Who are the Inns of Court A-listers of the future? Dominic Carman meets 10 up-and-coming young barristers who are being tipped for the top

Laura John

3 Verulam Buildings

Called to the Bar: 2001

Educated: Royal High School, Bath; New College, Oxford

Banking, insolvency and commercial fraud specialist Laura John is bracing herself for a busy 2009. In January she will start an eight-week commercial fraud trial, acting for a large utility company in a case involving fraudulent schemes allegedly perpetrated by sub-contractors, after which she is scheduled to appear in a share sale dispute, Cavendish v GIL, in the Court of Appeal. Plenty more credit crunch-inspired work is likely to follow for the Oxford graduate, who is regularly instructed by a host of major City firms, including LG, DLA Piper and Herbert Smith.

John, who cites Jonathan Sumption QC as an influence ("I've been very fortunate to see his appellate work"), is regarded by those she works with as having "natural authority and gravitas". She is also said to be blessed with an attractive speaking voice – always helpful for an advocate – and a good sense of comic timing: "She knows the right moment to use humour," says one senior colleague.

Jeremy Brier

Essex Court

Called to the Bar: 2004

Educated: Haberdashers School For Boys, Christ's College, Cambridge

Former president of the Cambridge Union Jeremy Brier aims to pursue simultaneous careers in law and politics. As the Conservative candidate for Luton North, he has high hopes for what he describes as "a fairly winnable seat". "But first and foremost," adds Brier, "I'm a barrister."

The Essex Court tenant has had a busy 2008, acting as sole advocate for Barclays in a series of disputes, undertaking a successful judicial review on behalf of the National Farmers' Union in respect of farmers' compensation for bovine TB and appearing in several fraud-related ICC arbitrations. Next year Brier will be doing a one-month trial involving oil contracts and the Iraq War.

"Superbly confident, he's a genuine class act in the making," says one instructing solicitor. Elsewhere, there is caution: "Brier is undoubtedly very able but he should avoid appearing too pleased with himself."

Richard Sear

1 Hare Court

Called to the Bar: 2005

Education: Magdalen College School, Oxford; King's College, London; Green College, Oxford

Although naturally more measured than the frenetic, flamboyant Nicholas Mostyn QC, some leading voices speculate that one day Richard Sear might inherit Mostyn's mantle as the best family silk in the business.

His caseload is confidential, but Sear highlights the human dimension of his practice as the most attractive feature. He is particularly looking forward to a divorce case between a Muslim couple involving the ownership of various company assets, which he is booked to handle next year. "It has very interesting cultural and commercial dimensions," says Sear.

A former junior hurdling champion, Sear has "tremendous natural instinct," allied to an "unassuming manner". The result, say colleagues, is that he can operate at any level. Sear confesses to "a definite ambition" to be a High Court judge, should the opportunity arise later on in his career.

Diya Sen Gupta

Devereux Chambers

Called to the Bar: 2000

Education: North London Collegiate School; Magdalene College, Cambridge

Employment junior Diya Sen Gupta is a favourite of City firms. This year she has been instructed by Clifford Chance, Lewis Silkin, Baker & McKenzie and Mayer Brown in a variety of unfair dismissal and age discrimination cases, including a claim from the former employment counsel of a Canadian law firm.

Described as "pragmatic, tough, passionate and fiendishly bright",
Sen Gupta first wanted to be a barrister aged "about eight or nine". Shortly after being called to the Bar, she spent a year as Judicial Assistant to the Law Lords, before joining Devereux Chambers
in 2001.

Her most enjoyable case? 'Appearing in the Court of Appeal (in Khan v Heywood & Middleton Primary Care Trust) without a leader – "it was exhilarating," she says.

Anna Edwards-Stuart

11 South Square

Called to the Bar: 2002

Educated: City of London Girls School; New Hall College Cambridge; Magdalen College, Oxford

In common with many at the intellectual property Bar, Anna Edwards-Stuart has a strong scientific background, having read natural sciences as an undergraduate, before completing a PhD in molecular biology. "Good on the law and relaxed on her feet," she has appeared un-led twice before the Court of Appeal this year.

Edwards-Stuart is in the middle of a trial involving three large pharmaceutical companies, in which she is being instructed by Nabarro. Earlier this year she won a patent infringement case, Nuttall v Fri-Jado, in the High Court. In 2009 she is booked to appear in several trials, including a large patent case for Tyrell and patent revocation proceedings for Tate & Lyle.

