9 St john Street has been ranked as a Leading Set in the 2013 Chambers and Partner. The following counsel have all been ranked in their specialist practice areas.
COMMERCIAL
James Fryer-Spedding of 9 St John Street is a chancery and commercial litigation purist. He frequently appears in professional negligence, contentious trusts and property cases, among others. An interviewee states that Fryer-Spedding "has an excellent reputation. I also have never had a client be disappointed with the way he dealt with a case."
David Gilchrist provides a full service to clients on property, trusts, commercial and professional negligence disputes. Clients laud him for being "a modern barrister" who is always thinking ahead. They particularly value his thoroughness and the practical advice he offers.
James Fryer-Spedding of 9 St John Street is "highly thorough" and "highly effective," admiring sources say. His strong command of legal technicalities was highlighted to researchers.
David Gilchrist receives particular praise for his advocacy skills and is an effective presence in the courtroom. He represents clients in a variety of commercial work such as disputes relating to guarantees, insolvency and partnerships.
EMPLOYMENT
“9 St John Street's breadth and depth of expertise means that it dominates the employment law landscape on the Northern Circuit. It features a host of luminaries in the employment field, who act at all levels from courts of first instance to the Court of Appeal. Matters are undertaken on both the claimant and respondent side, and discrimination, TUPE, unfair and wrongful dismissal, and trade union disputes all feature within the members' heavy caseloads.
SILKS
Paul Gilroy QC is a "top-class strategist" and "the go-to barrister in the North West" for employment work, who gains plaudits for his gravitas in court as well as his approachable manner out of it. He is especially commended for his "ability to explain the intricacies of the law in an easily digestible way." A major focus of his practice is sports-related employment law, and he has represented both top-level football managers and players.
JUNIORS
Stefan Brochwicz-Lewinski has "got it all," and is a "robust advocate" who is "great with clients." He recently appeared before the Court of Appeal, representing Littlewoods in a high-value equal pay case.
Joanne Connolly is another impressive junior at the set who "ticks all the boxes," and has "a brilliant mind." She has the "ability to put a client at ease straight away," and tackles a comprehensive employment practice. Disability discrimination cases are a particular forte for her.
Nigel Grundy is a "client-friendly" barrister who has built a truly multifaceted practice, covering both employment law and personal injury litigation. He is recommended along with Rachel Wedderspoon, whose "slick" and "probing" advocacy has won her much respect. She specialises in a wide range of employment cases, and also sits as an employment judge. "Safe pair of hands" Joanne Woodward is "a first-rate advocate, whose meticulous attention to the details and intricacies of a case never fails to impress." She particularly specialises in complex discrimination cases and appeals. Also recommended:
Rebecca Eeley is someone who is clearly making strides at the Employment Bar. "Wonderful with clients" and "extremely good on her feet," she has a keen interest in discrimination work.
Kirsten Barry brings a "fair and measured" approach to a variety of complex employment cases. She proves particularly good on constructive dismissal and redundancy issues.
The "down-to-earth" Stephen Hardy is quickly gaining a strong reputation on the circuit, with one source stating that "academically and legally he offers the best value for money in Manchester." While he practises across a number of fields, Hardy handles a good deal of employment work, and is particularly strong on trade union litigation.
One commentator calls Brian McCluggage "one of the very best senior juniors" in the North. Praised for his "fantastic communication skills," he mainly acts for government departments and corporate clients.
Edward Morgan is a barrister of "acute intelligence" who "excels with clients." His "innate understanding of how businesses are run" makes him a popular choice amongst solicitors. He has a niche interest in employment matters relating to ministers of religion and religious discrimination.
Daniel Northall has endeared himself to many a client due to his "excellent advocacy" and "thorough preparation." He handles complex discrimination and industrial relations cases.
The "insightful and erudite" Matthew Snarr is another talented junior at the set. He is recognised for his "outstanding cross-examination," and was described by one solicitor as "our first, second and third choice on tricky cases."