Member Article

Barristers chambers on the move

Liverpool’s St John’s Buildings Chambers is relocating from India Buildings, Water Street, to 38 Vernon Street.

The India Buildings base is rented from Green Property. The St John’s Building Chambers acquired the freehold for 38 Vernon Street several years ago with a view to occupying more space in its own property.

The Vernon Street location has been redeveloped to create a purpose-built space for barristers and clients.

It is situated directly opposite the Liverpool Civil Justice Centre.

The new chambers, which will open on 31 January, will house 54 barristers.

Meanwhile, Exchange Chambers, which also has its headquarters in Liverpool, is reducing overheads in the wake of legal aid spending cuts.

Its Manchester operation is moving offices and introducing a room- sharing option to reduce chambers contributions.

The chambers recently acquired four members from St Johns Buildings, barristers Huw Edwards. Philip Parry, David Bentley and Paul Hodgkinson.

The set will relocate from Ralli Court to 201 Deansgate from January, having signed a 10-year lease on 10,000 sq ft on the top floor. The new base includes eight conference rooms and a boardroom.

Chambers director Tim Handley said he was expecting most of the chambers’ 35 criminal barristers to take up hot-desking, adding that barristers could end up paying an even lower rent than the chambers’ average 12 per cent contribution - compared to an average 20 per cent in London.

He said: “The Government’s cut backs to legal aid have had a devastating impact on barristers undertaking publicly funded work.

“As a direct result of the cuts, a high-profile chambers in London has already closed its doors - and more may well follow. To survive and succeed, the bar needs to adapt its working practices.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .