Marc Forrest-Thomas and Pete Mottram have been promoted to the role of Practice Director.

No5 Barristers’ Chambers is delighted to announce that Marc Forrest-Thomas of the Planning and Environment Group and Pete Mottram of the PI/Clinical Negligence Group have been promoted to the role of Practice Director.

Marc joined No5 Barristers’ Chambers as a Criminal Clerk 9 years ago after spending much of the previous decade working in Criminal law for a local firm. After 5 years working as part of the Criminal clerking team he was promoted to a position in the Planning and Environment group where he was elevated to Practice Manager after 2 years. Marc has been a fantastic promoter of the Planning and Environment Group, Chambers and its Equality & Diversity Policies, culminating in No5’s nomination for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award 2025 at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards 2025.

Marc commented “I am thrilled to have been promoted to Practice Director. Moving to the Planning and Environment group is where I have really found my stride and I’m excited about the future and taking a more prominent role in promoting the group, its members and No5 itself.

Pete joined No5 Barristers’ Chambers as a post room Assistant in 2009 after spending five years in the British Army. Following a promotion in 2010, he spent five years honing his skills as part of the Criminal clerking team. In 2015 he joined the PI/CN team and over the last few years has become an integral part and a key voice of the clerking team. Pete is a keen supporter of the Spinal Injuries Association and in recent years, has cycled across France, Germany and Switzerland and even completed a triathlon dressed as the Hulk to raise much needed funds. This summer, he plans to continue his efforts by cycling across northern Italy to raise even more support for the cause.

Pete commented “Being promoted to Practice Director is a proud moment for me. I will continue to work closely with the management team to maintain the high standards that the group has set over recent years and look forward to the new challenges and exciting opportunities ahead”