Leading Silks

Duncan Atkinson KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Duncan is a top class advocate, strategist and lawyer. He is formidable in argument on paper; he is greatly admired by judges in legal argument orally; and he is a dangerously fair cross-examiner of defendants in the witness box. He has grown to be one of the most senior and effective prosecution advocates in the land, trusted with the most sensitive and complex prosecutions.’

Crispin Aylett KC –QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Crispin turns his hand to anything with exceptional skill. He is probably the finest jury advocate of his generation.'

Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Sallie is phenomenal and one of the most gifted barristers at the Bar. She is unbelievably intelligent but also extremely practical. Clients know that they are getting the best service available when Sallie is working on their case.’

Henry Blaxland KC – Garden Court Chambers

Caroline Carberry KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Caroline is a charming and very effective advocate, both as a prosecutor and defence counsel. She is dogged and clear sighted in her assessment of the issues in cases with an ability to see the real issues and put them forward and present them in an attractive and persuasive way.’

George Carter-Stephenson KC – 25 Bedford Row 'George's manner and communication with clients is a particular strength of his - he is able to talk, engage and advise clients, of all backgrounds, in a down-to-earth and caring manner. This is extremely important in highly complex and sensitive cases.'

Jeremy Dein KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Jeremy is a doyen of the criminal Bar. He rightly enjoys a reputation as one of the very best silks in the country. He is a formidable opponent and a fearsome cross-examiner. He is thorough, tenacious and fights tooth and nail for his clients. He is absolutely top drawer and the go-to barrister for those wish to defend the most serious and challenging cases.’

Sarah Forshaw KC – 5KBW ‘Sarah is an absolute dream to work with. She is a tactical and strategic genius - every question relayed under cross-examination is skilfully crafted and deployed with pin-point precision and effectiveness. Every client that instructs Sarah trusts her with their life - they are 100% right to do so. She is by far the best silk in the business.'

Patrick Gibbs KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Paddy is quite simply one of the finest advocates of his generation. His insight, judgement, and willingness to delve into the weeds of the evidence make him one of the most reliable and effective advocates around. His trial preparation is second only to his advocacy – his incredibly polite yet disarming style is unstoppable when coupled with his diligence, immense intelligence, and unparalleled ability to think on his feet no matter the pressure.’

Oliver Glasgow KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Oliver is a class act. He has a phenomenal mind and cuts through cases with precision and skill. Despite being one of the best criminal silks, he is respectful and treats those he works with in a compassionate and considerate way. He is never flustered and has an unprecedented work ethic. Truly outstanding in all he does.’

Caroline Haughey KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Caroline is simply formidable. She is exceptionally bright, hardworking and very down to earth. She has a fantastic ability to digest vast quantities of information and to break it down into easy-to-understand concepts for a jury. She gets her points across in a structured and beautiful way allowing even difficult concepts to be easily understood. Moreover, Caroline is the foremost expert in human trafficking in the UK.'

Ian Henderson KC – Farringdon Chambers ‘Ian is an excellent lawyer and advocate. He is thorough in his preparation and precise in his cross-examination. Ian's affable personality and down-to-earth approach is particularly effective with juries. He is well respected by both the Bar and Bench.'

Mark Heywood KC – 5KBW ‘Mark is a devastatingly persuasive advocate who is charming and erudite in equal measure. He is so compelling it is often difficult to work out how he could possibly be wrong. Mark has effortless charm and intellectual gravity at the same time. He carries with him a weight of experience and knowledge which is almost impossible to challenge.’

Paul Hynes KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Paul is undoubtedly one of the cleverest barristers at the criminal Bar, if not the cleverest. His intellect is extraordinary. He is able to comprehend even the most complex areas of the law in a way that few others can, and then condense it in a way that makes sense to the layman. His humour means that judges, juries and law clients, combined with his exceptional ability, warm to him.’

Gillian Jones KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Gilly's abilities cannot be praised highly enough; she is simply the best barrister around. She is phenomenally hardworking, her attention to detail is exceptional, she is tactically very astute and is a formidable advocate. She has the ability to communicate at every level and her care towards clients is the best.'

Riel Karmy-Jones KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Riel is a class act. She is approachable, impressive and very clever indeed. She commands the attention of the whole courtroom; watching her in court is like being chauffeur driven in a Rolls Royce. Her capacity for hard work and her attention to detail is awe-inspiring. Her judgement is impeccable, her tactics astute, and she is particularly good with vulnerable witnesses.’

Brendan Kelly KC –2 Hare Court 'A very impressive, urbane and capable leader.'

Eleanor Laws KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Ellie is persuasive in writing and on her feet. She is top of the game when it comes to sex cases - she thoroughly earns the title as the top sex brief in the country. Ellie is just very, very clever. She also listens to clients, makes a real effort to understand events from their perspective, and isn’t afraid of giving hard news but does so with compassion.'

Tom Little KC – Deka Chambers

Philippa McAtasney KC – Furnival Chambers 'Philippa has gravitas in buckets. She is an excellent lawyer and advocate. She takes no prisoners but she is approachable, friendly and has a super sense of humour. She has a big reputation which is thoroughly deserved.'

Paul Mendelle KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Paul is very intelligent and a canny operator. He is a superb lawyer and an effective communicator to the jury.'

Tim Moloney KC – Doughty Street Chambers 'Tim is a fantastically gifted advocate. He is grounded and effective. His style is understated, empathetic, compassionate and compelling. In any courtroom, Tim is the special one, exuding wisdom and effortlessness. Juries love him.'

Clare Montgomery KC – Matrix Chambers

Lewis Power KC – Church Court Chambers

James Scobie KC – Garden Court Chambers

Jim Sturman KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Jim is absolutely top class. He is passionate and driven to succeed and is the solicitors' best choice for taking on difficult issues head on. He is charming in court but is like a dog with a bone when he needs to get stuck into a witness and is relentless in pursuing his lay client's case. Jim is a man for all seasons - the crème de la crème.'

Sasha Wass KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Sasha has a really excellent manner with clients – she is reassuring and explains things very clearly. Clients feel that she is fighting their corner. Her tactical advice is superb and she commands real respect in the courtroom.’

Richard Whittam KC – Matrix Chambers

James Wood KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘James is a phenomenal advocate who is completely fearless of judges. He will fight for the client irrespective of the views of others. He is a first choice for any difficult and complex case. He is great to work with and gets back to you immediately. He is unstuffy and collaborative. He is highly respected and is intellectually superior to most of his peers.’

Tana Adkin KC – 15NBS ‘Tana is a brilliant advocate with a powerful presence in court. She presents submissions articulately and persuasively, demonstrating thorough preparation and good insight. She is exceptionally skilled and maintains high standards of integrity and ethics.'

Christine Agnew KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Christine has an unmatched eye for detail and is razor sharp and incisive in her presentation of arguments and cross-examination.'

Tracy Ayling KC – 2 Bedford Row

Narita Bahra KC – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Narita is incredibly hard-working. She is meticulous in preparation, in particular in relation to disclosure, in which she is an industry thought leader and noted author of the practitioner texts. Narita is a masterful advocate who has seen it all and knows just what to say and how to say it to best effect.’

Ali Bajwa KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Ali's preparation for a case is of the highest level; he explores and understands every single detail. His advocacy is an art; listening to him cross-examine is like listening to poetry - good poetry. Ali takes the court and the witness on a journey to an almost inescapable final destination.'

David Bentley KC – Doughty Street Chambers

Jane Bickerstaff KC – 9BR ‘Jane is a phenomenally experienced advocate working on the most serious cases. She fights passionately and tirelessly for her clients to achieve excellent results and she is somebody who sensitively deals with vulnerable clients and also acts on some cases that require the utmost sensitivity.’

Michael Bromley-Martin KC – Three Raymond Buildings 'Michael is one of the very best. He is a skilled and polished advocate and a master tactician. He has a hawk’s eye for detail and a nose for any weakness in the prosecution case. He is approachable, impressive and scared of no one. A true gladiator. This combined with exemplary charm make him of one of the most effective and charismatic silks around.'

Giles Cockings KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Giles is a brilliant advocate and a superb tactician. He is highly recommended.'

John Cooper KC – 25 Bedford Row

Mark Cotter KC – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Mark is a master of detail. He is a brilliant cross-examiner and brilliant in mitigation. His strategic thinking is superb and he has an excellent manner with clients. Mark has a real ability to explain complex legal principles, such as joint enterprise, in a concise manner, relevant to a young person's world.'

Annabel Darlow KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Annabel stands up to judges with confidence and clarity. If her argument is dismissed she will clearly tell a judge that she disagrees and explain why. At the end of that process the judge often changes his or her mind. She is forensic in cross-examination and uses all of the material at hand to present a complex case in a wonderfully simple manner.’

Jennifer Dempster KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Jenni has an ability to digest and then explain the very complicated in terms a lay person can understand. Then when she is in court she is an advocate with energy and determination like no other.’

Simon Denison KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Simon is an astute prosecutor and does not take bad points. His cross-examination is always well judged and to the point. One could not ask for a fairer prosecutor.'

David Etherington KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘David is a smooth operator. He is an exceptional jury advocate.'

John Femi-Ola KC –3TG Barristers ‘John is a superb orator who captivates a jury. Eloquence and charm are his trademark. He is now a regular at the Old Bailey due to his reputation as a murder specialist. John is a top ranking silk with an easy manner about him such that it is a pleasure to be in his company.’

Edward Fitzgerald KC – Doughty Street Chambers 'Edward is, without a doubt, one of the finest barristers of our time. He is always completely focussed on the case before him and draws on his encyclopaedic knowledge of the law to get the very best outcome. But more than that he brings great humanity to the cases he works on, mastering the facts and using the law to achieve justice.'

Francis FitzGibbon KC –23ES

Mark Harries KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Mark is, without doubt, one of the most gifted advocates around. His commitment to each case is unwavering. His approach is impressively tailored to the nature of the case and to the needs of the client. He is never judgemental. His case preparation is exceptionally thorough. He always makes himself available to deal with queries, whatever their nature.’

Alexandra Healy KC – Foundry Chambers ‘Alexandra is a first-rate advocate at the peak of her powers and one of the leading lights of the criminal Bar. She is best known presently for her leading role in prosecuting the most sensitive and complex of criminal jury trials, but she could just as easily be defending them. Alexandra has a perfect grasp of the law, a mastery of the facts, and superb judgement of what really matters in a case. She is resolute with judges and digestible with juries.’

Christopher Henley KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Chris is everything you could want in a criminal silk. He rolls his sleeves up. He gets stuck in. He is unfazed and calm. Clients adore him. Judges respect him. And he’s a pleasure to work with. His advocacy is unflappable even in the tightest of corners. He is a leader in his field.'

David Hislop KC – Doughty Street Chambers 'David's strengths are his advocacy, tenacious cross-examination, and tactical decision making in handling tricky witnesses. Juries love him. He has an ability to get a grasp on a case quickly and assimilate large quantities of paperwork. David is respected by all.'

Mozammel Hossain KC – 187 Chambers ‘Mozammel is one of the great jury advocates operating at the moment. He delivers his account in the most eloquent manner and members of the jury are always engaged in his speeches and cross-examination of witnesses. He has built a formidable reputation defending murder cases and clients love him as he always fights their corner.’

David Jeremy KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘David is a superb lawyer and advocate, at the pinnacle of his powers.'

Zoe Johnson KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Zoe is a devastating advocate, an impressive lawyer and a first-class human being. She effortlessly achieves the best results for her clients.'

Richard Jory KC – Foundry Chambers ‘Richard is a very pleasant, persuasive and charming advocate. He is intelligent, articulate and understands and can communicate with clients.'

Paul Keleher KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Paul’s strengths are his precision and integrity. No short cuts are taken on his watch and no prejudice against his client is permitted to go unchallenged. Paul is also well known to be the ablest user of technological and presentation aids at the Bar.’

Brian St Louis KC – 15NBS ‘Brian is a first-rate advocate who is flawless on his feet and a joy to watch. A master tactician, Brian is able to master his brief very quickly and his cross-examination of experts is technical and meticulous. Clients absolutely love him. His smile wins over half the jury and his intellect does the rest.'

Kate Lumsdon KC – 23ES ‘Kate simply exudes quality. She inspires trust from clients, judges and opponents alike. Kate is a master of detail, highly effective on her feet, straight as a die, utterly professional and the epitome of charm.’

Eloise Marshall KC – 23ES ‘Eloise is a top silk with the full skill set required of a barrister. She is a formidable cross-examiner, focusing questions on the relevant issues and relentlessly pursuing her point, though she can also deal with issues with a light touch when necessary. Her ability to adapt her style and approach to what is required in the case is brilliant. Her closing speeches are extremely engaging and persuasive.’

Rajiv Menon KC – Garden Court Chambers

Anthony Metzer KC – Goldsmith Chambers ‘Anthony's preparation of a case is meticulous and no stone is left unturned. His attention to detail and analysis of the facts means that he is able to identify case strategies which achieve the best possible outcome for clients. He is a fearless defender, charismatic and a genuine gentleman.'

Miranda Moore KC –5 Paper Buildings 'Miranda is unflappable and knows everything. She has such a depth of experience that literally nothing throws her. She can handle complex legal, factual, medical, and financial analysis with ease. She commands respect and is always cool under pressure. She is also great fun to work with, and not at all stuffy.'

Alison Morgan KC – 6KBW College Hill

Stephen Moses KC – Furnival Chambers 'Stephen is magnificent on his feet and the manner in which he deals with legal argument is especially impressive. He is simply brilliant; confident and measured in every aspect. He stands his ground and will persist in his attempts to persuade, to great effect.'

Pavlos Panayi KC – 7BR ‘Pavlos has an ability to absorb the detail of the most complex case in a short space of time. His cross-examination is always thought-through and his courtroom performance combines calm, empathy, robust challenge and flair at precisely the right moment. He has impeccable witness handling skills.’

Icah Peart KC – Garden Court Chambers

Duncan Penny KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Duncan is a man who knows criminal law inside out but can importantly assess the likely actions of the investigating and prosecuting authorities and anticipate them. He has crystalline clarity in his approach and analysis.’

Simon Pentol KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Simon is a unique barrister. He owns the courtroom when he stands up and you cannot help but listen to what he has to say. He is a true defender through and through and a street fighter for clients when the battle is uphill. He is always confident and will always provide clients with robust and direct advice, which is often needed.'

Steven Perian KC – 2 King's Bench Walk Chambers 'Steven is very meticulous, experienced and articulate. A well-respected advocate.'

Orlando Pownall KC – 2 Hare Court 'A stellar silk.'

Jonathan Rees KC – 2 Hare Court

Martin Rutherford KC – 15NBS ‘Martin inspires absolute confidence in those he works alongside. His relaxed and warm manner quickly wins over clients who love working with him. In court he exudes authority and his judgement of courtroom dynamics is impeccable, with all those he appears before holding him in the highest regard.’

John Ryder KC – 6KBW College Hill

Mathew Sherratt KC – Thomas More Chambers ‘Mathew is a charming and persuasive advocate. He is able to assimilate large volumes of complex material very quickly, and to draw incisive and pertinent conclusions from it. His advocacy style is good humoured and down to earth and he is popular with juries. Mathew fights hard in court, but is a pleasure to deal with out of it.'

Tyrone Smith KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Tyrone's advocacy is top-notch. He has a wonderful way of appealing to the reasonableness of the jury without appearing to be partisan in advancing his own case. He is also tactically very astute and always plots a very good course through the case.'

Bernard Tetlow KC – Garden Court Chambers 'Bernard is a huge presence in court and a true jury advocate. He is excellent with clients and a constant source of support to his instructing solicitors. Bernard is at the top of his game.'

Kieran Vaughan KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘One of Kieran's greatest strengths is his ability to identify and get to the heart of issues very quickly. He communicates well with clients and has the ability to explain things clearly with precision and focus. This translates into his court advocacy where he commands respect and attention from juries, fellow counsel and judges.'

Alisdair Williamson KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Alisdair is at the very upper echelons of the criminal Bar. He is a brilliant cross-examiner with exceptional judgement. His ability to read the mood of any tribunal is second to none. His preparation, written work and oral advocacy skills are excellent.’

Adam Kane KC – Libertas Chambers ‘Adam has a beautiful and poetic use of language that paints vivid images. He has an extraordinary knowledge of case law precedent and is extremely hard-working, using every hour of the day to refine and draft arguments to fight his client's corner.’

Colin Aylott KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Colin's stellar trial preparation is reflected in his advocacy which is always on point and delivered to devastating effect. He is a disarming opponent, an excellent lawyer and juries love him.'

Tony Badenoch KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Tony is a very impressive advocate with sound judgement and a great work ethic. He is polite in the extreme, a commodity that isn’t always found in advocates these days, and his advocacy on legal matters is extremely impressive.’

Alex Bailin KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Alex is a highly accomplished and sophisticated advocate - he has an eye for detail but never loses touch of the bigger picture and he is tactically very astute and comfortable with dealing with tricky or novel points of law.'

Richard Barraclough KC – Six Pump Court 'Richard has an enormous capacity for detail, his analytical skills are unique and he is empathetic - he cannot be faulted.'

Jason Bartfeld KC – 187 Chambers ‘Jason is a true gladiator in court. He is confident, fearless and ready to fight all the way for his clients.’

Jeremy Benson KC – Red Lion Chambers

Kate Bex KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Kate is an advocate at the top of her game. She is a commanding and charming presence in court - a difficult feat to pull off - and her closing speeches are a masterclass in advocacy. She has great tactical acumen and remains a very firm but fair prosecutor.'

Oliver Blunt KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Oliver is a person that deals in the detail of the evidence and forms a strategy based on it. He has great forensic skill when handling witness statements and in cross-examination of witnesses. He also builds great rapport with clients and they trust his judgement. He is a go-to counsel for serious matters.’

Paul Bogan KC – 23ES

Kirsty Brimelow KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Kirsty has excellent, detailed knowledge of the criminal law as well as years of experience running complex cases. She is warm and approachable and never too busy to assist her colleagues. She is also plainly an excellent negotiator.'

John Cammegh KC – 5 St Andrews Hill 'John is an exceptional advocate. He is commanding and authoritative in court, without being overbearing. He is effortlessly persuasive and his advocacy style is precisely what you'd expect of a silk.'

Brenda Campbell KC – Garden Court Chambers

Richard Christie KC – 187 Chambers ‘Richard is skilful, his attention to detail is second to none and above all he has a unique ability to bring out the best in clients in the most difficult of situations. He is very energetic and has a very good understanding of complex areas common in murder cases such as identification, cell site analysis and forensics. He is simply one of the best silks in the profession.’

