London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association

The London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association was formed in 1966. Its current membership now exceeds 1300 practising members of the Bar. Membership is open to any member of the Bar whose practice is predominantly civil law and who practises wholly or mainly in the High Court, including the Commercial Court and the County Courts in and around London.

 

The Association represents the interests of practitioners whose practices range from general common law to purely commercial as well as those who specialise in such diverse areas as personal injury, professional negligence, employment law, revenue, defamation, environmental law, human rights and European law. Some of its members are also members of the smaller and more specialist associations such as Combar, TecBAR, the Professional Negligence Bar Association and the Personal Injuries Bar Association.

Because of its broadly based and large membership, the Association is in a strong position to protect and advance the interests of its members and to influence developments in civil law and practice as well as to seek to improve the quality of the service provided by their lay and professional clients.

The following are some of the more important functions performed by the Association on behalf of its members:

• Representation of its members' interests on the Bar Council.
• Representation of its members interests on the Commercial Court Committee.
• The production of papers on topics of concern and of relevance to its members and their clients.
• The production of papers at the request of the Bar Council and the Law Commission on matters of substantive and procedural law.
• The provision of written commentaries on proposals put before the Bar Council relating to both matters of concern to the Bar in general and in particular to its members and their clients.
• The administration of the Association's Arbitration Scheme.
• The promotion of alternative dispute resolution procedures ("ADR").
• Continuing education for its members.
• Liaison with the Department of Constitutional Affairs.
• Liaison with other specialist Bar Associations and solicitors on matters of common concern and interest.
• The promotion of the Free Representation Unit.
• The Association holds annual and other evening meetings with a prominent speaker or speakers.