3 Verulam Buildings - True Picture

Chambers profile

3VB is one of London’s leading sets of barristers’ chambers, providing specialist advocacy and advisory services worldwide in all areas of commercial and financial litigation, dispute resolution, international arbitration, and public international law. Members of 3VB are often involved in the leading cases going through the courts.

Recent examples include SKAT (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v Solo Capital Partners LLP; The Eclipse litigation; The Russian operator policy claims (jurisdiction challenge); Various claimants v Serco Group; Qatar Investment & Projects Development Holding v Elanus Holdings; Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse & Ors; VTB & Ors v Republic of Mozambique); Phones 4U v EE and Others; Rowe & Ors v Ingenious Media Holdings plc; JSC Commercial Bank Privatbank v Kolomoisky & Others; Stonegate Pub Company v MS Amlin & Ors; Byers v Samba Financial Group; The Financial Conduct Authority v Arch and Others; ENRC v Gerrard & Dechert LLP; PCP Capital Partners LLP v Barclays Bank; Barclay v Barclay; Libyan Investment Authority v Société Générale SA, Stati v The Republic of Kazakhstan; The RBS Rights Issue Litigation; PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov; and Goldman Sachs International v Novo Banco SA. Members of chambers are also involved in high-value complex international commercial, energy and treaty-based arbitrations. 3VB prides itself on its professional expertise and the outstanding opportunities afforded to all tenants to build leading commercial practices. It is a forward-looking, friendly and diverse set, with excellent practice managers, staff and first-class facilities.

Type of work undertaken

3VB’s members are recognised as specialists in categories that span the full range of commercial law including international arbitration, commercial and investment treaty work, banking and financial services, commercial and contractual disputes, civil fraud, energy, natural resources and infrastructure, construction, insolvency, insurance, technology, IT and telecoms, media and entertainment, professional negligence, and public international law.

Pupil profile

3VB recognises that its continued success is dependent upon recruiting exceptional candidates for pupillage and investing in their development, not just during the pupillage year but also in the early years of tenancy. The characteristics they seek in their recruits are a high level of intellectual and analytical ability, very strong oral and written advocacy skills, and the determination to succeed at the competitive commercial bar. They aim to nurture those qualities during pupillage and in the early years of practice. They provide their pupils with an environment that is not only demanding but also encouraging and supportive, to ensure that they perform to the best of their ability during their pupillage year at 3VB.

As a minimum, candidates should have an actual or expected 2.1 in undergraduate studies (and a good record on the GDL where applicable). Many successful applicants have a first-class degree or a master’s degree, or both.

Pupillage

Pupils sit with four pupil supervisors for three months each. 3VB’s pupil supervisors are ordinarily drawn from the senior juniors. Pupils also have the opportunity to work with many other members of chambers during the course of pupillage. Pupils are exposed to a range of cases, advocacy training exercises, and top-quality expertise from which to learn their skills, all in an encouraging and supportive environment. During the practising second six months, pupils are given the opportunity to undertake advocacy on their own account, to build up experience and earnings. There is also the opportunity for pupils to undertake Pro bono work, which is an excellent way to gain experience and to develop vital skills. There may also be secondment opportunities with some of our leading clients. Tenancy at 3VB is offered to all pupils who make the grade. Pupils are invited to many chambers events and socialise regularly with members and staff. 3VB normally offers up to four pupillages per year (including deferred pupillages). 3VB is a member of the Pupillage Gateway and, save for established practitioners and other applicants who have obtained BSB dispensation, all candidates should apply via the Gateway.

Mini-pupillages

Two-day mini-pupillages are an essential part of chambers’ selection procedure. All applicants interested in undertaking pupillage at 3VB should apply for and complete a mini pupillage at 3VB prior to applying for pupillage. Each mini pupil will sit with a barrister to observe and discuss aspects of his or her work. In addition, mini pupils will spend half of the second day completing a short piece of assessed written work. The assessed written work does not require any particular preparation, and all of the relevant legal materials will be provided. Please visit the 3VB website at: www.3vb.com/pupillage/mini-pupillage.

Funding

The pupillage award is £80,000 per annum. Up to £20,000 of this award can be drawn down during the year before pupillage

Equality & Diversity

3VB is committed to furthering equality of opportunity and diversity. We strive to ensure that the principle of fair and equal treatment is upheld in all areas of our business, including recruitment of pupils, members, and staff and also in the areas of practice development of members of Chambers and promotion of staff.

We recognise the importance of having a workplace that is free from discrimination in any aspect of our business on grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origins, nationality or citizenship, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, religion or belief, political persuasion, pregnancy, or maternity, or social or educational background. Quite independent from any standards imposed by legislation or the Bar Standards Board, we believe that increasing diversity and inclusion makes good business sense. We know we achieve better outcomes when we have access to talent, perspectives, and experience from all walks of life.

