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
Clare Ashcroft
Lincoln House Chambers
 'Clare possesses an unfaltering breadth of legal knowledge whilst also exhibiting a rare combination of empathy and tenacity. She demonstrates an unwavering dedication to securing the best possible outcome for her clients, her advocacy skills are superb, and she holds a presence in the court room which is commanding yet respectful.'
1
Joseph Hart
Deans Court Chambers
 'Joseph is an excellent advocate and his client care skills are also extremely good. He prepares thoroughly for cases, his advice is always pragmatic, and he is also friendly and very prompt at providing advice on cases when it is requested.'
1
Virginia Hayton
Deans Court Chambers
‘Virginia is a fantastic advocate and held in very high regard by the bench and Bar alike. As well as being a gifted advocate in all aspects of criminal cases, including cross-examinations and closing speeches, she is also extremely hard-working and diligent.’
1
Charlotte Kenny
Exchange Chambers
‘Charlotte is a formidable trial lawyer who shows a steely determination to get the best possible outcome for the client. Throughout the case, she is always approachable and ready to discuss the best tactical approach, she is a first-class performer in court when dealing with the most serious and complex of fraud cases, and she regularly produces outstanding results.'
1
Michael Lavery
Exchange Chambers
‘Michael is very well-received by the full range of clients, from murderers to company directors. He has an easy manner with all of them and in court is an extremely persuasive and empathetic jury advocate.’
1
Damian Nolan
Exchange Chambers
‘Damian is a real fighter who clients love to have on their side. His preparation is fantastic, his paperwork meticulous, and juries really enjoy listening to him.’
1
David Toal
Exchange Chambers
‘David is a phenomenal barrister and an excellent and articulate advocate. He is well respected by all on the circuit, he is able to absorb a great deal of information in complex cases at short notice, and he is incredible with clients and able to put defendants at ease regardless of the case before them.'
1
Ian Whitehurst
Exchange Chambers
 ‘Ian is an extremely able advocate. He is strategically tactful and personable, and immediately builds rapport whilst taking positions to robustly defend his client's interests.'
2
David Birrell
Exchange Chambers
 ‘David is an exceptional jury advocate and a silk in the making. His tone and delivery are incredibly persuasive, he is a confident advocate, his competent manner appeals to judges, and he’s always prepared and never flustered.'
2
Richard Brigden
Exchange Chambers
 ‘Richard is a committed and thoughtful barrister who does excellent work on behalf of his clients. He prepares all cases thoroughly and with strong attention to detail, he is an excellent communicator, he is able to communicate effectively with clients from a wide variety of backgrounds, and his strong communication skills make him a good jury advocate.'
2
Fiona Clancy
Exchange Chambers
‘Fiona demonstrates a wide range of strengths throughout the duration of her trials. In respect of her advocacy, she strikes an excellent balance of firmness and fairness when cross-examining the complainant and her closing is extremely down-to-earth and relatable for the jury.'
2
Mark Connor
St John’s Buildings
‘Mark is hard working and on conferences it is apparent he is fully au fait with the file and engages well with the client. He handles himself well in court, both so far as the client is concerned and in his dealings with the judge, and he is politely forceful when putting his points across.'
2
Richard Dawson
Lincoln House Chambers
‘Richard is one of the best in the business on his feet in front of a jury. His experience really tells in the cross-examination of witnesses and he thinks outside the box when it comes to defending cases, always adding something different that others had not considered.'
2
Jonathan Duffy
7 Harrington Street
 ‘Jonathan has the enviable ability to be able to construct any argument on his feet. He is very composed before the judges, he is very intelligent and exceptionally calm, and he has a persuasive manner about him that brings real confidence to the client.'
2
Andrew Evans
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Andy is extremely thorough and meticulous, both in his preparation prior to court and in court. He is available for conferences and clients warm to him given his extensive knowledge.'
2
Rachel Faux
18 St John Street Chambers
‘Rachel's advocacy is truly second-to-none. She is incredibly personable, both with the client and the jury in the court room, and she is extremely thorough and leaves no stone unturned.'
2
Rebecca Filletti
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Rebecca is a highly intelligent, skilled, and persuasive advocate. She is already considered a leading senior junior in Manchester and she is instructed in serious and sensitive cases of a kind rarely briefed to someone of her call, but which she is more than able to conduct with ease.’
2
Simon Gurney
Lincoln House Chambers
‘Simon is simply fantastic. A go-to barrister who ticks all the boxes, his preparation is excellent, his written work brilliant, and he is a fantastic advocate.’
