Farrar's Building > London, England > Set Profile

Diversity

Farrar’s Building is committed to actively promoting equality and diversity at the Bar. We demonstrate our commitment through a variety of initiatives, for example:

• We have in place a comprehensive Parental Leave Policy which we take a great deal of pride in. It is one of the most supportive polices in place at the Bar.
• We actively encourage flexible working, allowing our members and staff the ability to work away from our London office. We realise that everyone associated with Farrar’s has very different personal circumstances, so we entrust everyone with the freedom to work remotely to ensure that the rigidity of purely office-based working does not make their lives unnecessarily difficult.
• We support non-profit and community organisations that promote diversity, inclusion and education at the Bar from underrepresented groups, for exampleupReach. A recent example of this is Farrar’s hosting a student for a week in July via the upReach programme, which seeks to create the conditions for undergraduates from less-advantaged backgrounds to access and sustain top-level graduate jobs. This placement followed on from a workshop delivered via upReach to students with volunteers from Farrar’s in 2021. We are also looking at ways we can support other organisations, such as Bridging the Bar and 10,000 Black Interns, and Inner Temple with Discovery Days for Schools.
• We are completing a race equality audit to identify and take action in relation to any barriers to race equality within our practice, including by: (a) engaging with members of chambers and staff from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds ; (b) analysing available data on recruitment, work allocation, ethnicity pay gaps and opportunities for development and progression; and (c) critically analysing our procedures for recruiting, retaining and supporting the progression of barristers and staff from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• We actively encourage applications from people within underrepresented groups at the Bar – members or staff – in our recruitment promotional materials, for example clerking roles, pupillage, probationary tenancies or lateral recruits.
• We are considering adjustments to our mini-pupillage programme, for example funded mini-pupillages to broaden our reach within communities where financial support is necessary for individuals to take advantage of such an opportunity.
• We have frameworks in place to assess, and if necessary, address inequalities in income/work distribution by race or gender.

Client Testimonials

CLIENT: Andrew Pieri
COMPANY/FIRM: Keoghs LLP
TESTIMONIAL:

I can put hand on heart and say that Farrar’s from the ground up are truly exceptional in the service they provide solicitors. I have instructed Chambers from the very start of my career and have never been let down once.

John Meredith Hardy is one of the best commercial counsel I have come across. He is truly exceptional with a deep understanding of insurance law. He has a keen eye for detail and leaves no stone unturned in his quest for an answer to a client’s problem. He is simply the best.

Carwyn Cox is a hidden gem. He is very client focused, demonstrates empathy with the client and is a good problem solver. He is a very safe pair of hands who you can trust to guide and look after your case in your clients’ best interests.

Farrar’s are a brilliant set of chambers with a brilliant set of counsel. I and my colleagues at Keoghs will continue to instruct Chambers for the future, that I am sure.

CLIENT: Lindsey Bartling
COMPANY/FIRM: Clyde & Co
TESTIMONIAL:

Relationships with counsel and the ability to have frank and honest discussions are paramount in assisting instructing solicitors and clients to build trust and appreciate the risks in their case. Farrar’s offers this service in abundance, from their very senior counsel through to their pupils, ably assisted by their fantastic team of clerks.

Particular thanks from me for the training seminars that Farrar’s have provided and to the support offered by Hannah Saxena and Lee Evans, who always respond promptly to e-mails and answer queries, and to James Pretsell who took the time to provide invaluable insight and guidance regarding a case recently.

CLIENT: Carole Ward
COMPANY/FIRM: Ward Hadaway
TESTIMONIAL:

I have worked with Farrar’s Building for around 12 years and there is nothing that they have been unable to assist with during that time.

I know that can rely on them to provide advice and to draft documents in a timely manner and I never have to chase or remind them of pending deadlines.

They are my go-to chambers due to their reliability, professionalism and calm approach, with the ability to put my clients at ease at a very stressful time.

If I was to mention individuals it would be Carwyn Cox and Emma Sole, but also James and Kieran from the clerking team for their valuable assistance over the years.

CLIENT: Colin Vickers
COMPANY/FIRM: DWF Law LLP
TESTIMONIAL:

Farrar’s are a top-drawer Chambers. The clerks provide a first-class and efficient service in looking after your hearing dates and paperwork. Counsel across the set are excellent with whatever you put their way. They hit the right note with the balance between being technically leading in their field while maintaining a down-to-earth and approachable outlook.

CLIENT: Laura Twist
COMPANY/FIRM: Clyde & Co
TESTIMONIAL:

Farrar’s Building are simply excellent from start to finish. The Clerks are extremely competent and go over and above what is offered by many other sets; nothing is too much trouble. The barristers are first rate and always deliver sound, sensible advice. The drafting work is robust and impressive, leaving the clients in no doubt that they have first rate counsel fighting their corner. The advocacy skills are second to none, as demonstrated by the great results achieved at a wide range of Hearings, over and over again.

CLIENT: Jennifer Sore
COMPANY/FIRM: Blake Morgan LLP
TESTIMONIAL:

Farrar’s Building are my go-to chambers for all aspects of civil litigation. They go the extra step to ensure that I, and my clients, feel supported and in very capable hands irrespective of the level of call or complexity of the instruction. Their personal approach sets them apart from other chambers.