4 Pump Court silks target Hong Kong with arbitration launch

Readers' comments (25)

• Anonymous | 23-May-2012 11:28 am

  But if that works surely one can expect all commercial sets of barristers (or at least those who can credibly offer internationasl Arbitration specialists) to follow 4 Pump Court's lead?

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• interesting.... | 23-May-2012 11:31 am

  I can see that it may give them a better entry into China work. It may also be thought that they are getting in on a wave of increased work in Hong Kong, given that the government there appears to be getting keener to devbelop it as an Arbitraion centre in competition with Singapore.

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• Anonymous | 23-May-2012 12:30 pm

  This appears to have been a long term approach. For the last two years this set has really ramped up its profile in Hong Kong: it is now obvious that it was done for a purpose. Long term planning and bold moves like this from barrister chambers - and particularly from its more junior silks - is uncommon. The bar could do with more of this and with less complaining about its lot.

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• Anonymous | 23-May-2012 12:48 pm

  I don't think anyone from 4 Pump Court has ever been heard complaining about their lot...I certainly hope not, anyway.
  
  A good move into a good market, best of luck to them all.

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• hong kong view | 23-May-2012 1:41 pm

  I agree with the comment that it all depends on the quality of the Advocates. The bar here is expensive but there is a lot of good quality. Brannigan QC from 4 Pump Court is recognised as being a star and a lot of people will be keen to instruct him as advocate in Engineering and Energy Arbitrations. Moger QC is known as an arbitrator, and has been in the Courts here a lot in more purely commerical disputes. I suspect he will market himself more as an Arbitrator than an advocate.The others are less well known here and will need to do more work to establish a reputation.

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• Anonymous | 23-May-2012 1:52 pm

  At least they won't be jailed for it (probably) like they would if setting up in Kurdistan.

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• twitter follower | 23-May-2012 1:59 pm

  Brought to this story by the twitter feed which "sells" it!
  Its an interesting one as much for what it doesnt explain as what it does: why are these six silks "going it alone" with this venture? Why isn't 4 Pump Court as a whole doing it? is this an early example of the bar responding in a wholly new way with an ABS? If so its really very interesting indeed, and a sign of the future.

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• Hong Kong Luncher | 23-May-2012 2:10 pm

  Speaking as a Hong Kong solicitor this can only be a good thing as it will encourage all other UK barrister chambers to fly out to Hong Kong and buy me lunch and possibly dinner to convince me not to send all the work to the barristers bothering to make the effort and set up a base here.

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• overfed | 23-May-2012 2:23 pm

  Why is this such a story? Who cares? More rich barristers looking to make more money, now overseas. Ho hum. What good does it do society?

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• Anonymous | 23-May-2012 2:24 pm

  Re twitter follower | 23-May-2012 1:59 pm
  
  I hardly think that 4Pump Court will be the set to embrace ABS nor will any other set at the Inns seeing as it isn't really an option without them first becoming proper incorporated structures.
  The fact is that barristers are struggling to deal with the new economic climate. While the select few are billing £3k hourly rates others are struggling to find work at all in the shrinking London market. The barristers who have built international practices are the ones who will keep the work rolling in.

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