39 Essex Street in 'advanced discussions' with 30 4-5 Gray's Inn members
London set 39 Essex Street is laying the foundations for an amalgamation with 4-5 Gray’s Inn in a move that will create London’s largest civil set.
It is understood that around 30 4-5 Gray’s Inn members are in advanced talks to join 39 Essex Street with members of the clerking team also expected to join the set.
In coming together the combined chambers will become home to around 124 members with more than 40 silks working across a broad range of practices, including public, commercial and planning law.
39 Essex Street chief executive David Barnes confirmed that discussions were at an “advanced stage” but both sets declined to comment about the specific number of barristers expected to transfer.
The Gray’s Inn set has seen a number of departures in recent weeks, with 11KBW announcing that it had taken a further two members from the set this week (31 October 2012). 11KBW has added David Bedenham, who was called to the bar in 2005, and Heather Emmerson, who was called to the bar in 2009. This comes just a week after it added Charles Bourne and Andrew Sharland.
Landmark Chambers has also benefitted, adding another 4-5 Gray’s Inn silk to its roster, with Philip Coppel QC joining his former setmate Tim Corner QC in chambers (7 November 2012). Last week it was revealed that Landmark had also added Paul Brown QC and Lisa Busch to its membership.
It is understood that talks between 4-5 Gray’s Inn and 39 Essex Street were kickstarted in the summer, with Barnes taking a lead role in the talks alongside 4-5 Gray’s Inn senior clerk Michael Kaplan and Peter Village QC.
Should the talks be successful it will be the first sign of consolidation at the London bar, with one source stating: “It’ll be a big set and they’re both highly regarded. In the area of public law they’ll want to challenge the likes of Blackstone, which are leaders in the field.”
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Readers' comments (11)
Count Dracula | 9-Nov-2012 9:35 am
I'm in "advanced discussions" about where to eat tomorrow night. It could be a pizza.
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TOWIE | 9-Nov-2012 10:52 am
Grays inn Essex Chambers
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Client view | 9-Nov-2012 11:06 am
Biggest is not always best even if a merger comes off. Quality still counts for more at the expert end of the market. Adding some top quality people who fit does make obvious sense and may suggest a more considered approach to managing growth and quality?
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Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 11:54 am
What is unclear is why these guys would want to join 39 Essex Street, the set with the biggest contributions. They might be thinking about saving themselves right now, but they need to remember that they'll be adding quite a large sum to the 39 coffers.
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Chambers meltdown | 9-Nov-2012 12:01 pm
Perhaps what is of more interest is why 4-5 Gray's Inn appears to be falling apart? Is it a massive falling out between senior members? Has management gone loco? Are the clerks in revolt? Have the clients started avoiding the set?
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Bob the Builder | 9-Nov-2012 12:25 pm
There is only one beneficiary if this “merger” goes ahead and that is The Edgar Wallace.
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Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 2:14 pm
" Quality Street "
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Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 2:39 pm
Has anyone contacted the landlord to warn him?
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Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 3:32 pm
Bigger is not always better. The largest sets are not the best as the service tends to compare to that of British Gas or SKY TV. The best service always comes from smaller, more focused sets. I hope they can prove to be the exception.
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Stephen Ward | 10-Nov-2012 9:05 am
Good luck with the project, it sounds very interesting and I'm sure with David Barnes at the helm, it will come together well.
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