History

Having been established in Gray’s Inn for over 50 years, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has recently undergone a comprehensive programme of restructuring and expansion to build upon its strong reputation as a leading commercial, public and planning law set. Currently headed by Timothy Straker KC and Satinder Hunjan KC, 4-5 continues to be at the forefront of legal services, both in the UK and worldwide. 

Steeped in legal history, 4-5 was founded around 100 years ago and was originally based at 3 Temple Gardens.

In the 1940s and 1950s its Heads of Chambers included Charles Erskine Simes KC (later Recorder of Banbury) and Charles Scholefield KC.  In 1966, headed by Sir Douglas Frank KC (later President of the Lands Tribunal), it became first set to move north to Gray’s Inn when it became known as Gray’s Inn Chambers.

In February 1986, Chambers moved to the current premises at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square. The set was then headed by the commercial silk Richard Yorke KC, who established Chambers’ reputation in banking, commercial and regulatory law alongside its existing reputation in planning and property law. The senior clerk at the time was Leslie Page, who began his career in the 1950s. He had followed Robin Soule, who later became clerk to Sir Graham Eyre KC, Anthony Scrivener KC and many other notable barristers.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Chambers further developed its reputation as a pre-eminent public law set under the leadership of Elizabeth Appleby KC and Michael Beloff KC.

In response to the increasingly international nature of the legal world, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square has more recently been joined by associate members who practice in numerous international jurisdictions and is well placed to provide services in international arbitration and offshore work

2017 saw the establishment of a 4-5’s mediation group comprised of experienced and specialist mediators.  

Chambers has always maintained powerful links with the academia through its Academic Panel and its former members include Professor Sir G H Treitel KC, Sir William Wade KC and Sir David Williams KC.

Former members of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square include:

• Lord Justice Schiemann (later Judge of the European Court of Justice)
• Lord Justice Moses (later Chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation)
• Lord Justice Keene
• Lord Justice Sullivan
• Lord Justice Singh
• Lord Justice Bean
• Mr Justice Collins
• Mr Justice Ouseley
• Mr Justice Lewis
• Mr Justice Kerr
• Sir Douglas Frank KC (President of the Lands Tribunal)
• Charles Erskine Simes KC (Recorder of Banbury)
• Charles Scholefield KC
• Richard Yorke KC
• Michael Beloff KC
• Elizabeth Appleby KC
• Cherie Booth KC
• George Carman KC
• Sir William Wade KC
• Sir David Williams KC
• Sir John Freeland KC
• Lady Hazel Fox KC
• Henry Darwin