LexisNexis Legal Awards 2025: Gatehouse Chambers shortlisted for Costs Law Team of the Year

Gatehouse Chambers is delighted to be shortlisted for Costs Law Team of the Year at this the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2025.

The Costs Team at Gatehouse Chambers has had an impressive few years and is gaining significant ground in the market. Members of Chambers have acted in numerous significant decisions over recent years, including:

  • Vardy v Rooney and PXT [2024] EWHC 1372 (KB) – widely known as the “Wagatha Christie”, the defamation case between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. Robin Dunne acts for Rooney in the ongoing detailed assessment.
  • R (on the application of PACCAR Inc) v Competition Appeal Tribunal [2023] UKSC 28 – concerning third party litigation funding and damages-based agreements. It featured in The Lawyer as one of the top 10 appeal cases of 2023. PJ Kirby KC and Charlotte Wilk appeared for the RHA.
  • Wilkins v Serco Ltd [2023] EWHC 61 (KB) – a significant decision on Part 36 offers, fixed costs, and the consequences of rejecting settlement offers. PJ Kirby KC and Martyn Griffiths appeared for Wilkins.
  • Belsner v CAM Legal Services Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1387 – featuring PJ Kirby KC and Robin Dunne, was a test case in which the Court of Appeal determined that claims brought through the RTA portal were not “contentious business” until a claim was issued. The decision was described by some commentators as the costs case of the century.

Priya Gopal has appeared in a wide range of costs matters both in the Senior Courts Costs Office and High Court appeals, including as sole counsel in a recent High Court appeal involving secret commissions. Priya will also be appearing in the Court of Appeal with Robin Dunne in February on a case involving retrospective Conditional Fee Agreements.

Charlotte Wilk is another one of our Costs Juniors to note – she has been involved in three reported costs cases in her first two years of practice.

Last but not least, the arrival of former Costs Judge Dr Victoria McCloud and Jake Rowley further strengthened the team’s offering.

Visit our Costs and Litigation Funding page for further information.

Many congratulations to all of the nominees this year. The full shortlist can be viewed here.

Winners will be announced in March 2025.

Related barristers

Dr Victoria McCloud

Lesley Anderson KC

Call: 1989 | Silk: 2006

PJ Kirby KC

Call: 1989 | Silk: 2013

Rupert Higgins

Call: 1991

Alaric Watson

Call: 1997

Robin Dunne

Call: 2002
Charles Raffin

Charles Raffin

Call: 2005 | British Virgin Islands: 2023

Lauren Godfrey

Call: 2007

Martyn Griffiths

Call: 2011

Jake Rowley

Call: 2011

Priya Gopal

Call: 2014

Michael Maris

Call: 2017

Charlotte Wilk

Call: 2021

Callum Reid-Hutchings

Call: 2022