How to Instruct Us

1. Instructions to Counsel

• Receipt of your Instructions will be confirmed by our practice managers by letter on the day of receipt (or first working day thereafter).
• If requested, a quotation will be given to you for the work to be done.
• Very urgent instructions, for example where freezing orders are to be considered, will be dealt with accordingly. In all cases, Counsel will consider your Instructions within 7 days of receipt, and where appropriate will then identify and request any further information which is required. In the event that Counsel is unable to deal with them promptly, you will be notified by telephone within this time. Transfer of the Instructions to alternative Counsel, or an extension of time, may then be agreed.
• In ordinary circumstances, your Instructions will be dealt with by Counsel within 14 days of receipt unless otherwise agreed.
• If, unavoidably, such period is likely to be exceeded, you will be contacted immediately with the reason and asked how you wish to proceed.
• We will treat all Instructions received in the strictest confidence and ensure that such confidence is observed at all times.
• Completed Instructions may initially be returned to you by email, with copies to follow by post.
• All telephone calls which cannot be dealt with immediately (for example if Counsel is unavailable) will be returned on the same day whenever possible, and in any case at the first reasonable opportunity.
• Upon acceptance of Instructions to Counsel to advise in conference, we will agree a suitable date and time with you. We will ensure that Counsel has sufficient time for preparation. In appropriate cases, the amount of such time will be agreed with you and specifically allocated in Counsel’s diary.
• In the event that any Instructions appear to fall within the scope of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, we will require you to certify that you have carried out the customer due diligence measures in accordance with Regulations 5 and 7, and that you operate a satisfactory record-keeping procedure in accordance with Regulation 19.

4. Language

If your client does not have English as a first language and needs an interpreter, please contact our practice managers who will assist in making the necessary arrangements.

Members of Chambers are also fluent in many languages including Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Punjabi, Spanish, Swahili and Urdu.

5. Complaints

We operate without prejudice, to your rights to complain to the Bar Council, to the Legal Services Ombudsman, and without prejudice to your rights under general law, a Complaints Procedure. Details are available on request, please contact our Senior Clerk, James Donovan on +44(0)20 7415 7800 or email James at jamesdonovan@3harecourt.com

Click here to view our Complaints Procedure.

6. Payment

Unless otherwise agreed in advance, our fee notes are to be paid promptly, and in all cases within one month.

7. Business hours

Our business hours are from 8.30am until 6.30pm during legal terms, and from 9am until 6pm during legal vacations.