Joseph Barrett KC was appointed to silk in 2024, after only 15 years in practice. He is ranked by the professional directories as a leading  KC in the fields of procurement (Band 1) and public and administrative law. Before his appointment, Joseph was for many years ranked by the professional directories as the “star individual” in procurement law.

Since taking silk, Joseph has been instructed as leading counsel on a number of the largest and most complex public and regulatory law cases to come before the English Courts. Recent examples of Joseph’s work include:

  • The New Lottery Company Ltd v The Gambling Commission [2025] EWHC 486 (TCC);  [2025] EWHC 1058 (TCC); [2025] EWHC 1710 (TCC): Joseph is leading counsel for Allwyn, the successful applicant and operator in respect of the fourth national lottery license, defending Richard Desmond’s claim for £1.3 billion in damages and declarations of ineffectiveness in respect of the national lottery license. The claims are listed for an 8 week High Court trial in September-November 2025.
  • Aubrey Weis v GMCA [2025] CAT 41: Joseph is leading counsel for the appellant, Mr Weis, in the first case under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 to consider the ‘commercial market operator’ principle. The case is currently pending before the Court of Appeal in early 2026.
  • Airwave Solutions Limited v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Secretary of State for Health and Ors [2024] EWHC 3059: Joseph was leading counsel for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG), leading a 7 member counsel team, in complex judicial review, procurement and breach of contract claims brought by Motorola against HMG in respect of the exercise of contractual options to extend the term of Airwave contract for the provision of emergency telecoms services to the UK emergency services. Following 6 contested interim hearings in 2024-2025, Airwave discontinued the proceedings and agreed to pay HMG’s costs shortly before the expedited trial of the claims.’

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  • Quotation symbolA fearless advocate, a tenacious fighter and a real star of the future.

    Quotation symbolLegal 500
  • Quotation symbolHe is legendary.

    Quotation symbolLegal 500
  • Quotation symbolSensational.

    Quotation symbolChambers and Partners

Expertise

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Joseph has a broad public law practice. He has particular expertise in public law challenges to major public contracts and commercial ventures and decisions. In recent years he has acted in a number of the most significant public law cases to come before the Courts.

Quotation symbol

  • Great to work with, very responsive, strong strategically and excellent at resolving disputes. He's also very good with clients as he has a good sense of humour.

    Chambers & Partners
  • He is legendary

    Legal 500
  • He likes a good fight and is a hard worker. He’s great at giving a clear steer in a case, and he never sits on the fence.

    Chambers and Partners

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Joseph is ranked as a Band 1 practitioner by all of the main legal directories (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal).

He is widely regarded as the leading junior at the Bar in the field of EU procurement litigation and challenges to public sector contracts.

He is regularly instructed in leading cases (frequently against KCs). He has acted in more than 100 High Court EU procurement cases and has experience of litigation under all of the principal EU procurement regimes, i.e. public contracts, utilities and defence and security. He also has experience of advising both economic operators and public authorities in connection with EU Commission complaints and investigations regarding alleged breaches of the EU procurement and State aid regimes.

Joseph also has a very extensive advisory practice spanning the full range of procurement law. In particular, he has extensive experience of advising on issues such as the application of procurement law to development agreements and other land related transactions, post-tender variations to significant public contracts, public-private partnerships and the structuring of legal transactions in a manner that is consistent with procurement law.

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  • A ridiculously clever man who is immensely driven and always strategically brilliant when handling a case.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Joseph Barrett KC is among the very top procurement lawyers in the country. He is a go-to for complicated and important procurement disputes.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Joseph Barrett is a king of procurement. He has an excellent advocacy style, a good track record and sound judgement.

    Chambers & Partners

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Achievements

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Editor, 11KBW EU Procurement Law and State aid bulletin

Author, European Law of State Aid, OUP (2016)

Author, Tolley’s Employment Law, OUP (2016)

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University of Glasgow, LLB (First Class Honours)

Harvard Law School, LLM

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Prior to joining the Bar, Joseph was an Associate at Linklaters LLP (working in their London, Hong Kong and Moscow offices).  While at Linklaters Joseph was recognised by the legal directories as a ‘star of the future’.

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  • Quotation symbol

    He is legendary

    Legal 500
  • Quotation symbol

    He likes a good fight and is a hard worker. He’s great at giving a clear steer in a case, and he never sits on the fence.

    Chambers and Partners