St Philips Chambers

Alexander Rozycki

Alexander Rozycki is an experienced litigator with a busy practice in the fields of employment, personal injury and commercial law and has been Tier 3 ranked in the 2024 Legal 500 UK Bar Rankings for his Employment work. He appears regularly in the Employment Tribunals undertaking work across the full spectrum of employment law. He also has expertise in employment-related matters which fall within the jurisdiction of the civil courts, in particular restraint of trade/restrictive covenants and claims based on contract. Alexander also regularly appears in the civil courts from the County Court to the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has particular expertise in cases involving credit hire, fraud and fundamental dishonesty, as well as tortious and contractual claims, including professional negligence. Alexander has experience of working in-house in a firm of solicitors specialising in professional negligence and professional indemnity insurance. He therefore has significant experience of advising on professional negligence disputes, as well as on insurance policy coverage. In 2005/2006, and prior to commencing his pupillage, Alexander completed a “Stage” at the Legal Service of the European Commission in Brussels, in the course of which he was involved in trade disputes involving the Commission at the WTO Dispute Resolution Panel in Geneva, competition and anti-dumping disputes and cases involving international terrorism.

Alexander MacMillan

Specialising in commercial litigation and employment law.

Ali Tabari

Ali Tabari is widely recognised as a leading commercial junior, consistently ranked in the legal directories for many years and described variously as “a highly skilled and persuasive advocate”, “exceptional on his feet”, “a very impressive trial advocate”, “very incisive”, “a pleasure to work with”, “very approachable, responsive and friendly”, “absolutely fantastic”, and with an “excellent manner with clients and the judiciary”. He has a busy and thriving commercial practice focussing on heavy commercial litigation involving fraud, insolvency, company and finance aspects. His experience in those fields also leads to instructions in professional liability matters. He regularly appears in lengthy and complex trials in the High Court, and has been instructed in the Court of Appeal several times. Recent experience has seen him led in a 3-week fraud trial  worth £100m+ and sole junior (against four Silks) in a month-long conspiracy and breach of duty trial worth £30m+ in the Rolls Building. First and foremost, Ali is a confident courtroom advocate who is diligent, proactive and approachable. He welcomes early involvement so as to help formulate a strategy in line with the client’s commercial objectives, and his advice is robust, pragmatic and realistic. Ali’s responsive and collaborative style is well-suited to urgent applications for injunctive relief, as well as applications for pre-action and interim relief, all of which are regular features of his fraud and insolvency practice areas. Moreover, Ali is an accredited civil/commercial mediator through ADR Group, and uses those skills when instructed as the advocate in mediations; he has acted in over 50 mediations as either mediator or advocate. His sensible and considered approach has also led to instructions as an independent investigator for private companies requiring findings of fact and determinations of internal disputes. Ali is qualified to take instructions through the Direct Public Access scheme. He writes regularly for well-established practitioner resources and regularly delivers seminars.

Amarjit Rai

Amarjit has wide experience in civil litigation focusing on commercial disputes, property (commercial and residential), personal injury and clinical negligence. He has acted on behalf of Vodafone, Next, Burger King and HMV as well as numerous private individuals with contentious property/commercial issues. Amarjit has extensive experience in high value clinical negligence and employers liability cases and regularly appears before the High Court and Court of Appeal. Amarjit’s clinical negligence practice includes several multi-million pound claims. Recent cases relate to: Serious brain injury caused by medical accident (expected award to exceed 4m) Catastrophic brain injury at birth Numerous cases involving wrong/late diagnosis of cancers Number of cases of injuries to claimants at work (involving arm amputation, leg amputation, crush injuries and stress caused by work) leading to awards between £150,000 to £500,000 Fatal accident claim (deceased killed whilst speeding on motorcycle on public road) He has undertaken a great variety of property cases ranging from common boundary disputes to high value landlord and tenant issues. Recent cases include: Acting for the tenants of large shopping centres (The Telford and Luton shopping centres) on construction and effect of Leases Boundary disputes successfully seeking order for the removal of buildings erected partially on clients land High value building disputes (recent cases include defects in a newly built luxury house and defective extensions)

Amrisha Parathalingam

Amrisha Parathalingam is a specialist criminal and regulatory practitioner and is a Grade 3 CPS prosecutor. Her recent criminal practice includes cases of increasing complexity and gravity ranging from homicide to fraud, sexual offences and offences of serious violence. Amrisha’s meticulous preparation and approachable style make her a popular choice amongst instructing solicitors.

Amy Jackson

Amy Jackson is a Barrister specialising in criminal law. Amy holds membership on the CPS Advocates Panels for RASSO, General Crime and Serious Organised Crime at Level 3. She has a very strong criminal practice, and is instructed by both the defence and prosecution on matters spanning the criminal spectrum.  Amy is particularly experienced in defending serious sexual and violent offences. Amy is also instructed in regulatory matters and believes that the skills and experience developed in the Criminal court give real advantage in regulatory cases.

Andrew Evans

Andrew’s practice encompasses three specialist areas: Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Licensing. Andrew is Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Groups in Chambers. Andrew is instructed in personal injury matters on the multi-track, a significant proportion in the High Court. The value of his normal caseload is usually between £100,000 and £1m. Recent cases have involved: A fatal accident in which a man fell to his death from a hotel window. A severe abdominal/bowel injury suffered in a RTA. A variety of digital amputations and hand injuries to industrial workers. A severe upper limb injury to a construction worker who fell from scaffolding. Lower body crush injury to a manager supervising the unloading of a lorry, 4 defendants. Fractured spine with lifelong neurological consequences. A fatal accident in which a warehouse supervisor fell to his death from a for- lift truck. Multiple severe injuries from motorcycle accidents. Brain injury. Holiday illness claims – gastric illness, cardiac injury from secondary infection. Fundamental Dishonesty / Fraud /Contempt – allegations going to loss of QOCS protection and contempt proceedings. As part of St. Philips’ commitment to providing continuity of service through a case from the earliest advice on prospects to trail, if required, Andrew regularly appears in CCMCs in both the County and High Court. Andrew understands the importance of fighting for the directions that allow a case to be resolved justly on behalf of a claimant, and the importance to that of a costs budget being set that allows sufficient funding to be in place for expert evidence and solicitors work to see that the case is litigated properly. In the earliest part of his career Andrew accepted instructions in specialist costs work, drafting and arguing points of dispute and replies, and attending hearings (including before Masters and Costs Judges in the Senior Courts Costs Office in London). This early training has always ensured that Andrew is comfortable with costs negotiation and arguments before the Courts. The budgets Andrew tends to work with are in the £100,000 to £400,000 range. Andrew’s philosophy for Costs Budgeting is to know the case thoroughly and be pragmatic in the hearing, being careful to achieve the best overall result on the budget from the particular judge. Regular appearances before the more senior District Judges in Birmingham and the Midlands, help to ensure that he knows their approaches and idiosyncrasies to the advantage of his lay and professional clients. Andrew has an established practice in clinical negligence cases built on his earlier experience in personal injury work. His growing reputation sees him instructed by some of the leading national law firms in this highly specialised field, where his client care, attention to detail and ability to identify how cases can be won are appreciated and in demand. Andrew receives instructions to draft statements of case and schedules, advise and appear in applications, provide advice in writing or conference with expert witnesses in attendance and provide representation at trial. Andrew has a particular interest in recent years in cosmetic surgery cases. Over the last 20 years Andrew has developed an established reputation in licensing as a result of his wide-ranging experience in this ever-developing area. Andrew acts for the trade, local authorities and responsible authorities (where separate representation is required). Best known for his alcohol and entertainment licensing, Andrew Evans also advises on and provides representation for disputes arising from the licensing of taxis and in other more esoteric areas of licensing. He is especially noted for the thoroughness of his preparation, his eye kept on the bigger picture and his courtroom acuity. Andrew regularly appears before local authorities, the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and Administrative Court in licensing matters. Andrew receives instructions in matters relating to the Licensing Act 2003 from major pub operators, hotel chains and local authorities across England and Wales to provide specialist advice and advocacy on a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious matters.

Andrew Jackson

Andrew has established a strong practice in criminal law. A polished advocate with an attention to detail, Andrew has prosecuted (Grade 4) and defended across the whole range of criminal cases, from atavistic violence to sophisticated dishonesty. His experience includes large scale conspiracies to import controlled drugs (involving jurisdictional issues), baby battering cases involving complex medical evidence, benefit frauds, murder (and all other offences of violence), armed robberies, money laundering, animal rights/terrorists, malfeasance in public office, and so-called ‘white collar crime’ (in particular the defence of a dentist charged with stealing from the National Health Service). He has prosecuted and defended in all types of sexual offences. He is an accomplished tactician at trial.

Anthony Verduyn

Real estate litigation (including overage, restrictive covenants, boundaries, easements and trusts of land); commercial and residential landlord and tenant (including dilapidations, break notices and forfeiture); land registration; professional negligence in property matters (including conveyancers, surveyors and brokers); and social housing.

Anthony Johnston

Over his 28 years in practice, Anthony Johnston has built up a formidable reputation as one of the most clinical and fearless advocates on the circuit. Now an ‘out and out’ employment specialist with a rounded background in criminal and personal injury law, clients turn to Anthony time and again for his vast experience in all areas of employment law, his meticulous approach and preparation, as well as his incisive brand of advocacy. As one commentator put it, Anthony is “not afraid to go for the jugular in cross-examination, when needed”. Once described by Legal 500 as, “the ultimate professional and the ideal counsel for those complex matters that just need something extra”, Anthony is a veteran in the Employment Tribunal and in the EAT. Anthony’s remarkably active practice, of late, has tended to consist of complex and multi-day cases for some of the UK’s most high-profile employers, as well as leading national Claimant firms. With unique complementary focus areas in representing both law firm and sets of barristers in respect of employment issues, and in employment issues in the sports arena (including, for example, representing the Managing Director of a professional football club), Anthony offers a truly rounded employment coverage and perspective. Many of Anthony’s clients have trusted him with their work for years, if not decades. Overwhelmingly, they comment that Anthony’s down-to-earth and approachable style is refreshing and makes him easy, often enjoyable, to work with. Not one for jargon or legalese, Anthony understands the importance of setting out issues and explaining options both clearly and plainly. A by-product of appearing day-in, day-out in Employment Tribunals across the UK (and, lately, via CVP), Anthony is also able to provide clients with the latest procedural updates, legislative and case-law developments and trends in terms of determinations.

Anya Newman

Anya Newman was called in 2007 and quickly gained a reputation for her advocacy work, being consistently recognised in the legal directories since 2014. Anya has a reputation for being practical and supportive to her clients whilst being “formidable” in court. In addition, her attention to detail and drafting is highly valued. Flexible in her approach, she is regarded as being able to expertly read her audience to be able to present arguments in the most persuasive manner possible. In addition to her real property practice, Anya has a national reputation in Landlord and Tenant. She is passionate about houses, often advising Local Authorities who are considering the redevelopment of estates and private landlords with difficult tenancy issues. She particularly enjoys agricultural work and those cases which affect those living and working in the countryside. Anya regularly appears in the High Court and has experience of large and complex litigation. She is a practical barrister, able to advise clients on the most cost-effective options in litigation. For that reason, she is frequently instructed to attend mediations and is often engaged at the very beginning of the litigation process, working with her clients to achieve the best possible outcome in each case. Currently, Anya continues to work on the groundbreaking case of Wolverhampton and Others v Persons Unknown which prevents dangerous car cruising across the Black Country. Anya accepts direct access instructions.

