Chambers has recently completed a re-branding exercise and we are now led by Harendra de Silva QC, who has been in these chambers for over 35 years.
We were formerly known as The Chambers of Sir Desmond de Silva QC, 2 Paper Buildings, however, due to the relocation of our new improved offices at 5 Bell Yard we could no longer make reference to 2 Paper Buildings. Sir Desmond after nearly a quarter of a century of successfully leading these chambers decided it was the right time to step down as head of chambers and to concentrate solely on his impressive practice.
Chambers is one of the longest traditional barrister’s chambers, with some 80 years worth of history. Chambers has a strong political history, exemplified by two former heads of chambers, Sir Dingle Foot QC MP and Sir Charles Fletcher-Cooke QC MP. Current members include former members of parliament, a Deputy High Court judge, five Crown Court recorders and master benchers of the Inner and Middle Temples.
Chambers continues to maintain close international and Commonwealth connections. These links were emphasised when Desmond de Silva QC was appointed deputy prosecutor for the new UN-backed international criminal tribunal for Sierra Leone in 2002. In 2005, he was appointed chief prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone by the then UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
