Chambers leads Bar Guide 2016 Band 1 rankings in Wales.

October 29 2015

‘Excellence’, ‘expertise’ and ‘customer service’ are just some of the reasons why Thirty Park Place has been ranked as a Band 1 set in the latest Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2016 for all of its ranked services in Wales.

We are incredibly proud to be classed as ‘a leading set’ in Wales and in particular, a ‘go to chambers for all aspects of criminal work’. The sheer scale of our Band 1 service rankings and individual rankings comprise a chambers with the strength and depth to meet the high expectations of a variety of clients in Wales and England.

This year’s recently launched Guide showcases the results of our recent work at a national and regional level as well as our continued investment in new talent to support the strength and depth of chambers’ services.

This year’s guide also features a list of practitioner strengths alongside their clients’ recommendations.

We are now the only Welsh-based chambers to hold Chambers & Partners 2016 Band 1 rankings across our three headline practice areas of civil, family and crime. With 25 barristers ranked in the spotlight tables, we also hold the largest number of practitioners recognised by our peers and clients in the new UK Bar Guide.

Our commitment to providing responsive and high quality customer services and why we offer the ‘go-to’ practitioner groups for a full range of legal matters is outlined in full in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2016 and below:

Customer Service:  

Family Clerking Team:
"There is a support network there. Whomever you instruct, you are
getting the benefit of the top end of the set's experience."

"The clerks, led by senior clerk Phillip Griffiths, are extremely helpful. The support you get from them is excellent and nothing is too difficult for them."

Civil Clerking Team:
"The clerks are always pleasant, polite and accommodating. It's a very pleasant environment."

Criminal Clerking Team:
''The clerks are recognised for their excellent service. Phillip Griffiths is the senior clerk at the set, while Tony Naylon acts as lead clerk for the criminal team"


Practice Areas:

Crime – Band 1

A leading set on circuit, 30 Park Place is a go-to chambers for all aspects of criminal work.

The team prosecutes and defends the full range of criminal cases, from everyday traffic offences to severe sexual offences and homicides. It houses a strong group of expert barristers, and has a particularly strong junior membership.

Juniors:
Marian Lewis 
A well-regarded practitioner who is highlighted for her work on serious criminal cases such as sexual offences, homicide and child cruelty. She is particularly skilled in handling cases with young or vulnerable clients.
Strengths: "She is very experienced and develops a good rapport with clients. She is always well briefed and extremely conscientious." 
Recent work: Defended in R v Mark Sewell, a case which involved rape and sexual offence allegations against a former Jehovah's Witness elder.

Caroline Rees 
Her practice encompasses both prosecution and defence work. She is noted for her skill at dealing with vulnerable clients and witnesses.
Strengths: "She is very good with clients and is an excellent advocate."

Stephen Jeary 
Has a strong, defence-focused practice. He is sought after for his expertise in a wide range of cases including those relating to attempted murder, drugs conspiracies and complex computer crime.

Sarah Waters
She acts for both the prosecution and defence, and her practice covers a range of criminal matters including drugs conspiracy, fraud, homicide and sexual offence cases. 
Strengths: "She is a powerful advocate and very realistic in her arguments."


Family – Band 1

30 Park Place continues to be a leading destination for family work and has excellent strength in depth. It offers highly qualified expertise across children's work, significant family finance matters and complex Court of Protection cases. Sources praise the high calibre of the barristers at all levels of seniority and chambers' outstanding client service and clerking.

Client service: "There is a support network there. Whomever you instruct, you are getting the benefit of the top end of the set's experience."

"The clerks, led by senior clerk Phillip Griffiths, are extremely helpful. The support you get from them is excellent and nothing is too difficult for them."

Silks

Jonathan Furness QC

One of the most experienced and respected silks in Wales, renowned nationally for his work in matrimonial finance in particular. Also highly proficient in care cases and sensitive children's matters. Sources are quick to highlight his outstanding strategic skills and preparation.

Strengths: "He is very thorough and makes everything very understandable. A fantastic advocate - first-class." "For complex financial cases he really is fantastic - he can deal with everything thrown at him."

James Tillyard QC

A leading family silk with exceptional experience and a UK-wide reputation in the area. Regularly instructed on high-value finance cases and care proceedings. He is praised by commentators for his technical knowledge. 
Strengths: "A very good-quality barrister with a proven record - highly skilled and knows his stuff."

Ruth Henke QC
Among the most prominent and "brilliant" care work silks on the Wales & Chester Circuit. She is particularly noted for her work with vulnerable children and adults, handling complex and sensitive cases. Sources praise her client manner as a key strength.
Strengths: "No papers unread, no stones unturned. She is extremely bright and you can always go back to her for more advice. She is of the highest mettle." "She is completely top-class in care work."

Jane Crowley QC
Possesses a wide client base, acting across the UK in children's cases, including private relocation and public law cases. She has considerable expertise in matters involving mental health or complex medical issues.
Strengths: "Her advocacy is very precise and to the point and she is very effective in cross-examination."

Juniors:

Rhys Taylor

A well-known and high-quality family barrister concentrating on financial disputes. He is experienced in advising on matters concerning farms or other rural and agricultural issues, as well as Inheritance Act claims.
Strengths: "His command of detail is excellent." "He is very thorough and approachable, with a huge knowledge that puts others to shame. He's helpful and goes the extra mile."

