Solicitor’s Threat to Counsel

Hampshire CC v Gillingham (No 2) (CLW 13 October CA)

It was alleged that before a hearing the claimant’s solicitor contacted the clerk to the barrister who was representing the defendant stating he could not understand why the barrister was acting on a pro bono basis and he would not look favourably on the barrister’s chambers when instructing counsel in the future. Such a threat, if true, was capable of amounting to a contempt of court.