Signing of the Old Bailey Memorandum - 16 September 2025

We are very excited that "The Old Bailey Memorandum" was signed on Tuesday 16 September 2025 by the Masters of three Livery Companies - The Scriveners, The City of London Solicitors’ Company and the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators in order to form The Legal Livery Group with the aim of working together in:
•        Promoting legal education, public understanding, and professional excellence
•        Fostering inter-livery fellowship and ceremonial unity among legal professions
•        Advocating for access to justice and ethical legal practice
•        Supporting charitable endeavours aligned with the rule of law and civic responsibility

The document was witnessed by the Sheriffs, Alderman Gregory Jones KC and David Chalk who arranged the whole evening as part of their City and Legal programme within their year of office. We were delighted to be joined by the Recorder of London, the Common Sergeant, the Chair of the Bar Council, Barbara Mills KC and the President of the Law Society, Richard Atkinson. 

There was a lot of fun with swan quill pens (but not much signing was done with them!) The Sheriffs, who are experienced in using swan quills, having used one to sign themselves into office, were keen that all signatories use them, but with a lack of practice time (and probably insufficient blotting paper) we used fountain pens instead. Four copies of the memorandum were signed; one for each of the Companies and one will be kept in the Sheriffs apartments in the Old Bailey.

The keynote speech which followed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the three Companies was given by the Attorney General, The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC on 'Business and Human Rights' and then a panel made up of Tim Eick KC, Stuart Bedford and Frances Gourdie answered questions from the audience.

Then, courtesy of hospitality provided by the Sheriffs, we shared in Livery Fellowship.

We now look forward to finding ways to work (and play) with the Solicitors' and the Arbitrators' Companies in furthering fellowship and the Rule of Law.