London sets merge to form planning leader
By Angus Leslie Melville
September 10, 2002 at 05:34 AM
2 minute read
Eldon Chambers and 4 Breams Buildings have agreed to merge, creating a 52-tenant London set.
On Monday (9 September) the two chambers announced the tie up, which forms the largest set specialising in planning work in the UK.
The 15 silk set, which will operate under the name of Landmark Chambers, will also boast one of the largest property and public law teams in the UK.
Landmark will be led by current head of 4 Breams, Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC, along with the two current heads of Eldon Chambers, Patrick Clarkson QC and William Hicks QC.
4 Breams senior clerk Stephen Graham, will head the clerking team.
Landmark is currently looking for new headquarters to house the combined chambers under one roof. In the interim, the administration of both sets will be based at 4 Breams.
Graham told Legal Director's sister title Legal Week: "Already the signs are there that the other two areas of specialisation [property and public law] are strengthening in the wake of the merger."
At the same time as the merger announcement, Landmark has also taken on property specialist David Holland, who will join from 29 Bedford Row, and pupil Tim Buley who starts as a tenant next month.
However, both sets have suffered a number of losses in recent months, the most senior of which was John Howell QC who left 4 Breams last year for top public law set Blackstone Chambers.
Breams also lost Lord Kingsland QC to Robin Purchas QC's 2 Harcourt Buildings in May.
Eldon departures include Martin Edwards, John Pugh-Smith, Richard Harwood, Steven Tromans and Christian Zwart who joined 39 Essex Street. In addition, William Upton joined 6 Pump Court, and Anthony Rumbelow QC left for the Bench.
Last year Eldon unsuccessfully attempted to secure a merger with 2 Mitre Court Buildings.
Planning lawyers gave the merger a positive reaction. Berwin Leighton Paisner joint head of planning Ian Trehearne said: "It will create a very strong force. They will be able to market themselves as a very attractive place for planning solicitors to instruct and they will be able to attract the biggest instructions."
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