CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS 2022 EDITION: ST IVES: “AN EXCELLENT CHAMBERS”

We are pleased to confirm that St Ives Chambers has been ranked as a leading set by the
legal directory, Chambers & Partners in their 2022 edition, which has been released
today.

Twenty-six different members of chambers have been ranked in five practice areas.
Chambers enjoys 29 rankings in total. St Ives has been ranked as a Band 1 set in three
areas: family (children), family (matrimonial finance) and social housing. Chambers is also
recommended in real estate litigation and crime.

In relation to the Band 1 family team, Chambers and Partners observes that “St Ives
Chambers is a well-established and highly regarded family set. Its expansive bench offers
expertise across the full range of matrimonial finance and children cases… an excellent
chambers that has gone from strength to strength”. It is further noted that “They have a
wealth of talent to choose from.” Elizabeth Isaacs QC is ranked as a Band 1 silk. Nine
juniors are ranked in children law, and a further five juniors are ranked in matrimonial
finance. Our dedicated family clerking team also received special praise: “It’s a wonderful
clerking team which will always try to help…. they are a well-oiled machine that runs
superbly… David Walters, the practice manager responsible for the private law children
and family finance teams, is extremely approachable, responsive, and efficient…. Sarah
Robinson is the practice manager for the family team, and Nick Burdon and Asma Akhtar
are the assistant practice managers.”

The Band 1 social housing team comes highly recommended, being yet again the only set
on the Midland Circuit ranked by the publication. “The set remains pre-eminent in this
market” with one solicitor noting “All of the barristers at St Ives are always well-prepared,
professional and first-rate advocates.” The clerking of the team is “exceptional,
particularly civil practice manager Ross Hands and civil assistant practice manager
Catherine Merry. Both are friendly, efficient, and incredibly organised, and they always go
the extra mile to assist.” Seven juniors are ranked.

Two juniors are ranked within Real Estate Litigation for the second year in a row, having
entered the ranking for the first time in 2021: “Sources say the set is a “go-to chambers”
for this area.”

Five juniors are ranked within the criminal team either in crime or financial crime. “St
Ives Chambers is an impressive set, noted for its expert handling of cases arising from
the full range of criminal offences.” The clerking team is also singled out for note:
“Andrew Rourke and Philip Hidson are the criminal practice group managers. “Andrew is fantastic

— he knows his job well, never over-promises and always delivers what he says
he will.”

New Head of Chambers, Elizabeth Isaacs QC, said “I am absolutely delighted with our
rankings in the 2022 edition of Chambers and Partner. They demonstrate the hard work
that our members have put in over the last twelve months and are a testament to their
professionalism and dedication. To have so many members ranked demonstrates the real
strength we have as a set in our specialist areas.

“Particular congratulations are owed to our clerking team, who are appropriately
recognised on repeated occasions within the 2022 guide. We are particularly pleased,
given the challenges that the last 18 months have brought, that our clerks have
continued to offer unsurpassed levels of service to our professional clients. We have
emerged from the pandemic in a position of real strength, and we are looking to build on
that in the coming year.

“Finally, it would be wrong not to specifically note the ranking of Peter Cooper as a Band
1 junior in crime. Peter was a much valued colleague and a wonderful advocate. He was
universally respected and played a vital role in these chambers for over 20 years. His
passing in September was difficult for us to bear, but his ranking is a reminder of what a
fantastic barrister he was.”

To see the set profile for chambers, please click here.