Essex Court Chambers has appointed Richard Jacobs QC and Graham Dunning QC to co-head the chambers as Gordon Pollock QC steps down after 21 years in the role.

Jacobs and Dunning took over the role on 21 June, while Pollock will remain in full time practice at Essex Court Chambers.

In 1994, the Chambers became the first major commercial set to leave the Temple, with Pollock overseeing the move to 24-26 Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Under Pollock's leadership the chambers has grown to 82 members – with the core focus on advocacy and advice in commercial litigation and international arbitration.

Jacobs said: "Essex Court Chambers has been tremendously served by Gordon Pollock. Many members of chambers have been fortunate to work on cases with Gordon, who is one of the most outstanding commercial barristers of his generation, and whose skills as an advocate and in litigation have been supreme. All members have benefited from his leadership of chambers over so many years."

Pollock has acted on a number of high-profile cases including the epic battle between BCCI against the Bank of England following the collapse of BCCI back in 1991.

Meanwhile Thirty Nine Essex Street has appointed Neil Block QC as joint head of chambers alongside Stephen Tromans QC. Block takes over from Robert Jay QC, who was appointed to the High Court Bench earlier this month. Jay was lead counsel to the Leveson Inquiry.

Block was called to the bar in 1980 and took silk in 2002. He specialises in personal injury and clinical negligence as well as commercial and insurance. He is top-ranked by Chambers and Partners.