Chambers UK 2012

We are recommended in the 2012 edition of Chambers & Partners in the following areas (in alphabetical order):

1.            Administrative & Public Law

2.            International Arbitration

3.            Personal Injury

4.            Public Inquiries

5.            Real Estate Litigation

6.            Sport

7.            Travel

Some quotes from our clients:

"A safe pair of hands and an excellent advocate in all property litigation."

"Renowned for his hard work, focused attitude and the fact that he knows his cases backwards."

"First-class!"

"…highly knowledgeable and very supportive."

"Highly skilled"

"Impressive technical expertise with brinkmanship"

"…calm, quiet and understated…"

"A robust, realistic and very personal service."

"…combines intellectual rigour, a commercial approach and great charm"

"Not from the old school of barristers: he's exceptionally user-friendly, highly commercial and cuts to the pertinent points very quickly. In short, his advice is invaluable."

"Works hard for his clients"

"Very robust and good on his feet."

"A forensically minded and highly cerebral junior"

"An excellent advocate who shows fantastic attention to detail"

"Thorough and knowledgeable"

"…highly personable and effective"  

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Legal 500 2011

1.         Administrative & Public Law (including local government)

James Dingemans QC and James Guthrie QC have been listed as leading silks in administrative & public law. Associate door tenant Melanie Plimmer is a 'supremely effective advocate' and falls within the 'exceptional category'; she 'combines an acute analytical intelligence with formidable forensic skills'.

2.         Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police)

A ‘true leader’, James Dingemans QC was appointed head of chambers in 2010, and has notable experience in right to life and religious liberties cases. Dingemans notably represented British soldiers in the Baha Mousa public inquiry. James Guthrie QC has recent experience advising on political cases in the Caribbean, including in Antigua, Mauritius and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Peter Knox QC acted as counsel to the Hutton Inquiry investigating the death of Dr David Kelly.

3.         Construction

William Godwin is recommended for his work in construction matters, and is commended for his ‘good attention to detail’.

4.         Employment

Sarah Crowther has been listed as a leading junior in employment cases.

5.         Immigration (including business immigration)

Professor Satvinder Juss has been listed as a leading junior in immigration matters.

6.         Insolvency

Clara Johnson is listed as a leading junior in insolvency and the ‘outstanding’ advocate Simon Davenport QC is praised for his ‘top-notch analysis and decisiveness in getting to the relevant points’.

7.         Personal Injury

3 Hare Court has carved a particular niche in travel-related PI cases.

James Dingemans QC ‘has a great eye for detail’, and

Katherine Deal is ‘a fine legal brain who is excellent in court’ and ‘technically flawless’.

Howard Stevens is consistently described as ‘one of the most thorough members of the bar’.

8.         Property litigation (including agriculture and housing)

Paul Letman is recommended and is ‘very well versed in enfranchisement legislation’.

9.         Public Inquiries

3 Hare Court is ‘renowned for its inquiry and inquest work’. 

10.    Junior Counsel to the Crown – ‘B’ Panel

Tom Poole and Thomas Roe are listed as leading junior counsel to the Crown. 

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Chambers Asia Pacific 2011

Dispute Resolution - Hong Kong Bar

Mark Strachan QC is mentioned as a 'very diligent advocate who has a drive to win'.

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Legal 500 2010

Administrative & Public Law - Leading Silks

James Guthrie QC is listed as a Leading Silk whilst James Dingemans QC is singled out as being ‘excellent’ in cases involving Administrative & Public Law.

The ‘helpful and impressive service’ at 3 Hare Court is recommended by the researchers of Legal 500.

Personal Injury

3 Hare Court is particularly accomplished at handling travel-related personal injury matters. James Dingemans QC is ‘forthright and instructive - with great technical ability’ and Simon Davenport QC is ‘a skilled advocate and talented negotiator’. Katherine Deal is ‘exceptionally bright and gives assured and accurate advice’. Sarah Crowther takes ‘a very sensible and commercial approach’. Howard Stevens is ‘outstanding and particularly good at handling legionnaires’ cases’. Dan Saxby is praised for his 'consistency of service' and 'excellent results'.

Civil liberties and human rights (including public inquiry law and actions against the police)

3 Hare Court represents public authorities, and domestic and overseas governments, on international human rights compliance issues.

James Guthrie QC is 'highly regarded' for his election law knowledge, and is often instructed both domestically and abroad.

Chambers head James Dingemans QC regularly appears before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and recently represented British soldiers in the public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi civilian who died in Iraq.

Peter Knox QC is recommended for his work in the Privy Council.

Immigration - Leading Juniors

Professor Satvinder Juss is recommended in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in immigration cases.

Insolvency

Simon Davenport QC is recommended in the Legal 500 directory as a Leading Silk in insolvency cases and is commended for being ‘great on his feet’

Property Litigation

Paul Letman is mentioned as a Leading Junior in Property Litigation in the Legal 500 directory.

Treasury Panel Lists

Tom Poole is on the B Panel list of junior counsel to the Crown.

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Chambers UK 2010

Travel

(i)  The Set

This set, earlier than most, established a reputation for expertise in dealing with personal injury claims arising from accidents abroad. It has capitalised on its early entry into the market and is firmly established as a leader in its field. The set has strong international connections, and barristers with a good range of language skills who have experience of complex and high-value claims involving difficult jurisdictional issues. The team acts both for and against tour operators, travel agents and insurers in claimant and defamation matters, appearing in overseas courts and tribunals on occasion. "Very approachable and very friendly, its barristers are felt to be academically ahead of much of the rest of the competition".

(ii) Silks

James Dingemans QC, "one of the doyens of the Travel Bar", has fantastic knowledge of private international law and international conventions. He leads the travel group and was recently lead counsel in a group litigation regarding food poisoning claims. There were 130 claimants involved, all of whom were tourists who fell ill while on holiday in Turkey. He was also instructed on a case involving a catastrophic head injury in France, which resulted in potentially the largest ever personal injury award being granted. Clients say of him: "He is the consummate professional. Excellent in conference, he offers clear, concise written advice is great at negotiating and is compelling in court."

(iii) Juniors

Katherine Deal assisted James Dingemans QC in the food poisoning group litigation. Known for fighting her client's corner in court, "she's not afraid of difficult technical arguments" and has been involved in cases with major tour operators such as Thomas Cook and First Choice. Andrew Young is a senior junior in the team and has a particular grounding in private international law. A strong team player, he "has a very gentle style but can be a fierce advocate." Sarah Crowther undertakes both claimant and defendant work and is particularly active in matters concerning jurisdictional issues in overseas claims. She is "personable, able to give good commercial advice and handles clients well." Pierre Janusz is "a very safe pair of hands" and is fantastically experienced in this area. He is particularly well known for his expertise in cross-jurisdictional accident work. Also recommended, Howard Stevens is experienced in litigating and settling complex claims. He acts on package travel cases and other hotel-related claims. Solicitors state that he is "a thorough and analytical lawyer who is always up for the fight."

Administrative & Public Law

Also highly respected, James Dingemans QC  is renowned for his work as senior counsel in the Hutton Inquiry and more recently acted for the soldiers in the Baha Mousa inquiry. His colleague James Guthrie QC is widely known for his "extraordinary constitutional knowledge" and has been acting in constitutional and judicial review challenges in Antigua and Barbuda, Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago. He recently appeared in the Privy Council Appeal, AG of Trinidad and Tobago v Smith.

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance

James Dingemans QC has developed a strong commercial arbitration practice with a particular focus on energy disputes in developing countries.

Sport

Rupert Butler is recommended in the Chambers & Partners directory for his expertise in Sport Law.