Simon Csoka KC – Libertas Chambers ‘Simon's intelligence levels are on another level from everyone else. His ability to retain huge amounts of information and repeat every word back without having to look at it for recall is superhuman. He is a once-in-a-lifetime barrister.'

Adam Davis KC – 3TG Barristers

Benjamin Douglas-Jones KC – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Ben is an absolutely first-class criminal barrister. When he speaks, people listen, because what he says is always worth listening to. He has a total eye to detail and never misses a page of the papers. He has a great tactical approach and moves straight to the key points. He has no weaknesses.'

Peter Doyle KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Peter is a tactical genius with decades of experience. He is at the top of his game.'

Sarah Elliott KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Sarah is the best trial advocate around. She is totally on top of evidence and the issues in the case as well as fearless in the face of tough judges and aggressive prosecutors. Juries enjoy her grilling of those who come to the witness box with an agenda and with something to protect.'

David Emanuel KC – Garden Court Chambers

William Emlyn Jones KC – Three Raymond Buildings 'William is one of the most respected and able prosecutors at the Old Bailey in the most serious and complex cases. His personable manner and charm should not hide his inner steely determination. He is a tough and astute cross-examiner and a master tactician.'

Philip Evans KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Philip is a wonderful advocate with a nice, dry turn of phrase. He is also a very capable lawyer. Out of court he is great - a fantastic team player, lovely to work with and always looking out for others. A dream leader.'

Mark Fenhalls KC – 23ES

Kerim Fuad KC – Church Court Chambers

Dean George KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Dean is quite simply one of the best barristers around. His work rate, dedication and attention to detail is matched only by his unequalled advocacy skills that frequently unravel and dissect apparently strong cases for the prosecution with enviable ability.'

Felicity Gerry KC – Libertas Chambers ‘Felicity is a powerful advocate. She has a keen eye for detail and an impressive legal brain. This, combined with her fearless style of advocacy and her assured manner in front of juries, makes her a formidable opponent and an excellent leader.'

Peter Glenser KC – 9BR Chambers

Emma Goodall KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Emma is highly intelligent with a forensic eye for detail. Her diligent case preparation is the amongst the best around. Her knowledge of the law and ability to apply that knowledge to her client's advantage in the service of their case is genuinely impressive. She is a persuasive advocate who always has the respect of the court due to her obvious grasp of the issues in the case and her conspicuous competence.'

Siobhan Grey KC – Foundry Chambers 'Siobhan is a dedicated KC at the zenith of the profession. She has excellent analytical skills. She is methodical and meticulous. Siobhan is an adept communicator especially with vulnerable clients. She is a persuasive, skilled advocate. Siobhan is real fighter and first choice counsel in murder cases.'

Jacob Hallam KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Jacob is always across the detail of his cases. Judges trust him and his style is very jury friendly in that it is understated and always reasonable in a way which only serves to emphasise any good points he has to make.'

Edward Henry KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Edward is obviously highly intelligent and pleasingly bold. But the difference between him and others is that alongside this legal intelligence comes deep emotional intelligence, along with humility and dedication. He is highly recommended for his keen intelligence, his relentless hard work and his deep compassion for the people he represents.'

Jonathan Higgs KC – 5KBW ‘Jonathan’s advocacy and preparation is excellent. He is a very good barrister all round.’

William Hughes KC – Foundry Chambers ‘William has been there and done it. He appears unflappable in the most complex trials. His advocacy puts the whole court at ease and is based on huge experience. Gravitas and ability emanates from him each time he rises to his feet.'

Aftab Jafferjee KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Aftab cross-examines with flair and authority. He makes excellent legal submissions, takes good points and is a very attractive advocate.’

Tom Kark KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Lee Karu KC – Millennium Chambers ‘Lee is not to be underestimated. He is thoughtful and methodical. He does not waste any time in getting to the heart of the issues or the heart of the case. Lee is not bombastic in robing rooms; he listens, thinks, reflects and then uses the information he receives to his advantage. A very good operator.'

Alan Kent KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Alan is a masterful advocate. He is brilliant on tactics and a superb all-rounder.'

Jennifer Knight KC – 23ES ‘Jennifer demonstrates mastery of the law and facts in all cases. She is calm and measured in cases of the utmost sensitivity. In particular she has an in-depth knowledge of the complicated and difficult medical evidence that arises in the homicide of children. Jennifer is a powerful advocate on top of her game in all senses.’

Abbas Lakha KC – 9BR Chambers 'Abbas is an exceptional advocate. He has real presence in court and inspires confidence in clients. He is able to instantly respond and adapt to the often dynamic nature of proceedings and has the ability to readily grasp and master complicated technical evidence, often involving expert evidence. Abbas is a brilliant negotiator and is able to achieve incredible outcomes for his clients.'

Sean Larkin KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Sean's manner in court is calm and his advocacy is unrivalled, with many who know him commenting on his sheer skill at holding a jury's attention and making them truly think about the evidence. His ability to immediately understand the issues in a case, even in the most complex, is a sight to behold. Yet with all of this he still has empathy, even with the youngest and most vulnerable of lay clients.'

Louis Mably KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Louis is very a experienced and professional prosecutor who is always on top of the detail in his cases. He is able to present the case in a very jury friendly manner and is also a pleasure to deal with when discussing jury directions to form part of the summing up.'

Michael Magarian KC –Drystone Chambers ‘Michael is extremely experienced and skilled. He is hardworking and engaging and his tactical instinct is second to none. He is an excellent jury advocate and phenomenal cross-examiner.'

Michael Mather-Lees KC – Church Court Chambers 'Michael is a pleasure to watch in action - he is very calm and persuasive in his submissions to the court and jury. He is incredibly well prepared and just gets to the issues in a case with complete ease and understanding. He is personable both in and outside of court.'

John McGuinness KC – Foundry Chambers

Charles Miskin KC – 23ES ‘Charles is a class act. His relaxed style belies a razor-sharp mind.’

Keir Monteith KC – Garden Court Chambers 'Keir is probably the best barrister around. He is incredibly clever, hard-working and fearless. His total dedication to his cases somehow remains undiminished after his many years in practice. He is loved by clients and a pleasure to instruct.'

Michelle Nelson KC – Red Lion Chambers

Sally O’Neill KC – Furnival Chambers 'Sally is the queen of the bar. Her legal arguments are flawless and when she speaks both judge and jury listen. She is so well respected and a pure class act. Sally always always treats clients with dignity and respect even in the most shocking and sensitive of cases.'

Anthony Orchard KC – 5KBW ‘Anthony is one of the most respected prosecuting silks at the Old Bailey. His manner is incomparable – the essence of fairness, good judgement and reasonableness. That said, he is a formidable opponent as juries love his manner in court. He is a top practitioner at the highest level.’

Jane Osborne KC – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Jane is tactically astute and skilled at handling young clients. She holds the respect of the court and her judgement is spot on every time.'

Gareth Patterson KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘The way Gareth marshals and presents vast amounts of sensitive material is truly impressive. There is probably no harder working silk at the criminal bar. He is a first-choice silk for large, fact-heavy or evidence-dense cases as he can wade through oceans of material, and not miss a word.'

Christopher Paxton KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Chris is a terrific advocate. He has amazing courtroom presence. Judges and juries listen to him. He is brilliant in cross-examination and very good with clients. He is absolutely at the top of the tree.'

Stan Reiz KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Stan oozes calm confidence and has a painstaking attention to detail. Opponents who are unprepared find themselves quickly on a back foot which they rarely recover from. Clients are assured by his measured demeanour and his guidance and explanations which make the most complex legal issues understandable by all.'

Justin Rouse KC – 9BR Chambers ‘Justin is an excellent lawyer. He is meticulous in his preparation and is able to assimilate complex facts and detail quickly. He has a commanding presence in court and is well respected by the judiciary and his legal peers.'

Rossano Scamardella KC –23ES ‘Rossano rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in straight away – even if he comes to a case only a very short time before trial he is totally on top of it. He is persuasive, his cross-examination is laser-like in its focus, and his closing speeches are robust.’

Charlie Sherrard KC – Furnival Chambers 'Charlie is brilliant and clever. He has the command of the courtroom and is a quick thinker on his feet, able to digest a lot of heavy evidence very quickly. His advocacy style is easy for the jury to follow and direct.'

Melanie Simpson KC – Doughty Street Chambers 'Melanie has a first-class legal brain and is a hugely persuasive advocate. She is adored by judges, clients, and juries. She has it all.'

Julia Smart KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Julia is a very methodical and detail-specific barrister. She is quite quick to get to the heart of what is needed and is collaborative in her approach to cases where she is open to discussion about tactics. Julia is very good in written submissions and has a very strong handle of legal precedents and nuances in the law.'

Mark Summers KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Mark's oral advocacy is simply superb. His ability to explain complex legal and factual issues in simple and straightforward terms is second to none. Mark has a forensic mind and an unrivalled work ethic: no matter how large the papers in a particular case, he is on top of the detail of every single page. He is a stellar KC.'

Louise Sweet KC – 2 Bedford Row 'Louise is brilliant at jury advocacy; she paints a picture with words that makes a case clear and simple. She has a collaborative approach and her written advocacy is excellent.'

Katy Thorne KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Katy is everything you would want in a modern silk. She is bright, engaging and has a real human touch. She is brilliant at bringing people together and juries love her.’

Stuart Trimmer KC – 4BB ‘Stuart's ability to marshal evidence is second to none. He is able to take a jury through complex and challenging pieces of material with ease in a way that they can easily follow. His advocacy is firm and effective. He is not one for melodramatics, but is a highly communicative advocate who is able to address a jury in a way they can follow. His cross-examination is also powerful - he is particularly good with experts.'

Clare Wade KC – Garden Court Chambers 'Clare has extensive experience of the most serious and high-profile criminal cases. She is an incredibly impressive trial advocate, an astute tactician, forensically thorough and supremely articulate. Her speeches to the jury are exceptional.'

Jeremy Wainwright KC – 3TG Barristers ‘Jeremy is meticulous in his preparation and analysis of cases. He leaves no stone unturned and is able to engage with defendants from all walks of life on their level. He explains complex legal issues in a succinct and clear manner for the lay client and his advocacy is outstanding.’

David Whittaker KC – 2 Hare Court ‘David is an excellent barrister. He effortlessly comprehends complex cases and is creative and tactful in his approach. He is fiercely intelligent, hardworking, respected by peers and clients, and commanding inside the courtroom, delivering his advocacy eloquently and persuasively.'

Peter Wilcock KC – Garden Court Chambers

Lisa Wilding KC – 23ES ‘Lisa is a measured and forceful advocate. She is organised, reasonable, and can charm any jury with her charismatic flair.'

Hossein Zahir KC – Garden Court Chambers

Zubair Ahmad KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Zubair has a wonderful way of reassuring clients; he is extremely empathetic with fantastic client care skills. His written advocacy is exceptional and his verbal advocacy is excellent - a very jury friendly silk.'

Benjamin Aina KC – Church Court Chambers

Nneka Akudolu KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Nneka’s ability to communicate with people is a gift. She is able to put defendants at ease and explain legal issues in a user-friendly way. Her advocacy skills are also impressive; her ability to persuade judges is second to none.’

Anand Beharrylal KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Anand is a fierce advocate with a keen eye for detail. He is meticulous and thorough in his preparation for each and every case. His advocacy approach is effective and persuasive. He will tailor his tone and approach specific to the witness and the stage of the case’

Charles Bott KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Charles is fantastically quick thinking. He is able to digest a lot of material before offering robust and well-thought-out advice. He really cares about each case at hand as well as his instructing solicitors and clients.'

Matthew Butt KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Matthew is phenomenal and an absolute pleasure to work with. He is very helpful in his advice whilst his advocacy is a masterclass. He is a tenacious advocate who never loses sight of the bigger strategic picture.’

Jacqueline Carey KC – 2 Bedford Row

Paul Cavin KC – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Paul is calm under pressure, able to assimilate vast amounts of information quickly, a smooth communicator, and clever.’

Rhiannon Crimmins KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Rhiannon’s cross-examination of eye witnesses is meticulously prepared and skilfully deployed.’

Claire Davies KC – Farringdon Chambers ‘Claire is a clear, focused and tactically astute advocate who has a direct style which cuts to the key issues. She has the ability to strip away irrelevant arguments and facts and set out clear submissions which are persuasive and compelling. She combines a razor-sharp focus with compassionate client-care. She is able to get the best out of those around her and put the best case for the client.’

Hugh Davies KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Hugh is an industrious and talented prosecutor of murder cases.’

James Dawes KC – 2 Harcourt Buildings 'James is never underprepared. He is direct and determined. His cross-examination is forceful and effective and his legal submissions are uncompromising. Despite his strong approach to prosecution he is delightful company and has a great sense of humour.'

Christopher Donnellan KC – The 36 Group ‘Christopher is a measured barrister held in high regard by those he appears before. He is a jury-friendly advocate who leaves no stone unturned.’

Julian Evans KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Alexandra Felix KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Alexandra is outstanding - she commands the ear of the court when on her feet, so her points hit home. She takes a collaborative approach to case progression making it easy to work with her, and clients respond to her direct but warm manner.'

Peter Finnigan KC –QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Peter is charming, effective, and understated. He does not waste a word and is excellent on his feet.'

Tom Forster KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Tom is a master strategist as well as courteous, charming, and very persuasive. Tactics and presentation win cases, and he excels in both. He is legally very astute and demonstrates impeccable judgement. His capacity for hard work is exceptional and his eye for detail is second to none. Tom is very classy and modest and has the most amazing brain. He is frighteningly intelligent.’

Rudi Fortson KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Purely and simply, Rudi is top class, in fact second to none. He has many fine qualities and is able to marry an academic mind with the practical skills of a barrister. He is also very hardworking.’

Danny Friedman KC – Matrix Chambers

Alan Gardner KC – 23ES ‘Alan is supremely intelligent. He is able to dissect the issues in a complex case and articulate them into submissions which are readily understandable to a jury. He has an excellent manner with clients and colleagues alike.’

Mark Gatley KC – Garden Court Chambers

Michael Goodwin KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Michael is very thorough and incredibly analytical. He is a powerful advocate and highly respected by his peers.’

Martin Goudie KC – Crucible Chambers ‘Martin is one of the best strategists at the bar. From the start of a case, his clear-eyed approach gives confidence to solicitors and clients alike, and achieves results that would otherwise have seemed impossible.'

Andrew Hall KC – Doughty Street Chambers

Deanna Heer KC – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Deanna is a class act. She is charming and persuasive. Her legal knowledge is outstanding. She is fair, hugely talented and has scrupulous integrity. It is always a pleasure to work with her. Her cross-examination is well prepared and to the point. Her legal submissions are focused, clear and on point.’

Martin Hicks KC – 2 Hare Court

Michael Ivers KC – Garden Court Chambers

Leon Kazakos KC – 2 Hare Court 'An iron fist in a velvet glove.'

Jonathan Laidlaw KC – 2 Hare Court 'His advocacy and case presentation readily commands the attention of clients, jurors, fellow advocates and the judiciary.'

Anya Lewis KC – Garden Court Chambers 'Anya is extremely conscientious and hard-working. She considers all of the material and has a great understanding of the issues in the case at a very early stage and is then very responsive throughout the life of case. She is extremely affable and is good with clients.'

Samuel Magee KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Sam is an exceptional advocate and always presents the case at its height in the most effective manner. He is also adept at identifying weaknesses in the case and taking action early to address anticipated challenges arising from same. This case building is invaluable. He is a skilled lead counsel and obtains good results in very difficult cases.'

Vanessa Marshall KC – 7BR

Anu Mohindru KC – Foundry Chambers

James Mulholland KC – 23ES ‘James is one of the most impressive silks around; he is known and respected in every robing room he enters. His preparation is meticulous and he masters every detail of a case. He is an expert cross-examiner. The most impressive part of his advocacy though are his speeches: his turn of phrase and personable nature make him a jury favourite.’

Mark Mulholland KC – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘When Mark is instructed in a case he is wholly committed to it. He has excellent strategic skills and an ability to plan out the approach to be taken in each case with due cognisance of potential contingencies that might arise. He has a microscopic attention to detail and nothing is left to chance. Mark is an excellent advocate. His approach is perfectly balanced and nuanced and always effective.’

Charlotte Newell KC – 5KBW ‘Charlotte is tactically astute, her drafting skills are great and her level of preparation for every hearing is unusually impressive. She cuts to the chase when giving tough advice to vulnerable defendants, but demonstrates compassion at the same time. She fights passionately and gets astonishingly good results.'

Brian O’Neill KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Brian is a top-notch opponent in court. He is a fierce fighter with a deadly sense of humour and comic timing. Brian is a particularly able cross-examiner, getting under the skin of difficult witnesses.'

Laurie-Anne Power KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Laurie-Anne is the model of a modern silk. She is simply the complete package with a unique ability to build rapport with clients whilst giving down-to-earth advice. In court, she is a superstar. She is equally persuasive addressing a judge as a jury.’

Steven Powles KC – Doughty Street Chambers 'Steven is very very clever and a delight to work with. He is kind and compassionate.'

John Price KC – 23ES ‘John has a complete command of the law. He is a superb advocate with an ability to manage multi-handed cases with ease. John is also a fierce and forensic cross-examiner. He is at the very top end of criminal silks: a go-to KC for top-end work.’

Mary Prior KC – The 36 Group ‘Mary is an enormously experienced advocate with formidable advocacy skills – she is adept at building a relationship with the jury and dealing with difficult and often vulnerable clients. She has a powerhouse reputation at the Bar.’

Nathan Rasiah KC – 23ES ‘Nathan is an understated but effective advocate who has the respect of the court.’

Bernard Richmond KC - Lamb Building

Danny Robinson KC – 5KBW

Sultana Tafadar KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Sultana is a leader in the field of terrorism cases. Her experience is unmatched, and her insight into every aspect of terrorism cases – expert, factual, and legal – is a rare find for any client lucky enough to be represented by her in a terrorism trial. She leaves most other silks in the dust.’

Paul Taylor KC – 5KBW ‘Paul is a pleasure to discuss a case with – he is always calm and precise and his encyclopaedic knowledge combines powerfully with his smart thinking. His advice and advocacy always meshes important principles with technicalities and details.’

Richard Thomas KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Richard is peerless. He is a glorious advocate who masters complex law in appellate crime effortlessly.’

Edmund Vickers KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Edmund has great attention to detail and is forceful and very effective in legal argument. He is a winner.'

Sarah Vine KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Sarah is the most emotionally literate criminal advocate around with an ability to persuade juries that is unsurpassed.’