2
Sara Haque
Kenworthy’s Chambers
 ‘Sara has an unwavering dedication to her cases, and her meticulous preparation for conferences and hearings, coupled with a determination to secure the best outcomes for her clients, sets her apart as an exceptional legal professional. In court, she really does fight for the interests of her clients and the preparation she has undertaken beforehand is clear to see and puts her miles ahead of her opponents.'
2
Gwen Henshaw
Cobden House Chambers
 ‘Gwen is an outstanding advocate and clients are extremely impressed with both closing speeches and sentencing submissions. She is always keen to attend conferences to ensure clients have sufficient time to discuss matters away from court, and this is so important in many cases as time at court can be limited.’
2
Oliver Jarvis
Exchange Chambers
 'Oliver is an exceptional advocate who obtains very good outcomes for all clients, whether it be a not guilty verdict or as a result of his mitigation. His preparation of cases and presentation is always very thorough, and he has a very good manner with clients and places them at ease in highly stressful situations.'
2
Benjamin James Knight
Central Chambers
‘Apart from exceptional attention to detail, Benjamin’s knowledge of technology in all aspects is quite phenomenal and of immense use, especially in cases involving Encrochat and similar technologies. He has excellent communication abilities, his empathy with the clients is quite outstanding, and he will provide written advice covering things such as sentencing guidelines and the law in a digestible form.’
2
Daniel Lister
23 Essex Street
‘Daniel is a phenomenal advocate, as his preparation is meticulous and his execution confident and persuasive. Judges think highly of him and often defer to him on sticky legal points in the knowledge that he knows what he's talking about.'
2
Gemma Maxwell
St John’s Buildings
‘Gemma is without a shadow of doubt one of the best barristers on the northern circuit. Her legal knowledge is surpassed by none, she is incredibly well organised and formidable in court, and her advocacy skills are incredible as she is able to think strategically throughout the duration of the case to ensure the best possible outcome for clients.'
2
Hugh McKee
23 Essex Street
 'Hugh is always on top of his brief. He is a good trial strategist and an effective and skilful advocate, and he has excellent knowledge of the law.'
2
Erimnaz Mushtaq
Doughty Street Chambers
 ‘Erimnaz has an excellent bedside manner, is able to engage and communicate with clients from all walks of life, and is able to adapt to each individual client's needs. She is down to earth and an excellent listener, she is adaptable and works well under pressure, she is organised with her time, and is both tactically astute and effective in cross-examination and mitigation.’
2
Rebecca Penfold
St John’s Buildings
 ‘Rebecca is an outstanding junior who is always prepared, works extremely hard, and is an incredibly clear thinker. She can deal with novel and challenging situations and judges have confidence in both her written advocacy and command of the law.'
2
Charlotte Rimmer
Exchange Chambers
‘Charlotte is a rare diamond in that she has it all. She comes to court always fully prepared and knows every detail of her case, she has a wonderful manner with clients which ensures that even the most vulnerable clients are heard and their interests protected, and she is a dynamic advocate in court and has the ability to navigate complex legal issues quickly as and when they arise.'
2
Gareth Roberts
Exchange Chambers
 ‘Gareth genuinely fights for clients and he has the underrated ability to converse in a manner that clients both appreciate and understand, making them feel not only represented but supported throughout their case. He conducts brilliant analysis of issues in cases that others would miss.’
2
Bob Sastry
23 Essex Street
‘Bob is extremely professional with excellent attention to detail. He works on cases in a collaborative manner and achieves good outcomes for the clients, his advocacy skills are excellent, and he is able to communicate well with clients from all walks of life.'
2
Rachel Shenton
18 St John Street Chambers
‘Rachel is an outstanding counsel, and her trial advocacy is consistently powerful and engaging. She maintains excellent communication throughout the contact that she has with both clients and instructing solicitors, explaining her reasoning for the actions being taken at every step of the way, and her preparation is detailed and she consistently reviews unused material to ensure that all avenues possible are considered when planning the defence case.'
2
Richard Vardon
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Richard deals with heavyweight cases of serious violence, drugs conspiracies, and fraud. He is an excellent barrister with fantastic oratory skills that are extremely persuasive.'
2
Alaric Walmsley
7 Harrington Street
 'Alaric is a measured yet forthright advocate with great written and oral advocacy skills. He is extremely hard working and dedicated, as well as personable, and he will leave no stone unturned.'