Avtar Khangure

Avtar was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1985. Having completed a master’s degree in commercial law and a commercial pupillage in London, it gave him the practical experience to develop a commercial, company and insolvency practice in the Midlands. Over the course of the last 25 years he has been involved in general commercial litigation within the fields of banking, company law, insolvency, professional negligence, franchising, shareholder disputes, disciplinary proceedings before regulatory bodies, tax and VAT cases before the special commissioners and VAT tribunals and product liability. The claims have ranged from tens of thousands to multimillion pounds. His client base is also varied, from major institutions such as banks, to professional clients such as accountants and solicitors, to individuals and companies. He has lectured in the field of commercial law and insolvency to solicitors, bankers and to insolvency practitioners and was the chairman of the Midland Commercial and Chancery Bar. Over the last few years Avtar has acted in a large number of cases involving very high value claims, including the following: Multi-million pound shareholder disputes Multi-million pound commercial disputes involving the motor-car industry The insolvencies of large companies, including those listed on the stock exchange and trading in other jurisdictions Capital reductions – cases involving trusts and fiduciaries Banking, in particular, piercing the corporate veil so as to render individual directors liable to a major bank in respect of invoice discounting agreements Derivatives and hedging products Corporation Tax disputes before the Special Commissioners VAT disputes before the VAT Tribunal Civil Fraud, including: – applications for freezing and search orders Applications for Insolvency Practitioners seeking to recover assets fraudulently dissipated whether in the UK or outside Applications on behalf of Banks against individuals who have committed a fraud upon them Civil Asset recovery in the Crown Court Applications for Customs and Excise Avtar has acted for Banks in many types of cases involving bank securities, including guarantees, letters of credit, bills of exchange, invoice discounting, insolvency, breach of trust and knowing / dishonest assistance in the dissipation of assets, fraud, etc. He was involved in a number of cases acting for a bank in which he successfully recovered large sums of money from directors of companies where the banks had no form of security. Recent Cases: A lengthy trial involving intellectual property; A court of appeal hearing involving issues as to the personal liability of an administrator of a company; A professional negligence case against a firm of solicitors; Partnership disputes; An alleged £22,000,000 fraud; A derivative action; Mis-selling of derivatives and hedging products; A high profile directors’ disqualification case; Proceedings in DIFC in Dubai; An international arbitration in Dubai

Ben Mills

For over a decade Ben has been consistently recognised by the industry directories as a leader in his field. He enjoys a thriving practice, both prosecuting and defending, predominantly in regulatory crime (health and safety, trading standards, fraud, environmental crime and inquests) along with associated complex confiscation proceedings. He has been appointed to the highest tier (Panel A) on the Attorney General’s Unified List of Prosecuting Advocates. At the core of his practice is an acute attention to his client’s best interests and a tireless commitment to his cases. He was Junior Counsel in X [2013] 2Cr.App.R.15, the leading authority on the CPUT Regulations and the application of recklessness to corporate entities and WCC v Quami [2020] EWCA Crim 819: determination of ‘Harm’ in Fraud Sentencing Guidelines when targeting vulnerable consumers. He appeared in the leading health and safety cases Tata Steel [2017] EWCA Crim 70, Diamond Box [2017] EWCA Crim 1904, Lear [2018] 2Cr.App.R.11; Faltec [2019] [2019] EWCA (Crim) 520, and the environmental law case of EA v McIntosh [2019] EWCA Crim 231 which addressed the sentencing of directors and the relevance of available assets to costs applications. Twice nominated for Birmingham Law Society’s Barrister of the Year. He has been a Recorder of the Crown Court since 2016. He is the Deputy Head of the St Philips Regulatory Group and head of St Philips Chambers recruitment committee.

Ben Williams

Ben has expertise in prosecuting and defending complex criminal cases, particularly murder, fraud, and organised crime conspiracies, serious sexual offences, and serious violence, including attempted murder as junior alone. His regulatory practice covers environmental law, health & safety, food, fire and product safety, and trading standards. Ben undertakes private client defence work for individuals and companies in a range of matters and his clerks are able to agree structured fees on a tailored basis. Recent work includes multi-million pound fraud cases as a leading junior; gang-related homicides; high profile and international conspiracy trials; as well as major Environmental and Health & Safety matters. He is also experienced in Inquests and Judicial Review proceedings where they interface with criminal and regulatory issues.

Ben Close

Ben has been a specialist criminal practitioner since he was called to the Bar in 2009. His practice also encompasses regulatory work. Ben is instructed by various prosecuting authorities and the defence, typically in serious and complex cases. His recent and ongoing cases include murder, attempted murder, large and complex drug conspiracies, high-value fraud and cases involving serious sexual offences. Ben's regulatory practice covers trading standards, consumer protection, food safety, environmental law, licensing, inquests, health and safety, and corporate and gross negligence manslaughter. As well as appearing regularly in the Crown Court, he has also appeared successfully numerous times in the Court of Appeal including in reported cases, where he has been complimented for his thorough approach. He is a Grade 4 prosecutor (the highest grade). He is on the specialist Grade 4 lists for Fraud, Serious Crime and Proceeds of Crime and he is on the Grade 3 Counter-Terrorism panel. He has also been appointed to the CPS specialist rape panel. He has several ongoing cases in which he is leading junior counsel. Ben is on the Serious Fraud Office’s Panel A for confiscation and Panel B for fraud, and he has been appointed to the ‘B’ list of Specialist Regulatory Advocates. Ben has earned a reputation for a hard-working and thorough approach, but without losing sight of the importance of being personable and persuasive. He is equally at home addressing juries or judges. After obtaining a First Class degree in Law where he achieved the highest marks in his university year, Ben completed an LLM in Criminal Justice prior to completing the Bar course. He is a Midland Circuit trained advocacy tutor. In 2020 Ben was elected to the Bar Council where he sits on the Education and Training Committee. He is a member of St Philips’ pupillage committee.  

Blondel Thompson

Blondel Thompson grew up in a household of athletes, she is a former British Junior Record Holder and Senior British and Commonwealth Record Holder. Two of her brothers, Garry and Keith were professional footballers, whilst another brother, Glyn, represented the Marines in athletics, football, cricket, basketball and volleyball  All of this combined has enabled Blondel to develop an expertise in Sports law. As a former British and Commonwealth record holder in athletics, two brothers who made their living from professional football and a son who is a former World Indoor Champion at 400m has enabled Blondel to develop an expertise in Sports law. She prosecutes and defends a variety of cases from Murder and Manslaughter to offences under the Theft Act. In a recent case, she defended one of four defendants facing an indictment containing 51 counts of historical rape, buggery, indecent assault. Blondel also has experience in being briefed on criminal matters concerning the International Criminal Court. In September 2017, Blondel was instructed by the Prosecutors Office at the ICC to travel to Uganda to assist a witness prior to giving his evidence in the ongoing war crimes trial of Ongwen. In 1998 she became a Panel Judge member for the Disciplinary Tribunals of UK Athletics. In 2010 Blondel was appointed as arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, (based in Lausanne Switzerland). She is also a Panel member for the Inns of Court from which Disciplinary Tribunals of the Bar are drawn.

Bruce Frew

Bruce Frew is an ‘out and out’ employment specialist. He is highly sought after for some of the most complex, technically demanding and high stakes cases across several circuits. Bruce is regularly called upon to represent Claimants and Respondents alike in the appellate courts, notably in the Employment Appeals Tribunal – continuing his highly regarded reputation there. Bruce has an extensive and broad employment practice operating across a multitude of sectors. Bruce receives instructions from leading global conglomerates, national ‘household name’ companies, SMEs, local authorities, universities, trade unions and leading law firms. Increasingly Bruce also receives prominent instructions from private individuals by virtue of his direct access accreditation. As such and in recent years, he has developed a rare specialism acting for professional persons such as doctors, consultants, dentists and others, either in the Employment Tribunals or in respective industry disciplinary proceedings. A former solicitor with a ‘hands on’ and ‘no nonsense’ approach, Bruce is known for his communicative, supportive and considered style. Indeed, many professional clients regularly turn to Bruce for their advisory, drafting and representation needs because of his commercially driven ability to unlock novel solutions. As a perfect complement to his remarkably active Tribunal practice, Bruce also drafts and advises on settlement agreements, service agreements and commercial agency agreements and has been involved in the negotiation on a direct access basis of terms of settlement on the termination of employment. He also represents parties in judicial and non-judicial employment mediations, provides CPD training and participates in mock Employment Tribunal training with the CIPD and Institute of Directors.

Carl Templar-Vasey

Carl Templar-Vasey principally defends in serious and complex criminal cases. He is highly regarded for providing first-class trial advocacy and an unwavering commitment to his client’s cases. An extensive legal knowledge enables him to absorb and analyse substantial material and focus upon crucial tactical considerations.  This coupled with a natural rapport with juries helps to make complicated issues clear and his presentation of cases polished. He speaks with authority and is highly regarded by both professional and lay clients for his ability to get to the heart of a matter quickly. His down to earth manner means he is known for being an excellent communicator, placing those he represents at ease in often difficult and unusual circumstances. Carl is instructed as both a leading and led junior in: Homicide Serious violence (s18, armed robbery, arson & attempted murder) Serious organised crime (Conspiracies to steal & rob, cash in transit & gang related offences) Fraud and dishonesty offences Drugs offences Sexual offences (Rape, sexual assault, historic offences & offences against children) Misconduct in a public office Carl acts for both legal aid and private paying clients.

Carolyn Jones

Carolyn Jones is Head of the St Philips Family Law Group and joint Deputy Head of Chambers. Carolyn is a Family Law Specialist known for her no nonsense approach. She has a reputation for excellent client care, scrupulous preparation and intrepid advocacy. She gives direct advice and will speak openly and honestly about the strengths and weaknesses of a case. Carolyn regularly conducts cases in the Family court, High Court and the Appellate courts. Carolyn regularly lectures on all aspects of family law. Carolyn is regularly instructed in complex public law cases to act for local authorities, parents, guardians and intervenors and her experience covers cases which include: Child death cases, Non accidental head injury, Sexual abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic neglect and drug and alcohol abuse, Human and child trafficking, Fictitious illness, Adoption breakdowns, PII applications, Instructions by the official solicitor to represent vulnerable individuals, Wardship, Forced marriage Most of the private law cases Carolyn receives instructions in, have a complex element to them, including following the breakdown of a same sex relationship. Carolyn is experienced in representing the child as a separate party in the proceedings. She has also been instructed in many cases where the application is for removal from the jurisdiction and is therefore extremely familiar with all of the caselaw, procedure and issues in cases of this type.

Charles Blatchford

Charles Blatchford is a Senior Junior Regulatory and Criminal Advocate and Advisory Lawyer.  Called to the Bar in 1997, initially Charles accepted the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in their Corporate Department in their global London Headquarters.  Charles then spent some time in the Army Legal Services and then was in-house Counsel at Hargreaves Services plc dealing with all matters legal arising out of the business.  These experiences give Charles an insight to what commercial clients as well as instructing solicitors want and expect from Counsel.  These previous roles also mean that in an advisory capacity Charles is aware of the wider issues affecting clients. During his time at the Bar Charles has appeared with notable success before District Judges, Circuit Judges, High Court Judges and in the Court of Appeal in contentious matters.  Charles is also a qualified mediator and has represented clients in mediation proceedings. Charles is often asked to consider potential criminal appeals on convictions and/or sentence and has appeared before the Court of Appeal on a regular basis since being at the Bar. His Regulatory practice continues to grow and has involved advice and court appearances in the following areas: Trading Standards cases Food Hygiene cases Environment Agency cases NHS investigations Taxi Licensing In Spring 2019 Charles was appointed to the Attorney General’s List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (Band B). He has also been instructed at Inquests and Health and Safety Executive investigations and prosecutions.  Charles was involved in the Inquest into the death of one of the soldiers at Deepcut Barracks and also the HSE prosecution into a death at Immingham Docks. 2019 – Deepcut Inquest – Geoff Gray. Surrey Coroner’s Court at Woking.  Charles represents the Commanding Officer of Deepcut Barracks at the time of the death of Private Geoff Gray.  Private Geoff Gray was found dead with two gunshot wounds at Deepcut Barracks in 2001.  He was the third of four young soldiers to die at the barracks with such wounds between 1995 and 2002.  Engaging Article 2 there is to be a full investigation into Geoff’s death and the wider environment in which he lived at Deepcut. As part of this, the inquest will examine allegations that soldiers were bullied, the camp lacked appropriate supervision by staff, whether there were security breaches (the loss of weapons and ammunition) and intruders at the camp and failings in the subsequent investigations into Geoff’s death. In terms of his Criminal practice Charles has represented those accused of the most serious offences with a high degree of success including: Homicide, Sexual Offences, Bribery, Large-Scale Fraud, Drug Supply, Aggravated Burglary, Kidnap, Arson, Blackmail and Road Traffic Offences.

