Brick Court Chambers

Our People

The clerks’ room ‘sets the benchmark’ for other sets with its ‘friendly, knowledgeable, and hardworking’ clerks.
The Legal 500 2020
'the clerks' room is easy to deal with and highly commercial'
The Legal 500 2020
Overall, the team is said to be ‘highly responsive, proactive in assisting the smooth running of cases, and always willing to assist in document production, arranging meetings, document filings, and assisting in complex cost and budgeting issues’.
The Legal 500 2020
'the service from the clerking team is second to none'
The Legal 500 2020
The ‘slick’ and ‘proactive’ clerking team is ‘top class, straightforward, transparent’ and ‘very good at developing and promoting the qualities of their juniors’.
The Legal 500 2019
‘One doesn’t often notice a significant difference between the clerking teams of major sets of chambers; but Brick Court is unmatched.’
The Legal 500 2019
"The chambers is commended for its clerks, who are ‘responsive, knowledgeable and always happy to help’."
The Legal 500 2019
The ‘commercial and approachable’ clerks are ‘very-service minded, very responsive and deserve accolade’.
The Legal 500 2017
“A set that is singled out for its “first rate” clerking and “client service oriented, commercial approach.”

Clerks

The clerks' room is integral to the continued success of Brick Court Chambers.

Our clerks are knowledgeable, proactive and efficient. They have detailed understanding of the many courts and tribunals in which we practise. We have an open and flexible approach to fee negotiations.

Our joint senior clerks are Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess, who were appointed in 2018.

To ensure detailed knowledge of members of chambers' practices, the clerks at Brick Court Chambers are divided into teams. However, all of our clerks will be very comfortable discussing the practice of any member of chambers.

Individual contact details are below. Should you need to contact us urgently out of hours, clerks@brickcourt.co.uk will alert all clerks to your query.

Senior Clerks

Paul Dennison

Paul joined Brick Court Chambers in 2007, having previously been at Blackstone Chambers for ten years. He was appointed Senior Clerk in August 2018.

Paul leads the clerking team with Tony Burgess, and oversees and strengthens members of chambers' practices. As well as this responsibility for individuals, Paul concentrates on business development with clients, and domestic and international marketing of chambers.

He is a member of chambers’ executive and marketing committees which oversee all aspects of chambers' business and strategic development.

Paul is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and the International Bar Association.

Client feedback includes:

 "Paul Dennison is now the best clerk in the London market, and helps us and our clients wherever barristers happen to be and whenever we need them." L500 2023

"A strong clerking team, very responsive and user-friendly. Paul Dennison is a name to note." L500 2023

"The clerking team are always very helpful and efficient. Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison provide an excellent quality of service." L500 2023

"Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess lead a "strong clerking team which is very friendly". Admin & Public C&P 2021

"Joint senior clerk Paul Dennison is extremely quick to respond and very user-friendly." CDR C&P 2021 

"The clerking service is excellent and Paul Dennison, joint senior clerk, deserves praise." Energy C&P 2021

"Paul Dennison is first-class and really on top of his game." Fraud Civil C&P 2021

“Both Tony and Paul as head clerks do an excellent job – very commercial in their approach and always at the end of the phone.” L500 2021

"Always friendly and approachable at all levels of seniority. I have always been impressed by Paul Dennison." L500 2021

"Their clerks' room is headed by the brilliant Paul Dennison, who is always frank, helpful and thoroughly professional. They are very clear on fees and in my experience willing to be pragmatic to support the client." L500 2021

"First class service – Paul Dennison impresses with his responsiveness." L500 2021.

"Paul Dennison is at the top of his game. Commercial, knowledgeable and user-friendly. Pleasure to work with." L500 2021.

"Paul and Tony are first rate." L500 2021

For out of hours requests please contact Paul via his mobile phone: +44 (0)7930 532991

Tony Burgess

Tony joined Brick Court Chambers in 2012, having previously been the Deputy Senior Clerk at Monckton Chambers, and was appointed Senior Clerk in 2018.

