Atkin Chambers - True Picture

Chambers profile

Atkin Chambers is a leading set of commercial barristers with an international reputation for providing advocacy and specialist legal advice on cases concerning construction and engineering, energy, technology and major infrastructure projects. Disputes are extremely varied and include transport, power, water/sanitation, shipbuilding and offshore construction, and social infrastructure projects. Wider commercial and professional negligence work is frequently related to such disputes.

Type of work undertaken

The members of Atkin Chambers offer a huge breadth and depth of experience in disputes which are often complex both in terms of the law and the technical nature of the underlying dispute. They are recognised as being leaders in their field. In the UK members regularly appear as advocates before the Appellate Courts and High Court, as well as in commercial arbitrations.

Disputes are often commercially and/or politically sensitive and high-profile and have included landmark UK cases such as disputes relating to The Shard, Wembley Stadium, the Olympic Village, the Channel Tunnel, The British Library, The Rolls Building, Heathrow T5, the M25 and London Underground. International work is equally substantial with major transport infrastructure and energy projects being a common feature, and disputes are frequently cross-border and/or involving parties from several jurisdictions.

Atkin Chambers won “Construction Set of the Year” at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022 and ‘Construction and Energy Set of the Year’ at The Legal 500 Bar Awards in 2022 and 2023. It was also awarded ‘English Bar in the Middle East: Construction Set of the Year’ at The Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa Awards in 2024.

Pupil profile

Chambers is committed to recruiting pupils and tenants who are highly motivated and have an interest in practising in the areas of law in which we specialise. Members come from a variety of backgrounds and culture and have taken a range of different routes (academic and vocational) to becoming a barrister. All are valued. There is no single mould within which candidates must fit.

Applicants for pupillage should have a first-class degree or a good upper second-class degree. Postgraduate qualifications are viewed favourably but are not essential. Chambers encourages applications for pupillage from law and non-law graduates alike.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career at the commercial bar. A science or technical background is not required, nor is a pre-existing knowledge of construction law, although candidates should have a firm grounding and interest in contract and tort law.

Mini-pupillage

Although a mini-pupillage is not a pre-requisite to applying for a pupillage, prospective pupils are encouraged to apply in order to gain some knowledge of the areas of law in which Atkin Chambers specialises. Please see Atkin Chambers’ website for details of how and when to apply. Successful applicants to the mini-pupillage scheme can claim reasonable travel expenses and ask us to arrange overnight accommodation.

Pupillage

Atkin Chambers takes recruitment to pupillage and tenancy extremely seriously. The pupillage year is structured to provide all of the Bar Council’s minimum training requirements and the additional training Chambers considers necessary for successful entry into the high-quality commercial work of its practice. Atkin Chambers provides its own advocacy training and assessment in addition to that provided by the Inns of Court. Applications for the year starting in September 2026 open in January 2025. To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter to the pupillage committee administrator at pupillage@atkinchambers.com. Applications will only be accepted during the Pupillage Gateway application window

Chambers reimburses all reasonable travel expenses for pupillage interviewees.

Funding

Chambers offers two 12-month pupillages. The pupillage award is £80,000 (from September 2024). Up to £25,000 of this award may be drawn down in advance to assist pupils during their BPTC.

Equal opportunities

Atkin Chambers is committed to respecting and understanding the cultural needs of its diverse and global client base and has always prized equality and diversity in both recruitment and the provision of services. We continue to recognise the importance of increasing social mobility at the Bar and look at all applications for pupillage and mini pupillage solely on merit and irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, maternity or paternity, disability, religion or belief, age or political persuasion. We welcome applications from graduates of all universities and from all backgrounds and all sections of the community with the ability and determination to succeed as a barrister.

Equality and diversity at the Bar

Chambers welcomes the opportunity to work with other groups to foster equality and diversity at the Bar. Atkin Chambers supports FreeBar, a forum focused on LGBT+ people and their allies working at and for the Bar. A number of members of Atkin Chambers are founding members of The TECBAR BAME Network.

Chambers is pleased to support The 10,000 Interns Foundation which aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development.

Atkin Chambers is a signatory to the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge and the Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses Pledge.

Pro Bono

In 2022 Atkin Chambers agreed to support Support Through Court as a “Changemaker Guardian” for an initial three years. This charity supports those who face going to court alone so that they can represent themselves to the best of their abilities. In addition, Atkin Chambers has been a supporter of the work of Advocate (the Bar Pro Bono Unit) as a Pro Bono Patron since 2019.