Barclays looks to forge law firm-style relationships with the Bar

Barclays' in-house litigation team is tightening its relationships with the Bar, with the bank asking select chambers for flexible billing arrangements and value-added services.

The banking giant is calling on chambers to take on work using alternative billing arrangements such as conditional fee agreements (CFAs) and fixed fees, as well as providing additional services such as secondees and dedicated client teams in return for more work.

The unusual move, which has already seen Barclays strengthening links with sets including Fountain Court and 3 Verulam Buildings, is evidence of corporate clients trying to build more sophisticated, chambers-level relationships with the Bar.

Barclays is in talks with six further sets, including Outer Temple Chambers, which has already signed up to provide training to in-house counsel on criminal law next year. The sets are expected to present proposals to Barclays' director of litigation and special investigations Jonathan Peddie.

Peddie, who is spearheading the initiative and plans to put most of the schemes in place this year, stressed that, unlike the bank's relationships with law firms, there will be no fixed panel or contracts in place. The non-exclusive relationships will see chambers agree to a set of principles.

Peddie said: "We are talking to chambers about a more sophisticated utilisation but it's not a closed list. It's about developing stronger client-focus cultures within chambers, concentrating work where we already have strong relationships and making fuller use of innovative sets we don't know well enough. It's value-driven, not about costs. Cost advantages naturally flow, but only if you treat a relationship as something to grow on a two-way basis. We are asking sets what they can do for us."

Commenting on Barclays' move, Fountain Court's director of clerking, Alex Taylor, said: "This is an innovative initiative from Barclays, which has started to progress into building more sophisticated relationships with the Bar. It is an exciting project for us because I feel we can learn so much from such a good client. This experience will help us not only with our highly-valued relationship with Barclays, but with other clients as well."

Last year Barclays' in-house litigation team clamped down on value from its advisers, pushing panel solicitors for more flexible billing arrangements and seeking top-level secondees.