Liam Walker KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Liam is one of a kind. He is utterly tenacious and with the ability to think six steps ahead of the game. Any client lucky enough to be represented by him will have an incredibly committed advocate, with unparalleled attention to detail, razor-sharp cross-examination, and fabulously well-crafted submissions.’

Adrian Waterman KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Adrian is a brilliant jury advocate. He is a master of detail, but he is also brilliant at preparing and delivering legal arguments. Adrian is a creative and collaborative lawyer.'

Natasha Wong KC – 5KBW ‘Natasha is best described as cool, calm, collected, thoughtful and measured. She is a delightful opponent, with a light touch. Natasha is a first class silk and a safe pair of hands.'

Gudrun Young KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Gudrun is great in court. She conducts meticulous preparation. She is brilliant with strategy and with detail. She quickly gains the clients confidence and respect. Gudrun is a pleasure to work with.’

2023 Silks

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Blinne is just a brilliant all-rounder. She is a hard-working and charismatic silk.'

Nina Ellin KC – Six Pump Court 'Nina is one of the most disciplined and hard-working barristers around. She leaves no stone unturned, no page unread, and nothing to chance. She is dedicated to the case she is fighting for.'

Ben Fitzgerald KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Ben is a persuasive and concise advocate. Whatever tribunal he is before, he hits the right tone. His knowledge of the papers is first class.'

Garry Green KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Garry is an amazing all rounder. He is a brilliant tactician and clever lawyer. His written submissions and advocacy are spot on. His ability to connect to his lay client and to take their instructions under pressure is brilliant.'

Maria Karaiskos KC – Church Court Chambers ‘Maria is excellent and has hit the ground running as a new silk. Her judgement is excellent and the tone she sets in court is really just exceptional. Her cross-examination is also excellent. She is measured and reasonable, with a clear and strategic approach to cases.’

Benjamin Newton KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Ben is a go-to silk. He cares so much about his clients and is the cleverest barrister around. His client care skills are impeccable, his oral and written advocacy are the best in the game and he has a rare ability to translate complex issues into real language. Ben is a first-class barrister, a tactical genius and a true gentleman.'

Henrietta Paget KC – Foundry Chambers ‘Henrietta is extremely clever. No detail escapes her and she is utterly on top of the brief. She is totally reliable and thorough. Her advocacy is impressive - well prepared and comprehensive and nicely balanced.'

Philip Rule KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Nicola Shannon KC – Furnival Chambers 'Nicola has a great ability to assimilate a lot of information and present it to the jury in a way that is easily understood and digested. This is true even of complex and technical information that is usually very dry and difficult to present with any enthusiasm or in a way that generates interest. She is able to overcome those problems and keep the jury concentrating and engaged. She responds very well to legal queries from - sometimes difficult - judges demonstrating an impressive grasp of legal concepts - not all of them easy.'

2024 Silks

Farrhat Arshad KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Farrhat has excellent tactical judgement, fights tenaciously for her clients and shows complete commitment to her cases. Her knowledge of procedure and law is exceptional. She is a hugely accomplished all-round advocate and richly deserved to take silk this year.'

Kate Blumgart KC – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Kate is charming to have as an opponent but is always thoroughly prepared and completely on top of the case. She is a really persuasive advocate who juries warm to. Her cross-examination of defendants is usually devastating because she is well prepared and extremely sharp.’

Catherine Farrelly KC – 5KBW ‘Catherine is excellent in every respect. She is very hard-working and puts a lot of time and effort into preparing her cases thoroughly and making sure, as far as is possible, that any gaps in the evidence are closed off. She is very good at putting witnesses at ease before they give their evidence. Her closing speeches are some of the best to be seen. She is very persuasive both when addressing juries and during legal argument.’

Jocelyn Ledward KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Jocelyn has an intellect that is frighteningly powerful. She is meticulously well prepared and possesses advocacy skills of the very highest order. Her elevation to silk was inevitable. It is a matter of time until she is at the very top table in the criminal law.'

Martin McCarthy KC – Farringdon Chambers 'Martin is a superb barrister. He is a wise and considered practitioner who shows great judgement in which battles to pick. He has a delightful court manner which charms judges and juries alike as well as a steely resolve. Martin is a stellar performer who was made for silk robes.'

Beth O’Reilly KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Beth’s pomposity-puncturing advocacy style is highly effective with judges and juries, and opponents will find to their cost it does not pay to underestimate her command of the facts of the case, her razor-sharp intelligence or the depth of her legal knowledge.’

Tom Payne KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Tom is sensible and decent. His attention to detail is second to none, he has good judgement and is a likeable and impressive advocate.’

Jonathan Polnay KC – 5KBW ‘Jonathan is very well prepared with strong tactical sense and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. These qualities made him a formidable junior and will make him a great silk.'

Joel Smith KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Joel is a mine of energy and commitment. He is on top of his material and a devastating cross-examiner. He deserved to take silk and will be one to watch in the Tom Little tradition. Joel is likely to find himself appearing in very major cases before senior courts.'

James Thacker KC – Deka Chambers

Clea Topolski KC – Crucible Chambers

Leading Juniors

Aisling Byrnes – 25 Bedford Row ‘Aisling is a fierce advocate who will robustly argue her client's case. She is very thorough and a great tactician and dedicates herself to all of her clients and cases. She is especially good with vulnerable clients. Aisling is a junior at the top of her game.'

Orla Daly – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Orla is probably the best junior at the criminal Bar. She never disappoints, is highly regarded by many solicitors, and is likely to have a very successful career as a silk ahead of her.’

Paul Jarvis – 6KBW College Hill ‘Paul is an exceptional barrister. He is highly intelligent and has a genuine academic interest in the law. His legal arguments are therefore invariably well-researched and profound. As an advocate he is calm and measured. His submissions are so much more effective for this. He has the total respect of judges and fellow professionals.'

Piers Marquis – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Piers is a very gifted and tenacious barrister. He has a great manner with juries as well as both professional and lay clients. His preparation is comprehensive and his tactical awareness is very acute. He is fearless in defending his clients and is not afraid of fighting their corner. This coupled with his ability to persuade juries is why he is very much in demand. He fizzes with crusading spirit.'

Michael Neofytou – 25 Bedford Row ‘Michael is a beacon of the junior bar and stands head and shoulders above most barristers, including many silks. His tactical judgement is superb. He knows every case inside and out and this, together with his charisma and charm, means that he is a persuasive and compelling advocate. Michael sits at the very top of the tree of those who defend in serious criminal cases.'

Louise Oakley – 5KBW ‘Louise works as hard as anyone and gets on so well with all her opponents.’

Kate O’Raghallaigh – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Kate is one of the very best juniors about - she is exceptionally intelligent, a fierce defender of her clients' interests and a pleasure to work with as well. She can be relied on to identify and fight every point that can be taken, fearlessly. She is someone you want in your side.'

Arlette Piercy – 25 Bedford Row ‘Arlette is fearless but has judgement. Her client care is second to none. She really cares about her lay client and goes the extra mile to ensure they understand what’s happening every step of the way. Arlette is a brilliant advocate and juries love her.’

Peter Ratliff – 6KBW College Hill ‘Peter is a totally class act and a pleasure to work with. He is fair but effective as Treasury Counsel as he will no doubt be in silk. He is direct and down to earth in his style which is particularly effective with juries.'

Alistair Richardson – 6KBW College Hill ‘Alistair has rightly been appointed recently as junior Treasury Counsel, which reflects the serious work he undertakes and the skill with which he does it. He is respected by judges and his peers alike and it is only a matter of time until he is appointed KC. He is a stand-out practitioner.'

Shauna Ritchie – Mayfair Place Chambers 'Shauna is a fabulous junior barrister who is heading for silk. She has an unmatched eye for detail and is razor sharp and incisive in her presentation of arguments and in cross-examination.'

Ben Smitten – 25 Bedford Row ‘Ben is the standout junior at the criminal Bar. His work ethic is staggering and his commitment is unwavering. His track record speaks for itself. Ben is tactically solid with a considered advocacy style and a unique ability to cut through to the real issues in cases. He is exceptional at anything he turns his hand to.’

Julia Faure Walker – 2 Hare Court ‘Julia is someone who thinks strategically, working several stages ahead, and is a tenacious and committed advocate.’

Robert Ward – 15NBS Chambers ‘Robert is the complete package. He is a brilliant lawyer, quiet thinker, master tactician and highly effective advocate, combining an impressive mental dexterity with a natural eloquence. Robert is probably the best junior at the defence criminal Bar and a shoe-in for silk when he wants it.’

Colin Witcher – Church Court Chambers ‘Colin is a completely brilliant junior. He is always on top of the facts, excellent with both solicitors and lay clients, and has an ability to command the attention of his audience. He is a formidable opponent and certainly a KC in waiting.'

Elisabeth Acker – 23ES ‘Elisabeth is a brilliant jury advocate. She commands attention and has a beautiful jury manner.'

Emma Akuwudike – 25 Bedford Row ‘Emma's case preparation is excellent as is her knowledge and understanding of the law. She relates extremely well to both professional and lay clients. Her tactical judgement is also excellent as is her written work. In cross-examination she is clear, precise and to the point.'

Graham Arnold – Farringdon Chambers ‘Graham is an excellent lawyer who produces first-class written work and is very helpful and supportive to work with. He is hard-working and a highly competent advocate.'

Denis Barry – 6KBW College Hill ‘Denis is one of the gentlemen of the criminal Bar. He is intellectual, persuasive, and has a glorious manner with juries.’

Lesley Bates – 23ES ‘Lesley is a highly accomplished barrister. She is extremely hard-working and conscientious, and, more importantly, she is tenacious and fearless in advancing her client’s case. Her advocacy is clear, focussed and persuasive. Lesley is also a tactical and strategic thinker and planner who has complete control of her cases.’

Kevin Baumber – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Kevin knows more about police practice and the implementation of those things when they morph into criminal proceedings than any other lawyer in England & Wales. His authority in this field is second to none. He brings a cool detachment, a surgical analysis, and a perfect eye for the killer detail to all that he does. He is at the very top of his game at the moment.’

Christopher Bertham – 3TG Barristers ‘Chris has exceptional communication skills and always makes sure the client is comfortable and at ease despite the complex and stressful situation that they find themselves in. All aspects of his advocacy are excellent. Chris is really silk level; he stands up in court and immediately commands the room, both judge and jury.’

James Bloomer – 23ES ‘James has mastered all aspects of lawyering. He is an exemplary barrister who is always on top of any case he is instructed on. He is clear and compassionate with clients, yet will be ruthless when protecting their interests. He is strategically brilliant and as eloquent and clear an advocate as you could ever wish to be represented by.’

Corinne Bramwell – 9BR Chambers ‘Corinne is incredibly astute, especially when dealing with vulnerable witnesses and sensitive issues that arise in difficult cases. She is also very calm under pressure, whether it be pressure from defence counsel or the judge. Her ability to master and assess the real issues in the case, in particular the unused material, is also key to her success.’

Clodaghmuire Callinan – 15NBS Chambers ‘Clodaghmuire is fearless in her defence of clients while commanding the respect of the judiciary and her opponents. She is driven, fiercely bright and a master tactician who thinks out of the box. Clients adore her for her down to earth nature, meticulous preparation and firm, realistic advice. She is a compelling advocate who is going places - she is silk material.'

Catherine Donnelly – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Catherine is an extremely capable barrister. She works extremely hard, has fabulous judgement and is brilliant with both the jury and the judge. Catherine can go toe-to-toe with silks and come out on top.’

Paul Evans – Red Lion Chambers ‘Paul is tactically astute and produces focused legal arguments and well-thought-out submissions. He shows sensitivity in cross-examination of witnesses but is nonetheless robust - a difficult balance to strike at the best of times. He demonstrates the very best attributes of professionalism.'

Emma Fenn – Garden Court Chambers 'Emma is a fearless advocate. She articulates her submissions in a way that is persuasive to the lay client, the bench and most importantly the jury. Her written submissions are equally as impressive and encapsulate the instructions given and a deep technical analysis of the law and issues that may not have been picked up initially.'

Tim Forte – 3TG Barristers ‘Tim has an ability to absorb vast quantities of information, including evidence of a technical nature, and translate that information into simple format to enable clients to fully understand the nature of the evidence in the case. This approach builds trust between client and counsel. His presentation at court is both extremely professional but also personable, sitting well with judges, opposing counsel and juries alike.’

Mark Fraser – Rose Court Chambers 'Mark's advocacy is superb. He is smooth and makes things that are complex look easy. His presence brings gravitas to his client's case. He is also able to assimilate a large amount of material calmly and efficiently. Mark is a sought-after junior in cases of gravity by KCs.'

Hugh French – Red Lion Chambers ‘Hugh is dogged and determined. He always comes armed with a strategy to exploit any weaknesses in the opposing case. His closing speeches are particularly impressive; Hugh has the confidence to pick the best points, and run with them, undiluted. He is a rare example of someone who is genuinely as effective on either side of the courtroom and the outcomes he secures are testament to an advocate of the highest ability.’

Leila Gaskin – Crucible Chambers ‘Leila is the perfect brief and stands out as an advocate in multi-handed trials. Her advocacy is elegant and she does not waste a single word. She has a brilliant handle on the facts and the law, excellent judgement and is thoroughly professional in and out of court. She will walk into silk seamlessly.'

Tom Godfrey – 23ES ‘Tom has a charismatic presence in court and commands attention when he speaks. Juries tend to hang on his every word. He is stylish and elegant in submissions whatever their complexity or difficulty.'

Owen Greenhall – Garden Court Chambers

Carolina Guiloff – 25 Bedford Row ‘Carolina is involved in the preparation of a case from the very beginning and considers each detail to ensure that all preparation that can be undertaken is undertaken. She has great court presence and in multi-handed cases is able to ensure that the defence of her client is advanced strongly.'

Joanna Hardy-Susskind – Red Lion Chambers ‘Joanna is meticulously organised and takes cases by the scruff of the neck at the earliest possible juncture. She is always ahead of the curve and has a winning courtroom manner which charms judges as effectively as it does juries.'

Sally Hobson – The 36 Group ‘Sally is a gifted advocate and ferocious cross-examiner who delivers well-crafted, jury-engaging closing speeches. She is extremely committed to getting the best result possible and a pleasure to work with no matter how difficult and testing the case may be.’

Daniel Jameson – Garden Court Chambers

Zarif Khan – Drystone Chambers ‘Zarif is remarkably diligent and his ability to dissect complex evidence with a razor-sharp mind is often instrumental in navigating the intricacies of challenging cases. He possesses a unique talent for making critical connections with evidence, which is a testament to his profound analytical capabilities. One of Zarif's most notable skills is his ability to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds.'

Adam King – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Adam is versatile, pragmatic, tenacious, personable and – most importantly of all – effective. Adam is very much a go-to barrister. He has a great style with both clients and courts alike, and always comes up with a novel angle.’

Salma Lalani – 1MCB ‘Salma is an excellent junior. Her preparation is meticulous and she is wonderful with clients. Salma has a keen eye for detail, her advice is always tailored and helpful, and her advocacy is well-considered and effective.’

Charles Langley – 2 Bedford Row ‘Charles is one of the best juniors at the Bar and is undoubtedly silk material. He has an elegant and persuasive style of advocacy which both judges and juries find compelling. He is a joy to watch.’

Ben Lloyd – 6KBW College Hill ‘Ben is calm and clever, firm but fair. He is the perfect prosecutor.'

Christopher Martin – 2 Bedford Row ‘Chris has an unmatched eye for detail and is razor sharp and incisive in his presentation of arguments and in cross-examination. He is especially skilled and extraordinarily knowledgeable about court martial matters.'

Justin McClintock – 15NBS Chambers ‘Justin is a hugely exceptional advocate who adopts a calm and calculated approach. He couples this with excellent legal knowledge to be extremely effective with both judge and jury. His dependability, hard work and commitment to his clients is beyond impressive.'

Philip McGhee – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Philip has the ability to do it all and make it look easy. He has an impressive grasp of the law, the written and oral advocacy skills of a silk, and interpersonal skills that make everyone in a room warm to him. He will be one of the very best and is regarded rightly as a real talent.’

Ian McLoughlin – Red Lion Chambers 'Ian is always very well prepared. He looks for the best points to take to advance his case and undermine that of his opponent. He is a persuasive advocate with a calm and measured approach which appeals to juries and judges.'

Ioana Nedelcu – Farringdon Chambers ‘Ioana is a remarkable junior. She is exceptionally hard-working, articulate, driven and determined. She is fearless but shows excellent judgement and has a kindness and compassion with clients that is hard to match.'

Tom Nicholson –2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Tom's written advocacy and oral advocacy is very good; he is clear, to the point and covers all legal issues. He is able to present complex cases to a very high standard and is confident when dealing with tricky issues. Tom quickly gains the trust and respect of all present in the courtroom due to his legally sound judgement, his experience, confidence and calm nature.'

Jose Olivares-Chandler – 5 St Andrews Hill 'Jose is an amazing barrister. He is hard-working, intelligent and honest. His legal arguments are top-notch.'

Molly Pinkus – Farringdon Chambers ‘Molly is a really passionate and intelligent advocate, who clearly cares for the client and the firm she is instructed by. She is easy to get on with and a great communicator.’

Sarah Przybylska – 2 Hare Court ‘Sarah is one of the truly outstanding junior prosecuting counsel. She stands out for her ability to master a great deal of material in unflappable manner, always efficiently and with clarity. She is very easy to deal and is as good on her feet as she is on paper.'

Matthew Radstone – 25 Bedford Row ‘Matthew is a superb advocate, has an excellent manner with clients, prepares to the highest standards and puts it all across in court in an extremely eloquent but not over-the-top manner. He is going far and is definitely a star of the criminal bar.'

Oliver Renton – Crucible Chambers ‘Oli is absolutely on top of his brief. He reads every page, knows the unused, and as a result is a go-to barrister for cases involving serious violence. He defends fearlessly and always takes good points. His jury manner is charming.’

David Rhodes – Doughty Street Chambers ‘David combines intelligence, strategic nous, a forensic approach to case preparation, commitment and compassion. His written work is exceptional and his advocacy commands the attention of the courtroom. He is particularly adept at representing defendants with complex needs and in dealing with expert witness. He is held in exceptionally high regard by all who work with him.’

Alex Rose – Garden Court Chambers 'Alex is a strong advocate; impressive in both cross-examination and legal argument and respected by judges and opponents. He is a very strong all-rounder.'

Craig Rush – 2 Bedford Row

Ruby Selva – Garden Court Chambers

Tessa Shroff – 9BR Chambers ‘Tessa is excellent on her feet, prepared and hardworking. She is an excellent barrister who has an excellent future ahead of her and prosecutes and defends with equal skill. Tessa manages vast amounts of material with apparently effortless ease. She is really strategic on a case - dealing with the bigger picture as well as the minutiae.'

