*/
The China sub-committee of the International Committee was pleased to welcome a delegation of nine office holders from the Tianjin Bar Association to London on 7 December. The Bar Council established a good relationship with the Tianjin Bar during a visit to the city in 2008 where it conducted a seminar on environmental law for an audience of about 100 local lawyers. The delegation was interested in strengthening the relationship between the Tianjin Bar Association and the Bar Council, learning about chambers management, meeting with some law schools interested in training young Chinese lawyers. To this end the delegation had meetings with Desmond Browne QC, BPP Law School, as well as a lunch with barristers in Lincolns Inn and a meeting at 39 Essex Street Chambers to learn more about the management of a commercial set.
The China sub-committee of the International Committee was pleased to welcome a delegation of nine office holders from the Tianjin Bar Association to London on 7 December. The Bar Council established a good relationship with the Tianjin Bar during a visit to the city in 2008 where it conducted a seminar on environmental law for an audience of about 100 local lawyers. The delegation was interested in strengthening the relationship between the Tianjin Bar Association and the Bar Council, learning about chambers management, meeting with some law schools interested in training young Chinese lawyers. To this end the delegation had meetings with Desmond Browne QC, BPP Law School, as well as a lunch with barristers in Lincolns Inn and a meeting at 39 Essex Street Chambers to learn more about the management of a commercial set.
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