Twenty chambers have won places on Co-operative Legal Services’ bar panel, following a review. The chambers appointed will handle work in family, employment, personal injury and legal expenses insurance.

The firm previously had seven chambers on its panel and used other sets on an ad hoc basis.

Principal solicitor Chris May told the Gazette that the organisation had trialled a family law panel last year and the success of that helped it to define needs across other business areas.

CLS, part of the Co-operative Group, said the review followed a procurement process involving 30 sets, whittled down from an initial 60 sets that were identified as having the ‘necessary skills and experience to work with the CLS’.

May said: ‘We aim to create a much deeper partnership between CLS and our barristers’ panels, as well as creating greater innovation and value for our customers.’

May said that with the chambers, CLS wants to ‘deliver a market-leading, innovative solution’ to its customers, as well as ensuring access to justice is maintained.

The successful chambers are:

• 1 Garden Court, London
• 1 King's Bench Walk, London
• 1 Pump Court, London
• 3 Paper Buildings, London
• 4 Paper Buildings, London
• 12 King's Bench Walk, London
• 14 Gray's Inn Square, London
• 42 Bedford Row, London
• Citadel Chambers, Birmingham
• Coram Chambers, London
• Deans Court Chambers, Manchester
• East Anglian Chambers, Ipswich
• Guildhall, Bristol
• Magdalen Chambers, Exeter
• New Court Chambers, London
• Queen Square, Bristol
• St John’s Buildings, Manchester
• St John’s Chambers, Bristol
• St Mary’s Chambers, Nottingham