Britain’s Highest-Paid Barristers
The highest-paid barristers in the UK can command substantial fees, with some earning as much as £1.5 million per year.
This level of income, however, is not uniform across the profession and varies significantly based on areas of practice and expertise.
It was reported in 2018 that around 125 barristers earned more than £1 million according to the UK Bar Council, but the figure is one that would now be considerably higher and some of the top-earing barristers would be well into the seven figures.
These figures, however, should be understood in the context of the costs associated with being a barrister, including chambers’ rent, clerks’ fees, insurance, travel, and other self-employment expenses.
The Bar Council also released barrister earnings in 2021, showing healthy earnings and according to The Lawyer, the top two percent of barristers earn over £1million per year.
For instance, barristers specializing in tax law are among the highest earners, with top tax specialists charging around £900 per hour for advising on complex tax-avoidance strategies for well-known companies.
The disparity in earnings among barristers is also influenced by factors like the stage of their career, the area of law they specialize in, and the type of clients they represent.
While top commercial KCs can command these high fees, their counterparts in areas like criminal and family law often start their careers earning significantly less, sometimes around £20,000 or less, before deductions for various professional expenses.
But for the elite barristers, the money is big
Who Are The Highest Paid Barristers?
We’ve identified some of the highest paid barristers in the UK below. The earnings are not ranked in any order, but these are all senior barristers who have earnings well over the seven figures.
Lord Pannick KC
Lord Pannick KC, of Blackstone Chambers, stands as one of the UK’s most esteemed advocates, renowned for his expertise, particularly in Public Law, Human Rights, and Constitutional Law, with a special focus on appellate advocacy.
His legal acumen includes commercial disputes and trusts law. Over the past three decades he has played a pivotal role in many significant public law cases arguing in 100 cases in the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, over 25 cases in the Supreme Court since its inception in 2009, more than 25 cases in the European Court of Justice, and over 30 cases in the European Court of Human Rights.
Lord Pannick’s versatility is evident in his representation of both Claimants and Respondents, encompassing government departments and other public bodies.
One of his most notable cases was representing Gina Miller in the Supreme Court in September 2019, which resulted in a unanimous decision (11-0) declaring that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had unlawfully prorogued Parliament, leading to its immediate recall. More recently, he advised Boris Johnson regarding the House of Commons Committee of Privileges inquiry into whether Johnson misled Parliament about COVID-19 regulation breaches at 10 Downing Street.
He also represented the home secretary in the Supreme Court and lower courts regarding the legality of sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda for processing their claims. Lord Pannick also achieved success representing the Kingdom of Denmark in the Supreme Court, addressing allegations of a billion-pound tax revenue fraud against the state.
Prominent figures in this category include Graham Aaronson QC,
David Goldberg KC
David Goldberg KC practices at Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers with his key interests are planning transactions in the most efficient manner, helping in what Mrs Thatcher (as she then was) once described in a letter to him as ‘the battle against the Inland Revenue’, the control of executive action and litigation, both on technical tax issues and at the interface of revenue and administrative law.
Lord Grabiner KC
Lord Grabiner KC of One Essex Court is one of Britain’s foremost commercial lawyers
with over four decades of experience, has been a prominent figure in many of London’s high-profile commercial disputes. His areas of expertise are diverse, encompassing banking and finance, energy/oil and gas, civil fraud, competition, merger investigations, and shareholder disputes. He is not only experienced in advocating in the High Court but also serves as arbitration counsel.
Lord Grabiner’s legal reach extends beyond the UK. He is admitted to practice in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (specifically the British Virgin Islands) and the Cayman Islands. His international experience also includes appearances before the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. Additionally, he is known for his extensive role in international arbitration disputes, often participating as counsel.
His expertise in arbitration extends to serving as an arbitrator in cases involving the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
His major, more recent cases include participating in Microsoft v CMA, where he intervened in the Competition Appeal Tribunal regarding the CMA’s decision to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a deal valued at $68.7 billion.
He also represented clients in the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean (specifically in the British Virgin Islands) in the case of Nam Tai Property Inc v Greater Sail Ltd, and in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands in Nord Anglia Inc., a case that revolved around a dispute concerning ‘fair value’ under a specific section of the law.
