Instructing members

Members’ clients

Members advise and represent commercial and individual clients worldwide, including major corporations, financial institutions and funds, insurers and reinsurers, government bodies, states and private clients.

Members take instructions from domestic and overseas firms of solicitors, and from in-house legal teams. In certain circumstances, accountancy practices and other professional firms can instruct barrister members directly under the Licensed Access scheme. Further information as to who can instruct members of Chambers is available on the Legal Information page.

How to instruct

The instruction of members of Chambers is arranged via the clerks. The clerks, led by senior clerk Joe Ferrigno, are happy to assist in answering any queries or questions in relation to instructions or potential instructions.

The legal directories consistently commend Essex Court Chambers’ clerking as among the best, with a customer-focused approach that is outstanding.

The clerks’ room can be contacted by telephone or by email.

Responding to instructions

Members of Chambers always aim to respond to instructions promptly, but timescales will vary from case to case, depending on factors such as the nature and complexity of the instructions, the volume of documentation involved, and the barrister’s existing commitments. Where members of Chambers are instructed to appear as advocates, lead times for hearings will also depend upon such matters as preparation of evidence, Court, waiting times, the availability of arbitrators, and the commitments of lawyers acting for other parties. Please discuss any specific time constraints with the clerks.

Where do members act?

Within England and Wales, members of Essex Court Chambers regularly appear before all divisions of the High Court, including the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as in specialist tribunals and public inquiries. More junior members also appear in the County Courts and Mercantile Courts.

In terms of global presence:

  • Members of Essex Court Chambers frequently act on matters in which at least one party is based outside the UK, and will often travel across the world to advise or represent clients.
  • Members of Chambers appear in the European Courts and in the International Court of Justice, and advise and act in arbitrations that take place across the world.
  • In addition, some members of Chambers can appear in the courts of foreign jurisdictions, including across the Caribbean, in Asia and Australia and in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Legal services provided

Members are leaders in the fields of litigation, arbitration and mediation, and can provide advice, assistance and representation in these areas.

  • Litigation and arbitration: Legal advice and practical assistance at all stages of disputes including advice, pleadings, assistance in case preparation (including inter-party correspondence), written submissions, trials and hearings, cross-examination, oral arguments and appeals.
  • Advice and drafting: Legal advice delivered as a formal written opinion or orally by telephone or in person. Members can be instructed to assist or advise in the drafting of a wide range of commercial agreements and terms.
  • Mediation: Members act in both UK and international disputes.
  • Expert evidence: Expert evidence on English and Singapore law in a foreign court or arbitration.