Legal aid climate puts paid to Peel Court

Manchester-based common law set Peel Court Chambers, ;headed ;by Northern Circuit leader Richard Marks QC, is to ­disband as a result of the legal aid crisis.
The chambers, which at the time of dissolving had 26 members, had been haemorrhaging barristers, with Exchange Chambers alone taking six in the past three months.

One source close to Peel Court said the set took the decision to close as it felt it did not have the critical mass ;to ;maintain ;a ­chambers that was heavily dependent on legal aid.

“In the current climate it’s generally agreed that you need to have a certain ­number of barristers – more than 50 – to survive,” added the source.

Exchange is to take on Stephen Meadowcroft QC and Tina Landale, while it is understood that St Johns Buildings is in talks to recruit on the remaining 24 Peel Court barristers.