The Commercial Bar Association
Probate Solicitors
The Commercial Bar Association
222 Strand, London
# The Commercial Bar Association
The Commercial Bar Association (Combar) is a professional organisation representing barristers specialising in commercial law, based in London. The organisation functions as a collective voice for commercial practitioners, developing standardised frameworks and guidance to facilitate professional relationships between barristers and solicitors.
Combar's primary role centres on establishing contractual standards within the commercial legal sector. Working collaboratively with the City of London Law Society, the organisation has developed a standard form contract—now in version 4.0—designed for use in commercial cases. This contract provides a template that solicitors and barristers can adopt voluntarily, with flexibility to adapt terms for specific matters.
What distinguishes Combar is its nuanced approach to professional standards. The organisation acknowledges that its contractual terms represent negotiated compromises rather than optimal arrangements for individual practitioners, reflecting the complexity of aligning diverse interests across the profession. Notably, Combar explicitly clarifies that terms do not constitute binding agreements for individual chambers or members, maintaining professional autonomy whilst providing useful guidance.
The organisation also manages relationships with professional indemnity providers, having secured approval from the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund for its terms. This approval ensures that barristers using Combar's standard contracts maintain appropriate insurance coverage. Additionally, Combar provides comprehensive guidance documentation, including Bar Mutual terms of cover and practice notes on knowledge management systems.
Through these functions, Combar serves as a critical facilitator of professional standards, enabling efficient contract negotiation whilst preserving individual practitioners' flexibility and autonomy in commercial legal practice.
The Commercial Bar Association (Combar) is a professional organisation representing barristers specialising in commercial law, based in London. The organisation functions as a collective voice for commercial practitioners, developing standardised frameworks and guidance to facilitate professional relationships between barristers and solicitors.
Combar's primary role centres on establishing contractual standards within the commercial legal sector. Working collaboratively with the City of London Law Society, the organisation has developed a standard form contract—now in version 4.0—designed for use in commercial cases. This contract provides a template that solicitors and barristers can adopt voluntarily, with flexibility to adapt terms for specific matters.
What distinguishes Combar is its nuanced approach to professional standards. The organisation acknowledges that its contractual terms represent negotiated compromises rather than optimal arrangements for individual practitioners, reflecting the complexity of aligning diverse interests across the profession. Notably, Combar explicitly clarifies that terms do not constitute binding agreements for individual chambers or members, maintaining professional autonomy whilst providing useful guidance.
The organisation also manages relationships with professional indemnity providers, having secured approval from the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund for its terms. This approval ensures that barristers using Combar's standard contracts maintain appropriate insurance coverage. Additionally, Combar provides comprehensive guidance documentation, including Bar Mutual terms of cover and practice notes on knowledge management systems.
Through these functions, Combar serves as a critical facilitator of professional standards, enabling efficient contract negotiation whilst preserving individual practitioners' flexibility and autonomy in commercial legal practice.
Services offered
Standard commercial contract draftingContract guidance and interpretationProfessional indemnity insurance facilitationKnowledge management system complianceSolicitor-barrister relationship frameworksCommercial law advocacyProfessional standards developmentContract amendment advisory