Claire Ruckin talks to 10 leading barristers about their experiences of life at the Bar

Without the well-honed PR teams of many a law firm and legally unable to promote themselves, barristers rely to a great extent on the recommendations of peers and instructing solicitors for reputation and referral.

Unlike the majority of their solicitor counterparts, many commercial barristers will turn their hand to several sectors of the law. And not only do they need to be team players, working closely with law firm partners, they also need to be savvy with strong client skills.

And there is certainly a clear band of up-and-coming barristers emerging that meet all those criteria. Instructing solicitors and peers highlight user-friendliness; approachability and acting as a team player as other key attributes among the top 10 barristers selected.

And despite criticism levelled at the QC appointment process in previous years, the newly revamped QC appointment process appears to offer some hope for the Bar's leaders. This February saw a 42% success rate with 104 barristers appointed silks in the latest application round. While this still means some 143 barristers were left disappointed, it marks a significant increase on the 2007-08 figure of 29% under the old scheme.

This year's top 10 Stars at the Bar are based on Legal Week research, canvassing the opinion of over 60 people within the Bar – both regional and City sets – as well as instructing solicitors. In order to be considered, all candidates had to be 10 years' and under called and a member of the Commercial or Chancery Bar.

THE TOP 10

Henry Forbes Smith – One Essex Court
Called to the Bar: 2004
Education: Nelson College; University of Otago; University of Oxford; University of Cambridge

Henry Forbes Smith initially qualified in New Zealand and worked at a local law firm before coming to the UK to study law. Prior to joining the Bar, Smith practised US law with Davis Polk & Wardwell in London, but deciding he was attracted to the prospect of being a barrister he made the switch and joined One Essex Court in 2005.

He is commended as being: "a fantastic lawyer, very focused, incredibly clever, ferociously hard working and very analytical". Previous cases include working with Herbert Smith on the multi-million pound Talco claim for four years as well as having a wide practice covering arbitrations, banking and financial services, civil fraud, general commercial, contractual and jurisdictional disputes.

A hit with a number of firms including Herbert Smith, Slaughter and May and Fulbright & Jaworski, Smith is so far set to work on two cases next year, one involving a large Russian arbitration and the other a hedge fund failure, taking the reins on work coming through as a result of the downturn in the market.

Jonathan Dawid – Brick Court Chambers, London
Called to the Bar: 2005
Educated: University College School; University of Cambridge; Harvard University

Jonathan Dawid decided to switch careers from publishing after a challenge from his former colleagues over lunch. The next day he signed up to law school, maintaining his job in publishing to support his part time studying for the law conversion.

In his short career Dawid has worked on several high profile cases, including recently appearing in the House of Lords acting for the creditors of collapsed structured investment vehicle Sigma – on one of the big credit crunch disputes to hit the market to date. In addition, he has acted for the private equity house Terra Firma defending a £100m claim brought by investment banks in respect to the securitisation of the Box Clever group. Over the past three years, Dawid has worked on several instructions from Ernst & Young regarding multi-million pound auditor negligence claims.

Dawid, who cites Mark Hapgood QC (also at Brick Court) as an influence ("brilliant man with incredible work ethic who is always there for his clients") has been instructed by firms including Lovells, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Mayer Brown and Simmons & Simmons. One instructing partner commented: "He is regarded by those he works with as 'definitely somebody that will appear again and again in serious high-profile litigation'".

Simon Hattan – Serle Court, London
Called to the Bar: 1999
Educated: Bedford School; City University

Simon Hattan started professional life working in capital markets and derivatives for HSBC Markets and WestLB, but says he was attracted to the Bar due to the variety it offered, intellectual stimulation, individual responsibility and team work during a case.

He has spent a stint seconded to the Financial Services Authority in the enforcement division over 2000-01, acting as counsel in a wide variety of regulatory disciplinary matters. Instructing solicitors comment this "uniquely adds a financial services dimension to his advice and good counsel".

Of late, Hattan was involved in one of the longest trials in Jersey, acting in a $120m breach of trust and fiduciary duty dispute which settled this August after eight months in trial. Hattan cites his representation last year of Royal Bank of Scotland against Winterthur for breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation arising out of the sale of Churchill Insurance as his best case to date.

Hattan says the proudest moment of his career so far was being taken on by chambers: "I had a pretty successful job and I jumped into the unknown, so being told I was taken on was a very exciting moment for me." However, he advises anyone looking to get into the profession to who would advise anyone getting into the Bar to have "thick skin and the determination to stick it out when you are knocked down".

