Littleton Chambers has announced that Clare Bello, the former chief executive of Cornerstone Barristers, will take over from Liz Dux as chambers director in March upon Dux’s retirement.

With over twenty years of senior leadership experience at two leading sets of Chambers, Littleton said Bello was ideally placed to assist in developing its significant success over the last few years. The set is known for its work in employment law, commercial litigation, civil fraud and regulatory and sports law.

Bello joins Littleton having stepped down as CEO of Cornerstone Barristers in December, which she joined five years ago.

On leaving, Bello wrote on LinkedIn: “Leading Cornerstone has been a privilege. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated successes, and worked tirelessly to deliver the highest standards of excellence and service.”

Bello’s tenure saw her consolidate the set’s 2018 rebranding from 2-3 Grays’ Inn Square and expand its reach in local government and public law, planning and environmental law, and licensing, among other areas. She also oversaw the growth of the set's number of tenancies and the development of new fields of work in biodiversity and climate change law, as well as promotions within the set’s clerking team.

Before joining Cornerstone, she spent fourteen years as chambers manager at 4 Paper Buildings, the UK’s leading family law set.

Littleton's head of chambers, Gavin Mansfield KC, said: “We are delighted to have Clare join us. She brings with her a wealth of experience and was the perfect candidate to continue the work of her predecessor.”

Bello commented: “I am tremendously excited to join such a well-regarded set as Littleton. I have witnessed their significant achievements over the last few years and am proud to join this top-performing chambers.”

Dux leaves the set after eight years, having joined as chambers director in 2017. She succeeded Nigel McEwan, who is now partner and chairman at London boutique firm Candey.

Dux was formerly a partner at legacy Russell Jones & Walker and, upon its acquisition, Slater and Gordon, where she worked in child protection litigation and managed various offices within the firm’s personal injury department.

While Littleton saw exits under Dux, such as sports barrister John Mehrzad KC to Fountain Court in 2023, the writer and barrister Jamie Susskind to 11 King’s Bench Walk in 2022 and the retirement via ill health of leading employment junior Chris Quinn in 2021, it primarily confined lateral departures to judicial appointments, such as former BSB vice chair Naomi Ellenbogen QC, who became a High Court judge in 2020.

Notable promotions during Dux’s tenure include successive silk appointments and a progressive pupil recruitment and retention policy, alongside the arrival of leading employment silk Mo Sethi KC in 2019 and Louis Flannery KC from Mishcon de Reya in 2024, where he was head of international arbitration. The set’s commercial practitioners, like David Lascelles, have also thrived, as have the set’s clerks, with Dux forming a strong partnership with Jason Drakeford as senior clerk.

During her tenure, Dux was also an active member of the executive committee of the influential Legal Practice Managers Association (LPMA), where she is widely respected.