As the Bar's first practice manager, Christine Kings led the way in bringing business leadership skills to chambers. As she begins her new role as commercial director at Outer Temple Chambers, Claire Ruckin looks at the likely challenges that lie ahead

It could have ended it before it began.

Christine Kings' appointment as the Bar's first-ever practice manager in 1990 was marked by a hair-raising journey along the North Circular Road at the hands of then up-and-coming barrister Helena Kennedy.

"On my first day I had to collect £200 from each of the barristers so I could go and buy some desks," recalls Kings, who helped set up Doughty Street Chambers in 1990.

"On my second day, Helena Kennedy (now Baroness Kennedy QC) drove me round the North Circular to Ikea and she had only passed her driving test the day before. I kept thinking – wouldn't it be a shame it I died today?"

History tells that they both survived the experience to play key roles in the establishment of Doughty Street as one of the UK's foremost civil liberties sets.

But while Kennedy remains firmly entrenched at Doughty Street, Kings has made a surprise move to another set of chambers – to take up the role of commercial director at Outer Temple Chambers.

"I left [Doughty Street] because I had been there 17 years and I turned 50 two weeks ago," she says of her decision to take on a new chambers role. "I needed a change. Doughty Street also needed a change. It does a huge amount of legal aid work and the anticipated cuts in fees will have a major impact. The chambers needed someone new at the top who would look at it afresh and steer them through the next phase."

Kings has turned her attention to Outer Temple Chambers, which has doubled in size to 64 tenants over the last five years and plans to continue expanding.

Her appointment came after the set, which has a wide range of practices, including commercial, regulatory, personal injury and crime, called in management consultants Strategy House last year.

Strategy House recommended splitting up the operational running of the practice and responsibility for its strategy. Earlier this year, senior clerk Derek Jenkins was promoted to the new role of business development director.

Kings has taken responsibility for operational issues including finance, technology and human resources.

She is looking to finalise a three-year plan in October. High on her list of priorities is ensuring the chambers' management committee is run like a board of directors rather than a group of barristers. In terms of challenges ahead, Kings points to the need to forge closer relationships with solicitors. A re-branding of the chambers is also on the cards.

She says the Bar has changed dramatically over the years. "There has been a massive cultural change in chambers compared to the past, although I cannot say that all sets have embraced it – some are still in the last century.

"The way that chambers are run is hugely different now. Chambers are much more professional, strategies and performance targets are in place, client care and service is highly important, there are quality standards and policies in place for staff."

She also points to a general improvement in barristers' performance, including speedier brief turnaround times. It is a turn of events that Hardwicke Buildings chief executive Ann Buxton, for one, believes Kings should take some credit for.

Buxton observers: "Christine Kings has certainly been instrumental in bringing a real client focus to what chambers does and she is very passionate about skill levels in staff. I have a great admiration for her."

Fee protests

Members of the profession have spoken out against the government's decision to plough ahead with trial fees before publishing details of a consultation exercise on the issue. The new regime was pushed through by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Jack Straw by means of a statutory instrument on 26 June, a day after the deadline for responses to the consultation.

The findings of the consultation – which drew 77 responses – are due to be unveiled on 1 October, the day the new regime begins.

The scheme is designed to reduce the court system's dependence on issue fees, thereby aligning the fee regime more closely with actual court use. In addition to an allocation fee and a listing fee, court users will be charged a hearing fee of £500 for fast-track cases and £1,000 for multi-track cases. Although the hearing fee will be levied at the listing stage,
it will be either fully, or partially refunded if the case is settled or discontinued depending on how much notice the courts receive.

The costs have been worked out on the basis that the average fast-track case lasts half a day and the average multi-track case lasts just over a day.

Although the government has currently announced a fixed-fee regime, it has made no secret of its desire in the future to charge daily trial fees in a move that it believes would not only apportion court costs more fairly but also encourage cases to settle.

However, plans to pilot daily hearing fees next year have been shelved because of opposition from the profession as well as the judiciary. Daily hearing fees will now be subject to further consultation.

"As a result, any introduction of a scheme is unlikely to take place before 2009," said Straw.

Michael Todd QC, chairman of the Chancery Bar Association, said: "There seem to be conflicting considerations on the issue. On the one hand, in principle we should have a right to a 'free' justice system – justice should not be available only to those who can afford to pay for it. On the other hand, it is the large commercial cases which take up the time of the courts, and they can more readily afford to pay for that service, than can most individuals."

He added: "However, if the government is going to charge commercial organisations for this service, the government may well find those organisations demanding a greater level of service, more effective case management, and to have more say over who hears their case, so as to reduce costs. The jury is still out on this issue."

Paper Buildings takes on nine-strong team

Family law specialists 4 Paper Buildings has taken on a team of nine barristers from rival 9 Gough Square as part of the set's modernisation push.

The nine-member children team, led by Alex Verdan QC, joined the set earlier this week (3 September) bolstering the set to 54 tenants. The other members of the team are John Tughan, Susan Baldock, James Shaw and Sally Bradley – who are all of more than 15 years' call – as well as Oliver Jones, Cleo Perry, Ceri White and Dorothea Gartland.

The expansion comes after the set recently acquired additional accommodation, taking up eight new rooms in 2 Paper Buildings. Both premises are undergoing a refurbishment. The set has also recently launched a new website.

Head of Chambers Jonathan Cohen QC, said: "These new acquisitions are a coup for chambers. We are confident this will reinforce our position as the leading set for children's law and make us a force to be reckoned with in matrimonial finance."

Alex Verdan QC commented: "The whole team is excited about the move. We wanted to be part of a large, highly-regarded specialist family set."