Crime

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Brian Altman KC
2 Bedford Row
1
Duncan Atkinson KC
6KBW College Hill
1
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.’ 
1
Henry Blaxland KC
Garden Court Chambers
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
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.’
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
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.’
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
Riel Karmy-Jones KC
Red Lion Chambers
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.’
1
Brendan Kelly KC
2 Hare Court
A very impressive, urbane and capable leader.'
1
Tom Little KC
Deka Chambers
1
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.'
1
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.'
1
Tim Moloney KC
Doughty Street Chambers
Juries love him.'
1
Clare Montgomery KC
Matrix Chambers
1
Lewis Power KC
Church Court Chambers
1
James Scobie KC
Garden Court Chambers
1
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.'
1
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.’
1
Richard Whittam KC
Matrix Chambers
1
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.’
2
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.'
2
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.'
2
Tracy Ayling KC
2 Bedford Row
2
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.’
2
David Bentley KC
Doughty Street Chambers
 
2
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.’
2
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.'
2
Giles Cockings KC
Furnival Chambers
Giles is a brilliant advocate and a superb tactician. He is highly recommended.'
2
John Cooper KC
25 Bedford Row
2
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.'
2
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.’
2
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.’
2
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.'
2
David Etherington KC
Red Lion Chambers
‘David is a smooth operator. He is an exceptional jury advocate.'
2
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.’
2
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.'
2
Francis FitzGibbon KC
23ES
2
Mark Harries KC
Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
2
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.'
2
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.'
2
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.’
2
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.’
2
Brian St Louis KC
15NBS
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.'
2
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.’
2
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.’
2
Rajiv Menon KC
Garden Court Chambers
2
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.'
2
Alison Morgan KC
6KBW College Hill
2
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.'
2
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.’
2
Icah Peart KC
Garden Court Chambers
2
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.’
2
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.'
2
Steven Perian KC
2 King's Bench Walk Chambers
Steven is very meticulous, experienced and articulate. A well-respected advocate.'
2
Orlando Pownall KC
2 Hare Court
A stellar silk.'
2
Jonathan Rees KC
2 Hare Court
2
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.’
2
John Ryder KC
6KBW College Hill
2
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.'
2
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.'
2
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.'
2
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
Jeremy Benson KC
Red Lion Chambers
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
Paul Bogan KC
23ES
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
Brenda Campbell KC
Garden Court Chambers
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
Adam Davis KC
3TG Barristers
3
Peter Doyle KC
25 Bedford Row
‘Peter is a tactical genius with decades of experience. He is at the top of his game.'
3
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.'
3
David Emanuel KC
Garden Court Chambers
3
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.'
3
Mark Fenhalls KC
23ES
3
Kerim Fuad KC
Church Court Chambers
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
Peter Glenser KC
9BR Chambers
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
Jonathan Higgs KC
5KBW
Jonathan’s advocacy and preparation is excellent. He is a very good barrister all round.’
3
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.’
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
Alan Kent KC
Mountford Chambers
‘Alan is a masterful advocate. He is brilliant on tactics and a superb all-rounder.'
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
Charles Miskin KC
23ES
‘Charles is a class act. His relaxed style belies a razor-sharp mind.’
3
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.'
3
Michelle Nelson KC
Red Lion Chambers
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.'  
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
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.'
3
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.’
3
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.'
3
Peter Wilcock KC
Garden Court Chambers
3
Lisa Wilding KC
23ES
‘Lisa is a measured and forceful advocate. She is organised, reasonable, and can charm any jury with her charismatic flair.'
3
Hossein Zahir KC
Garden Court Chambers
4
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.'
4
Benjamin Aina KC
Church Court Chambers
4
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.’
4
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’
4
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.'
4
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.’
4
Jacqueline Carey KC
2 Bedford Row
4
Paul Cavin KC
2 Harcourt Buildings
Paul is calm under pressure, able to assimilate vast amounts of information quickly, a smooth communicator, and clever.’
4
Rhiannon Crimmins KC
Furnival Chambers
Rhiannon’s cross-examination of eye witnesses is meticulously prepared and skilfully deployed.’
4
Hugh Davies KC
Three Raymond Buildings
‘Hugh is an industrious and talented prosecutor of murder cases.’  
4
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.'
4
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.’
4
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.’
4
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.’
4
Danny Friedman KC
Matrix Chambers
4
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.’
4
Mark Gatley KC
Garden Court Chambers
4
Michael Goodwin KC
Red Lion Chambers
Michael is very thorough and incredibly analytical. He is a powerful advocate and highly respected by his peers.’
4
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.'
4
Andrew Hall KC
Doughty Street Chambers
4
Martin Hicks KC
2 Hare Court
4
Michael Ivers KC
Garden Court Chambers
4
Leon Kazakos KC
2 Hare Court
An iron fist in a velvet glove.'
4
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2 Hare Court
His advocacy and case presentation readily commands the attention of clients, jurors, fellow advocates and the judiciary.'
4
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.'
4
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.'
4
Vanessa Marshall KC
7BR
4
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.’
4
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.’
4
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.'
4
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.'
4
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.’
4
Steven Powles KC
Doughty Street Chambers
Steven is very very clever and a delight to work with. He is kind and compassionate.'
4
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.’
4
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.’
4
Nathan Rasiah KC
23ES
‘Nathan is an understated but effective advocate who has the respect of the court.’
4
Danny Robinson KC
5KBW
4
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.’
4
Richard Thomas KC
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Richard is peerless. He is a glorious advocate who masters complex law in appellate crime effortlessly.’
4
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.'
4
Sarah Vine KC
Doughty Street Chambers
‘Sarah is the most emotionally literate criminal advocate around with an ability to persuade juries that is unsurpassed.’
4
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.’
4
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.'
4
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.'
4
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

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC
Matrix Chambers
‘Blinne is just a brilliant all-rounder. She is a hard-working and charismatic silk.'
1
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.'
1
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.'
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
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

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
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.'
1
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.’
1
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.’
1
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.’
1
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.’
1
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.'
1
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.'
1
James Thacker KC
Deka Chambers
 
1
Clea Topolski KC
Crucible Chambers

2025 Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Lesley Bates KC
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.’
1
James Bloomer KC
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.’
1
Oliver Cook KC
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.’
1
Tim Forte KC
3TG Barristers
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.’
1
Gerard Hillman KC
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.’
1
Charles Langley KC
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.’
1
Ian McLoughlin KC
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.’
1
Danny Moore KC
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.’
1
Simon Ray KC
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.’
1
David Rhodes KC
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.’
1
Nicholas Yeo KC
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.’