In the UK Supreme Court in 2019, he represented Halliburton in a case related to the “Deepwater Horizon” oil spill, a major environmental disaster involving an explosion and fire on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
Chris Daw KC
Chris Daw KC is unusual in that he is primarily a criminal barrister who has nonetheless entered the ranks of the wealthy bar members. A member of Lincoln Chambers he was called to the Bar appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013 and has become well known for his work in high-profile trials and appeals, dealing with serious organized crime and commercial fraud.
He has a substantial practice in criminal and serious fraud cases but expanded his expertise to include business, regulatory, and professional discipline matters.
His main clients include corporations, high net worth individuals, public figures, and professionals across various sectors. He is particularly experienced in representing senior police officers, including those at the Chief Constable level, in criminal proceedings, inquests, and misconduct hearings.
Overall, Chris Daw KC’s legal practice is characterized by a focus on high-stakes, often high-profile cases, where his expertise in criminal law is complemented by a strategic approach to protecting and advancing the interests of his clients.
Graham Aaronson KC
Graham Aaronson KC is a founding partner at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP, where he leads the tax disputes team. His career trajectory boasts a notable journey from his earlier affiliation with Pump Court Tax Chambers to his current position as a major tax advisor and advocate.
During his tenure with Pump Court Tax Chambers, Graham Aaronson KC carved out a prominent niche for himself, earning recognition as a preeminent tax advisor and advocate among his contemporaries.
His career has seen him counsel and represent a vast array of major corporations conducting business within the United Kingdom. He has appeared in numerous groundbreaking cases, including the pivotal BMBF v Mawson case. He initiated pioneering EU law challenges to the UK corporation tax regime, exemplified by the landmark Hoechst case. Subsequently, he has taken the lead counsel role in the majority of EU law-based group litigation actions revolving around corporation tax matters.
Since the inception of Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP, his primary focus has shifted towards assisting clients in resolving their tax disputes with HMRC and other tax authorities.
Graham Aaronson KC’s expertise lies primarily in the realm of commercial and corporate taxation. Within this sphere, he has honed sub-specialties, notably in areas such as transfer pricing, oil and gas taxation, structured finance, State Aid, and EU Law. His track record extends to the realm of football-related tax disputes, where he has represented high-profile players and agents.
Notable highlights in his career include a pivotal moment in 2016 when he was entrusted by then-Prime Minister David Cameron to scrutinize allegations of tax avoidance surrounding the Panama Papers revelations.
His findings were referenced by the Prime Minister in his personal statement to the House of Commons on April 11, 2016. Additionally, in 2012-13, HMRC appointed him as the chairman of the Interim Advisory Panel for the General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR). In this capacity, he played a key role in crafting legally binding guidelines governing the operation of the GAAR.
Jamie Dawson KC
Jamie Dawson KC is a senior silk currently hitting the headlines as he is part of the legal team for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, where he is working with 10 other KCs under the guidance of Hugo Keith KC, the Lead Counsel, and Martin Smith, the Solicitor to the Inquiry, focusing on investigative efforts.
The Covid inquiry has seen him leading the questioning Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Humza Yousaf and – as one report noted – knocking them over like skittles.
Called to the Bar in 2004 and became a silk in 2020, he specializes in a broad range of civil law areas, encompassing both advisory and courtroom work.
His expertise includes medical and dental negligence (for both plaintiffs and defendants), public inquiries, personal injury, defamation, and handling insurance, commercial, trust, and property disputes. Jamie has notable experience in various legal settings, including the Inner and Outer House of the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, sheriff courts, tribunals, and public inquiries.
A significant highlight of Dawson’s career is his role as lead Counsel for the Scottish parties involved in the Infected Blood Inquiry, the largest public inquiry of its kind in the UK at that time, with findings expected in 2024.
The Well Paid Barrister Option
Going to the Bar is an attractive option for many lawyers seeking litigation work, lifestyle changes – and challenges – and many Chambers now offer sophisticated training and support programmes for those seeking a life at the bar.
Interviewing top barristers and others and talking to clerks and those involved in running Chambers is a key way to finding out whether this is the option you seek as a younger lawyer, but as the range of legal practice continues to evolve and grow in multiple directions the ability to generate an attractive and well-remunerated legal career is substantial.
