Beloff opts for Blackstone

Eminent public and sports law silk Michael Beloff QC has defied expectations and is to join Blackstone Chambers. The news ends 14 months of speculation and will be a major blow to Matrix Chambers, which he was expected to join.

It is believed that Beloff received offers from all the leading public law sets apart from Blackstone, but Beloff made the approach himself. Beloff put off joining "human rights" set Matrix as he wanted to see his current chambers, 4-5 Gray's Inn Square, through its merger with Monckton Chambers, which subsequently failed.

But Beloff then changed his mind. In a statement last year he said: "My present intention is to join Matrix, whose major interests in public and constitutional law with international and academic dimensions coincides with my own," (The Lawyer, 1 May 2000). But he has instead opted to return to Blackstone Chambers (then 2 Hare Court),which was where he first practised.

Matrix Chambers says: "We've been aware for some time that there was uncertainty about where Michael wished to continue his professional practice. We wish him well at Blackstone."

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