Susannah Stevens – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Susannah is a superb cross-examiner as well as a confident and robust advocate. She is great with clients and quickly secures their confidence.'

Philip Stott – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Philip is great with lay clients and is an impressive advocate.'

Tom Wainwright – Garden Court Chambers

Christian Wasunna – Garden Court Chambers

Lisa Wilson – 25 Bedford Row ‘Lisa is a go-to counsel for complex and serious offences now. Her advocacy is more than persuasive and not only do juries love her, she has a stellar reputation with court staff, judges and her opponents. She is calm yet persistent and will notice the tiniest of details that in reality could win a case. Her cross-examination is also phenomenal.'

David Wood – 25 Bedford Row ‘David is an exemplary barrister. His ability to get to the core issues in a document heavy case is extremely impressive. His advocacy is of a very high level and he is very good with clients and takes great care to ensure that they understand the case against them.'

Warwick Aleeson – 25 Bedford Row ‘Warwick has an engaging court manner which juries like, is not afraid to make tough decisions during the trial process, and always goes the extra mile for his clients. He has sound judgwment as well as the ability to compromise. Warwick is a pleasure to deal with.’

Peta-Louise Bagott – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Peta is very intelligent. She is an intuitive thinker who empathises well with clients, is an incisive cross-examiner, and good speech-maker.'

Sam Barker – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Sam is an exceptional advocate for his call. He combines excellent knowledge with common sense practical application.’

Nick Barraclough – 2 Bedford Row ‘Nick is a brilliant, charming, impressive advocate who is fearless in his approach. He quickly understands complex cases and his advocacy is superb.'

Alphege Bell – Mountford Chambers ‘Alphege is a top-class advocate with an ability to charm any jury and persuade them to find in his favour. His mastery of the law coupled with his impressive advocacy makes Alphege one of the leading barristers in serious crime and a top silk in the making.'

Harry Bentley – 2 Hare Court ‘Harry is always overprepared and considers all cases from every angle so he is never surprised by prosecution applications. Harry meticulously prepares every legal argument and presents its with vigour and clarity. Harry is a formidable advocate respected by the judiciary.'

Ronnie Bergenthal – Farringdon Chambers ‘Ronnie is the complete package as a barrister. He is very approachable and often on hand to discuss a case. He is excellent with clients and gives them confidence. His advocacy is extremely polished and smooth and it is often the case that his delivery of submissions to a judge are extremely well received and acknowledged.'

Jacob Bindman – Garden Court Chambers 'Jacob is super smart yet incredibly down to earth. He is a joy to work with as he has a collaborative approach to preparing cases. He can distil complicated law so that it is easier for clients to understand. His advocacy is intelligent and persuasive.'

Aneurin Brewer – Red Lion Chambers 'Aneurin is very hardworking, prepares meticulous written legal arguments and is proactive in doing so. He has a very calm, persuasive and assertive style of advocacy that seems to rapidly bring people round to his way of thinking.'

Kerry Broome – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Tom Broomfield – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Tom is attentive to clients and has a caring nature. He is a composed and calm person who inspires confidence. His written work is always of a high standard and quality. He is also extremely responsive to solicitors' and clients' needs.'

Joanna Buckley – Matrix Chambers ‘Joanna is an absolute a pleasure to work with. She is very calm and considered in her approach. Joanna is highly intelligent and forensic in a her analysis of evidence and emotionally intelligent and measured in her approach to the client.'

Helen Butcher – Garden Court Chambers

Nichola Cafferkey – 33 Bedford Row ‘Nichola is extremely affable and a natural jury advocate. She deals beautifully with extremely difficult client and is on top of the law.'

Daniel Chadwick – 2 Hare Court

Oliver Cook – Libertas Chambers ‘Oliver is supremely intelligent and is a genuine expert on how mobile telephones work. There are very few barristers that can claim to understand telephone cell site data as he does. He is an incredibly hard-working barrister with endless energy.’

David Dainty – 23ES ‘David is a confident advocate that is always very well-prepared. He is able to adapt to a changing environment and moderate his approach accordingly. He is engaging and considered. He works hard and it shows in his court craft.’

Jennifer Dannhauser – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Jennifer is persistent and hugely well prepared for any case. She will know the unused material backwards. Her ability to navigate complex matters of law and evidence is envious. Jennifer can not only put a client at ease but provides a solid backbone to the defence team. She is a silk in waiting.'

Ishan Dave – Rose Court Chambers 'Ishan is a very experienced, determined and charismatic advocate. He is fully conversed on the law and his legal arguments are precise, well presented and well reasoned both in written and oral submissions. His closing speeches are always engaging and persuasive, and even in the face of antagonism from opponents, they are left impressed and appreciate his courtesy, clarity and professionalism he brings.'

William Davis – 5KBW ‘William is a star in the making. He is approachable, balanced, unflappable and extremely helpful. Nothing is ever too much trouble. That said he is determined, steely and focussed. William is a great lawyer and first-class advocate. An excellent all-rounder.’

Felicia Davy – Red Lion Chambers ‘Felicia is extremely thorough in her approach and in her analysis of large amounts of evidence. She has an excellent manner with clients and is very good at approaching difficult issues with clients with significant learning difficulties. She is fearless and fights for the best possible outcome for clients.'

Patrick Duffy – 23ES ‘Patrick is a very personable individual who is able to remain cheerful and calm under pressure. He grasps cases very quickly.'

Tom Edwards – Mountford Chambers ‘Tom is an excellent all-rounder. He is impressively agile on his feet and has real presence and gravitas in court. Tom gets on well with his opponents, judges, clients and solicitors. He is a formidable jury advocate.'

William England – Mountford Chambers ‘If clients are after a big performance in conference and an even bigger performance in court, William is the barrister to go to. He is supremely confident and has the intelligence levels and tremendous work ethic to back it up. William is a top-level barrister in every sense of the word and judges respect him immensely.'

Sebastian Gardiner – 25 Bedford Row ‘Sebastian is hard-working, efficient, client friendly, a fine tactician with sound judgement, an excellent lawyer, a powerful presence in court, and a very persuasive speaker. Sebastian is a dedicated defence advocate to the tips of his fingers.’

Rachna Gokani – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Ben Gordon – Furnival Chambers ‘Ben is a pleasure to work with. He fights ferociously hard for his client, and his advocacy is skilful and well judged.'

Shelley Griffith – Farringdon Chambers

Rupert Hallowes – 15NBS Chambers ‘Rupert is one of the very best at the criminal Bar, better than many silks. His advocacy is flawless. His cross-examination is pitch perfect. He reads people like no other barrister. These qualities mean that his speeches are invariably excellent. Juries always listen to him.’

Sean Hammond – 2 Bedford Row ‘Sean is well prepared and tactically astute. His client care is also second to none.'

Maximilian Hardy – 9BR Chambers ‘Max is very able, extremely dedicated to his clients and cases, and very classy. He is also a strong jury advocate.'

David Harounoff – Foundry Chambers 'David is an exceptional advocate known for his razor-sharp intellect and comprehensive grasp of complex legal issues. His ability to analyse intricate case details and formulate compelling arguments is outstanding. David's advocacy skills are particularly impressive; they demonstrate a natural talent for persuasive speaking, coupled with a calm and authoritative presence in the courtroom.'

Teresa Hay – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Teresa demonstrates impeccable client care, making each and every client feel at ease and taking time to understand their backgrounds and circumstances. She is calm, collected and confident in court, well-respected by judges, other lawyers and juries. Teresa is an effective advocate and skilled in cross-examining young witnesses.'

Daniel Higgins – 9BR Chambers ‘Daniel has an approachable and reassuring style with clients as well as real attention to detail and awareness of the required tactical approach to achieve results. His advocacy is also first rate.'

Patrick Hill - Cloth Fair Chambers ‘Patrick is one of the most gifted, able and brightest juniors at the criminal Bar. He is incredibly bright, very hard-working and a complete pleasure to work with. Several judges have praised him for the quality and clarity of his written word. Patrick is a complete superstar.’

Joe Hingston – Mountford Chambers ‘Joe is an outstanding lawyer and advocate. He is meticulous in his preparation and clearly cares about all of his clients. He has first-class interpersonal skills and is very popular with solicitors and clients alike. He has a fantastic practice and is an extremely popular barrister. Joe is a silk in waiting.'

Nadeem Holland – The 36 Group ‘Nadeem is always well prepared. He is calm in his approach to cases, regardless as to what is thrown at him, which is reassuring for those around him. His calm manner extends to his advocacy - always measured, always reasonable and always very easy to listen to.'

Jeffrey Israel – 25 Bedford Row ‘Jeffrey is a stellar performer. He is extremely hard-working and a seasoned professional. He has a strong courtroom presence and a powerful and persuasive manner in cross-examination. Jeffrey is a class act and a silk in waiting.’

Roderick James – Crucible Chambers 'Roderick's strengths include being extremely personable and well liked by clients. He has excellent advocacy skills, is incredibly hard-working and manages to find solutions in cases by carrying out innovative research.'

Alex Jamieson – 25 Bedford Row ‘Alex is very well respected within the profession. He is very experienced and is also a very skilled and persuasive advocate who has a calm and gentle manner which can be disarming for his opponents.'

Flavia Kenyon – The 36 Group

Ashraf Khan – 2 Bedford Row ‘Ashraf's gentle manner belies a very sharp mind. He is a lawyer first and foremost and prepares beautifully. Ashraf's demeanour with clients inspires confidence and he has a talent for explaining difficult concepts with exceptional clarity.'

Stephen Knight – One Pump Court 'Stephen's attention to detail is unrivalled and his written work is impressive.'

Greg Krieger – Farringdon Chambers ‘Greg is the most calming and reassuring barrister around. He is robust and juries love him. It is a real pleasure to work with him. Clients know that Greg is 100% behind them and that having him onside makes an immeasurable difference. He is an iron fist in a velvet glove.'

Helen Law – Matrix Chambers

Matthew Lawson – Libertas Chambers ‘Matthew is incredible on his feet. He commands control of a courtroom and he is tactically one of the best advocates around. One of Matthew's strengths is his ability to structure some of the most complex legal arguments in an eloquent manner that result in the judges ruling in his favour. He stands at the pinnacle of his profession.'

Rebecca Lee – 187 Chambers ‘Rebecca is able to extract key materials from factually complex cases involving historic allegations and voluminous evidence dating back decades. She is tenacious and energetic and her attention to detail is second to none. Rebecca is an exceptional lawyer and very skilful in dealing with cases of a highly sensitive nature.’

Matheos Lefteris – Rose Court Chambers ‘Matt is an outstanding talent. He has exceptional analytical and tactical ability. It is obvious that he consistently enjoys the total confidence of those he represents, which is quite a rare trait these days. He is a superb advocate, with a disarming and understated manner that commands confidence and trust.'

Will Martin – 2 Hare Court ‘Will is very bright and is a strong advocate - he has real presence in court and is unflappable. He is on top of brief and grasps the core issues very quickly. He is meticulous and his mastery of voluminous unused material is second to none.'

Tara McCarthy – Thomas More Chambers ‘Tara is an industry leader when it comes to complex and serious crime. Always approaching her cases in a level-headed and neutral fashion, she is able to pick apart the prosecution case and provide thorough, reasoned advice which galvanises the defence case. Her advocacy is world class and her record of results in that respect speaks for itself.'

Philip Misner – 4BB ‘Philip has a wealth of experience to call upon and combines it with boundless energy and natural ability. On his feet he is calm, his instincts are outstanding and he has the right answer at his fingertips. He is an honest, hardworking and thoughtful man which translates into an effective and capable barrister.'

Danny Moore – Six Pump Court 'Danny is tactically outstanding; he is always three steps ahead of his opposition. If you need a barrister to go toe to toe in a case, you would ask for him.'

Adam Morgan – Furnival Chambers ‘Adam is first rate. He is always thoroughly prepared, gets the measure of clients accurately and is able to firmly manage expectations. He makes points firmly to the judge without alienating himself from the judge nor giving ground on a good point.'

Jo Morris – Drystone Chambers ‘Jo is never less than impeccably well-prepared and her submissions are carefully considered. She handles extremely difficult situations with aplomb and demonstrates undoubted tactical ability. She has a calm and reassuring presence in court and a first-rate knowledge of the law.'

Daniel Murray – 25 Bedford Row ‘Daniel is a formidable and fearless advocate. He pays meticulous attention to detail and is not afraid to challenge any injustices.'

Eva Niculiu – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Eva is a brilliant barrister who fearlessly represents her clients. She is meticulous in her preparation of cases and takes great care to establish a rapport with her clients enabling them to trust her unreservedly. She is undoubtedly one of the best barristers of today's junior bar.'

Will Noble – 9BR Chambers ‘Will has an enviable reputation with the judiciary and is very much someone who always has the ear of the court. He is a top-notch junior, it is only a matter of time before he takes silk.'

Sheryl Nwosu – 25 Bedford Row ‘Sheryl's case preparation is excellent as is her knowledge and understanding of the law. She relates extremely well to both professional and lay clients. Her tactical judgement is also excellent as is her written work. Her advocacy is clear, precise and to the point.'

Catherine Oborne – Garden Court Chambers

Lucy Organ – 6KBW College Hill ‘Lucy is first-rate barrister. She is fair and pragmatic as a prosecutor, but with a forensic attention to detail. Her advocacy is persuasive, but always calm and controlled.'

Osman Osman – 25 Bedford Row ‘Osman is a born legal mind. He has an excellent grasp of all the relevant law and recent cases and is able to apply it to the case at hand. He is able to work collaboratively and is fierce in court. Osman handles the unexpected with good grace and charm and is a pleasure to work with. He is a superb lawyer with a brilliant mind.'

Yasin Patel – Church Court Chambers ‘Yasin is thorough with his work, able to quickly identify weaknesses in evidence, address legal arguments that might be applicable and provide written advice when sought. He will always go over and above to help clients. His advocacy is best described as elegant. He is persuasive in his legal arguments where he is calm and collected and charms the jury with his wit.'

David Patience – 2 Bedford Row

Adam Payter – 6KBW College Hill ‘Adam is very bright and hard-working and is also very engaging as an advocate. His written legal arguments are clear and well researched and his jury presentation is also excellent. He is a fierce cross-examiner.'

Luke Ponte – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Jurors and judges always take note when Luke addresses them: he commands the court. A go-to brief for heavyweight crime.'

Simon Ray – 6KBW College Hill ‘Simon is extremely calm and unflappable. He is very good with clients. His trial and tactical judgement is superb. He acts in the most serious and complex of cases and is a go-to senior junior.'

Sarah Read – 15NBS Chambers ‘Sarah's highly focused case preparation is exemplary. She presents skeleton arguments skilfully and succinctly and her approach to cross-examination is suitably sensitive, minimising the inherent potential for distress while putting her clients case clearly and fairly. Sarah is hardworking, persuasive and meticulous.'

Genevieve Reed – Red Lion Chambers ‘Genevieve brings a commanding and powerful presence and confidence beyond her year of call. Previously a solicitor, she brings a breadth of experience which makes her comfortable with clients and challenging situations. Genevieve works hard and efficiently and is good natured and a pleasure to instruct.'

Edward Renvoize – Red Lion Chambers

Shannon Revel – Furnival Chambers ‘Not many practitioners, in reality, excel at both forensic analysis of enormous volumes of material as well as in the thick of things, fighting their client's case in front of a jury. Shannon is one of the exceptions. She is first class, one to watch, and a pleasure to work with. Her speeches are without a shadow of a doubt some of the best you will hear in a long time.'

Fiona Robertson – 2 Hare Court ‘Fiona is meticulous and captivating in court. She is a brilliant advocate, hard-working and is able to build a rapport with clients. She is a safe pair of hands.’

Jeremy Rosenberg –23ES ‘Jeremy is a very effective and persuasive advocate. His cross-examination of witnesses is clear and purposeful and his closing speeches are very good.'

Gordon Ross – 3TG Barristers ‘Gordon is an exceptional advocate. One would be hard pushed to find someone to be trusted more. Gordon communicates really well and gives clients an honest appraisal of the evidence. He has a great ability to think on his feet and is exceptional in cross-examination witnesses, including experts. His closing speeches are always pitched perfectly.’

Neil Saunders – Three Raymond Buildings 'Neil is an exceptional barrister. He is very clever and gets to the nub of the issue, but does so with apparent ease and grace. His people skills are amazing - clients love him and this is part of what makes his advocacy so effective. He is a silk in all but name.'

Esther Schutzer-Weissmann – 6KBW College Hill ‘Esther is a superb lawyer, known for her thoughtful, strategic, and resilient approach. With extensive experience and technical expertise, she remains composed and strategic in her dealings.'

Alexandra Scott – Mountford Chambers ‘Alexandra has a razor-sharp intellect, is excellent on the law and very effective on her feet. Clients like and have confidence in her. Alexandra is a hard-worker and a fighter. She is sought after and it is always a pleasure to work with her.’

Leo Seelig – Red Lion Chambers 'Leo is an exceptional advocate with sound judgement.'

Michael Skelley – Red Lion Chambers

Alastair Smith – 2 Bedford Row 'Alastair is an excellent and very experienced barrister who is destined for silk. HIs client care is second to none and he has a reputation for hard work, meticulous preparation and fearlessly fighting for his clients.'

Monica Stevenson – 25 Bedford Row

Sean Sullivan – 9BR Chambers 'Sean is unnervingly sharp whilst being impossible to rattle. He is calm, smooth and staggeringly intelligent. Sean produces extraordinarily precise and persuasive legal arguments to which opponents find it difficult to effectively respond. Clients are always reassured that they are in the most capable hands.'

Jack Talbot – Red Lion Chambers ‘Jack is very adept at digesting large volumes of information and presenting them to a jury in a manageable, understandable way. He has a very good manner with juries and is skilled at cross-examination. His closing speeches are engaging and persuasive.'

Lucy Tapper – Furnival Chambers ‘Lucy is a tremendous barrister who is wonderful to work with. She has an incredible ability to connect with clients and break down and explain complex issues with ease. She is meticulous, classy and fearless. Her advocacy is measured and deeply persuasive.'

Warwick Tatford – Foundry Chambers 'Warwick's understated advocacy is always extremely effective; he gently makes the case seem overwhelming. He has a very good manner with juries in closing speeches.'

Dominic Thomas – 25 Bedford Row ‘Dom is in a field of his own in terms of advocacy, tactical thinking and client care. His advocacy is brave, compelling, intelligent and very effective. He has an outstanding ability to cut to the core of a case swiftly and definitively.'

