With last week’s release of Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2017, we are delighted to announce that 4 New Square has continued to go from strength to strength, with 21 individual improvements in rankings amongst its members and as a chambers.
In addition to these improved rankings, seven of our members have been ranked in areas of work for the first time.
What the directories say
The expertise of 4 New Square’s barristers is recognised by the leading two independent legal directories, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, across a number of practice areas.
We set out below, in alphabetical order by practice area, how we feature in these directories’ most recent editions.
Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, 2016 / 2017
‘4 New Square is highly recommended for commercial, insurance and construction matters, with niche expertise in areas such as costs, product liability and sports law. For many, it is ‘a first port of call‘ and fields ‘a good number of heavyweight silks and juniors‘ whom solicitors ‘would trust with the most complex of instructions‘, and who attract praise for their ‘complete lack of pomposity‘. ‘There is a wholesale trust in this set, which is unrivalled elsewhere‘. This extends to the clerks, who are ‘some of the finest in the business‘; ‘they work tirelessly to give you the best possible service‘ and ‘go above and beyond to meet client needs‘. Senior clerk Lizzy Stewart is ‘on the ball‘ and ‘runs a tight ship‘ that includes Dennis Peck, who is ‘just the best facilitator – he will try and sort any problem you have and does so in a friendly and professional manner‘.’
– Legal 500, 2016
COMMERCIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION
‘Regularly called upon by both top international law firms and boutique litigation firms to act in high-profile contentious matters. The team has a deep understanding of fraud, professional liability, insurance and tax matters at both a domestic and international level. Recently members have acted for a Kazakh group of companies in a USD150 million fraud claim, and have handled a high-profile dispute between two Saudi princes and a Jordanian businessman.
“Lizzy Stewart is the head of the team and just brilliant. She is always very approachable and willing to have open discussions.” She is ably assisted by Dennis Peck and Alex Dolby.’
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 4
CONSTRUCTION
‘4 New Square has a long history of handling matters spanning the full spectrum of construction law. Its highly skilled barristers are regularly instructed by developers, contractors and insurers in both domestic litigation and international arbitration. Construction disputes relating to professional negligence and insurance claims are commonplace, with members demonstrating particular prowess in these complementary areas of law. The team has recently acted in a number of major cases such as Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd. v Higgins Construction and AMEC Group Limited v Ministry of Defence.
“Their clerks were very quick, very helpful and good value for money.” “The clerking team is responsive and friendly to deal with.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 3
‘4 New Square is ‘a default choice for construction professional negligence cases’. In a major highlight for a relatively junior silk, Fiona Sinclair QC led pleas for the respondent in Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) v Higgins Construction, the first judgment on the limitation of construction adjudications made by the Supreme Court.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 3
COSTS LITIGATION
‘The pre-eminent set for costs litigation, it has members who offer market-leading expertise across the full range of costs cases and frequently handle high-profile and landmark matters in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Recent examples of work undertaken include Coventry v Lawrence. One source states: “If the case is important, I wouldn’t use any other chambers – any appeals or cases of significant value go to 4 New Square.”
“The clerks, led by James Barrass, are helpful, friendly, organised and go out of their way to make the experience as easy as possible.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 1
‘The ‘superb’ 4 New Square provides a ‘large stable of excellent costs counsel’. A number of barristers were involved in the seminal case of Coventry v Lawrence; Nicholas Bacon QC acted for the Bar Council, Benjamin Williams QC for the claimants and their insurers and Roger Mallalieu for the Association of Costs Lawyers.’
– Legal 500 2016, Ranked as the Leading Set
INSURANCE
‘Although undoubted leaders in professional negligence, 4 New Square also marshals an impressive insurance offering, and has a strong bench of silks and juniors tackling high-value disputes in the area. As well as leading the way on matters regarding professional indemnity, members handle big-ticket construction and property damage claims, and also specialise in broker disputes. In addition to the quality of its barristers, the set receives glowing accolades for its “outward-looking, modern approach” and its focus on customer service.
