11 King's Bench Walk loses Mehigan to former chambers

Simon Mehigan QC has left 11 King's Bench Walk after four months to return to his former chambers.

The leading employment, fraud and licensing specialist left 5 Paper Buildings in March to join the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine's former set, but has now gone back to 5 Paper Buildings.

In March, The Lawyer reported that Mehigan had found the decision to leave the chambers agonising, but King's Bench Walk made him an offer he could not refuse. He had been at 5 Paper Buildings for 18 years.

Mehigan says that his long tenancy was a decisive factor. "I liked the people at 11 King's Bench Walk but I have a loyalty to my old chambers," he says, refusing to comment further.

11 King's Bench Walk senior clerk Philip Monham confirms the departure but is also reluctant to comment on Mehigan's sudden move.

In December last year the chambers lost first junior clerk Nicholas Hill to 3 Verulam Buildings, and One Essex Court poached commercial silk Richard Field QC and senior junior Siobhan Ward soon after.