Greg Unwin – 187 Chambers ‘Greg has a superb way with judges and jurors – he is measured, calm, authoritative, and commands respect. He has a very keen attention to detail and is very hard-working.’

Merry van Woodenberg – 2 Hare Court

John Warrington – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘John is meticulously thorough; he will know the prosecution's case better than they know it themselves.'

Nicholas Whitehorn – 25 Bedford Row 'Nicholas is phenomenal. He has the unique capacity to change a case through his cross-examination out-of-the-box thinking. He is a natural jury advocate who is able to simplify the most complex of issues in a straightforward, persuasive and engaging way.'

Chris Whitehouse – Farringdon Chambers ‘Chris has a commendable ability to keep calm under pressure and to present focussed submissions that are attractive and easily digestible to a jury. He has an unruffled approach which stands him out from his peers, and his tactical abilities during the progress of a trial are first-rate. A seasoned and impressive performer.'

Ailsa Williamson – Three Raymond Buildings

Diana Wilson – The 36 Group ‘Diana has a brilliant mind, is very hard-working and is able to quickly identify the key strengths and weaknesses of a case. She is a formidable advocate and all opponents have to be at their best to match her. Judges have complete confidence in her mastery of the facts and law.'

Gerwyn Wise – Garden Court Chambers 'Gerwyn's meticulous case preparation is absolutely unrivalled; he devotes enormous amounts of time to forensically analysing all prosecution evidence, and prepares lengthy schedules of evidence to assist solicitors. He has a deep understanding of the intricacies of legislation and case law, particularly in areas such as modern slavery, gang evidence and county lines operations.'

Madeleine Wolfe –2 Hare Court ‘Madeleine is a tenacious advocate. Her ability to adhere to the restrictions of s28 cross-examination but at the same time fully advance crucial elements of a client’s defence as well as highlight limitations or contradictions in the prosecution case is remarkable.’

Ruth Zentler-Munro – 15NBS ‘Ruth is an exceptional junior barrister. She has exquisite insight and tactical ability combined with a superb client manner and beautifully written advocacy. She is without doubt one of the stars of the junior criminal Bar.’

Paramjit Ahluwalia – One Pump Court 'Paramjit is a highly talented barrister. Her expertise in trafficking and modern slavery are among the best of any lawyer in England and Wales. She is a joy to watch in action.'

Gulam Ahmed – Libertas Chambers

Stephen Akinsanya – 15NBS ‘Stephen is an excellent and experience advocate with a thoughtful and careful manner. He is a barrister of high integrity and dedication who secures the trust of judge and jury. His advocacy combines intellectual rigour with emotional intelligence. He is a talented criminal barrister who is always determined to do his best for his client and to go that extra mile to help those who are in need of his help.’

Fallon Alexis – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Jon Anders – Libertas Chambers ‘Jon’s advocacy skills are by far some of the best around. He is determined and tenacious and will fight doggedly to achieve the best result for his lay client to the extent that he has a wealth of clients who repeatedly come back to him. His work ethic is unrivalled and he is a true defence barrister.’

Libby Anderson – Crucible Chambers ‘Libby is an extremely well-rounded lawyer. She is hard-working, tenacious, and has a great ethic for achieving the best for clients. She is a very persuasive court advocate, and extremely well respected by judges.’

Irfan Arif – 9 Lincolns Court

Ruth Becker – 9BR Chambers ‘Ruth is a superstar and juggernaut. She is direct, down to earth, clever, wily and staggeringly hardworking. She is always on top of the work, fantastic with clients, and shoots down the opposition with precision. Ruth is one of the rare barristers who is great in court, excellent with clients, and always thorough with preparation.’

Natalie Bird – 2 Bedford Row ‘Natalie is very thorough and persuasive. Her cross-examination is first class and she is very compassionate when she needs to be, and can easily work with vulnerable clients.’

Minka Braun – Garden Court Chambers

Matthew Buckland – Mountford Chambers 'Matthew is a truly excellent advocate. He has strong interpersonal skills and works hard. Juries like him and respond positively to the arguments he makes.'

Jenny Burgess – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Jenny is an excellent advocate. Her meticulous attention to detail is obvious from the ease with which she takes the jury through large volumes of evidence. Her sound judgement and confidence means that she knows which points to take and which to leave.'

Charles Burton – Rose Court Chambers ‘Charles is an impressive barrister. He is a knowledgeable, powerful and persuasive advocate.’

Ed Butler – 15NBS ‘Ed is hard-working, super intelligent, and has an excellent grasp of the law and evidence.’

Yogain Chandarana – Rose Court Chambers ‘Yogain is an excellent advocate, blessed with a radio voice that juries adore. His advocacy and cross-examination skills are some of the best around. He alters the way he cross-examines witnesses depending on the individual and takes the court through the law in a way that is clear and persuasive.'

Katrina Charles – 9BR Chambers ‘Katrina is a clever, hard-working and determined advocate. She has good judgement and advances arguments in a constructive, yet well-judged way.’

Avirup Chaudhuri – 187 Chambers ‘Avirup’s client care skills stand out. He treats all clients with equal respect and care and dedicates the same level of commitment to their case. As well as his excellent client care skills, Avirup’s efficiency and attention to detail consistently impress.’

Kate Chidgey – 25 Bedford Row ‘Kate is persuasive and creative in her advocacy. She is authoritative and charms a jury with humour.'

Fiona Clegg – Mountford Chambers ‘Fiona is an extremely confident barrister who has a keen eye for detail. She is not fazed by cases with voluminous evidence or those cases with a high level of press intrusion. She is able to identify the keys issues in the case at an early stage and present them to the client in a concise manner. She is well respected by fellow counsel and the judiciary alike.’

Laura Collier – 25 Bedford Row ‘Laura’s client care is second to none and is combined with a meticulous eye for detail. She has a natural ability to translate complex legal issues into relatable concepts – which makes her a star in front of a jury.’

Dominic Connolly – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Dominic is a formidable advocate and opponent. He presents complex cases to the jury in a straightforward and clear way, grabbing their attention from the outset. He is able to manage cases with extremely vulnerable complainants. His cross-examination style is logical, thorough and highly effective.'

Natalia Constantine – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Natalia combines razor-sharp intellect with an ability to deal robustly, but still courteously, with multiple experienced defence counsel. She takes responsibility for her aspect of the work without unnecessarily troubling others in the team. Natalia is an incisive advocate who gets to the real issue very quickly.’

Beth Crocker – 15NBS ‘Beth is an exceptionally able advocate. Her knowledge of the law is unparalleled. Her cross-examination is focused and effective which comes from the high level of preparation she does and her detailed knowledge of the case papers. Her closing speeches are persuasive and she engages a jury in a wonderful way.'

Edward Culver – 4 King’s Bench Walk ‘Edward is very good at untangling complex cases and getting to the nub of the issue. His cross-examination is fearless and direct.’

Dominic D’Souza – Goldsmith Chambers ‘Dominic is a jury man who is also loved by clients.'

Robert Dacre – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘Rob is an outstanding junior destined to be a true star of the Bar. He is a charismatic, fearless and enthralling advocate, whose legal analysis is second to none. His work rate is prodigious and he is also a delight to work with.’

Sarah Day – Libertas Chambers ‘Sarah is an excellent advocate. She is highly persuasive and detailed in her approach. Both her written and oral advocacy are outstanding. She is brilliant with clients, building trust even in difficult circumstances.’

Patrick Dennis – Foundry Chambers ‘Patrick is a formidable and tenacious prosecutor. He is Treasury Counsel in the making. Patrick is meticulously fair and impressive on his feet.’

Clare Dowse – 15NBS ‘Clare is a formidable barrister. She is well-prepared and, as a result, unflappable. Her speeches are engaging and always persuasive.'

Nicholas Dunham – Foundry Chambers ‘Nick is simply brilliant. He is fiercely bright and his mastery of papers is second to none. Nick is a hugely impressive advocate.'

Polly Dyer – QEB Hollis Whiteman 'Polly is incredibly hard-working and astute at getting to grips with the detail of a case. She is very approachable and has a good relationship with instructing solicitors and lay clients alike. She is a confident and skilled advocate with a considered and tactical approach.'

William Eaglestone – 23ES ‘William is an excellent and hardworking junior. He works well as part of a team, genuinely cares about the work he does and those he represents, and is always anxious to get it right. He is a talented and dedicated advocate.'

Philippa Eastwood – Doughty Street Chambers 'Philippa is an extremely hard-working barrister who is able to deal with any type of client. Her attention to detail is phenomenal which means she is able to isolate the gaps in the prosecution case and challenge them on these points with such tenacity. Her legal submissions are also well drafted and well advocated upon. This makes her an advocate who is respected by the judiciary, her peers, her instructing solicitors as well as clients.'

Hannah Edwards – 25 Bedford Row ‘Hannah is a highly capable barrister, able to manage cases with a vast amount of case material. She exhibits a remarkable capacity to distil complex legal issues and ensure that no legal detail is overlooked. She also has an excellent manner with clients.’

Bill Evans – Garden Court Chambers

Sophie Evans – Mountford Chambers ‘Sophie is a fighter. She is tenacious, bright and highly astute. Her written work is of an exceptional quality. She excels in the key skills of tactics and presentation. Her capacity for hard work is exceptional. Opponents fear her and so they should.’

Rory Field – 15NBS ‘Rory is an extremely intelligent barrister who puts his heart and soul into cases. His advocacy skills are unbeatable and he is a tenacious cross-examiner. Rory is very logical and pays great attention to detail.'

Toby Fitzgerald – 2 Harcourt Buildings

Neil Fitzgibbon – 187 Chambers

Julia Flanagan – Crucible Chambers ‘Julia is a star counsel who is inevitably destined to be silk before too long if she so chooses. She is very clever legally and tactically as well as incredibly approachable. Julia is hugely respected by her peers, with silks actively asking to work with her.’

Alex Di Francesco – 25 Bedford Row ‘Alex is a sharp and quick-thinking barrister who shows willingness to take the lead in difficult and complex multi-handed cases. His ability to adapt to the ever-changing issues in a case is particularly impressive. In terms of his advocacy, he has an excellent court manner and a gripping presence.'

Edward Franklin – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Edward's organisation and legal knowledge is impressive. He has a close attention to detail and excellent judgement. In relation to advocacy, he makes detailed submissions which has the court spellbound.'

Andrew Frymann – Crucible Chambers ‘Andrew is a fearless and tenacious advocate. He is adept at thinking on his feet.’

Simon Gladwell – Thomas More Chambers

Michael Gomulka – 25 Bedford Row ‘Michael is highly intelligent and a skilful advocate. His closing speeches are often presented in a novel and engaging manner. He is also an incisive cross-examiner.’

Michael Goold – Garden Court Chambers

James Gray – 25 Bedford Row ‘James is simply fantastic and a real master in the art of advocacy. He is fiercely intelligent and leaves no stone unturned in advancing a defence. James is extremely thorough, diligent, razor sharp and able to deal with the nitty gritty in all cases. He is a silk in waiting.’

Jane Greenhalgh – Libertas Chambers ‘Jane has had to deal with some very vulnerable young and challenging clients charged with some of the most serious offences. She is able to deal with these lay clients with calmness, efficiency and resilience. She is a great advocate, very easy to work with, compassionate and caring.’

Neil Griffin – Foundry Chambers ‘Neil is a fantastic advocate who holds attention in court. Judges listen to him. He is also very good with clients.’

Rebecca Hadgett – Three Raymond Buildings 'Rebecca is very efficient and thorough, particularly in relation to unused material. She produces sound legal arguments and is very good at adapting her communication style to suit clients.'

Nerida Harford-Bell – Garden Court Chambers

Ben Hargreaves – Mountford Chambers ‘Ben is of course brilliant, eloquent and very intelligent but what stands out and puts him head and shoulders above his peers is his empathy. He confronts challenging and sensitive issues with seeming ease. Nothing is too much and he always carves out time when asked – no matter how big or small the query.’

Lyndon Harris – 6KBW College Hill 'Lyndon is calm in his delivery but incredibly bright so his legal arguments and general criminal knowledge of procedure is brilliant. His sentencing knowledge is unrivalled and he is well respected by judges. Clients like him as well.'

Stella Harris – Garden Court Chambers

Emma Heath – 9BR 'Emma is extremely good at communicating with and gaining the trust of young, vulnerable clients - her down to earth and friendly approach goes a long way with them. Her advocacy in court is excellent.'

Ashley Hendron – 2 Bedford Row ‘Ashley is a very confident barrister who immediately puts clients at ease. He provides robust advice with excellant client care. He is not afraid of voluminous evidence and identifies key issues at an early stage. Ashley is an incredible jury advocate who displays a calm manner. He can be robust when required and is well liked by the judiciary and other counsel.'

Gerard Hillman – Libertas Chambers ‘Gerard is an exceptionally diligent and detail-oriented advocate. He is proficient in legal matters and adept at navigating tribunals, consistently proving himself as an outstanding barrister overall.'

Gavin Holme – 4 King’s Bench Walk ‘Gavin’s advocacy is of a very high quality. He is a talented lawyer who is able to spot good points and deploy them to his advantage. He is a good tactician who picks his battles carefully. He is clearly trusted by the judges he appears in front of.’

Frederick Hookway – 5KBW ‘Frederick is an extremely accomplished prosecutor with an impressive command of the details of complex cases and a wonderfully light touch style of advocacy which is extremely effective with juries. Above all he is scrupulously fair throughout and a pleasure to appear against both in and outside of court.’

Andrew Horsell – 3TG Barristers ‘Andrew is an extremely polished and able barrister. He is very well prepared, which manifests itself in the effectiveness of his cross-examination and in his succinct and persuasive legal submissions. He is able to deal with judicial intervention in a robust but courteous manner. He also has a certain charm and assuredness which wins over juries.’

Scott Ivill – 2 Hare Court 'A tenacious junior.'

Jack Jennett – Farringdon Chambers ‘Jack has an unbelievable knowledge of criminal law and is a great tactician when it comes to handling both complex criminal cases and clients during very stressful and challenging situations. His advocacy skills are excellent and are often praised by both judges and clients.’

Daniel Jones – 5 St Andrews Hill 'Clients love Dan. He adapts to his audience and isn't afraid to be forthright in court with legal arguments. His steadfast approach to evidence wins many a case.'

Nadesh Karu – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Nadesh is a brilliant advocate. His closing speeches hit the mark, and both the jury and the judge sit up and listen.’

Daniel Kersh – 187 Chambers

Islam Khan – Church Court Chambers ‘Islam is a very competent advocate with the requisite qualities that cause him to be an outstanding criminal lawyer. He is always extremely well-prepared and presents submissions with great eloquence and focus. He also possesses sound judgement, and knows which battles to fight, which is an important, but-all-too-frequently absent, skill in many advocates.’

Rabah Kherbane – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Rabah is one of the rising stars of the junior Bar. He is bright, articulate and very hard-working, as well as thorough and insightful. Rabah is sought after in cases of the utmost gravity, which is exceptional when one considers his call. He is also easy to work with and excellent on his feet.’

Guy Ladenburg – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Guy is a very natural and persuasive advocate. He has a charm with clients and judges alike as well as excellent judgement.’

Soraya Lawrence – Kenworthy's Chambers ‘Soraya has many strengths but in particular what stands out is her client care. She is able to put a client at ease often in the most stressful time of their life. She also has an expansive knowledge of criminal law and the ability to identify the key issues from the outset. Soraya is also a strong defender in court.’

Paul Lazarus – 25 Bedford Row ‘Paul is the complete package. He is fantastic with clients, has great court presence, prepares cases thoroughly and remains completely calm whatever happens in a case.'

Francesca Levett – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Francesca is supremely cerebral; intellectually she is on another dimension in terms of her legal prowess. She is also a supreme tactician and is much loved by clients.'

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters – 2 Bedford Row

Graeme Logan – 9BR Chambers ‘Graeme has a real roll up your sleeves attitude and puts his clients first. His advice to both clients and solicitors is always clear and concise which is reflected in his advocacy. He is proactive in his preparation and often raises new issues and aspects to consider in a client’s case.’

Peter Lownds – 2 Hare Court ‘Peter is a charming but lethal advocate. He has an iron grasp of the facts of his case and an infallible instinct for which of those facts will matter to a jury. He is extremely tactically astute, an incisive cross-examiner and he holds the jury’s focus from beginning to end. In short, he really is a class act.’

Patrick Maggs – 15NBS ‘Patrick is an excellent barrister. He communicates with clients extremely well and frequently provides some insight into a case from an angle that others have missed as a consequence of meticulous case preparation. Patrick’s main strength is his advocacy. When in the courtroom, the judge, the jury, and co-defending counsel absorb his every word, given the intelligence and persuasive nature of his arguments.’

Danielle Manson – Matrix Chambers ‘Danielle is great with clients and a strong advocate. She is extremely committed to her clients on her cases and can be relied on to go the extra mile if needed. She is a pleasure to work with.’

Thalia Maragh – Garden Court Chambers ‘Thalia is an extremely strong and confident advocate who shows remarkable resilience even in the face of a less-than-warm court. She is not easily dissuaded from points that she is rightly passionate about and indeed right about.’

Alex Matthews – 9BR Chambers ‘Alex is a force to be reckoned with as an advocate.’

Christopher May – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Chris is a very thoughtful and thorough prosecutor. He is fair and proper, but no pushover. He quickly masters a brief and is a robust and effective cross-examiner. He also has a lovely manner with the court and the jury.’

Michael McAlinden - 2 Dr Johnson’s Buildings 'Michael fights his cases with zeal. He is fearless and thorough in his approach to the evidence which is naturally demonstrated through his effortlessly genuine style of advocacy. This is why clients insist on instructing him repeatedly.'

John McNamara – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘John is committed to excellence. He is a real star.’

Rhys Meggy – Cloth Fair Chambers

Sarah Morris – 23ES ‘Sarah is, quite simply, brilliant. She has a court presence that is effortlessly calm and measured, which belies the utter command and control she exercises on her feet. Sarah is adept and persistent in cross-examination, deploying a forensic approach which is magnificently effective. Her trial strategy and preparation is second to none and she will have every fact to hand even in the most complex case.’

Richard Moss – 4 King’s Bench Walk ‘Richard is a measured, unflappable advocate. He handles witnesses well and is highly effective in cross-examination. He is a very fair opponent and his defence practice is going from strength to strength.’

Piers Mostyn – Garden Court Chambers

Ahmed Muen – Drystone Chambers ‘Ahmed is an absolute star in court. His interaction with clients, judge and jury keeps the court alive. He masters very complex cases and can also put very anxious defendants at ease.’

