We are delighted to welcome specialist banking and commercial team of Paul Downes QC, Emily Saunderson, Stewart Chirnside and Joseph Sullivan to chambers. They are highly respected for their expertise in commercial, banking & finance and civil fraud disputes.

“We are delighted to be joining Quadrant Chambers. As a leading international disputes set with an excellent reputation for being commercially focused, we are confident that this move will provide a strong platform for top level commercial work in this next phase of our careers.” Paul Downes QC

“It is a pleasure to welcome this outstanding banking and commercial team to Quadrant Chambers. We are delighted that such a high calibre experienced team of barristers have decided to join Quadrant, adding further depth to Chambers”. Luke Parsons QC, Head of Quadrant Chambers

Paul Downes QC is a tough commercial litigator specialising in banking and finance, commercial fraud and international trade. Before coming to the Bar, Paul worked for Barclays Bank and was an assistant examiner for the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Clients find his combination of commercial understanding, practical experience and user-friendly approach invaluable. He is recommended as a leading silk in banking & finance and commercial dispute resolution in Chambers & Partners UK and for banking & finance, commercial litigation, financial services and civil fraud in the Legal 500.

"He is a phenomenal advocate with a fiercely legal mind who absorbs material in record time." (Banking & Finance, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2018)

Emily Saunderson is a commercial practitioner specialising in commercial fraud and banking and finance. Prior to the Bar, Emily was a financial journalist, covering the global derivatives markets. She brings a strong understanding and insider’s perspective on financial markets to her legal practice. She is recommended in Chambers & Partners for commercial dispute resolution and in the Legal 500 for banking & finance and financial services.

‘Technically outstanding, with a very sound grasp of copious quantities of fine detail.’ (Banking & Finance, Legal 500 2017)

Stewart Chirnside specialises in commercial litigation, including banking and finance, commercial fraud, professional negligence, property damage and product liability. Before coming to the Bar, he worked as a strategy and risk management consultant in the financial services industry. He is recommended in Chambers & Partners for commercial dispute resolution and is ranked in the Legal 500 for banking & finance, financial services and professional negligence.

‘He has courtroom gravitas well beyond his years and he is an even match for many silks.’ (Banking & Finance, Legal 500 2017)

Joseph Sullivan specialises in commercial law, banking and finance, commercial fraud and professional negligence. He appears regularly in the High Court and the Court of Appeal for claimants and defendants both as sole counsel and as part of a counsel team. He is recommended for banking & finance in the Legal 500.

‘Absolutely terrific; he is very clever and thorough, and an absolute delight to work with.’ (Banking & Finance, Legal 500 2017)

2017 saw two new commercial silks for Quadrant Chambers, with the elevation of Michael McParland QC and Robert-Jan Temmink QC and in May, commercial chancery specialist Nicola Allsop also joined the team. Retired Supreme Court justice Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony joined ‘Arbitrators at 10 Fleet Street’, the specialist arbitrator wing set up by Quadrant Chambers. In February 2018 Thomas Macey-Dare and Yash Kulkarni will be appointed silk.

We are recommended in the UK, Asia-Pacific and Global legal directories and as a leading set in the fields of commercial dispute resolution, aviation, commodities, energy, insurance & reinsurance, international arbitration, shipping and travel. Quadrant was named International Arbitration Set of the Year at the 2017 Legal 500 UK Awards and were runner up for Chambers of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2017 and the British Legal Awards 2017.