4-5 Gray’s Inn pushes commercial with 39 Essex St silk

Richard Clayton QC has left 39 Essex Street to join 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.

Clayton, who was made a silk in 2002, specialises in public law work.

4-5 Gray’s Inn senior clerk Michael Kaplan said the set had seen a significant upswing in commercial work in recent months.

“The credit crunch is making barristers sit up and think about what they’re doing,” said Kaplan. “It’s been a very busy August right across the board.”

In October the set will add a further three ­barristers: Edward Helme, Philippa Jackson and Jennie Thelen, who have all ­recently completed their pupillages at the set.

The move comes after fraud specialist David Bedenham arrived from 2 Hare Court.