Joshua Normanton – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Josh is the complete barrister. He knows the law and procedures intimately, has excellent judgement, and his written and oral advocacy is highly competent. He works cooperatively with other professionals and establishes strong relationships with lay clients. Josh is a star.’

Jennifer Oborne – Deka Chambers

Jane Oldfield – Red Lion Chambers ‘Jane is a star whose forensic and legal skills will ensure that she rises to the top of the legal profession. Her knowledge of the law is first class, which she deploys to good effect and very skillfully.’

David Osborne - 5KBW 'David is very skilled at conducting technical legal arguments. His knowledge of the law is impressive. He is very experienced, as a former solicitor he knows how to run a case as a litigator as well as an advocate, which leads to a very hands-on approach from the point of instruction. David is a highly skilled trial advocate, appreciated by the judiciary and juries alike.'

Richard Padley – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Richard is a clever lawyer and tactician. He has a gravitas without being foreboding. He is very client and solicitor friendly. Richard has an ability to absorb quickly prodigious amounts of information and convey the contents simply and succinctly. He is definitely a barrister to watch for the future.’

Catherine Pattison – 5KBW ‘Catherine’s advocacy is direct and effective. She cross-examines in a way that is both intelligent and effective.’

Vedrana Pehar – Matrix Chambers ‘Vedrana is destined for great things. She is supremely talented and combines her outstanding intellect with excellent emotional intelligence, both of which are priceless attributes. Vedrana is a superb advocate.’

Abigail Penny – 4BB ‘Abigail is an outstanding junior who combines brains, hard work and empathy. Her kind manner and gentle approach results in people underestimating her at their peril.'

Michael Polak – Church Court Chambers

Kyan Pucks – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Kyan is an absolutely first-rate barrister with a golden future ahead of her. She is thorough and comprehensive in her case preparation, works tirelessly, and has great strategic sense and judgement, which is all rounded off with great advocacy skills. She presents as significantly ahead of her years. A star.’

Houzla Rawat – Mountford Chambers ‘Houzla is an infectious and tenacious advocate. She cares deeply about her clients and is an extremely effective jury advocate.’

Marie de Redman – Furnival Chambers ‘Marie is a compassionate and resolute barrister with an excellent work ethic. Marie engages brilliantly with clients; especially vulnerable ones, and juries are mesmerised by her clear and concise arguments.’

Claire Robinson – Crucible Chambers ‘Claire has a real ability to connect with clients. She walks them through evidence at a pace and level that they understand and makes them comfortable when facing challenging evidence. She is diligent in her case preparation and does not miss any tiny details.'

Karen Robinson – QEB Hollis Whiteman

Tanya Robinson – Six Pump Court ‘Tanya is an excellent advocate. She is always meticulously well prepared. Her legal submissions, both oral and written, are focussed and persuasive. She fights her corner hard without ever being discourteous to witnesses or the court. Tanya has the ability to have a jury eating out of her hand, however difficult and serious the case.’

Gemma Rose – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Gemma’s ability to communicate with vulnerable individuals and professionals means that she earns the trust of lay clients from an early stage and obtains fantastic outcomes, often prior to a case reaching trial. She is a fantastic advocate who has earned respect from the judiciary and achieves fantastic results.’

Kerrie Ann Rowan – 25 Bedford Row ‘Kerrie is as bright as a tack. She combines a huge intellect with an unrivalled work ethic. Her ability to grasp complicated legal issues is frighteningly good and her judgement is always excellent.’

Charles Royle – 23ES ‘Charles is a great tactician with an eye for detail. He is a commanding advocate with an engaging style that wins over both judges and juries. His legal submissions are always succinctly advanced, in a manner designed to give the judge exactly what is needed.’

Rhiannon Sadler – 9BR Chambers 'Rhiannon is a first-class advocate. Her advocacy is always measured, forceful and backed by a vice-like grip on the facts of a case. She has an intimate understanding of the law in her area and is much admired by fellow lawyers.'

Rose Slowe – Foundry Chambers ‘Rose is exceptionally bright and extremely diligent. She is a compelling advocate with judgement and immense skill as well as extremely jury friendly. Rose will without doubt end up as one of the most successful barristers of her generation, as she has every single skill required to be a leading criminal barrister. She combines gravitas and lightness of touch in a way seldom seen. She is without doubt a silk in waiting.’

David Smith – Foundry Chambers ‘David is a tenacious advocate, calm in difficult situations and gives solicitors confidence. He is not one to duck giving difficult advice when needed.’

Marie Spenwyn – Libertas Chambers ‘Marie is an excellent advocate and an instinctive tactician. When faced with difficulties in cases she meets them by making difficult but very sound judgement calls. Her speeches to juries are eloquent and persuasive. Marie has a straightforward and accessible style yet has a gravitas that commands attention.’

Alex Stein – 2 Bedford Row ‘Alex is an authoritative advocate who immediately commands respect so people listen to him. He gets to grips extremely quickly with the facts and demonstrates great judgement as well as an ability to work efficiently.’

Emma Stuart-Smith – 25 Bedford Row ‘Emma is sought after by the very best silks as she is an excellent lawyer in terms of drafting skills as well as being an equally effective advocate. She combines sheer hard work with natural flair. Emma is a star.’

Jon Swain – Furnival Chambers ‘Jon's advocacy is matched only by his down-to-earth demeanour. He has a knack for connecting with clients and solicitors alike; he is a trusted ally, dedicated to his cases and respected by all he comes across. Jon's positive attitude and courtroom manner make him an exceptional advocate.'

Lucy Sweetland – 2 Bedford Row ‘Lucy is one to watch for the future. She is always superbly prepared and has a concise but persuasive advocacy style as well as superb interpersonal skills.’

Alejandra Tascon – 5KBW ‘Alejandra is poised, thorough, and insightful, with steely determination. She is an emerging talent who is not afraid of any task and always ready for more. No opponent should underestimate her - they will pay a price if they do.’

Jessica Tate – Foundry Chambers ‘Jessica’s advocacy is engaging and elegant. She has extremely good delivery and presence and goes above and beyond to ensure cases are properly prepared. Jessica can be trusted to handle complex and important parts of advocacy.’

Daniel Taylor – Red Lion Chambers

Sam Thomas – 2 Bedford Row ‘Sam is an exceptional advocate with excellent client care. He follows brief whilst bringing his own experience and views to a case. His representation is first class and he also has the appropriate manner for presenting sensitive mitigation. Sam is a persuasive advocate who consistently achieves excellent results.’

Estelle Thornber – Furnival Chambers ‘Estelle has a fantastic grasp of the details in cases. Although relatively junior, she quickly gains the respect of the court and all around her. Juries love her. Her cross-examination is skilful and effective, but also succinct. She is one to watch.’

Annabel Timan – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Annabel’s tenacity, her feel for the witness in cross-examination and her minute knowledge of the details of the case are all great strengths for her.’

Dharmendra (Dee) Toor – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Dee is exceptionally thorough and dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for his client. His cross-examination is exceptional; he has every aspect of the papers at his fingertips leaving the witness with nowhere to turn save for conceding that he is correct.’

Alexander Upton – 23ES ‘Alex is as committed and well-prepared as they come. He is approachable and knowledgeable and always does his homework. Clients appreciate his excellent submissions as well as his style and charm. He’s set for the very top.’

Helen Valley – 25 Bedford Row

Karl Volz – Farringdon Chambers ‘Karl is an expert in skilled cross-examination and a fine orator. He is personable and well-liked by juries.'

Daniella Waddoup – Doughty Street Chambers 'Daniella is intimidatingly intelligent. She can digest complicated legal arguments and respond with even better ones at lightening speed. Somehow, she's also humble, collaborative and empathetic. She speaks to clients with the same calm, consideration confidence with which she addresses judges.'

Benjamin Waidhofer – Foundry Chambers ‘Ben is very competent and is a first choice for many. He has an unerring ability to find solutions in the most complex cases. He is very well respected by his peers and others within the profession. Ben has an extensive knowledge of the law and is great with the lay client. He is also a great tactician.’

John Waller – 15NBS ‘John is proactive and responsive. He deals with clients professionally but in a manner that is down to earth and approachable. Having initially qualified as a solicitor, John has a detailed understanding of how cases are prepared and the difficulties that may be encountered. He is extremely thorough in preparing his cases, and indeed when presenting them in court. He hones in on the crucial points in a case and addresses them in a no-nonsense manner.'

Adam Williams – 4 King’s Bench Walk ‘Adam’s preparation of his work is great. His submissions are sharp and incisive and he takes pride in getting good results. He is hugely talented and is on the up and one to watch for the future.’

Thomas Williams – 6KBW College Hill 'Tom is a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to matters of criminal law. His knowledge is phenomenal, especially when it comes to developments in the law and case law.'

Nicholas Yeo – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Nick has an incredible skill set and knowledge base. He identifies the critical issues and delivers in court with persuasive and tactical poise.'

Rising Stars

Alex Du Sautoy – 6KBW College Hill ‘Alex is fiercely intelligent, with a calm and composed oral advocacy style. He drafts comprehensive and persuasive written submissions, and has a very good forensic approach to both the law and the facts in a case.’

Tim James-Matthews – Matrix Chambers ‘Tim has a huge brain - his legal arguments are extraordinarily smart. He is the hardest working person in every case, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the law and the facts.'

Francesca Kolar – Deka Chambers

Soraya Bauwens – Furnival Chambers ‘Soraya is phenomenal. She is a hard worker and cares deeply about each client. Her advocacy is always pitched right.’

Alex Davidson – 2 Bedford Row ‘Alex has a tremendously sharp legal mind, is charming and confident on his feet, and extremely hard-working. He is a star of the criminal bar in the making.’

Tommy Dominguez – 4BB ‘Tommy is very hardworking with an approachable, down-to-earth style who gets on well with solicitors and clients alike. His client-care skills and advocacy are impressive, demonstrating his thorough preparation and research from start to finish of his cases.’

Chantel Gaber – 25 Bedford Row ‘Chantel is an outstanding young talent with maturity beyond her years. She has insight and judgement; she is always on point. Her capacity for work and mastery of voluminous material is well known.’

Neelam Gomersall – 2 Hare Court ‘Neelam has so many strengths including exceptional client care skills, diligent preparation, and dogged determination. Her tactful decisions are very astute and Neelam’s witness handling and targeted cross-examination scores all the right points with juries. Her speeches are also captivating and she holds the jury’s attention well.’

William Goss – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘William is an outstanding advocate. He has great flair in court, cross-examines beautifully, and has the ability to deal with opponents with courtesy but firmness. His instincts are superb, and his work is always of the absolute highest quality. He is quite obviously a star in the making.’

Arthur Kendrick – The 36 Group ‘Arthur has a real talent for navigating complex cases involving extensive evidence. He is always meticulously prepared, having combed through voluminous material to find the winning points. In court, he is a force to be reckoned with and his cross-examination of witnesses is highly effective.’

Stacey-Lee Holland – 2 Dr Johnson’s Buildings ‘Stacey is a tenacious advocate with a formidable grasp of detail, married to robust advocacy. Her cross-examination is firm and measured. She always has the necessary case to hand and is a natural jury advocate.’

Kane Sharpe – Furnival Chambers ‘Kane is an outstanding advocate. He understands how to work with solicitors and clients and often sees things other barristers do not. He has a very strong yet smooth and persuasive advocacy style which make him instantly likeable to a jury.’

Robbie Stern – Matrix Chambers ‘Robbie is a meticulous barrister who has a particular flair for developing complex legal submissions. He is a pleasure to work with, very down to earth. He brings intellectual rigour and an impressive understanding of case law to his work.’

Tom Worden – 187 Chambers ‘Tom has a very calm and methodical approach to his work, and great attention to detail. He creates a great rapport with all his clients, who wholeheartedly trust him in his advocacy and preparatory skills, and this completely shows when he conducts his cases in court with great professionalism. Tom is a skilled advocate who will no doubt go on to achieve much in his career.’

Crime in London Bar

Tier 1 sets

2 Bedford Row

2 Bedford Row has an established reputation as a leading criminal set with a deep bench ranging from experienced silks to up-and-coming juniors. Christine Agnew KC specialises in homicide and sexual offences matters and is widely praised for her ‘unmatched eye for detail’. She led the prosecution of actor Kevin Spacey, who was charged with historic sexual offences against four men during a period spanning from 2001 to 2013. Christopher Martin has considerable experience defending in courts-martial across the UK and Germany, recently representing a corporal acquitted on rape charges. Alex Stein’s varied practice includes murder, kidnapping, drugs, and death by dangerous driving cases, on both the defence and prosecution side. Kieran Vaughan KC represented Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson, who entered a guilty plea to being in control of a dangerous dog after his Italian mastiff bit the former England youth international's masseur.

Testimonials

‘Paul Rodgers and Lee Bartlett are the twin pillars of 2BR, working under the clerking legend that is John Grimmer. Overall, an excellent clerking team.’

‘John Grimmer is a top clerk and runs a very effective and efficient clerks’ room, which is a combination of good knowledge and a strong work ethic. Paul Rodgers and Tom Powell are always on hand to assist and accommodate instructing solicitors.’

‘Joe Martin is a great clerk. Nothing is ever too much. He goes the extra mile for solicitors and is very friendly. In general, the clerks’ room is very strong. They are very accommodating and efficient. They tend to urgent matters quickly and will do what it takes to accommodate requests.’

‘Nobody has done it for longer than John Grimmer and nobody has better judgement or more contacts. First Junior Paul Rodgers is top class and would be a worthy successor. Joe Martin is forthright, efficient and well liked.’

‘2 Bedford Row is an excellent set with skilled pool of barristers of all years of call.’

‘2BR is a large set which specialises in criminal law, with a variety of different counsel to cover different types of cases.’

‘2BR is a Premier League criminal set of chambers with strength at all levels both prosecuting and defending.’

‘2 Bedford Row is a leading set in Crime, providing a first-class service in all areas of criminal law.’

2 Hare Court

2 Hare Court is widely praised as one of the ‘premier sets for serious and general crime’ with ‘superb barristers from pupils to silks’. Gudrun Young KC, ‘brilliant with strategy and with detail‘, recently defended , a woman with no previous convictions due to start an MA in theology in Cambridge, charged with murdering her fiance after running him over in her car following an argument between the pair at a party in Cheshire; she was convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years. Madeleine Wolfe is a sexual offences specialist with particular expertise in cases involving children and vulnerable adults, while Sarah Przybylska is a standout prosecutor with recent experience handling high-profile murder and sex trafficking cases, including several at the Old Bailey. Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC is widely known as ‘one of the most gifted barristers at the Bar’ – her broad practice covers complex sexual offences cases – she recently defended a counsellor accused by a patient of sexual assault, with the trial turning on detailed analysis of certain therapeutic methods and whether these can reasonably be considered sexual assault.

Testimonials

‘Chloe Tennent is an excellent clerk. She is very helpful.’

‘Jack Shah always provides a full service, from the moment counsel is briefed, until a matter has concluded and been billed. Of greatest assistance is that when alternative counsel is arranged to cover a hearing, prior notification is always provided via email – including the provision of covering counsel’s email and telephone number.’

‘The clerks at 2 Hare Court are very user friendly and really care about their instructing solicitors. Special mention goes to Chloe Tennent, Louis Lockwood and Julian Campbell for their excellent clerking.’

‘Chloe Tennent is one to watch and will go far!’

‘2 Hare Court are the premier set for serious and general crime. They have strength at every year of call, and the clerks know their counsel intimately. The juniors are well drilled and understand the demands of a solicitor intimately, whilst the silks are as smooth as they come.’

‘2 Hare Court are a premier criminal set. They have superb barristers from pupils to silks.’

‘2 Hare Court have quality running right through the set.’

‘2 Hare Court is a top-tier set of chambers for crime.’

25 Bedford Row

25 Bedford Row is ‘consistently one of the best criminal sets in London and fields an impressive array of seasoned and new advocates‘ that are regularly involved in the most high-profile cases. Tyrone Smith KC and Daniel Murray recently defended one of the individuals charged with the abduction, torture and murder of well-known Turkish DJ, Koray Alpergin, who was allegedly in Tottenham alongside his girlfriend over a debt. Paul Hynes KC has a stellar reputation for handling complex cases – he recently represented notorious Islamist activist Anjem Choudary in relation to allegations concerning his leadership in Al-Muhajiroun, a proscribed organisation. Laurie-Anne Power KC has considerable experience in murder trials, including gang-related murder trials. John Cooper KC’s heavyweight practice sees him defend in major murder, drug trafficking, terrorism, and sexual offences cases – in November 2023 he defended a man charged with the murder of 19-year-old Ashley Dale, shot and killed in her home in Liverpool as a result of a gangland feud involving her boyfriend. The defendant was ultimately acquitted of all charges; four other defendants were convicted and received minimum terms of over four decades each. Lisa Wilson’s varied practice covers murder, drugs, and sexual offences cases. Jeffrey Israel has joined the team from 5KBW.

Testimonials

‘Alfie Lee, recently promoted to the position of Senior Clerk, is an outstanding clerk with tremendous ability to deal with issues skilfully and sensitively.’

‘Alfie Lee always goes the extra mile. They are friendly and always on hand when needed.’

’25 Bedford Row is consistently one of the best criminal sets in London and fields an impressive array of seasoned and new advocates. Their younger tenants are impressive and reliable.’

’25 Bedford Row is the best set in the country. From their KCs down to their junior tenants the quality is outstanding.’

’25BR is one of the best leading criminal sets. They have a wealth of very good and experienced barristers.’

’25BR is an impeccable defence set with some of the greatest talent at the bar. For criminal defence work, from junior tenants to silk, there is counsel to suit every case and budget.’

6KBW College Hill

6KBW College Hill is widely praised as ‘one of the pre-eminent sets at the criminal Bar, especially when it comes to prosecution‘. Annabel Darlow KC is a leading prosecutor with particular expertise when it comes to handling terrorism cases – she prosecuted a Unabomber-inspired student in Liverpool convicted of preparing terrorist acts and disseminating terrorist material after his activities were uncovered by security services as part of an investigation into the purchase of chemicals online – he was sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment. Duncan Penny KC led Peter Ratliff in the prosecution of a 22-year-old man charged with planning an attack on a Christian preacher in Hyde Park shortly after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – he was convicted and sentenced to a minimum term of 14 years. Alison Morgan KC has considerable experience in high-profile cases – in October 2023 she prosecuted a man who had been arrested whilst trespassing within the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day armed with a loaded crossbow, who said that he was “here to kill the Queen” – he was charged with multiple offences, including under the 1842 Treason Act, and imprisoned for nine years, subject to a hybrid order under the Mental Health Act.

