Forum Chambers has established itself as a notable boutique in the English legal field. Founded in 2015 by five barristers and a clerk who left a mega-set, the group has grown into a successful commercial practice. Over the past decade, it has expanded to a dozen members and secured rankings in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 across five key areas: banking and financial services, commercial litigation, cryptocurrency, insolvency, and professional negligence.
From a standing start to Supreme Court appearances
Members of the set are regulars in the Chancery Division and Court of Appeal. They have even appeared before the Supreme Court, notably David McIlroy in Philipp v Barclays Bank [2023] UKSC 25, [2024] AC 346. Other members, such as Paul O’Doherty, have represented liquidators against Gavin Woodhouse and high-net-worth investors against Coutts & Co. The group handles complex cryptocurrency litigation, such as AA v Persons Unknown [2019] EWHC 3556 (Comm), and leading APP fraud cases like Santander UK Plc v CCP Graduate School Ltd [2025] EWHC 667 (KB).
Unlike larger firms that often treat barristers as interchangeable parts, Forum treats them as partners. The approach prioritizes solicitor needs and client flexibility over rigid structural hierarchies, creating a service model that is surprisingly resilient against the commoditization trends threatening the profession.
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A collaborative approach to growth
The firm’s success stems from a deliberate strategy that prioritizes the client relationship. From the outset, Forum branded itself as offering specialist advice in commercial law. That specialism was linked to features that enable exceptional service to target clients. Being responsive, available, and working as part of the solicitor’s team are all key to how the barristers operate. They are not just mouthpieces who make submissions at specific hearings; they are integral to the team deciding the strategy for the litigation as a whole.
Understanding the cost and price of litigation is another pillar of their model. Acting for businesses, insolvency practitioners, or in group actions, the question of how litigation is going to be afforded is key. The barristers cultivate good relationships with litigation funders and ATE insurers. They are prepared to enter into Conditional Fee Agreements and Damages-Based Agreements in appropriate cases to ensure deserving cases can be brought.
Litigation not only has a cost, it also takes an emotional toll on individuals and distracts businesses from profit-generating activities. The barristers are mindful of this dimension when advising on strategy.
Recruiting people who originally qualified as solicitors or in another jurisdiction has also helped build a diverse team. Key figures include Nathan Webb, who was a pupil at a defamation set but is now ranked in insolvency, and Clyde Darrell, who moved from white-collar crime to banking and finance. The collaborative culture within the set supports this diversity through long-term mentoring, joint marketing, and internal CPD. Barristers never fight over slices of a small pie; the attitude is always there is a bigger pie to be won.
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Leadership and the future
The relationship between barristers and clerks sits at the heart of Forum’s success. Patrick Webber, the first senior clerk, established its reputation. When he left, Forum promoted Conor Fagan, who became one of the youngest senior clerks at the Bar. He has now been joined by Ben Noonan, recruited from a powerhouse commercial set. All of this adds up to a specialist, strategic, commercial, and collaborative set of Chambers.
After a decade of success, its members are looking at new horizons. Those horizons include arbitration and litigation in Ireland, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Dubai, Gibraltar, Singapore, and beyond. Commercial disputes over the next decade will continue to be international in scope, requiring barristers familiar with cryptoassets, ESG issues, and financial regulation. This involves handling complex cross-border statutory frameworks and managing diverse legal jurisdictions.
At a time when all the talk is about how artificial intelligence will transform the legal services sector, Forum Chambers is a reminder that the personal touch remains a key to success. Clients increasingly value human interaction alongside digital efficiency, preferring representation that offers empathy alongside sharp legal strategy.