Forum Chambers is a Commercial Set of Chambers, with particular focus on complex matters involving Financial Services, Insolvency, Professional Negligence, Civil Fraud and Commercial Litigation. 
 
At Forum we believe that teamwork is essential to giving high quality legal advice and excellent client service. Each of our barristers has unique skills and an inimitable style but we work co-operatively to deliver results. We pride ourselves on offering practical commercial advice which is tailored to the particular needs and goals of our clients. We seek to be ahead of the game, able to analyse future trends and to devise strategies to respond. We understand how to handle disputes, whether it’s a single, high value claim or a large volume of similar claims. 
 
Forum has recently achieved some ground breaking Judgments in Civil Fraud and have been involved in complex Litigation involving Financial Services, Insolvency and Professional Negligence. 
 
Forum Chambers acts for small and medium enterprises, large entities, and individuals both in and outside of the UK. 
 
Forum understands the need for flexibility in its working practices, we are able to offer remote conferences and hearing spaces within Chambers, as well as being able to provide in person service facilities, compliant with any government guidelines. 
Legal 500 logo

“Forum Chambers are the chambers of choice if you want specialist boutique banking and financial claims advice and exceptional service from commercially minded barristers, headed up by the excellent David McIlroy.”

The Legal 500, 2023

practice information

Have you already found a solicitor you trust? Excellent. At Forum, we are proud of the strong relationships we are able to build with solicitors so that you have a team of specialist lawyers working together on your behalf to achieve the best results.

Not sure which solicitor to turn to? We would be happy to discuss your problem with you on a no obligation basis, and to give you some options to consider.

Dont know if you need a solicitor? All our barristers at Forum are able to undertake licensed access work and many can do direct access work. If you speak to Conor Fagan or to one of our barristers, well be able to tell you whether your problem is one we can help you with without involving another lawyer.

Worried about the costs of litigation? At Forum, we work closely with litigation funders, ATE insurance providers and costs lawyers to provide solutions which are tailored to your circumstances.

If you want to discuss any of these options, please contact us or speak to Conor Fagan.

Solicitors or other practising lawyers and Licensed Access clients (whether they hold a licence issued by the Bar Standards Board or are a member of a professional body which has been recognised by the Bar Standards Board) looking to obtain a quotation for instructing one of our barristers should contact Conor Fagan on clerks@forumchambers.com or 020 3735 8070.

Members of the public who wish to instruct one of our Public Access qualified barristers should complete our Public Access Enquiry Form. Any queries about our Public Access services should be directed to Conor Fagan on clerks@forumchambers.com or 020 3735 8070.

We adopt a transparent and commercial approach to fees. Our clerks would be happy to discuss the the most suitable pricing models for your case.

Our most commonly used pricing models are hourly rates and fixed fees.For trials, our most commonly used pricing models are brief fees (which may be staged depending on the size of the trial) together with daily refreshers for the duration of the trial.

The most appropriate pricing model will vary depending on factors such as the type of case, the nature of the work required, the amount of work required, and the urgency of the work. 

Our Services and Expertise

The services our barristers can provide include:

  • Oral advocacy, whether in court proceedings, mediation or arbitration
  • Legal advice on issues arising under English law (or the law of other jurisdictions in which members are qualified)
  • Drafting pleadings, submissions and applications for court and arbitral proceedings

 

The expertise of each of our barristers and the services that they can offer are set out on their individual profile pages.

When you instruct one of our barristers, we will aim to agree a timescale for the provision of their legal services. 

Factors which might influence the timescales of the services offered by our barristers include their availability and the availability of the client and relevant third parties, the complexity of the case and the amount of work required, the availability of additional information or documents required, the approach taken by the other side, court waiting times, and any interventions by third parties. 

Many of our barristers are qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Public Access Scheme. 

If you are interested in instructing one of our Public Access barristers, please complete the Public Access Enquiry Form or contact the clerks at clerks@forumchambers.com.

You can find the Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients on the BSB’s website.

Barristers in chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.

You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standard Board’s website.

The BSB’s 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 their policy.

Under the Bar Standard’s Board Handbook and the Code of Conduct contained therein, Chambers is required to invite members of its workforce (staff, barristers, pupils and any assessed mini-pupils) to complete a diversity monitoring form every three years.

Chambers is then required to publish an anonymised summary of the diversity data provided. “Diversity data” means information relating to the following characteristics in respect of an individual:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race (including ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality)
  • Religion or belief (including lack of belief)
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation

The provision of diversity data is optional, and such data is not collected or published without the respondents’ consent. All published data is anonymised. In addition, where there is a real risk that individuals could be identified from anonymised data in respect of any characteristic, no data is published unless all affected individuals consent.

The most recent set of diversity data was collected to 25 January 2021, and the summary was published here on 23 February 2021.

You can find our Complaints Procedure here. It provides information about:

  • Your right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) – the independent body which can help you if you have complained to your lawyer and are not happy with their response;
  • How to complain to the LeO; and
  • Any time limits for making a complaint.

You can also search the decision date on the LeO’s website. The decision data on LeO’s website shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months. In each case, the data shows whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy.