Garden Court North ranked Top Tier Set by the Legal 500 for 2027
7 October 2026
Garden Court North Chambers is proud to announce that we have been ranked as a ‘Top Tier’ set across four practice areas by the Legal 500 for 2027.
We were the only set in the Northern Circuit awarded the Top Tier ranking in administrative and public law, which includes civil liberties and human rights, and social housing.
Our immigration, and inquests and inquiries teams also received Top Tier rankings, while our Court of Protection and crime teams were ranked as ‘Leading’ and ‘Recommended’, respectively.
In total, 28 of our Members were ranked across seven areas of law, including three ‘Leading Silks’, 21 ‘Leading Juniors’, and four ‘Rising Stars’. Three of our Associate Members were also ranked.
Administrative law and human rights – Top Tier
Garden Court North was the only set to receive a Top Tier ranking in the administrative law and human rights category in the Northern Circuit.
We are also pleased to see Alexa Thompson ranked for the first time. Read our ranking for this category in full here.
Leading Silks:
- Anna Morris KC
- Pete Weatherby KC
Leading Juniors:
- Tasaddat Hussain
- Vijay Jagadesham
- Mikhil Karnik
- Lucy Mair
- Joseph Markus
- Alexander McColl
- Tom Royston
- Kate Stone
- Christian Weaver
Rising Stars:
- Alexa Thompson
Court of protection (health and welfare) – Leading
Our fast-growing Court of Protection team received a ‘Leading’ ranking in the Northern Circuit.
Elizabeth Mottershaw, Rory O’Ryan and Tom Royston were ranked by The Legal 500 in this category for the first time, joining Head of Chambers Kerry Smith and Deputy Head of Chambers Ben McCormack. Avril Rushe was also ranked as a Leading Junior for the Midlands Circuit, as were Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright and Helen Curtis for the London Bar.
Read in full here.
Leading Juniors:
- Ben McCormack
- Elizabeth Mottershaw
- Rory O’Ryan
- Tom Royston
- Kerry Smith
- Avril Rushe (Midlands Circuit)
- Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright (London Bar)
- Helen Curtis (Associate Member, London Bar)
Crime (general and fraud) – Recommended
Our crime and protest rights team was ranked as ‘Recommended’, amid numerous high-profile cases defending right to free speech and assembly.
We were also pleased to Alexander McColl ranked for the first time in this category. Read in full here.
Leading Silks:
- Nina Grahame KC
Leading Juniors:
- Alexander McColl
Rising Stars:
- Rosalind Burgin
- Hamish McCallum (Associate Member)
Immigration – Top Tier
Garden Court North’s immigration team was one of two sets to be awarded Top Tier ranking for immigration in the Northern Circuit. Read in full here.
Leading Juniors:
- Sean Ell
- Tasaddat Hussain
- Vijay Jagadesham
- Mikhil Karnik
- Lucy Mair
- Tom Royston
- Kerry Smith
- Camille Warren
- Natalie Wilkins
- Helen Foot (Associate Member, London Bar)
Inquests and inquiries – Top Tier
Our inquest and public inquiries team was again awarded the ‘Top Tier’ ranking in the Northern Circuit. Read in full here.
Leading Silks:
- Anna Morris KC
- Pete Weatherby KC
Leading Juniors:
- Ciara Bartlam
- Kate Stone
- Christian Weaver
Rising Stars:
- Mira Hammad
- Hamish McCallum (Associate Member, London Bar)
Social Housing – Top Tier
Finally, our housing and homelessness team was the only Northern Circuit set to be ranked Top Tier for social housing. Alexa Thompson was also ranked for the first time in this category.
Read in full here.
Leading juniors:
- Sonia Birdee
- Joseph Markus
- Alexander McColl
- Elizabeth Mottershaw
- Tom Royston
- James Stark
- Anna Watterson
Rising stars:
- Rosalind Burgin
- Alexa Thompson
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.
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
