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Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2025: New Park Court Chambers is recognised as a leading set for Inquests & Inquiries, Crime and Professional Discipline

17/10/2024

New Park Court Chambers is pleased to be awarded Band status across our key practice areas of Inquests and Inquiries, Crime and Professional Discipline in Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2025. Individual members are also recognised for Environment, Financial Crime and Health and Safety.

Commenting on our rankings, New Park Court Chambers CEO, Rob Wagg, said “It is incredibly pleasing to see such excellent feedback from our clients, peers and those across law, thank you very much.  I am delighted to see that, collectively, our specialist legal knowledge and talent is recognised by our being ranked in the key areas of Crime, Inquests & Public Inquiries and Professional Discipline and that our barristers are well known across the country for their expertise. Individually, the quality, strength and depth of our barristers is best demonstrated through Robert Smith KC and Paul Greaney KC being ranked as Star Individuals, with Paul Greaney KC and Nick de la Poer KC each being ranked a remarkable four times across our principal practice areas.  Jason Pitter KC, North Eastern Circuit Leader, is ranked as Band 1 twice with Nick Lumley KC, who is our Joint Head of Chambers, and Geraldine Kelly also achieving Band 1 status alongside a further seven practitioners who are also highly ranked.  Finally, it is also gratifying to see that the wider Chambers team is thought of so favourably with Teresa Pugh and Kirsten Frankland quite rightly being singled out for praise.”

Inquests and Inquiries:

‘New Park Court Chambers demonstrates a considerable depth and breadth of expertise in the inquests and inquiries field. Members have acted in several recent high-profile matters, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and UK COVID-19 Inquiry. The set is equipped to handle a wide range of complex inquests such as those involving the police and medical practitioners, in which members draw on their coronial, criminal and professional disciplinary experience. Paul Greaney KC tends to be instructed as counsel to the inquest or inquiry; other barristers from the set have acted for core participants or interested persons including care providers and the bereaved.’

Paul Greaney KC (Band 1): “He’s very well known across the country.”  “Paul Greaney KC really is a leading silk in the area.” “Paul Greaney KC is a very impressive performer.”    “He’s very much in demand as a heavyweight prosecutor and counsel to inquiries.” “Paul is a class act.”        

Nicholas de la Poer KC: “Nicholas is very impressive – very thorough and effective.” “He has a fantastic written style and he’s great with bereaved families.”  “Nicholas is a forensic silk. “He’s an effective performer all round.” “Nicholas de la Poer KC is one of the finest advocates of his generation.”

Clerking: “Teresa Pugh is excellent at handling the silks, and I’d also mention Kirsten Frankland. Both provide an excellent clerking service with prompt responses. They really look after us.”

Crime:

‘New Park Court Chambers is a well-regarded set on the North Eastern Circuit, noted for its expertise spanning the full range of serious criminal work. The set houses “an excellent range of good counsel” who are regularly instructed in high-profile homicides and sexual assault cases, and have considerable experience of acting for both the prosecution and defence.’

Robert Smith KC (Star Individual): “Robert is the best of the best.”

Alistair MacDonald KC: “His advocacy is first-class, so he is good at trial, and judges know his reputation, so will listen to him on difficult cases.” “He is absolute top-drawer and enormously experienced.”    

Paul Greaney KC (Star Individual): “He is a superstar of the circuit and he is probably one of the most sought-after criminal barristers in the country.” “Simply breath-taking; Paul is a superstar and his reputation precedes him.” “Paul is a superb advocate and one of the leading counsel in the country for criminal litigation.”

Nicholas Lumley KC (Band 1): “He is a wonderful advocate.” “He is charm personified and has a lovely manner with the jury.”

Jason Pitter KC (Band 1): “Jason is a very good prosecutor, who is patient and listens.”

Simon Kealey KC: “He is well prepared and has an advocacy style that appeals to a jury.” He is a strong, capable advocate.” “He is able to present complex issues effectively and persuasively with a confidence achieved through solid preparation and mastery of the evidence.” “Simon is an impressive and polished advocate.”

Nicholas de la Poer KC: “Nicholas is an excellent advocate with an ability to grasp complex concepts and communicate easily to a jury whilst managing vulnerable witnesses and defendants.”

Tom Storey KC : “He is very thorough and a very capable operator.” “Tom is super diligent and competent and has a great manner in court.”

Geraldine Kelly (Band 1): “Geraldine is a natural advocate who really stands out.” “She has a lovely manner in court, a very calm and measured approach, which is very impressive.” “She does absolutely stellar work, is tenacious and has a very charming manner.” “She is extremely disciplined, very well prepared, very good with clients and a brilliant advocate.”            

Chloe Fairley: “She is a pleasure to work with.” “Chloe is knowledgeable and can quickly grasp the issues to provide practical, flexible advice, which she balances against tenacity to achieve the best outcome.”

Matthew Donkin: “Matthew is a very strong advocate, who is able and willing to pick up complex cases at the last minute and adds serious value to the overall case.”     

Adam Birkby: “He has a perfect advocacy style and is well received by tribunals.” “Adam is a strong leading junior and prepares submissions thoroughly.” “He has good judgement and an effective manner in court.”    

Clerking: “The clerks are always helpful and friendly.”

Professional Discipline:

‘New Park Court Chambers is a Leeds-based set which can offer copious expertise in the medical and police disciplinary spheres, drawing on a strong profile in criminal law. Members have acted in serious and highly publicised regulatory and disciplinary matters involving various police forces, the GMC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.’

One source praises the set for its “very experienced counsel who are able to deal with more complex and sophisticated matters.”

Jason Pitter KC (Band 1): “Jason is a good advocate.”

Clerking: “The clerks are helpful and always respond in a timely manner.” “The set has great clerks who are personable and efficient.” “Teresa Pugh is excellent at handling the silks, and Kirsten Frankland provides excellent service with prompt responses.”

Environment:

Lee Fish: “Lee Fish is a sound environmental law practitioner.”

Financial Crime:

Paul Greaney KC: “Paul is superb and a class act.”       

Nicholas de la Poer KC: “He is so impressive on his law.” “Nicholas is an effective performer all round and a fine performer.”        

Health and Safety:

Paul Greaney KC (Band 1): “He is extremely good: he has many gears and can change his style and tone.”

Nicholas de la Poer KC: “He’s very good on the details and good with juries.” “He is terrific.”    

Authors

Nicholas Lumley KC

Joint Head of Chambers

Call 1992 | Silk 2012

Robert Smith KC

Call 1971 | Silk 1986

Alistair MacDonald KC

Call 1983 | Silk 2000

Paul Greaney KC

Call 1993 | Silk 2010

Jason Pitter KC

Call 1994 | Silk 2014

Simon Kealey KC

Call 1991 | Silk 2017

Nicholas de la Poer KC

Call 2003 | Silk 2020

Tom Storey KC

Call 1993 | Silk 2024

Geraldine Kelly

Call 1996

Chloe Fairley

Call 2004

Lee Fish

Call 2003

Matthew Donkin

Call 2004

Adam Birkby

Call 2006

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