Mid-tier sets are continuing to feel the pressure of a squeezed legal market at the commercial Bar as it has emerged that Stone Chambers is to be acquired by national set St Philips Chambers.
Continue reading “Bar consolidation continues as St Philips acquires ailing Stone Chambers”
In the latest legal lobby against Brexit, more than 1,000 barristers have signed a letter to urge MPs to pass an act of parliament before invoking article 50.
Leading set Fountain Court Chambers has boosted its commercial offering and with the recruit of two silks and five junior barristers.
Continue reading “Big Bar boost: Fountain Court makes seven strong team hire, including two silks”
It is a recurring theme in Legal Business commentary that the received wisdom and forecasting for the profession do not age like fine wine and 2016 is proof once more that no one knows anything. Take the Bar, which has supposedly been in the last-chance saloon for a generation and yet in the commercial sector keeps thriving.
The demise of 11 Stone Buildings last summer sparked claims within the Bar that others would face the same fate. As the gap between the haves and have-nots widens, can second-tier sets survive?
‘If you don’t stop gossiping about the collapse of this set, you will make it happen. You’re scaring people. Things are not as bad as they seem.’
A staff member to a junior barrister at 11 Stone Buildings, summer 2015
‘Unfortunately, there’s an incentive to leave before the crash. If people think the set isn’t going to last they’ll start leaving. It’s then that the set starts shredding at the edges. Nobody wants to be left behind.’
Michael Furness QC, co-head of chambers, Wilberforce Chambers
It is a recurring theme in Legal Business commentary that the received wisdom and forecasting for the profession do not age like fine wine and 2016 is proof once more that no one knows anything. Take the Bar, which has supposedly been in the last-chance saloon for a generation and yet in the commercial sector keeps thriving.
Continue reading “As the Bar elite thrives, New Law wobbles – scratch some more predictions”
Heavyweight financial services silk Andrew Green QC (pictured) of Blackstone Chambers has been appointed as a specialist adviser to the Treasury Select Committee and commissioned to review ‘Maxwellisation’ after it took regulators seven years to publish a report on the failure of HBOS.
Doughty Street Chambers barrister and human rights campaigner Martha Spurrier has been appointed as the new director of Liberty, where she will succeed incumbent Shami Chakrabarti.
Continue reading “Doughty Street Chambers barrister to take over civil rights group Liberty”
Confirmed just days ago, 3 Verulam Buildings‘ (3VB) heavyweight silk Adrian Beltrami QC has pulled out of moving to One Essex Court, deciding to remain at his current set.
Continue reading “A change of mind: 3VB’s Beltrami QC pulls out of move to One Essex Court”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes veteran Ian Terry is leaving the Magic Circle firm after 38 years and heading to the Bar.
Continue reading “Freshfields disputes veteran Terry heads to the Bar”
