellant, Royal Mail:
Daniel Beard QC and Ciar McAndrew, instructed by Ashurst partner Nigel Parr.
For the respondent, Ofcom:
Josh Holmes QC, alongside Julianne Kerr Morrison and Nikolaus Grubeck, instructed by Ofcom’s in-house legal team.
For third-party, Whistl:
Monckton’s Jon Turner QC is leading Alan Bates and Daisy Mackersie, instructed by Tower House partner Rosaleen Hubbard.

Gregor Fisken v Bernard Carl
For the respondent, Gregor Fisken LTD:
William Hooper instructed by Rosenblatt partner Simon Walton.

Lloyd v Google
For the ICO as the intervening party:
Gerry Facenna QC and Nikolaus Grubeck instructed by the ICO.

Subscribers can read the full article here.

Chambers Global 2021, ranking the top lawyers and law firms in over 200 jurisdictions across the world, has been published.

Monckton Chambers is once again one of five sets to be recognised for Competition Law in UK. In addition, individual barristers, 34 in all, are ranked across four practice areas: Competition Law (UK), Public International Law: The English Bar, Dispute Resolution (Russia) and Dispute Resolution: Commercial (UK)

Competition Law in UK. Individual Monckton members ranked for this category are:

Silks: Jon Turner QC, Daniel Beard QC, Tim Ward QC, Mark Brealey QC, Paul Harris QC, Meredith Pickford QC, Philip Moser QC, Kassie Smith QC, George Peretz QC, Josh Holmes QC, Ronit Kreisberger QC and Rob Williams QC.

Juniors: Alistair Lindsay, Ben Rayment, Julian Gregory, Anneli Howard, Alan Bates, Ben Lask, Philip Woolfe, Anneliese Blackwood, Laura Elizabeth John, Ligia Osepciu, Alison Berridge, Michael Armitage, James Bourke, Julianne Kerr Morrison and Thomas Sebastian. Fiona Banks, is also listed, for the first time this year.

In addition Sir Christopher Bellamy QC is recognised as a Senior Stateman for both Competition Law and Competition Law Litigation.

Public International Law in UK

Thomas Sebastian, described as “very clever, thorough and a go-to for WTO matters“, is once again in the Guide under Public International Law: The English Bar.

Dispute Resolution in Russia

Drew Holiner, described as “excellent at the mechanics of arbitration,” is one of only five UK lawyers ranked for Dispute Resolution (Expertise Based Abroad) in Russia.

Dispute Resolution: Commercial (UK)

Drew Holiner is also ranked, for the category of Dispute Resolution: Commercial (UK) in the Global Guide , alongside once again, William Buck, described as having “a strong commercial head on his shoulders”, and Gregory Pipe, noted for being “ highly experienced and his strategising is superb”. William Hooper, “a master of detail in a case“, is in the tables for the first time as “up and coming”.

For the full Chambers Global Guide, click here.

George Peretz QC and Ian Rogers QC have both been recommended for reappointment to the Welsh Government Panel of Queen’s Counsel.

George Peretz has been on the panel since 2017 and Ian Rogers since 2012. Candidates for the appointments had to satisfy a number of criteria, including experience of advocacy in the higher courts, experience in constitutional and administrative law, knowledge of the devolution settlement in Wales and of divergences between the law in England and in Wales, experience of working for or against the government or other public bodies and an appreciation of the particular characteristics of government litigation.

Both appointments will be for a period of five years starting on 1 March 2021, but subject to extension or disposal at the discretion of the Counsel General for Wales.