Barristers

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...

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...

Louise has many years of experience representing both claimants and defendants in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She regularly deals with claims arising out of road traffic accidents and is experienced in dealing with claims brought under...

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...

Charles has specialised in land-related matters for over 30 years. He has great experience of boundary litigation, restrictive covenants, easements and public rights of way. He regularly appears in Court; in the First-tier Tribunal (especially on land registration...

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...

Chelsea is a barrister specialising in all aspects of family law. Chelsea joined our Family & Divorce team after completing pupillage under the supervision of Ryan Morgan and Bethany Scarsbrook. Prior to joining St John’s, Chelsea studied law...

Beatrice is a barrister specialising in clinical negligence, personal injury and inquests. In clinical negligence Beatrice is instructed in a broad range of cases, including orthopaedic, delayed diagnosis, dental treatment and fatal accident claims. Her clinical negligence work...

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...

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...

Abigail is a specialist family law barrister practising in all aspects of the law relating to children and has considerable experience in complex care proceedings. Abigail often appears in challenging cases concerning alleged physical or sexual abuse, from...

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...

Michael is a commercial and chancery barrister specialising in: Wills, trusts, probate and inheritance (including private client taxation and TOLATA) Professional negligence in any of his areas of expertise including in relation to negligent tax advice Commercial and...

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...

Fran joins our leading Chancery and Commercial team as a pupil under the supervision of Annie Sampson. Prior to pupillage, Fran worked as a paralegal for a Bristol law firm, litigating a residential landlord and tenant caseload. She...

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...

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...

Natasha is a commercial and chancery barrister handling wills & trusts, real estate and commercial disputes. She is often instructed as sole counsel in high value, multifaceted litigation and is consistently ranked as a leading junior in Chambers...

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...

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. ...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Jack is a specialist family barrister with a busy court-based practice and with a particular emphasis on financial remedies under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and Schedule 1 Children Act 1989. He is equally at home advising on...

Ben provides representation and advice in all main areas of commercial and chancery law. He frequently represents clients at small claims and fast-track trials, as well as for various interim, procedural and enforcement applications, including strike out, summary...

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)...

Nicole is a barrister and trained mediator with a broad practice encompassing many areas of commercial and chancery law. Nicole accepts instructions in landlord and tenant disputes, contractual issues, consumer rights, property matters, building and construction disputes, professional...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Susan Hunter 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...

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...

Rhodri specialises in clinical negligence, acting for both claimants and defendants. Before retraining as a barrister, Rhodri practiced as a medical doctor for 18 years, principally in A&E and general practice. His wealth of knowledge and clinical experience...

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...

Lauren is ranked as a leading junior for clinical negligence in The Legal 500 2024 guide, and is a specialist clinical negligence and inquests barrister. She has a sub-specialism in professional regulation and fitness to practise matters. Lauren...

Joss has a varied commercial and chancery practice spanning commercial/contractual disputes, real estate litigation, and wills & trusts matters. Recent cases where he has appeared as sole counsel include: A multi-track trial concerning a claim for a resulting and/or constructive trust...

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...

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...

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...

Roy accepts instructions in all areas of licensing. He is highly commended for his advocacy, legal knowledge, negotiating skills and approachable client-friendly manner. He acts for individuals and small businesses as well as public authorities and international corporations...

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

Diana specialises in all areas of family law relating to children, including both private and public law proceedings. Children (Private Law) Diana is regularly instructed in protracted and intricate private law matters. She appears across all stages of...

Nick is a qualified arbitrator with the CIArb, and a retired Judge. He recently won the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ at the Bristol Law Society Annual Awards Ceremony 2022.  Called to the Bar in 1975, Nick practised in family...

James is an experienced personal injury and clinical negligence barrister with sub-specialisms in costs and professional negligence.  He is ranked in The Legal 500 in costs (Tier 1), clinical negligence and personal injury. He acts for both claimants...

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...

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...

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...

