Parklane Plowden was formed on 1st October 2007 following the merger of Park Lane Chambers (Leeds) and Plowden Chambers (Newcastle).
Park Lane of the merged set began its life just before the Second World war in two rooms in 37 Park Square. It was one of the first sets on Circuit and founded by Raymonf Hinchliffe (later Mr Justice Hinchliffe) and Stanley Peaker (later Middclesbrough's stipendiary magistrate. Thereafter Chambers slowly grew in numbers (and physical size!), among prominent early members were Peter Stanley Price, Christopher Beaumont, Donald Chapman and Richard Nevin, all of whom took silk and senior Circuit appointments on the Circuit Bench.
In the 1980's the chambers began to specialise in Civl Work under Christopher Holland Q.C's leadership, with considerable growth and further departures to the Circuit bench including Robert Taylor and John Cockroft. Christopher Holland followed to the High Court in 1991. In recent times a strong family team developed under Angela Finnerty and Sally Cahill both of whom are now circuit judges. Increasing numbers dictated moves (and name changes) first to Pearl Chambers and then to their present premises at Park Lane House.
Plowden Chambers was established in 1980. Although based in Middle Temple,from its inception, it had a strong presence on the North Eastern Circuit. Personal Injury and Clinical negligence were the principal areas of practice with a developing expertise in Employment work.
By the mid 1990's such was the volume of work in the North East that premises were opened in Newcastle upon Tyne, ultimately Chambers re-located in its entirety to Lombard House.
At the time of the merger in 2005 Plowden was a very well established niche set and, despite having only 20 Members, it enjoyed an excellent reputation in the fields of PI , Clinical Negligence and Employment on the North Eastern Circuit and beyond. .
Three former members of Plowden Chambers, are circuit judges; HHJ Peter Fox who is the recorder of Middlesbrough, HHJ McIntyre who sits on the South Eastern circuit and HHJ Simon Wood who sits in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Both sets were already recognised as two of the leading Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit, with many members having individual testimonials in various guides to the legal profession.
Parklane Plowden is now the largest civil and family chambers based on the North Eastern Circuit and has more personal injury and clinical negligence practitioners than any other set in the North of England.
The Lawyer, on the 4th September 2007, referred to the merger as the forming of a northern civil and family set “powerhouse”.
The Lawyer 2007
www.thelawyer.com/