Christopher Millington

Chris is one of the leading and most experienced criminal silks in the Midlands. He has acted in over 100 murder cases since he took silk in 2001 and has been involved in some of the most complex cases both regionally and nationally. These have included a number of high profile murders and in particular gangland shootings, some of which have played a central part in the recent evolution of the law on witness protection issues such as anonymity. He also has extensive experience in gross negligence manslaughter cases. One such case involved a nurse acting as a carer and another concerned the sinking of a pleasure cruiser. Chris also acts in cases relating to sexual offences, these being mainly historical offences. He was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1997 and is one of a small number authorised to try cases involving rape and serious sexual offences. Fraud and financial crime make up the other component part of Chris’s practice along with regulatory offences such as breaches of health and safety law, trading standards and licensing. Chris is renowned for his approachable, straightforward and responsive style. He is often instructed to defend in privately funded cases and encourages the use of fixed/capped fees providing certainty of costs for clients.

Christopher Watson

Christopher is a children law expert and practises exclusively within this field. He has vast experience in complex public law cases, including those involving child death, non-accidental head injury, serious physical abuse, serious sexual abuse, drowning, honour-based violence, FII, international adoption and the inherent jurisdiction. He conducts many lengthy hearings in the High Court. He has previously been shortlisted for the “Birmingham Barrister of the Year” award. He also provides regular legal training and is an approved pupil supervisor.

Christopher Adams

Christopher Adams is joint head of the St Philips Children Law Group. Christopher was called to the Bar in 1986 and joined Number 2 Fountain Court (one of the founding sets of St Philips Chambers) in 1988, practising initially in the field of common law. Christopher has practised exclusively in the field of public child law since 1995. He acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children and other family members and is frequently instructed in cases involving serious and medically complex injuries to children. He was head of the St Philips child-care team for three years and has spoken at conferences and seminars on various aspects of the law relating to children.

Christopher Rank

Christopher Rank is a Family Law specialist and adopts a professional but robust approach to all aspects of his work. He is popular with both professional and lay clients and is known for his meticulous preparation and excellent client care skills. He has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal. Christopher acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children and other family members and is frequently instructed in cases involving serious and complex injuries to children.  Christopher has a particular interest in cases involving complex medical evidence. He has appeared in many adoption cases where there are competing arguments for the child to be brought up within the birth family. Christopher has extensive experience of representing parents and children in private law disputes. He has been instructed to act in intractable disputes and complex cases involving domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape. He has also been involved in a number of cases concerning removal from the jurisdiction. He regularly represents the Guardian ad Litem instructed by CAFCASS. Christopher is often instructed in the more serious cases involving complex factual disputes and where there is independent expert evidence of a psychological and psychiatric nature.

Christopher Buckingham

Christopher is a Chancery Commercial practitioner. His work covers a range of specialist practice areas including insolvency, property, probate and trusts. In recent years he has been instructed to advise and appear in an array of complex and high value cases (both led and as sole counsel) including claims brought by insolvency office-holders, directors’ disqualification applications and proceedings under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. He appeared unled for the successful Appellant in the seminal case on mandatory ADR Lomax v Lomax [2019] EWCA Civ 1467; [2019] 1 WLR 6527.

Clare Dillon

Clare was called to the Bar in 1974 and joined Number 1 Chambers, Fountain Court, where she developed a general common law practice, with an emphasis on family law and crime. She continued her legal career in South Africa and New York before returning to the Birmingham Bar and joining St Philips. She now specialises in family law and her practice and expertise encompass all aspects of this area of law. She regularly speaks at conferences and seminars organised by St Philips’ family group, and she contributes to the family law newsletter and ebulletin. Clare practises in matrimonial finance, including financial remedies on divorce, cohabitation, TOLATA, Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 applications and Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 work. Clare has considerable experience with high-net-worth individuals and is comfortable with complicated financial cases involving accounts and financial statements. In the field of public law, Clare acts for parents, local authorities, children’s guardians and extended family members. She often acts for clients with learning difficulties, including those represented by the official solicitor. She is regularly instructed in complex care proceedings involving physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Clare’s private law children practice deals with issues of residence, contact, relocation overseas, abduction and parental responsibility. In her Court of Protection work, Clare represents young adults, adults and the elderly and also acts for Local Authorities under whose care such persons are placed.

Colin Baran

Colin Baran is a nationally and independently recognised barrister with over 17 years’ experience at the Bar, and manages an active personal injury, clinical negligence and employment practice. Clients value his practical approach to the issues and rare ability to develop rapport and trust with professional and lay clients alike in the most demanding and emotionally charged of circumstances. As a robust advocate who regularly appears before the High Court, County Court and Employment Tribunals, Colin also thrives on technically demanding advisory work and settlement negotiations. He is called upon by national firms and boutique practices alike for his methodical approach that leaves no stone unturned, as well as his articulate and comprehensive grasp of medical evidence and factually dense cases generally. Accordingly, Colin is in particular demand in respect of JSMs, expert conferences, roundtables and in cases involving a considered and tactical approach to litigation. Colin has a particular specialism in claims relating to cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as non-surgical cosmetic procedures. He is renowned for his deep understanding of medical and clinical issues and how complex evidence can be deployed in liability and quantum disputes.

Darron Whitehead

Having returned home to the Midland Circuit in 2000, Darron has established a busy practice specialising solely in criminal law. Receiving both publicly and privately funded work, his case load reflects a broad range of serious offences varying in complexity and gravity. Regular instructions involve offences of murder and manslaughter, corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, serious violent assaults and torture, firearm related offences, armed robbery, football match disorders and riots, fire bombings, multiple rape, serious sexual assaults, and death by dangerous driving. He has accumulated considerable experience in the Court of Appeal, presenting and responding to appeals against conviction, sentence and rulings of law. Darron is a Grade 4 prosecutor and pupil supervisor.

David Nuttall

David Nuttall is a well-established property practitioner, “admired for his intellectual capability” (Chambers & Partners) and “very technically gifted” (Legal 500). David has substantial experience in real estate litigation, with a particular specialism in boundary disputes, easement claims and Land Registration issues.  He regularly works on cases involving large scale housing developments. David is also frequently instructed on complex landlord and tenant cases.  In a commercial context, this includes claims involving lease renewal, dilapidations, forfeiture and interpretation of covenants.  He is well versed in the intricacies of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. In terms of residential property, David deals with all matters regarding possession, disrepair and other breaches of covenant.  His previous experience in social housing law also gives him particular expertise in unusual matters involving security of tenure. Additionally, David is instructed on numerous FTT applications involving service charges.  These include a number of on-going very high value cladding disputes. David likes to get involved with cases as early as possible, and is a pragmatic and commercial practitioner, always on the look-out for the most cost effective means of achieving the client’s objectives. Outside of his caseload, David engages in substantial business development, including frequent presentations at seminars and the writing of well-received articles. His recent article on boundary agreements was described by Ruoff & Roper on Registered Conveyancing as “a powerful challenge” to the decision in Gibson v New [2021] EWHC 1811 (QB).

David Stockill

David has a practice broadly based, so far as the commercial world is concerned, in the Chancery Division. This includes company and business association disputes with (usually) fairly complex contractual or equitable considerations. Often involved are allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and trust, and the tracing and recovery of assets. The use of interim injunctions in all of their guises features regularly, as well as other interim steps leading to a trial. As a trial advocate, David is a confident, and if it calls for it, combative operator who is known for his thorough preparation. He is however someone who always puts the client first, and if this means negotiation and settlement strategies, his experience as an accredited mediator counts. David has now been practising from Birmingham for 25 years, although his practice spans geographically from the North (he is part of the St Philips presence in Leeds) to the South and London for some trial and appeal court work. He was the first barrister in Birmingham with a computer on his desk (an attempt to prove he is up to date but giving too much indication of his age perhaps), and he was the first with a 100% chancery and commercial practice. So much has changed and continues to change, that David’s flexibility in approach has always kept him towards the forefront of developments. David’s guiding principle is whether value can be added at a particular stage of a case by the instruction of a barrister, rather than be hamstrung by the traditional light touch in the early stages, then heavy reliance as a trial appears.

Davinia Riley

Davinia specialises in Financial Remedies and has experience of the full range of applications and hearings in those proceedings including First Direction Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings, and final hearings in cases involving pensions, overseas assets and companies. Davinia also has experience in dealing with property disputes between unmarried partners under the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA), applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, Maintenance Pending Suit and applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. Davinia is regularly instructed in applications for section 37 and freezing injunctions designed to prevent the dissipation of assets. She has also successfully sought committal to jail for a Respondent’s failure to complete, file or serve their Form E. Davinia has the benefit of being a member of the Wills, Trusts and Probate Team within Chambers and as such has a familiarity and knowledge of civil litigation and the Civil Procedure Rules. Her diverse legal knowledge enables her to provide rounded advice and a remedies-based approach for enforcement of orders such as third-party debt orders and applications for judgment summons. Davinia’s experience is primarily in high-value complex financial issues, often involving trust assets, businesses, multiple properties (UK based and International) and inheritance.  

Dominic Roberts

Dominic advises on all aspects of company law, directors’ duties, corporate governance and statutory compliance and general commercial disputes. He has advised on, and acted in, disputes on shareholders’ agreements and articles of association as well as advising on unfair prejudice proceedings and on class consent and statutory squeeze-outs. He regularly advises major corporations and accountants on legal issues relating to dividends, other income and capital distributions and the presentation and preparation of financial accounts. His work includes advice on reductions of capital on both court-confirmed and solvency statement schemes; book and fair values in relation to non-cash distributions; net asset tests; establishment of merger and group reconstruction reserves; and the recognition of group assets at fair value via intra-group reconstructions. His practice also includes advice on the legal classification of equity and debt instruments for financial reporting and other purposes and on equity structures including the utilisation of B and C share schemes and the use of cash-box structures. Dominic was awarded The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers’ Award in relation to his work on the concept of a contractual profit reserve. He also advises on general corporate transactions including acquisition agreements and takeover schemes as well as group reconstructions, re-organisations and simplifications. Dominic has significant experience of director disqualification proceedings and in carrying out internal investigations for major corporates as well as acting for companies in relation to statutory investigations initiated by the Secretary of State. He advises on the creation of joint ventures, general partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships on both national and cross-jurisdictional bases, including acting on disputes arising out of such arrangements. Dominic was previously an equity partner at a leading national law firm. He is regularly instructed by law firms to advise on their internal constitutional issues and by the legal departments of major corporates on acquisition structures.

Edmund Beever

Described by independent legal commentators as “amongst the top juniors in his field”, Ed Beever is a specialist employment practitioner with substantial insolvency and commercial litigation experience. “Exceptional” in court, Ed is “astute and commercially savvy in equal measure”, recommended and listed as a National Leader in the top Tiers and Bands by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal respectively. Ed regularly achieves impressive results for his clients in the High Court, Business and Property Courts, Employment Tribunals as well as in the Appeal Courts. Ed deals with the full range of employment disputes and issues, with a particular focus on high value and complex litigation. With complementary commercial and insolvency specialisms, Ed has the rare ability to cover all the angles. Clients rely on Ed to cover the most complex, integrated issues when it comes to employment disputes, including claims for senior executives, cases involving directors’ duties and seeking injunctive relief. With recognised expertise in high value, high stakes litigation in the High Court, Ed is the obvious choice for solicitors engaged in serious contractual and restraint of trade disputes. Clients report that Ed is both ‘highly approachable’ and ‘an effective communicator’. His client base sits at the highest echelons of UK business, with Ed regularly acting for listed plcs, national and regional firms, international companies, major public sector bodies (including the MOD and the Home Office) and a range of well-known SMEs. He is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel, an accredited advocacy trainer, and serves as a Fee Paid Employment Judge.

Elizabeth Hodgetts

Elizabeth practises exclusively in employment law and employment-related civil litigation. She is regularly briefed by government bodies, local authorities, NHS Trusts, educational institutions and private sector employers, including blue chip companies. She also welcomes instructions from claimants. Her Employment Tribunal practice includes the full range of discrimination claims, including complex and high value claims involving assertions of historical allegations and psychiatric injury arising from discrimination, whistleblowing claims, equal pay, collective consultation and trade disputes including claims involving administrations and insolvencies, TUPE disputes, breach of contract claims including enhanced redundancy and commission disputes, and significant unfair and wrongful dismissal claims. She is regularly briefed to appear in multi-week hearings. Elizabeth also advises and represents in employment-related High Court and County Court litigation, including breach of contract claims and restrictive covenant claims in which injunctive relief is sought.

