Tony Morrissey our Director of Clerking leads and manages the Civil Clerking Team, and is responsible for the practice development and marketing of the different specialist practice groups within Chambers.
The Civil Clerking Team is split into two separate and specialist clerking teams. Joe Gibson is the Practice Manager for the Personal Injury, Insurance Fraud, Travel Law and Court of Protection Groups. He is assisted by Phillip Spencer.
Julia Lanza is the Practice Manager for the Business & Property and Employments Group and is assisted by Jane Slingsby and Alex Jones. Our Practice Managers are responsible for the daily clerking functions and practice development of their respective members with the assistance of a dedicated support team of clerks.
The Civil Clerking team has always enjoyed a reputation for a "client focused approach", combining its wealth of expertise and knowledge with a friendly and efficient service and an open and flexible approach to fee negotiations.
Chris Swann is the Senior Clerk to the Criminal Team. With 28 years clerking experience, he is responsible for the practice development and marketing of the Criminal Team.
David Ellis is the Criminal Clerking Team Leader and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Criminal Team diary. He is assisted by Austin Brock-Clements. Both Clerks employ a 'can do' approach to clerking and leave no stone unturned to assist instructing Solicitors.
Regulatory and Professional Discipline Group Team
Tony Morrissey and Chris Swann are jointly responsible for clerking the Regulatory Team. As the Director of Clerking and Senior Clerk respectively, they have a wealth of experience spanning 50 years and are suitably placed in the Civil and Criminal Practice Groups to deal with the cross-over that comes with this area of Law.
Ped McKinstry is the Practice Manager for the Family Team. He is responsible for the teams' practice development as well as the organisation of a very busy diary. He takes a proactive approach and goes the extra mile to accommodate bookings from our Instructing Solicitors. Ped is assisted by Jake Speed.
"The clerks room is very helpful. Phillip Spencer is always accommodating and helpful."
The clerks are excellent and very efficient and will do all they can to support you. Tony Morrissey and Joe Gibson are first rate."
Chris Swann and David Ellis are excellent clerks who are always keen to help whenever they can.
Legal 500 2025
"The clerks are very experienced, helpful, and skilled in their work. Ped McKinstry and Jake Speed are both highly efficient and helpful and go the extra mile."
"Fantastic and efficient service. Austin Brock-Clements in particular is always friendly and approachable, as well as extremely efficient."
Legal 500 2025
"The clerks are friendly and organised and instructions are always dealt with in accordance with timescales provided. "The clerks are professional and quick to respond to queries". "The clerks give accurate and clear notes of costs." "The clerks are courteous, prompt and flexible where necessary." "The clerks are excellent: fast responders and efficient."
Chambers and Partners 2022
"The clerking team is continually fantastic – the clerks are thorough, efficient and quick to respond to any queries you may have." "The team will always go the extra mile to try to deliver the counsel requested or to find suitable and capable alternatives." "The clerks will always respond within the working day and are very helpful. They are all very friendly and will assist whenever possible to ensure the client's needs are exceeded." Tony Morrissey is the Director of Clerking.
"The support from the clerks is of an extremely high standard and their availability and advice is excellent. They don't flap when there's a complex case or a lot to balance." The set has begun to offer seminars for instructing solicitors across the North West. Tony Morrissey is the Director of Clerking.
Chambers and Partners 2020