Commercial chambers Fountain Court is poised to join the growing band of sets with practice managers by appointing its first chambers director .
And The Lawyer understands that Ric Martin, the partnership secretary at City firm Masons, will get the job.
He is believed to have been chosen from 70 applicants for the post, after a vigorous round of interviews which included requiring hopefuls to complete personality profile questionnaire containing 187 questions.
However, Martin did not return calls, and a spokeswoman for Fountain Court strongly denied anyone had yet been appointed to the post.
She stressed that the chambers' clients would be notified of the appointment before any public announcement.
The appointment of a chambers director is a significant move for one of the leading sets at the Bar, which has decided to install a practice manager over the head of its senior clerk.
Barry Down, who was senior clerk for around eight years at Fountain Court, is to leave the set although he will act in a consultancy capacity up to the end of the year.
If appointed, Martin will be expected to promote and market Fountain Court.
