News in 2006 and early 2007
January
Chambers is delighted to announce that with effect from 15 January 2007 Julia Graham is appointed as Fountain Court's first Business Development Manager.
October
Fountain Court is delighted that, following his retirement as Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), Sir Henry Brooke has rejoined Chambers to practise as an arbitrator and mediator. Sir Henry was a member of Chambers from 1964 to 1988, when he was appointed to the High Court Bench. He became a Lord Justice in 1996.
Fountain Court sweeps the major awards at Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2006.
Fountain Court dominated the prestigious Chambers & Partners Bar Awards for 2006, being judged the winner in no fewer than 5 separate categories, which included a clean sweep of all the awards in the 'Banking and Finance' category.
Fountain Court received the leading award for best 'Set of the Year' overall. Chambers & Partners said of this award, "The winner of Set of the Year can truly be said to have impressed on a number of fronts…..The eventual recipient will have demonstrated that it has depth of talent, consistency of performance, quality of clerking and an ability to succeed across a spread of distinct legal disciplines."
Fountain Court also secured the accolade of 'Commercial Litigation Set of the Year' with Chambers & Partners observing, "This contingent has acquired an indomitable reputation through high-profile work in the financial services sector.."
In the 'Banking and Finance' category, Fountain Court scooped all three awards:
Set of the Year
In its summation of Fountain Court, Chambers & Partners said "Unanimously regarded as one of the leading banking litigation sets, this 'finely tuned' contingent's reputation in the market shows no signs of abating. Commentators continue to prize the excellent array of barristers available and recommend them for the top-quality work they produce."
Silk of the Year - Nicholas Stadlen QC
Chambers & Partners commented "Nicholas Stadlen QC's illustrious victory in the BCCI v Bank of England affair has once again underlined the value of this highly eminent silk. A performer of immense gravitas, he is widely praised by clients and peers for the quality of his advice and leadership in high-profile banking disputes.""
Junior of the Year - Richard Handyside
Chambers & Partners noted "Clients see the 'extremely hard-working' Richard Handyside as a 'good team player who always pulls his weight.'"
Fountain Court is extremely proud to have received this recognition of its achievements and position at the pinnacle of the Commercial Bar.
September
Fountain Court Chambers is delighted to announce that from Monday 11th September, Charles Béar QC will be practising from Chambers.
Charles, who was called in 1986 and took silk in 2003, was previously at 11 King's Bench Walk. He has a diverse practice spanning commercial litigation, high-value employment and post-termination disputes, public and administrative law and public procurement.
Michael Brindle QC, joint head of Chambers, said: "We are very pleased that Charles is joining us. We believe that his practice and ours will make an excellent fit"
Charles Béar QC said: "Fountain Court Chambers combines prominence across a broad range of specialist litigation with a modern and flexible approach to legal business. I am very enthusiastic about this move and confident that it will benefit my clients in all my areas of practice."
July
Chambers is delighted to announce that Craig Orr and Patricia Robertson have been appointed Queen's Counsel. Craig was called to the Bar in 1986 and has a broadly-based commercial and civil litigation practice. His particular experience and expertise lies in the fields of banking and financial services, professional negligence, insurance reinsurance, civil fraud and asset-tracing, jurisdiction and conflict of laws. Patricia was called to the Bar in 1988 and also possesses a broad commercial litigation practice with emphasis in the areas of professional negligence, banking, regulatory, employment and mediation. Both Craig and Patricia are CEDR Accredited Mediators.