Kings Chambers

Whether it’s Mark Harper KC representing sporting icons such as Wayne Rooney and Sir Bradley Wiggins against their agents, or Louis Doyle KC discharging Boris Becker from bankruptcy, there’s always big things happening at this set. On the commercial side, members, particularly KCs, appear in a number of significant reported cases. We are a little jealous to hear that Thomas Williams was recently involved in a ground-breaking case before the Qatar International Court which established the court’s jurisdiction to order security for costs. Meanwhile, Steven Flynn has been successful in persuading the FA Judicial Panel to stay an order closing Bury FC’s football stadium for two matches after breaching FA rules. Multi-million cases are nothing new to Kings barristers, nor, it seems, are cases that reach into the billions with Michael Bowsher KC and Adam Aldred acting in a £25 billion claim against Google.

Planning law is another central area for Kings Chambers — the set even has a Planning Podcast! Construction disputes handled by the set range from rights of way for HS2 to Premier League football stadia through to onshore wind farms. Recently, Paul Tucker KC and Constanze Bell have advised Liverpool Council in relation to Everton’s new waterfront stadium. Kings is also one of the few chambers outside London to regularly represent clients on matters before the Technology and Construction Court (TCC). Indeed, after retiring from the TCC, Judge David Gilliland KC joined Kings Chambers as an arbitrator.

The administrative and public law department covers a wide array of areas, from the Court of Protection to local government cases. Recently, for example, Sam Karim KC has led a Kings Chambers team of licensing specialists who were instructed during the pandemic to challenge various UK government closures and curfews. Members of Kings Chambers take on both public and privately funded work in this area. A number of barristers are on the Attorney-General’s provincial panel for civil litigation.

On the clinical negligence side, one junior describes that they have a “varied and interesting” practice, with another describing that “the medical science side of clinical negligence is really interesting”. Gerard McDermott KC and Toby Coupe have previously secured £23 million in compensation for the victim of a road traffic collision who suffered life-changing injuries, whilst more recently Sarah Pritchard KC appeared in a landmark Supreme Court case on dealing with lost years awards for severely injured children. Personal injury is described by a junior as “more cut-and-thrust” with “a wider opportunity for advocacy”. The set has particular experience in aircraft-related deaths — and acted in the inquests into the Nimrod XV230 Air Disaster, the single largest loss of life suffered by the British military since the Falklands war.

From a rookie barrister’s perspective, there is a range of matters on which to cut your teeth — from supporting more senior lawyers on high profile cases to handling your own matters in lower courts. One junior tells us: “For the most part I feel very lucky to do a job that’s varied, throws up complex questions that need researching, and has a fair bit of variety.”

There is a supportive culture at Kings Chambers from the bottom up. Insiders describe “excellent junior member camaraderie” whilst “senior members of the chambers make a real effort to check in.” There’s also “great wellbeing support, especially for pupils” which continues into tenancy, with colleagues “always on hand over the phone if needed”. One barrister, who moved to Kings Chambers from another set, commented that they were “provided with extensive support and mentoring when developing new practice areas”.

Like most chambers, rookies can be expected to work between 50 and 60 hours a week. Members are generally happy with their work/life balance and sources tell us “chambers does respect the boundaries put in place” whilst “clerks are hugely supportive and look after you”. One junior observes that their senior colleagues with children are supported, with clerks being “fully supportive of part-time working/non-working days fixed each week”.

Views on social life at Kings Chambers are a little mixed, although generally positive. The regular events throughout the year, which include summer, Christmas, and silk parties, are said to be “good fun”, with those at the junior junior end praising a calendar that includes “plenty of events”, “both client facing and internal”. Manchester is reported to have the best social scene, as it has the biggest office and more younger members, whilst Leeds and Birmingham receive less praise. Ultimately, however, “there are plenty of opportunities” for those looking to make the most of their social life at work.

In terms of the buildings, Manchester and Leeds are described as “magnificent”. Leeds’ half-a-million pound makeover continues to impress a few years on, with insiders praising the “great IT” and “good facilities” on offer there. Both are centrally located in their respective cities and much of their stream of work comes from the many big firms around them. The Birmingham building, whilst also central, is described as “well-furnished” but comparatively “a satellite site and small”. It did benefit from some additional conference facilities being created during the pandemic.

Inside the buildings, one junior commented that some of the rooms available for more junior members of chambers aren’t always ideal, with more senior barristers inevitably “reserving the nice rooms”. This isn’t the case across the board, however, with head of chambers, Andrew Singer KC, for example, sharing a room with two barristers of less that five year’s call — not a bad sounding board for any tricky issues or matters you might have! Beyond the rooms, the library, clerking and staffing are all described as both “excellent” and “exceptional”.

The set took on a whopping six pupils across its three locations last year, with a pupillage package worth £75,000 including guaranteed earnings of £25,000. Training at the set comes highly-rated. The first six is described as “very good preparation” with a focus on shadowing and then working for “very friendly” colleagues, including Kings’ roster of 22 KCs, one of the best collections of senior lawyers outside London. During the second six, rookies can find themselves in court “up to three times a week.” All offers of pupillage are made with a view to tenancy.

