London set in crisis as tenants quit

London set Somersett Chambers is losing nearly half its tenants.

The set expanded in August taking on five new tenants and a new senior clerk, Trace Grant.

But three of those barristers, Philip Mobedjii, Luthfur Rahman and Diane Nixon, have already decided to move on.

They are set to join rival chambers 9 King's Bench Walk.

They have been followed by Richard Craven, Robert English, Steven Pidcock, and Grant.

The departures leave the set with only nine tenants.

Similar losses are predicted for many small common law sets throughout the country and may result in a number of smaller chambers closing this year.

Commentators say that the reason for this is the growing competition with solicitors' firms, together with the civil justice and legal aid reforms, which drastically curtail the amount of work outsourced to the bar.