History

Doughty Street Chambers was formed in 1990 and has since forged an international reputation for excellence as a set of barristers’ chambers. Its ethos has been and will always be to improve access to justice and promote human rights and civil liberties through the law.

As the first chambers to set up outside the Inns of Court, the traditional working location for barristers in private practice, Doughty Street has innovated from the start. Our barristers are renowned as pioneers of the progressive development of the law who also provide a friendly and accessible service.

Practice areas

Our breadth of practice is unique. We provide world class legal services in criminal, civil and public law, including all aspects of human rights law and civil liberties. Our clients include individuals, business owners, companies, NGOs and those from civil society, regulators, Sovereign States, and others. 

You can find more information on our areas of practice by clicking here or by scrolling down the page.

With our specialist barristers working alongside each other in several, complementary, areas of practice, we can assemble a cross-disciplinary team of advisers to offer a genuinely holistic and creative view on the legal issues our clients face. Our barristers are supported in their work by our panel of leading international legal experts and scholars.

Please find here, the BSB’s Barristers’ Register which gives you information on the barristers who have a current practising certificate, and whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Barristers’ Register.

Where we work

Chambers has offices in London and Manchester. Our members advise clients all over the world in multiple legal jurisdictions, and many are called to overseas Bars allowing them to appear in foreign courts.

Governance

Our Founding Heads of Chambers are Geoffrey Robertson KC and Edward Fitzgerald CBE KC.  

The Chair of Chambers’ Management Board is Tim Moloney KC, and Vice Chair; Aswini Weereratne KC. Chambers' CEO is James Whiting.

Client Care

Doughty Street Chambers is committed to providing a first-class service to its clients.  We welcome your comments on our performance and want to know if it meets your expectations.  If you are not satisfied with any aspect of the service you receive, please email enquiries@doughtystreet.co.uk.  You can download a full copy of our complaints procedure by clicking here.

You can find the current list of all barristers authorised to practise on The Bar Standards Board Barristers’ Register here.

Clients can complain to LeO if they are unhappy with the final response to their complaint, or if their complaint has not been dealt with in eight weeks.

Please find here, the LeOs decision data where you can find details of those providers who have received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months.

Equality 

Doughty Street Chambers has always had a deep commitment to equality and human rights. We are committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment – including pupillage, tenancy and staff. We have an Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing overarching strategy committee headed by Maya Sikand KC. The group reports directly to the Management Board. Please see our Diversity page for further information. 

Contact Us

For details on how to get in touch with us including outside of work hours click here.

Social Responsibility

We aim to be socially responsible in our work and to support positive social change. Click here to read more about our efforts.