The Legal 500 UK Bar 2022 edition announced – PSQB recommended as Top Tier Set in 4 practice areas – 51 individual barristers ranked

The 2022 edition of The Legal 500 is now available.

PSQB are recognised across many practice areas with a third of its members now ranked.

PSQB are now listed as a TOP TIER set in 4 practice areas : Crime, Family, Inquest and Regulatory. We are also recommended in Personal Injury.

Full details of PSQB rankings can be found here : https://www.legal500.com/firms/9559-park-square-barristers-ltd/9559-leeds-england/?layout=uk-bar&token=824a470066a50021c6aadf1dfbb2d2d5

Crime

The PSQB Criminal Team has the top Legal 500 ranking – Tier 1 – with 19 individual Barristers ranked.

The Legal 500 states PSQB are:

‘an excellent, broad criminal set’ with ‘a broad range of talent available’ – ‘there is tremendous depth to the ranks’. Richard Wright QC ‘is uniquely able in all he does’, and recently prosecuted Pawel Relowicz, who was convicted of the rape and murder of Libby Squire in a case which attracted media attention. In a separate matter, Wright led Gillian Batts in prosecuting a man who was convicted of a murder committed in 2007; the defendant had confessed to the murder, which at the time had been thought to be an accidental drowning. Strengthening the team at the senior end, Mark McKone QC and Craig Hassall QC were both elevated to silk in March 2021”

The testimonials about the PSQB Criminal Clerking Team note they are “a fantastic bunch of professionals for whom nothing is too much trouble” .

Senior Criminal Clerk Andrew Thornton gets a special mention for his “approachability and utter professionalism and efficiency”

Business & Regulatory Crime (including Health & Safety)

PSQB has a Tier 1 ranking in this practice areas.

The Legal 500 overview states “’strong set’ with ‘quality counsel at every level’. Head of chambers Richard Wright QC, who fields extensive expertise in food safety, environmental waste, animal welfare and fire safety matters. The team is led by the ‘exceptionably personable’ Craig Hassall QC, who was elevated to silk in March 2021, acted for HSE in its prosecution of Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd, which was convicted of health and safety breaches and fined over a third of a million pounds, after a child was severely injured after being thrown from a rollercoaster. Simon Clegg is regularly instructed for the prosecution by the Environment Agency in cases involving serious environmental offences. Howard Shaw is regularly sought after by the Food Standards Agency for his expertise in food safety matters”

 And Senior Regulatory Clerk, Madeleine Gray is “fantastic – extremely organised, helpful and reliable. Nothing is too much trouble for her”

Family & Children Law

We are delighted that the PSQB Family Team is now Tier 1 with 9 Barristers ranked.

Legal 500 state:

“With a reputation as a ‘first-rate chambers’, Park Square Barristers Ltd. garners praise for its ‘reassuring breadth of expertise’ in family law. Charlotte Worsley, who leads the team, is noted for her expertise in public law cases, and has a solid track record in handling complex cases involving female genital mutilation, radicalisation and severe physical and sexual abuse. David Orbaum is ‘an excellent advocate’ and ‘extremely well respected by the local judiciary’, and is very experienced in handling child law cases with international elements. The ‘very persuasive’ Martin Todd is instructed by local authorities, guardians and parents in serious child injuries cases. Viewed as a ‘rising star’, Phillipa Hildyard is ‘very bright’ and ‘a huge future ahead of her’. The team was recently bolstered by the arrival of Karen Lennon from Dere Street Barristers”

 And again there is a really positive write up about the Clerks: “Excellent, responsive clerking” – “Claudine Cooper, Paul Foster and Arnela Siranovic are a brilliant team, always willing to go the extra mile to help in any situation”.

Inquests and Inquiries

PSQB Inquests Team retains its Tier 1 status with 5 barristers ranked and 4 of them ranked in Tier 1

“The team at Park Square Barristers Ltd. has ‘strength in depth’, made up of ‘counsel who are experienced and knowledgeable in coronial law’. Head of the team Lorraine Harris’ ‘background and work as an Assistant Coroner means she can assist with the entire coronial process’. Kirsten Mercer frequently acts for government departments in complex Article 2 inquests, and Kate Wilson is noted for her ‘strong expertise in coronial proceedings arising from deaths in custody’. Janine Wolstenholme acts for interested parties in inquests into deaths in prison, deaths in hospitals and care homes, and those detained under the Mental Health Act. Former solicitor Simon Connolly has a ‘wealth of knowledge of inquest work’, and is instructed in inquests into deaths in custody as well as acting for healthcare professionals in medical inquests.

In terms of the Clerking service

“Madeleine Gray is the beating heart of the inquest team. Her commitment to the teams members and its clients knows no bounds. Madeleine is very ably supported in her role by Patrick Urbina who demonstrates that he has learned and is learning….in his approach to the effective management and development of the team and its clients”

Personal Injury

PSQB are recommended for Personal Injury work with 8 barristers having an individual ranking.

“At Park Square Barristers, the ‘very sensible’ Andrew Lewis QC has a wealth of experience in high-value fatal and catastrophic injury claims, with a core focus on brain and spinal injury cases. Simon Anderson recently represented a former BBC journalist in a claim, after she was caught up in a mortar strike in an allegedly unnecessary trip to Homs in Syria. The ‘highly skilled’ Peter Wilson ‘takes a very analytical approach to matters’ and provides ‘sound advice’; he is sought after for his expertise in acting solely for insurers in defending fraudulent personal injury claims”

The Civil Clerking Team are “very helpful and accommodating…Andy Reeves is a pleasure to work with”

Clinical Negligence

Andrew Lewis QC and Richard Paige are both ranked in Tier 1 for Clinical negligence work.

Andrew Lewis QC is a “superb negotiator with excellent judgement and knowledge, robust but fair and effective advocacy, and huge charm” – and Richard Paige provides “clear and concise advice and always seems to be able to put himself in the clients shoes. He creates rapport with lay clients”

Chancery & Probate

David Rose retains his Tier 1 ranking and is noted as “a strong negotiator with a formidable knowledge of contentious probate, trusts and Chancery matters.