London set 'proud to be clerkless'

THE NEWEST London set is clerkless, and proud of it.

The chambers, at 95A Chancery Lane, has been set up by barrister Marie-Claire Sparrow with her accountant husband Richard, a non practising barrister.

Marie-Claire Sparrow, called to the Bar in 1977, carries out a wide variety of work for the French community, and has close connections with the French consulate and embassy.

She was based at 2 Middle Temple Lane until she decided to set up her own chambers with the help of her husband.

So far there are just two tenants, but the set is actively seeking more. It is also advertising the services of its "comfortable environment" for overseas advocates or others in need of a door tenancy.

Richard Sparrow, who will run the set and is prepared to help tenants out with their accounts, says it is looking for established barristers who do not need clerks to drum up work for them.

He says: "A clerk is of no significance whatsoever for this set. We're looking for people who have their own work, can do returns, or who simply want to use the facilities and don't want to pay 10 per cent of their earnings to clerks."