Crime (general and fraud)
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
1'Paul is both highly experienced and a very able advocate. He has a particularly good manner in dealing with lay clients and is able to explain often complex legal issues clearly. He is also an extremely personable character which means that he can readily engage with a jury at trial.'
‘Andrew is very calm and controlled at all times, which keeps the client focused on the points in issue at all times, and his calm manner of presentation before the jury provides to them a confidence the case he is presenting to them is the account they should accept as a factual one.'
1‘Charlotte is an exceptional barrister. She commands the court room and she is an excellent advocate.'
1‘Damian is a barrister that fights your corner leaving no stone unturned. He is unflappable during the trial process, and his ability to withstand intense pressure from the prosecution is second to none.'
1‘David is a dedicated barrister and a great advocate. He always masters his case, is extremely well regarded by the judiciary, and he commands the respect of his clients and solicitors through his measured and thorough approach.'
1‘Denise is a brilliant advocate. She immediately puts clients at ease, she never fails to attend a conference without being fully prepared, and she is equally outstanding conducting hearings themselves.’
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2‘Richard is an incredible advocate and is able to bring passion and compassion to his advocacy. He is brilliant with vulnerable defendants and has the capacity to make them feel at ease and to trust him in a very short space of time.'
2‘Richard is an incredibly hard working barrister. His drafting of legal arguments and written submissions is particularly impressive, and in relation to advocacy, he is a confident, persuasive, and seriously impressive court room presence.’
2'Richard prosecutes and defends in serious and often sensitive cases, and he is an intelligent and astute advocate who jurors like. His closing speeches are some of the finest on the circuit, and he has significant experience in cases with a mental health element and is frequently sought out for severely mentally disordered defendants, as well as cases involving very vulnerable witnesses and complainants.'
2‘Andy’s knowledge and grasp of technical POCA legislation and case law is superior and unmatched. His work in and out of the courtroom is absolutely stellar.’
2‘Rachel is a formidable advocate and she can put her points across in a complex legal argument succinctly while advising clients in a straightforward manner. It is refreshing that she takes time to explain to instructing solicitors her reasoning and point of view and that she is always open to a challenge.'
2‘Regardless of the seriousness of the allegations, Rebecca always gives 100% commitment to a case in order to achieve the best result. She is a fearless and engaging advocate in court, but also has a very empathetic nature with those she represents, and she prepares all her cases extremely thoroughly and very quickly identifies the issues in a case.’
2‘Simon is an extremely impressive barrister who has a rapidly expanding reputation in regulatory work. He is the busiest junior on the circuit, he is a first-class barrister, a quick thinker, and a persuasive advocate.'
'Martin is an outstanding criminal lawyer. He is able to draw on a remarkable combination of experience at the English Bar and as a prosecutor before international courts, he is extremely incisive and penetrating in legal and factual analysis, and his advice is unfailingly practical.'
2'Michael is an extremely competent and charismatic barrister. He puts clients at ease but at the same time gives them realistic and forthright advice, he is well respected by all in the criminal justice system as a highly-experienced, first-class barrister, and he has an impressive court presence and judges really listen to him.'
‘Daniel has many strengths, but his judgement and tactical acumen really are second-to-none. He has an excellent eye for how cases are likely to unfold and tailors his advice accordingly, clients really appreciate his foresight and the straightforward way in which he explains the problems they face and possible solutions, and in court, he is an excellent advocate with gravitas beyond his call.’
2‘Charlotte is extremely well-organised, she knows the cases inside out, and is extremely good with clients. She is a superb trial advocate, and she is a tough examiner of witnesses but always maintains a fair attitude.’
2‘Bob is a very conscientious barrister, with an exceptionally good, patient way with clients, many of whom will suffer from mental health or addiction issues. He is exceptionally organised and his paper work is second-to-none in relation to the preparation of legal arguments and defence statements.’
2'Rachel is an exceptionally good counsel. Her attention to detail is meticulous and her working relationship with clients is outstanding. Her strength is in dealing with disclosure at the earliest stage and identifying the issues in the CPS disclosure management.'