Edwards-Stuart is popular with instructing solicitors: "We like using Anna. She's extremely thorough, always charming – a strong character," one told Legal Week.

Gerard Rothschild

Brick Court

Called to the Bar: 2005

Education: Westminster School; Magdalen College, Oxford

Brick Court's Gerard Rothschild, who incidentally is not related to the Rothschild banking dynasty, has acquired a reputation as a naturally modest young barrister with a voracious appetite for work. Inspired to become a member of the Bar by the various books of Lord Denning, Rothschild found himself – fittingly – awarded a Denning scholarship from Lincoln's Inn to get him through Bar school.

Of late he has been involved in the Virgin/BSkyB case, involving a spat over TV rights and pricing, which has seen him work with Sir Sydney Kentridge – an experience Rothschild describes as "wonderful". The case goes to court next February for up to eight weeks.

The former Westminster schoolboy's intelligence – Rothschild's CV is punctuated by glittering prizes – is matched by an ability to get on in the commercial world. "He's easy going, diligent and never misses a deadline," says a fellow barrister. Earlier this year he acted in Chester City Council v Arriva, an abuse of a dominant position case concerning anti-competitive behaviour on bus routes.

Miranda Hill

6 King's Bench Walk

Called to the Bar: 1999

Educated: James Allen's Girls' School; Manchester University

Miranda Hill is currently acting for the command team, including Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Cressida Dick, at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. The Manchester University graduate appears to possess all the necessary attributes to excel as an advocate in high-profile criminal cases, including a sense of humour. Those who know her describe her as "dedicated, thorough, disciplined and great fun". She was the defending junior in R v Sir Stephen Richards – the widely reported case in which a Court of Appeal judge was acquitted of indecent exposure.

Hill, who is regularly instructed by leading criminal firms Kingsley Napley and Russell Cooke, also does a fair amount of fraud work. She was instructed by the Serious Fraud Office as second junior in R v Virendra Rastogi and Others, a multi-million pound fraud committed against various financial institutions, in a trial which lasted seven months.

Sharif Shivji

4 Stone Buildings

Called to the Bar: 2001

Education: Winchester; LSE

Following two years as an interest rate swaps dealer for Fuji Capital Markets, Sharif Shivji left the City and, after studying law, arrived in the contrasting surroundings of Lincoln's Inn as a barrister at Chancery and commercial set 4 Stone Buildings. Commercial clients involved in disputes with financial markets components say they enjoy being represented by someone who really understands their businesses.

Shivji has recently acted in a number of cases concerning insolvent companies (BA Peters, PRG Powerhouse) and companies in administration (Baron Jon Menswear). He also appeared in Re: Dotolo, one of the first applications under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006.

Praised for his personable style and direct approach, Shivji is currently acting in litigation relating to Yes Car Credit, while in 2009 he will be junior to Jonathan Crow QC in a case involving the ownership of a large international construction firm.

Anna Boase

One Essex Court

Called to the Bar: 2002

Education: Pate's Grammar School Cheltenham, Downing College, Cambridge

Currently on maternity leave – she will be returning to the fray in the New Year – Anna Boase is an "extraordinarily driven" commercial specialist who "is never fazed by anything". She has been junior to some excellent leaders, including Ian Glick QC, Geoffrey Vos QC and Lord Grabiner QC. Boase was led by the latter in Alexander Krasner v Vitaly Machitski, representing the defendant in a Commercial Court dispute over the ownership of Romanian aluminium interests.

Boase enjoys a good relationship with the Financial Services Authority, which has instructed her on several occasions, including in the ongoing case brought by the Office of Fair Trading against eight banks accused of levying unfair overdraft charges. She also does regular work for LG and Linklaters. Solicitors at the firms gush with praise for the Cambridge graduate: "She is always in control and does everything to perfection."

Adam Zellick

Fountain Court Chambers

Called to the Bar: 2000

Education: City of London Boys School, Caius College, Cambridge

Adam Zellick resisted the law for as long as possible – probably, he thinks, because he saw it as the territory of his father (the distinguished legal academic Graham Zellick). But eight years into life as a barrister specialising in civil fraud, aviation, banking and insurance, and Zellick is happy with his decision.

The Londoner is seen by insiders at SJ Berwin, Linklaters, Slaughters and Simmons & Simmons, which regularly instruct him, as "tough, technically brilliant and, when necessary, great fun".

"He is a match for any silk: I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark judicial alley," adds one partner.

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