18 St John Street Chambers are delighted to announce that all our departments have received further recognition in the 2025 edition of the prestigious Chambers & Partners legal directory rankings.
Overall, chambers now has 39 total rankings for 22 barristers across 18 practice areas. We continue to be ranked as a recommended set in the areas of Family: Children and Chancery, whilst also being ranked for the first time in Crime and Real Estate Litigation.
18 St John Street Chambers Criminal Department is ranked for the first time at Band 3. The department also boast new individual additions: Siobhan Grey KC is ranked on the northern circuit following a string of high-profile cases, including a successful appeal before the Privy Council. Rachel Shenton is ranked for the first time having continued to be instructed to prosecute and defend in cases with serious offences including murder, violence and sexual offences. Mukul Chawla KC and Nicholas Rhodes KC both retain their impressive rankings in the London Bar rankings.
Richard Vardon retains his Band 1 status, a reflection of the serious work he undertakes in representing defendants in murder, drug importation cases and his key role as junior counsel to Siobhan Grey KC in their Privy Council appeal. Richard is a popular choice of counsel for pursuing Appeals. Rachel Faux, who deals with the most complex criminal work, including serious sexual offences & murder, continues to be ranked in Band 2.
Andy Evans maintained his Band 3 ranking across all Circuits, following his continued success in the specialist area of POCA work and Asset Forfeiture.
Head of 18’s Criminal Department Richard Vardon commented, “we are delighted to be ranked as a department for the first time and to have secured further individual rankings, evidence of the serious criminal work we defend and prosecute.”
Our Family Law Department is ranked again in Band 2 and continues to enhance their growing reputation as one of the leading expert departments in the country and the go-to choice for many Family Law specialists.
The exceptional Anna Warters is ranked Band 3 for the first time. Sam Birtles retains her long-standing Band 1 achievement along with Fiona Holloran. Both are recognised for their powerful and persuasive advocacy and reward for their hard work and dedication in care work.
Kate Bramall is ranked Band 3, with her reputation for advocacy and client care continuing to go from strength to strength.
Stephen Murray is ranked Band 1 in Family Matrimonial Finance, where he is consistently involved in high-value and complex financial remedy cases. He is credited for being a “ferocious and meticulous advocate who leaves no stone unturned in preparing a case and fighting to achieve the best possible result for a client.”
Door Tenant Silks Elizabeth Isaacs KC (Band 1), Nkumbe Ekaney KC (Band 2) and Laura Briggs KC (Band 3) retain their rankings in Family: Children.
Head of 18’s Family Department, Leonie Caplan, said “it is recognition for the incredible work our members undertake on a daily basis, working across the full spectrum of family law with some extremely vulnerable clients in very challenging cases.”
The Business & Property Department continue to be ranked Band 2 in Chancery. Richard Chapman KC is elevated to Band 1, Elisabeth Tythcott, is elevated to Band 2 and David Hoffman, Dr Christopher McNall, Dr Mike Wilkinson & Oliver Caplan are ranked Band 3. They are joined by John Vickery, who is ranked for the first time.
Head of department Oliver Caplan stated, “This is testament to the quality of work our department receives from our loyal clients. We continue to be instructed in some of the leading and most challenging cases in the High Court and Business & Property Courts up and down the country.”
Richard Chapman KC is now ranked Band 2 in Partnership and is ranked in 9 categories, including the new Real Estate Litigation ranking at Band 2 where he and Dr Christopher McNall are both ranked. Richard is also ranked Band 1 in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Tax alongside his other 6 rankings. Dr Christopher McNall is ranked in 4 categories including Band 1 for Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Tax. He is also ranked in Chancery and Real Estate Litigation.
Richard Chapman KC & Jennifer Newstead Taylor are both ranked Band 2 in the Restructuring & Insolvency rankings.
David Hoffman is ranked for the first time at Band 3 in Commercial Dispute Resolution adding to Elisabeth Tythcott, Oliver Caplan in being ranked Band and Richard Chapman KC, Band 1.
Oliver Caplan maintains his Band 3 ranking in Social Housing resulting in 3 rankings overall.
