Blackstone’s new chiefs target international work

Carss-Frisk and Peto, who will be responsible for ­driving the strategic development of the set, will take over the reins in January.

This comes as chambers face up to the economic realities of a post-recession market where requests for cut-rate deals and panel arrangements are increasingly common.

Human rights barrister Carss-Frisk was called to the bar in 1985 and made silk in 2001. She said there were no immediate plans to change the corporate ­structure of chambers.

That said, she added: “We’ve been ahead of the curve during our past two administrations and we plan to continue that. We’re never going to be closed-minded about the bar - if there need to be changes and clients ask for it, we’ll be flexible to their demands.”

Commercial silk Peto was also called to the bar in 1995 but is a relatively junior silk, having been appointed in 2009.

He said chambers had seen a significant increase in the number of international disputes attracted to London and the aim was to build on that.

“We’re seeing a number of international clients coming to London to litigate,” he commented. “It seems to be coming into fashion. We’re expanding our ­arbitration practice to reflect that. We have Middle Eastern, Russian and Eastern European clients - international work is a growth area.”

Mill and Bealey have led the set for the past seven years.