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 a great operator.' Professional disciplinary and regulatory law: Legal 500 2025

'The clerks are excellent.  Luke Carvalho and Paul Dennison go above and beyond.' International Arbitration: Legal 500 2025

'Paul Dennison is very responsive and commercially savvy.' Banking & Finance: Legal 500 2025

'Paul Dennison is always available and great at finding solutions.' Fraud: Legal 500 2025

'The clerks are very pleasant, in particular Paul Dennison, Phil Wilkes and Jo Francis.'  Competition: Legal 500 2025

'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.' Commercial litigation, Fraud, Energy: Legal 500 2025

'Tony Burgess and Paul Dennison are excellent. They are responsive, pragmatic and commercial - the epitome of fantastic modern-day clerking!' Commercial litigation: Legal 500 2025

'Responsive high-quality service from the clerks. Paul Dennison is strong on service and user-friendly.'  Commercial litigation: Legal 500 2025

"Senior clerk Paul Dennison is great. He's a super nice guy who just gets stuff done for you." International Arbitration: C&P 2025

"Paul Dennison is a go-to senior clerk, who is very upfront and solution-orientated. I'd go to him with any problem." Commercial Dispute Resolution, Energy: C&P 2025

"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." Banking & Finance, Fraud: C&P 2025

"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." Banking & Finance, C&P 2025

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 extremely good clerk. It's still the case now that barristers' clerks can be quite stuffy, but Tony is firmly in the twenty-first century." C&P 2024

"Brick Court has an excellent clerking team. Tony Burgess in particular remains brilliant." C&P 2024

“Tony Burgess is extremely good at running the chambers, ensuring you're accessing the barrister best placed for your issue. He is good at keeping in touch, and is very important for the business development of the chambers." C&P 2024

‘Tony Burgess is an absolute superstar.’ L500 2024

“Tony Burgess is my go to! He builds relationships and will make sure that you get the right counsel for the task at hand. Extremely accommodating and accessible.’ L500 2024

"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

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 Paul, Tony and Jo, 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 together with 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 & 2024).

He has been a member of chambers' Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 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 and Partners 2025:

"The clerking team is incredibly helpful and responsive. Deputy Senior Clerk Luke Carvalho is really good, and has been for a long, long time. He is able to make sure you always get the right person."

"The clerking is excellent. They are very good at finding the right people. Deputy Senior Clerk Luke Carvalho is brilliant."

Legal 500 2025:

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

'The clerks are excellent, in particular Luke Carvalho.'

'The clerks' room is always friendly and helpful. Luke Carvalho is outstanding as a proactive, helpful clerk.'

Previous praise includes;

"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

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

"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.”

Deputy Senior Clerk

Jo Francis

Jo joined Brick Court Chambers in 2014 and was appointed Deputy Senior Clerk in April 2024. 

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 in 2010.

Jo works closely with the other members of the senior clerking team to ensure the smooth running of Chambers, on day-to-day clerking, marketing and business development (both domestically and internationally), and practice development and Chambers strategy. 

Recent client feedback includes:

"Senior practice manager Jo Francis is efficient and a pleasure to deal with every time."

"Jo Francis is bright, super responsive and someone who make herself available to deal with you."

"Jo Francis at Brick Court is incredible and maintains a good balance between advocating for barristers and meeting the needs of clients."

"Jo Francis is a particularly efficient clerk."

(Chambers & Partners 2024)

“Jo Francis and Tony Burgess are always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.”

“Jo Francis is an excellent clerk to deal with. Reasonable, considerate and responsive.”

(Legal 500 2024)

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 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 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]’”

For out of hours requests please contact Ben via his mobile phone: 07538 522666

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." 

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

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 are good, effective, and responsive. Sam Jones does a great job."

"The clerks provide an excellent service. They are responsive, efficient and friendly. I would mention Hannah Rayner, Sam Jones and Tony Burgess."

"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." 

"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."

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.

For out of hours requests please contact Tom via his mobile phone: 07497 846585

Jack Thomas

Jack joined Brick Court in September 2024. Jack’s main responsibilities include diary management, fee negotiation and case fixing. 

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.

Joe Shrubsall

Joe joined Brick Court in September 2023 as a Junior Clerk. He progressed to Head Junior Clerk in August 2024 and then subsequently progressed to Tony’s clerking team in November 2024. Joe’s main responsibilities include diary management, fee negotiation and case fixing. He is a member of the Institute of Barristers' Clerks.

Clerk 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.

Assistant Clerk to the Arbitrators and Mediators

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