New Birmingham office of 3PB barristers gets top Birmingham clerk

2nd November 2017

James PArks 3

3PB’s rapid expansion into the Birmingham market has been further bolstered by the hire of Deputy Director James Parks from rival No5 Chambers. Parks joins the new Birmingham office of 3PB (3 Paper Buildings), the fourth largest set in the UK who were founded in Temple, London in 1892, as Practice Director.

Parks worked with No5 Chambers for 19 years, playing a key role in the practice management and development of their Commercial & Chancery, Employment, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Groups.

James is the latest recruit to 3PB’s new Birmingham office which began last September with their hiring of highly-regarded silk Liz McGrath QC together with a team of five other barristers from St Philips Chambers and Practice Director Ian Charlton. 3PB has since recruited two former West Midlands solicitor-barristers: Birmingham City Council senior in-house lawyer Matiss Krumins; and contested probate and matrimonial specialist Graham Stott.

James Parks said: “I am really looking forward to this new challenge, working with ambitious barristers and staff to create an exceptional new office in Birmingham. This is an ideal time to be joining 3PB as there is a real demand from solicitors and businesses to use first class barristers at specialist multi-disciplinary chambers nationally.”

Chambers Chief Executive Simon Astill commented: “James is a terrific recruit for 3PB as we seek to double the size of our Midlands operations in Birmingham and Oxford from 30 barristers based from these offices to 60 barristers over the next twelve months. 3PB are opening new substantial, landmark offices on the ground floor of The Colmore Building in November and Birmingham is a vital part of our national ambitions. We are building a special team of barristers and staff in this thriving City who will be a great complement to our 250-strong team of barristers and staff in Oxford, London, Bristol, Winchester and Bournemouth.”

James has lived in Birmingham for 30 years, having grown up in Dubai and Newcastle. A keen golfer in his spare time, James – who now lives in Solihull – is a member at Olton Golf Club.