"The clerks are exceptionally professional, forward-thinking and fast. They anticipate in advance what needs to be done and have already thought about it before the solicitor or counsel contacts them."
"Senior clerk Keith Poynter and his team are exceptional."
"The clerking team are immediately responsive and their level of service is extremely high."
"The clerks are responsive and agile enough to deal with specific needs."
Chambers UK Bar 2026
‘Keith Poynter is personable and approachable.’
‘The clerks are incredibly helpful and attentive to the needs of solicitors.’
‘2 Harcourt Buildings are a quality set.’
‘Keith Poynter has a real eye for developing strong relationships.’
‘Very responsive clerking.’
‘A solid criminal set with a number of excellent counsel.’
‘A great set of impeccable pedigree.’
‘The set has brilliant clerks.’
‘Clerking wise, they're brilliant. In Keith Poynter, they have the senior clerk who every firm would want.’
Chambers UK Bar 2025
'One of the best sets of chambers in London with barristers of the highest quality.'
'Keith Poynter is a great clerk and Gary Wright is also very personable and easy to work with.'
'Senior clerk Keith Poynter is first rate in his client care and ability to provide the perfect counsel for each case.'
'Gary Wright and Keith Poynter are utterly client focused, extremely responsive, and know the market inside out. They are also very adept at encouraging and nurturing new and existing streams of work.'
'The clerks are superb - they have a lovely ethos and work hard to make sure that chambers is run efficiently and well. They are a joy to deal with.'
'2 Harcourt Buildings is an excellent set that conducts high-end prosecution and defence work. They have a range of seniority of counsel who are suitable for a wide breadth of matter types.'
'They are a good set with good counsel.'
'2 Harcourt Buildings has real strength in depth when it comes to prosecution. They never disappoint.'
The Legal 500 2025
The clerks go above and beyond to assist at all hours of the day in any way they can.
Chambers UK Bar 2024
‘Keith Poynter is really good and very straightforward to deal with. Gary Wright is a really nice guy and a very helpful clerk. They’re both really safe pairs of hands.’
‘Keith Poynter is a top clerk and a natural leader. He is extremely responsive, always available and great at sorting diary issues. He is widely respected by solicitors, counsel and other clerks. He is ably assisted by Gary Wright who complements his proactive approach.’
‘2 Harcourt Chambers has now developed into a set with a prominent defence practice. Historically, they have had a reputation as being a prosecution set but are now conducting complex and high-profile defence work.’
‘A premier league set in every respect.’
‘2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding chambers. It has a national reputation for conducting the most serious prosecutions, and is a ‘go-to’ set for two counsel cases. At the junior end it is arguably the most experienced and able set of criminal juniors at the Bar.’
‘A fine chambers with a broad range of quality advocates. A top set.’
‘A set whose clerks are always happy to assist where they can. Both senior and junior members are popular and sought-after.’
Legal 500 2024
‘Senior Clerk Keith Poynter is a diary wizard; he is assisted by Gary Wright, Joe Scanlan and Amanda Copas, all of whom are excellent, friendly and super responsive .’
Chambers UK Bar 2023
Our clerking team is dedicated to providing an exceptional service to each and every one of our clients, and will always endeavour to provide first-class counsel at whatever level of experience your case requires. We aim to foster a close working relationship and you can expect to get to know every member of our small team personally. We have deliberately avoided over-expansion and, as a result, we are proud to be able to offer quality counsel across the board coupled with a friendly and efficient service from the clerks’ room. We will give honest advice about the level of experience a case requires and the particular strengths and expertise of individual barristers.
If you are considering instructing us for the first time please contact Keith who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. He will also be delighted to come to your offices to meet with you in person. We have attracted many new clients in the last few years and they have stayed with us. As well as contacting our clerks individually you can use the form below for general enquiries or, alternatively, email our clerks room at clerks@2hb.co.uk.
Keith Poynter - Senior Clerk
Amanda Copas - Second Junior Clerk
Clare Wright - Third Junior Clerk
Reg Harris - Fees Clerk
Tom Tracy - First Junior Clerk
Vicky Beasley - Administrator