Along with Paul Dennison, Tony leads the clerking team and manages and develops the practices of members of chambers. Tony has a detailed knowledge of all members’ practices and the areas of law in which Brick Court operates. In addition to day to day responsibility for the individual practices, Tony focuses on client relationships, business development and the promotion of chambers both in the UK and abroad.

He is a member of chambers’ executive and marketing committees which oversee all aspects of chambers' business and strategic development.

Tony is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks, the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Client feedback includes:

"Tony Burgess is an industry leader and strong contact for the firm – he knows all instructions large and small are crucial to the client and always wants to ensure we get the right people on the right cases." L500 2023

"Tony Burgess is excellent." L500 2023

"The clerking team are always very helpful and efficient. Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison provide an excellent quality of service." L500 2023

“Tony Burgess is a very effective clerk.” Banking – C&P 2021

"Senior clerk Tony Burgess is marvellous..." CDR – C&P 2021

"Tony Burgess is really good to deal with – he's pragmatic and friendly." Competition – C&P 2021

"Tony Burgess, joint senior clerk, is really good and he is tuned in to what people are thinking." Energy – C&P 2021

“I would single out Tony Burgess who is just brilliant at providing the responsive support we need." L500 2021

“Both Tony and Paul as head clerks do an excellent job – very commercial in their approach and always at the end of the phone.” L500 2021

“Tony Burgess is a pleasure to work with.” L500 2021

“Tony Burgess is brilliant.” L500 2021

The clerks’ room "sets the benchmark" for other sets with its "friendly, knowledgeable, and hardworking" clerks. Senior clerks Paul Dennison ("first rate; responsive, commercial, and helpful") and Tony Burgess ("highly recommended; a good salesman for his set and always accessible") have ‘stepped up brilliantly "following changes to the clerks’ room"; "they are a pleasure to work with". Legal 500 2020

Tony Burgess, who leads the clerking alongside Paul Dennison, is found to be "always responsive and helpful". Chambers & Partners 2020

"Tony Burgess is really approachable and will just drop everything to help you." Chambers & Partners 2020

For out of hours requests please contact Tony via his mobile phone: +44 (0)7984 521141

Deputy Senior Clerk

Luke Carvalho

With a clerking career spanning over 25 years and having joined Brick Court Chambers in 2014, Luke has over two decades of experience of working in the most reputable chambers in the country.

Working closely with both Paul and Tony, together with chambers various committees’, Luke plays a pivotal role with promoting chambers both domestically and overseas. Key responsibilities include business development, building long-lasting client relationships and the day-to-day management, development and success of both individual barristers’ practices and chambers as a whole.

Luke has previously been shortlisted for the Clerk of the Year award at The Legal 500 Bar Awards (2022) and for the Pro Bono (Advocate) Chambers’ Professional of the Year Award (2020).

He has been a member of chambers' Equality and Diversity committee since 2018, with chambers winning The Legal 500 Diversity and Inclusion Set of the Year award 2024, and he is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks.

Client feedback

Luke is committed to providing a high quality service to clients and has received recognition from the legal directories for many years mirroring the same with praise including;

Chambers & Partners 2024

"The responsiveness is second to none and they are always willing to find solutions. Luke Carvalho, Deputy Senior clerk, is great to work with and can always be relied on to help at short notice and with difficult demands." Group Litigation

“Deputy Senior clerk Luke Carvalho is responsive commercial and pragmatic in his approach. He'll find you the right counsel for the case." Commercial Dispute

"Brick Court are really good, with a particular shout out to Luke Carvalho and Paul Dennison. They are really responsive, commercial and pragmatic in their approach, finding you the right counsel for the right case." Fraud: Civil

Legal 500 2024

"Luke is a standout presence in the clerks room."

Previous praise includes;

"Luke is exactly what you want in a clerk; responsive, knowledgeable - excellent all round."

“Luke is particularly easy to deal with and has world-class client care and understanding.”

“Luke is excellent – approachable, friendly, pragmatic, commercial, fast to respond.”