Dominik is a member of the St John’s Chambers Family & Divorce team. Dominik is praised by many of his lay and professional clients as well as members of the judiciary for his personable, empathetic, and down-to-earth approach....

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...

Richard is a family law specialist with particular expertise in financial remedies (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989) as well as complex private law disputes concerning children. He has a busy Court...

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...

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...

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...

Brittany is a member of our chancery team. She is ranked as a ‘rising star’ in tier 1 by The Legal 500, and by Chambers & Partners. Instructing solicitors describe her as an “effective advocate, and excellent in dealing with...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

Lucy is a family law specialist and has practised in family law throughout her professional career. Her practice now spans all areas of family law with a particular emphasis on children work. She often acts in complex, multi-party or high...

Sarah is a barrister specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence. In personal injury, Sarah is regularly instructed in both fast track and small claims hearings, along with infant approval hearings, Stage 3 hearings, interlocutory hearings and other...

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...

Michael Rivelin joins our highly regarded Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team as a pupil under the supervision of James Marwick. Before coming to the Bar, Michael worked as a doctor, predominantly in hospital medicine, but he also has...

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...

Annie’s broad commercial and chancery practice encompasses wills and trusts work, real estate matters, commercial disputes, professional negligence claims and insolvency proceedings. Annie also has experience of acting at all stages of disputes, including pre-litigation, on interim applications,...

Zoë specialises in family finance work, representing clients in finance and divorce cases. Zoë regularly deals with high-net-worth clients involving company shareholdings, business valuations, family trusts, complex pensions and international assets. Zoe has a wealth of experience dealing...

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...

Rachel is ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 for both personal injury and clinical negligence. She enjoys working across the spectrum of clinical negligence and has a particular interest in cases involving delayed diagnosis of...

One of the leading personal injury Silks, Christopher’s practice encompasses both claimant and defendant work, and he is instructed in all areas of personal injury and clinical negligence. His work is focused on catastrophic brain and spinal injuries,...

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...

Charles practises in the areas of real estate and commercial law. He is regularly instructed across these disciplines in complex and high-value litigation. He has assisted both corporate and individual clients at all stages including: initial and ongoing...

Sophie is a specialist family law practitioner with a thriving junior practice across all of our family law practice areas, including: Children Private Law Children Public Law Divorce & Financial Remedies Part IV Family Law Act 1996 Schedule...

Daniel has an established chancery and commercial practice, covering the traditional areas of probate, property, trusts and breach of contract, appearing regularly in the County Court, First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and the High Court. As part of his...

Harry is an accomplished and directory-ranked mediator in commercial, civil and property disputes.  Described recently as “at the top of his profession”, “highly skilled” and “outstanding”, he is regularly commended by parties for his mediation style, and in...

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...

Tom Swain joins our award-winning Family & Divorce team as a pupil under the supervision of Zoe Saunders (with assistance from Julia Belyavin). Prior to starting pupillage, Tom was an Associate Lecturer in Law at the University of...

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...

Anna acts for both claimants and defendants in most personal injury matters. Anna’s mainstream personal injury practice is centred around higher value claims and she is particularly experienced in dealing with claims where the claimant has developed CRPS....

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...

Georgina is a commercial and chancery practitioner and a qualified mediator. She accepts instructions in all of the main areas of commercial and chancery law. Her main areas of expertise lie in commercial litigation, insolvency matters and contentious...

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...

Alex is ranked as the only ‘star individual’ on the Western Circuit in chancery matters by Chambers UK and is Head of our Wills & Trusts team. He is also the only silk ranked in private wealth outside...

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 acting almost exclusively for claimants. He is well regarded for his...

Peter specialises in planning, local government and environment law. He heads the Public & Administrative Law Practice Group at St John’s Chambers. He also has extensive experience in public rights of way inquiries and associated topics, as well...

Patrick is personal injury barrister who is regularly instructed in hearings on the fast and multi-track. He also advises on liability and quantum and undertakes the drafting of schedules and counter schedules. He has successfully conducted and defended...

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...

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”...

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...