The Legal Cheek View
Gatehouse Chambers, a well-established and modern powerhouse at the bar, has successfully adapted to its recent rebranding and change of location. With 87 juniors and 13 silks, this Gray’s Inn-based set handles a broad spectrum of work but is particularly renowned for its expertise in construction and property law, as well as professional negligence, insurance and commercial dispute resolution.
Other areas taken on by tenants at the set include clinical negligence, personal injury, private client work, costs litigation, and insolvency/restructuring, whilst there is a growing arbitration and alternative dispute resolution practice. It really is a mixed bag! Whether you are more interested in the commercial or the civil side of practice, you have some degree of control over the areas that you gain exposure to during pupillage.
As well as being broad in range, “the work that comes into chambers is of phenomenal quality”, according to one junior tenant at the set. Another former pupil explains that “the work in chambers has improved dramatically in the last five years as our reputation has grown”, with a third agreeing that this “drastic” improvement is still on the up. “No longer do I spend my time on simple county court work and instead I have a hearty caseload of complex matters in all levels of Courts and I am regularly led on trials and appeals in the High Court and above,” our insider tells us.
Big cases worked on have included the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Madonna stage collapse litigation — two people were killed and others seriously injured when a stage being set up for a Madonna concert in France collapsed on them. Juniors can expect to have a variety of court work and paperwork, led and unled work. One junior tells us that they have a “great variety, from cases in my own right, to assisting more senior members on more complex cases”, whilst another adds: “I have a perfect balance of court and paperwork to keep me stimulated”. One junior, who has a “non-traditional practice (by choice)”, speaks of seeing “a range of really fascinating things” including “very high profile work and niche things – both of which genuinely excite me.”
Over the past year cases worked on by tenants have included representing the Leeson family to seek a declaration that Donald McPherson unlawfully killed Paula Leeson in 2017, and tackling in the Supreme Court the issue of secondary victims and psychiatric injury in cases where the claimants witnessed the death of close relatives as a result of the defendants admitted or alleged clinical negligence.
Perhaps most notable, however, is the set’s significant involvement in Skatteforvaltningen (The Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v Solo Capital Partners LLP (in special administration) and others, a case concerning the alleged fraudulent claiming of £1.5 billion of tax rebates. Having already reached the Supreme Court once on a preliminary issue, the high court trial is set to last a full year and includes no less than six tenants at the set, headed up by lead counsel for the main defendant Nigel Jones KC.
What is agreed across the board is that the work is “varied and challenging”, and that “no two days are the same”. One rookie even goes as far as to say that “no two cases I have done are the same” — impressive stuff if variety is your thing.
If tenants ever get stuck on a particular case, they can always turn to their colleagues for support. We are told that Gatehouse is a very, very friendly and collegiate place to work, where there is truly an open-door policy “that means something”. One tenant at the set tells us: “Gatehouse Chambers is probably the most supportive place I have ever worked” while another adds: “I am in and out of people’s rooms constantly”. As one tenant explains: “we truly mean it when we say we have an open door policy and it applies from the most senior to the most junior. We have a host of members only events to try and give members a chance to unwind including games nights, quizzes and dinners”.
Other adjectives being tossed around by our insiders include “truly exceptional”, “wholly supportive and encouraging”, and “really great”. Juniors tell us variously that they “could not ask for more supportive colleagues”, “always feel like there is someone to turn to”, and “could not think of a more supportive environment in which to practice at the bar.” In short, one rookie tells us, “I am lucky to be here”. If there is higher praise for your colleagues we certainly can’t think of it.
The chance to unwind and socialise with fellow tenants is clearly very important at Gatehouse. One junior describes the set as “exceptionally fun and social.” We hear that tenants regularly go for fish and chips in Hall together on a Friday, whilst the monthly chambers lunch is also popular. “I find myself attending at least one event a fortnight,” one insider tells us. “It’s allowed me to get to know colleagues better than I might otherwise”.
The rooftop terrace (more on this later) is said to be a great social place, with junior juniors frequently setting up informal social events. The only complaint? There are “almost too many opportunities to socialise…”.
