Barristers at Maitland Chambers are self-employed and each is registered with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) of England and Wales. They are subject to the Code of Conduct as set out in the BSB Handbook, published on the BSB Website.
The Code of Conduct provides that barristers are obliged under the Cab Rank Rule to accept instructions from a professional client which are on either (a) the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services By Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 as published on the Bar Council’s website or (b) terms which the barrister has published as his or her standard terms of work.
Barristers at Maitland Chambers accept instructions on the Standard Terms, or on any standard terms of work published on their individual profile pages. A copy of the Standard Terms are available here. Our Clerks are available to discuss fees on an individual basis, and quotations for work can be provided on request. Barristers at Maitland Chambers will consider alternative contractual terms, such as the terms agreed between The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR) and the City of London Law Society (CLLS), or variations to these terms. A copy of the COMBAR/CLLS terms are available here. These Terms can be agreed by the solicitor and the barrister completing the front sheet of the Terms and signing it. Guidance notes to the COMBAR/CLLS terms are available here.
Professional and licensed access clients (and where the barrister undertakes Public Access work, lay clients) may contact Chambers to obtain a quotation for legal services using the contact details provided on the Contact Us section of this website. Quotations will usually be provided within 14 days (depending on need and urgency) and in clear and readily understandable terms. However, by providing a quotation this does not amount to the acceptance of instructions. If you accept our quote, we will confirm in writing acceptance of your instructions and the terms and/or basis on which we will be acting, including the basis of charging.
The most commonly used pricing models for legal services are charges by an hourly rate, a fixed fee or an agreed brief fee and refreshers. A brief fee is a fixed fee which covers preparation for a hearing and the first day. A refresher is a fixed fee for each subsequent day of the hearing. Fees will include VAT where applicable. Unless otherwise agreed, Counsel’s hourly rate may be reviewed from time to time, and we will notify you of any proposed increase in the rate.
Barristers at Maitland Chambers may also accept instructions under conditional fee agreements (“no win no fee” agreements) in certain circumstances. For more information, please contact the Clerks.
The areas of law in which Members of Chambers most commonly provide legal services are described on the Expertise section and on the profiles of individual Members of Chambers on this website.
Factors which might influence the timescale of the provision of legal services include the complexity of the matter; the availability of the client, the barrister and any relevant third parties; the volume of documents to review; the need for additional information or documents; court waiting times and the urgency of the matter.
The Clerks would be very happy to discuss alternative contractual and fee arrangements as required.
Some Barristers at Maitland Chambers also undertake work on a Public Access basis. This means that lay clients are able to instruct the Barrister directly, without also instructing a solicitor. For more information, please see the Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients published by our regulator, the Bar Standards Board. For details of barristers at Maitland Chambers who undertake Public Access work, please contact the Clerks for more information.