What Combar members do


Combar’s members are self-employed or employed commercial barristers practising at the English and Welsh Commercial Bar.

Our members carry out work nationally and internationally, in a wide range of litigation, arbitration and transactional work, often being called to appear in foreign courts. They have extensive experience of representing clients in high value commercial disputes across a range of sectors including banking, insurance, reinsurance, shipping, commodities, international trade and other business disputes.

Amongst other things, our members:

  • advise and act as advocates in complex litigation in the Commercial Court in London, based at the pre-eminent Rolls Building, as well as at appellate level in the UK and in other tribunals and arbitral proceedings held all over the world;
  • advise clients on non-contentious commercial law matters (such as the drafting of contractual terms, or the effect of contractual agreements);
  • act as expert witnesses on English law; and
  • advise governments and trans-national organisations on legal reform, helping to ensure effective and enforceable legislation and related rules.

The Commercial Bar’s reputation for dealing efficiently and effectively with commercial disputes is founded on centuries of experience. London has had a specialist Commercial Court since 1895, and Combar itself was formed in 1989. Six of Combar’s former Chairs have gone on to become judges of the Commercial Court, demonstrating the calibre of the Combar leadership and allowing the association to sustain a close and enduring professional dialogue with the specialist commercial judges.