Set rankings
We are recommended as a set for:
- Construction
- Personal Injury
- Professional Negligence
- Property Litigation
- Social Housing
Set Overview
Hardwicke is ‘a very forward-thinking, dynamic and user-friendly chambers’, where the barristers are not only ‘talented’ but also ‘well versed in modern technology, responsive and very open about their workloads to assist with managing client expectations’. With strengths in commercial, construction, insurance and property law, chambers communicates its expertise through ‘a great programme of talks and seminars’, and a newsletter that ‘is amusing, easy to read and highlights relevant legal points in a practical way’. The service provided is ‘far ahead compared to other sets’ and the clerking is also ‘the best’, providing ‘innovative fee structures’, ‘great administrative support’ and ‘understanding of both solicitors’ and barristers’ needs’. Chief executive Amanda Illing and practice director Deborah Anderson are at the helm, with other key contacts including senior practice managers Richard Sumarno, who ‘develops a strong working relationship with the clients from the outset’, and the recently promoted James Duncan-Hartill, who is ‘a credit to the set’.
Testimonials
Administrative and Public Law (including Local Government)
Alison Meacher
“Extremely personable and has a thorough grasp of the law surrounding her cases.”
Civil Liberties and Human Rights (including actions against the police)
Alison Meacher
“A firm advocate in court and in negotiations outside of court.”
Clinical Negligence
Margaret Bloom
“Hugely intelligent.”
Commercial Litigation
Nigel Jones QC
“Often the first name on the team sheet when it comes to multi-million pound cases.”
David Lewis
“Confident, intelligent and robust; you know he’s fighting your corner.”
Construction
The Set
The ‘leading construction risks practice’ at Hardwicke includes Nigel Jones QC, who is acting for Keller in a potential liability case relating to the design and contract for the construction of a wine warehouse in Avonmouth. Paul Reed QC represented the claimant in a dispute arising from the construction of the Rolls Building.
Nigel Jones QC
“He inspires confidence in clients and grasps the detail well.”
Paul Reed QC
“He always commands the fullest confidence of the team assembled for big-ticket work.”
Sarah McCann
“Consistently brilliant, extremely pragmatic and commercial.”
Catherine Piercy
“An outstanding advocate, who is resolute and remarkable in leading a long-term strategy.”
David Pliener
An approachable advocate, who impressively marshals the details of a case.”
Michael Wheater
“An excellent advocate, who provides robust and commercially astute advice.”
Costs
PJ Kirby QC
“A clear costs specialist, who is knowledgeable, commercial and prepared to go the extra mile.”
Rupert Cohen
An exceptional barrister with abilities that far surpass his year of call
Court of Protection and Community Care
Alison Meacher
“She is extremely helpful in explaining the law in light of the intricacies that some cases pose.”
Education
Shazia Akhtar
“An excellent advocate, who is empathetic to the needs of her clients
Employment
Paul Strelitz
“A tenacious advocate.”
Insolvency
Sarah Clarke
“She is a very good strategist and pays great attention to detail.’
Wendy Parker
“Highly recommended and well liked.”
Charles Raffin
“A safe pair of hands
Jonathan Titmuss
“Very thorough.”
Alaric Watson
“His calm and effective advocacy is impressive.”
Insurance Fraud (Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud)
Gemma Witherington
“Very good at giving direct, sensible and pragmatic advice”
Insurance and Reinsurance
Nigel Jones QC
Indefatigable and user-friendly, with a first-class intellect
Paul Reed QC
“Technically fantastic and approachable”.
David Pliener
“He is unflappable, with deep knowledge and a light touch”.
Intellectual Property
Mark Engelman
Highly experienced in copyright matters.”
Ian Silcock
“He has great experience in copyright claims.”
Personal Injury, Industrial Disease and Insurance Fraud
The Set
Hardwicke is an ‘impressive’ set, providing ‘an excellent team’ of ‘accommodating and very professional’ counsel. Members act for both claimants and defendants, and are experienced in handling high-value cases involving catastrophic brain and spinal injury, amputation, disease and fatalities.
