Chambers UK Bar Guide ranks Garden Court in Band 1

We are pleased to remain the only barristers' chambers ranked in Band 1 for Immigration, and we have also retained our Band 1 ranking in Social Housing. Our practice teams are also ranked in Civil Liberties and Human Rights (Band 2), Police Law (Band 2), Court of Protection (Band 3), Crime (Band 3) and Inquests and Public Inquiries (Band 3). Individual barristers are ranked in Administrative and Public Law, Community Care, Education, Family/Matrimonial, Local Government and Planning. The clerking teams were also praised for their efficiency and excellent service.

Read our rankings in full on the Chambers & Partners website.

Practice Group Rankings

Band 1: Immigration

"Garden Court Chambers remains the pre-eminent immigration set in the country, instructed in the most high-profile and sensitive matters across the spectrum of immigration, nationality and refugee law. In addition to advising on EEA free movement and PBS matters, including applications under Tiers 2 and 4, advocates have appeared before domestic and international courts of the highest levels on matters including trafficking, third country removals and deportation. SIAC cases continue to account for a significant proportion of the group's practice. The set's barristers continue to contribute greatly to textbooks and journals in the immigration field."

Leading silks

• Laurie Fransman QC
• Stephanie Harrison QC
• Stephen Knafler QC
• Ian MacDonald QC

Leading juniors

• Navtej Singh Ahluwalia
• Adrian Berry
• Michelle Brewer
• Rebecca Chapman
• Kathryn Cronin
• Leonie Hirst
• David Jones
• Peter Jorro
• Patrick Lewis
• Gemma Loughran
• Sonali Naik
• Greg Ó Ceallaigh
• Bryony Poynor
• Sadat Sayeed
• Duran Seddon
• Abigail Smith
• Mark Symes
• Ronan Toal
• Amanda Weston
• Colin Yeo

Band 1: Social Housing

"Garden Court Chambers is the leading practice for exclusively tenant-side work. Its members are committed to publicly funded clients and often represent the most vulnerable in society. It has been instrumental in developing law at the highest appellate level in this area and its members make frequent appearances in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Instructing solicitors praise the barristers as "fantastic people who have great experience, drive and commitment."

Leading silks

• Stephen Knafler QC
• Jan Luba QC

Leading juniors

• Timothy Baldwin
• John Beckley
• James Bowen
• Liz Davies
• Edward Fitzpatrick
• Bethan Harris
• Connor Johnston
• Beatrice Prevatt
• Marina Sergides

Band 2: Civil Liberties and Human Rights

"Garden Court Chambers boasts an impressive selection of silks and juniors offering broad-ranging expertise in the field of civil liberties and human rights. The set enjoys a strong reputation for work in immigration, social care, police misconduct and other work for claimants challenging the actions of public bodies."

Leading silks

• Stephanie Harrison QC
• Stephen Knafler QC

Leading juniors

• Sarah Hemingway
• Leonie Hirst
• Anna Morris
• Stephen Simblet
• Amanda Weston

Band 2: Police Law

"An accomplished team of advocates who handle important and complex police law cases for claimant clients. Members both bring private claims for those who have suffered torts, such as having been falsely imprisoned, or assaulted, and undertake judicial reviews of individual decisions and systemic policies. They frequently act in inquests on behalf of the families of those who have died in circumstances involving the police. Several members were recently instructed in the high-profile inquests into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster."

Leading silks

• Leslie Thomas QC

Leading juniors

• Sarah Hemingway
• Anna Morris
• Maya Sikand
• Stephen Simblet
• Rajeev Thacker

Band 3: Court of Protection

"Garden Court Chambers offers representation and advice over the full range of personal welfare issues and has notable experience in property and affairs matters. The set houses a number of barristers who are experienced in representing a range of clients from protected individuals to local authorities. Members of the team were involved in the recent landmark Re X case."

Leading juniors

• Bethan Harris
• Leonie Hirst
• Amanda Weston

Band 3: Crime

"A large and expanding set of chambers with an excellent reputation," Garden Court Chambers has over 80 members, nearly a fifth of whom are in silk. Its barristers are regulars at the Old Bailey and regularly defend individuals charged with the most serious offences. Terrorism cases are a particular specialism and the set is also seen to be ramping up its capability on the financial crime front. Solicitors praise the individuals here for their commitment to social justice and pronounce them to be "confident and highly competent advocates." Alongside its criminal capability, the set is also recognised as being very strong on the spin-off areas of police law, inquests and unlawful detention."

Leading silks

• Ali Naseem Bajwa QC
• Henry Blaxland QC
• Stephen Kamlish QC
• Judy Khan QC
• Rajiv Menon QC
• Icah Peart QC
• James Scobie QC
• Michael Turner QC
• Kieran Vaughan QC
• Peter Wilcock QC

Leading juniors

• Brenda Campbell
• Anya Lewis
• Terry Munyard
• Alex Rose
• Peter Rowlands
• Dafna Spiro
• Hossein Zahir

Crime: International Criminal Law

• Sareta Ashraph
• Richard Reynolds

Band 3: Inquests and Public Inquiries

"Garden Court Chambers acts for bereaved families in a range of inquests and inquiries. The set is noted for its strength in proceedings arising from police conduct and regularly handles cases involving police shootings, deaths in custody and failure to act. Members are particularly adept at tackling Article 2 inquests and judicial review challenges to verdicts. A number of barristers have been acting for bereaved families in the inquest into the Hillsborough football stadium disaster. Market sources say: "They have a large number of high-quality inquest barristers who are really experienced across a broad range of matters."

Leading silks

• Dexter Dias QC
• Leslie Thomas QC

Leading juniors

• Brenda Campbell
• Kirsten Heaven
• Sean Horstead
• Tom Stoate

Administrative and Public Law

Leading silks

• Stephanie Harrison QC
• Stephen Knafler QC
• Jan Luba QC

Leading juniors

• Shu Shin Luh

Community Care

Leading silks

• Stephen Knafler QC

Leading juniors

• Shu Shin Luh
• Felicity Williams

Education

• Shu Shin Luh

Family/Matrimonial

• Maggie Jones
• Malek Wan Daud

Local Government

• Stephen Knafler QC

Planning

• Marc Willers QC

Clerking

"Both the clerks and the barristers are always very helpful and approachable, as individuals and as a team."

"Senior civil clerk Phil Bampfylde always comes back to you, follows up on matters and is very helpful and flexible on fees."

The clerking receives plaudits from clients, and the senior clerk is singled out for his effective management, with one interviewee commenting: "Colin Cook runs a tight ship."

"Excellent across the board."

The chambers' senior clerk Colin Cook is "a treasure" and "could not be more helpful." Senior crime clerk Keith Poynter is also highlighted, with sources saying: "He is excellent as he's very no-nonsense and straight-talking."

"Garden Court is an incredibly impressive set which manages to combine professionalism with a friendly approach and service. The clerks will go to considerable lengths to appoint appropriate counsel to a brief."