Brick Court Chambers

Firdaus Mohandas's Clerking Team

Senior Clerk

Paul Dennison

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:

Chambers & Partners 2025:

"Senior clerk Paul Dennison is great. He's a super nice guy who just gets stuff done for you." 

"Paul Dennison is a go-to senior clerk, who is very upfront and solution-orientated. I'd go to him with any problem." 

"The clerking is brilliant. Paul Dennison is marvellous. He's charming, very responsive and commercial. Tony Burgess is equally good. They are absolute role model clerks." 

"Senior clerks Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison are fantastic guys and are highly experienced and super responsive. They take good leadership and show good direction. Excellent collaborative clerking."  

Legal 500 2025:

'Paul Dennison is a great operator.' 

'The clerks are excellent.  Luke Carvalho and Paul Dennison go above and beyond.

'Paul Dennison is very responsive and commercially savvy.' 

'Paul Dennison is always available and great at finding solutions.' 

'The clerks are very pleasant, in particular Paul Dennison, Phil Wilkes and Jo Francis.' 

'Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison lead a high-quality team with approachability, warmth, real skill and a deep knowledge of their chambers and its caseload.' 

'Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison are excellent. They are responsive, pragmatic and commercial - the epitome of fantastic modern-day clerking!' 

'Responsive high-quality service from the clerks. Paul Dennison is strong on service and user-friendly.

For out of hours requests please contact Paul via his mobile phone: 07930 532991

Deputy Senior Clerk

Katie Szewczyk

Katie Szewczyk

Katie Szewczyk rejoined Brick Court Chambers as Deputy Senior Clerk in 2025. She has over 25 years’ clerking experience and previously worked at another magic circle set.

Her responsibilities in Chambers include all areas of practice management such as business development, diary management, allocation of new work, complex listing arrangements, fee negotiations and strategic practice development for members.

Katie is a member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and has completed a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management with the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM). She also sits on Service Appointments Panel of the Bar Council.

Chambers & Partners 2025:

"Deputy Senior Clerk Katie Szewczyk is brilliant. If you ask her a question she comes straight back, going above and beyond to try and help."

"Very proactive and user friendly."

Legal 500 2025:

"Very responsive. (A) first-rate senior clerk."

"Extremely helpful."

"Excellent leader."

Senior Practice Manager

Philip Wilkes

Philip Wilkes

Philip started his clerking career in 2010, and has been at Brick Court Chambers since early 2015, becoming Senior Practice Manager in 2025. 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”

Client feedback 

“Phil Wilkes is extremely responsive and has an uncanny knack of finding a way to make things work, however awkward.”

“Philip Wilkes is great. He knows his business and delivers the best for you.”

"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: 07939 509873

Practice Managers

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 

"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." 

For out of hours requests please contact James via his mobile phone: 07768 614883