Serjeants' Inn

Serjeants’ Inn has announced two high-profile additions to the team, with His Honour Brian Barker CBE QC and Dijen Basu QC both joining chambers. Their arrival echoes a trend of growth over the last three years, which has brought the number of silks in chambers to 20.

His Honour Brian Barker CBE QC (pictured) has joined as an associate member after an eminent career in the judiciary. After practising as a criminal barrister and acting as chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, he was appointed a circuit judge at the Old Bailey. He went on to serve as the Recorder of London, the most senior judge of the Old Bailey, before his retirement in 2015. He was awarded a CBE in the same year and now chairs high-profile inquiries and inquests, as well as acting as the Independent Reviewer of National Security for Northern Ireland, and Judicial Panel Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority.

Dijen Basu QC joins Serjeants’ Inn from 5 Essex Court. He took silk in 2015, and is also a qualified doctor. In addition to providing expertise on healthcare and clinical negligence, he also specialises in police, public and employment law. His prior experience includes representing Surrey Police in relation to the inquest into the death of Russian whistleblower Alexander Perepilichnyy. He was also appointed a Crown Court Recorder in 2009, and a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates in 2010.

Commenting on the new arrivals, chambers’ director of client care Catherine Calder said: ‘We are very glad to welcome such stellar additions to Chambers as a further advance in the momentum Serjeants’ Inn has seen over the last three years, with numbers increasing by over 30% and a gain of ten silks. The set has won 20 awards in the same period and is recognised by the Bar Council for its excellence in well-being’.