Leading commercial set Brick Court Chambers has made another key junior hire with 20 Essex Street rising star Edward Ho. Ho appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court and in arbitration.
His current and recent work includes acting alone for the successful Claimants in a three day, multi-million dollar LMAA Arbitration; representing a major national oil company in a $300m UNCITRAL Arbitration in a dispute under a drilling services contract and representing the National Iranian Oil Company in a significant Arbitration Act 1996 appeal.
In June Brick Court appointed Wilberforce Chambers’ rising star Laura Newton who was part of an eight-strong team, comprising silks Lexa Hilliard QC, Alan Gourgey QC and Marcia Shekerdemian QC and five juniors that departed the now-dissolved 11 Stone Buildings for Wilberforce last September.
Brick Court advertised for junior barristers earlier this summer and is expected to recruit more in the coming months.
Joint head of chambers Helen Davies QC said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Edward to Chambers, where he will add yet further depth to our existing group of very talented commercial juniors.’
The set’s latest hire is indicative of how the commercial Bar has in recent years become an increasingly competitive environment with a premier league rank of sets – comprising Brick Court, Essex Court Chambers, Fountain Court Chambers, One Essex Court and Wilberforce Chambers – holding an iron grip on referral networks from leading law firms and becoming highly attractive options for junior talent.
Other moves in recent weeks includes fellow elite set Fountain Court Chambers which enhanced its commercial offering with the recruit of silk duo, Littleton Chambers’ Stuart Ritchie QC, Serle Court Chambers’ Jonathan Adkin QC, alongside juniors, 3 Verulam Buildings’ Laura John and Erskine Chambers’ Alex Barden. The set also launched a commercial crime practice which will be headed by banking heavyweight Richard Lissack QC – who joined in May from Outer Temple Chambers – alongside newly recruited juniors Nicholas Medcroft from Wilberforce Chambers, and Outer Temple Chambers duo Robin Barclay and Eleanor Davison.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
For more on the super sets at the Bar, see ‘Set in stone – testing time for mid-tier sets as elite London sets tighten their grip’