Shaheed Fatima – Blackstone Chambers, London
Called to the Bar: 2001
Education: Eastwood High School; Glasgow University; University of Oxford; Harvard University

Blackstone Chambers' Shaheed Fatima is highly experienced across a range of fields, having been involved in high-profile public, employment, human rights and commercial law cases. Fatima is repeatedly instructed for high net worth individuals including heads of state and foreign royalty, including the Sultan of Brunei.

Since 2004, she has appeared in the House of Lords on eight occasions and has worked with firms including Olswang, Lovells, Shoosmiths, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith and Bryan Cave.

As well as practising at the Commercial Bar, Fatima is also a member of the New York State Bar Association. In chambers Fatima is popular among the silks and clients refer to her as "like having another silk on the case". Her advice to students wanting to enter the Bar is: "Know what you are getting into. People can be unrealistic in their expectations so being informed and prepared about what the job is will help to best achieve those ambitions, there is no substitution for mini-pupillages and going to court."

James Goldsmith – One Essex Court, London
Called to the Bar: 2002
Education: Westminster School; University of Cambridge; University of Poitiers

As the son of former attorney general Lord Peter Goldsmith QC (now at Debevoise & Plimpton) it is not surprising Goldsmith junior ended up in the legal profession. However, it took a failed turn as an actor before he found his way.

Since entering the Bar, he has made quite an impression in his own right on those he has worked with, who describe him as "quite a phenomenon, extremely hard working, industrious and clever" and "a real big hit with clients and leaders alike, he has a really big future."

In his biggest case to date, Goldsmith advised Marks & Spencer on getting an injunction against Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer from acting in Philip Green's takeover bid in 2004. Freshfields was found to have a conflict of interest advising Green, having previously worked for M&S.

More recently, he used his advocacy and cross-examination skills in a seven month trial over allegations of fraud relating to the supply of hazelnuts to a number of confectioners including Ferrero Rocher producer, Ferrero Group. It had been alleged that Goldsmith's client, Ferrero, was involved in the fraud, however, the confectioner was cleared of charges over the summer.

As well as his father, he cites Daniel Toledano QC and Neil Kitchener QC as major influences from within his own chambers.

Glenn Willetts – No5 Chambers, Birmingham
Called to the Bar: 2000
Education: Bishop Vesey's Grammar School; Birmingham University; University of Oxford

Having wanted to be barrister from the age of 10, Glenn Willetts cites "determination" as key to a career at the Bar ("It is competitive to get into and more competitive once you get there.")

Willetts has built up a faithful following, with firms such as Hammonds, HBJ Gately Wareing, Cobbetts and FBC Manby Bowdler regularly instructing him. One solicitor at a top 30 firm said: "He is very good at reading judges as well as being practical and user-friendly with clients. He knows how to read any situation."

He refers to his best case as a test tax case in the Court of Appeal representing a client against the Inland Revenue Commission over the meaning of 'benefits in kind', which he successfully fought.

A keen rugby player and snowboarder, he also advises on a broad range of company and partnership disputes including shareholder disputes and litigation surrounding the breakdown of partnerships such as asset division, retirements and the construction of partner dissolution deeds.

Nicole Langlois – XXIV Old Buildings, London
Called to the Bar: 2008
Education: Jersey College for Girls; Exeter University

Nicole Langlois is currently preparing for a large money laundering case which is due to go to trial in Jersey for five weeks from November. The case shows off Langlois' practice, which focuses on trusts litigation, commercial contracts disputes and work with a Jersey flavour – where she has rights of audience.

Laglois qualified to the Jersey Bar in 1998 and was called to the English Bar in 2008. She previously worked as solicitor at Herbert Smith, before making partner at Carey Olsen in 2002. She also did a period of secondment to Mayer Brown in 2002-04.

One magic circle partner who has instructed her praises the variety of her experience: "Having practised as a solicitor in London and as an advocate in Jersey, Nicole has a very wide perspective to her trusts litigation practice."

Langlois comments: "The great thing about the Bar is that you can succeed in lots of different ways. You don't have to fit a mold and you shouldn't try to be someone else. Just play to your own strengths."

Tom Smith – 3-4 South Square, London
Called to the Bar: 1999
Education: Walton High School; University of Cambridge

Tom Smith has built up a reputation in the market after taking on some heavy-hitting financial cases since the collapse of Lehman last year. Instructed by firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance and Linklaters, notable cases Smith has taken a role in include the collapse of BCCI. Smith recalls his proudest professional moment as when "the liquidators of BCCI gave up and we won the Bank of England trial after a long battle".

More recently, Smith has been representing Ernst & Young as administrators of collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander as well as acting on cross-border insolvency work in the House of Lords.

