Trinity's silks and barristers have again been recognised in the recently published 2021 Legal 500. With more entries than ever, Chambers has achieved 36 listings across 9 practice areas. Commenting on the listings Head of Trinity Chambers, Toby Hedworth Q.C. said:
"This year Trinity has received a record number of listings in the Legal 500. This is testament to the range and depth of expertise of our barristers across a wide variety of different specialist areas of practice, giving our clients throughout the North East and Yorkshire access to the very best representation and advice whatever the issue that needs addressing."
CRIME
‘A set with 'an exceptional reputation in the criminal arena', Trinity Chambers is active for prosecution and defence in some of the North East's most serious cases. In recent instructions of note, Caroline Goodwin QC, the recent outgoing chair of the Criminal Bar Association, represented a retired police officer who was acquitted of 11 sexual assault charges after a three-week trial. Meanwhile, Toby Hedworth QC represented a woman who was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter in a case with issues as to coercive control’
Toby Hedworth Q.C. - ‘His closing speeches are always memorable - he commands the attention of everyone in court.’
Caroline Goodwin Q.C. - ‘A tenacious and enthusiastic advocate who builds a strong rapport with the clients she represents.’
Christopher Knox - ‘Notable recent cases have involved political extremism, modern slavery, and firearms.’
Glenn Gatland - ‘He has a quietly forceful manner that is incredibly powerful and particularly effective with juries.’
Tony Cornberg - ‘Tony is an exceptional barrister. He is down to earth and I know that he will build an immediate rapport even with the most challenging clients.’
CHANCERY, PROBATE, AND TAX
‘Trinity Chambers has 'a deserved, strong reputation' with members instructed across the gamut of Chancery matters. A 'tenacious and authoritative' advocate, Jonathan Rodger's practice covers commercial and traditional Chancery, real property, landlord and tenant and insolvency; contentious probate and Inheritance Act claims is a core practice area. Described as 'formidable in court', the head of chambers’ Business and Property team Simon Goldberg regularly appears in the Chancery division of the High Court and has experience of contentious probate and Inheritance Act claims. Recent instructions include representing the claimants in a farming partnership dispute concerning a portfolio of farms and buildings valued in excess of £2m.’
Simon Goldberg - ‘Simon quickly identifies the issues of relevance in a matter and ensures that is where the focus remains. He is very personable. He is formidable in court. He knows his stuff!’
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
‘Trinity Chambers is seen as 'a go-to set for commercial disputes'. Direct access qualified, Antoine Tinnion is considered a 'tenacious and robust advocate' who provides 'pragmatic and straightforward advice' and is a 'great communicator with the clients'. A 'very good advocate' who is 'diligent and thorough', Richard Stubbs is instructed in commercial and consumer disputes, sale of goods, restraint of trade, and commercial fraud, among other areas. His 'ability to put clients at ease and to connect with them in conference' is a particular draw for those instructing Simon Goldberg, who regularly appears in both the Chancery and Queen’s Bench divisions of the High Court. Recent instructions include acting for the claimant in action involving a claim for injunctive relief, specific performance, and damages against a company and one of its directors which arose from the taking of a confidential customer list. Chambers has several qualified mediators and is also able to be instructed in arbitrations.’
Charles Holland - ‘He is very thorough, his attention to details is great and goes the extra mile. He is very reliable and his knowledge is outstanding.’
Jamie Morgan - ‘Jamie is very thorough and well-prepared. His paperwork is always very clear and phrased in ways which are easily understood by our clients. He is also a very strong advocate and not afraid to tell clients if their claim has any weaknesses. His ability to relate to clients in conference and when acting for them is also a particular strength.’
Simon Goldberg - ‘Simon is very accomplished both on paper and on his feet and is very "user-friendly" with clients. His advice is always very clear and to the point and he is not afraid to be forthright and direct with clients when needed.’
James Kemp - ‘James is a meticulous barrister providing advice clearly and constructively. He has a way with clients making them feel comfortable and confident in his ability to deal with the case head on. His strengths in matters concerning costs in civil proceedings and evidence to provide to the court to advance the case is very thorough.’