“The clerks, led by Lizzy Stewart, are very helpful, friendly and accommodating. They are a strong team who offer very good service.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 3
‘4 New Square’s strength in depth is ‘second to none’. It is ‘a go-to set for professional indemnity coverage disputes’.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 5
PRODUCT LIABILITY
‘4 New Square’s sterling reputation for professional negligence work is complemented by its efforts in the insurance and property damage spheres, and all three form a strong basis for taking on significant product liability cases. The set can claim a strong bench of capable practitioners whose expertise range from the medical and pharmaceutical sectors to cases involving commercial products such as electrical devices and industrial equipment. In addition to the expertise of its barristers, the set receives warm praise for the quality of its clerking service.
“They always provide a very responsive service, and they are a modern, outward-looking chambers.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 3
‘4 New Square has ‘some great juniors and senior juniors in this area’, working closely with silks to ‘make an excellent team’. The set is instructed in a broad array of cases, involving chemical and manufacturing product disputes through to clinical trials.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 2
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE / REGULATORY
‘4 New Square is well respected for its provision of professional discipline expertise across many sectors, excelling particularly in matters concerning the actuarial, accountancy, financial and legal professions. Its highly skilled members routinely appear before a variety of regulatory bodies, such as the FRC, BSB and SDT, acting on behalf of both prosecutors and defendants. The set is particularly noted for its deep knowledge of regulatory matters related to horse-racing.
“The clerks provide an outstanding service.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 3
‘4 New Square’s members often defend in white-collar regulatory matters involving the SRA and FRC. Ben Hubble QC represented a partner at an accountancy firm who was accused of incompetently creating a misleading audit.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 3
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
Chambers & Partners – Professional Negligence ‘Set of the Year’ 2016
‘4 New Square has for many years enjoyed a pre-eminent reputation at the Professional Negligence Bar, and the set continues to impress with both the size of its team and the quality of its advice. Members are instructed by claimant and defendant parties in cases involving all kinds of professionals, and often appear against one another in the Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Recent work highlights include Gemini v CBRE, a claim for negligent valuation totalling over £100 million, and Khanty-Mansisyk v Forsters regarding the execution of a deal for oil reserves in Russia. One instructing solicitor remarks: “4 New Square are a Rolls-Royce service at Chevrolet prices. The breadth and depth of their expertise is unparalleled.”
“The clerks are always able to deliver someone at the right level and with the right expertise, regardless of the issues and how unusual they may be. They have a good understanding of the barristers’ particular strengths and weaknesses and they are not afraid to make a recommendation and push it.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, the Leading Set – Band 1
‘As the ‘go-to set for professional negligence’, 4 New Square is ‘jam-packed with sharp, focused, affable and hardworking barristers’. Nicholas Davidson QC is facing Justin Fenwick QC and George Spalton on Harlequin Property’s £70m claim against Wilkins Kennedy LLP relating to a construction project in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Jamie Smith QC is appearing in Khanty-Mansiysk v Forsters LLP, concerning the alleged failed execution of a deal concerning three blocks of oil reserves in Russia.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 1
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE: TECHNOLOGY & CONSTRUCTION
‘4 New Square has a formidable reputation in professional negligence matters, including those with a construction or technology element. It enjoys a strong relationship with many of the main professional indemnity insurers, but also receives instructions from all manner of defendant and claimant parties to negligence claims. Members have recently acted in Sir Robert McAlpine v David Chipperfield Associates, a £25 million claim against architects and engineers, and Lagan Homes v MV Kelly, a substantial dispute in regard to the specification of a basement car park.
“The set is pretty slick. Senior clerk Lizzy Stewart is particularly impressive. The front of house is friendly yet efficient.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band
SPORTS LAW
Ranked Set – Band 2.
‘Barristers at 4 New Square cover an array of sports matters, and act on behalf of governing bodies, athletes, clubs and agents. Members of the set are particularly active at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and regularly appear for clients on anti-doping, disciplinary, governance and commercial mandates.
“The set has very personable clerks and barristers with an ever-increasing reputation in the sector.”‘
– Chambers and Partners 2017, Leading Set – Band 2
‘At 4 New Square, there are several experts adept in the fields of horseracing, athletics and football. Members have acted on behalf of the RFU, the British Horseracing Authority and Table Tennis England, among others.’
– Legal 500 2016, Leading Set – Tier 3
