Winner: Guildhall Chambers

Finalists 2011: 3 Stone Buildings, Blackstone Chambers, Brick Court Chambers, Guildhall Chambers, Old Square Chambers, Serle Court

Bristol-based Guildhall Chambers caught the eye of the judges thanks to its ability to demonstrate how its clearly-defined and well-executed strategy had led to a slew of top quality work in its chosen fields.

The set, which has 69 barristers, has worked purposefully and imaginatively to develop its five specialist teams covering insolvency, regulatory crime, commercial, property and personal injury and clinical negligence.

Marketing initiatives include the establishment of a website that has promoted the merits of practising law in Bristol, a joint venture with the Jordan Publishing to launch a digital insolvency newsletter and an agreement with several leading law firms to provide insolvency training.

The chambers has also invested in its own technology platform to establish an intranet to improve internal communication and allow for home working via a secure web-based portal. Also tech-related is the launch of an online feedback system for clients.

High-profile cases the set's tenants have worked on include prosecutions relating to the Buncefield explosion, insolvency work relating to Lehman Brothers, Bernard Madoff and Alitalia, and group actions against leading financial institutions over allegations of the mis-selling of interest rate swaps and bonds. Client wins have included panel appointments to the Health and Safety Executive, Zurich Insurance, Co-op Legal Services and RBS Insurance.

The chambers also boasts seven tenants on the Attorney General's regional panel of junior counsel. High quality work and a record of client wins has helped the firm improve its financial position, with billings increasing by 40% over the last 18 months.