Atkin clerk switches to 39 Essex St director role

39 Essex Street has poached Atkin Chambers' senior clerk to fill the new role of director of clerking.

David Barnes, who has been a clerk at construction specialists Atkin for more than 20 years, will join 39 Essex Street later this year to take up the new position.

He will support chambers director Michael Meeson in furthering the common and commercial set's marketing and business development.

Barnes said the opportunity to move into a set doing more diverse work was attractive. "I wanted a bigger new challenge," he said. "I'm quite excited about the sort of things they're doing."

Meeson said Barnes' reputation had gone before him. "He's immensely respected, he's extremely good and therefore he was a natural target for us."

Barnes' replacement has not yet been decided.