Natalie Sandercock 
Highly regarded practitioner in family matters consistently noted for her work in high net worth financial remedy cases. Also acts for local authorities and private parties in cases involving children and vulnerable adults in the Court of Protection.
Strengths: "A tenacious advocate with gravitas and authority." "First-class - she's incredibly bright and a great advocate."

Colin Douglas 
Concentrates his practice on public and private law proceedings concerning children. Acts for a wide range of clients, such as children, guardians and parents, in a variety of cases, including claims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Harriet Edmondson 
Predominantly focuses on care proceedings and is often instructed by local authorities, parents and guardians to represent vulnerable children and adults in difficult, sensitive cases. Commentators are quick to highlight her attention to detail and knowledge of the area. 
Strengths: "She did a really exceptional job. She forged an extremely professional and communicative relationship with the client."

Catherine Heyworth 
Highly experienced senior junior with a broad-based practice. She undertakes financial relief cases involving high-value assets and represents clients in care proceedings involving serious neglect and abuse. 
Strengths: "She keeps clients calm and gives them confidence." "She is very able at communicating with the client and making sure that the young person understands and is able to get their views across."

Catrin John 
Represents clients in an array of sensitive and complex family law proceedings. Acts for children's guardians and public authorities in cases involving non-accidental injury allegations. Highly regarded for her case preparation.
Strengths: "Her experience is top-notch and she has an excellent approach."

Mark Allen 
A seasoned senior junior who has a wealth of knowledge across family law. Advises on financial proceedings, including TOLATA cases, and is regularly instructed in care proceedings, representing children and parents.
Strengths: "He is able to strike good relationships with even the most difficult and passionate clients." "His experience is top-notch and he has an excellent approach."

Kate Hughes 
A high-quality junior who is able to handle the most complex care cases, acting for local authorities, children or parents in an array of proceedings involving non-accidental injury or sexual abuse allegations. She also advises on financial relief applications.
Strengths: "She is calm, client-friendly and very sharp." "She goes the extra mile. Clients feel very comfortable with her and she gets them where she needs to be."

Rebecca Harrington 
Focuses on the full range of family finance disputes, including financial relief applications on divorce, cohabitation disputes and financial provision for children. She has additional specialism in trusts, inheritance and probate issues within family law.
Strengths: "So well prepared and really gives opposing counsel a run for their money." "She has an absolutely amazing brain."

Rhian Kirby 
Well-regarded barrister who specialises in representing local authorities, guardians, parents and other family members in care proceedings. She has particular experience in cases involving non-accidental injury and allegations of historical sexual or physical abuse.
Strengths: "She is very comprehensive, very approachable and very good on a personal level in building a relationship of trust with guardians."

Claire Williams 
Highly rated junior with a comprehensive family practice. She regularly represents local authorities as well as parents and guardians. She is well regarded for her work in care proceedings and Children Act cases and has appeared in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Strengths: "Her brain works so quickly and thinks about every eventuality. She's thinking several moves ahead and anticipates everything."

Rhian Jones 
Up-and-coming barrister who gains plaudits from commentators for her outstanding work in Children Act cases and private family matters. She has represented clients in complex claims involving historic abuse allegations, non-accidental injuries and domestic violence. 
Strengths: "She can handle difficult jobs brilliantly and picks out issues quickly."


Personal Injury – Band 1

30 Park Place is a leading set in Wales for high-end personal injury cases. Its members advise both claimants and defendants on a range of matters including RTAs, employers' liability and public liability, among other areas.

Client service: "The clerks are always pleasant, polite and accommodating. It's a very pleasant environment." The clerking team is led by senior clerk Phillip Griffiths.

Silks

Lloyd Williams QC

A highly experienced silk who predominantly appears on behalf of claimants. He acts in a wide range of personal injury cases, including those concerning catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

Strengths: "Calm, methodical and a strategic thinker. He is excellent with clients from all walks of life."

Juniors 


Robert Harrison

A highly experienced junior who handles injury cases of maximum severity. He has particular expertise in head injury, spinal injury and industrial disease matters.

Strengths: "An extremely able advocate with an excellent in-depth knowledge of personal injury."

Ben Davies
Focuses on multi-track personal injury cases and has particular specialisms in employer's liability, public liability and RTAs. He is noted by multiple interviewees for his thoroughness as well as for the "clear and to the point advice" he gives.
Strengths: "He is a good and determined advocate, he's good with clients and good with the experts."


Full list of ranked senior Barristers:

Administrative & Public Law 
Rhodri Williams QC

Family/Matrimonial 
Jane Crowley QC
Jonathan Furness QC
Ruth Henke QC
James Tillyard QC

Personal Injury 
Lloyd Williams QC

Ranked Junior Barristers:

Chancery 
Angharad Davies

Crime 
Stephen Jeary
Marian Lewis
Caroline Rees
Sarah Waters

Family/Matrimonial 
Mark Allen
Colin Douglas
Harriet Edmondson
Rebecca Harrington
Catherine Louise Heyworth
Kate Hughes
Catrin John
Rhian Jones
Rhian Kirby
Natalie Sandercock
Rhys Taylor
Claire Williams

Personal Injury 
Ben Davies
Robert Harrison