Instruct Us
Who Can Instruct
We receive instructions from a wide range of clients, including UK and international law firms, in-house legal departments and overseas lawyers. Members of Chambers accept work directly under the Public Access rules from professional organisations and corporate clients.
When instructing a barrister, your first point of contact will be a member of our experienced clerking team. Our Senior Clerk and his team possess an unrivalled knowledge of the specialist practices of each member of Chambers and are happy to assist in all matters of suitability, availability and fees.
Professional Fees
The clerking team work with the barristers to provide fees estimates and budgets for each instruction. Whilst we charge competitive market rates commensurate with the service provided we are always willing to discuss the way our fees are structured in order to find a solution that works.
When calculating Counsel's fees, each member of Chambers has an hourly rate which takes account of the market rates and the individual barrister’s skills and experience. The hourly rate for a particular case or a specific piece of work will normally be agreed in advance and also takes into account the complexity of the case. We do accept that there are occassions when a certainty on fees is important and fixed fees can be arranged in certain cases.
Whilst charges for paperwork and advice are based on hourly rates the clerking team are also willing to consider alternative or flexible fee structures depending upon the circumstances of each case, including fixed and capped fees where appropriate.
In appropriate cases the barristers are able to consider certain types of conditional fee and damages based agreements.
Terms of Business
Chambers accept instructions in privately funded matters under The (New) Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorized Persons 2012 (“The New Standard Terms”). The new Standard Terms can be found online here. Hard copies are available upon request.
5KBW is committed to ensuring that work is undertaken by counsel on mutually agreeable terms. If you would prefer to contract on terms which are different from the New Standard Terms, for example COMBAR terms, please contact us at your earliest convenience and we will be happy to discuss terms of work further. Any other terms must be agreed in writing before any work is undertaken.
Booking Policies
The clerking team liaise with our professional and public access clients to book appointments for members of Chambers. They also maintain productive working relationships with all court staff and work to ensure that appointments before judges and tribunals are fixed and booked, for convenient dates and times. Chambers' clerks pride themselves on their ability to make certain the smooth running of every commitment each member has.
Client Confidentiality and Information Barriers
Barristers at 5 King's Bench Walk are self-employed and independent practitioners. Whilst they share the costs of offices and administration they do not share in profits or liabilities. The barristers in Chambers regularly work with other barristers within Chambers. This way of working can offer the client many advantages including diversity in specialisms and efficiency of communication.
It is also common place for barristers in the same set of Chambers to act against each other in a set of proceedings. In circumstances where members of Chambers are acting against each other, the barrister and clerks operate a strict information barrier protocol, which is available on request and can be provided to those instructing and their lay clients.
For more information regarding any of the above, please contact a member of the clerking team by email.
