The South Eastern Circuit

About the Circuit

Committees and Governance

The Circuit Committee — its Officers, elected members, co-opted representatives, and Bar Mess Chairs and Juniors — is the governing body of the Circuit. The Officers and the Executive Committee carry day-to-day responsibility.

The Circuit Committee is the governing body of the South Eastern Circuit, defined in Part 7 of the Constitution. It draws together the Circuit's Officers, the Chair, Junior and Bar Mess Representative of each of the eleven constituent Bar Messes, twenty-one Elected Members, Bar Council members representing the Circuit, the Chairs of Liaison Committees, members nominated by recognised Specialist Associations, and co-opted members. The Executive Committee — the Officers plus such other members as the Circuit Committee approves — carries day-to-day executive responsibility.

Leadership

Officers and Executive

The Officers of the Circuit are elected by the membership. The Leader and Treasurer must be King's Counsel throughout the term; the Recorder, Junior and Assistant Juniors are juniors at the date of election. After one year, the First Assistant Junior becomes the Junior, and the Second Assistant becomes the First Assistant.

Core Officers

  • Leader

    Claire Davies KC

    Farringdon Chambers

    01.01.25 – 31.12.26

    leader@southeasterncircuit.com

  • Treasurer

    Joint Advocate Selection Committee (JASC)

    Paul Cavin KC

    2 Harcourt Buildings

    01.01.25 – 31.12.27

    finance@southeasterncircuit.com

  • Recorder

    Senior Bar Council Rep

    Harry O'Sullivan

    5KBW

    01.01.25 – 31.12.26

    recorder@southeasterncircuit.com

  • Junior

    Junior Bar Council Rep

    Danielle Buckett

    Nexus Chambers

    01.01.25 – 31.12.26

    junior@southeasterncircuit.com

  • First Assistant Junior

    Faye Rolfe

    Red Lion Chambers

    01.01.25 – 31.12.26

    Circuiteer Editors, Spring and Summer 2026

  • Second Assistant Junior

    Also holds an elected seat (01.01.25 – 31.12.27)

    Lily Hines

    2KBW

    01.01.25 – 31.12.26

Officer Roles

Support Roles

Where an address appears on this page it is a Circuit office address, held by the post rather than the person. Individual contact addresses are private to the membership and are not published here.

Elected Members

15 of up to 21 seats on the Circuit Committee. Elected by the membership; three-year terms with at least one member under 10 years' call elected each year.

  • Elected

    Simon Baker KC

    2 Bedford Row

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Zeena Begum

    4 King's Bench Walk

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Paige Campbell

    Harcourt Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    FLBA Rep

    Rachel Chan

    42BR

    01.01.25 – 31.12.27

    Circuiteer Editors, Autumn and Winter 2026

  • Elected

    Bar Representation Committee Rep; also Central London Mess Treasurer

    William Dean

    Deka Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Pia Dutton

    Verulam Chambers

    01.01.25 – 31.12.27

  • Elected

    Also Surrey & South London Mess court rep

    Neil Griffin

    Foundry Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    The Kalisher Trust

    Max Hardy

    9 Bedford Row

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Also Herts & Beds Mess Chair

    Kevin Molloy

    Church Court Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Ijeoma Omambala KC

    Old Square Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Michael Reason

    Field Court

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Ravinder Saimbhi

    33 Bedford Row

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    Mark Seymour

    Foundry Chambers

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

  • Elected

    James Sharpe

    42BR

    01.01.25 – 31.12.27

    Circuiteer Editors, Autumn and Winter 2026

  • Elected

    Laura Stephenson

    2 Hare Court

    01.01.24 – 31.12.26

Co-opted Members

  • ALBA Rep

    Also Surrey & South London Additional Rep

    Catherine Brown

    6KBW

    To 31.12.27

  • PIBA Rep

    Marcus Grant

    2 Temple Gardens

    Leader's term

  • CPS / Bar Liaison

    Tim Hunter

    2 Bedford Row

    Leader's term

  • Deputy Circuiteer

    Laura Kenyon

    Red Lion Chambers

    Leader's term

    Circuiteer Editors, Spring and Summer 2026

  • Chancery Bar Association Rep

    Lara Kuehl

    Serle Court

    Leader's term

  • Gray's Inn Rep

    Meyric Lewis KC

    Francis Taylor Buildings

    Leader's term

  • Past Junior

    Courtesy listing, not a seat on the Committee

    Tomas McGarvey

    2 Bedford Row

  • ELBA Rep

    Chris Milsom

    Cloisters

    Leader's term

  • Middle Temple Rep

    Karen Reid

    36 Group

    Leader's term

  • Inner Temple Rep

    Dominique Smith

    Deka Chambers

    Leader's term

  • CBA Rep

    James Thacker KC

    Deka Chambers

    Leader's term

  • Lincoln's Inn Rep

    Also holds an elected seat (01.01.24 – 31.12.26)

    Mark Watson

    Mountford Chambers

    Leader's term

  • CPS / Bar Liaison

    Bar Mock Trials

    Colin Witcher

    Church Court Chambers

    Leader's term

  • Co-opted member

    David Wood

    25 Bedford Row

    Leader's term

Bar Mess Representatives

Bar Mess Representatives

Each of the eleven Bar Messes is represented on the Circuit Committee by its Chair and Junior. Bar Mess Representatives bring the views and concerns of their Mess to the Committee, and report back on Circuit matters. The officers listed below serve as co-opted members of the Circuit Committee for the duration of their Mess offices.

Representative names will be added as each Bar Mess confirms its election results.

Foundational document

The Circuit Constitution

Part 7 (Governance), Part 8 (Officers), Part 9 (Elections), and Part 11 (Harassment, Grievances and Conduct) set out how the Circuit Committee, the Officers, and these processes work.

Read the Constitution (PDF)Bar Mess officers →

Foundational documents

Governance Papers

Related

About the Circuit

Structure, scope, and the Constitution.

Bar Messes

Eleven constituent Bar Messes and their officers.

Former Leaders

A roll of those who have led the Circuit.

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