ABOUT 4KBW,
THE CHAMBERS OF LAWRENCE POWER
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4KBW
is a dynamic civil law set of barristers' chambers based in the Temple.
Members of 4KBW undertake the full range of corporate civil work, with
particular emphasis on commercial litigation. 4KBW prides itself on
delivering excellence in all areas of service. Our practitioners are
dedicated to applying the breadth of their expertise in the
representation of clients' interests, from skilled advisory work and
tenacious negotiation to meticulous drafting and fearless advocacy.
4KBW holds a policy which requires each lawyer in chambers to
participate in an unpaid scheme in which they are paired with a school.
At these schools, the barrister gives presentations explaining the
legal profession, as well as how to gain access and opportunities. The
scheme is designed in such a way that the barrister is paired with
students who may feel that being a lawyer is beyond their reach, and
gives the belief and understanding necessary for achieving this goal.
In addition, the scheme aims to encourage diversity by breaking down
elitist barriers within the profession. 4KBW is the only set of
chambers at the Bar that has implemented this policy.
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Chambers History
Various
sets of barristers' chambers have existed at 4 King's Bench Walk
including those of: Christopher Van Hagen, who assumed the role of Head
of Chambers on 29 April 2003 from the former Head of Chambers, Robert
Rhodes QC. Prior to Robert Rhodes QC, the Head of Chambers was Mr Peter
Heppel QC, who was appointed to the circuit bench and was a former
Recorder of Hull. Lawrence Power is now our current Head of Chambers.
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History of Location
4KBW is located in
the Inner Temple and believed to be one of the oldest set of chambers
in the historic Temple. King's Bench Walk takes its name from the
King's Bench Office (the office of the chief clerk or master of the
Court of King's Bench) which was sited in the Inner Temple from 1621.
Seated across from the Inner Temple Library 4KBW has an interesting
history of its own. Following the Great Fire of 1666, Number Four was
rebuilt in 1678 and bears an inscription documenting these events, as
well as an arching brick doorway believed to have been designed by Sir
Christopher Wren, the architect who also designed St. Paul’s Cathedral.
It was also one of the few buildings in the Inner Temple fortunate to
have escaped destruction by the Blitz in the early 1940s. In addition,
the signature Thos Dainand date ‘’March 19, 1793’’ has been scratched
into one of the window panes of the first-floor library.
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Fees
Members of Chambers undertake work that is funded from a variety of
sources: Legal Services Commission funded; Privately funded and on a
Conditional Fee basis. Please contact us to discuss the tailoring of
our fees system for your individual needs.
Privately funded
This includes privately paying individuals, corporate bodies and
clients who are backed by legal expenses insurance or other funding
arrangement, such as union backing.
Estimates of hourly rates can be given by the clerks and of likely
fees, normally once the papers have been received and there has been an
opportunity to review them. Emergency applications can be structured
quickly for the purpose of summary costs schedules.
Though long-term forecasts of costs maybe impossible, a clearly
identified basis for charging followed by progressively amended
estimates as time passes can be provided in heavier work upon request.
Brief fees are based upon preparation time, conferences, days in court,
the involvement of other Counsel, the nature / seriousness of the work,
the amount at issue and so on, and this calculation will then be
influenced by the market rate, and by the basis of funding such as
public funding standard rates.
Legal Services Commission funding
In criminal work, most Crown Court work gives rise to LSC funding. For
civil cases, generally, LSC funding is only granted where there are
good prospects of success and the litigation is cost effective. LSC
funding is usually not granted in personal injury claims. Lay clients
should speak to their solicitor to advise them on LSC funding.
Conditional Fee Arrangements
A variety of work is undertaken on a Conditional Fee Basis (CFA), the
majority of which are personal injury claims. However, in appropriate
cases, CFAs can be agreed in all cases permitted under current
legislation. The most commonly used CFA agreement is APIL / PIBA 5.
Fees are the same as would be agreed in privately paying work except
that the fee is not paid until the conclusion of the case and upon
success. The fees will also be subject to an uplift to take account of
the prospects of success, pre-CFA work and delay in the receipt of
payment.
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