Brick Court Chambers

Jennifer MacLeod's Clerking Team

Senior Clerk

Tony Burgess

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

Senior Practice Manager

Jo Francis

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 Managers

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]’”

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."