Tom Kelly

Introduction

Tom joined the Business & Property Group at St Philips in 2022, following four years of experience as a junior clerk both at St Philips and another leading regional set in the Midlands. In his role, Tom plays a key part in the administration and day-to-day management of members’ practices, including diary management, client liaison, fair allocation of work, and fee negotiation.

An active member of The Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC), Tom joined the Career Development Committee in April 2021, supporting the professional growth of junior clerks through educational and networking initiatives. He was appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee in January 2023 and became Chair in April 2024. In this capacity, Tom also contributes to the IBC’s Education and Management Committees.

Tom additionally serves as the Clerks’ representative on the Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) of The Bar Council of England and Wales. In this role, he works alongside committee members to promote and advance the interests of the Young Bar, focusing on everything from career development opportunities to addressing issues around bullying and fair allocation of work.

Outside of work, Tom is a passionate, if mostly armchair, Aston Villa fan. He also likes making the most of his ‘out of office’ on a few city breaks each year – between overindulging in local cuisine, he’s been known to swap knife and folk for a pair of running shoes, recently completing a half marathon, and making semi-regular appearances at his local parkrun.