The Legal Cheek View
Meet 42BR Barristers at our Virtual Pupillage Fair on October 7th! Sign up Here!
42BR Barristers is a large multi-disciplinary set made up of 119 barristers, including 6 KCs. The sheer size of the set and the range of areas it works across is very impressive. The set divides down into seven distinct practice area teams: business and property, housing, employment, family, personal injury and clinical negligence, coroner’s inquests, and – newly added this year – animal welfare. Each team contains talented tenants tackling exciting cases. Barristers are not, however, confined to just one team – many work across two or more, allowing them to maintain a broad practice.
Within the business and property team, tenants work on a range of exciting matters ranging from commercial litigation to professional negligence to construction matters. Matthew McDermott and Robert Winspear recently successfully appeared in the Court of Appeal in an important case about the quantum of Rent Repayment Orders. Meanwhile, the housing group deals with common housing disputes surrounding unlawful eviction and homelessness, as well as more specialised disputes such as those related to environmental law or housing discrimination. Christopher Mann recently appeared in an appeal concerning a challenge by the owner of a property to the amount of damages awarded to a tenant for the owner’s breach of duty as a landlord.
Perhaps the jewels in the 42BR crown are their employment and family teams. One tenant tells us “42BR has great relationships with leading employment law firms – there is plenty of solid work coming through the door”. Tenants work across the full spectrum of employment law and are highly respected in this field. This work can range from claims of unfair dismissal to discrimination to whistleblowing protection. A recent exciting case saw Christi Scarborough successfully represent a company that purchased another company and made individuals redundant. Due to Christi’s successful arguments, the company, facing a claim worth a whopping £230,000, was found not to be liable. In the family law team, members again work across the spectrum of family law, but have particular expertise in children law. One junior tells us: “I often deal with complex children matters following the breakdown of a relationship”. Four of the set’s five KCs belong to the family team, adding to its strength. This year has seen three members appear in the Supreme Court on a case involving final care orders and the approach to be taken when children are being removed from their parents. Very important work.
The personal injury and clinical negligence team also houses a KC, Lisa Henderson KC – she has worked on numerous multi-million-pound settlements over the years. Work ranges from road traffic accidents to industrial disease. The coroner’s inquests team has worked on a number of significant inquiries including members being instructed as counsel to The Sandilands Croydon Tram Disaster Inquest. The new animal welfare team sees two KCs from the family team, Damian Woodward-Carlton KC and Gemma Farrington KC, wear two hats. The team was founded post-Brexit and in light of the new Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022), and hopes to build a strong reputation.
All in all, the work on offer at 42BR is varied and exciting, with one tenant describing their work as “adrenaline-fuelled”. Naturally, there will be some more mundane or bread and butter work: one junior tells us that “there is a lot of repetition, but [the work is] still stimulating”. Tenants who mix and match practices seem to be especially pleased with their work, with one telling us: “I am a member of two practice areas and they both offer a complimenting and varied practice”.
As ever at the Bar, striking a good work-life balance can be a struggle. One junior at the set tells us: ““as ever, work feels like feast or famine, but the reality is a pretty steady stream of work. Mid trial, there is little work-life balance but if your diary goes quiet then taking a day off to compensate for those late nights and weekends is fine – indeed, encouraged”. The clerks are said to be very supportive, with one tenant describing them as “probably the best there are”. Another junior tells us: “the clerks are fantastic at making sure we get as good a balance as we need”. Ultimately, work-life balance seems to be a matter of personal choice and need. One female tenant confides: “I’m a working mum and I have had the most amazing support when I have childcare to sort, working reduced hours or days. It’s so flexible. There is no judgement. It is just how it is supposed to be”.
As well as the clerks, the tenants at 42BR are said to be a supportive bunch. We hear that there are WhatsApp groups for each practice team where tenants help each other out and arrange socials. One tenant tells us: “we have a lively practice WhatsApp group where you can get anything from the inside track on what a judge is like to a detailed answer to a technical question. If you need a more in-depth answer you can always find a colleague available to chat on the phone or in chambers”. Another tenant, who has moved to 42BR from another set, confides: “as a large common law set there is a huge pool of possible support. In the family group we offer in-house training, mentoring, social events and a hands-on approach to helping each other – it’s not always like 42BR”.
When it comes to socialising together, we hear that 42BR hasn’t quite recovered post-COVID, but there are monthly drinks in Chambers and an “increasing number” of lectures and talks with drinks afterwards. Another adds that social life is “definitely on the up”. Of course, it’s not for everyone. One tenant jokes “there are some people who never engage and others who’d turn up to the opening of an envelope. You choose how you want your chambers life to go and there is no impact on your development either way”.
In terms of 42BR’s location, they are situated in charming Bedford Row and have a “beautiful” older building. As one tenant says, however, “like many prestigious older buildings [it is] not as geared up to business in the 21st century as newer developments”. Fortunately, however, we hear that the tenants are moving home in 2023. Apparently their new building is “currently being fitted out to [their] specifications and is going to be amazing”. Hopefully they will be bringing their “great in-house tech guy” with them, as he is apparently “always really helpful and good at problem solving” and provides assistance to any of the self-professed technophobes at the set.
Those looking to apply for pupillage at 42BR should make their application through the Pupillage Gateway. Chambers typically takes on two pupils per year and offers an award of £40,000. Pupils can expect to see a broad range of practice areas during pupillage, and can express their preference for particular practice areas. This will be taken into account where possible. In their second six, pupils will appear in court in their own right – we hear that being on your feet around 3 times a week is the average – which provides fantastic advocacy training. Training doesn’t stop at pupillage either, with a range of in-house and external seminars also on offer into tenancy.
42BR are proud to support the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative, participate in the London Legal Walk, and support CHICKS children’s charity, which provides free breaks for disadvantaged children all over the UK. The set also encourages its barristers to participate in pro bono work.