Two barristers from Liverpool-based Exchange Chambers – Chris Barnes and Lisa Linklater – have this week been appointed as QCs. Tony McDonough reports

Exchange Chambers barristers Christopher Barnes and Lisa Linklater have been appointed as QCs.

Christopher Barnes, based in Liverpool, practises exclusively in the areas of personal injury, clinical negligence and related litigation. Lisa Linklater, based in Leeds, specialises in high value, legally and factually complex shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate insolvency and commercial litigation.

The title of QC, which stands for Queen’s Counsel, is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy in the higher courts. Those appointed as QCs are said to have ‘taken silk’.

Mr Barnes has particular expertise in military claims and is consistently ranked as a leading junior by Chambers UK and the Legal 500 in the field of personal injury. He said: “All of the staff at Exchange Chambers have played a huge rule in developing and advancing my career and I would not be where I am without their efforts.

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“I owe a similar debt to all those solicitors who have instructed me. Without their loyalty my practice could never have progressed as it has. I look forward to continuing to work with them and to developing my practice in silk.”

Ms Linklater works in the business and property Courts of the High Courts of Justice, as well as appellate advocacy in those fields of practice. She is recommended as Tier 1 by the Legal 500 in Company and Insolvency and Band 1 by Chambers UK in commercial dispute resolution.

She is the first female barrister from the North Eastern Circuit practising in the field of Commercial Chancery to take Silk and the second female barrister in her practice area from chambers outside London to be appointed as a QC.

She added: “The weeks since the announcement that I was to become a QC have been a whirlwind. So many friends and colleagues from across the legal profession have been so kind and generous with their warm wishes and sage advice, which I really appreciate.”

Bill Braithwaite QC, head of chambers at Exchange, also said: “Congratulations to Lisa and Chris. They are both fantastic barristers and we are very grateful to have them as members of Exchange.”