Sian Huckett to become Fountain Court's first woman Senior Clerk

Fountain Court Chambers has appointed Sian Huckett as its next Senior Clerk, making her the first woman to lead the clerking team at the London-based commercial barristers' chambers.

The appointments will take effect on January 1, 2027.

According to Chambers, Huckett's appointment makes her the first female Senior Clerk among the Bar's four Magic Circle commercial chambers (Fountain Court Chambers, Brick Court Chambers, Essex Court Chambers and One Essex Court Chambers).

Huckett will succeed Alex Taylor, who has led Fountain Court's clerking team since 2008. Taylor will continue to support the chambers in a part-time consultancy role.

The announcement marks a significant leadership transition at Fountain Court after nearly two decades under Taylor, who oversaw the clerking operation during a period in which the chambers secured multiple industry accolades, including being named Set of the Year at the 2025 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards.

Reflecting on his tenure, Taylor said,

"It has been an honour and a privilege to be the Senior Clerk at Fountain Court, a role at the pinnacle of clerking. I am very grateful to have been supported during my tenure by some extraordinary colleagues, including Julie Parker (Chambers' Head of Administration), Caroline McConnon (Chambers' Practice Manager in Singapore), and of course Sian. I would also like to thank the incredibly talented Members of Chambers for their support, as well as my very patient wife Jennifer. I look forward to continuing being part of the Fountain Court family in my new consulting role."

Additionally, Luke Diebelius and Alfie Harper have also been promoted to Deputy Senior Clerks.

Huckett joined Fountain Court in October 2008, having begun her clerking career in 2005. She became Deputy Senior Clerk in 2018, assisting Taylor in leading the clerking team and the strategic management of the chambers.

Her responsibilities have included managing client relationships, overseeing the allocation of new instructions among members and supporting the development of individual practice teams.

She has also served on Fountain Court's Equality and Diversity Committee and Marketing Committee, and is an active member of the Institute of Barristers' Clerks' Management Committee and Equality and Diversity Committee, where she has been involved in initiatives on mentoring and improving access to the clerking profession.

In 2023, she was named Clerk of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards.

Responding to her appointment as the next Senior Clerk, Huckett said,

"It is a real honour to be appointed Senior Clerk at Fountain Court and to lead such an exceptional clerking team. Our reputation is built on the quality of our people, relationships and service, and those will remain central to everything we do."

Announcing the appointments, Head of Chambers Richard Handyside KC said the clerking team had long been central to Fountain Court's success and the service it provides to clients. He said,

"The quality of our clerking team has long been central to Fountain Court's strength and to the service we provide to clients. Sian, Alfie and Luke are outstanding clerks, widely trusted by members and clients alike, and I have every confidence they will each excel in their new roles. I also wish to pay tribute to Alex Taylor, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping the team and its standards."

If you would like your Deals, Columns, Press Releases to be published on Bar & Bench, please fill in the form available here.