Of course, there isn’t always time for this. Like at most top sets, views on work-life balance are somewhat more mixed, but tenants generally report that the “practice team are excellent in this regard”. We are told that clerks will encourage people to ease off on work if they think someone is working too hard, with one tenant happily revealing they “never work weekends” unless they have a trial starting on Monday. Praise is also offered for the “very heavy emphasis” that the set up on work life balance during the pupillage year, with the importance of balance “impressed on us”, one junior says. “This is ingrained from day one to try and obtain a balance no matter how elusive it may seem.”
Whether it’s during pupillage or beyond, “there has been no pressure to take on extra work” one insider tells us, with lawyers grateful to the practice managers for “blocking time out after a particularly gruelling trial or busy period”. If it wasn’t already apparent, one junior has happily confirmed for us that the focus on wellbeing is “not just lip service”, and that all staff and tenants “do really care about everyone’s wellbeing”.
Now, more on that rooftop terrace. Gatehouse’s premises is described by jolly juniors as a “fantastic building with modern facilities”. Along with all three roof terraces, other features include air-conditioned rooms, full video conferencing facilities in each of the conference rooms, and a “hub” for members with “exceptional coffee machines”. One Gatehouse insider reveals: “we can even play music through our inbuilt speakers on client floors which make parties much more enjoyable!” The “super plush” digs are best described as “really excellent”, although some members prefer to use “fantastic”, “impressive”, “unmatched”, or “without a doubt one of if not the most impressive buildings at the bar”, whichever you prefer.
With a modern building comes modern tech and IT support. Beyond the party-friendly speaker system, rookies are also pleased with the dedicated IT support, and overall have “nothing negative to say” at all. The presence of external backup and cyber security provisions are also warmly appreciated, although most issues seem to be resolved by the in-house team.
Previously called Hardwicke Chambers and based in Lincoln’s Inn, the set’s reputation for modernity came about after it rebranded upon discovering that its namesake, Lord Hardwicke, was one of two authors of the Yorke-Talbot opinion of 1729, which was relied upon as providing legal justification for slavery. Then joint head of chambers, Brie Stevens-Hoare KC, commented to us at the time: “the discovery of the provenance of our business’ name did not sit comfortably with our values as an organisation, or the inclusive and diverse nature of our people and our clients. We have spent many years building up a reputation for excellence, innovation and diversity. We are proud to move forwards with our new name which accords with who we are as an organisation”.
Gatehouse Chambers looks to recruit two pupils per year. They will have three pupil supervisors over the course of the 12 months. During the first six, pupils will shadow their supervisors and work on their cases, as well as completing work for other members of chambers. They can expect to draft documents and attend court and client conferences. In the second six, pupils will begin taking on their own cases and can expect to be on their feet. Pupil work usually comes from possession actions, property related injunctions, bankruptcy, winding up petitions, and small claims trials. There is a generous pupillage award of £75,000 on offer. One former pupil and current tenant says the “training programme is second to none”, adding that “as well as extensive training for pupils we also host internal training days for members on substantive topics as well as topics such as marketing, judicial careers, taking silk and how to be an effective junior”.
Extra advocacy training and sessions focussing on cross-examinations and expert evidence are also on the cards, as are regular lunch learning sessions on substantive legal issues as well as life at the bar, managing finances, and business development. Across the board it is agreed that the training is “great”, “well structured, thoughtful and varied”, and is “excellent quality”, both during pupillage and beyond.
Those looking to apply for pupillage at Gatehouse should make their application through the Pupillage Gateway. Around 40-50 hopefuls will be invited to a first-round interview, which will include a legal problem. Those scoring highest will be invited back to a second-round interview. Gatehouse is looking for pupils who are not only excellent lawyers, but also have the stamina, motivation, and mind-set to succeed and bounce back from the inevitable knocks that come with being a barrister.
Gatehouse Chambers’ corporate responsibility programme is one of the most well developed at the bar and is something it takes seriously. The set is part of a plethora of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, including Bridging the Bar, Pathways to Law, FreeBar, and COMBAR’s mentoring scheme. Gatehouse Chambers member Morayo Faborun Bennett is a founding member of All Rise, an initiative which aims to create a better culture at the bar. If that wasn’t enough, PJ Kirby KC, is also famed for his annual charity pop-up restaurant.