Colin has strategic responsibility for building and maintaining client relationships across all areas of legal practice. Colin has been instrumental in growing chambers to become the largest set of barristers in London, offering services of the highest quality.
"Colin Cook is amazing." Legal 500, 2023
"The clerks are very efficient and Colin Cook is always helpful." Legal 500, 2023
"The best clerk a barrister could wish for." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is a real gentleman and always a pleasure to deal with." Legal 500, 2022
"Knows everything there is to know about clerking and the stresses of running a difficult case. He will solve issues without fuss and in a very diplomatic low key way." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is delightful." Legal 500, 2022
"Colin Cook is a legend – he has an innate ability to assist in choosing the right counsel for the right case." Legal 500, 2021
"Colin Cook leads an impressive team who are keen to always assist, collaborate and find good working relationships." Legal 500, 2021
"Colin Cook leads from the front and provides an excellent service." Legal 500, 2021
Chambers & Partners (2021) described Colin Cook as "a joy to work with." "He is quick to respond and very proactive." "He is extremely effective in ensuring that the relationship between instructing solicitors and counsel is a collaborative one."
Colin was shortlisted for Senior Clerk of the Year 2020 by the Legal 500.
Background
Colin oversees the practices of 182 barristers and 28 KCs at Garden Court. Day to day, he maintains oversight of the clerking teams and is known for being available to all, both in the UK and internationally.
Colin is dynamic, approachable and determined to achieve the best possible results for clients. Under his stewardship, Garden Court has won the Legal 500 Crime Set of the Year Award 2015 in recognition of its outstanding advocacy in national and international criminal law. Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide comments, "Senior clerk Colin Cook could not be more helpful" and describes our clerking services as “excellent across the board".
The Legal 500 (2017) described Colin as "exemplary", and noted that he has "a clear long-term business plan and is building it effectively". Having joined Chambers in 1980, Colin's values are very much tied to Garden Court's: "I am driven by social justice – everybody has a right to be heard".
Legal 500 (2020) commented, "Any clerks’ room that is led by Colin Cook is destined to success." "The set’s ‘legendary’ director of clerking is ‘an approachable and reliable person to deal with. The rest of his team follow his example."
Away from work, Colin is heavily involved in mentoring and supporting young people, and is the Chairman of the Moonshot Football Club in Lewisham, a well renowned grassroots club. He is a life-long West Ham FC supporter, and enjoys the theatre.
Colin has been recognised in the Powerlist, an annual publication that profiles some of the United Kingdom’s most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage.
He completed his MBA with the University of Hull while working at Garden Court.
Education
- MBA, University of Hull
