Barristers

Alex is Head of our Wills & Trusts team and is recognised for his impressive chancery practice. He is the only silk ranked in private wealth outside of London in the High Net Worth Guide 2025. Alex specialises...

Lucy is a children law specialist and has practised in family law throughout her professional career. Her practice spans all areas of children work at trial and on appeal. In public law children cases, Lucy acts for parents,...

Matthew White, Head of Chambers, specialises in personal injury litigation. He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers UK and Tier 1 in The Legal 500 guide. He is described by clients as the “master of fine detail”...

After an extremely successful career at the bar and consistently recognised as being among the leading experts in financial remedy cases, Christopher is now focussing solely on adjudicating Private FDR’s and remains an associate member of St Johns...

Suzanne Ornsby KC is a highly proficient public, planning and environmental lawyer with wide experience of acting for utilities, multinationals, planning authorities, action groups and individuals. She is regularly involved in statutory challenges and judicial reviews as well...

Matthew leads a successful and expanding Clinical Negligence team. He is known for his expertise in clinical negligence, personal injury and sports law cases. In the field of personal injury he specialises in asbestos related disease claims and...

William has over thirty years’ experience advising and acting in disputes before arbitrators and the English courts. He specialises in commercial and construction law, often with a cross border element, and international arbitration. He sits as an arbitrator...

Nathan specialises in clinical negligence, catastrophic personal injury claims, product liability, and professional negligence. He is regarded by solicitors and opponents interviewed by the legal directories for having “sound judgment“, “an industrious approach“, “a measured and independent perspective“,...

One of Chambers’ most senior barristers, Richard has an extensive practice which encompasses personal injury, clinical negligence, professional negligence claims and property damage matters, including a number of high profile cases. Richard’s practice is also complemented by his...

Susan has over 30 years’ experience at all court levels. Susan is a children law expert, both public and private, including complex injury, forced marriage and female genital mutilation, spousal murder and parental alienation in addition to contact...

Nick specialises exclusively in divorce and financial remedy cases. He has an in-depth knowledge and expertise of the issues and the law, including consideration of pensions and actuarial issues along with tax and commercial considerations. Prior to joining the...

John is a very experienced adviser and advocate in real estate- and chancery litigation, an area in which he has specialised for over 25 years. John is ranked in Band 1 for real estate litigation and chancery in...

Andrew McLaughlin is a leading barrister with a national practice in the fields of personal injury, industrial disease and clinical negligence. A member of St John’s Chambers for more than 20 years, he holds the position of Head...

Tim specialises in planning, compulsory purchase, local government and commercial law. He appears regularly on behalf of local planning authorities and developers in planning appeals, Judicial Review, statutory challenges of appeal decisions, and development plans, especially those dealing...

James, a former solicitor, is an experienced litigator specialising in commercial and property disputes. His practice includes company and partnership disputes, construction disputes and insolvency, and he is often instructed in complex disputes which span more than one...

Sarah was called to the Bar in 1994 and since 1999 has worked as a specialist family lawyer in Chambers in London and Bristol. She specialises in all aspects of children law and Court of Protection work. Sarah...

Jacqueline is a confident and highly competent advocate, specialising in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown. She rejoined the St John’s Chambers Family & Divorce team from a chambers in Birmingham where she had an enviable reputation for...

John is a barrister specialising in contentious probate, Court of Protection, all areas of real estate work including conveyancing disputes, boundaries and easements, landlord & tenant, partnership, banking, pensions, insolvency, company law and shareholder disputes. John’s commercial practice...

Judi practises across public and private family law, with particular expertise in cases of abduction and the international relocation of children. In complex public law cases she is involved in multiple parties, significant injuries and complex medical evidence. ...

Julian works in all aspects of personal injury law including employers’ and public liability, industrial disease, road traffic accidents (including fraud work), product liability, fatal accidents including inquests, and costs. He is more commonly instructed by defendants and...

Justin is Head of the Clinical Negligence team and ranked as a leading barrister in The Legal 500. He specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation in cases of substantial value or complexity. He is well regarded...

Delia is a specialist family law barrister and mediator. She has a particular interest in care proceedings where she represents parents, and guardians. Her work load involves Fact-Finding hearings concerning allegations of domestic violence, sexual abuse and non-accidental...

Zahid is an experienced family law barrister with a practice encompassing all areas of Children Law. He frequently represents parents, family members, Guardians, the Official Solicitor and local authority’s in care proceedings at all tiers of Court across the South West, often...

Rachel has over 20 years’ experience in dealing with personal injury cases, acting for both claimants and defendants. She has gained a reputation for her robust advocacy, well-reasoned but no nonsense approach to complicated issues, and her friendly manner...

