Serjeants' Inn Chambers has appointed a longstanding senior practice manager at Henderson Chambers to the role of director of clerking.
Daniel Kemp leaves Henderson Chambers on amicable terms after more than 12 years and will take over from interim senior clerk Tom O’Connor, who will return to his former role of deputy senior clerk.
Kemp will effectively be the long-term replacement for former director of clerking Lee Johnson, who retired from Serjeants' Inn last year after more than 40 years at the set. Johnson was briefly replaced by Paul Eeles, 7 Bedford Row's former senior clerk, before Eeles took up the director of clerking role at Exeter’s Magdalen Chambers in February.
Kemp’s experience in managing chambers through transitions, his broad familiarity with the common law Bar and relevant practice areas, as well as strong personal skills and commercial acumen, will make him a strong foil for the set’s long-serving and highly regarded chief executive, Catherine Calder, and joint heads of chambers, Michael Horne KC and Claire Watson KC, the set’s first female co-head of chambers, who both took up their posts in 2025.
Over the last decade, the 86-strong set has grown its silk base from eight to 26 KCs, with three silks appointed in the 2026 round, and has recruited more than 41 tenants, building a strong reputation in medical law, civil litigation and clinical negligence, personal injury claims, police law, professional discipline, employment and public and administrative law, including inquiries, such as the Nottingham and Southport Inquiries.
The set is committed to equality and diversity, with Nageena Khalique KC winning the Advocate of the Year Award at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards, which are hosted by GLP, while Emma Sutton KC, the current chair of the Court of Protection Bar Association, was shortlisted for the same category at the 2026 Awards. The set also gained nominations for Social Mobility Initiative and Race Equality Initiative of the Year at previous Awards.
Writing on LinkedIn, Kemp said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Catherine Calder, the members of chambers, staff and clients, and to contributing to the continued success and outstanding reputation of Serjeants’ Inn Chambers."
Kemp also paid tribute to his former set where he forged strong relationships with chambers director Jason Housden and head of chambers Charles Gibson KC, alongside prominent silks and juniors like Tony Riley-Smith KC, Patrick Green KC, Kathleen Donnelly KC, 2026 silk James Purnell KC and Reanne MacKenzie.
He wrote: “As I begin this new role, I would also like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at Henderson Chambers. After 12½ years, it has been a genuine privilege to work alongside such talented, supportive and inspiring colleagues.
“The trust, collaboration, good humour and friendship I have experienced throughout my time there have made my career incredibly rewarding. I leave with immense gratitude for everything I have learned, the opportunities and experiences I have been fortunate to enjoy, and the many lasting friendships made along the way.”
Housden, speaking to this title, said: “We can’t thank Daniel enough for his contribution to the success of chambers and wish him the very best for the future”.
Henderson Chambers placed 23 members in the recent NOx litigation and managed teams involved in the mammoth Mariana Dam trial and appeals, having received judicial praise – in both cases – for strong case management, itself a feat of clerking organisation, plus diary and people management.
It is understood that Daniel Smith and Joseph Sutton will be promoted to deputy senior practice managers following Kemp’s exit and will take a greater role in the set’s clerking and management.
Prior to joining Henderson Chambers, under then-long-term senior clerk John White, Kemp worked for nearly 11 years at Gatehouse Chambers – then known as Hardwicke – rising from first junior clerk to senior practice manager. He also clerked at Goldsmiths’ Chambers and 3 Temple Gardens.
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