Three Stone Chambers at 10: Michael Smith reflects on a decade

Three Stone’s Michael Smith shares his reflections on a decade of Three Stone Chambers:

Nearly 16 years ago, I arrived at 13 Old Square Chambers one bright autumn morning for the start of what was then called a “3rd Six”. These days, it would be called a “Probationary Tenancy”.

About 6 years later – 10 years ago now – 13 Old Square and 3 Stone Buildings decided to join together to form Three Stone.  The merger brought together two exceptional groups of barristers, each with a similar spirit and ethos, and two outstanding groups of barristers’ clerks, renowned for their unparalleled client service.  The result is even greater than the sum of its parts.

Three Stone is the epitome of something I thought was hackneyed back then, but now I know to be true. For a barrister, finding the right chambers is like finding a second family.

Since then, I have acted on many matters in many areas of law, though Insolvency and Intellectual Property have always been my main topics. I have represented many different people from many different backgrounds. I have often seen justice done, though (regrettably) not always.

There have been periods of intense, hard work. There have been periods where the diary extends over the horizon with nothing but emptiness and panic. There have even been periods (a couple of days at most) where it was a 9-to-5 job. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

These days the competition to get to the Bar is so absurdly intense. I’m glad that it wasn’t so hard back then. In the words of Kate Monster from Avenue Q, “And you never know till you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb.”

Well, I haven’t reached the top, far from it. But the views from where I have got to are magnificent, and the journey so far has been amazing.  I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Thanks to everyone at Three Stone for the last 10 years.  Here is to the decades to come!

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Michael Smith is a barrister and mediator at Three Stone Chambers specialising in intellectual property, insolvency and general commercial litigation.