"We have in particular been impressed by the professionalism of and assistance provided by Luke."

“Luke is lovely to deal with, prompt to respond and practical in his approach.”

For out of hours requests please contact Luke via his mobile phone: +44 (0)7956 347 014

Senior Practice Manager

Jo Francis

Having graduated from King’s College London in 2008 in English Language & Communication, Jo joined a law firm specialising in criminal defence work before becoming a clerk at Matrix Chambers in 2010. Jo joined Brick Court Chambers in 2014 and her responsibilities include liaising with clients regarding the availability and suitability of counsel, negotiating fees, and working with the senior clerks and other practice managers on marketing and business development matters.

Client feedback includes:

"Jo Francis is brilliant and she has been a joy to work with."

"Jo Francis is very client focused and helpful, provides a very good and prompt service and is a pleasure to work with.:

"The clerks’ service at Brick Court is excellent. Jo Francis in particular is a star – responsive, candid about availability and strengths of the legal practitioners, and reasonable in brief fee negotiations. That latter point really sets Brick Court apart for me – other chambers can take an unreasonable initial stance in negotiating."

"Jo Francis is a great clerk. She is professional and extremely helpful all the time."

"Very professional and effective. Jo Francis particularly stands out."

"Great service. Jo Francis is amazing and always helpful."

Legal 500 2022

"Jo Francis is always reliable and goes above and beyond." 

Chambers and Partners 2022

For out of hours requests please contact Jo via her mobile phone: +44 (0)7730 800562

Practice Manager

Philip Wilkes

Philip began his clerking career in 2010, and has been at Brick Court Chambers since early 2015, becoming a practice manager in the summer of 2018. Philip has responsibility of managing the individual practices of barristers across all seniorities within chambers, and having an active role within chambers’ marketing and business development initiatives. In addition to this other key day-to-day responsibilities include advising clients as to the suitability and expertise of counsel, fee negotiation across all seniorities, and listing of cases in all divisions of chambers’ key practice areas.

Recent Chambers & Partners, and Legal 500 Client feedback includes:

"Phil Wilkes, practice manager, is great. Client service is very, very good."

"Impeccable – Philip Wilkes is incredibly helpful and proactive."’

"Very good clerking team. Phil Wilkes in particular is stand out."

"Philip Wilkes was incredibly helpful in both the initial selection of leading counsel and in arranging work throughout."

"Efficient, helpful and pragmatic – Phil Wilkes in particular shines."

"Philip Wilkes has been helpful throughout."

"Practice managers Phil Wilkes and James Knapp are both excellent."

"Clerks are impressive – Paul Dennison and Philip Wilkes are both excellent."

"The clerks are great. In particular, I am a big fan of Paul Dennison. Tony Burgess and Philip Wilkes are also great."

“The clerking is excellent. Practice manager Phil Wilkes is very helpful and prompt and Paul Dennison is super."

 

For out of hours requests please contact Philip via his mobile phone: +44 (0)7939 509873

Practice Manager

Ben Rippengale

Ben began his clerking career in 2010 with New Square Chambers before moving to Wilberforce Chambers in 2017 as a Practice Manager.  After five successful years with Wilberforce, Ben joined Brick Court Chambers in April 2022 as a Practice Manager and his responsibilities include the management and development of the members' practices across all levels of seniority.  This includes the management of their diaries, fee negotiations, listing hearings and developing client relations, both domestically and internationally.

Client feedback includes:

"Ben Rippengale is excellent. It is always a pleasure to deal with him."

“Great to deal with. Friendly, approachable, and highly responsive."

“The clerking service is very good.  Ben Rippengale is very responsive, unfailingly polite and professional”

“Solicitors have been ‘particularly impressed’ by Ben Rippengale”

“‘Superb’, ‘on the ball, efficient, personable and a genuine pleasure to deal [with]’”

Practice Manager

James Knapp

James began his career in 2014 and joined Brick Court in 2016 as a junior clerk. He became Head Junior and subsequently progressed to Paul Dennison’s clerking team in 2018. His main responsibilities include; diary management, allocation of work, fee negotiation, and working alongside colleagues on chambers marketing and business development initiatives.

