Peter Harris is an independent self-employed barrister registered with the Bar Standards Board of England (ref. no op 38995) whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales which code can be found at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk; has full professional liability insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Limited (ref BM 8015/009). Details of the world-wide cover are provided at www.barmutual.co.uk. 

Overseas Chambers is a sole practitioner’s chambers regulated, as such, by the Bar Standards Board which is the regulatory organ of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales. Its administration is governed by the underlying principles and ethics contained in the Bar Code of Conduct (as amended) and adjusted for its Onshore and Offshore legal and tax activity. 

Peter Harris is a Barrister and does not act as an avocat in France. The two professions are entirely distinct and provide separate legal services in their jurisdictions. 

In matters of internal French law and in other jurisdictions, the provision of legal advice is always dealt with in collaboration with a French notaire, avocat or other professional to ensure full coverage of domestic and private international law issues. Tax matters and private international law advice can be dealt with independently, if so instructed.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Overseas Chambers does not operate any client accounts and will neither hold nor administer client money in any capacity, contractual, fiduciary or otherwise. 

When not instructed through a lawyer, the usual terms and conditions for Direct Access and Licensed Access Instructions are set out in a client letter which is adjusted to take account of each client's requirements, status and residence. 

Whilst Peter is a Door Tenant at Five Pump Court Chambers in the Temple, he operates his own administration. However, clients are free to instruct him through Five Pump Court Chambers if they wish. 

Regulatory information concerning the practice.
The main areas of practice undertaken are in international and domestic tax, civil law, succession and inheritance matters. As an authorised practising self-employed barrister, the work provided is in the form of initial guidance, legal opinion and advice on specific cases or matters. 

The BSB
Self-employed barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board’s website: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record/the-barristers-register.html.
The BSB’s Barristers’ Register shows:

• Whether a barrister has a current practising certificate; and
• Whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy.

Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Separate information is available on this website which provides information about:

• The Data Protection Policy
• The Data and Privacy Protection Notice
• The complaints procedure

This procedure sets out any right you may have to complain to the Legal Ombudsman (“LeO” – the independent body which can help you if you have complained to your lawyer and are not happy with their response); How to complain to the LeO; and any time limits for making a complaint.
Here is the link to the decision data on the Legal Ombudsman website: https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/data-centre/#ombudsman-decision-data
This data demonstrates which providers received an ombudsman decision in the previous 12 months and in each case the data shows whether or not the provider was required to give the consumer a remedy. 

Initial Contact

• Solicitors or other practising lawyers in other jurisdictions
• Licensed Access clients, who may either hold a licence issued by the Bar Standards Board, or be a member of a professional body which has been recognised by the Bar Standards Board; and
• Members of the public who wish to instruct a barrister under the Public Access scheme,

are invited to contact him directly for an estimate for legal services: on: + 44 (0)1534 625 879  or +44 (0)7 391 395 910; or via e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (admin) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (direct)
An itemised time estimate will then be provided. As each advice is personal and directed to the individual case certain items may need further clarification or explanation once you receive it, so please contact him if needs be.

Fees
Private client tax work is generally undertaken on an hourly rate basis at a rate of £600 (plus VAT where applicable) per hour. The time expended will vary depending on the complexity and volume of work involved in a matter. It is usual to work on the basis of an agreed range of estimated time with an initial payment in advance of the lower range followed by a call within the higher range later if/when required.
If a higher range has been agreed, then Peter will not continue work on the matter once a call on higher range is submitted, until payment has been received.
Once you have contacted Peter to discuss the case and time estimate established work will be started immediately upon receipt of payment of fees in advance. If work is completed in a quicker time frame, you will be refunded any excess fees. If more time is needed to complete the work owing to new developments you will be made aware of this as soon as practicable.
It may be possible to agree a fixed fee; however, this decision will be taken on a case-by-case basis and will involve an assessment of the amount of work involved, volume of case papers and/or the complexity of the case.
Peter is not required to continue work where a note of fees remains outstanding in whole or in part. 

Timescales
Timescales for a case may vary depending on factors such as Peter’s availability and that of others involved, the type and complexity of the case, the number of papers needing to be reviewed and the need for additional information or documents and communications. Any timescale requirements will be discussed with a client at the outset, and should anything happen to affect the timescale this will be communicated as soon as possible to the client. 

Public Access
If you are a member of the public, the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients can be downloaded from the following link:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/resources/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients.html.
This will help you to understand how the Public Access scheme works and explains how you can use it to instruct Peter directly. 

Document Library
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