London: commercial sets

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Just as the solicitors' profession has a 'magic circle' of law firms, so too does London's commercial Bar. While the precise composition of this elite group may be up for debate, Brick Court Chambers, Essex Court Chambers, One Essex Court, Fountain Court Chambers and Blackstone Chambers would all qualify for inclusion. What’s beyond doubt is that there are many highly successful barristers' chambers in Central London – a large proportion of which are concentrated in and around the four Inns of Court.

Barristers tend to be very familiar with their peers and rivals, as they regularly compete with them for work or square off across the courtroom. Even within a specialist area, sets will have a particular reputation, or their size and style will mark them out from others. A good example is construction law, which has two acknowledged frontrunners: Keating Chambers and Atkin Chambers. Keating is bigger and probably acts for construction companies more often in disputes, with members also appearing in UK courts and in international arbitration, frequently regarding contracts governed by foreign law. Atkin is smaller; its reputation is more closely associated with representing parties in dispute with construction companies. Its members have experience in residential construction disputes, party wall claims and nuisance actions, with clients including the largest developers, contractors and insurers in the UK and globally.  As you get closer to making a decision about your pupillage applications, insight like this becomes essential.

There are multiple areas of specialisation, even within the commercial Bar itself: commercial contract disputes; banking and finance; shipping and international trade; tax; intellectual property; professional negligence… the list goes on. Some of the top commercial sets pay pupils handsomely (a couple of them up to £100,000) and usually allow some funds to be accessed during law school. Your academic and other credentials will need to be impeccable to pass muster here: look at the Meet the Lawyer profiles of junior members of a set for guidance on what its recruiters are looking for and the barrister Practice Area Profiles for insights into the journey of current practising barristers.

To find out more about life as a barrister at a commercial chambers, see this profile of Robert Ward of Quadrant Chambers.