3
Marianne Alton
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Marianne is an exceptional and fearless advocate. She is incredibly thorough in her preparation and is able to assimilate large volumes of evidence, and she presents concisely and persuasively.’
3
Katy Appleton
7 Harrington Street
 'Katy combines a calm determination to win every case with an outstanding work ethic. She is an intelligent lawyer and a fearsome cross-examiner.'
3
Jamie Baxter
7 Harrington Street
 'Jamie boasts meticulous preparation in advance which lends itself to his eloquent and confident performance in court. He has developed a practice well beyond what might normally be expected for someone of his call, and he is a go-to choice of junior in murder cases.'
3
Hayley Bennett
9 St John Street
 'Hayley is a strong advocate and she is particularly well versed in dealing with vulnerable clients and has an ability to provide advice which is clear, concise, and tailored to the individual client's needs. Her expertise combined with her exceptional advocacy skills makes her an invaluable asset.'
3
Claire Brocklebank
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Claire marries outstanding intellect with an incredible work ethic. She goes above and beyond in every case, providing first-class client care and ensuring that every angle of the case is covered.'
3
Daniel Calder
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Daniel has an excellent knowledge of the law and he exercises sound judgement. His advocacy is compelling and engaging too.'
3
Anna Chestnutt
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Anna is a thorough and tenacious barrister who pays close attention to detail and prepares cases meticulously, leaving no stone unturned. She is exceptional and her advocacy skills show diligence and persistent determination in all that she does.’
3
Rachel Cooper
Lincoln House Chambers
 'Rachel is a fearless advocate who will stand her ground where appropriate whilst having a calm and reassuring manner with defendants, especially those with mental health or learning issues. She will assist instructing solicitors wherever possible and will undertake work herself to help as required.'
3
Huw Edwards
Exchange Chambers
 ‘Huw stands out for his superb advocacy. He has a gentle but extremely effective approach in cross-examination and he is also a very good lawyer with excellent judgement.'
3
Chudi Grant
Kenworthy’s Chambers
 'Chudi has a very calming persona and immediately puts clients at ease. They feel listened to and confident in his representation, and he is particularly excellent in dealing with distressed families and ensuring that they feel involved in the case.'
3
Harriet Johnson
Doughty Street Chambers
 'Harriet is an exceptional barrister. She is very clever and always up to date with the law, considering complex matters with ease, and she is not just an excellent technical lawyer; she is approachable, responsive, and clients love her.'
3
Helen Longworth
9 St John Street
 ‘Helen presents cases with efficiency and with especially incisive cross-examination. She presents attractive written submissions on complex issues and delivers persuasive closing speeches to the jury.’
3
Sarah Magill
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Sarah is a joy to instruct as she is great with clients, fastidious in her preparation of all matters, and responsive. She is authoritative without a hint of arrogance, extremely well-prepared for any eventuality, and clearly enjoys advocacy.’
3
Kimberley Obrusik
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Kimberley’s communication skills are second-to-none, whether that be with vulnerable or difficult clients, the judiciary, juries, or police teams and the CPS. Her preparation is particularly detail-orientated and her advocacy style is robust but searingly charming.'
3
Isobel Thomas
Lincoln House Chambers
 ‘Isobel is an impressively conscientious barrister with a superb eye for detail and excellent client care skills. Her advocacy is persuasive and forceful, whilst always remaining courteous and accessible in tone, and when cross-examining, taking witnesses in chief, and in addressing the jury and the judge, she demonstrates excellent judgement and skill.'
Rising 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.
Rosalind Burgin
Garden Court North Chambers
 ‘Rosalind has developed a commanding and astute style of advocacy when in the court. She creates a narrative on the facts on the case and develops key points through cross-examination and taking clients through their evidence.’
Sophie Kenny
Cobden House Chambers
 'Sophie is an outstanding counsel. Her attention to detail is second-to-none, she has the most approachable manner when dealing with clients, and her advocacy style is fluid and sincere and she is able to put her case in a clear and concise manner, filling not only her clients with confidence, but also her instructing solicitor.'
Holly Menary
7 Harrington Street
 'Holly is a most thorough advocate and her case preparation is of the highest standard, identifying each issue with precise regard. Her approach to defending matters in court is through and robust, and her advocacy is superb.'
Graham Rishton
Lincoln House Chambers
‘Graham is a very hard-working, astute barrister who is excellent with clients. His advocacy is to a high standard, which is carefully thought through on the basis of his meticulous preparation, and he does not fear a good fight as an advocate.’

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