Alpha Court Chambers | Chancery & Costs Chambers

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Alpha Court Chambers is a Chancery/ Commercial Set based near Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire.

We have no physical chambers' premises. All Counsel work from home, and papers, cheques, etc should be sent directly to each barrister.

All work is carried out under COMBAR's standard terms and conditions, basis A. These can be found here.

With thanks to Warwick Castle for allowing us to take the photos used in this website at their premises.

Members of Chambers are barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

They are governed by the Bar Standards Board Code of Conduct.

Note that the BSB’s Barristers’ Register at https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/regulatory-requirements/the-barristers’-register/ shows (1) who has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Barristers’ Register in accordance with the BSB’s policy.

Contractual Terms

All work is carried out under COMBAR's standard terms and conditions, basis A. These can be found here.

These terms will apply to all instructions and briefs accepted from solicitors and other authorised persons unless other terms have been agreed in writing.

Instructing Us

We aim to make the process of instructing us straight-forward. We understand the need to be flexible and to work together as a team to provide practical solutions. If you would like to instruct one of our barristers, then please contact any of us direct.

Work in England and Wales

We accept instructions from:

Solicitors, other authorised litigators, employed barristers and legal advice centres in England & Wales
European lawyers registered with the Law Society and qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions
Licensed professionals in the UK under the Licensed Access scheme
Where mentioned under the name of individual barristers, members of the public and individuals from other jurisdictions under the Public Access scheme

Licenced Access Under the Licensed Access scheme (formerly ‘Direct Professional Access’)

Barristers accept instructions from professional individuals and organisations licensed by the Bar Council. Guidance on the scheme and a list of licensees can be found on the Bar Council website.

Direct Public Access

If you are interested in instructing one of our barristers via direct access, please get in touch by e-mailing, giving as much information as possible, to One of us will respond to your enquiry. If one of our barristers agrees to accept your instruction through direct access, Identity documentation will be required and Anti-Money laundering checks will be carried out. We will require:

Photographic ID (Driving Licence or Passport)
A recent utility bill at current address (no older than 3 months)

A model of our terms for business on a direct access basis are available on request. Further guidance is available from the Bar Council website.

Fees and Timescales

When instructed on a direct access basis we shall be happy to discuss fees, which are usually based on Counsel’s hourly/daily rate, and agree a fixed fee, which will vary depending on the work required. These fees are likely to be higher if you need a more experienced barrister and/or if your case is particularly complex or urgent.

When instructed on a direct access basis, we shall need to be paid in advance of Counsel commencing work.

A fixed fee means we will charge you a set amount of money for the work required. We will need to agree a fee in advance for each piece of work going forward. In cases other than direct access we are always willing to provide quotations or estimates of fees and a timetable for completing work. Fee quotations or estimates will usually be based on hourly/daily rates. We can also in some circumstances offer a fixed or capped fee for drafting or a hearing. For trials will be provide an estimate of a brief fee based on preparation time and, where appropriate, a daily refresher rate.

The fee may be structured in a way to suit the client, for instance charging agreed fees for preparation of a skeleton argument, for general preparation, and for each day of attendance at court.

Timescales for completion of work can depend on a number of factors, examples being: availability of Counsel and or client; complexity of the matter; and number of papers involved; and will obviously be affected by the volume of other work being undertaken by the barrister concerned. For instance if the barrister is engaged in a two-week trial it may not be possible to complete work within the usual timescale. As a guide, members of chambers expect to complete paperwork within three weeks unless external factors (which will be explained at the outset) prevent this. As regards court work, much depends on the timetables provided by the courts, over which we have no control, and the need to comply with court prescribed timetables. Work required to comply with these timetables has to take priority over other work.