For the judges, Outer Temple Chambers came across as a dynamic, forward-thinking set with a clear strategy, a growing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and a commitment to client care.

High-profile cases include an important decision on corporate and senior officer culpability in the field of regulatory law – HSE v Chargot Limited and Foster Wheeler Ltd v Hanley and others – a decision by the Court of Appeal of industry-wide importance about how benefits should be delivered to pension scheme members whose 'normal retirement date' has at any point been amended.

The set's strategy for growth has a number of facets. It is actively anticipating the introduction of the measures incorporated in the Legal Services Act and is reviewing its business model in the light of the act. As part of this process it has lobbied for changes in the Bar Council's code of conduct to allow it to compete more effectively.

The chambers are also targeting international work, having been the first set to open an annexe in Abu Dhabi. In October 2008, the set recruited the first Saudi lawyer to practise as a UK barrister in London and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the chambers continues a longstanding drive to build its commercial practice. This has included moving its publicly funded criminal team into white collar fraud, regulation, Financial Services Association work, health and safety cases and VAT work.

The chambers also has an active CSR programme. It has created facilities for cyclists, introduced recycling and energy saving initiatives, hosted work experience students from inner city schools, raised money for charity, set up a refugee trainee scheme and undertaken pro bono work valued at over £400,000 in the last two years. It is the only set to be accredited with the 'two ticks' 'positive about disabled people' symbol.

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