Commercial set Quadrant Chambers has secured a major team addition with the arrival of four banking barristers from 2 Temple Gardens (2TG).
Leading the team making the switch is Paul Downes QC, a seasoned commercial litigator ranked across four areas in the Legal 500: banking and finance, commercial litigation, financial services and civil fraud. In commercial litigation, Downes QC is described as ‘a strong cross-examiner, who makes mincemeat of witnesses’.
Completing the team are juniors Emily Saunderson, Stewart Chirnside and Joseph Sullivan. Saunderson, a former financial journalist, is identified as a leading junior by the Legal 500 as having ‘a strong commercial practice with an emphasis on corporate insolvency and banking and finance work’. Chirnside, also named a leading junior, specialises in banking & finance, financial services and professional negligence and worked as a strategy and risk management consultant in the financial industry before joining the Bar. Sullivan, meanwhile, has experience in commercial law, banking and finance, commercial fraud and professional negligence.
Downes QC told Legal Business: ‘I was at 2 Temple Gardens for nearly 25 years and I built my practice there. They are enormously supportive. But it came to a stage in my career when it was now or never and I wanted to try a change.’
Luke Parsons QC, head of Quadrant, described the barristers as an ‘outstanding banking and commercial team’, and added: ‘We are delighted that such a high calibre, experienced team of barristers have decided to join Quadrant.’
The team arrival builds on a quieter 2017 for Quadrant, when the set saw the elevation of Michael McParland QC and Robert-Jan Temmink QC as well as the arrival of commercial specialist Nicola Allsop.
Meanwhile, 2TG head of chambers Neil Moody QC said : ‘We wish Paul and his banking team the very best for the future. Our commercial team of 25 silks and juniors, headed by Charles Dougherty QC, has just had a record-earning year, with 2018 promising an excellent caseload of complex and high-value claims.’
