LEGAL 500, 2008

The 2008 edition of Legal 500 ranks Monckton Chambers with 43 recommendations (up from 38 in 2007).  The following are the direct quotes from this year's directory:

OTHER LEADING SETS

Top-tier EU and competition set Monckton Chambers is also recommended in tax, construction, administrative and public law and environmental law.  Paul Lasok QC is a leading figure.

In alphabetical order, the categories in which we received recommendations are:

 

ADMINISTRATIVE & PUBLIC LAW ~ LEADING SET

'We recommend Monckton Chambers for work which involves European, procurement and tax law', said one lawyer.  Michael Bowsher QC is ' very intelligent and a real authority on procurement law.  His advice is clear, reliable and astute, and commercial'.  Christopher Vajda QC and Peter Roth QC are also recommended.  Junior Tim Ward is ' very good'.

Leading Silks: Michael Bowsher QC, Peter Roth QC, Christopher Vajda QC
Leading Juniors: Kassie Smith, Tim Ward, Daniel Beard

 

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Heriot Currie QC is ' confident, commercially and technically superb, and a very able negotiator', ' clinically analytical and decisive'...

 

CONSTRUCTION

In addition, the internationally-focused Michael Bowsher QC of Monckton Chambers ... [is] recommended.

 

ENVIRONMENT ~ LEADING SET

Monckton Chambers specialises in the EU and public law aspects of environmental law.  Jon Turner QC is ' a really good competition lawyer with a niche environment practice, very thorough - he can turn a reasonable case into a really strong argument'.  He acted in R (Lewis) v EA and R (Anti-Waste) v EA.  Gerry Facenna is ' superb... his written advocacy is so lucid and powerful that it does the hard work'.  Kassie Smith is also recommended as a top junior.

Leading Silks: Jon Turner QC
Leading Juniors: Gerry Facenna, Kassie Smith

 

EU AND COMPETITION ~ TOP TIER LEADING SET

"Two sets continue to dominate the Bar in the EU and competition segment; [with] established senior figures, underpinned by a cornucopia of talented juniors, and they continue to develop the leading names of the future ...  This remains an area where juniors are perhaps much more influential than in other sectors, particularly in connection with UK cases.

Commended for its ' team approach', Monckton Chambers is praised for its capabilities in its core strength of competition law, and has also developed a leading reputation in European and procurement law, the latter with Nicholas Paines QC and Michael Bowsher QC very much to the fore.  On the EU front, the seasoned Sir Jeremy Lever KCMG QC and Anneli Howard, who is ' very good for cartel cases', appeared in the leading enforceability of patents case, Qualcomm v Nokia.  Pre-eminent figure Christopher Vajda QC is seen as ' calm at all times', and frequently brought in to handle ' difficult' and ' technical' cases.  Solicitors admire his cerebral intellect and analytical ability.  The popular John Swift QC and Julian Gregory (who has impressed many, including regulators) represented Tesco in the Competition Commission inquiry into the groceries market.  The ' very impressive' Peter Roth QC had a stellar 2007, appearing alongside the ' erudite' and ' practical' leading junior Daniel Beard, and Julian Gregory in Celesio v OFT. This was the OFT's first successfully defended judicial review of a merger decision.  Daniel Beard remains standing counsel to the OFT.  Jon Turner QC has continued to impress, having appeared in a series of important private damages actions and cartel cases, while the ' sound' Rupert Anderson QC has a ' good feel for developments in the field of criminal cartel investigations'.  Jennifer Skilbeck is recommended for both procurement and competition work.  She recently appeared in the pivotal case of Devenish v Sanofi-Aventis.  George Peretz is still regularly singled out for previous experience at the OFT, while Ben Rayment also spent time at the CAT.  Tim Ward is an experienced figure before the ECJ, while Kassie Smith continues to earn accolades.  Ronit Kreisberger is building an excellent reputation for High Court damages actions.

Recommended Leading Silks: Christopher Vajda QC, Paul Lasok QC, Peter Roth QC, John Swift QC, Jon Turner QC, Rupert Anderson QC, Michael Bowsher QC, Sir Jeremy Lever QC, Nicholas Paines QC

Recommended Leading Juniors: Daniel Beard, George Peretz, Kassie Smith, Julian Gregory, Paul Harris, Anneli Howard, Ronit Kreisberger, Andrew Macnab, Meredith Pickford, Ben Rayment, Jennifer Skilbeck, Tim Ward.

 

HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

Monckton Chambers' Tim Ward, Ian Rogers and Piers Gardner are all recommended.

 

MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT

Leading Junior: Paul Harris

Paul Harris at Monckton Chambers handles sports work involving European and competition law, notably acting for West Ham United.

 

TAX: VAT

Monckton Chambers specialises in VAT, bringing to bear the tenants' European law and commercial expertise.  Paul Lasok QC's 'edge is a formidable knowledge of EC law - no one can touch him.  For anti-avoidance issues, he is highly recommended'.  'Fearsome cross-examiner' and ' stamp duty expert' Melanie Hall QC is' exceptionally sound on EU law and its implications in the context of VAT.  She is easy to work with, pragmatic, and has a thorough, commercial approach'.  She has recently been engaged on matters involving Boots Opticians and Dollond & Aitchison.  Valentina Sloane is a ' rising star, on the shortlist of top juniors for VAT'.  Rupert Anderson QC, Peter Mantle and Paul Harris are also recommended.

Leading Silks: Melanie Hall QC, Paul Lasok QC, Rupert Anderson QC

Leading Juniors: Valentina Sloane, Paul Harris, Peter Mantle