Our History

1KBW is a leading Chambers specialising in family law, with a pre-eminent reputation in this field, both nationally and internationally. 1KBW is consistently ranked by the legal directories in the top tiers of leading sets for family law.

Our barristers have been at the cutting edge of the development of family law and have been in most of the ground-breaking cases over the last two decades. 1KBW also has one of the most innovative and experienced Dispute Resolution teams in the country.

1KBW has a dedicated and professional clerking team, led by Senior Clerk Chris Gittins, which is able to deal with any enquiry and is widely regarded as one of the most helpful and reassuring clerking teams in the field. Also supporting our barristers is a team of fees clerks, administrators and other support staff.

1KBW specialises in family law, and our reputation is founded in this field. In matrimonial finance, members of 1KBW have appeared in many of the leading and landmark cases of the last two decades, such as Owens, White, Moore, Macfarlane, Miller, Radmacher, Imerman, Charman and many more. Our members continue to act in some of the most high-profile cases in the field of matrimonial finance. In children law, the set boasts many of the current ‘stars’ in this field, both silks and juniors.

Members of 1KBW regularly appear in the leading cases across every aspect of children law: private law children, Hague and non-Hague abduction, wardship and care and adoption proceedings. Members also undertake work in the Court of Protection. Their experience in dealing with sensitive public and private children cases and finance cases means that its members have a unique set of skills to deal with Court of Protection work. The set’s history of advocacy in the criminal courts is often said to give it the edge over its rivals within the family courts.

An unrivalled breadth of talent, with leading practitioners at every level of seniority.
CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS

As well as some of the most eminent practitioners at the family bar, former members of 1KBW have included Baroness Hale, the first female President of the United Kingdom Supreme Court, the current President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, Dame Judith Parker, DBE and numerous other members of the judiciary.

Our commitment to excellence

This has long been recognised and in the recent past we have been awarded:

• Chambers of the Year – Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2024
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2024
• Top ranked chambers UK Bar 2024 – Chambers and Partners
• Richard Harrison KC won Family Law Silk of the Year at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2023
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2023
• Top ranked chambers UK Bar 2023 – Chambers and Partners
• Family Set of the Year 2022 – The Legal 500 UK Bar Awards
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2023
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2022
• 1KBW awarded Family Set of the Year at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2022.
• Family Set of the Year 2021 – Chambers and Partners
• Top ranked chambers UK Bar 2021– Chambers and Partners
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2021
• Shortlisted for Family Law QC of the Year 2020 (Richard Harrison QC) – Family Law Awards
• Shortlisted for Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year 2020 (Deepak Nagpal) – Family Law Awards
• Top ranked chambers UK Bar 2020 – Chambers and Partners
• Ranked as a top tier set in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2020
• Shortlisted for awards across all Family Law categories at 2020 (Philip Marshall QC & Harry Oliver) – Legal 500
• Shortlisted for Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year 2019 (Deepak Nagpal) – Family Law Awards
• Shortlisted for Family Law Young Barrister of the Year 2019 (Anna Sutcliffe) – Family Law Awards

What the legal directories say

This is a sophisticated set that you can instruct with confidence because there are no weak links. Chambers makes the whole litigation process run smoothly and its members produce probably the best written work at the Bar. – Chambers & Partners, 2023

An incredibly strong roster of talent across all aspects of domestic and international family law practice. It is regarded as ‘a fantastic set with a great range of leading silks and juniors who are all highly skilled’. – Legal 500, 2023

This is one of the only chambers in London where you can confidently use the same barrister for both finance and children work and know that they are not only competent but interested in dealing with both issues for the client.  – Chambers & Partners 2022

An immensely impressive family set at all levels… its expertise in both finance and private children work… fantastic range of barristers, who are always well prepared and worth their weight in gold  – Legal 500 2022

Wide range of top quality senior and junior barristers. Known for its heavyweight financial work it also has a team that can handle any type of children work. – Chambers & Partners 2021

‘go-to’ set for complex children and finance cases. – Legal 500 2021

highly regarded in the legal world… strength in depth at all levels  – Legal 500 2021

They are as strong on money as they are on children and they’ve got strength and depth in both silks and juniors. – Chambers & Partners, 2020