Richard Stubbs - ‘Richard has an excellent range of knowledge on all civil disputes and the clients feel very at ease as to how he delivers his advice and assistance. Very diligent and thorough. Excellent manner with clients and in terms of the delivery of his advice. Client focused and user friendly. Very good advocate.’
Antoine Tinnion - ‘He is concise, a superb draftsman, and a very able Advocate. He will go the extra mile with clients directly, inevitably puts them at ease, and is very effective at managing expectations.’
EMPLOYMENT
‘For many 'the prestige employment chambers in the North East', Trinity Chambers has 'excellent strength in depth, backed up by an excellent clerking team'. Members are instructed by both claimants and respondents in employment law matters, with a particular focus on equal pay cases as well as discrimination disputes. The set has a strong cadre of juniors, including 'excellent cross-examiner' Richard Stubbs whose practice includes disputes over restraint of trade, discrimination, equal pay, whistleblowing, TUPE, unfair and wrongful dismissal, and breach of contract. A discrimination specialist, the 'tenacious' Jane Callan represents claimants, including those backed by trade unions, as well as local authorities, health authorities, and blue-chip companies. The 'well-respected' Antoine Tinnion acts in discrimination, unfair and wrongful dismissal, wage disputes, breach of contract, TUPE, whistleblowing, and equal pay claims, and also advises on the enforcement of restrictive covenants. Helen Hogben represents both employees and employers in the private sector, trade unions, local authorities, and police offices, in claims for injunctive relief, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, unlawful deduction of wages, disciplinary issues, and holiday pay claims.’
Jamie Anderson - ‘An excellent advocate.’
Jane Callan - ‘In tribunal, she is tenacious in all aspects of preparation, presentation and cross-examination.’
Andrew Crammond - ‘Very approachable and extremely conscientious - on his feet, nothing fazes him.’
Richard Stubbs - ‘His knowledge of the law and excellent cross-examination technique marks him out as one of the leading employment barristers.’
Simon Goldberg - ‘He has a perfect advocacy style that judges find attractive.’
Helen Hogben - ‘A superb and fearless advocate, her commitment to her clients is second-to-none.’
Jamie Morgan - ‘Always well-prepared and confident in his delivery while on his feet.’
Antoine Tinnion - ‘A no-nonsense and well-respected advocate who sees the angles quickly.’
FAMILY & CHILDREN LAW
‘Trinity Chambers has 'a number of excellent barristers and can be relied upon to offer a good service' with 'an excellent family team' that is 'professional, friendly, knowledgeable'. The family team takes instructions across the spectrum of family law, including public and private children disputes and financial remedy work. The set reports an uptick in matrimonial finance instructions over the past 12 months, with the team involved in high-profile and high-value arrangements including property and assets abroad, farms, and businesses, as well as complex pensions. A Family Court Recorder and head of the set's family group, Nicholas Stonor QC is regularly instructed in complex care proceedings. He has expertise in cases involving fatal injuries, factitious and induced illness, shaking, and sexual abuse, as well as jurisdictional, religious, and human rights issues. Among the juniors in the team, Margaret Sweeting is known for her ability to represent vulnerable clients in public and private law disputes. Justin Gray has expertise in adoption, special guardianship, school and relocation cases, financial claims for children, and surrogacy, to name but a few areas. Timothy Spain is a specialist in high-value ancillary and financial relief cases, including matters involving companies, partnerships, farms, hidden wealth, and insolvency, as well as having experience local authority children cases.’
Nicholas Stonor Q.C. - ‘Leads in highly complex care cases.’
Justin Gray - ‘Justin is a pleasure to work with. He is calm, patient and pays the utmost attention to detail. His work is meticulous in terms of depth and details. He is tenacious in his approach to representing clients; Justin has a fantastic way of making you feel at ease throughout the whole court experience. The advice and guidance he gave on the course of our case was explained in a way we could understand.’
