Congratulations to Dodie Khurshid (West, 1984-1989) and James Brocklebank (Loveday, 1989-1994) on becoming QCs on February 26. They have been appointed by the Queen to be one of “Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law.” As members wear silk gowns of a particular design, the award of Queen’s Counsel is known informally as taking silk, and hence QCs are often colloquially called silks. Appointments are made from within the legal profession on the basis of merit rather than a particular level of experience.
Other Old Cranleighan QCs are David Westcott (2 North, 1970-1975), Simon Russell-Flint (1 North, 1971-1975), and Stephen Nathan (Cubitt, 1961-1964).
Dodie Khurshid “specialises in all aspects commercial litigation and arbitration, and has a particular prominence in insurance and reinsurance disputes where he has long been acknowledged as one of the leading junior practitioners at the bar. As well as being very bright and incredibly able, he is both a commercially astute lawyer and a good tactician. He is personable and approachable, and earns the respect of his clients with ‘can-do’ attitude and strong desire to win. He appears as an advocate and advises in a wide range of commercial disputes, many of which are complex, high value matters that have an international element.”
James Brocklebank “has a broad practice encompassing all areas of commercial litigation, including conflicts of laws, energy and natural resources, product liability, banking and finance, international trade, and confidentiality and privilege. He has a particularly prominent reputation in the areas of professional negligence, insurance and reinsurance, and commercial arbitration (often with an international element). He has wide experience of advising and acting in relation to all manner of contractual and tortious disputes.”
David Westcott “has been a specialist in clinical negligence and catastrophic personal injury cases for longer than he cares to recall. Having dealt with high-value actions without a leader for some five years before taking silk in 2003, he has been preparing big cases for nearly 20 years (mostly, but by no means exclusively, involving birth injury or paralysis from spinal injury).”
Simon Russell-Flint “is one of the most sought after advocates at the bar. He is recognised as being a true leader in his field and as such is instructed in many of the most notable and high profile cases that shape the criminal landscape. Simon is regularly instructed to prosecute or defend in serious criminal cases including murders, manslaughters, major frauds, soliciting to murder, serious drug importations, robberies and blackmails.”
Stephen Nathan “has a broad practice including many areas of commercial and company law whether it is litigation, advisory or acting as an arbitrator or counsel in domestic and international arbitrations. Civil Fraud and Media & Entertainment are other key areas of his practice. Stephen’s extensive knowledge of business practice is brought to bear in his mediation work and he is a qualified CEDR Mediator.”
If readers know of others, please let Mike Payne know: mkp@oldcranleighan.com