Gray's Inn set looks to future with Verulam Buildings move

COMMERCIAL set 3 Gray's Inn Place has moved to a new home at 3 Verulam Buildings.

The set, which has changed its name to match its address, says its new home in the freshly restored Gray's Inn building is larger and better equipped that its old premises.

The Verulam Buildings chambers now boasts a fibre optic-linked computer system which will allow access to email, Lexis, Link and Lix systems. It is also hoped the extra space will allow for expansion.

Since 1981, when the chambers moved from the Temple to 3 Gray's Inn Place, the number of barristers at the chambers has nearly tripled from 17 to the current 45.

The move coincides with the appointment of three QCs at the set: Janet Turner, Ali Malek and the Bar Council's treasurer Michael Blair, who is an associate member.

The set is also about to appoint James Crawford, Whewell Professor of International law at Cambridge, as a full-time member of the set.

Crawford will bolster the set's international law team.

John Jarvis QC, current chair of the Commercial Bar Association, said of Crawford: "He is a pre-eminent practitioner in this area, with a huge case load of work in international courts and arbitrations."