Garden Court North ranked Top Tier Set by the Legal 500 for 2026
3 October 2025
Garden Court North is pleased to announce that we have been ranked as a Top Tier Set by the Legal 500 for 2026, rated as ‘Top Tier’ across four practice areas: administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights), immigration, inquests and inquiries, and social housing.
We were also ranked as both a ‘Leading’ and ‘Recommended’ Set in Court of Protection and crime (general and fraud). 42 of our members were ranked across six areas of law, including three Leading Silks and 18 Leading Juniors.
As an entire Chambers, Garden Court North was described as:
“The set as a whole are incredible and are passionate about defending human rights.”
“One of the top human rights chambers in the country.”
“Counsel at Garden Court North often have a multidisciplinary practice and relevant background experience, enabling them to advise and support clients on wide-reaching change-making, including on a political and parliamentary scale. They are extremely committed to their clients and are fearless in the pursuit of justice, both on individual cases.”
“A niche set of Human Rights Lawyers who will all fight for the rights of their clients. They are able to offer a service for whatever legal issue is at hand and can readily offer alternatives with equal seniority or skill set.”
Inquests & Inquiries Team
Our inquests and inquiries team was ranked as a Top Tier by the Legal 500 for 2026.
Pete Weatherby KC and Anna Morris KC were ranked Leading Silks, for their work on a number of the UK’s largest public inquiries and inquests in recent years. Pete, described as “excellent with clients and a real heavyweight in inquiry work”, continues to represent the bereaved in the Covid-19 and Undercover Policing inquiries, working alongside the “humane, empathetic, and compassionate” Anna, whose practice also includes leading on civil claims the deaths of mental health patients in care.
Kate Stone, Christian Weaver and Ciara Bartlam were ranked as Leading Juniors. Kate is an inquiry specialist who is particularly renowned for her expertise in inquests into deaths that engage right to life under ECHR Article 2. The “fearless, sharp and incisive” Ciara leads on behalf on charities and bereaved families, and Christian has led on inquests into deaths following traffic collisions alongside assisting other members of the set on major public inquiries.
Mira Hammad, Hamish McCallum and Lily Lewis were ranked as Rising Stars. Mira has acted on several major inquiries, including the Manchester Arena bombing. Hamish has been on the team representing the bereaved, survivors and residents in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Lily has acted on a number of Middleton inquests, as well as a two-week jury inquest concerning the death of a mental health patient in care.
Our inquest and inquiries team was described as:
“an exceptional set of barristers”
“all trained to use a trauma informed approach to bereaved families, which makes a huge difference to their journey through the inquest process”
[able to] “advise and support clients on wide-reaching change-making, including on a political and parliamentary scale”
“extremely committed to their clients and are fearless in the pursuit of justice, both on individual cases.”
Immigration Team
Our immigration team was ranked as a Top Tier Set by the Legal 500 for 2026.
Lucy Mair, Kerry Smith, Mikhil Karnik, Natalie Wilkins, Vijay Jagadesham, Tasaddat Hussain – Garden Court North Chambers, Sean Ell, Tom Royston and Camille Warren were all ranked as Leading Juniors.
Our team regularly advise and represent people in applications to the Home Office, appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), bail applications and in applications for judicial review.
Kerry Smith leads on an array of appeals, particularly those pertaining to ECHR Article 3 and the Mental Health Act 1983, with prominent recent work acting on behalf of Palestinian claimants in deportation appeals. Mikhil Karnik focuses his practice on representing vulnerable clients in unlawful detention judicial reviews. Tasaddat Hussain is prominent regarding the deportations of political activists as well as on cases relating to possible breaches to ECHR Articles 3 and 8, and Vijay Jagadesham leads in the Upper Tribunal on asylum appeals, particularly for those facing age disputes. Camille Warren and Natalie Wilkins specialise in asylum cases complicated by human trafficking and modern slavery.
Our immigration team was described as:
“the best immigration and asylum set in the north of England”
“the go-to set for immigration and human rights matters”
“their barristers are committed to seeking justice, excellent in legal representation, highly skilled and knowledgeable, and dedicated in fighting for their clients”
Social Housing Team
Our social housing team was ranked as a Top Tier Set by the Legal 500 for 2026.
Joseph Markus, Elizabeth Mottershaw, Tom Royston, James Stark, Sonia Birdee and Anna Watterson were all ranked as Leading Juniors, while Rosalind Burgin was ranked as a Rising Star.
“Calm, confident and unflappable in court”, Joseph Markus has particular expertise in dealing with complex and highly contentious possession claims, and the ’empathetic and understanding’ Elizabeth Mottershaw is a specialist on the obligations of the Equality Act regarding housing law. James Stark is a highly experienced public law practitioner who has recently led on a number of cases that concerned discrimination provisions under Article 14, including succession cases, and Sonia Birdee leads for tenants and homeless applicants with a strength working for clients with mental health problems, with recent casework including a judicial review following an unlawful eviction. Rosalind Burgin integrates experience in criminal law to a growing practice acting for social tenants in committal and injunction proceedings.
Our social housing team was described as:
“a go-to chambers for legally-aided housing and homelessness matters”
“the whole of chambers want to act for vulnerable clients and that shines through in their work”
Court of Protection & Crime Teams
Our Court of Protection and Crime teams were also ranked a Second and Third Tier Set, respectively.
In the COP team, Deputy Head of Chambers Ben McCormack and Head of Chambers Kerry Smith were both ranked as Leading Juniors, alongside Elizabeth Mottershaw and Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright.
Ben was described as “a dream to work with” and “not fazed by any issue and thinks fast on his feet”.
In our crime team, Nina Grahame KC was ranked as a Leading Silk, while
Rosalind Burgin and Hamish McCallum were ranked as Rising Stars.
Nina is an experienced defence KC who has represented clients in high-profile criminal cases, “a leading silk with the perfect temperament for supporting the most vulnerable in society”.
Rosalind and Hamish frequently appear in protest rights cases, defending those exercising their right to free speech and assembly under Articles 10 and 11 of the ECHR.
Our crime team was described as:
“[continuing] to fight for justice for the oppressed and are instructed in a high level of defence work”
“[providing] a high-quality offering”
Our Practice Management Team also received special recognition for their first-class services in the Legal 500’s rankings. Among those recommendations, some included:
“Nicola Carroll from the Practice Management Team is extremely helpful and ensures prompt response and attention to all matters.”
“Christian Wolfenden always goes extra mile to try and find representation for vulnerable clients.”
“Clerks are welcoming, supportive and very capable. They consistently go the extra mile.”
These results reflect our unwavering commitment to publicly funded work, offering representation to those disadvantaged by discrimination and inequality or with multiple and complex needs, challenging the state, and fighting for justice.
Garden Court North would like to thank all referees who took the time to share their experiences working alongside our Members and Practice Management Team. View our full rankings on the Legal 500 website.
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
