Dispute Resolution: The Bar | Asia-Pacific

Banco Chambers is one of Sydney's younger commercial sets, established in 2005, and is noted for having attracted some of Australia's leading junior barristers, in addition to a core of established and respected silks. A recent relocation allowed it to expand its complement to a total of roughly 60 barristers. The chambers are especially well resourced when it comes to providing advice or advocacy on competition, equity or public law issues, it is also home to barristers with significant expertise in the areas of construction, defamation and insolvency. A significant proportion of set members possess appellate experience or have acted as arbitration counsel or arbitrators in both domestic and international cases. Interviewees testify extensively, both to the set's widely perceived pre-eminence in the Sydney market and to its possession of a clear collective identity; one observes: "If you had to pick a chambers set in Sydney, Banco are the list you go to: high-quality and responsive." Another describes Banco Chambers as "highly sophisticated," adding that it "operates in a very modern, progressive and commercial way." Clerk Jeh Coutinho is a key contact for all enquiries.

List G Barristers constitutes a substantial Melbourne offering, mustering some 160 counsel. It focuses principally on commercial and public law issues and commands respect in the market, with one commentator noting: "List G is always a very good source when seeking a barrister." The list brings together advocates with particularly impressive track records in such specialised areas as employment, native title and shipping, as well as those maintaining broader commercial practices, and it attracts especially high praise for having assembled a notable cohort of IP practitioners. One interviewee observes that the list is "the leading list for IP barristers in Victoria." Another finds it "has great depth and breadth of talent, and from an insolvency perspective, it is truly excellent." CEO and senior clerk Jane King is the principal contact.

5 Wentworth Chambers houses nearly 40 barristers with expertise ranging across the full commercial and public law spectrum and experience extending to the highest level in both Commonwealth courts and, on a pan-Australian basis, individual state courts. Within this varied offering, the set fields particularly noteworthy expertise in the intellectual property and employment spheres, with one interviewee observing: "This is a very strong floor of highly competent intellectual property barristers." Speaking more generally, another source states: "They are very good at being responsive. They are able to handle the commerciality and tailor their advice." Clerk to chambers Sarah Tiffen is the recommended contact.

Dever's List is headquartered in Melbourne's Owen Dixon Chambers and is the oldest of the Victorian Bar's lists, with a history extending back some 160 years and a large stable of barristers, offering expertise across a broad spectrum of practice areas. Among them are to be found some of Australia's leading appellate advocates as well as eminent practitioners in the employment, insolvency, intellectual property, native title and taxation spheres. Several, including a number of retired judges, are also experienced arbitrators and mediators. John Dever is the chief barristers' clerk and is frequently identified by name as one of the list's key assets.

Eleven Wentworth is a respected set and the former home of many New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Land and Environment Court judges, stabling nearly 40 barristers who are regularly praised for their technical skill, fine judgement and user-friendliness. The set is frequently identified as one of Sydney's best, a number of instructing solicitors including it on lists of their top three or four sets. One interviewee states: "Eleven Wentworth is a premier set of commercial chambers in Sydney and very much a go-to for complex commercial matters." The source adds: "I have always found the counsel team to be accessible and available and the clerk has been excellent at finding us assistance in urgent situations." Its key areas of expertise, within the comprehensive range of disciplines covered, include insolvency, insurance, professional liability and tax issues. Zach Rymer is the clerk and recommended contact.

New Chambers is a Sydney set home to over 50 barristers, practising in over 50 practice areas and appearing in court, administrative tribunal and public inquiry proceedings and a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes across Australia and abroad. The chambers' versatile offering includes strong concentrations of expertise in the financial services and insolvency spheres, and its members include a star of the appellate Bar and pre-eminent providers of advice and advocacy on taxation and shipping issues. Interviewees are quick to praise the exceptional quality of the advocacy and advice that the set offers, one identifying it as a "well-resourced and knowledgeable chambers." Another observes: "It is an excellent set. I would regard it as one of the leading sets in Sydney." The set is also complimented for its exceptional credentials in shipping law: "A number of their barristers have longstanding and in-depth experience in admiralty and maritime issues." Clerk and practice manager Angela Noakes is a recommended contact.

Tenth Floor Wentworth Selborne Chambers is noted for the high proportion of senior counsel in its membership and for an especially strong group of barristers acting across the full range of intellectual property issues. Other areas of noted strength are the taxation and insurance fields, and the set also hosts noteworthy class action prowess and a wealth of international experience, putting it on more than one instructing solicitor's list of most favoured sets. Sources highly value the quality of both senior and junior counsel at the set, with one stating: "Tenth Floor is one of the strongest chambers in Sydney, with top-quality barristers at all levels." Another interviewee adds: "They are all excellent: good on their feet and in written work, calm under pressure and user-friendly." Emma Hoolahan is the clerk and chief contact for enquiries.

12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers enjoys a strong reputation in the Sydney market, boasting over 60 members who offer expertise across a significant range of commercial, regulatory, property and public law practice areas. The set is particularly well regarded for competition/antitrust, white-collar and employment matters. It is often used by government and regulators. One source identifies the chambers as a "go-to for senior counsel." Others rate its expertise in administrative law: "They have a stellar reputation in the market, a lot of barristers who are extremely knowledgeable and have a strong market reputation in environmental and administrative law." Clerk Trish Hoff is the main point of contact.

7 Wentworth Selborne is a well-regarded Sydney set that delivers advice and advocacy across the gamut of commercial and public law but is especially in demand for its provision of outstanding talent in the construction and infrastructure arenas, some 20 of the set's 60-odd barristers practising in this space. The chambers also fields several barristers with extensive class action experience. Managing clerk Simon Walker is the principal contact.

North Quarter Lane is one of the larger Brisbane-based sets, with nearly 30 members. Its barristers field expertise across a wide range of commercial, competition and contractual disputes and attract particular praise within the tax, construction and energy sectors. The set is praised by sources for its general commercial offering, with one noting it is a "strong, broad, commercial chambers of very high quality." Another interviewee observes that it has a "very good reputation in the construction space and general commercial space."

Sixth Floor Windeyer Chambers is a small, 14-member set whose barristers cover a variety of practice areas, standing out for its particularly heavy concentration of high-level native title-related expertise. The barristers based here offer experience in this field dating back, in some cases, to its inception and embracing the representation of traditional owner, proponent and government agency clients on a nationwide basis and in both state and Commonwealth superior courts. Clerk Gemma Simeoni is the suggested contact.

Young's List is a boutique, Melbourne-based list with over 90 affiliated barristers who handle the full range of commercial and public disputes. In addition, the set also attracts praise for its capabilities within the employment, shipping and environmental sectors. One interviewee describes it as an "excellent set." Founder and barristers' clerk Tammy Young is a key contact.