Desirée Artesi of Thomas More Chambers specialises in Privy Council appeals and constitutional and administrative law. She sits on a number of regulatory Tribunals in the professions and industry. She also sits on a number of Boards including the School of Law, Brighton University, and the Editorial Board of Counsel magazine. Desirée is civic minded and is a past candidate for Common Councillor in the Ward of Farringdon Without and a Freeman of the City of London. Desirée is an equity champion on issues affecting Black barristers; and a mentor to young people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds irrespective of race.
It’s been five years since the groundbreaking QC competition in which six Black women barristers, including the 2025 Chair of the Bar, took silk. Yet today, the number of Black KCs remains ‘critically low’. Desirée Artesi talks to Baroness Scotland KC, Allison Munroe KC and Melanie Simpson KC about the critical success factors, barriers and ideas for embedding change
Desiree Artesi meets Malcolm Bishop KC, the Lord Chief Justice of Tonga, who talks about his new role in the South Pacific and reflects on his career
What progress are we making on fair distribution of work? How do we move from intention to action? Desiree Artesi reports from the Bar Conference debate
Colonial anachronism or the highest and most independent legal expertise? A case for constitutional change or a continued and complementary role for the Privy Council? Desiree Artesi analyses the arguments
The multi-faceted barrister bringing entrepreneurial spirit to her life, career and charitable work chats to Desiree Artesi about how we can break more barriers at the Bar
An exit interview with Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar for 2020. Roundly praised by Bar rank and file for her leadership during an incredible year, she takes an unusual breather to talk to Desiree Artesi about the milestone moments of her tenure
By Gifty Edila
Reports from the Annual and Young Bar Conference 2019
We need to have a different conversation if we’re serious about recruiting more black judges: our first non-white High Court judge talks to Desiree Artesi about finding new sources of potential, energising diversity efforts and coaxing out reluctant role models
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
