Public Affairs Agency
Political & Media Relations Consultants
Weber Shandwick is the retained public affairs agency of the Bar Council and provides the Bar with political and media relations consultancy services.
Weber Shandwick works with the Bar Council as a whole, as well as some of its individual committees, SBAs and the Circuits, providing media and consultancy advice.
Weber Shandwick operates the Bar Council Press Office, a fully staffed service available each weekday from 8.30am to 6.30pm, receiving calls from journalists, members of the profession and the public. There is also an out-of-hours contact facility.
The Press Office monitors the reporting of the Bar in the national and trade media and arranges coverage of the Bar's views and activities. These include statements, speeches and articles by the Chairman and senior Bar figures, special events such as the AGM and Bar Conference, and decisions taken by the Bar Council.
The Press Office is able to offer advice in preparing articles and speeches and preparing for interviews on radio and television on behalf of the Bar Council.
Office Hours
The office hours contact number is: 020 7222 2525
Out of Hours
The after hours contact number is: 07775 530978
The Team
Jon McLeod, Chief Press Officer
Jon is the Chairman of Weber Shandwick Public Affairs and has worked with the Bar Council since 1994. With Mark Hatcher, the Bar Council's Director of Representation and Policy, Jon oversees the provision of political and legal relations advice and assistance by Weber Shandwick. He works alongside the leadership of the Bar, providing advice on policy and positioning.
Camilla Barker, Press Officer
Camilla acts as a press officer and as the Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Legal and Constitutional Affairs. She supports the Criminal Bar Association, Public Affairs Committee and Kalisher Scholarship fund. Recently, Camilla has worked extensively on the Legal Services Bill and Legal Aid Reforms. Camilla provides support at the General Management Committee, Bar Council and Chairman's meetings. She also works alongside the circuits.