Insurance Fraud
Gemma Witherington
“Very good at giving direct, sensible and pragmatic advice.”
Personal Injury
Charles Bagot
“He uses the law creatively but pragmatically to achieve the best possible results for his clients.”
Jasmine Murphy
“Attentive to detail and empathetic.”
Colm Nugent
“His speed in understanding and assimilating the issues in any case is always impressive.”
Henry Slack
“He is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that the litigation requirements are met.”
Sarah Venn
“A very sensible and commercial decision maker.”
Gemma Witherington
“She is a very determined advocate and really fights her client’s corner.”
Professional Negligence
The Set
Hardwicke’s members have ‘good experience’ and are ‘excellent on complex construction cases’, as well as more general professional negligence claims. Newlon Housing Trust v Sir Robert McAlpine, Buro Happold and Populous is recent case highlight.
Nigel Jones QC
Very bright, incredibly hardworking and intellectually outstanding
Paul Reed QC
Technically fantastic, and he is also incredibly approachable
John de Waal QC
“He has a gentle manner and is personable.”
Thomas Bell
“Very client-friendly.”
James Hall
“Technically excellent, responsive, client-friendly and commercially minded.”
Sarah McCann
“Determined, results-driven and a joy to work with”
Catherine Piercy
“She has very strong communication skills that inspire confidence and bring a positive energy to the room.”
David Pliener
“Very bright and responsive.”
Jonathan Titmuss
“He is responsive and knows his stuff”.
Michael Wheater
“First-rate”
Property Litigation and Agriculture
The set
At Hardwicke, Brie Stevens-Hoare QC appeared in Marlbray v Laditi & Laditi, and John de Waal QC handled a party wall dispute, Foxland Management v Redab Finchley. The set reaps praise for its modern approach and accessibility, and ‘the barristers respond quickly and helpfully to ad-hoc emails’.
Brie Stevens-Hoare QC
She has a hugely positive ‘can-do’ attitude and her written work is a lesson in clarity
John de Waal QC
His calm, self-assured manner instils confidence in clients
Simon Allison
“He has an encyclopedic knowledge of residential landlord and tenant work
Alexander Bastin
He is intellectually outstanding yet down to earth; he thinks outside the box and provides creative solutions
Emily Betts
She is a superb all-rounder with an excellent understanding of the law
John Clargo
“A first-rate advocate, who is well liked by clients
Jamal Demachkie
Excellent to work with, he pulls together with the team and clients find him approachable and refreshing
Amanda Eilledge
She has extensive knowledge and a very strong client-facing approachability
Daniel Gatty
His advice is always clear, concise and reliable
Peter Petts
“His knowledge of the law is excellent and he is unfazed by anything thrown at him in conference or in court.”
Edward Rowntree
A gentleman who encourages resolution of disputes and handles difficult clients well
Laura Tweedy
She provides commercial advice and has a great rapport with clients, putting them at ease immediately
Social Housing
The Set
Hardwicke ‘makes clients feel valued and provides a friendly service’. Alison Meacher is acting for Nuneaton and Bedworth Council in an appeal to the Upper Tribunal against a decision made by the First-tier Tribunal that a person’s entitlement to housing benefit should not be subject to the “bedroom tax” on the basis that they have an additional bedroom. Morayo Fagborun Bennett acted for the claimant in A2Dominion v Cocks, a possession claim on the grounds of rent arrears and that the defendant parted possession of the property and failed to occupy it as her only or principal home.
Morayo Fagborun Bennett
“Very conscientious and collaborative to work with.”
Alison Meacher
“She is patient and helpful with litigants in person.”
Alastair Redpath-Stevens
“Recommended for local government issues.”
Laura Tweedy
“She has a steely determination to fight her client’s corner.”