Juniors with clout

Although juniors face intense competition from silks, there are a number whose expertise makes them the first port of call for those seeking specialist knowledge

Is the junior Bar becoming an endangered species? Although a number of leading solicitors decried the growth of the cult of the individual at the expense of the Bar generally, the tradition of using silks and the market forces that will pay them four-figure daily refreshers is likely to continue.

For juniors to succeed, they have to prove to the heads of litigation that they are good team players as well as having a good brain.

They must also show a willingness to work with the instructing solicitors and their clients, and be able to build up a rapport with both.

Judges have commented that juniors will benefit from getting more experience by working with solicitors. They will end up much better and wiser counsel, able to maintain their equilibrium and exude charm in the most complex of cases where millions of pounds can be at stake.

Obviously the sets which are already known for the leading silks in this area of practice are seen as the first stops for banking and finance sector juniors.

At 3 Verulam Buildings the notable juniors include Ewan McQuater 'who is still much in demand', Andrew Sutcliffe who 'is very thorough and a good egg' and the 'very good' Andrew Onslow. Clive Freedman and David Waksman are also much recommended.

At the same set Jonathan Nash is 'a good, level-headed banking barrister', while Caroline Lewis, Juliet May, David Wolfson and Adrian Beltrami are all noted as 'good all-rounders'. Annie Hockaday and Amanda Green win mentions, with Richard de Lacy, Peter Cranfield, Stephen Phillips and John Odgers also on the instruction list.

At Brick Court Chambers, Charles Hollander, William Wood and Catharine Otton-Goulder all stand out as good juniors, as do Richard Lord and Richard Slade and the more junior Alec Haydon.

At One Essex Court, headed by Anthony Grabiner QC, Rhodri Davies and John McCaughran are rated 'very highly' as is Laurence Rabinowitz who is 'obviously very good as a middle-ranking junior'. At the same set there are recommendations for Stephen Auld, Jeffery Onions and Anthony de Garr Robinson, as well as for Alain Choo Choy, Daniel Toledano and Charles Graham.

At Fountain Court the senior juniors to note are Simon Browne-Wilkinson and the up-and-coming Philip Brook Smith along with Bankim Thanki, Craig Orr, Tom Keith and Marcus Smith. Stephen Moriarty is 'very academic and very clever' and Tim Howe has also impressed. At the same set, Raymond Cox, Andrew Mitchell and the more junior Richard Handyside also receive mentions.

At Erskine Chambers David Chivers has impressed.

Robin Knowles at 3-4 South Square is a 'highly effective junior, one to watch', with William Trower also singled out for praise. At the same set Robin Dicker is seen as 'quite outstanding, especially for insolvency a tip to take silk'; also noted are Lexa Hilliard, Stephen Atherton and Richard Hacker.

Stephen Hofmeyr at 7 King's Bench Walk is 'easy to work with, thorough and effective' and Christopher Butcher is also 'very able'.

Richard Millett at Essex Court Chambers is popular, as are Vernon Flynn, Sara Cockerill and Richard Jacobs.

Leading junior Anthony Trace at 13 Old Square, headed by Michael Lyndon-Stanford QC, is rated, as is the more junior Matthew Collings who is ' a class act', the 'underrated' Richard Morgan and the very good Amanda Tipples. As a champion of the underdog in cases against large financial institutions, Bernard Devlin at 1 Harcourt Buildings is noted in 'undue influence' cases. He made a name for himself through his role in Barclays Bank v O'Brien.

And at 4 Stone Buildings, Jonathan Crow and Robert Miles are two of the juniors singled out for recommendations. Aidan Christie at 4 Pump Court rates a mention as does Tom Beazley at 2 Hare Court.

At 39 Essex Street, Stuart Catchpole is a good banking and commercial junior, while at 20 Essex Street, David Owen and Duncan Matthews are said to be 'extremely able'. Sam Aaron at 4-5 Gray's Inn Square also rates mention.

Other juniors to note are James Eadie at One Hare Court, and at Thirteen Old Square, headed by Charles Sparrow QC, Frank Hinks, Beverly-Ann Rogers, James Behrens, Elizabeth Jones, Philip Jones, Philip Marshall and Bridget Lucas all merit a mention.

At 1 Crown Office Row, headed by Mark Strachan QC, Michael Lazarus in named as a 'particular favourite.' Leading senior junior at 2 Field Court is the chambers head Norman Palmer who wins praise as well as colleague Ashley Underwood who is described as 'excellent'.

In the area of financial services, Guy Philipps at Fountain Court is noted, while Brian Doctor is proving his worth in the area of swaps.

Paul Newman at Wilberforce Chambers 'has potential'. In the area of aviation finance Andrew Lydiard at 5 Bell Yard Chambers is noted, with the more senior Michael Sullivan recommended as 'absolutely super' for banking and finance work, while Hannah Brown is 'certainly up and coming'.

At 12 New Square, Stephen Smith has been 'excellent' with Christopher Russell also recommended. Peter Arden at Enterprise Chambers is singled out for praise as is John Dagnall at 9 Old Square.

In the regions, Mark Halliwell and Lesley Anderson at 40 King Street, Manchester are 'worth mentioning', as is Mark Cawson at the city's St James's Chambers. James Corbett at 7 Fountain Court, Birmingham and Stephen Davies is 'very hard-working and one to watch' at Guildhall Chambers in Bristol.