Timothy Spain - ‘Tim is the go-to barrister for financial remedy work. His legal knowledge is second to none and his negotiation skills are such that he achieves consistently good outcomes.’
Margaret Sweeting - ‘Ms Sweeting is always very well prepared, is very good with clients particularly ones who have difficulties with communicating due to mental health problems or learning difficulties. Clients always feel that their case was put as well as it could have been even when the outcome is not the one they wanted. As a solicitor I feel Ms Sweeting works with me and that we are a team and I think this is clear to clients who as a result feel well supported.’
Claire Brissenden - 'Empathetic and very caring towards clients. Her preparation for a hearing or conference is always thorough and she puts herself out to really fight the client's corner. Also very supportive towards instructing solicitors.'
DIVORCE & FINANCIAL REMEDY
Timothy Spain - ‘Tim is the go-to barrister for financial remedy work. His legal knowledge is second to none and his negotiation skills are such that he achieves consistently good outcomes.’
James Richardson - ‘James is a standout barrister for his extremely good level of service both in conference and in court.’
PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION
‘Trinity Chambers' 'exceptionally well-rounded' Alice Richardson has 'real depth of knowledge in residential property law', with particular expertise in landlord and tenant matters and leasehold issues. She recently obtained permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in Barton v Houldsworth Village Man Co Ltd, an appeal related to requests made to lessee-owned property management companies under section 116 of the Companies Act 2006.
Rising Stars
Alice Richardson - 'An exceptionally well-rounded performer; real depth of knowledge in residential property law.'
LICENSING
‘Trinity Chambers' Charles Holland specialises in licensing and represents the full range of interested parties in such cases. His practice includes taxi licensing, firearms, entertainment and alcohol, betting and gaming, and scrap metal dealerships.’
Charles Holland - ‘He has an eye for detail, is not afraid of challenging situations and has a commercial approach to clients' needs.’
SOCIAL HOUSING
‘Following the closure of Zenith Chambers in February 2020, Vilma Vodanovic and Peter Marcus joined the team at Trinity Chambers adding to their new set's expertise and strength in depth in the housing and property fields. Members of the team are capable of acting on either side in landlord and tenant matters, including possession claims, disrepair, and anti-social behaviour claims. In recent work of note, Helen Greatorex acted for Leeds City Council in its application for a pre-emptive injunction against persons unknown in order to prevent travellers from making temporary camps on areas of local authority land. Elsewhere, rising star Alice Richardson successfully represented the appellant landlord, unled, in Pease v Carter & Anr, a Court of Appeal decision on the applicability of the ‘reasonable recipient’ test to errors in notices seeking possession.’
Helen Greatorex - ’Helen has broad experience across social housing law, strong intellect and a very thorough approach to litigation. Helen has an assertive but measured advocacy style to ensure the best prospects of a successful outcome. She fully grasps the varied and often competing demands within social housing litigation and is able to offer sound, pragmatic advice.'
Peter Marcus - ‘Highly experienced in both defending and bringing possession claims.’
Vilma Vodanovic - ‘A razor-sharp advocate.’
Rising Stars
Alice Richardson - 'The go-to barrister in Newcastle for this kind of work.'
ADMINISTRATIVE & PUBLIC LAW (INCLUDING CIVIL LIBERTIES & HUMAN RIGHTS)
'Extremely knowledgeable about Administrative and equality law', Trinity Chambers' rising star Alice Richardson specialises in public law and judicial review across the housing, social welfare, community care, and prison law spaces. In recent work of note, she successfully represented the Secretary of State for Justice in a claim for judicial review concerning the release dates of prisoners repatriated to their home countries. Richardson is described as 'relaxed and calm and with a very good paper presentation of a case' and also 'knowledgeable about funding possibilities which can appear as an adjunct to many other areas'.
Rising Stars
Alice Richardson - 'Very creative and excellent at spotting a new point, Alice is very thorough in her work and has strong advocacy skills.'
The full 2021 Legal 500 listings for Trinity Chambers can be found here.