Quadrant Chambers has welcomed the return of leading aviation silk Robert Lawson KC and shipping disputes specialist Stephanie Barrett.
Lawson has returned after nine years as a partner at Clyde & Co, including three as chair of its global aviation practice group, having previously spent 18 years at the set.
He is widely regarded as one of the premier aviation silks of his generation, whether as a partner, leading counsel or arbitrator, and has acted in and advised on many of the most significant aviation-related disputes of the last 30 years. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2009.
Lawson commented: “Having watched it go from strength to strength whilst I have been away, embracing and experiencing life in an international law firm, I am delighted to return to Quadrant and look forward to helping it to fly even higher.”
A Clyde & Co spokesperson confirmed Lawson’s move, adding: “We wish him the best and look forward to working with him in future.”
Lawson is not the only former law firm partner to join Quadrant – Alexander Uff joined from legacy Shearman & Sterling back in 2021.
Meanwhile Barrett, called in 2009, has returned following a four-year career break to raise her two young children. Her practice encompasses commercial litigation and arbitration with a primary focus on dry and wet shipping (particularly charterparty and bill of lading disputes), shipbuilding and offshore construction, international trade, insurance, aviation and travel, and energy.
“I’m very much looking forward to my return to practice at this unique and market-leading set of chambers,” Barrett said. “I am truly excited to begin the next chapter of my career and catch up with colleagues and clients.”
Quadrant’s head of chambers, Poonam Melwani KC, said the set was “absolutely thrilled” to welcome the duo, whose returns were “warmly welcomed” by members.
She added: “Both are outstanding lawyers whose experience, expertise and reputations speak for themselves. Rob’s return significantly strengthens our already market-leading aviation offering, while Stephanie returns as a respected and skilled practitioner whose client focus, coupled with her down-to-earth nature, is highly valued.”
The duo’s returns follow the arrivals of 4 Pump Court’s Andrew Stevens and Crown Office Chambers’ Toby Chandler in 2025, while the set welcomed the news that Caroline Pounds and Gemma Morgan had been appointed as King’s Counsel in the 2025 appointments round.
Last month it also welcomed the news that former High Court judge Sir Nigel Teare, an arbitrator at the set, had been appointed as an International Judge to the Supreme Court of Singapore, as part of the Singapore International Commercial Court bench, in that court’s latest appointments round.
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