Fountain Court welcomes the return of Sir Nicholas Underhill and Lord Goldsmith KC

Fountain Court is delighted to announce that Sir Nicholas Underhill has rejoined Chambers and that Lord Goldsmith KC will do so on 1 January 2026.

Sir Nicholas Underhill is a former Lord Justice of Appeal and Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, Civil Division. Having previously practised at Fountain Court for nearly three decades before being appointed to the judiciary, Sir Nicholas has returned to Chambers as an arbitrator and mediator, bringing decades of experience in complex commercial matters.

Lord Goldsmith KC is a former Attorney General (2001–2007) and a pre-eminent legal practitioner renowned for his international arbitration and litigation work.  He will rejoin Fountain Court on 1 January 2026 as counsel and arbitrator, having previously been a Member of Chambers between 1972 and 2001.

Speaking about their arrival, Head of Chambers Richard Handyside KC said: “On behalf of Chambers, I am delighted to welcome Sir Nicholas Underhill and (in due course) Lord Goldsmith KC back to Fountain Court. Sir Nicholas and Lord Goldsmith are hugely distinguished, experienced and respected legal figures, and together they will significantly enhance our ability to serve clients in the most complex global disputes.”

Sir Nicholas Underhill commented: “Returning to Fountain Court at this stage enables me to engage with the dynamic world of arbitration and commercial dispute resolution in a way that draws on my judicial experience. Fountain Court offers the platform, and I look forward to working with its members and clients.”

Lord Goldsmith KC said: “I practise globally in arbitration and litigation, and the opportunity to return to Fountain Court to sit both as counsel and arbitrator at this juncture aligns perfectly with both my experience and the evolving needs of international disputants. I look forward to building on the set’s outstanding reputation.”

The return of two practitioners of such stature underscores Fountain Court’s commitment to excellence and its status as a first-choice Chambers for complex commercial disputes.