Following the successful completion of their pupillages Christopher Monaghan, Ian Simester and Kit Holliday have become members of Chambers with effect from 3 October 2022.

They will be clerked by George Hack and Sam Ismail.

Christopher Monaghan

Christopher graduated top of his year in Law at Queen’s University, Belfast. Christopher then obtained a Distinction in the BCL from Oxford (Linacre College), where he studied Commercial Remedies, Conflict of Laws, Restitution of Unjust Enrichment and Competition Law. Before commencing pupillage, he obtained an LLM from Harvard.

During pupillage, Christopher was involved in a wide range of commercial disputes. Particular highlights include assisting with an appeal to the Supreme Court relating to a $3 billion debt claim, a trial concerning COVID-19 business interruption insurance claims and a trial involving the impact of a ‘no oral modification clause’ on various representations.

“I am delighted to join Fountain Court Chambers as a tenant. I thoroughly enjoyed pupillage, and I am immensely grateful to everyone at Fountain Court who were enormously supportive throughout”.

Ian Simester

Ian obtained a BA in Jurisprudence from Oxford (Merton College) and an LLM from Harvard. He won a variety of scholarships and prizes during his studies.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Ian taught at King’s College London; qualified as a solicitor at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (based in London and Washington, DC); and acted as the Judicial Assistant to Lady Black and Lady Rose in the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

During pupillage, Ian worked on a wide range of commercial disputes in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, as well as international arbitrations. Particular highlights include three separate Court of Appeal cases (including one of The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2022), a strike-out application in relation to the ‘diesel-gate’ emissions claims against Volkswagen, and an LCIA arbitration involving serious allegations of deceit and conspiracy.

“I am delighted to be joining Fountain Court as a tenant. Supervisors, staff, and members have been hugely supportive throughout the pupillage process, and it has been a privilege to work on such fantastic cases with such talented colleagues. I very much look forward to continuing to do so.”

Kit Holliday

Before coming to the Bar, Kit studied History at Cambridge (Clare College) where he took a Starred First, winning various prizes. He also achieved a Distinction in his MPhil degree at Cambridge in the History of Political Thought.  This was then followed by Distinctions on the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Bar Finals courses.

During his pupillage at Fountain Court, particular highlights included work on behalf of an ultra-high net-worth individual in an LCIA arbitration against their former wealth-manager, and a dispute over a CFA on behalf of a major law firm (matters in which he is now instructed).

“I’m delighted to be joining Fountain Court as a tenant after a pupillage. It is the set I most wanted to join with fantastic members and staff. I look forward to many happy years here.”