Instructing A Barrister & Client Service

Dedication to client Service

Being a modern and innovative set that puts client care at the forefront is at the heart of our culture. It is not an add-on.

We recognise that repeat instructions will only follow exceptional work and uncompromising client service and our barristers and clerks strive to provide just that.

“Friendly, commercial and always willing to help out. One of the best clerked sets in London.” – Legal 500

The first point of contact should be our clerking team, led by senior clerk and CEO Lizzy Stewart. Our clerks will be able to advise you on choosing the most suitable member of chambers, efficient case management and fees.

Our barristers are regularly instructed to appear at all levels of the civil court system in England and Wales, from the County Court to the Supreme Court but the work we do is not limited to the Courts of England and Wales and domestic tribunals; many members are experienced in working with lawyers and clients in different jurisdictions and will often travel across the globe to advise or represent clients.

It is often the case that members of chambers appear on different sides in the same litigation or act for different parties in related matters and we have stringent procedures in place to ensure that effective information barriers are in place when that happens.

Please contact the clerking team via telephone (+44 20 7822 2000) or email for more information (clerks@4newsquare.com).

Members of Chambers welcome instructions from many professions and bodies who are entitled to instruct barristers under the “Licensed Access” arrangements. More information about this, including the lists of qualifying professional bodies and organisations can be found on the Bar Standards Board website. Further information on instructing a barrister generally can be found on the Bar Council website.

Members of Chambers who have been approved by the Bar Standards Board to accept work under the Public Access Scheme can be instructed without the need to retain a solicitor. Information about who has been approved by the Bar Council can be obtained from the clerks. The terms on which barristers are able to accept instructions under the Public Access Scheme can be found on the Bar Standards Board website here.

Further detail on fees, contract terms and timescales can be found in the sections below.

Much of the work we do has an international element to it and our members are frequently instructed directly by lawyers from other jurisdictions and appear in courts and tribunals all over the world.

A number of our members are instructed to act as advocates and arbitrators in domestic and international commercial and investor state arbitrations and have appeared before a wide variety of tribunals and courts in jurisdictions around the world – including all the main arbitral centres: whether Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mumbai, Geneva, Stockholm, London, Paris or The Hague.

Our barristers are all self-employed but share the services of the clerks and administration with other barristers in a collective called a set of chambers.

For international lawyers, instructing an English barrister is a straightforward process. Our clerks have detailed knowledge of the experience and skills of each of our barristers and will advise you on the best choice of counsel as well as all aspects of efficient case management.

It is often the case that members of chambers appear on different sides in the same litigation or act for different parties in related matters and we have stringent procedures in place to ensure that effective information barriers are in place when that happens.

We are all barristers practising at the Bar of England and Wales. Some of us have been called to the Bar in other jurisdictions.

Each of us is a self-employed sole practitioner and we share the resources of chambers but are not responsible for each other’s work. We are not a partnership and there is no firm practising as “4 New Square”.

It is often the case that members of chambers appear on different sides in the same litigation or act for different parties in related matters and we have stringent procedures in place to ensure that effective information barriers are in place when that happens.

Each member of chambers is regulated by and registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales and can be identified in the register by name. A link to the Bar Standards Board’s Barristers’ Register is available here. This register shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board to ask about this on 020 7611 1444 / ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).

Members of Chambers are governed by the Code of Conduct for barristers published by the Bar Standards Board. The Code of Conduct can be found in the Bar Standards Board Handbook, an electronic copy of which can be viewed here.

Each barrister has professional indemnity insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF). This cover is worldwide subject to the Terms of Cover, accessible here. BMIF is able to be contacted at:

Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Limited
90 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 4ST
T: +44 (0) 20 7621 0405
E: info@barmutual.co.uk

As in any specialist set of chambers, it is common for members of chambers to act on different sides in a case from other members of chambers. Chambers recognises that clients must be able to instruct chambers in absolute confidence that their information will be kept confidential.

To ensure the secure and confidential treatment of information, chambers:

  • has policies for staff and members of chambers containing detailed procedures concerning the treatment of confidential information, including the setting up of information barriers; the policies are kept under regular review;
  • has a system of regular internal training in confidentiality and information barriers for staff and members of chambers;
  • has information security policies that govern the management and security of all electronic devices and hard and soft copy documents

The clerks will be pleased to discuss the setting up of information barriers or other procedures to maintain confidentiality. For more information chambers’ policies and procedures, please contact the Senior Clerk, Lizzy Stewart, who is the compliance officer in relation to confidentiality.

We understand that our clients want clarity about costs.

Our clerking team are experienced at agreeing a variety of fee structures. Most advisory and drafting work is charged on an hourly basis, but estimates or quotations can be agreed in advance and if applicable fixed or capped fees can be agreed. For advocacy work, members of chambers usually charge a brief fee for preparation and the first day of a hearing and a refresher (a fixed fee for each subsequent day of the hearing, including ongoing preparation).  Sometimes fees are fixed in advance or are payable at an agreed hourly rate. On occasions members of chambers agree to enter contingency fee arrangements.

All fees are subject to VAT where applicable.

If you would like an estimate or quotation for work please contact the clerks.

Members of 4 New Square Chambers will accept instructions on either the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020, prepared by the Bar Council, referred to at Rule rC30.9c of the BSB Handbook and available here or on the terms that have been agreed between the professional bodies of the Commercial Bar and city law firms, COMBAR and The City Of London Law Society (CLLS). These are titled the ‘General Terms and Conditions for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Solicitors in Commercial Matters’. A copy of the terms is available here. These terms are the result of negotiation between these bodies and balance the interests of barristers and solicitors.  Members of chambers may limit their liability.

In circumstances where the contractual terms are not countersigned by instructing solicitors the continued instruction of counsel will be deemed to be agreement to the contractual terms provided.  No other contractual terms will apply unless specifically agreed in writing on a case by case basis.

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‘A superbly professional set, supported by equally excellent clerks. They go the extra mile.’

Legal 500

‘Nothing is ever too much trouble for the clerks at 4 New Square.’

Chambers & Partners

‘Led by the ‘first-class’ Lizzy Stewart, the ‘clerks are some of the most experienced and helpful one can have the pleasure to work with.’’

Legal 500

‘A great chambers with great people. The clerks are fantastic and nothing is ever too much trouble.’

Chambers & Partners

If you would like to know more or have a question please talk to our clerks

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