There is also an unusually large number of QCs on the move. Fountain Court Chambers scooped up 11 King’s Bench Walk’s (11 KBW) Charles Béar QC after an almighty row over where 11KBW should move. Béar was apparently on the losing side of the argument.

Despite, or perhaps because of, his strong opinions, Béar is a good hire for Fountain Court. He has an established commercial and employment practice and joins a growing roster of young silks at the magic circle set.

Another silk on the move was Jonathan Fisher QC, who left 18 Red Lion Court to join McGrigors’ tax litigation and regulatory department. Fisher’s departure marked a rare loss of a silk into a solicitors’ firm. However, unlike Murray Rosen QC and Ian Gatt QC, who together set up Herbert Smith’s in-house advocacy unit in 2005, Fisher is not in place to provide advocacy services, but rather to develop his practice in a different direction.