Chancery commercial set Maitland Chambers looks set to spark a pay war at the Bar after raising its pupillage award by £10,000 to £40,000 in a bid to compete more effectively with the top law firms for talent.

The move, which makes the package comparable to those being offered by the top law firms to trainees, makes Maitland the most generous pupillage funder at the Bar – although other top sets are likely to follow its lead.