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Messrs Barrs of the Bar
Dear Editor
Whilst I’m sure the incidence of “nominative determinism” amongst members of the legal profession had more to do with the date of the article (“In the name of the law” Counsel April 2009 pp 16-18) than with hard scientific fact, I feel Christina Michalos’ list would be incomplete without mention of the three Messrs Barr of the Bar.
To date, we have not all appeared together in the same case though we came close at Peterborough Crown Court when Mr P Barr represented a defendant (one Mr Barr) who was prosecuted by Mr E Barr—much to our regret His Honour Judge Barr did not sit at that court centre!
Peter Barr, The Chambers of Michael Hubbard QC, One Paper Buildings
The first employed silks
Dear Editor
In the April issue you say: “Two employed barristers were successful … the first ever employed barristers to be appointed” (see Counsel April 2009 “Silk success for women and employed Bar”, p 4). Counsel is usually exactly correct but in this case I am afraid not and I thought I should write to point it out.
I was myself appointed in 1981 after I had left the Bar to become Chief Legal Adviser at Lloyds Bank. I was not the first nor the last employed barrister appointed, although there has been a gap of several years so that the present news is very welcome demonstrating that advocacy skills in court are no longer the sole test for appointment.
Derek Wheatley QC, MA (Oxon), Richmond
To date, we have not all appeared together in the same case though we came close at Peterborough Crown Court when Mr P Barr represented a defendant (one Mr Barr) who was prosecuted by Mr E Barr—much to our regret His Honour Judge Barr did not sit at that court centre!
Peter Barr, The Chambers of Michael Hubbard QC, One Paper Buildings
The first employed silks
Dear Editor
In the April issue you say: “Two employed barristers were successful … the first ever employed barristers to be appointed” (see Counsel April 2009 “Silk success for women and employed Bar”, p 4). Counsel is usually exactly correct but in this case I am afraid not and I thought I should write to point it out.
I was myself appointed in 1981 after I had left the Bar to become Chief Legal Adviser at Lloyds Bank. I was not the first nor the last employed barrister appointed, although there has been a gap of several years so that the present news is very welcome demonstrating that advocacy skills in court are no longer the sole test for appointment.
Derek Wheatley QC, MA (Oxon), Richmond
Messrs Barrs of the Bar
Dear Editor
Whilst I’m sure the incidence of “nominative determinism” amongst members of the legal profession had more to do with the date of the article (“In the name of the law” Counsel April 2009 pp 16-18) than with hard scientific fact, I feel Christina Michalos’ list would be incomplete without mention of the three Messrs Barr of the Bar.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
