Hardwicke hire kicks off insurance drive

Frew joins the set from Lloyd’s of London underwriter Markel International, where she was deputy claims manager.

Hardwicke chief executive Ann Buxton said: “Vivien will bring tremendous depth of knowledge about the insurance market with her.”

Hardwicke unveiled a dramatic restructure in May, bringing in Matrix ­Chambers practice director Amanda Illing to drive through the changes. This included installing client divisions with practice directors as opposed to clerks.

The aim, head of ­chambers Nigel Jones QC said, was to break into The Lawyer’s top 20 sets by ­revenue within five years.

In September the set parted company with its two former senior clerks, Danny O’Brien and Kevin Mitchell.