Testimonials

‘Lizzie Labrum is one of the best clerks in the game. She is so proactive and is like a little busy bee making sure matters are covered, liaising with courts in the background and always going above and beyond to accommodate instructing solicitors. She is an absolute asset to 6KBW College Hill.’

‘Mark Essex and Andrew Barnes form an exceptional clerking duo at the set. They demonstrate a strong commercial acumen, responsiveness, and are a delight to work with.’

‘Mark Essex is a delight to work with and Andrew Barnes is arguably the most talented clerk in this field.’

‘Andrew Barnes, Mark Essex, Richard Summerscales and Lizzie Labrum are a formidable team.’

‘The best set of criminal chambers in the county with excellent barristers across the board.’

‘6KBW College Hill continues to be the best crime set in the country.’

‘6KBW is one of the pre-eminent sets at the criminal Bar especially when it comes to prosecution.’

‘6KBW College Hill is one one of the very best criminal sets. The silks are extremely respected and the juniors are outstanding. They are hugely respected by solicitors, other barristers and judiciary.’

Doughty Street Chambers

Doughty Street Chambers has an excellent reputation as ‘one of the best criminal sets in the UK‘ with ‘quality across the board.‘ Kate O’Raghallaigh stands out for her varied practice and experience in recent high-profile cases – she defended infamous Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary at the Old Bailey in relation to allegations concerning his support of and involvement in a proscribed terrorist organisation, namely Al-Muhajiroun, and is currently representing one of the five Bulgarian nationals charged under the Official Secrets Act 1911 with conspiring to commit espionage in the UK on behalf of Russia – a case involving issues of the contemporary application of the Act and the range of admissible evidence under it. Rabah Kherbane is regularly involved in major cases at the Old Bailey – James Wood KC recently led him in the defence of one of the individuals charged with the abduction, torture and murder of Turkish radio DJ Koray Alpergin, who was kidnapped in Tottenham alongside his girlfriend in an empty bar over an alleged debt.

Testimonials

‘Matthew Butchard and Chloe Cousins are incredibly professional, available and helpful.’

‘The clerking team led by Matthew Butchard is efficient, pro-active and always ready to help. The work with their profession clients to ensure the needs of their lay client are met.’

‘Head criminal clerk Matt Butchard is very experienced. He is a ‘proper clerk’; a real gem.’

‘A premier criminal defence set with quality across the board. A really intelligent, top-quality group.’

‘They are in the top three criminal sets, with strength at all levels of seniority.’

‘Doughty Street is the the best criminal set in the UK. Their barristers do some of the best quality work and their recruitment standards are extremely high, which ensures quality.’

‘Doughty Street are a formidable set, with a range of counsel offering someone for any case a firm may have.’

‘Doughty Street is one of the best criminal sets. They have a great selection of good KCs and juniors. They are very professional and provide an excellent clerking service. They also offer great in chambers events and legal updates. Equally good for legally aided and private work.’

QEB Hollis Whiteman

QEB Hollis Whiteman has an established reputation as ‘one of the best sets out there that is packed with excellence from top to bottom‘. Crispin Aylett KC led the prosecution of several individuals charged with the abduction, torture and murder of well-known Turkish DJ, Koray Alpergin, kidnapped in Tottenham alongside his girlfriend over money he owed. Jocelyn Ledward KC took silk in April 2024. Ali Bajwa KC’s broad practice covers major murder and sexual offences cases. Philip Stott prosecuted former barrister Henry Hendron, who was convicted of encouraging the commission of offences, namely seeking to purchase methamphetamine from clients themselves facing drugs charges – Hendron was imprisoned for fourteen months, and in separate disciplinary proceedings subsequently disbarred.

Testimonials

‘Chris Emmings and Faye Patis are two of the best clerks around. They are a fantastic team. They have integrity, good sense, initiative and nous.’

‘The clerks have an incredible work ethic and a brilliant attitude to work. They are proactive in every way, quickly providing solutions to problems. They are all extremely profession and no one ever lets the team down. Chris Emmings is exceptional. He has his finger on the pulse with an excellent knowledge of the needs of instructing solicitors. David O’Sullivan has a fantastic, approachable and friendly demeanour.’

‘Sam Window is excellent: organised, easy to deal with and helpful. If he is unavailable and you are told he will call you back, he does. He knows his barristers’ diaries well and knows his solicitors’ needs just as well.’

‘Faye Stimpson is always fantastic. She is a superstar.’

‘QEB are a wonderful set full of heavy hitters. They are regularly instructed on the most serious of offences and undertake a breadth of work in many areas of crime and regulatory work. Their barristers are often appointed to judicial positions or made KCs because they are exceptional.’

‘QEB Hollis Whiteman is in the very top tier of criminal sets.’

‘QEB Hollis Whiteman stands out as a beacon of legal excellence, embodying a profound commitment to precision and innovation and high-quality advocacy and written work. Their approach to complex legal matters is marked by a rare blend of astute analysis and creative problem-solving. Their reputation for integrity and client-centered service is well deserved.’

‘QEB Hollis Whiteman is an excellent set for criminal defence work, which is why they are a number one choice. The standard of counsel is unbeatable.’

Red Lion Chambers

Red Lion Chambers has long been known as a ‘very strong and highly regarded set of criminal law barristers‘. Gillian Jones KC recently defended Marius Draghici, charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law after a group of Vietnamese migrants died in the back of a lorry trailer on the way to the UK - the case involving novel legal arguments concerning the potential abuse of court process relating to Draghici’s extradition from Romania, as well as the disclosure of case papers to the defendant's Romanian lawyers. Jones KC and Genevieve Reed also represented a man acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter in a five-defendant trial concerning a robbery of a competitor by a group of drug dealers - a co-defendant was convicted of murder. Hugh French , ‘a robust and effective prosecutor’, has a varied practice that encompasses homicide, child sexual abuse, and large-scale drug conspiracy cases. In January 2024 he was lead junior for the Crown in a trial, in which a married couple received matching sentences of 33 years imprisonment for exporting six tonnes of cocaine to Australia.

Testimonials

‘Lee Young and David Pilkington pay great attention to detail and provide excellent communication with solicitors.’

‘The clerks are always live and proactive in terms of any issues arising. They are able to communicate effectively with courts, including courts out of area. They are readily available to discuss matters. Max Bradley consistently provides a service of the very highest level.’

‘Ellie Jones is efficient, helpful and professional.’

‘Mark Bennett is peerless.’

‘Red Lion Chambers is one of the strongest criminal defence sets in the country. The clerking team is excellent at managing diaries and ensuring matters are covered. The set as a whole is approachable and friendly.’

‘A very strong and highly regarded set of criminal law barristers.’

‘An excellent set of chambers with a breadth of talent across the call range.’

‘Red Lion is an excellent set. In terms of training and depth of counsel they are second to none.’

Tier 2 sets

23ES

23ES is well-known as a ‘quality chambers with real strength in depth’ when it comes to general crime work, with both silks and juniors regularly involved in high-profile cases. Eloise Marshall KC, joint head of chambers alongside Kate Lumsdon KC, recently prosecuted Lawrence Jones, a successful tech entrepreneur convicted of raping and sexually assaulting three women between 1993 and 2013, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In the last few years John Price KC has prosecuted in several historic murder trials, including the trial of a man, aged thirteen at the time of the offence, convicted of murdering six-year-old Rikki Neave in November 1994. ‘Confident advocate’ David Dainty offers expertise in sexual offences cases as well as cases involving serious violence against children.

Testimonials

‘Adam Chapman is a really great clerk. He just has such a good handle on cases whichever barrister they are with. He will do his best to accommodate any particular needs and requests and is sensitive to the needs of each case and instructing solicitor.’

‘Wayne King and Adam Chapman provide a sterling service. They are trustworthy and very helpful no matter what the case is.’

‘Adam Chapman is the jewel in the crown of an excellent clerking team.’

’23ES is consistently excellent with the best clerking team bar none. Wayne King is a legend of the game.’

’23ES is a well-respected criminal set with a large number of silks and juniors who are always well prepared and adopt a sensible and realistic approach to their cases.’

’23ES is a fantastic set; they have a strong clerking team and brilliant barristers across the board.’

’23ES is a strong set with depth in all areas of crime.’

‘An excellent set. They are highly respected in the prosecution and defence of serious crime.’

5KBW

5KBW is ‘a high-calibre set of chambers which is well established in its reputation for excellence‘. Sarah Forshaw KC is widely praised as ‘a giant of the criminal Bar’ with considerable ‘tactical and strategic genius’ which she puts to use in complex cases – she regularly appears at the Old Bailey in homicide trials and has recently represented several high-profile clients on a private basis in relation to serious sexual offences allegations. Anthony Orchard KC has notable experience prosecuting in gang-related murder trials, with a reputation as ‘one of the most respected prosecuting silks at the Old Bailey’. Jonathan Higgs KC focuses on organised crime and serious violence cases. Jonathan Polnay KC, who took silk in April 2024, ‘has a strong tactical sense and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law.’ David Osborne joined chambers from 5 Paper Buildings in March 2024, bringing considerable expertise in sexual offences cases, among others.

Testimonials

‘5KBW has very good clerks, especially Lee Hughes-Gage and Matt Harper, who are very honest and never let you down.’

‘Lee Hughes-Gage has been the Senior Clerk now for nearly 20 years. He is approachable, principled, industrious, charming, hugely efficient, and there is very little he does not know about the business. He is himself a leader and he leads a first-class clerking team, who bend over backwards to ensure the service they provide is tip-top. Chambers Administrator, Nicki Crew, deserves a special mention. If something needs doing, it gets done. She is a tour de force.’

‘Lee Hughes-Gage is pleasure to work with. He is one of the most loyal and honest clerks in the industry.’

‘Matt Harper is an effective clerk.’

‘5KBW is a high-calibre set of chambers which is well established in its reputation for excellence and criminal defence work. There is strength and depth throughout its members.’

‘5KBW continues to go from strength to strength. The quality of its advocates and the work generated is very impressive.’

‘5 King’s Bench Walk is an excellent set.’

‘5KBW is a chambers currently at the very top of its game. They have strength in depth at a different level to most but they are also a thoroughly decent group.’

Furnival Chambers

Furnival Chambers is widely thought of as ‘a strong set from top to bottom with a body of barristers well equipped to deal with the whole spectrum of criminal cases’. Caroline Haughey KC is well known as ‘the foremost expert in human trafficking in the UK’. Her practice also extends to high-profile murder cases, particularly those involving children and vulnerable adults. ‘Careful and thoughtful advocate’ Caroline Carberry KC regularly appears at the Old Bailey to both prosecute and defend in the most serious and complex cases. She recently led the prosecution of Swedish national Marius Gustavson (self-styled as the "eunuch maker") and nine others, charged with performing extreme body modification procedures, including castration and freezing off of limbs, and selling video footage of the procedures as well as the excised human tissue. Gustavson was convicted of various offences, including conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm, and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years.

Testimonials

‘Steve Ball is an incredible asset to chambers.’

‘Fred Cross is a brilliant and hard-working clerk who thinks ahead in anticipating the needs of clients and barristers.’

‘Senior Clerk Stephen Ball is the finest example of his profession. He leads his clerk’s room with precision and he single-handedly is steering Furnival to be one of the most effective and present chambers in both London and the Outer Circuits.’

‘Furnival has strength in depth and is a first-class chambers. They have some real stars.’

‘Furnival Chambers has long been regarded as being particularly good at crime.’

‘Furnival has a great set of barristers to choose from who are highly experienced.’

‘Furnival is a strong set from top to bottom with a body of barristers well equipped to deal with the whole spectrum of criminal cases.’

Garden Court Chambers

Garden Court Chambers has a strong group of criminal barristers, with considerable experience at both silk and junior level. Icah Peart KC’s heavyweight defence practice sees him regularly appear in murder trials at the Old Bailey – he recently defended Junior Kettle, one of the individuals charged with the kidnap, torture, and murder of well-known Turkish DJ Koray Alpergin, abducted in Tottenham alongside his girlfriend over money he owed. Henry Blaxland KC and Daniel Jameson were also defending in that case. Bernard Tetlow KC is noted particularly for his experience in multi-defendant homicide trials – he recently defended a security guard at a party who was part of a watch robbery ring, which stabbed to death a man to rob him of a Patek Phillipe watch, which turned out to be fake, a party in the City of London in May 2022 - this defendant was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter and robbery and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Testimonials

‘Colin Cook is fantastic. He is an old fashioned clerk who you can trust the opinion of and will always try to help you.’

‘The clerks’ room is always on hand to assist us with listing issues that arise, and to advise us as to suitable counsel for a specific case.’

‘The clerking team at Garden Court is excellent. They are friendly, easy to reach, able to provide suitable suggestions for counsel for a case and always avoid changing counsel when they can. They are proactive and able to assist with the changing landscape of the criminal justice system.’

‘Garden Court Chambers is an excellent set with a number of leading silks specialising in various areas of law. They attract the best and those that will fight for the client no matter what. This is coupled with each barristers’ legal and technical expertise in their respective fields. Garden Court have an array of training programmes which are offered free of charge to solicitors and this has always been excellent. They also host excellent social events.’

‘Chambers clearly has great strength in depth in criminal defence and the clerks are very helpful. They also run regular seminars that are generally of a high standard.’

‘Garden Court offers a variety of experienced KCs and junior barristers. The set offers many training opportunities and information seminars throughout the year.’

Mountford Chambers

Mountford Chambers is ‘going from strength to strength’ when it comes to its criminal law offering and is now recognised as ‘a go-to set for all criminal cases’. Edward Henry KC successfully represented Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly jailed in 2003 for the rape and strangulation of a woman in Salford but had his conviction overturned in July 2023 by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence implicated another man in the crime. William England has considerable experience handling homicide, terrorism, and large-scale drug importation cases – he recently defended a man charged alongside two others with importing several thousand kilograms of cocaine. Christopher Henley KC’s broad practice covers a wide range of offences, with a recent emphasis on homicide and terrorism offences.

Testimonials

‘Ben Heaviside is a very effective senior clerk, sensibly flexible on fees and he runs a tight ship.’

‘The clerks are extremely helpful and will make running a case so much easier. Ben Heaviside, Nathan Warren, Dean Allen and Jordan Wescott are particularly good.’

‘The clerks room is efficient and well supported. Ben Heaviside, Dean Allen, Jordan Wescott, Nathan Warren and Orla O’Sullivan are readily available to deal with any enquiries and provide support where needed. They are happy to arrange conferences at chambers and offer impeccable client care.’

‘Jordan Wescott is one of the best clerks on the legal circuit. He provides essential administrative support and his role is integral to the success not only for chambers but for the law firms it works with.’

‘Mountford seems to be going from strength to strength following its rebranding during the pandemic – they have very busy juniors who are instructed in serious and complex trials.’

‘Mountford Chambers is an extremely skilled set offering impeccable service and a group of counsel who are intelligent and legally astute. They are always on hand to offer assistance and are proactive in their approach with the courts.’

‘Mountford has great strength in depth. The juniors are particularly good. They are a go-to set for all criminal cases.’

‘Mountford Chambers offers a great range of counsel from junior to senior.’

Three Raymond Buildings

Three Raymond Buildings, with ‘excellent strength in depth‘, is regarded by many as ‘one of the finest sets in the country’ for general crime work. Patrick Gibbs KC routinely handles high-profile cases – he defended actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted on charges of historic sexual offences against four men during a period spanning from 2001 to 2013. He is also leading Patrick Hill in the defence of a firearms officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba, a drill musician who had previously served a sentence in a young offenders institution for firearms offences, during a police pursuit. Hugh Davies KC regularly prosecutes in homicide trials at the Old Bailey – he led in the re-trial of a former primary school teacher who ultimately admitted to stabbing her husband to death and burying his body in the garden of their Northampton home. In the clerks’ room, Emma Makepeace joined the set from 25 Bedford Row.

Testimonials

‘Eddie Holland is an absolute pleasure to work with and very commercial.’

‘The clerks Charlie Tennant and Christina Eleftheriou are absolutely brilliant. They are wonderfully friendly and efficient.’

‘Charlie Tennant is a great addition to the clerking team!’

‘The clerks offer undoubtedly the best service across the bar. They have an intelligent, helpful and pro-active clerks’ room which never make mistakes.’

‘They are at the very top of the tree for criminal defence work.’

‘Three Raymond Buildings is a strong chambers at every level of call.’

‘Three Raymond Buildings is a fabulous set with talented members. One of the benefits of instructing a barrister in this set is that clients almost always have continuity of counsel, but if that isn’t possible, it is guaranteed that the case will be covered by someone more than capable.’

‘An excellent set with great strength in depth from silks to immaculately trained, very talented junior tenants.’

Tier 3 sets

15NBS Chambers

15NBS ‘is becoming quite a player‘ in the field of crime according to its peers and ‘is definitely in the upward-moving direction’. Tana Adkin KC recently defended a man, who at the time of the offence believed himself to be ‘Agent 47’ from the Hitman series of games, charged with the murder of his Russian housemate - after cross-examination of the prosecution psychiatrist, the defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Robert Ward is widely praised as ‘one of the best all-round juniors in the country’, regularly defending those charged with murder, human trafficking, and serious sexual offences. Clodaghmuire Callinan has an excellent reputation for defending in complex OCG and sexual offences cases, including cases involving alleged non-recent abuse.

Testimonials

‘Glenn Matthews is a gifted senior clerk who is a hugely reassuring presence for instructing solicitors. Tom Parker is a rising star and is also loved by instructing solicitors. Poppy Maddison and Kazia Myrie are extremely efficient and friendly.’

‘Glenn Matthews, Tom Parker and the whole team at 15NBS know their barristers well and are able to accurately advise as to which barrister would be the right fit for a client. The team is approachable, professional and never fails to get back to you.’

‘Tom Parker is amazing. Glenn Matthew is a legend. Poppy Maddison and Kazia Myrie are the best.’

’15NBS has gone from strength to strength over recent years with solid management and a superb clerking team headed by Glenn Matthews and Tom Parker. They have a great variety of counsel.’

’15NBS maintains a formidable presence in the criminal law arena, with a deep bench of talented barristers. The set’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its comprehensive training and unwavering support for professional development.’

’15NBS is becoming quite a player and is definitely in the upward-moving direction.’

’15NBS is an excellent set with a broad range of talent in criminal advocacy. Their junior end is strong and ambitious while their senior end regularly handles the most difficult and complex cases.’

’15NBS continues to grow and excel offering first class advocacy, specialist advice and representation in all areas of criminal law.’