Chambers has a very active E&D Committee and a detailed Equal & Diversity policy. 3VB is committed to assisting all members and staff to manage their family responsibilities and to enjoy a rewarding career in Chambers. We have comprehensive maternity & paternity and flexible working policies which reflect our philosophy in this regard. All members and staff in chambers are required to attend at least one E&D related training /refresher course every calendar year.  

CSR:
3VB is committed to social responsibility. Part of 3VB’s strategic plan is to contribute to society, promote justice, and support access to the legal profession. Of course, many individual barristers and staff give their time, enthusiasm, and money to help their own favourite causes, but chambers itself has as part of its core values a commitment to contributing to its community and acting in a socially responsible way.

3VB is pleased to assist various projects and organisations in the local community. 3VB also takes part in outreach programmes. We are:

• A corporate member of JUSTICE and now, the only barristers chambers to be a member of The JUSTICE60
• An accredited London Living Wage Employer and have committed to pay at least the London Living Wage to both employees and subcontracted workers, such as security and cleaning staff. All of our suppliers must also pledge to 3VB that they are paying their workers at least the London Living Wage or Living Wage (depending on their location).
• A Gold Sponsor of the National Bar Pro Bono Centre, through our continuing contributions to the Free Representation Unit and the Bar Pro Bono Unit
• A regular participant in and supporter of the London Legal Walk
• A Legal Partner of Advocates for International Development
• A major sponsor of BAILII
• Members of Advocate, the Bar’s pro bono unit, as “Gold” members. Chambers also actively encourages individual pro-bono work from the outset of practice and throughout members of chambers’ careers. All new junior members are expected to do an Advocate case within the first 2 years of practice and fourth seat pupils take on an Advocate case under the supervision of or (where required/appropriate) jointly with their pupil supervisor. This builds up a connection to the work done by these organisations and helps our members appreciate how important it is.

Diversity:
We are proud to be a diverse set of chambers. At present, representation at Chambers by minority groups is over 19%, which is higher than the national average. We want to encourage more diversity at the Bar and help address structural problems that inhibit individuals from groups that are underrepresented. This is why we support and participate in organisations such as:

• The Sutton Trust, as funding partners and as participants in its summer “Pathways to Law” programme
• Bridging The Bar. As a founding Partner, we support their mini pupillage scheme, which is a genuine ‘path to pupillage’ for students from non-traditional and under-represented backgrounds aspiring to a career at the Bar. We will also participate in their “BTB Academy” involving 6 BTB candidates coming to chambers for approx. 2–3-hour training sessions over four consecutive weekends, focussing on the types of advocacy exercises pupillage candidates may be asked to complete at pupillage interviews.
• The Black Talent Charter, which aims to boost recruitment, career progression, retention, and promotion of Black talent in the finance and professional services sectors. We are engaging with other sets who are also supporters in order to work together in order to develop strategies to setting achievable targets.
• The Bar Council’s Women in Law Pledge. Since 2019, 3VB has been one of the first signatories to the Women in Law Pledge. 3VB maintains its own action plan and diversity targets. We are committed to the progress of gender equality, elimination of gender discrimination and pledge to make positive change for the legal profession
• Mentoring For Underrepresented Groups. 3VB works with COMBAR in a mentoring scheme, to support and encourage individuals from groups which are underrepresented at the commercial bar to pursue careers as barristers. Those underrepresented groups include women; people from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with disabilities; LGBT+ people; people who spent time in care; and people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
• Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS). Established by the Inner Temple and sixty-two different partner chambers, the aim is to improve access to the profession and to support high achieving students from under-represented backgrounds by providing the experiences they need to be able to thrive at the Bar. It aims to do this by securing a mini pupillage in chambers for each participant. PASS also supports participants by providing a focused professional and advocacy skills development programme.

Wellbeing:
Chambers is committed to providing a working environment in which its members and staff are safe, secure, and healthy. A work environment conducive to good physical, emotional and psychological health is one that is stimulating and challenging. Such a work environment strives to meet personal needs and business challenges through considering health and well-being and by improving the way in which our work is conducted. Please see our Wellbeing policy for further information.

3VB has grown to over 100 members of Chambers. But it maintains a collegiate and welcoming environment for all. Chambers arranges internal talks and seminars on wellbeing and regular Chambers social events which are well-attended.

Several members and staff are trained Mental Health First aiders. 3VB provides an Assistance Program (EAP) for all members, their families, staff, and their families, through a major provider, that offers free and confidential counselling, referrals, and follow-up services to anyone who may have personal and/or work-related problems.

Environment:
3VB is committed to running a business that is environmentally sustainable and we continually strive to minimise our impact on the environment. Our Environmental Policy and action-plan sets out how we intend to achieve this. We have ongoing reviews to ensure we maintain and develop an integrated, comprehensive, and practical sustainability policy that ranges from how we source our energy and office supplies, to how we print and recycle. Through the work we have done to date, and commit to continue doing, we are a Founder Member of the Bar Council’s Sustainability Network programme, Premium members of the Camden Climate Change Alliance and members of the Greener Litigation Pledge.