Features

New Year brings mixed blessings  

‘Men should pledge themselves to nothing; for reflection makes a liar of their resolution.’ – Sophocles 

Forum Chambers is a newly formed commercial set specialising in banking and finance, commercial litigation, insolvency, financial services, property and professional negligence.  

Nigel Pascoe QC reviews the star-studded world premiere of a Paul Temple thriller, staged as a retro radio play for the recent Kalisher fundraising event  

Michael Kalisher QC was an outstanding advocate and a generous, fair and delightful opponent.  

As litigation spend shrinks, Andrew Goodman presents the business case for advocacy in mediation and outlines a new market for barristers  

Members of the Bar are increasingly finding themselves needing, or wishing, to represent clients in mediation, acting not as mediators but as advocates and legal advisers.  

Could depositions be an effective tool in the fight against knife crime and the silence of gang culture, ask Narita Bahra and Sam Main  

Envisage a gangland murder shortly after midnight on a quiet London street when the only witnesses to the crime are other gang members: who will tell us what happened?  

In the second part of Counsel’s report on the role of the Circuits today, we hear from Leaders Paul Lewis QC and Richard Atkins QC on what makes the Circuit structure work and how it meets the profession’s needs  

As the International Law Book Facility celebrates its 10th anniversary, Paul Lowenstein QC and Katrina Crossley explain the origins of the charity, the work it does and how members of the Bar can help  

The International Law Book Facility (ILBF) is a small charity with a big impact.  

Robin Griffith-Jones explores whether religious convictions should still play a part in the debate on assisted dying  

'Oh that the Everlasting had not fixed, His canon ’gainst self-slaughter!' Hamlet I.2.131-2
  

A high octane achievement  

Philip Bartle reviews the most recent concert of the Bar Choral Society 

Jess Campbell provides an overview of pro bono work countrywide, reviews a successful National Pro Bono Week and issues an appeal for Gift Aid declarations  

Since my last column (October 2015), Bar Pro Bono Unit (BPBU) staff have travelled across England and Wales: to the Legal Wales Conference in Cardiff, to the Civil Justice Council and Ministry of Justice meetings in Norwich and Bristol, and given talks in Birmingham, Newcastle and Nottingham, to name but a few.