Deans Court Chambers, Manchester and Preston

More about us

In the increasingly competitive market for legal services, Deans Court Chambers stands out as one of the leading barristers' chambers in the country and are regularly ranked by all major legal directories as one of the Top Sets on the Northern Circuit.

Deans Court Chambers are a modern, innovative and forward-looking set, comprising of more than 80 barristers, 12 of whom are Queen’s Counsel. We offer specialist advocacy, advisory and drafting expertise across a wide spectrum of practice areas and at every level of seniority. Our aim is to provide the highest standards of service and to anticipate and respond to our clients’ needs.

At 24 St. John Street, Manchester, and at our premises at 101 Walker Street, Preston, we provide first class, purpose-designed facilities for conferences and consultations, lectures and seminars, arbitration, mediation and video-conferencing so that we can cater for our client's bespoke requirements.

Our reputation for professionalism and approachability is underpinned throughout by a rigorous quality policy. Our staff, assisted by the latest in technology, provide comprehensive support in delivering the strong, flexible response clients need.

History of Deans Court

Deans Court Chambers were founded in Mosley Street, Manchester, more than 100 years ago and, since that time, have consistently maintained a reputation for the highest standards of service throughout the North West and nationally.

During the lifetime of Chambers, many members have been appointed Queen’s Counsel or have been elevated to high judicial office. Appointments to the senior judiciary have included:

The Rt. Hon. Sir Ernest Ryder
The Hon. Mr. Justice Poole
The Hon. Sir. Richard Henriques
The Hon. Mr. Justice Turner
His Honour Norman Lees
His Honour Gerard Humphries
His Honour Brian Duckworth DL
His Honour Anthony Hammond
Her Honour Gillian Ruaux
Her Honour Diana Eaglestone
His Honour Peter Main QC
His Honour Philip Butler
His Honour Judge Booth
His Honour David Stockdale QC
His Honour Judge Field QC
Her Honour Judge Bancroft
His Honour Judge Smith
His Honour Judge J Butler
His Honour Judge Savill
Her Honour Judge Woodward
His Honour Judge Sephton QC

What the Directories say

"A fantastic set with a varied range of barristers in all areas. Deans Court Chambers is 'a top set in the northwest."
Legal 500, 2021

"Deans Court Chambers is a top set that maintains a strong presence across the full range of family and matrimonial matters." "An exceptional bench of barristers who have renowned practices both prosecuting and defending individuals facing allegations of misconduct relating to clinical failings, sexual misconduct and other serious matters." "A go-to set in Manchester for personal injury matters."
Chambers & Partners, 2021

"The client service is always first class. The clerks are fantastic. They will always do everything they can to accommodate conferences or hearings in barristers' diaries. The chambers is very well run and professionally clerked."
Chambers & Partners, 2020

A ‘good, all-round common law set’, Deans Court Chambers is ‘a very strong set with some excellent advocates’ for family law work and ‘great options for crime, health and safety and inquests’.
Legal 500, 2020

‘Quality Northern Circuit set’ Deans Court Chambers is well known for its strength in personal injury, crime and family law, and reports an uptick in regulatory and clinical negligence instructions. In 2018 Tim Horlock QC took over as head of chambers after Craig Sephton QC was appointed to the bench; Alison Woodward was also appointed to the circuit bench. Recent barrister moves include Ros Scott Bell join from Trinity Chambers and Iain Simkin join from St John's Buildings. Senior clerk Matthew Gibbons leads the ‘always helpful and accommodating’ clerking team.
Legal 500, 2018

The ‘excellent’ Deans Court Chambers is seen as ‘one of the leading sets in Manchester’ with key strengths in crime, family and personal injury law, and additional expertise in regulatory, employment and clinical negligence matters. The ‘extremely personable’ senior clerk, Matthew Gibbons, ‘is always prepared to go the extra mile’; he leads ‘the most capable set of clerks in the North’, where the service is ‘exemplary’ and ‘everyone is proactive, helpful and very experienced’. Offices in: Manchester
Legal 500, 2017

'Deans Court Chambers is ‘a strong set’ and ‘its work is done to the highest quality’; ‘all counsel have good technical knowledge and are very approachable’. It has strength at the senior and junior ends'.
Legal 500, 2015

‘One of the best' sets on the Northern Circuit, rated for its ‘strength in depth'. Key areas of expertise include personal injury and clinical negligence - where it is on panels for several leading insurers - but family and crime are also areas of strength. The regulatory and health and safety practices have also been particularly busy recently. International work is also picking up and practitioners have travelled as far afield as St Helena to work.
Legal 500, 2014

An established set with very experienced and capable barristers," Deans Court Chambers has developed an excellent reputation for its professional discipline expertise. Members are adept at handling disciplinary cases across a range of industries, and are particularly well known for their work in the healthcare sector. The set is routinely called upon to handle prosecution work for the GMC and has recently been appointed to the Medical Defence Union and Medical Protection Society panels
Chambers UK, 2013

Deans Court Chambers has a strong team of vastly experienced counsel, whose expertise spans the full range of personal injury law. Commentators praise the set's "modern and commercial" outlook, and note its strong commitment to client service.
Chambers UK, 2013