Emma Kendall

Between 2011 and 2016 Emma specialised in public law children proceedings as a solicitor at Warwickshire County Council. Since joining St Philips she has appeared at all levels up to, and including, the High Court and Court of Appeal.  She has appeared in the High Court in complex cases involving child death, non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and wardship. Emma’s cases have included neglectful parenting, domestic abuse and drug/alcohol use. The more complex cases have included allegations of non-accidental injuries, sexual abuse or have involved international elements. She has also had cases involving clients with learning difficulties or who lack mental capacity. Emma is also experienced in  private law children and domestic abuse, advising and representing the Local Authority in relation to private law proceedings in which the Court has directed a section 7 or section 37 report and in cases where the Court has made an Interim Care Order of its own motion. Since transferring to the Bar Emma has regularly undertaken private law disputes about children’s living arrangements or who they spend time with, and has acted for parents and 16.4 Guardians. She is experienced in fact finding hearings involving allegations of domestic abuse.

Emma Williamson

Emma Williamson specialises in public law care and private law children proceedings, appearing on behalf of parents, guardians, local authorities and intervenors. Emma regularly acts in care and adoption proceedings, and is instructed by Local Authorities, parents and Children’s Guardians. She appears at all levels, up to and including the High Court. Emma frequently acts for parents with learning, cognitive or mental health difficulties, and she is familiar with representation through the Official Solicitor. Emma has a calm and sensitive approach to client care, whilst also offering robust and clear advice. Emma’s public law experience includes non-accidental injury, domestic violence, substance misuse, chronic neglect and mental health. Emma is regularly instructed in private children proceedings, from first directions appointments, through fact-finding to final hearing. She frequently acts for parents, children and for extended family members, including in complex and long-running private disputes and in cases where a Children’s Guardian has been appointed through CAFCASS. Emma has been described as “calm, in charge and straight to the point” and is well regarded for her thorough and careful preparation and advocacy. She has a calm manner and sensitive approach to client care but will nonetheless offer robust and practical advice.

Gavin McLeod

Gavin is an established junior who specialises in Chancery proceedings, especially real property (including as regards TOLATA, mortgages, and landlord and tenant), trusts, contentious probate/inheritance disputes, and related matters. Beyond this, he undertakes contract, commercial and tort cases raising various issues. These often include questions which overlap with his core areas of practice, such as regards fiduciary duties and nuisance or negligence in the context of property ownership. He is also instructed in matters concerning professional negligence, including notably allegations against solicitors undertaking real estate and private client work.

Gemma Bowes

Gemma represents local authorities, children, parents, extended family members, and, on occasions, foster carers, at all stages of care proceedings and appeals. She has dealt with applications for leave to oppose adoption, post-adoption/placement contact, discharge of care orders, forced marriage protection orders, and deprivation of liberty. Gemma undertook financial remedies and TOLATA work before relocating to the Midlands from Harcourt Chambers. She is now relaunching her practice in this area, having benefited from shadowing senior members of the family finance team in recent months. She has previous experience of matters involving trusts, assets located overseas, insolvency, third party interests, inheritance, pre-acquired wealth, capacity issues and representation through the official solicitor.

Giles Harrison Hall

Giles Harrison Hall deals with significant clinical negligence cases, including obstetrics, complications following operations for sterilization, failed anaesthesia, missed diagnoses, failed plastic surgery, spinal surgery (including informed consent), and cancer treatment. He started clinical negligence cases (then medical negligence) in the early 1980s. In 1985 he was instructed by the Health Authority to act for them at the Inquiry into the outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at Stafford District General Hospital. The workload changed with the alterations to Legal Aid and reorganisations within the Health Service, but he continues to maintain a keen interest in this field of work. His cases include being instructed by the claimant in claim for over m in respect of a failure to administer antibiotics prior to surgery, and for the defendant in a more substantial claim in which it was alleged a Psychiatrist failed to diagnose a risk of suicide. Giles has represented both claimants and defendants. Giles has been involved in many large value claims including claimants who have been severely disabled after spinal surgery.

Guy Spollon

Guy Spollon has been a practising Barrister for over 40 years, with a very wide and diverse practice. However, for the last 20 years he has concentrated exclusively on Family Law. Guy frequently appears in both complex and highly sensitive cases involving children in both the Private and Public law arenas at High Court and County Court levels. He represents parents, children and Local Authorities. In addition to children’s work, Guy is a specialist in Ancillary Relief and all related areas, including financial provision for the family upon death, financial provision for children and financial disputes between cohabiters. His cases routinely involve substantial assets, corporate assets and complex assets relating to land and foreign property.

Harinderpal Dhami

Before joining chambers in December 2017, Paul was employed by West Midlands CPS for 11 years,  and prior to that he  was a Head of Department and Partner in defence practices in Humberside and the Midlands. He has been a Solicitor, Duty Solicitor, Solicitor-Advocate, Crown Advocate and Barrister during his 20-year plus career. Paul obtained his Higher Rights of Audience in 2005 via the exemption route. Paul has advised and represented clients in Police Stations, Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, as well appearing before the Court of Appeal. He has a breadth of experience, both from prosecuting and defending, which means he not only has a firm understanding of the law but the constraints on criminal justice system stakeholders. Paul is able to offer realistic advice and address any tribunal with authority and clarity. Paul has significant experience as Crown junior counsel: R v K – partial skeletal remains discovered 3 years after disappearance. Financially motivated homicide by family member. Convicted of murder after trial. R v S – cold case, extradition of the defendant and deceased’s remains never recovered. Sexually motivated case involving CCTV analysis and DNA evidence. Convicted of murder after trial. R v R – financially motived murder of his best friend, assuming the identity of the deceased. Late night attack involving the throat being slit and discovered floating in lake. Timeline creation from CCTV, mobile phone evidence and stomach contents examination. Convicted after trial. R v L, L & P others – honour crime committed by family members after their mother left the family for a former partner. Case involved a tracker device being placed on the deceased’s car and his death following complications from non-fatal injuries sustained. Pleas to manslaughter. R v D, N & S – drug related ‘turf’ war dispute involving drive-by shooting. Issue of joint enterprise, CCTV and cell site evidence analysis. Plea to murder by the gunman and others convicted of murder after trial. R v M – homicide committed during the burglary of elderly and vulnerable householder. Convicted of murder after trial following the use of footwear impressions evidence. R v I – honour crime homicide following the breakdown of an arranged marriage. Convicted of murder after trial. Since joining chambers, Paul has both prosecuted and defended in trials across the circuit, including drugs supply via drones into HMP Birmingham, multi handed burglary conspiracy of commercial premises and sexual assaults on a female teenager. Paul is on the CPS list as a Grade 3 prosecutor and has a wealth of experience from his time as in-house Counsel advising the Police during live investigations, as well as on disclosure material, and routinely provided charging advice on a range of allegations, including manslaughter and death by dangerous driving. Paul has significant trial experience of drugs, sexual and violence related offences.

Huma Ali

Huma Ali has extensive experience in all matters relating to children in Private and Public Law. Huma has won scholarships to both the prestigious Manchester High School for Girls and Gray’s Inn. She is fluent in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi and will often conduct her conferences with her clients in their native tongue. Huma has experience across all areas of care and adoption public law. She has dealt with people from a vast array of backgrounds and cultures and also has a great deal of experience with people with extreme learning difficulties and mental health issues. Huma has received a wide range of Children Act Private Law cases including issues of residence and contact disputes. Huma has also conducted a complex fact finding hearing. She has dealt with all kinds of applications including specific issue and prohibited steps orders dealing with all aspects, including immigration, religious issues and education.

Huw Jones

Huw was called to the Bar in 1997 after 12 years’ commissioned service in the army. He has always specialised solely in family law and now focuses primarily on the resolution of financial claims consequent upon family breakdown. Ancillary relief matters account for the majority of his work, along with applications in cohabitation disputes, Trusts of Land Act matters, and under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and Schedule 7 of the Family Law Act 1996. He combines strong client care skills with robust and effective advocacy. In ancillary relief claims Huw undertakes principally mid to high value work often involving one or more complicating issues, such as third party/intervener issues or business and/or farming assets. Huw is also conversant with issues surrounding claims in respect of property or assets in overseas jurisdictions, including India and Pakistan. In Children Act matters, Huw acts for parents, children and others. He frequently undertakes work at the more complex end including international aspects, serious allegations, and multi-party cases.

Iqbal Mohammed

Iqbal is a specialist commercial barrister. He only undertakes commercial litigation, which includes real estate litigation and insolvency. His cases may involve overlapping causes of action, such as negligence or restitution. His commercial practice includes business or contractual disputes, sale of goods, claims against EU member states or Lugano Convention countries, enforcement and injunctions. Iqbal undertakes substantial work involving injunctive relief in the High Court, including freezing injunctions or orders for delivery up. Iqbal’s real estate practice includes disputes over commercial property, leases or rights in land, including injunctions to prevent forfeiture, restore possession or prevent interference with land. He undertakes work relating to residential property, including claims relating to long leases, trusts and claims against occupiers or third parties. Iqbal’s insolvency practice includes corporate and personal insolvency, where he acts for both creditors and debtors, including institutional creditors. He is often instructed in contested winding up petitions, bankruptcy petitions or applications to set aside statutory demands.

James Puzey

A leading practitioner with over 30 years’ experience, James Puzey is one of the most highly sought-after barristers in the fields of health and safety issues, inquests, environmental enforcement and tax. Across this unique mix of specialisms, James remains one of the most highly ranked practitioners in the country – by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories, and is instructed by some of the most noted and high-profile public and private organisations in the UK, for their most complex issues. He is a ‘go to’ barrister for the Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), various local authorities and leading private businesses. Clients and instructing solicitors regularly comment that James is ‘truly excellent’, that his ability to ‘miss nothing and be on top of everything’ is invaluable and that his ‘commitment to hard work’ coupled with his ‘extremely dependable’ nature means that they turn to him time and again. Given his leading status, profile and experience, James’s current practice almost exclusively concerns cases of the utmost complexity, consequence and severity. Over recent years, James has been in particularly high demand for cases involving significant reputational risks, where there is a risk to the public at large or where novel or precedent-setting issues are considered, whether in health and safety, inquests, environmental or tax law. James’ practice is tri-jurisdictional and, as may be properly expected, James is a highly experienced appellate advocate. He is frequently instructed on judicial review matters, as well as cases in the Court of Appeal. James has a rare double accreditation when it comes to work in his specialist areas. He was appointed as a member of the Attorney-General’s Panel of Prosecution Advocates in 1998 and has been an “A” panel member of its successor, the List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law, since 2012. In addition, James is on the “A” list of the Attorney-General’s Panel of Civil Counsel, having been a panel member since 1996.

James Dunstan

James Dunstan is a highly regarded and very experienced senior junior in crime, with a serious style which has brought him an extremely successful track record of both prosecuting to conviction and defending to acquittal. He attributes this to a knack for jury persuasion, and always getting home the best points in any case. He is also versatile, and handles the full range of work in the Crown Court and higher Courts, and has experience in the following areas: Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter), Serious Sexual Offences, Organised Crime and Terrorism, Corporate and Gross Negligence Manslaughter, Motoring and Road Traffic, Fraud, Business and Financial Crime, and Restraint and Confiscation. In addition he is qualified to receive work on a Direct Access basis.

