Barristers head for City firms' more commercial environment

Two more young barristers have left chambers for a City firm - and they have claimed that many of their generation are set to follow.

Rachel Newman, a former pupil at 3 Paper Buildings, and Kevin Pettican, formerly a pupil at 2 Temple Gardens, have joined the litigation department of Warner Cranston.

Newman conceded that it was difficult to be admitted to chambers as a tenant but added that a major reason for her switch was that a solicitors firm offered a more commercial environment in which to work.

She said that while there was always a place for the expert advocate, many young barristers were closely monitoring efforts underway in many City firms to make it easier for solicitors to qualify as solicitor advocates.

Newman, who was highly regarded by her former chambers, suggested stronger city advocacy departments could encourage more young barristers to join solicitors firms.

“It makes it a freer market for people to choose between them,” she said.

Commenting on the moves, Warner Cranston’s business development partner Peter Alfandary added: “Clients appear less and less willing to accept that a divided profession is always in their best interests.”