Jennifer Newstead Taylor is now ranked Band 1 in Tax. She joins Richard Chapman KC & Dr Christopher McNall. Rupert Davies retains his ranking at Band 2. The 18 SJS Tax Litigation specialists are the largest and most recognised department outside of the London Tax Chambers.
The Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence & Costs Department continue their renaissance with Kane Simons elevated to Band 2 as he continues to develop his reputation for handling high-value and complex catastrophic work. Kane is also one of the leading authorities in the new area of the law surrounding E-Scooters and E-Bikes.
Head of Department Elahe Youshani continues to be ranked Band 3 in recognition of the serious injury practice she continues to develop. Elahe is known for being a “real team player, and is an asset to have on your side and “great with clients and very thorough.”
Gemma McGungle, Band 3, continues to be ranked in Clinical Negligence work where she is praised for the exceptional level of service that she provides clients on challenging and sensitive cases.
Gemma is also ranked for the first time in Costs, an important part of her practice having recently appeared in a landmark Supreme Court Case.
In addition, our door tenant Steve Killalea KC maintains his “Star Silk” status, the highest accolade granted by Chambers & Partners. Robert Glancy KC is ranked Band 1 for Personal Injury and Band 2 for Clinical Negligence.
18 St John Street Chambers Head of Chambers, Richard Chapman KC commented on this year’s rankings: “Many congratulations to all members of Chambers who have been recognised in Chambers and Partners this year. Each of the departments continue to go from strength to strength. It is particularly pleasing that the recurring theme in the rankings is praise for the service Chambers gives to our clients, which is a reflection on our clerks and other staff, as well as our members.”
Chamber Director James Parks stated, “Manchester and The North West is an incredibly strong legal market. We are delighted to see the continued recognition in the 2025 directory and are immensely grateful for the continued support and instructions we receive from our loyal clients; a lot of our success can be attributed to the quality of work they provide our members.”
As always, we are very grateful to clients who gave up their time to provide feedback and reviews to Chambers & Partners.
For further information on the services 18 St John Street provide please contact Chambers Director James Parks.
FULL RANKINGS 2024 – Members
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Northern (Bar)
Dr Christopher McNall – Band 1
Banking & Finance
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Chancery
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 1
Elisabeth Tythcott – Band 2
Dr Christopher McNall – Band 3
David Hoffman – Band 3
John Vickery – Band 3
Michael Wilkinson – Band 3
Oliver Caplan – Band 3
Clinical Negligence
Northern (Bar)
Gemma McGungle – Band 3
London (Bar)
Robert Glancy KC – Band 2
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 1
Elisabeth Tythcott – Band 3
David Hoffman – Band 3
Oliver Caplan – Band 3
Company
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Costs
Northern (Bar)
Gemma McGungle – Band 4
Crime
Northern (Bar)
Siobhan Grey KC – Band 3
Richard Vardon – Band 1
Rachel Faux – Band 2
Rachel Shenton – Band 3
London (Bar)
Mukul Chawla KC – Band 2
Nicholas Rhodes KC – Band 5
Family: Children
Northern (Bar)
Fiona Holloran – Band 1
Samantha Birtles – Band 1
Kate Bramall – Band 3
Anna Warters – Band 3
London/Midlands (Bar)
Elizabeth Isaacs KC – Band 1
Nkumbe Ekaney KC – Band 2
Laura Briggs KC – Band 3
Family: Matrimonial Finance
Northern (Bar)
Stephen J Murray – Band 1
Partnership
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Personal Injury
Northern (Bar)
Kane Simons – Band 2
Elahe Youshani – Band 3
London (Bar)
Robert Glancy KC – Band 1
Stephen Killalea KC – Band 1
POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture
All Circuits
Andrew Evans – Band 3
Professional Negligence
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Real Estate Litigation
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Dr Christopher McNall – Band 2
Restructuring/Insolvency
Northern (Bar)
Richard Chapman KC – Band 2
Jennifer Newstead Taylor – Band 2
Social Housing
Northern/North Eastern (Bar)
Oliver Caplan – Band 3
The Regions (Bar)
Tax
Richard Chapman – Band 1
Jennifer Newstead Taylor – Band 1
Dr Christopher McNall – Band 1
Rupert Davies – Band 2