Jane Sarginson

Jane Sarginson is an exceptional and highly experienced barrister with a proven track record of success in prosecution and defence advocacy, specialising in regulatory and criminal work. She has particular expertise and interest in Information and Data Privacy Law, with first-hand experience of helping organisations implement strategies to ensure compliance and providing practical and accessible training, incisive advice and robust representation in this area. She is exemplary in her ability to analyse, prepare and present cases, being able to communicate and negotiate, manage and work with others, plan and organise workloads and give appropriate legal advice. With a keen and analytical mind, Jane is ideal for those cases which require an eye for the presentation of complex material in user friendly form Jane is passionate about the common law adversarial system in this country and is motivated by her keen sense of justice. Jane excels in communication with those who are particularly vulnerable. She is a tenacious but efficient and effective advocate, with the ability to alter her approach according to the nature of the case. She is highly practical, commercially aware and, when necessary, pragmatic. Information and Data Privacy Between October 2016 and February 2018, Jane took an in-house position working on secondment for Cadent Gas Limited in their General Counsel team where she dealt with many aspects of the business including Health and Safety, Business Conduct, the Environmental Information Regulation and Data Privacy. Embedded within a Company for over a year, Jane has the advantage of understanding the commercial pressures and requirements of a highly regulated business, and the need to find solutions that satisfy all stakeholders. Whilst at Cadent, she played a major role in creating and implementing a series of strategies to ensure the company was ready for the changes in the Data Privacy legislation including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the e-privacy directive. Drawing on this experience, Jane has gone on to study this area of law extensively. She is an accredited EU General Data Protection Regulation Practitioner, recognised by the International Board for IT Governance Qualifications. She is frequently approached for comment by the press on developments in this area. Jane has addressed solicitor audiences and audiences comprised of solicitors’ commercial clients on the topic of General Data Protection Regulation, provided bespoke advice to private and public sector organisations on compliance and their obligations in this area and has devised and delivered training material on data law. She has advised both those seeking to make and resist SARs, advised as to liability and quantum in situations where data breaches are alleged and has appeared on behalf of interested parties in proceedings before the First Tier Tribunal, some of which have involved the ICO.

Jennifer Josephs

Since starting her career at St Philips in 2000, Jennifer Josephs has established a busy practice as a popular and effective leading junior. She specializes in criminal law, appearing predominantly in the most serious and often high profile cases. She been appointed to the Prosecution approved list for offences of counter terrorism, serious and organized crime, rape and fraud as a grade 4 advocate, the highest level. Jennifer is named as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 and ranked in the Chambers UK Bar Guide. She acts on behalf of the Prosecution and the Defence, being regularly instructed in cases involving multiple Defendants and complex conspiracies. She has particular experience of defending clients who are especially vulnerable, often through age or mental illness. She has a friendly and pragmatic approach, which wins the confidence of both lay and professional clients on both sides.  Notable cases have involved murder, firearms conspiracies, organized crime, money laundering and drug importation. Jennifer is regularly invited to train local students, as well as being an approved advocacy trainer for the Midlands Circuit.

John Brennan

John’s practice encompasses a very broad range of chancery and commercial work. John is regularly instructed in real property disputes including, in particular, disputes over the ownership of the quasi-matrimonial home, easements, restrictive covenants, adverse possession claims, boundary disputes and Party Wall Etc Act 1996 claims. He has considerable experience in the construction of sale and purchase agreements, development agreements and overage agreements. His practice encompasses cases in the High Court, the County Court and proceedings before the adjudicator to HM Land Registry. John accepts instructions in both non-contentious and contentious probate matters. He has acted in cases in which the capacity of the testator, the validity of the will, and the administration of the estate have been in dispute. He has made and resisted applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. He also accepts instructions in both non-contentious and contentious trust matters and is regularly instructed in disputes over the beneficial ownership of property allegedly held on trust. He has a particular interest in cases that concern allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, knowing assistance and receipt, tracing, rectification and mistake. His aim is to provide clear, reliable advice and provide a user-friendly service. He undertakes a certain amount of work on a conditional fee basis.

John Randall

John has a broad based practice in chancery and commercial law, acting in a wide range of work including contractual, property and professional negligence disputes, together with commercially related judicial review claims and a variety of sports law matters. He is an accredited mediator and was a deputy High Court Judge for 16 years. John has acted in a substantial number of lengthy trials and high value claims, including: ten lead cases in a group action for professional negligence, tried in the Chancery Division in Birmingham over seven weeks; and Queen’s Bench proceedings on behalf of a substantial Building Society seeking to recover losses of over £50 million from MIG and pool insurers in respect of post-property crash defaults and capital losses. His experience includes two major trials involving the extensive use of computers in the court room during the hearing, numerous appeal cases, and a number of remote video hearings. John is an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales law school in Sydney, and has taught both there and at the University of Melbourne on its Law Masters programme. He is also a frequent speaker at legal seminars in the United Kingdom. John’s international experience includes appearances in the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, and the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man (both Civil and Staff of Government Divisions), and providing expert evidence of English law for Courts in Spain and Eire. He has received two ‘Barrister of the Year’ awards. Visit John's personal website at www.johnrandallkc.co.uk.

John Aldis

Specialises in commercial law, real estate and wills, trusts and probate.

Jonathan Nosworthy

Jonathan Nosworthy is head of the St Philips Family Finance Team. Jonathan is ranked in Band One in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as a specialist financial remedy practitioner.  He provides advice and representation in cases involving all aspects of the financial consequences of marriage, civil partnership and other domestic relationship breakdown. He has considerable expertise in dealing with very complex financial remedy claims involving large quantities of paperwork.  He is particularly adept in dealing with cases involving substantial assets, business assets, overseas assets, pensions, trusts and the intervention of third parties. Further, he has significant experience in conducting cases involving applications to preserve assets (freezing orders) and involving applications to set aside transactions. He also has extremely detailed knowledge of the law in relation to trusts of land and Schedule One of the Children Act 1989.  Jonathan is one of the authors of “Cohabitation Claims – A Resolution Guide.” He has provided seminars and lectures to other members of the legal profession on these topics. His clients include business people, professional sportsmen, barristers, solicitors, medics, accountants, farmers, landowners and their spouses. Jonathan receives instructions to sit as a private FDR judge.

Jonathan Barker

Jonathan Barker is a criminal law specialist and an accomplished trial advocate. His practice covers all areas of criminal law, including regulatory crime. He is ranked by the latest edition of the Legal 500 as one of the Midlands’ leading barristers specialising in criminal law. Jonathan is a grade 4 prosecutor and has been appointed to the CPS Serious Crime Group panel at level 4, the highest level. He is also on the ‘Rape and Child Sexual Abuse List’ meaning that he can be instructed in cases involving sexual offences. While he accepts legal aid instructions, he has a flourishing private practice. He is direct access qualified. Jonathan has been appointed to the ‘B’ list of Specialist Regulatory Advocates. Jonathan is committed to defending those accused of criminal wrongdoing, whether it be an individual or corporate entity. Instructing solicitors often praise Jonathan’s commitment to his cases and his unwavering determination to secure the best possible result. Jonathan prides himself in providing first-class trial advocacy. He is experienced in cross-examining experts and has provided training to witnesses who give expert evidence in criminal proceedings. He is also trained and experienced in cross-examining young and vulnerable witnesses. In a recent case, involving an allegation of rape, the trial judge described Jonathan’s cross-examination of a young complainant as a “model example”. Jonathan’s client was ultimately acquitted of rape and associated offences. Jonathan’s cases are often paper heavy and usually the result of significant police operations. He is adept at coming to terms with such cases. He is said to have a ‘technical mind’ which ‘allows him to assimilate complex information quickly’. The following is a non-exhaustive list of specific areas of practice: Fraud and Money Laundering; Homicide; Misconduct in a public office; Proceeds of Crime; Regulatory Offences (including Health and Safety offences); Road traffic Offences (including where death has resulted); Serious Organised Crime (e.g. drug conspiracies, firearms etc); Serious Violence (e.g. arson, robbery, s18, attempted murder); Sexual offences (including rape and offences against children and the vulnerable); Trading standards.

Jonathan Heard

With a wealth of knowledge and breadth of experience in employment law, Jonathan Heard’s practice covers a broad spectrum of work from unfair, automatic and wrongful dismissals to discrimination, equal pay, TUPE, whistleblowing, wage deductions, and unlawful detriment claims. Of particular focus to his practice are TUPE, discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Well-known for his approachability, aptitude for forensic analysis and swiftness in understanding the essence of an issue, Jonathan often receives instructions for multi-day and intricate cases at first instance, in addition to matters that go to appeal. Due to the above, Jonathan is the go-to advocate to a diverse, loyal and growing number of clients including PLCs, private limited companies, senior executives, NHS trusts, police forces, SMEs, directors, town councils, local authorities, big supermarkets, banks, GPs, dental practices, schools, universities, charities and solicitors’ firms.

Jonathan Gale

Jonathan Gale appears regularly in the High Court and County Court on a range of commercial and property-related matters. In addition to his practice as a barrister, he is a qualified mediator. Jonathan regularly advises on property, including disputes regarding rights of way,  trusts of land and service charge provisions in commercial leases,. He has appeared before the First Tier Tribunal of the Property Chamber, and acted in trials involving allegations of Proprietary Estoppel and adverse possession. He advises and is able to put forward a robust case in negotiation and mediation to achieve very good results. In 2011, he was awarded Oxford University’s prestigious Diploma in Intellectual Property Law, and can advise on all aspects of intellectual property. He has particular expertise in matters to do with online infringement, and advises as to IP in computer software. In 2013 he addressed the Patents County Court (now the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court) on the test for the admission of survey evidence in trade mark cases, as had been recently formulated by the Court of Appeal. More recently he has been involved in more trade mark and passing off cases before IPEC. Jonathan acts for finance companies, in interlocutory hearings as well as at trial, and has appeared and advised on a wide range of contract disputes, including consumer credit cases and cases on guarantees. He appeared in the Court of Appeal in Whaleys (Bradford) Ltd v Bennett Cubitt [2017] EWCA Civ 2143 [2017] 6 Costs L.R. 1241, where he successfully appealed on the subject of indemnity costs. Jonathan has often appeared in the companies court in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and London, and acts in corporate and personal insolvency cases including experience of setting aside statutory demands. He is appreciated by solicitors for his thoroughness and approachability, as well as his intellect. He puts lay clients at ease in conference and in court, whilst always judging the best way to put their case.

Joseph Millington

Joseph Millington specialises in government litigation, local authority enforcement and regulatory offences. Joe frequently accepts instructions in high value matters of considerable complexity, and his extremely thorough preparation and incisive analysis enables him to distil the essentials of a case from voluminous material. Since his appointment to the Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown in November 2015, Joe has established a strong practice in both tiers of the Tax Tribunal covering a wide range of VAT and customs and excise duties matters. As both led junior and sole junior, Joe has considerable experience of MTIC fraud involving various commodities, directors’ personal liability notices, and civil evasion penalties. Joe is regularly instructed in matters concerning trading standards and consumer protection, licensing, environmental, and fraud offences, and has expertise in the licensing of houses in multiple occupation, appearing in both the criminal courts and the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He is also instructed to act in confiscation proceedings following conviction and has expertise in all issues arising under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 regime. In 2019, Joe was appointed to the List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (List B). Joe Millington also regularly advises The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) in respect of complaints and regulatory action.

Julie Moseley

Julie Moseley has practised from Birmingham since her pupillage in 1992 and tenancy in 1993. She has practised in family law throughout her career and after five years specialised solely in family law cases. Julie is a busy and experienced family advocate able to handle complex and sensitive cases without compromising on her client care abilities. She appears most frequently in County and High court public and private law children matters. Julie Moseley regularly represents  the whole range of participants in public law cases including Local Authorities, parents, interveners (from alleged perpetrators to proposed special guardians) and Children’s Guardians. In private law matters Julie Moseley regularly represents r.16.4 guardians. She regularly deals with clients with learning disabilities and mental health issues and is familiar with working on behalf of the Official Solicitor. Julie also has experience from a number of cases of representing teenage children directly within the public law arena.

Julie Sparrow

Julie Sparrow is a children law expert with nearly 3 decades of experience.  She regularly appears in the High Court undertaking difficult fact-finding and complex welfare hearings. Julie has an excellent reputation for preparation, advocacy and client care. She is an approved pupil supervisor and qualified mediator. Julie has practised in New Zealand where she qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor.