With influences such as Michael Crystal QC and Gabriel Moss QC, Smith's advice to newcomers would be to "practise in an area you enjoy and find interesting".

James Brocklebank – 7 King's Bench Walk, London
Called to the Bar: 1999
Education: Cranleigh School; University of Cambridge

James Brocklebank hit the ground running with one of the first cases he was involved in being the £1bn Barings Bank litigation, where he acted for Ernst & Young. "It was on this case that I learnt my trade," he says, "and it was a very good way to learn as it was intense, complicated and interesting. It was one of my greatest achievements so far and prepared me for demanding litigation."

He subsequently has worked with Ernst & Young on the £2bn Equitable Life litigation and is currently representing Barclays Bank and three out of the big four accountants on claims against them.

Citing Jonathan Gaisman QC and Christopher Butcher QC, both also at 7KBW, as influences, Brocklebank says he does not believe people who say the Bar is a dying institution.

Those that have worked with him call him "fiercely bright, very hard working and a pleasure to deal with."

James MacDonald – 3 Verulam Buildings, London
Called to the Bar: 2005
Education: Westminster School; Kings College, London; University of Oxford

Three Verulam Buildings' James MacDonald saw the Bar as a comfortable progression following a love of essay writing, debates and arguments at school and university. He has been instructed on a wide range of high-profile chancery and commercial disputes including acting for Nationwide in the second stage of the 'bank charges' test case.

He was also on the team which successfully defended JP Morgan in the high-profile $700m Springwell Navigation litigation – a negligence and misrepresentation claim by a Greek ship-owning family.

He comments: "Nothing beats advocacy and the thrill of cross examination, and never quite knowing what the witness will say next."

One magic circle litigator instructs MacDonald because "it is like working with someone who is 10 years call – double what he actually is. He is a definite star and one to look out for in the future."

Highly-commended up-and-coming barristers

Among the other barristers to come highly recommended is Wilberforce Chambers' Andrew Mold, who was called in 2003. Key cases he has been involved in to date include Charman v Charman – one of the most high profile court cases of recent years and the largest ever contested divorce in England and Wales. He is praised for having developed a strong international practice, with one lawyer saying: "He is second to none in work ethos and how he deals with clients. He has to fight off QCs as there is so much in demand to have him as their junior." He attended Cambridge and Havard.

Anna Dilnot (pictured) of 3 Stone Buildings has made an early impression, having only been called in 2008. She read law at University College London and previously worked as a solicitor, qualifying in 2002 in the commercial litigation department at Stephenson Harwood. She moved to Simmons & Simmons in 2005 and qualified as a solicitor advocate. She has acted for Prince Jefri Bolkaih for a number of years, advising on his long-standing dispute with the Sultan of Brunei among other things. One solicitor commented: "Although she was only called to the Bar in 2008, she acts in reality like she is seven years call. She is a very nice person to work with, though she can be a Rottweiler and is one to look out for in the future."

Edward Levey is also widely recommended, having joined Fountain Court via Newcastle Grammar School and Cambridge. He is another barrister to have taken a role of the bank charges case, instructed on behalf of Lloyds TSB. He is currently instructed with Bankim Thanki QC on behalf of a Swiss fiduciary house in the Bitel litigation – a multi-million dollar claim concerning the disputed ownership of a mobile telephone company in Kyrgyzstan involving allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption. He is said to be: "Very user friendly, approachable and extremely hardworking".

New Square Chambers' Tim Akkouh was called to the Bar in 2004 having read law at London School of Economics and University College London. His recent cases include Alhamrani v Alhamrani litigation based in Jersey, where he was acting for one of the defendant trustees. The case is currently stayed after 102 days at trial. "He has shown time and time again he has a range of abilities within chancery and commercial and is a very hard worker," says one solicitor to have instructed him recently.

Iain Quirk (pictured) decided against joining the family business – a fishmongers in Yorkshire – and studied law at Nottingham. He joined Essex Court Chambers in 2002 and has built up a reputation advising various individuals and bodies within the sports and media arena, including actor Neil Morrissey; Ascot Racecourse; Queens Park Rangers FC as well as the risque stage show Puppetry of the Penis. He is currently acting in two ICC arbitrations in Qatar, a pipeline dispute in the Middle East and several arbitrations relating to the collapse of a bank, which have a combined value in excess of $1bn. He also has experience in the employment sector, backed up by a four month stint in Simmons & Simmons' employment department in 2002. He also did a clerkship at Baker & McKenzie's employment department in Sydney and is cited as an "excellent and reliable junior: good team-player, great attitude and first-class draftsman".

Click here to read last year's Stars at the Bar feature.