2‘Richard is a top junior on the Northern Circuit. He is a great advocate, juries love his charm and humour, and judges immediately recognise his ability to deal with difficult situations with eloquence and realism.’
2‘Patrick extremely personable and has fantastic client care. Every client that has been represented by Patrick has sent rave reviews, regardless of the outcome for them.'
‘Mark's advocacy is tenacious and forthright. He always pushes hard for his clients.'
2'Sara has an incredible attention to detail combined with fantastic client care. You get a real sense that she cares about every case and that is conveyed well to the client, she is very accessible, which is a real asset when preparing a case over what are increasingly lengthy periods, and her advocacy is of the highest quality.'
2'Vanessa is very helpful and has attention to detail, when speaking to lay clients she always put them at ease as she guides them through the process, and one feels that clients are always in a safe pair of hands when they are represented by her. She is extremely knowledgeable and is always well prepared.'
‘Geoff is a powerhouse in court and he is dedicated to his clients. Nothing is too much trouble, he is extremely thorough in his case prep, and he makes a lasting impression on clients.'
3‘David can master a case immediately upon instruction and is always fully prepared in advance of conference, having digested all evidence in the case and having identified the issues immediately. He is always available to deal with issues on a case or to provide advice, his preparation of his cases lead to successful legal argument, and his advocacy is incredible.'
3‘Claire is level-headed, hard-working, and decisive. As an advocate, she is driven, capable of making difficult points despite opposition from her opponent and the court, and can think very quickly on her feet.’
3'Daniel produces the most beautiful written work. It is very clear that he absorbed the art of judgment writing when working in the Court of Appeal.'
3'A fierce advocate who has honed her skills and has a real presence in court.'
'Jonathan is a tremendous court presence. He has the intellectual capacity to never be caught out by a response or question from a judge and he is always in command of his own arguments.'
3'Huw has an excellent grasp of complex and voluminous material and is particularly skilful at cross-examining expert witnesses.'
3'Isobel is incredibly sharp, tactically astute, and has a peerless work ethic. Her written and oral advocacy is outstanding.'
'Jane is tenacious and fierce in her defence advocacy. She is hard working and gets to grips with the case quickly and effectively, she is supportive of her clients and has a very easy approach with a different and sometimes difficult client base, and she is stylish in court and has an innate ability to reach a jury.'
'Peter's oral advocacy is calm, direct, and to the point, based on thorough preparation and an intimate knowledge of the case. His attention to detail and breadth of knowledge are a powerful combination, and he also has a calm demeanour with lay and professional clients, which inspires trust.'
3‘Gwen is a highly experienced criminal barrister who has not lost the ability to relate to clients who are often vulnerable, and certainly in a vulnerable position. Gwen is someone who gets results by her compelling advocacy.'
‘David is a thoughtful, tactically astute practitioner who immerses himself in the evidence in a case so that his decision-taking is apt and assured. He is tremendously calming and re-assuring to the lay clients, judges trust him and rely on him, and he is highly regarded by his colleagues at the Bar.'
‘Gemma is a highly persuasive advocate with such detailed knowledge of the facts of every case she deals with that she can draw upon this in a second. She is formidable in court and is always a first choice because of her attention to detail and persuasive style.'
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3'Rebecca is tenacious in her written and oral advocacy and will never give up a good fight. She is an unbelievably hard worker, she always knows the relevant law inside out, she has tactical skill, and nerve beyond her years; she is an asset to the Northern Circuit and to her set.'
3Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
‘Anna has exceptional forensic analysis and she is a once-in-a-decade quality advocate on all levels. All judges trust her judgement and listen with an acceptance that her points have validity.'
‘Helen is a bright rising star. She quickly assimilates information and gets to the heart of the matter, her preparation is second-to-none, and her advocacy is punchy and persuasive. She fights her client’s corner with skill and determination, whether defending or prosecuting.’