Outer Temple creates link with BVI firm Farara Kerins

Outer Temple Chambers, formerly 35 Essex Street, has taken the unusual step of setting up a formal association with London and British Virgin Islands (BVI) firm Farara Kerins.

The set follows 7 Bedford Row, which set up a similar formal alliance with Jersey-based BakerPlatt Group in October, comprising law firm Baker Associates and consultancy firm Finance Sector Compliance Advisers.

This latest alliance involves the senior partners at Farara Kerins, Gerard St Farara QC and Charles Kerins, becoming door tenants at Outer Temple, with Paul Garlick QC, Richard Lissack QC and Christopher Wilson-Smith QC gaining the same status at the BVI firm. Lissack is currently engaged in the Shipman Inquiry.

The association will provide Outer Temple, which has 46 tenants, with access to Farara Kerins’ commercial and private clients in the US, the UK and Hong Kong.

Lissack told The Lawyer: “Farara Kerins does a lot of Privy Council work, and Gerald Farara wanted a base here to do that. They also do a lot of commercial work which is cross-jurisdictional.”

All three English barristers will be called to the East Caribbean bar in January 2004.

A current East Caribbean Bar Association draft Legal Professionals Bill is proposing the introduction of a practising certificate. This means an English barrister will have to apply before a judge to appear in a BVI court if time has lapsed since their previous appearance.