DCC Chambers & Partners Rankings 2021

Deans Court Chambers are pleased to announce that more than a quarter of our members have been ranked across 14 practice areas in the Chambers and Partners 2021 directory.

Full details of our rankings can be found here: https://chambers.com/law-firm/deans-court-chambers-uk-bar-14:10561

The overview of our ranked departments states:

Clinical Negligence

Deans Court Chambers is a highly regarded set on the Northern Circuit housing a strong bench of medical negligence barristers. Members act for both claimants and defendants, including several NHS trusts, in high-value birth injury, failure to diagnose and surgical negligence claims. The set's tenants are also well equipped to represent clients at inquests, and are regularly called upon to handle cases involving complex issues of consent.

Client service: "The clerks are very helpful and efficient - they always get back to you quickly." "They are all responsive, available and friendly."

Health & Safety

Deans Court Chambers is highly regarded for its expertise in a wide range of health and safety matters, and is praised by instructing solicitors as "a very strong set at the top of its game." Members have experience of prosecuting and defending a wide range of health and safety offences, and offer considerable expertise in complex cases arising from workplace accidents. The team is also frequently instructed in gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter cases, and has extensive experience representing local authorities, major corporations, rail operators and company directors. The set's tenants are particularly adept at handling cases arising in the healthcare, rail, construction and retail sectors.

Client service: "The clerks are superb. They will move heaven and earth to try and help you, and nothing is too much trouble."

Family/Matrimonial

Deans Court Chambers is a top set that maintains a strong presence across the full range of family and matrimonial matters. Members are frequently instructed in cases which deal with allegations of sexual abuse and non-accidental injuries, as well as Children Act cases and care proceedings involving deprivation of liberty. Barristers at the set are well versed in high-value finance cases and often act for high net worth individuals, including well-known public figures. "I would be happy to instruct any one of their family barristers," one source affirms.

Client service: "If a particular barrister is unavailable, the clerks will do their utmost to find appropriate alternative counsel or rearrange matters." "They always respond very quickly." "Louise McCarthy, the family clerk, goes the extra mile."

Professional Discipline:

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. Many of the barristers draw on their supplementary skills in inquests and criminal cases to inform their practice in this area. A commentator points out: "They are a heavyweight set in terms of healthcare regulation and inquests."

Client service: "They've been able to provide counsel at the last moment and in an emergency. I know they would never let me down, and never provide less than excellent service."

Personal Injury

Deans Court Chambers is a "go-to set in Manchester for personal injury matters," according to impressed instructing solicitors. The set consistently operates at a high level in the personal injury market, and its members are well regarded for their expert handling of catastrophic injury, industrial disease and sexual abuse claims. The team is regularly called upon to represent both claimants and defendants, and receives instructions from several major insurers, local authorities and government bodies, as well as private individuals. The set also offers expertise in occupiers' and landlords' liability claims, and its barristers have experience of appearing before the courts at all levels, up to and including the Supreme Court.

Client service: "The clerks are always amenable to help and will go out of their way to attempt to move things around in the diary to accommodate you, if possible." "The team respond quickly to enquiries and will attempt to provide alternatives if your preferred barristers are unavailable. They're also very helpful when they are required to liaise with other chambers for the purpose of arranging mediations." "The clerks are very easy to deal with, and the chambers has already accepted paperless instruction, which is ace."

Motor Insurance Fraud

Deans Court Chambers possesses expertise in claimant and defendant-side representation that spans a breadth of motor fraud cases. Members are frequently sought out to handle matters involving complex factual and legal questions and arguments of fundamental dishonesty. The set offers further capabilities in contempt of court proceedings.

"The clerking service is fantastic." "They are all excellent, right from the very juniors all the way up to the senior clerks. They do their utmost to accommodate all your enquiries."

Crime

Deans Court Chambers is an established set on the Northern Circuit, known for broad expertise spanning the full range of serious criminal matters. The set houses a strong bench of experienced practitioners, and its members are regularly instructed in high-profile cases relating to homicides, people trafficking and drugs offences. The set also offers considerable expertise in cases involving allegations of both recent and historic sexual offences. Additional areas of strength for the team include regulatory matters and criminal prosecutions arising from health and safety offences.

Client service: The set's senior criminal and regulatory clerk Peter Kelly is "proactive and helpful" and "always goes above and beyond for his clients."