Merged chambers gets all mod cons

CENTRAL heating and showers are among the new facilities barristers in a newly merged chambers can enjoy since moving into their refurbished home.

Fergus Mitchell's 2 Dr Johnson's Buildings set is an amalgamation of his former 3 Dr Johnson's Buildings chambers and 4 King's Bench Walk.

The merger took place some time ago, but the set has had to wait until now before the joint move into its new home to allow the Inns of Court time to refurbish it.

Barrister Frances Hastings, who helped co-ordinate the chamber's move, is pleased with the modern facilities which include, for the first time, central heating alongside up-to-date communications facilities.

"We will be able to join the Internet. We are not planning to do it immediately, but that is something that is going to happen," she says.

The 44-tenant chambers describes itself as a busy criminal and common law set.

It occupies three floors of the building and has devised a three-banded rent system ranging from use of the library and conference facilities for 15 junior barristers, to individual rooms for the most senior barristers.