Julie Duane

Julie is an employment law specialist and former Solicitor-advocate working across the full spectrum of employment issues for both Claimants and Respondents. With a particularly active practice across the Employment Tribunals and the EAT, she acts for leading international and national firms, private individuals, high-profile / senior parties, public sector organisations and a wide range of both boutique and regional firms. Julie’s significant experience in complex whistleblowing, discrimination, TUPE and unfair dismissal cases marks her out as an employment ‘all-rounder’. She is highly sought after for her expertise in complex whistleblowing cases. An experienced advocate, Julie regularly conducts multi-day cases in the Employment Tribunal, along with the full range of preliminary applications. One of Julie’s differentiators is her pragmatic, thorough approach. This has resulted in her securing various successful costs orders, strike outs and deposit orders in the early stages of litigation, as well as excellent results at full merit hearings and appeals. Julie’s expertise in large-scale redundancy consultations, COVID-19 issues, employee status and GDPR issues also set her apart. She represents parties in judicial/non-judicial employment mediations, and provides CPD training across all areas of employment law. Julie is vastly experienced in CVP Employment Tribunal hearings and in dealing with cases involving litigants in person. Julie is Direct Access accredited.

Juliet Allen

Juliet is a matrimonial finance and family trusts specialist. She is experienced at dealing with financial remedy applications at all stages, from interim applications including maintenance pending suit and avoidance of disposition through to multi-day final hearings and appeals. Juliet’s practice includes cases involving complex business arrangements, unusual trust structures, analysis of business accounts, farming cases and cases in which there are issues of non-disclosure or dissipation of assets. Juliet has a particular interest in cases in which trusts issues arise within financial remedy proceedings and will accept instructions in relation to cohabitee disputes pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and applications for financial provision pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.

Kevin Hegarty

Kevin Hegarty KC is a criminal law specialist. His practice includes fraud, homicide and regulatory crime. His approach to preparation gives him a near encyclopaedic knowledge to the issues in his cases. He is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and regularly appears for the defence and the prosecution in murder and manslaughter trials. The cases usually involve contested expert evidence on complex medical issues, on causation of injuries and death. He accepts instructions that are privately and publicly funded. He has expertise in private prosecutions. In 2013 he was appointed to the Serious Fraud Office Prosecution and Proceeds of Crime Lists. In 2017 he received a Commendation from the Director General of the National Crime Agency for his work on the largest money laundering case ever prosecuted in the United Kingdom. He is a member of the UK Environmental Lawyers Association and he has a Masters Degree in Health and Safety and Environmental Law. His expertise in environmental law includes pollution, waste, carbon emissions and emissions control. His Masters dissertation examined the effectiveness of emissions trading schemes in the EU and the USA. The Attorney General has appointed him as Special Counsel and he is security cleared at the highest level. He is regularly instructed by local authorities to prosecute and advise on many different aspects of health and safety, environmental law and trading standards. He has also been advising an interested public body in respect of matters connected to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Kirsty White

Since joining St Philips Kirsty White has developed a broad and busy commercial and chancery practice across the Business and Property group’s areas of expertise. Kirsty appears regularly as sole counsel in the High Court and County Court on interlocutory matters and fast track and multi-track trials. She is also frequently led. Her growing reputation has also seen her establish a busy paper practice, and is repeatedly instructed by clients in advisory work and to settle proceedings in all aspects of commercial law. Kirsty is recognised in the legal directories with her commercial approach being recognised. She welcomes early involvement in matters to formulate a commercial, pragmatic and realistic approach to the litigation strategy. This approach stems from her time as an in-house barrister in the commercial litigation team of a Top 100 national firm. Kirsty has extensive experience in high value claims with an international element. She was led by Ed Pepperall KC (now the Rt Hon. Mr Justice Pepperall) defending a complex $76 million breach of warranty claim for a US client in a 5 week trial in the TCC. She has also been led by James Morgan KC in a multi-million pound fraud matter, in which their client obtained a worldwide freezing order and passport delivery up order against an Afghan national.

Lee Marklew

Lee is regularly instructed to appear for both the prosecution and the defence in cases of murder, rape, sexual assault, making indecent images, conspiracy to import drugs, armed robbery, firearms offences and blackmail. He is often instructed privately by individuals as well as being instructed by unions, such as The National Farmers’ Union and Community (a prison officers’ union), as well as insurers, such as Direct Line. At the time of his silk appointment in 2021, Lee was a Grade 4 prosecutor and upon the lists of approved advocates able to prosecute rape, serious sexual offences, and people trafficking. He is also instructed in many cases of indecency where the alleged victims are children. As Lee often leads other barristers, he has a strong sense of working at the forefront of a team. Lee specialises in cases that concern allegations of large-scale fraud. In this regard he recently appeared at Birmingham Crown Court in Operation Circus, where high net worth individuals were defrauded of tens of millions of pounds, and he is currently instructed in Southwark in a long-running matter that is prosecuted by the S.F.O. Having represented local authorities in Trading Standards cases Lee has also lectured Trading Standards Officers upon aspects of their investigative work. Lee is also upon the Health and Safety list and is regularly instructed to appear at inquests.

Leisha Bond

Leisha Bond provides specialist advice and representation when relationships break down.  She acts in applications for both married and unmarried clients concerning money, property and children. Leisha has a reputation as “a fighter” where settlement is not in her client’s interest but she will advise realistically and negotiate where possible. She is particularly renowned for her thorough preparation and detailed knowledge of her case papers at all hearings and her penetrative cross examination. Her style is direct. Her results are impressive. However, she is able to easily relate to the lay client outside court and put them at ease, be they a multi-millionaire business owner, a stay at home parent,  or an unwitting intervenor. She deals with family finance upon separation and her cases include financial provision on divorce, Trusts of Land Act applications and Schedule One applications for children. She regularly appears in s8 Children Act proceedings (residence, contact, specific issue) which are often complex and involve several parties and experts.

Lisa Hancox

Lisa Hancox is instructed in serious and sensitive criminal cases. She is a Grade 4 Prosecutor and has been appointed to the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel and the specialist Serious Crime Panel. She is often instructed in cases of serious sexual offences particularly those involving offences committed against children. She is adept at dealing with the complex law in this area. Lisa has been briefed by the prosecution and defence in cases involving individuals who are vulnerable by virtue of age, trauma, psychological or psychiatric diagnosis, and she is skilled at dealing with such sensitive cases. Lisa has been led by King's Counsel in high profile cases of child homicide. She is briefed as a leading junior in cases of offences against children including non-fatal violence and serious sexual offences. Lisa has considerable experience in cases involving complex medical evidence and accepts instructions to advise pre-charge in cases of this nature.

Marc Brown

Marc undertakes work across a broad spectrum of commercial work, with a particular focus on insolvency matters. A confident and user-friendly advocate with an exceptional academic background, he communicates well with both solicitors and clients. He offers advice that is tailored towards the commercial outcomes sought by the client and is conscious of the business needs of clients as well as the pure legal aspects of litigation. Marc is regularly instructed in relation to high value and complex cases. He has experience of dealing with cases involving lengthy and detailed factual backgrounds and complex issues of law. He is conscious of the time pressures placed on solicitors and clients and the consequent need for a flexible approach. He also appreciates the value to both solicitors and clients of early in-depth analysis of the issues involved in any particular case. As a result, Marc sees value in taking a proactive and collaborative approach to litigation. Marc regularly writes articles and is a frequent speaker on matters of insolvency law and civil procedure. He is happy to offer seminars at solicitors’ offices if requested.

Mark Grant

Specialising in commercial disputes.

Matthew Barnes

Matthew is a specialist advocate in the field of criminal law. Having originally qualified as a solicitor with Lovells in the City of London, he was called to the Bar in 1992 and has practised exclusively in the area of crime ever since. Matthew is regularly instructed to prosecute or defend in cases involving serious crime and has acquired considerable specialist experience in this area. He was initially a tenant at 3 Fountain Court, Birmingham, a renowned Midland Circuit criminal set of chambers, forging there a considerable reputation as an outstanding advocate and lawyer. In 2006, he was recruited by the criminal team at St Philips Chambers, now widely regarded as the standard-bearers in the Midlands for representation in the field of criminal law. He has since then developed his reputation as one of the most popular and sought-after criminal advocates on circuit.

Melanie Williamson

Melanie is a highly skilled and experienced advocate, having appeared before District Judges, Circuit Judges, High Court Judges, and the Court of Appeal in contentious matters.  She has also represented clients at mediation proceedings. In June 2008 Melanie was appointed as a Coroner for West Yorkshire (Eastern District). Her role as Coroner has entailed involvement with a number of different public bodies and regulatory organisations – Prison Service, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Health and Safety Executive, General Medical Council, Care Quality Commission, and Local Authorities. Melanie is also experienced in credit hire and has run and defended credit hire claims within the small claims track and fast track. Melanie is keenly aware of the commercial considerations underpinning credit hire claims as well as the impact upon and experiences of lay clients attending court in relation to credit hire claims. Melanie is well versed in the technical arguments run in credit hire cases and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with solicitors within this complex, and developing, area of law. She is particularly interested in claims involving fraud. Her significant experience in the small claims track, fast track and multi track has gleaned a sound knowledge of the sorts of arguments judges find attractive. Melanie is therefore especially well placed to advise upon prospects where there are arguments as to liability, causation and allegations of fraud/fundamental dishonesty. Her busy court practice consists of trials, interlocutory hearings and disposal hearings. Melanie is keenly aware of the commercial considerations underpinning credit hire claims as well as the impact upon, and experiences of, lay clients attending court. She is happy to advise in writing as well as dealing with advocacy work.

Mirza Ahmad

Dr Mirza Ahmad is an award-winning barrister whose vast and multi-disciplinary expertise is called upon in some of the most serious, complex and high-profile cases in the market. As an illustrative example, Mirza has been involved in multi-million-pound commercial property disputes, cases adjudicated upon by the House of Lords and Supreme Court, as well as numerous reported cases across many disciplines in his 36 years at the bar. Mirza brings a wealth of experience and served as an employed barrister in local government for 26 years, where he latterly served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Governance Director – leading over 800 staff and a team of 80 in-house solicitors and barristers, who handled approximately 9000 cases annually. An almost uninterrupted member of the General Council of the Bar since 1995, Mirza is a true multi-disciplinary heavyweight who serves as trusted advisor to major corporates, private individuals and public bodies alike. Maintaining a successful four-pronged practice, Mirza’s vast experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of the law means that he is equally comfortable in complex personal injury or clinical/professional negligence cases; public & administrative cases; civil, commercial & property cases; and in employment cases. Mirza is an accomplished advocate, as well as a renowned expert in case strategy, litigation approach and drafting. As a former president of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors, Mirza has a keen interest in ensuring access to justice for all. As such, Mirza is able to take direct instructions from members of the public under the Direct Access scheme in each of the four main areas of his multi-disciplinary practice.

Mohammad Hafeez

Specialises in criminal law.

Nergis-Anne Mathew

After having completed her degree course in Manchester, Nergis-Anne Mathew completed her legal education in London. Shortly after having been called to the Bar in 1981 she became a member of Inner Temple Chambers. Initially, her practice included all areas of law, but she quickly decided to specialise in family law. In 1999, she relocated to Birmingham and joined St Philips Chambers. Her present practice includes all areas of family law. She represents parents, local authorities and children.

Nicholas Brown

Nick Brown, originally from the West Country, has been at St Philips throughout his time at the Bar. In 2006, he completed a broad-based pupillage here and, as a new tenant, practised across a range of fields. He now practises in the area of care proceedings and also has experience of cases involving wardship, forced marriage and FGM. Nick represents local authorities, parents and children across the Midlands. He has experience of cases involving inflicted injuries, sexual abuse (including inter-sibling), CSE, parents with learning disabilities, the placement of children in foreign jurisdictions, allegations of the murder of one parent by another, and relinquishment for adoption on a confidential basis. Nick has joined with other members of Chambers in providing seminars and lectures to solicitors and social workers throughout the region. He has published a number of articles in the area of children law (including a series short-listed for the inaugural Family Law Awards and taught at university level). He has also acted as a pupil supervisor and is a member of the pupillage committee. Nick is very committed to what he does and aims to provide a highly professional service in a manner, he hopes, that is both approachable and sympathetic.

