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: +44 (0)7939 509873

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]’”

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." 

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.