Chambers News
Trinity welcomes Ruth Phillips on joining from Old Court Chambers in Middlesbrough. Ruth intends to maintain her busy practice in Teesside. Called in 2001, she completed her pupillage in the area so has a good knowledge of the local legal environment. She can be contacted by email at r.phillips@trinitychambers.co.uk or through Chambers on 01642-247569.
CHAMBERS & PARTNERS 2008
CRIME Trinity Chambers has in Toby Hedworth QC "the best criminal barrister in the city." The first port of call for many, he is "incredibly industrious and always thinks the best of his clients." Hedworth shares a set with Christopher Knox, a senior junior with "an enquiring mind and a freshness of spirit that puts many of his younger counterparts to shame."
FAMILY At Trinity Chambers in Newcastle, Christopher Knox proves the most prominent ancillary relief barrister at his set. Praised for his "great communication skills and reliability," he is "a robust advocate with an eye for detail" who does particularly well when it comes to cases involving marital assets tied up in businesses. Similarly, Timothy Spain is best known for ancillary relief proceedings with a strong commercial angle to them, although he does do some private children's cases. Spain scores points from solicitors for "quick turnaround times, thoroughly researched opinions and a good bedside manner." Lesley McKenzie strikes the market as "competent and sensible," and has a well-rounded family practice that includes ancillary relief work as well as children cases. Her name comes up most often in connection with public law work. James Richardson does no child-related work at all: he handles ancillary relief cases alongside professional discipline and contractual disputes, and is praised for his "thoroughness and mastery of financial instructions." Finally at Trinity, Nicholas Stonor "works hard and prepares well." His work was commended in relation to both matrimonial finance and children law matters.
COMMERCIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION Trinity Chambers' Simon Goldberg impresses sources with his "hard-working and sensible nature." According to clients, he can be "a fighter when necessary but also knows when to be polite and calm." From his base in Newcastle, Goldberg tackles a range of commercial litigation including partnership disputes, contractual cases and landlord and tenant matters.
EMPLOYMENT Trinity Chambers, one of the largest sets in the region, contains two busy leaders in the employment field. Sources appreciate the "professional and cosy bedside manner" of the "user-friendly" Jane Callan. The contentious side of her practice includes disability, sex discrimination and equal pay issues, whilst she has also offered advice to large local authorities on restructuring plans. Handling a mixture of claimant and respondent equal pay work is the "commercially astute and confident" Simon Goldberg, a solid performer on complex and multi-day discrimination cases. "He takes no prisoners in court," remarked one interviewee.
LICENSING "Reliable" Charles Holland of Trinity Chambers is one of the very few advocates on the North East circuit with considerable expertise in the licensing sector. His clients include an eclectic mix of operators across the industry, on whose behalf he acts in both applying for and opposing licence applications.
Appointments November 2007
Trinity Chambers congratulates His Honour Judge Brian Forster QC upon his appointment to the Circuit Bench. Judge Forster QC has been assigned to sit at Teesside with effect 19th November 2007.
Congratulations also go to Simon Goldberg on being appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown.
Legal Directories (November 2007)
LEGAL 500 - 2007
"Trinity Chambers, good on crime, even better on family has 'some excellent people'."
Commercial Litigation
Charles Holland is 'first class for cases that require serious advocacy.' Simon Goldberg 'has an excellent brain, and he is affable, so is a joy to work with; he compares very well with London counsel.'
Crime
Trinity Chambers' 'charismatic and energetic' Toby Hedworth QC ranks at the top of serious cases. Busy Caroline Goodwin is a first choice for professional crime and Robert Adams continues to develop strongly.
Employment
Trinity Chambers' Jane Woodwark 'is an employment star' specialising in discrimination matters and transfer of undertakings.
Family
Trinity Chambers is 'clearly the Newcastle set to instruct in complex or big-money cases'. Christopher Knox 'has all the necessary attributes of a silk; his cross-examination is the best that we have in this area'. Timothy Spain 'thinks outside the box, he's energetic, good with clients, has a good understanding of financial issues on divorce'. Lesley McKenzie 'is a fighter but commercial enough to know which fights are worth having', James Richardson 'fights to the end' in big-money cases and Rachel Hudson is 'utterly reliable'. Nicholas Stonor is 'particularly user friendly, very good with clients who are in distressing situations'. Former solicitors Brian Mather who 'deals with instructions very well indeed' and Angela Giovannini, ' very knowledgeable and extremely good with clients', work well beyond their calls.
Regulatory and Public Law
Trinity Chambers' Rosalind Scott Bell attracts a steady stream of trading standards and environmental health instructions; she 'sees the key issues, focuses on them and drives home her points effectively'.
Teesside Practitioner (July 2007)
Chambers welcomes Yvonne Taylor on joining Chambers from 39 Park Square in Leeds. Yvonne (who was called in 1998) has a well established practice in Teesside covering crime, family and some areas of civil law. She can be contacted through the Clerks on 0191-232-1927 or via her email y.taylor@trinitychambers.co.uk
Planning Expertise (January 2007)
Chambers welcomes Nicola Allan as a member of the Chancery & Commercial Practice Group. Her renowned Town and Country Planning specialisation broadens the scope of the Practice Group and she can be contacted by email on n.allan@trinitychambers.co.uk or through her clerks on 0191-232-1927.
Appointment (November 2006)
Trinity Chambers congratulates His Honour Judge Christopher Prince upon his appointment the Circuit Bench. Judge Prince has been assigned to sit at Bradford with effect 22nd November 2006.
Legal Directories (October 2006)
The high quality of professional legal services provided by practitioners from Trinity Chambers has been acknowledged by the two leading legal directories with the following extracts:
- LEGAL 500: "Trinity Chambers...has relocated to impressively modernised premises on Newcastle's Quayside and continues to consolidate its annexe on Teesside; the set's "flagship of the Tyne" status seems secure for the foreseeable future' and has "some excellent people".
Individual recommendations from 2005 to 2007 editions are reported as:
- Crime: ´Impressive heavyweight Toby Hedworth Q.C., head of Trinity Chambers, takes instructions nationwide' being 'charismatic and energetic...ranks at the top of serious cases', while 'Caroline Goodwin is a real fighter who needs early booking' and is "a first choice for professional crime", 'Robert Adams is popular at the junior end' and 'continues to develop strongly.'
- Family: Legal 500 2007 reports 'Trinity Chambers is "clearly the Newcastle set to instruct in complex or big-money cases". Christopher Knox "has all the necessary attributes of a silk; his cross examination is the best that we have in this area". Timothy Spain thinks outside the box, he's energetic, good with clients, has an understanding of financial issues on divorce". Lesley McKenzie "is a fighter but commercial enough to know which fights are worth having", James Richardson "fights to the end" in big-money cases, and Rachel Hudson is "utterly reliable". Nicholas Stonor is particularly "user friendly, very good with clients who are in distressing situations". Former solicitor Brian Mather who "deals with instructions very well indeed" and Angela Giovannini, "very knowledgeable and extremely good with clients", work well beyond their call's.
- Commercial Litigation: '...Simon Goldberg is the junior receiving excellent feedback from the market' and 'is a very strong commercial lawyer, well ahead of his 1999 call. 'In the 2007 edition 'Simon Goldberg "has an excellent brain, and he is affable, so is a joy to work with; he compares very well with London counsel".'