Harry is a leading specialist mediator in commercial, property, contentious trust & probate and other civil disputes, and a former barrister.  Ranked as one of the UK’s top mediators by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, he...

Caroline is a specialist family barrister who practises in all areas of family law with a strong emphasis on care proceedings. Her practice in this area has given her a detailed knowledge of the appropriate procedural law and...

Julia specialises in children law, both public law and private law cases. Her public law practice focuses on complex care cases. Recent instructions have included cases where the principle allegations were sexual abuse and/or inflicted injuries, as well...

Zoë Saunders is a highly regarded family law barrister, arbitrator and mediator practising from St John’s Chambers and an Associate Tenant of 36 Family at The 36 Group. She was called to the Bar in 2003 and has developed a broad and sophisticated practice...

Rebecca is an experienced civil practitioner specialising in construction . She is a member of PIBA, ACIArb, a TECBAR adjudicator and an accredited Civil Mediator. In relation to construction, Rebecca is an in demand junior with experience of...

Christopher is a chancery and commercial specialist with particular emphasis on trust litigation and advice, contentious and non-contentious probate applications, real property litigation (particularly in relation to easements, restrictive covenants and contracts for the sale of land) and...

Michael has a wide chancery-based practice focusing on wills and trusts. He is regularly instructed as an advocate and/or to advise upon a diverse range of matters. His work includes: Contentious probate and administration of estates and trusts...

Darren specialises in personal injury and employment matters, and was called to the Bar in 2004. He is a leading junior on civil fraud, fundamental dishonesty, S57 defences as well as committal for contempt of court. He has...

Jody specialises in family financial work including wills and trusts. He is able to bring his wide experience in these areas to resolving the most complex and challenging disputes. Jody’s divorce and financial remedy practice focuses on the...

Louise specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquest work. She undertakes a broad range of high-value and complex claims, often following her representation of interested persons at the related inquest. Since her appointment to the Attorney General...

Patrick is a personal injury and clinical negligence barrister with an established reputation as a fierce advocate in high value Multi-track and High Court matters and appeals. He has an impressive ability to master difficult and complex evidential...

Jimmy is a specialist practitioner in the fields of clinical negligence, personal injury and industrial disease. He joined St John’s Chambers in September 2015 having previously practised in London. In clinical negligence, Jimmy has experience of cases involving...

Olivia is a family law barrister, specialising in public and private law cases concerning children. She was called to the Bar in 2008 and practised in Cardiff, before joining St John’s Chambers in 2018. Olivia represents local authorities,...

James is a leading specialist personal injury and clinical negligence barrister. He is ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK. James represents claimants and defendants in cases involving catastrophic and serious injury. His personal injury work focuses...

Ben is Deputy Head of Chambers’ Personal Injury Department, a mediator and part-time Crown Court judge. He is widely recognised for his “resourceful and highly adaptable” trial advocacy and “excellent advice on strategy” in relation to catastrophic injury...

Oliver has a specialist practice that focuses on wills and trusts, and real estate matters, and the overlap between them.  He is regularly instructed as an advocate, advisor, and mediator in a wide range of disputes. Recent cases...

Richard is consistently ranked as a leading matrimonial finance junior by both of the legal directories, Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. He is described as “incisive”, “technically excellent”, “incredibly persuasive”, “extremely well respected by judges” and...

Charlie undertakes a wide range of commercial and chancery work in litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has experience of substantial, complex and high-value litigation in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He also has wide experience...

James specialises in the following areas of work: Personal injury Clinical negligence Data protection James is a specialist personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner. He has extensive experience across the full spectrum of such work, including public and...

Adam is a specialist commercial and chancery barrister who now practises predominantly in cases involving land and property. However, he has significant experience in the full scope of commercial and chancery work including wills, trusts & probate, court...

Jack is Head of the Divorce and Financial Remedy team. He has a busy court-based practice specialising exclusively in complex financial remedy litigation. Jack is consistently ranked in both Chambers UK and the Legal 500 as a leading...

Oliver is a private family, trusts and estates barrister, and offers advice, drafting and advocacy services within his areas of specialism. Oliver is also a qualified mediator. He is regularly instructed on behalf of applicants and respondents at...

Asha practises in all aspects of the law relating to children. She is experienced in complex private and public child law cases involving the full range of issues including allegations of physical and sexual abuse, inflicted injuries, intractable...

Rachel is ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 for personal injury, clinical negligence, and inquests and inquiries, and in Chambers and Partners for Personal Injury. She enjoys working across the spectrum of clinical negligence and...

