Coronavirus: Temple Garden Chambers Operational Statement – 6th July 2020

TGC continues proactively to safeguard against the risks posed by the spread of Coronavirus. We have a Covid-19 Committee who continue to monitor the situation and follow advice issued by the Government and Public Health England. We will be updating this page as and when new information becomes available.

As of 6 July 2020, our London premises, 1 Harcourt Buildings, will be operating with a reduced clerking team in attendance, with the remaining staff members and barristers working remotely.

We wish to reassure everyone that our contingency plans we have put in place enable us to continue to provide our services.

Telephoning us

When calling our switchboard number, it will be diverted to a member of the clerking team who will be able to assist in the usual way.  All direct dials in Chambers are diverted to be answered remotely.

Emailing us & Sending Instructions

Please send all instructions via email directly to clerks@tgchambers.com . We would be grateful if this could be sent in an orderly fashion to enable working from a screen manageable.  We are able to receive hard copy instructions via DX or Post if necessary; however we have a preference for electronic documents wherever possible please.

Please continue to communicate with barristers directly via email.

Conferences, Joint Settlement Meetings & Mediations

Continuing to follow government guidelines conferences, meetings and mediations will take place remotely, either by telephone or via video until further notice. Group Telephone calls and video calls can be easily arranged.

If an in person meeting is felt necessary and can meet the following criteria please contact the clerks to make the necessary arrangements :

1. You are satisfied that the conference cannot reasonably be held remotely
2. No one attending has travelled overseas in the past 14 days
3. Those attending confirm they and no one in their households has symptoms of Covid 19 (high temperature, new-continuous cough, loss of or change of smell/taste)
4. Attendees have not been contacted by NHS test and trace within the last 14 days
5. 2m social distancing is observed
6.  All attending wash their hands thoroughly on entry and use the sanitiser provided

Court Hearings

We are following the Government’s advice closely, which is changing daily.  In keeping with that advice, we will continue to service hearings remotely, where possible and as instructed by the hosting Court.   The judiciary has made provision for some civil cases to be heard remotely, with lawyers being required to take part in virtual hearings.

In Person hearings will be accommodated by members of TGC.

We will continue to closely monitor this situation.

Making a payment

If you do not already pay us by BACS, going forward please make arrangements to do so. Please contact the clerks who can supply you with the relevant BACS details.

If you wish to discuss our policy and procedure relating to coronavirus, please do not hesitate to contact our senior clerk Dean Norton on 07535 753098 or dnorton@tgchambers.com