James has completed the IBC's BTEC Level 3 Advanced Award in Chambers Administration and previously sat as the Chair of the Career Development Committee of the IBC.

Client feedback includes (Legal 500 & Chambers and Partners):

"Practice managers Phil Wilkes and James Knapp are both excellent."

"James Knapp and Paul Dennison are good to deal with, and sensible in terms of fees."

"The clerking team, led by senior clerk Paul Dennison, is excellent - extremely knowledgeable and responsive. James Knapp, practice manager, is proactive and prompt."

"We've worked with Jo Francis, Sam Jones, Ben Rippengale, Tom Bennett, Hannah Rayner, James Knapp and Kate Trott, and they are all great to deal with. They are friendly, approachable, and highly responsive."

"James Knapp is always very responsive." 

Practice Manager

Sam Jones

Sam started his clerking career in 2011 at 3 Verulam Buildings and then spent four years at New Square Chambers, before joining Brick Court in 2018.

Sam’s main responsibilities include fee negotiation, case fixing, diary management and assisting with the overall development of members’ practices.

Client feedback includes:

"The clerks at Brick Court are in my experience the best at the bar. Responsive, helpful and easy to deal with. Individuals I would single out in this regard are Tony Burgess and Sam Jones." 

Legal 500 2022

Assistant Practice Managers

Tom Bennett

Tom began his clerking career in 2014 at Ely Place Chambers and then spent 3 years at 9 Gough Chambers, before joining Brick Court in March 2022. Tom’s main responsibilities include diary management, fee negotiation and case fixing. He is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks.

Hannah Rayner

Hannah began her clerking career in 2018 as Junior Clerk at 11KBW. She then became Team Leader’s Assistant in January 2019, before joining Brick Court in August 2022. Her main responsibilities include diary management, case fixing, fee negotiation and practice development.

Hannah has also completed The IBC’s BTEC Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Chambers Administration.

Recent Chambers & Partners, and Legal 500 Client feedback includes:

"We've worked with Jo Francis, Sam Jones, Ben Rippengale, Tom Bennett, Hannah Rayner, James Knapp and Kate Trott, and they are all great to deal with. They are friendly, approachable, and highly responsive."

"Hannah Rayner is helpful and responsive."

Ellie Sanders

Ellie began her clerking career in 2018 as a Junior Clerk at a leading civil/employment set. She then spent over 3 years at 3 Verulam Buildings as a Practice Manager before joining Brick Court in February 2023. Ellie works as part of a team responsible for diary management, court fixing, fee negotiation and practice development of member of chambers.

Ellie graduated from University of Sussex with a degree in History BA (Hons) in 2017

 

Rory Oliver

Rory began his clerking career at Essex Court Chambers before joining Brick Court in 2023. Rory graduated from the University of Exeter with a 2:1 in Business and Management BSc (Hons) in 2022.

Clerks to the Arbitrators and Mediators

Kate Trott

Since joining Brick Court Chambers in 2003, Kate has worked with the clerking teams and members of chambers across all areas of practice. 

In 2014, having already clerked many of the mediators and arbitrators, she became primarily responsible for the promotion and expansion of these practice areas and for members accepting appointments either as a mediator or arbitrator. Her expertise covers the particular and separate needs and requirements of barristers and of those appointing them in these areas. She runs a team of five full-time mediators and 11 senior arbitrators.

Additionally, Kate was responsible for Lord Anderson KBE QC during his six years as the government's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and continues to clerk him now he has returned to full time practice.

Ollie Durham

Ollie started his clerking career in 2022 after graduating with a politics degree from the University of Westminister. Ollie joined Brick Court Chambers in 2022 as a junior clerk and then progressed to Kate Trott’s team in 2023, where he assists with clerking the arbitrators and mediators.

Junior Clerks

Leonie Edelman (Head Junior Clerk)