As the impact of Covid continues to be felt across the UK, it’s a matter of some considerable pride to see the way in which the region’s legal professionals continue to rise to the challenge of delivering high quality legal services to clients of all types.
This year’s Legal 500 recognises the variety and diversity of talented professionals who’ve overcome significant hurdles to keep their practices going and to adapt to changing ways of working and to the increasingly complex demands of clients and of the judicial system.
More lawyers and law firms than ever before have been recognised in this year’s directory and Cornwall Street Barristers is delighted to rank among them and to record no fewer than nine barristers being ranked across ten different categories.
YEAR OF ADAPTATION AND GROWTH
2021 has been a year of rapid and positive change for Cornwall Street Barristers with financial results showing a record-breaking turnover. With growth being seen across all the set’s main practice areas – family, crime and civil – levels of work, billing and receipts are now exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
This is particularly remarkable given that, in common with many other practices across the country, the set faced a huge setback when Court work stopped coming in overnight as Covid took hold and lockdown ensued.
Not only has Cornwall Street achieved a record financial performance over the period of the pandemic whilst also being able to provide financial support to its members through the pandemic; it has shown substantial growth. On 1 October 2021 Cornwall Street incorporated Maidstone Chambers creating a 78-member set with offices in Birmingham, Oxford, and Maidstone. This strategic move creates a new offer called ‘Cornwall Street South’ which strengthens Chambers’ offering across the Midlands and South Eastern circuits.
Supported by the long-established Birmingham base, this move will offer members greater opportunities and enhance the service available to clients wherever they may be based.
RECOGNITION FOR INDIVIDUALS
We’re particularly pleased to see several members singled out for recognition in the directory this year including:
Timothy Jacques: ‘A most able advocate, efficient and speedy in response to instructions, with a wide knowledge of the relevant areas of law, and a sound problem-solving approach, with extremely good client-facing qualities.’ – Leading Junior, Personal Injury, Midlands
Matthew Bolt – Leading Junior, Crime (general and fraud), Midlands
Naomi Dean: ‘Kind and compassionate towards the clients. Excellent drafting skills. Always well prepared. Approachable. Excellent after care, she will always give advice on the next steps, and a clear note on what happened at a hearing.’ – Rising Star, Family and Children Law, Midlands
Jonathan Storey – ‘Jonathan is an excellent barrister: intellectually able, calm and reassuring, and thoroughly prepared’ – Rising Star, Professional and Disciplinary Law, Midlands
Peter Glenser QC: ‘One of the most charming and likeable barristers/opponents I have come across in recent times. Peter is a minister for justice in the true sense of the word, both fair minded but with equal vigour in his presentation of the prosecution case. A down-to-earth approach which makes it hard to defend against because he is immediately liked by both juries and judges. His witness handling of frightened bystanders was a joy to watch, and he is, in my view, a first-class barrister. I would very much like to defend with him too where he will undoubtedly demonstrate his flair in a defence context.’ – Leading Silk, Crime, London
Rebecca Chalkely: “Rebecca is a highly skilled advocate, with an exceptional grasp of the law. She is focused and unflappable. She is definitely someone you want on your team when it comes to prosecuting large-scale fraud cases.” – Leading Junior, Licensing, London
Rebecca Chalkely: “A great advocate and disclosure expert.” – Leading Junior, Business Regulatory Crime, London
Rebecca Chalkely: “A tenacious advocate who commands attention in the courtroom, she is highly organised and efficient and is never on the back foot.” – Leading Junior, Environment, London
Theo Huckle QC: “A charismatic, clear, calm and compelling advocate who can be trusted entirely to do a brilliant job.” – Leading Silk, Personal Injury, Industrial Disease, and Insurance Fraud
For more information, please contact
James Farmer
T: 0121 233 7500