5 Paper Buildings

5 Paper Buildings is widely recognised as a ‘strong set with a good reputation‘ for handling a wide variety of criminal cases, ‘including the more unusual criminal-medical cases‘, for example those involving allegations of toxic poisoning or baby shaking. Deanna Heer KC recently prosecuted two teenagers convicted of the murder of Brianna Ghey, a teenager lured to a park and stabbed to death by the pair in February 2023 - the two defendants (one of whom, owing to mutism, typed his evidence in court) received life sentences with minimum terms of 20 years and 22 years respectively, and the reporting restrictions anonymising the defendants were lifted. In June 2024, Miranda Moore KC led Richard Padley in a murder trial, with the defendant having previously been convicted of wounding with intent after running over the victim, who died of his injuries four years later - the case turned on complex medical evidence concerning cause of death.

Testimonials

‘Dale Jones and Graham Briggs run a slick service and are both charming and personable. They are well organised and always helpful.’

‘Dale Jones brings a little bit of the best of old school clerking to the corporate demands that solicitors in 2024 have and does so with total success.’

‘The clerks are easy to contact and helpful in trying to assist with cases. Graham Briggs is always very helpful.’

‘Dale Jones is an absolute star of a clerk.’

‘5 Paper Buildings is a strong set with a good reputation.’

‘5 Paper Buildings is a very strong set indeed as it has strength in depth across the criminal field.’

‘5 Paper Buildings is amazing. From senior to junior barristers they are very bright and hard-working individuals. The clerks are always available to assist to cover cases and find suitable counsels for particular matters.’

‘5 Paper Buildings is a well-established set dealing with the highest- end crime. There are a wide range of silks and senior juniors with experience in general crime, including the more unusual criminal/ medical cases, such as baby shaking and toxic poisoning.’

9BR

9BR Chambers is ‘one of the top sets in London’ for criminal law work, with a number of silks and juniors regularly acting in major cases. Peter Glenser KC has a long-running track record of cases involving firearms, while defence specialist Graeme Logan has over 25 years’ experience practising exclusively in criminal law, with particular expertise when it comes to organised crime conspiracies. Jane Bickerstaff KC defends and prosecutes in a broad range of cases, particularly murder and sexual offences cases. She stands out for her experience dealing with children and vulnerable adults – she recently defended the mother, suffering from severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD, of a one-year-old child murdered by her abusive husband. Martin Secrett retired as chambers director in April 2024; Adrian Chapman is now the chambers manager.

Testimonials

‘Russell Good in particular is a great clerk.’

‘Russell Good and Jordan Haisman are very helpful and easy to approach over the telephone or email.’

‘9BR Chambers has a broad breadth of talent.’

‘9BR is one of the top sets in London.’

‘A top set of barristers especially in criminal law.’

‘The chambers has some good advocates who are in high demand.’

‘The service in the clerks’ room has always been efficient and helpful.’

Foundry Chambers

In recent years Foundry Chambers has grown into ‘a superb set with quality barristers of all years of call‘. Alexandra Healy KC recently prosecuted 80-year-old John Apelgren, alleged to have strangled a sex worker to death in June 1974, with the case reopened after DNA samples were acquired from Apelgren following his arrest for assaulting his wife in 2019 - he was found guilty of manslaughter and indecent assault. Neil Griffin’s varied practice covers drugs, homicide, and sexual offences cases – he recently defended one of the individuals charged alongside Marius Gustavson, the self-styled "eunuch maker". Warwick Tatford has been particularly active of late in sexual offences cases, especially on the prosecution side. He prosecuted in a trial concerning the assault, robbery, and rape of a teenager in a Greenwich bike shed, with the defendant ultimately convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Testimonials

‘The clerks’ room is very efficient. Angela May and Daniel Blackman are incredibly approachable and will always do what they can to assist. If they do not have counsel available they will ring around other chambers to provide a name. They know the skill set of all their barristers and will only recommend someone if they consider them appropriate for the case.’

‘Dean Begley goes the extra mile or two.’

‘Dan Blackman is an excellent clerk. He is always available and always willing to assist and advise on counsel availability.’

‘Dean Begley and Angela May are the best: very helpful, always pleasant, and nothing is too much trouble.’

‘Foundry Chambers is a superb set with quality barristers of all years of call.’

‘Foundry Chambers contains numerous highly skilled barristers from all different backgrounds. They are able to provide suitable options when instructed on cases.’

‘Foundry Chambers is a set that has flourished over the years with new talented barristers. It’s wonderful to see their growth.’

‘Foundry Chambers is an excellent set held in high regard by the judiciary.’

Matrix Chambers

Matrix Chambers has an established reputation as ‘one of the very best sets in London for criminal work‘, with noted expertise in cases involving high-profile individuals or international elements. Helen Law is acting as counsel for the first defendant in relation to the prosecution of five Bulgarian nationals under the Official Secrets Act 1911, alleged to have been spying in the UK on behalf of Russia. Clare Montgomery KC recently prosecuted a woman for taking a three-year-old British child to Kenya for female genital mutilation, with the woman the first person to be convicted of assisting a non-UK person to perform FGM. Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC and Robbie Stern are both well known for their experience in protest cases, while Vedrana Pehar regularly defends those charged with serious violence, drugs, and sexual offences.

Testimonials

‘Paul Venables is a legend on the scene and the clerks’ room is well organised. Barristers are properly supported and there are an identifiable group of people for solicitors to approach and who take responsibility for sorting issues. The whole thing works like clockwork.’

‘Excellent clerking – they are exceptionally helpful and professional. Paul Venables is always a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent clerks.’

‘Matrix is one of the very best sets in London for criminal work, particularly for cases involving i) clients with a high profile ii) international aspects and iii) cases with linked issues such as media, freedom of information, and human rights. The depth of experience and knowledge at the set is exceptional. They are hugely respected.’

‘Matrix is an excellent set with a very good reputation.’

‘A top-drawer chambers that is increasingly aiming for a broader share of the work (youth, more serious crime) which is very welcome.’

Tier 4 sets

187 Chambers

187 Chambers is seen by many as ‘an excellent set with counsel ranging from the junior to very senior.’ Widely praised as ‘one of the great jury advocates operating at the moment’, Mozammel Hossain KC regularly handles high-profile cases concerning terrorism, murder, and organised crime. Rebecca Lee stands out for her experience in ‘factually complex’ sexual offences cases, including those involving historic allegations. ‘Formidable advocate’ Jason Bartfeld KC specialises in organised crime cases involving homicide, modern slavery, and large-scale drug conspiracies.

Testimonials

‘John Pyne leads a good team of clerks.’

‘Theresa Tyler and Steph Shaylor are amazing. They always goes above and beyond to help.’

‘The clerks are brilliant. Theresa Tyler and Steph Shaylor build good rapport with clients and provide them with quality advocates at all times.’

‘They have supportive clerks who always ensure that they provide suitable counsel, often at short notice and on occasions where private funding needs to be discussed, they are very realistic and reasonable in the fees they quote. There are out-of-office contacts should an emergency arise, which is very helpful.’

‘Chambers are always excellent and able to provide quality advocates at all times.’

‘A strong set that is well staffed in terms of range of experience.’

‘An excellent set with counsel ranging from the junior to very senior.’

2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS

2 Harcourt Buildings is ‘an excellent set that conducts high-end prosecution and defence work‘. Jane Osborne KC, with a reputation for being ‘tactically astute and skilled at handling young clients’, is regularly instructed in relation to homicide trials. Tom Nicholson recently prosecuted two brothers charged with the attempted murder of their father, with both suffering from drug-induced psychosis at the time of the attack. William Goss’ burgeoning practice covers drugs, homicide, and sexual assault cases – he recently prosecuted in a trial concerning the murder of a woman whose body was found in the storage area under her bed - the defendant was convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 34 years.

Testimonials

‘Keith Poynter is a great clerk and Gary Wright is also very personable and easy to work with.’

‘Senior clerk Keith Poynter is first rate in his client care and ability to provide the perfect counsel for each case.’

‘Gary Wright and Keith Poynter are utterly client focused, extremely responsive, and know the market inside out. They are also very adept at encouraging and nurturing new and existing streams of work.’

‘The clerks are superb – they have a lovely ethos and work hard to make sure that chambers is run efficiently and well. They are a joy to deal with.’

‘2 Harcourt Buildings is an excellent set that conducts high-end prosecution and defence work. They have a range of seniority of counsel who are suitable for a wide breadth of matter types.’

‘They are a good set with good counsel.’

‘One of the best sets of chambers in London with barristers of the highest quality.’

‘2 Harcourt Buildings has real strength in depth when it comes to prosecution. They never disappoint.’

3TG Barristers

3TG Barristers is a ‘well-respected set‘ with a core group of quality criminal barristers. John Femi-Ola KC recently represented Mark Gordon, accused alongside Constance Marten of the gross negligence manslaughter of their newborn child, found dead in a Brighton shed in 2023, the couple having been on the run for several months, ostensibly in order to keep the baby from being taken into care - both defendants were convicted of other charges but the jury could not reach a verdict on the charge of manslaughter. Tim Forte’s broad practice covers heavyweight murder, drugs, and terrorism cases. He is praised as ‘a great jury man’ as well as for his ‘ability to absorb vast quantities of information, including evidence of a technical nature’.

Testimonials

‘Gary Brown and Mike Cross are class acts. They will try to help in any way they can.’

‘The clerks are extremely helpful. Gregory Lamont is helpful when arranging appointments with counsel and rearranging hearings.’

‘Excellent clerks overall and they seem to work well as a team. Greg and Matilda are especially helpful and really go above and beyond.’

‘3TG is a well-respected set.’

‘A solid and reliable set of criminal chambers with barristers of varying experience to cover all manner of criminal cases.’

5 St Andrews Hill

5 St Andrews Hill offers a strong group of criminal barristers with a broad range of expertise. Having joined from The 36 Group in January 2024, John Cammegh KC brings considerable experience in murder, firearms, drugs, and sexual offences cases, on both the defence and prosecution side. Dharmendra (Dee) Toor, who also joined in January 2024 from The 36 Group, stands out for his cybercrime expertise. Mark Cotter KC recently prosecuted a man who was convicted of murder after beating to death a convicted paedophile in Newport – in the absence of witnesses coming forward, the case was based on CCTV footage, hearsay evidence and forensic analysis of wood fragments.

Testimonials

‘Dean Cook is every bit the perfect clerk. He knows the system in which he is working like the back of his hand. He is unremittingly helpful, going over and above to make solicitors’ lives easier. He is particularly skilled at placing a brief with the right counsel and quoting appropriately for the case, the client and counsel.’

‘Dean Cook is running the show at 5 St Andrews Hill. Anything that needs doing, he will sort if for you.’

‘The clerks are very good. Gary Norton is excellent.’

‘The clerks are exceptionally efficient and informative. Senior criminal clerk Dean Cook does everything he can to assist and predicts difficult situations and takes control.’

‘The crime team at 5SAH is a very strong set; they have a large well-rounded team of advocates who are always well-prepared and able to step in when required. The set is very collaborative with a wide knowledge base, so if there is ever an issue that arises, there is never a doubt that a member of the set will be ready and willing to assist, even if not formally instructed on the matter in question.’

‘5SAH is one of the best sets to work with. They have a strong group of barristers, offering a wide variety of expertise, and talent across the board.’

‘5SAH is a quality set with reputable barristers.’

‘5 St Andrews Hill is an excellent set. No job is too small for them and they always seem to cover cases no matter what time of day.’

25 Southampton Buildings

Church Court Chambers boasts a number of ‘talented‘ criminal barristers at both the senior and junior end. Maria Karaiskos KC regularly defends and prosecutes in homicide cases and has ‘hit the ground running as silk’ – she recently prosecuted a young man who killed his mother whilst under the influence of various drugs, having been filmed displaying symptoms of drug-induced psychosis shortly before the attack. He ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter following examination of expert witnesses concerning issues such as diminished responsibility, intoxication, and intention. Colin Witcher, widely praised as a ‘brilliant junior’, recently defended a former teacher and school child protection officer ultimately convicted of over forty counts of historic sexual offences committed against over twenty students.

Testimonials

‘David Selsdon and Rod McGurk in particular are stars! They are always very helpful and positive.’

‘The service provided by clerks is excellent. It is a feature of the profession that solicitors firms come in all shapes and sizes and have a diversity of different and sometimes complex professional requirements. The clerks in chambers excel in catering for these needs. On a more personal level, the individual members of the clerking team are very approachable, user friendly and professional. Rod McGurk is the senior clerk and a great deal of credit is owed to him as the ‘line manager’ in ensuring that these high levels of service provision are maintained and consolidated.’

‘The clerks very dependable, particularly David Selsden.’

‘The set is incredibly helpful and try to accommodate any requests made by solicitors. They really go above and beyond. Rod McGurk in particular is outstanding. He is knowledgeable in all areas and able to communicate with clients/courts/solictors with such ease.’

‘The set is very diverse and talented from the young to the senior. They also provide a lot of seminars to help solicitors which is commendable given how much work they have.’

‘A reliable set with very good crime specialists.’

‘Church Court Chambers is a boutique set that regularly hosts in-house training, lecture nights, and social events.’

‘Church Court Chambers is progressive and has strength in depth.’

Crucible Chambers

Crucible Chambers is an ‘excellent set of chambers that is going places fast’, with several strong barristers handling a wide range of criminal matters. Martin Goudie KC, praised as ‘one of the best strategists at the Bar’, is experienced in murder and robbery cases. Roderick James specialises in serious drug trafficking and violence cases. Leila Gaskin has a strong reputation as an ‘articulate and very persuasive advocate’ – she has recently acted in murder, attempted murder, and human trafficking trials. Clea Topolski KC took silk in March 2024.

Testimonials

‘The clerks at Crucible Chambers are brilliant, especially James Hall. He is organised, passionate and will do his utmost to ensure that instructed counsel can attend the hearings, to ensure continuity in representation. A rare commodity these days!’

‘James Hall and Zach May in particular are amazing. They are always responsive and prioritise any queries.’

‘Zach May is fantastic. He is always available to discuss work and makes a real effort to make sure the machine that is defence work is always running smooth.’

‘The clerks’ room is run brilliantly. Zach and James are always very helpful and go above and beyond!’

‘An excellent set of chambers that is going places fast. Recruitment is carefully considered so that calibre is retained. Returns are not an issue as counsel are very able who are appointed for the return hearing. A set that is very much on the rise and expeditious in its current ascendancy.’

‘Crucible appears to be a very strong set with good counsel across the board.’

‘Crucible Chambers is a very competent set of chambers which will always do their best to provide a first-rate service.’

‘Crucible is great at what they do in crime.’

Farringdon Chambers

Farringdon Chambers ‘has become a go-to set’ for criminal cases and is noted for its ‘real presence in cases at the Old Bailey‘. Head of chambers Ian Henderson KC practises exclusively in criminal defence, with an emphasis on cases involving murder and sexual offences charges. Fellow silk Claire Davies KC has considerable experience in multi-handed gang murder trials, including those heard at the Old Bailey. Martin McCarthy KC, who took silk in April 2024, has been described as a ‘stellar performer who was made for silks robes’, impressing particularly for his advocacy style and tactical acumen. Turning to the set’s juniors, Graham Arnold, known for his ‘tactical awareness’ and client care skills, has a varied practice covering matters involving homicide, drugs, and terrorism offences.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are extremely helpful at all times, in particular Bob Archer who is always on hand to assist.’

‘Bob Archer the senior clerk is exceptional.’

‘Bob Archer and Lloyd Hawkins are both knowledgeable about how courts operate and they are able to easily assess clients’ and counsels’ needs when approaching any particular matter.’

‘Bob Archer is at the top of his game. He maintains very good relationships with solicitors who are consistently impressed with the service he provides.’

‘Lloyd Hawkins is renowned for his ability to assist solicitors by allocating counsel appropriately and efficiently.’

‘Farringdon Chambers has become a go-to set . They have a real presence in cases at the Central Criminal Court.’

‘Farringdon Chambers is a well-respected set of criminal chambers.’

‘Farringdon Chambers is an excellent set for criminal counsel. They have a good range of barristers of varying call.’

Libertas Chambers

Libertas Chambers ‘is a growing set with a number of leading barristers‘, with particular strength in depth when it comes to senior juniors. Adam Kane KC specialises in homicide defence – he recently represented Mohammed Patel, accused alongside TikTok personality Mahek Bukhari and her mother of the murder of the mother’s lover and his friend by way of ramming their car off the road during a high-speed chase on a dual carriageway near Leicester; Patel was ultimately found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter, while Bukhari and her mother were sentenced to life imprisonment with minumum terms of 31 years and 26 years respectively. Felicity Gerry KC is a ‘very sound academic lawyer who takes interesting and novel legal points’ – she recently defended a man charged with the joint enterprise murder by stabbing near Waterloo Station, submitting to the judge that it is not possible to convict accessories when the principal is acquitted on the basis of self-defence.

Testimonials

‘Marc King is a brilliant clerk who runs the clerks’ room in a very efficient manner. He has his finger on the pulse and always seems to put the right barrister on the right job.’

‘Gary Douglas is extremely hard-working. He is constantly making sure clients are updated at all times.’

‘Marc King is the backbone of Libertas Chambers and a clerk available to assist defence firms throughout the day/night.’

Work highlights

The 36 Group

The 36 Group has a growing reputation for being ‘an excellent set with strong advocate at every level‘. Sally Hobson’s broad practice sees her lead in murder, manslaughter, drugs, and protest cases as well as be led in complex homicide trials – she recently defended a man, aged thirteen at the time of the offence, who was ultimately convicted of the murder six-year-old Rikki Neave, whose body was found strangled in a Peterborough woodland in November 1994. Watson was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of fifteen years. Mary Prior KC, ‘an enormously experienced barrister with formidable advocacy skills’, is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in high-profile homicide and serious sexual offences cases.

Testimonials

‘Michelle Simpson leads an extraordinarily professional clerks’ room, which manages a crime team that reaches across the country, covering almost every circuit. The clerks are responsive and friendly, and always straightforward to deal with.’

‘The clerking service is second to none. They are pragmatic and contact clients with any issues and always provide a solution. Of particular note are Daisy Parsons and Elliott Styles who always go the extra mile.’

‘Elliot Styles and Daisy Parsons are exceptional clerks who have really grown into their roles. They are proactive, and can get impressive results both in terms of diary management and career development.’

‘Michelle Simpson is one of the best clerks in London.’

’36 Crime is a strong set with particular expertise in cybercrime, serious organised crime and paper-heavy cases. The junior end is unusually adept, with numerous members instructed on cases well beyond their call.’

’36 Crime offers a wealth of experienced and capable junior members.’

’36 is an excellent set with strong advocates at every level.’

‘Chambers as a whole are excellent. They all work well as a team and clearly get along well. That is always reassuring.’

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Libertas Chambers

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