Nick Howell-Jones

Nick Howell-Jones specialises exclusively in public law proceedings. He represents local authorities, parents and children in public law cases involving the most serious types of non-accidental injury and is regularly instructed to deal with cases that include: Child death. Attempted suffocation. Sexual abuse (including subject child as victim and perpetrator). Complex medical issues. FII Mental health, including parents who require the assistance of the Official solicitor (acting for both parents via the Official Solicitor). FGM – Nick did the very first FGMPO on the day the law was introduced. Nick is known for his ability to get on with lay clients and to get to the core of any dispute and known to be uncompromising in his approach for any client, ensuring they receive the best and most robust representation. He lectures on public law matters to lawyers, social workers and other professionals.

Patrick Keith

Ranked as a leading junior by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, Patrick Keith specialises in Employment, with a distinguished track record in Discrimination Law. As a barrister who regularly appears before the employment tribunals and the EAT, Patrick is commended for his style and effective handling of witnesses in cross-examination, particularly when that involves vulnerable parties. Patrick’s understanding of people, their motivations and decisions sets him apart. His down-to-earth style and personal approach mean that he is trusted by vulnerable witnesses and senior corporate leaders alike, taking time to build a rapport so he can challenge their evidence as appropriate while supporting them through the process. In the same way, Patrick adopts a bespoke approach to each cross-examination, eliciting evidence through careful exploration of the facts but robustly pushing back and challenging troublesome witnesses when necessary. Across a broad of range of sectors, including the financial services, recruitment and public sectors, his clients value his proactive approach to reputation management and his holistic coverage of the issues. When instructed early on, Patrick ensures risks are mitigated prior to and during litigation and hearings, not just after the result. Patrick is accredited to accept public access instructions and also represents clients at professional regulatory and disciplinary hearings.

Paul Wilson

A tribunal advocate through and through, Paul has over 20 years’ experience representing employers and employees in Employment Tribunals across the UK. A veteran of many appeal cases in the EAT and above, Paul is considered a ‘safe pair of hands’ for the most complex and high value tribunal claims. Paul’s expertise has been independently acknowledged by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners respectively, having been regularly recommended over the years. Paul’s client base is broad and varied, reflecting his all-round strength as a tribunal advocate. He regularly represents Respondent clients of all sizes, from small businesses to public authorities, NHS Health Trusts and major plcs. Paul also represents individual claimants. His particular understanding of the manufacturing, local government and health sectors also sets him apart. Paul deals with a wide and broad range of employment law issues including unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, TUPE, collective consultation and all strands of unlawful discrimination at work. Paul also brings a rare and rounded insight from both working in-house and in industry to his clients. Formerly the In-house Counsel for Make UK (which represents UK manufacturers), and also formerly an employed barrister with (now) global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, Paul will detect the issues that might impact a claim or appeal at an early stage, as well as engage effectively with the most complex of issues. Clients commend Paul’s approachable style. Whether in picking up the phone for a quick second opinion or to vet a new claim, Paul understands the importance of building long-lasting relationships based on trust and clear communication.

Petar Starcevic

With over 35 years’ experience at the bar, Petar Starcevic is one of the most senior and trusted barristers in the market. He maintains a complementary triple specialism in clinical negligence, personal injury and employment. As you would expect from his vast experience, which includes a plethora of reported cases and senior appellate cases, the vast majority of Petar’s cases are either multi-track cases of the most significant importance and challenging complexity in respect of clinical negligence and personal injury work, or cases that concern and involve high value, high stakes litigation in the Employment Tribunal, EAT or in the appellate courts. A unique feature of Petar’s practice is the way in which each of his three main areas of practice not only complement each other, but also add to the overall quality of his advice, his commercial and legislative awareness and his tactical acumen in both advocacy and case strategy. As an example, Petar regularly brings his vast, frankly impressive, medico-legal knowledge to bear not only in serious clinical negligence and personal injury cases, but also in appropriate employment cases, such as complex disability discrimination and career long loss claims. Petar is called upon by a trusted pool of major national and leading regional firms for his expertise and for the straightforward way in which he advises. His clients, lay and professional alike, particularly value the way in which he can ‘tell it straight’, though with tact and empathy.

Peter Haynes

Peter Haynes is one of the foremost practitioners in International Criminal and Humanitarian Law, having spent most of the last 17 years appearing before various tribunals in the Hague. He is one of the very few practitioners to have led cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”), where he appeared for the defence of General Vinko Pandurević in relation to the Srebrenica massacre, the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (“STL”). At the ICC, he appeared for Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Minister of Defence and Senator of the Democratic Republic of Congo, famously securing his acquittal of all charges on appeal. At the STL, he represented the victims of the terrorist bombing in Beirut which resulted in the assassination of Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. He has appeared in cases involving charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and international terrorism. He has been responsible for the development of jurisprudence, practice and procedure in the representation of victims in ICHL. Between 2019 and 2021, he held the office of President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, becoming the first and only person to be re-elected to the post. Domestically, he has appeared for both the prosecution and the defence inter alia in cases of murder, serious fraud, sexual offences, human trafficking and complex conspiracies. Away from crime, Peter has acted as lead counsel in a class action against the British government concerning the torture of prisoners in Cyprus; taken proceedings against the ICC seeking $75 million in damages for the losses arising from the freezing of Bemba’s assets and represented the Tamil community in an appeal to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission relating to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Peter also works as an independent consultant on international legal matters, advising governments, heads of state and NGO’s. He is senior advisory counsel to Legal Action Worldwide (“L.A.W.”) in relation to a number of humanitarian crises. He has been involved in outreach and rule of law projects in Iraq on behalf of both the FCDO and the US State Department, as well as, on behalf of the latter, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Philip Beardwell

Before joining St Philips Chambers in March 2017, Philip worked for 10 years within the CPS across the West Midlands and, prior to that, for 10 years as a defence practitioner for firms in Shropshire. He has been a solicitor, a duty solicitor, a solicitor-advocate, Crown advocate and barrister. He has advised clients in police stations and guard rooms and gone on to represent them in the Magistrates’ court, Crown Court and court martial. He has also advised the police on several major investigations and prosecuted at a majority of the court centres across the West Midlands. His experience means that he not only understands the law, but also the pressures and constraints encountered by others working within the criminal justice system. Philip has significant experience of homicide cases: Prosecution: R v JR: sexually motivated murder of an acquaintance. Pre-planned (an attempt was made on an earlier victim), sadistic and sexual offending detected, body disposed of and an attempt to flee the jurisdiction. Police advice. R v LS: sexually motivated murder of stranger. D stalked his victim on the basis she resembled his former partner. Murdered in her home. Sadistic and sexual offending detected. Assumed victim’s identity post mortem by wearing her clothes and walking her dog before attempting to destroy evidence by arson. Police advice. R v SC: D convicted of manslaughter of family member after faking mental health diagnosis. Murdered acquaintance after release from maximum security hospital. Tried, unsuccessfully, to argue diminished responsibility. Plea to murder. R v DS. D murdered his wife for financial gain. Convicted after trial. R v B, S & S. Prostitute, her lover and a client murdered another client for financial gain. Convicted after trial. R v C, M & D. Gang related murder. Convicted after trial. R v SD & BD. Joint enterprise murder of a homeless busker. A number of BD’s family also prosecuted for perverting the course of justice arising out of proceedings. Convicted after trial. R v G & R. Joint enterprise killing of friend following a drunken row. Plea to manslaughter. R v L. Domestic violence murder of D’s husband after many previous incidents of domestic violence towards him. Convicted after trial. Mentally disordered Worcestershire man murdered mentally disordered wife. Plea to murder. Shropshire pensioner killed wife following the onset of her senile dementia. Police advice. Staffordshire man and accomplices murdered a former partner of D’s wife in attempt to retrieve intimate photographs of her. Police advice. R v TW. Domestic violence murder of defendant’s mother. Repeated knife attack by defendant, who had longstanding mental health issues. Guilty plea to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Defence: R v O: D took teenage girl to a place where he once had sex with his wife, raped her and then strangled her with her shoelaces. Plea to murder. R v B & T: Joint enterprise murder of stranger. Advice at police station. Woman accused of murder of her husband. Found holding murder weapon and confessing to murder. Was in fact trying to prevent her son, the murderer, from being arrested. Advice at police station. Man accused of decapitating lover as part of a joint enterprise murder. Subsequently murdered himself by co-accused whilst on police bail. Advice at police station. Recent defence instructions include: R v LH: Rape allegation made by partner. Defendant in breach of restraining order. Complainant used intermediary to give evidence. Ground rules hearing used to determine the extent of cross examination. Acquitted. R v BR: False imprisonment, blackmail and ABH. Two defendants and complainant all drug addicts and/or alcoholics. Defendant and co-accused alleged to have kept their friend in a house against his will, assaulted him with a hammer and demanded he obtained money from his mother in order to either repay a debt or obtain more drugs. Video link special measures for complainant from remote location. Acquitted. R v NT: Rape allegation made by former partner. Significant disclosure issues from social media relevant to the case. Case prosecuted by Queen’s Counsel. Acquitted. Not a case in Penge, not a bungalow and not a murder but Philip’s first case where he can claim he acted “alone and without a leader”. R v AA: One of five defendants accused of conspiracy to rob. Acquitted. R v HW:16 year old accused of raping a 15 year old. Significant disclosure issues from social media and phones relevant to the case. Acquitted after successful submission of no case to answer. Philip also has significant experience of dealing with fatal road traffic cases and offences of serious violence at trial. Philip has considerable experience of dealing with sexual offences including stranger rape, acquaintance rape, recent and non-recent child sexual abuse and internet sexual offending. He was part of the team who produced the HMIC/HMCPSI report on the use of ABE interviews in cases of child sexual abuse. Recent cases have caused him to consider the issue of internet vigilantes and write an article on this point for the chambers’ newsletter. He has dealt with cases involving multi-jurisdictional issues involving organised crime groups, drug importation, evasion of revenue and sexual offending. Philip has also advised the police during and after an incident of widespread disorder following a political rally, and prosecuted 32 defendants (split into two indictments) following widespread violence at a football match. Philip is on the CPS list as a Grade 3 prosecutor. He has a particular interest in dealing with cases where mental health issues are involved.  

Ragveer Chand

Ragveer specialises in criminal defence work and his practice includes fraud, drugs, murder, people trafficking and miscarriages of justice. Ragveer is regularly instructed in high profile cases for serious crime. These have included one of the largest pharmaceutical fraud cases in recent times, lasting some eight months; one of the largest international drugs conspiracies involving twenty-one defendants; multiple murder cases, including the alleged murder of a baby girl which resulted in the acquittal of both parents. Ragveer was instructed in one of the longest miscarriages of justice in British history in the case of R. v. Hodgson, where the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal after the defendant had spent twenty-seven years in custody. He was also involved in a number of old convictions on a pro-bono basis. He came to the bar as a mature student having worked in various community groups in inner-city Birmingham. Recent Cases: Iraqi oil for food Programme (Conspiracy to break United Nations sanctions) – This was a case which was reported internationally and was the first ever prosecution brought under the United Nations Act in the United Kingdom. It involved breaching UN sanctions in the sale of oil from Saddam Hussein which was not permitted under the Food for Oil Programme. It was a case that involved multiple jurisdictions and an analysis of government policy during this period. It also involved a careful analysis of the way in which the UN and USA governments were dealing with sanctions busting. It was a hugely complex and serious case with a voluminous paper trail. R v Hodgson – This was the longest miscarriage of justice in British History. After 29 years the Appellant’s conviction for murder was quashed. This case involved DNA evidence and the inadmissibility of the Appellant’s interviews. As a result, I was awarded the honour of being “The Times Lawyer of the Week”. R v W – This was one of the largest ever fraud prosecutions by the SFO. The papers served exceeded 1.1 million documents. It involved the selling of shares on various stock markets. The case involved experts in the field of share trading, forensic accountants and complex issues regarding the sale of shares. It was a multi-million pound fraud that lasted some several months. R v R – This was a murder case involving 9 Defendants. The Defendant I represented was first on the Indictment and after a trial lasting almost 5 months he was found not guilty despite making an alleged confession to an undercover police officer. R. v S – This was a fraud against Virgin Media and involved 5 Defendants. The fraud was the selling of a package that allowed access to Virgin products without purchasing those products with the seller, Virgin Media. It was a case where the issues were serious and complex. The case papers were substantial and the value of the fraud ran into millions. R. v O – This was the largest international money laundering and drugs case involving cartels in Columbia. The case had an international dimension and the case papers were substantial. The Case involved large sums of money exchanging between the UK and other International jurisdictions. R. v D – This was one of the largest frauds of Nike counterfeit goods that resulted in an ITN Documentary broadcasted in 2012. This involved an international organised crime group involved in the large scale wholesale and importation and distribution of sale of counterfeit goods that involved different international jurisdictions. R. v M – This was a multi-handed murder at the Central Criminal Court. The Defendants were young men and were accused of being involved in a murder in a gang related motivated case. It was one of the first cases that involved the use of an expert in Podiatry. R. v N – This was the largest pharmaceutical fraud involving professional pharmacists. It involved the sale and supply of counterfeit drugs across an international market. The value of the fraud ran into millions and the trial lasted in excess of 8 months. The fraud ranged across the North Americas and China and involved niche companies and their directors.