Kings Chambers emphasises on its website that it has a focus on equality and diversity, and welcomes candidates “from all backgrounds” and “sectors of the community”. Indeed, in September 2021, alongside Cornerstone Barristers, Field Court Chambers, Francis Taylor Building, and Landmark Chambers — all other specialist planning, property and public law sets — it launched a mentoring scheme for underrepresented groups at the bar. The set says that it is looking to develop barristers with an “uncompromising attitude to quality and client service”. The set also takes part in the 10,000 Black Interns programme, the Bar Council Mentoring Scheme, and the Pembroke College Oxford outreach programme.

Kings Chambers recruits through the Pupillage Gateway. After application sifting, first-round interviews take place, which are conducted by at least two members of chambers and last around 15-20 minutes. The second-round interview is more extensive and takes place in front of a panel, typically including at least one KC. Candidates are normally asked to deliver a presentation to the panel on a topic of their choice. They may also be expected to provide a submission in respect of a problem provided in advance of the interview. Kings Chambers states that it is not looking for the “finished article” — it is the purpose of pupillage to produce this. The set is, however, looking for candidates with “the potential to become excellent barristers”.

The pupillage experience

I was always of the view that to do the top tier commercial work, one had to be in London. However, once I began my role as a paralegal in London, I noticed some big-hitting names based outside the city having a seriously interesting commercial practice.

I went on to choose Kings Chambers for pupillage as I was keen to have a practising second-six and begin developing my own court practice. Many other commercial chambers that I had applied to didn’t offer this and if they did, the chance of being in court was a rarity. At Kings Chambers however, I was made aware very quickly that during your second-six you will be in court roughly three days per week. As somebody who prefers advocacy, this was a key selling point.

During pupillage, I was fortunate enough to have an interesting mix of work and two top-tier supervisors. During first-six I spent time shadowing my supervisor in complex High Court trials, sports litigation, international dispute resolution and arbitration. At the same time, I saw a great deal of ‘junior’ work in the County Courts with lower value commercial cases — the exact mix you can expect to be involved in during your early years.

In second-six, I was in Court immediately from the first day. My caseload was varied from the get-go with insolvency, property, commercial and company cases. Whilst it took a while to get familiar with the pace of learning and preparing, I thoroughly enjoyed my second-six and by the end of pupillage I felt the nerves really start to ease.

The transition from pupil to tenant

The transition was smooth and largely unnoticeable. By the end of second-six I became more confident in making tougher decisions and with my drafting ability — ultimately what you have spent the past year training for.

The clerking team and all of Chambers also made the process very easy and ensured that even in my first few months of tenancy I had the support I needed to kickstart my career. To this day, two years in, there are still times that I pick up the phone to more senior members of Chambers and ask for advice — that’s the real benefit to being a member of a Chambers that wants to see all members thriving.

What is your practice like now?

I’m fortunate enough to have a busy practice. On average, I am in Court three days per week and I typically have at least 2-5 pieces of drafting on the go at any time. Of course this varies during certain periods, but I would say for me this is a manageable caseload.

Regarding working hours, I usually work between 8:30am and 7pm – that is however because I choose to work those hours — I know colleagues who manage their practice within the traditional 9-5 model. During heavier periods where I may have back-to-back trials, I can end up working the odd weekend or evening, although because I can anticipate this better, it has become easier to manage.

I would say that I also have a good work/life balance. One of the main reasons for me choosing a career at the Bar was the flexibility that comes with being self-employed. Whilst it’s not always easy to apply the brakes, it’s great to be able to manage your own time doing what you love.

What is the culture of chambers?

At Kings Chambers, we are generally quite relaxed in how we approach our relationship with colleagues and our practice. Everybody works incredibly hard and at times the practice can be intense, although the clerking team and support staff do a great job in making sure that our practice is as smooth as possible. Having a good relationship with the clerks is essential in any Chambers and at Kings we treat everybody with respect.
Considering support with one’s career, Kings Chambers exceeds all expectations. Whether it is simply popping into a more senior member’s room for a chat about a case or calling a colleague for urgent assistance at the door of the courtroom, everybody is happy to help, from pupils all the way to the premier league silks.

In terms of the social life, Chambers regularly hosts a number of events throughout the year. Each month there is a members’ lunch which is well-attended. More recently, we have seen initiatives at the junior end with ‘junior socials’ including barristers, clerks and staff going out for an evening to do an activity like shuffleboard or padel where everyone has a good laugh. Chambers also hosts an annual summer party and silks’ dinner where we all gather to celebrate distinguished achievements and welcome new pupils. We also have a dartboard in the basement of Chambers which is a plus for a Friday afternoon!

Top tips for those wanting to become a barrister/secure a pupillage at your chambers

Really what Kings Chambers is looking for is potential. Nobody is ever the finished article when applying for pupillage, instead it is key to be able to demonstrate that the aptitude exists and the commitment to the practice area you’re applying to is present. At Chambers, the growth is quite organic with a strong focus on developing your own practice from second-six rather than intense in-house training. Chambers wants to see you do well, all you have to do is show us that you have the potential to thrive.