Guildhall Chambers has appointed a new chief executive, with former Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) lawyer Jeremy Sweetland taking up the role last week.

Sweetland has succeeded former chief executive Hamish Munro, who left the chambers earlier this year to join Midlands firm Shakespeares as its chief operating officer.

Prior to joining Guildhall, Sweetland was chief executive of public speaking charity Speakers Trust. He has also previously worked as a fee earner at Eversheds and BLP.

In addition to his role as chief executive, Sweetland will sit on Guildhall's eight-member management committee.

Guildhall head Peter Blair QC said: "We were one of the first chambers to create a chief executive role fifteen years ago, because we saw the importance of having someone in the set that could look objectively at how we should move forwards.

"Jeremy will be responsible for advising on our strategy, marketing and nurturing our business relationships with major clients, and with his previous legal and management experience he is well suited for the job."

The Bristol based set has 73 barristers, including seven silks.

The news comes after Guildhall launched an employment group earlier this month with the hire of a five-strong team from fellow Bristol set Queen Square Chambers.

The employment group adds to the chambers' five specialist areas; commercial, crime, insolvency, personal injury and clinical negligence and property.