Bethany specialises in financial remedy disputes and private children law, with particular experience in cases that involve cross-jurisdictional issues. She accepts instructions in all aspects of family law including: Financial Remedy Proceedings Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 Private...

Ryan specialises in public and private children law work. He represents local authorities, parents and children in complex proceedings, including cases involving non-accidental injury, fabricated illness, sexual assaults and child death. Ryan is ranked in Chambers UK and...

Annie is a specialist chancery barrister and a trained mediator. Annie’s practice focuses predominantly on wills and trusts and property disputes. Accordingly, Annie has considerable experience of a broad range work in both areas including, for example, trusts...

Brittany is a member of our chancery team. She is ranked as a leading junior in tier 1 by the Legal 500, and by Chambers & Partners. Instructing solicitors describe her as an “exceptional advocate…knowledgeable, approachable and extremely good with clients”. Brittany...

Sophie is a specialist family law barrister, recognised as a leading junior in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK across all her areas of expertise: Children – private law (including international cases) Divorce and financial remedies (including...

Harriet is a specialist family law barrister who practises in the following areas: Children Private Law Children Public Law Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 Divorce & Financial Remedies Part IV Family Law Act 1996 (Domestic Violence) ToLATA 1996...

Sophie specialises in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquest work. She acts for claimants and defendants in a variety of personal injury cases including RTA claims, employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, fraud and credit hire. Sophie is an experienced...

Daniel has an established chancery practice – covering the traditional areas of probate, property and trusts – appearing regularly in the High Court, County Court and Property Tribunals. As part of his probate practice, Daniel frequently advises on...

Charles practises in the areas of real estate, agricultural and commercial law. He is ranked as a ‘Leading Junior’ in The Legal 500 2026 guide for property and construction. Charles is regularly instructed across these disciplines in complex...

Jonathan is an experienced, specialist personal injury barrister, whose practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury litigation. Jonathan regularly acts for both claimants and defendants on the intermediate and multi-track, in claims worth up to £1m. His caseload...

Georgina is an experienced junior barrister specialising in commercial law and wills and trusts disputes. She has a developed a practice focused on resolving complex legal disputes by providing clear, practical, and sensitive advice to a wide range...

Rhodri’s practice is in personal injury. He specialises in clinical negligence and inquests. Before taking tenancy at St John’s, he practised as a medical doctor for 18 years gaining experience in a variety of specialities including A&E, ITU,...

Lauren is ranked as a leading junior for clinical negligence and inquests in The Legal 500 2026 guide, and is a specialist clinical negligence and inquests barrister. She has a sub-specialism in professional regulation and fitness to practise...

Sarah has recently joined the Family & Divorce team, formerly a barrister at Four Brick Court where she completed her pupillage and established her practice before returning to the west country, where she grew up. She specialises in...

Dominik assists clients in highly emotional and complicated care proceedings. He is regularly instructed to represent local authorities, parents and the children’s guardian at initial hearings, EPOs and ICOs through to contested multi-day final hearings and fact-finding hearings....

David is a specialist personal injury barrister who has a balanced practice acting for both claimants and defendants. His practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury and he is regularly instructed to advise on claims relating to RTAs,...

Zoey is a specialist family law barrister with a particular focus on matters relating to private law children disputes. She is regularly instructed to represent clients in all types of applications under s.8 Children Act 1989 and is...

Tara-Lynn practises in personal injury, clinical negligence and costs. She is known for her meticulous approach, and has been praised for her in-depth knowledge of civil procedure. She takes a pragmatic and solution-focused approach to her cases and...

Liberty is a specialist family law practitioner, with a busy practice involving both public and private children law, and applications under Part IV a Family Law Act 1996. Areas of expertise: Children Private Law Children Public Law Part...

Georgina is a specialist family law barrister who acts in all areas of private family law, specifically financial remedy proceedings, private children disputes, issues of jurisdiction including international child relocation, cohabitation disputes and applications under the FLA 1996...

Vivien is a specialist family law barrister practising in all aspects of family law. Vivien has recently been nominated for ‘Family Law Young Barrister of the Year’ at the Family Law Awards 2024. Areas of expertise include: Financial...

Kate is building a broad practice as a specialist family law barrister, and accepts instructions in the following areas: Private Law Children Act matters Divorce and Financial Remedies Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 Part IV Family Law Act...

Jack is a specialist commercial and chancery barrister and a trained mediator. His practice spans the breadth of commercial disputes, including company and insolvency; contractual disputes; offshore work; wills and trust litigation; professional negligence claims; property matters; and...

James is a specialist barrister practising exclusively in family law. James is a tactically astute and sought-after advocate who is meticulous in his case preparation. He acts in public and private law children cases and adopts a pragmatic...

