Mitre Court quintet forms Fleet Street set

FOUR barristers at Mitre Court Chambers have left with its senior clerk, Robert Ruegg, to found a new set.

According to Ruegg, a dispute between him and his former chambers, where he was senior clerk for five years, prompted his move to open Fleet Chambers at 44-46 Fleet Street.

Neither Ruegg nor his former set would comment on the dispute.

The new common law chambers will be headed by criminal specialist James Cartwright, who was called to the Bar in 1968 and was one of Mitre Court Chambers' most senior barristers.

Anthony Montgomery, Hugh Cornford and Andrew Frymann are the other three barristers who have moved from Mitre Court to Fleet Chambers.

They have been joined by former 55-57 Temple Chambers tenant Michael Proctor.

Despite growing competition at the Bar, Ruegg said opening a new chambers had posed few problems especially as it could exploit the fact it had escaped the high rents in the Inns of Court. "We've got a good following of solicitors firms," he said. Ruegg said the set was seeking new tenants.

William Ingleton, who worked alongside Ruegg in the clerking room at Mitre Court Chambers has now been appointed as its senior clerk.