Team of 4-5 Gray's Inn clerks follows barristers to 39 Essex Street

4-5 Gray’s Inn senior clerk Michael Kaplan will join 39 Essex Street today along with Richard Bulaitis, Anthony King and Daniel Perry. Kaplan and his team officially left 4-5 Gray’s Inn on 11 January.

In November 2012 a team of 24 barristers, including seven silks, left 4-5 Gray’s Inn for 39 Essex Street (28 November 2012).

At 39 Essex Street, Kaplan will be joint senior clerk along with Alastair Davidson, who was already in the role at the chambers. Perry joins as a practice manager, while Bulaitis and King join as assistant practice managers.

“We’re delighted that given the fact that 24 members joined us [from 4-5 Gray’s Inn] that their established clerks have joined us, too,” said 39 Essex Street chief executive David Barnes. “We’ve made a big commitment to client service here, and this adds to the strength of our admin team.”

Barnes added that 39 Essex Street has a tighter ratio of support staff to barristers than many other chambers at 3:1, with around 4:1 being the norm.

“The departure of these clerks isn’t something that affects the continuation of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square,” said 4-5 Gray’s Inn’s Timothy Straker QC, who added that the set has around three or four clerks left. Stephen Broom has now moved to replace Kaplan as senior clerk at the set.

News of the departures come as 4-5 Gray’s Inn has been hit by another member departure. Saima Hanif has left the chambers to join Monckton Chambers. Her practice covers financial services, public law, employment and information rights.

“Saima’s membership coincides with an increasing number of instructions received in relation to commercial regulatory challenges so her expertise is very welcome indeed and will provide further added value to our roster of clients,” said Monckton senior clerk David Hockney in a statement.