2024 has been a landmark year for St Philips, marked by remarkable achievements that have further solidified our position as leaders in legal excellence, innovation, and diversity. From prestigious awards to significant team expansions, our momentum shows no signs of slowing.
AWARDS
The pinnacle of our success came in September when we were named Set Outside London of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards—an outstanding achievement that highlights the breadth and depth of our expertise across all areas of Chambers.
A special shout-out to Sophie Garner, who, within just 24 hours this March, earned Barrister of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards and was Highly Commended in the DE&I Champion of the Year category at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards.
Our Family Group also earned Highly Commended recognition in the Family Law Chambers of the Year – Regional category at the prestigious Family Law Awards.
This year also saw well-deserved nominations for Beth Armitage, Colin Baran, Jonathan Barker, Matt Cullen, Callum Church, Elizabeth Hodgetts, Ellie Hogan-Evans, William Horwood, Gavin McLeod, Ali Tabari, Angus Thomas, and our Employment Group across multiple award ceremonies.
RECRUITMENT
We saw the arrival some top-tier talent in 2024. Our family group welcomed leading family Silk, Darren Howe KC as a door tenant, while our Criminal and Regulatory Groups were bolstered with the arrival of junior, Lucinda Wilmott-Lascelles. In October we welcomed Dan Jacklin who joined our Regulatory and Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Groups as a probationary tenant.
PUPILLAGE
2024 saw another remarkable achievement as all 8 of our pupils were offered and accepted tenancy—a rare feat that speaks to the quality of our selection process, the expertise of our pupil supervisors, and the dedication of the pupils themselves. As we head into 2025, with six pupils: April, Charles, Katie, Kyran, Lillian, and Millie, nurturing future talent remains at the heart of our growth strategy.
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
This year, we were proud to see Colin Baran appointed as a part-time Employment Judge for the Southeast Region and Ben Close appointed as a Recorder on the Midland Circuit, handling Criminal cases. We also celebrated the swearing-in of former member Andrew Charman as a Circuit Judge at Birmingham County Court.
DIRECTORY RANKINGS
In the latest Legal 500 Bar rankings, we proudly retained our Top Tier status, with 108 barristers ranked across the Midland and Northeastern Circuits, and 11 Practice Groups recognized. Similarly, we continued our Top Ranking in the Chambers UK Bar Guide 2025, securing 84 rankings across 20 practice areas. These accolades are a testament to our consistently high standards, driven by the dedication of our barristers, clerks, and support staff, alongside invaluable client feedback.
EVENTS
Our in-house events programme has been a resounding success, hosting over 70 events throughout the year. From small scale sessions to large seminars and networking events with 100+ attendees, we’ve continued to connect and engage with the legal community in meaningful ways.
With an award-winning service, a growing team, and an unwavering focus on innovation, the future is brighter than ever. As we look to 2025 and beyond, St Philips remains a driving force in the legal sector, both within Birmingham, the wider West Midlands, and beyond. Here’s to more successes, celebrations, and new milestones in the year ahead.
