Stuart Paley joined Hailsham Chambers 2009 progressing to his current position of Senior Practice Director.
Stuart works closely with the Senior Clerk, Stephen Smith and his key responsibilities include advising clients on the distribution of work, practice management for all Members of Chambers, fee negotiations along with the smooth running of Chambers. Stuart also has strategic input to Chambers’ business development activities along with developing and maintaining client relationships.
Stuart has been recognised in the legal directories for his high levels of client service.
"The clerks provide an outstanding service. They are commercial, down to earth and always there to provide a solution when it is needed the most." Legal 500, 2026
"The clerks are brilliantly responsive. They are a truly commendable front-line for the chambers, and provide excellent client service." Legal 500, 2026
"Stuart Paley is a very good clerk: efficient, helpful and user friendly." Legal 500, 2026
"The service provided by Hailsham Chambers is consistently excellent. A notable feature of the Hailsham clerks’ room is their role in supporting and facilitating the set’s exceptional in-house training programme. The clerks and support staff are closely involved in organising bespoke seminars, briefing sessions, and more informal knowledge-sharing events, often tailoring these to client needs." Legal 500, 2026
"Clerks are professional, helpful and responsive. Stuart Paley has been of great assistance in helping us set up a training seminar on maximising costs recovery for our Dispute Resolution Division." Legal 500, 2026
"Senior Practice Director Stuart Paley is excellent." Chambers UK, 2026
"Excellent - particularly Stuart Paley, first junior clerk, who makes our lives so much easier with his responsiveness and communication skills. From initial instructions to invoicing, it is a slick service." Chambers UK, 2024
"First Junior Clerk Stuart Paley is always quick to respond and to assist." Chambers UK, 2024
"I have found all of the clerks – and in particular Stuart Paley – to be responsive, clear and helpful." Legal 500, 2024
“Stuart Paley is always keen to assist and very helpful.” Legal 500, 2022
“Stephen Smith, Michael Kilbey and Stuart Paley are all excellent clerks.” “I would single out Michael Kilbey and Stuart Paley as two excellent clerks, for whom nothing is ever too much trouble and who go out of their way to assist.” Legal 500, 2022
“Stephen Smith and Stuart Paley are always on hand to help with planning, getting matters into the right hands and keeping matters moving. Very transparent and realistic on availability and cost.” Legal 500, 2022
Chambers UK 2020 describes him as “exceptional”, whilst Legal 500 2020 describes him as “meticulous” and “always accessible and prompt”.
