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The champagne was flowing last Tuesday (22 January). Not only at The Lawyer's Hot 100 party at the Royal Exchange, but at scores of chambers across England and Wales - the silks list had finally been announced.
Essex Court Chambers quaffed the fizz in celebration of four of their junior barristers receiving the accolade of QC, while Blackstone Chambers and Brick Court Chambers honoured their three new silks who had been given the nod.
But the corks were not popping in all chambers. 39 Essex Street will be disappointed that none of its candidates were appointed, while this is the first year since Doughty Street's inception that it has not had a barrister receive the kitemark.
The two sets are not alone, however, as only 67 sets saw at least one barrister made up and a total of 235 barristers had their applications rejected.
So who are the 98 hotshots (which include just one of the five solicitor applicants)?
Let us find out about the whippersnappers. At just 37, Graeme McPherson at Four New Square is the youngest person to take silk this year.
McPherson, who was only called in 1993, has taken the professional negligence arena by storm, with even one of his rivals hailing him as "the best thing since sliced bread".
His enjoyment of dealing with the complex (he says he has "a particular interest in claims utilising scientific and mathematical knowledge") gave McPherson a leg-up on his short journey to QC. Just five years after being called, McPherson was hearing the judgment of a precedent-setting Court of Appeal case about auditors' duty of care towards directors, where he was a first junior. The case, Coulthard v Neville Russell (1998), continues to be referred to today.