Diana is a specialist family law barrister practising in all areas of children law and domestic abuse. Her areas of expertise include: Children Private Law Children Public Law Part IV Family Law Act 1996 (domestic abuse) She is...

Laura Rowe is a specialist family law practitioner, with a busy practice involving both Public and Private Children law, Divorce & Financial Remedy and Court of Protection. Laura undertakes work well beyond her level of call and is...

Kayleigh has a broad chancery commercial practice spanning all of chambers’ core practice areas. She also has a particular interest in cases with an international element. Kayleigh regularly appears as a sole advocate in the First-Tier Tribunal, County...

Beatrice is a barrister specialising in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests. Beatrice maintains a busy practice in the fields of Clinical Negligence, Inquests, and Personal Injury. She is regularly praised by her clients for her resolute advocacy,...

Chelsea is a specialist family law practitioner, with a focus on public and private law children disputes. Areas of expertise: Children Private Law Children Public Law Part IV Family Law Act 1996 Court of Protection Chelsea is regularly...

Sarah maintains a busy court practice covering all areas of personal injury. She is experienced in dealing with a range of road traffic accident, Highways Act, employers’ liability, public liability and credit hire claims. Sarah has a particular...

Nicole is a barrister and trained mediator with a broad practice encompassing many areas of commercial and chancery law. Nicole accepts instructions in commercial, construction, professional negligence, landlord and tenant, commercial and residential property, other property and real...

Jenny accepts instructions in all areas of family law including: Children Private Law Divorce and Financial Remedies Part IV Family Law Act 1996 Children Public Law Jenny has a busy practice representing clients in financial remedies and Children...

Glen joined our Family & Divorce team in 2022 following a successful career as a solicitor working for a Local Authority where he focussed on children law, representing them in a range of hearings from contested interim removal...

Ben provides representation and advice in all main areas of commercial and chancery law. Ben regularly appears in both the County Court and High Court undertaking procedural hearings, including including strike out, summary judgment and disclosure;  enforcement applications,...

Francesca is a barrister with a broad commercial and chancery practice. Francesca accepts instructions across the spectrum of commercial and chancery work, including wills and trusts, commercial and insolvency, landlord and tenant and real property. Her court work...

Michael is a barrister specialising in clinical negligence, inquest, and personal injury. Before coming to the Bar, Michael worked as a doctor, predominantly in hospital medicine and surgery. He also continues to work as a lay chair for...

Tim has built up an extensive practice over a number of years, the main areas of which concern disputes in these areas: Commercial and Chancery Civil Fraud and Asset Tracing Professional Negligence (principally, solicitors, barristers, auditors/accountants and bankers)...

Guy is a chancery and commercial specialist who acts in complex cases which often raise difficult and/or novel points of law. His commercial work includes banking, finance, commercial contract, company and partnership and professional negligence. He also has...

Derek O’Sullivan KC’s practice concentrates on personal injury and he has significant experience in: catastrophic injury claims, employer’s liability claims, occupier’s liability claims, fatal accident claims and road traffic accidents. Derek is also regularly instructed in health and...

Richard has a general chancery and commercial practice.  His main areas of expertise are: Real estate (particularly landlord & tenant and mortgage cases) Wills & trusts (including challenges to the validity of wills and applications under the Inheritance...

Nick is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Exeter and an Associate Academic Member of St John’s Chambers. From 2010 – 2021, Nick practised as a specialist commercial and chancery law barrister. His particular areas...

Iain was elected an associate member of Chambers in 2022, having practised across the full range of family law matters at St John’s for a number of years. He was frequently instructed to represent local authorities, parents and...

Samuel is a pupil within our highly ranked Chancery & Commercial Practice Group, under the supervision of Annie Sampson. Samuel first came to Bristol in 2016 to study for his undergraduate degree in English Literature. He remained in the...

Hannah is a pupil within our highly ranked Chancery & Commercial Practice Group, under the supervision of James Pearce-Smith. Prior to commencing pupillage, Hannah was a Commercial Dispute Resolution Paralegal at DAC Beachcroft LLP, where she supported teams...

Dorcas is a pupil within our leading Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Practice Group, under the supervision of Julian Horne. Dorcas read Law at the University of Edinburgh before completing an LLM in International Law at University College London,...

Chloe is a pupil within our award-winning Family & Divorce Practice Group, working under the supervision of Zoe Saunders. Chloe accepts instructions across all areas and at all stages of family law, with a particular interest in matrimonial...

Before commencing pupillage, Annabel enjoyed a long and successful career in education. She taught across the full range of primary age groups, from Nursery through to Year 6, and most recently delivered A Level Law teaching. Annabel has...