Welsh merger creates 40-tenant set

Welsh chambers 32 Park Place and Newport Chambers are to merge from 1 September, making it the largest set in the Principality.

In yet another sign that regional chambers believe consolidation is the surest way to survive, the merger will create a 40-tenant set.

The merged set, to be called Temple Chambers, will continue to operate from two sites in Newport and Cardiff.

David Aubrey QC will head up the new set. It is now larger than three sets at 9, 30 and 33 Park Place.

The 33 Park Place set has profited from some of the inevitable fallout of the merger, acquiring five new tenants, to bring their number to 38.

Criminal barristers Alan Troy and Andrew Taylor have joined from Newport Chambers, and family practitioner Helen Edwards has joined from 32 Park Place.

Bryan Thomas, formerly of Gower Chambers, has also joined and Heather Pope, who practises at London set 1 Mitre Court, has become an associate tenant.