Guildhall hires marketing expert for new CEO role

Bristol-based Guildhall Chambers has hired the business development and marketing director of accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward as its first chief executive.

Prior to working at BDO, Hamish Munro, who joined Guildhall last week, had 15 years of experience in business development and marketing with law firms including Davies Arnold Cooper, Eversheds and Simmons & Simmons.

Munro said that the 61-barrister chambers decided to appoint a chief executive because it wanted to reposition itself in light of the Carter review and Clementi reforms.

"The reforms will be pivotal to the future of all barristers' chambers, and have put the bar at a crossroads, thus leading to Guildhall being at a crossroads," explained Munro. "Guildhall wants to make sure that it has the right commercial appeal and a solid strategy in place with the main challenge being how to grow chambers."

Munro added that the set is gearing up for an extensive recruitment drive.