XXIV Old Buildings is delighted to announce that Stephen Hawes, Méabh Kirby and Benjamin Needleman have accepted offers of tenancy, and will be joining Chambers as tenants from October 2026 upon the successful completion of their respective pupillages.

Erin Hitchens, pupillage co-ordinator, says “We are delighted that all three of our pupils have accepted our offers of tenancy and look forward to seeing all their careers at the commercial and chancery bar flourish. They will no doubt further bolster our fantastic offering of junior barristers”.

Paul Horsfield, Senior Clerk, comments “We wish Stephen, Méabh and Benjamin every success as they begin their tenancies in October and look forward to following their future achievements.”

Stephen (Call 2025) completed the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme at City University in 2024 after undertaking a PhD at University College London focusing on “Control of Trustee Decision-Making in Pensions Trusts”. Prior to this Stephen graduated from UCL with a Distinction in the LLM, and completed the GDL with Distinction from City University. He read History at the University of Oxford.

Méabh (Call 2025) graduated with First Class Honours from Trinity College Dublin. She then went on to complete the BCL at the University of Oxford in 2020, graduating with Distinction. Méabh formerly practised as a solicitor specialising in probate and trust litigation, and as Senior Paralegal at an international group litigation firm. Méabh has also worked as Judicial Extern to the Honourable Michael Fitzgerald and Philip Gutierrez in the California Federal Court, Research Assistant to Professor Laura Hoyano at the University of Oxford, Researcher with Oxford Pro Bono Publico, and as Legal Intern at the Office of the Attorney General of Ireland. In 2025 she featured on the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Recognition List (2025).

Benjamin (Call 2025) graduated First Class from Monash University with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and a Bachelor of Engineering before completing the Master of Law (LLM) at the University of Cambridge, in which he also graduated First Class and won multiple subject prizes. Benjamin was formerly a solicitor at a US-based law firm in London specialising in commercial disputes and a trainee solicitor at a leading Australian law firm. Benjamin also worked as a Judicial Assistant to the Honourable Justice Riordan at the Supreme Court of Victoria and interned as a Marshal to Mr Justice Zervos at the High Court of Hong Kong.

For further information on their experience or availability, please contact the practice management team.