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Stone Chambers Receives 14 Recommendations in the 2012 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Edition
In the latest edition of the Chambers & Partners 2012 UK Bar Edition, Stone Chambers increased its recommendations to 14 across 5 different sectors.
Shipping: Stone Chambers - leading set
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Elizabeth Blackburn QC - leading silk
Vasanti Selvaratnam QC - leading silk
Timothy Hill QC - leading silk
Rachel Toney - leading junior barrister
Mark Jones - leading junior barrister
Ravi Aswani - leading junior barrister
Tom Whitehead - leading junior barrister
THE SET Stone Chambers is a "genuine specialist shipping set" that provides "excellent value to its clients." Its barristers have great expertise on the wet side of shipping including salvage, collisions and pollution matters, but are equally adept at handling the full range of dry shipping disputes. Despite its compact size, chambers regularly handles leading cases in the field. Commentators agree that "this set is making waves in the shipping market."
SILKS Elizabeth Blackburn QC is considered to be the go-to silk for any pollution-related matter. She impresses peers with her "phenomenal work ethic" and "deep knowledge base." She is also highly respected for her expertise in salvage and collision cases. Steven Gee QC is known to be "a formidable advocate with an outstanding intellect - judges just follow his every word." Recent highlights for him include appearing before the Supreme Court in The Cendor Mopu, a case concerning the concept of 'inherent vice'. Timothy Hill QC is recommended for his work on ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding, ship finance, charter party disputes and insurance matters. He is known to be "a proper little rottweiler who is a real advocate for the client." Vasanti Selvaratnam QC's skills in cross-examinations are highly rated: "She comes across as incredibly calm and considered but leaves a trail of destruction in her wake." Her most recent efforts include acting in the Wadi Sudr case.
JUNIORS Ravi Aswani has been busy working on several dry shipping arbitrations as well as a commercial court case concerning hazardous waste issues. Peers comment that he is "a very steady pair of hands and never seems to get thrown by anything." The "tenacious" Rachel Toney "has the complete package - pragmatism, intelligence and client skills," sources say. Her practice covers a wide range of commercial disputes including international trade, shipping, sale and carriage of goods and insurance matters. Mark Jones joins the rankings this year following exceptional feedback from the market. Previously a solicitor with Ince & Co, he has valuable experience and a strong client base to draw from. Sources say: "He is an effective operator with a great sense of humour." Another debutant is the "very learned" Thomas Whitehead, of whom solicitors say: "If you want someone to root around and find an abstruse point in a dusty book he's your man."
Commercial Litigation:
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Philip Riches - leading junior barrister
At Stone Chambers, Steven Gee QC's "exceptional ability to pluck brilliant points out of seemingly thin air" sees him instructed in an impressive range of cases, from misrepresentation and civil fraud to commercial contract, joint venture and sale of goods disputes. He is joined in chambers by Philip Riches, a "personable and easy to work with" junior commended for his timely advice and excellent responsiveness. Riches has an impressive body of experience in freezing injunction litigation.
Employment Law:
Rachel Toney - leading junior barrister
Rachel Toney of Stone Chambers is praised for "her ability to whip very messy cases into fantastic shape." She is "very pragmatic and certainly has an excellent technical grasp of the law."
Fraud: Civil:
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Steven Gee QC is the head of Stone Chambers. He has an international practice and is admitted to practise in New York as well as Antigua. He also acted on the BTA Bank litigation, turning in his usual solid performance. Sources reserve special mention for his "mastery of interlocutory injunctions."
International Arbitration:
Steven Gee QC - leading silk
Philip Riches - leading junior barrister
Sources say Steven Gee QC of Stone Chambers is "the man to go to for an injunction - he literally wrote the book on it." He has developed a significant international practice, both sitting as arbitrator and acting as counsel in commercial arbitrations and cases about the enforcements of arbitral awards. At the same set, Philip Riches is a top pick for arbitrations focused on issues of jurisdiction. He has a strong track record in Russia and China-related disputes, and is experienced in LCIA, ICC and LMAA proceedings.