Despite being fraught with the new challenges and curveballs we all had to contend with, 2021 proved to be a hugely successful one for all St Philips Barristers.
We are proud that the culture and entrepreneurial flair that we have for years fostered, put us in an enviable position when it came to the quick thinking and proactivity that has been required since Covid hit. It is in the face of adversity that a business gets the opportunity to shine; proving its ability to innovate, to be nimble and react and evolve to meet the developing needs and demands of its clients.
In the context of this rapidly changing working environment, we were delighted to have once again received recognition of our industry leading levels of service and expertise through our ranking as a “Leading Set” (Tier 1) in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 rankings.
This accolade for Chambers was accompanied by seventy-four barrister rankings across thirteen of our practice areas, including a newly ranked inclusion in the form of “Costs”.
Our Top Tier set rankings incorporated the areas of Chancery, probate and tax, Commercial Litigation, Company and Insolvency, Crime (General and Fraud), Employment, Family and Children Law, Professional Negligence and Property and Construction.
We saw fourteen new rankings for barristers across all disciplines including seven barristers brand new to the rankings and two named as Rising Stars at the Bar. Likewise, we were similarly thrilled to be “Top Ranked” by Chambers and Partners in their 2022 UK Bar Guide, again with significant recognition for our dedicated group practices and individual barristers.
Chambers Director, Joe Wilson commented at the time of the ranking’s release: “We strive to be at the very forefront of the profession, providing the best legal services through an environment that combines first-class advice and advocacy with ultimate support.
Once again, the tireless work of our barristers and staff allows us to further enhance our exemplary standards. I am delighted that this goal has been independently recognised again this year. These results are a shining endorsement of the talent that we can boast. Congratulations to all those members of chambers who are ranked; and thank you to our loyal clients for their continued support.”
Along a similar vein, we are equally hugely proud of the feedback received by our clerking teams. The sterling work of our clerks, which enables our barristers to excel, can often be lost when the directory rankings are released but we do not take for granted the tremendous work undertaken by our clerks and, indeed, the whole of the St Philips Barristers staff.
As 2021 drew to a close we were delighted to see both Lee Marklew QC and Sara Lewis QC finally take the trip down to Westminster Hall to be sworn in as Queen’s Counsel and we welcomed five new pupils to Chambers.
So, what do we have planned for 2022?
With a reputation for excellence to uphold, we cannot afford to be a set that rests on its laurels or luxuriates in its past successes. We have set a firm path for continued investment into our people and processes to ensure that we remain at the very forefront of the evolution of Barristers’ Chambers.
With the revitalisation of our marketing and business development team underway, alongside newly created positions focussed on compliance and regulation, we are set on a path of continued and sustainable growth. With COP26 also still clear in our collective memories, operating Chambers as a good citizen both locally and internationally in a truly sustainable manner now and long into the future is of utmost importance.
Finally, here’s hoping for a more stable 2022. We certainly wish all businesses within the West Midlands a bright and productive twelve months ahead.