Raj Punia

Prior to joining St Philips Chambers, Raj taught the English legal system and criminal law at a Sixth Form College in Oxford for three years. In 2000, she joined the Crown Prosecution Service where she was a senior crown prosecutor for three years and a Higher Court Advocate for the Crown. Raj has a thriving Criminal prosecution and defence practice in all areas of crime. She is a highly experienced practitioner. She regularly appears in the Crown courts and Court of Appeal. In particular she is regarded as a very persuasive and articulate advocate. She is charming and personable and has excellent communication skills. Raj is a Grade 4 Prosecutor.

Rajinder Gill

Rajinder Gill is an experienced specialist in serious crime and regulatory law who is regularly involved in high profile and complex cases attracting both national and local media coverage. He has been instructed in a wide range of cases including murder, multi million pound frauds and, organised criminal activity. A committed, forceful but measured jury advocate, he is dedicated in his preparation but also prides himself on being friendly and approachable. As well as serious crime and fraud, he has experience in professional discipline matters having represented a number of nurses, social workers and, other professionals before their regulatory bodies. Areas of expertise include cases involving children and vulnerable witnesses, cases involving serious organised crime including cell site and mobile telephone evidence. Rajinder often appears alone against leading and junior prosecution counsel together. Rajinder has returned to the Midlands Circuit having practised in London for over 15 years. He has a national practice appearing frequently in the Midlands and the South East.

Richard Atkins

Head of St Philips Chambers (2020 – 2023), Chair of the Bar of England and Wales in 2019 and Leader of the Midland Circuit from 2014 to 2017, Richard is one of the country’s most eminent regulatory and criminal silks. He has consistently featured at the top of the legal rankings since taking silk in 2011. Richard specialises in serious criminal and regulatory offences concentrating on homicide, health and safety, consumer law, trading standards, licensing, fraud, tax, and sex cases. He defends and prosecutes in equal measure. He is well known for his ability to assimilate amount of detail, and to put it across to the court or tribunal he is appearing before in an effective and easily digestible manner. He appears regularly in the Court of Appeal. Richard was part of the leadership team of the profession for many years. He dealt with senior Government Ministers and officials, and the country’s most Senior Judges. He has had considerable involvement with both the Legal Services Board and the Bar Standards Board dealing with the regulation of the profession. During his year as Chair of the Bar of England and Wales, Richard presented to international gatherings of lawyers across the globe. Richard has regularly lectured to solicitors, barristers, police officers and a variety of professional bodies on a wide range of legal topics and is a much sought after speaker and moderator. He is an advocacy trainer and a vulnerable witness advocacy trainer. Richard sits as a Crown Court Recorder (part-time criminal Judge) and is one of a small number of Judicial College Tutor Judges who train Crown Court Judges. He also sits as a fee-paid (part-time) Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal. Richard is regulated by the Bar Standards Board

Robert Mundy

Rob Mundy has a wide-ranging commercial practice and has particular expertise in contract, company, insolvency and commercial fraud disputes. He tends to be instructed in high-value and complicated litigation, usually as the sole advocate and often against silks. He has been consistently recommended in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Rob is a practising mediator and also sits as a Recorder of the County Court.

Robin Lewis

Robin Lewis is a specialist in financial remedy proceedings and Children Act matters relating to residence and contact. Robin is highly thought of, both for the quality of his advocacy in Court, including in cross examination, and for his ability to give very practical advice at every stage of the proceedings. While Robin always represents his clients very robustly in court, he nevertheless does his best to help his clients resolve matters sensibly whenever possible. Robin takes very seriously his responsibility to give practical, realistic advice, and will always explore with clients ways to resolve issues with a view to minimising cost and conflict. His instructing solicitors describe him as being very approachable, easy to get on with and very skilled at putting his clients at ease.  He is recognised as having a very accessible, common-sense approach.  He has a proven ability to deal with high conflict issues in a calm, professional manner whilst devoting considerable energy to his individual client’s case. His long experience proves extremely useful when giving advice as to likely outcomes. Robin is happy to provide advice in writing and in conference. Robin has represented individuals from an array of different backgrounds, including members of the legal profession, doctors, police officers, business owners, “internet brides” and professional footballers. He has extensive experience of dealing with clients who require an interpreter, and those with extensive and serious criminal convictions.

Sara Lewis

Ranked as a Leading Silk by the Legal 500 UK Bar Guide, Sara Lewis KC is the Silk of choice for cases involving the most serious types of non-accidental injury, such as those involving significant head trauma and death. She also has considerable experience of acting for those with complex psychiatric issues such as FII. Appointed as the Head of St Philips Chambers in 2023, Sara is revered for her meticulous preparation, the quality of her court performance and her robust advocacy when necessary. The Legal 500 2024 describe her as: “extremely thorough”, “always impeccably prepared” and “Her courtroom manner is unfaltering, and cross-examination is bespoke and effective.” Sara is regularly instructed to represent parents and guardians, renowned for her proactive and user-friendly approach, providing plain-speaking and straightforward advice at every stage of a case. Noted by the Legal 500 for being “approachable” and having “an exceptional rapport with clients”, Sara likes to build a productive working relationship with both lay and professional clients. Prior to coming to coming to the Bar, Sara was a neuropsychologist undertaking both clinical and research work and therefore has particular interest and expertise in matters involving complex medical evidence. Regulatory / Inquests Sara is a member of Sports Resolutions’ Panel of Arbitrators – Chairpersons List, where she has been appointed to conduct investigations into safeguarding concerns and to hear appeals against disciplinary decisions made by national sporting bodies. As part of her regulatory and disciplinary practice, Sara was regularly instructed to present cases on behalf of the General Medical Council before The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. Sara has also been instructed to represent interested persons at Inquests, including bereaved families and Health Authorities. She was Assistant Coroner, Manchester-City: 2009-2018

Sara Wyeth

Sara Wyeth is an established barrister specialising in criminal law. Sara is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in the most serious cases, including murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, firearms, sexual offending, and drugs. Sara is particularly skilled at handling cases which involve vulnerable clients. Sara regularly undertakes cases involving serious sexual offences, including allegations of rape and offences against children. Sara prides herself on providing sensible advice in an approachable manner. Sara has also been instructed to undertake disclosure reviews in high profile, complex cases. These include the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry and a multi-million pound film investment fraud. Most recently, Sara acted as independent disclosure counsel in the landmark private prosecution, leading to the first conviction for the offence of ‘Controlling and Coercive Behaviour,’ for withholding a religious Jewish divorce (a ‘Get’). Sara Wyeth is on the CPS Advocates Panel at Level 3. She recently completed a secondment to the Crown Court Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands, during which she was entrusted to undertake high-level charging decisions involving highly complex investigations and dynamic public interest considerations. These included murder, attempted murder, and serious gang violence. Sara has successfully represented clients in the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal. She recently appeared for the Appellant in R v Chalk & Chaplin [2022] EWCA Crim 433, which gives comprehensive guidance on the exercise of s.66 of the Courts Act 2003 following Gould. Sara recently moved to the Midlands, having been a tenant at a leading Legal 500 set in London.

Sarah Buxton

Sarah Buxton has practised family law for her entire career at the bar, and exclusively since 2003. She began her career at 1 Fountain Court, then joined St Philips when chambers merged in 2003. After 3 years away from the Midlands (from 2007 until 2009) she rejoined St Philips in 2010.

Simon Clegg

Simon has extensive experience of a wide range of commercial litigation. His principal practice areas are in commercial, business, banking, company, partnership and property disputes. After developing a practice in Birmingham, Simon spent three years working as a solicitor at what is now known as Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney, Australia conducting high value commercial and insolvency litigation before returning to Birmingham and developing his current practice. Simon regularly advises and acts in matters proceeding in all divisions of the High Court undertaking both interim applications and trials. He has represented parties in a number of arbitrations and mediations. He is also an accredited mediator and has mediated a number of commercial disputes.

Simon Phillips

A criminal law specialist since 1996, Simon Phillips undertook pupillage at Hollis Whiteman Chambers before moving to Birmingham in 1998. A former Royal Marine Officer, Simon has experience of acting for the defence at Courts Martial, but the vast majority of his time is spent prosecuting and defending serious allegations in the Crown Court.  Since 1996 Simon has built up a formidable reputation as a successful barrister who inspires confidence in both his lay and professional clients. Whether it be allegations of complicated financial fraud, armed robbery or rape, Simon has the breadth of experience from the “real world”, knowledge from a Cambridge degree, and ability gained from pure hard work, to provide first-rate representation.  Simon has been a Grade 4 prosecutor since 2008 and a rape specialist prosecutor since the inception of the panel. As such he has been assessed both on paper and in court by the CPS regularly, and as a result constantly receives instructions to prosecute allegations of rape and other serious matters. With particular experience in defending serious sexual allegations, Simon can relate to lay clients both young or old. In the past 10 years he has successfully represented defendants accused of conspiracy to defraud, rape, murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. In partnership with leading counsel, Simon has successfully defended allegations of murder and manslaughter.  

Sofia Ashraf

Barrister at Law

Sophie Garner

Sophie is an experienced specialist in employment and discrimination law whose caseload encompasses the full range of employment and discrimination disputes in the Employment Tribunal, EAT and County or High Court. Her personable manner and tenacity in ‘against the odds’ cases are characteristics that are often commented upon favourably by lay and professional clients. She particularly enjoys claims involving novel points of discrimination law. As well as currently being a specialist employment/discrimination practitioner, Sophie also has commercial and property experience. She lectures regularly both in-house and externally on employment and discrimination law and was called to give evidence on behalf of the Discrimination Law Association in November 2012 to the select committee on Women in the Workplace. Through her extensive experience of voluntary work as a charity trustee/director, Sophie has gained a wide knowledge and understanding of corporate and organisational operations and qualified as a company secretary (ACIS) in 2002. She was nominated as one of the Attorney General’s ‘Pro-Bono Heroes’ for 2009.

Stefan Kolodynski

Stefan is an experienced practitioner whose core areas are property and serious crime. He originally trained as a chartered surveyor before qualifying as a barrister. Regularly appearing in both jurisdictions affords him considerable experience in cross-examination, particularly of expert witnesses.

Tom Walkling

With a specialist criminal practice, Tom has experience and expertise in all areas of crime with an emphasis on homicide, firearms and organised crime. He comes recommended as an accomplished, talented and heavyweight trial advocate, and is also known for the quality of his written work and his attention to detail. He is often praised for his approachability and his ability to put clients at ease. Tom is regularly instructed as leading junior in cases of homicide, large-scale drug trafficking and serious organised crime.

Victoria Edmonds

Since completing her pupillage in 2005 Victoria has specialised in family law. Victoria is known for her meticulous preparation and ability to put clients at ease, showing empathy for the issues of importance to them, no matter how small. Victoria deals with a variety of cases, from modest cases with limited assets to complex cases involving substantial assets, partnerships, corporate assets and land and property in foreign jurisdictions. Victoria understands the importance to the client of the outcome of the case regardless of the amount at stake. Her clients include business people and entrepreneurs, members of the legal profession, members of the medical profession, as well as accountants and financiers. She has represented clients through the Official Solicitor, clients with significant learning difficulties, disabilities, and those with different cultural backgrounds. Whilst recognising the benefits of negotiation and compromise Victoria is a determined and forthright advocate who is always willing and prepared to fight for the client. Victoria accepts instructions on behalf of husbands, wives and interveners, intervening in cases on behalf of companies and family members. Victoria also sits as a Judge in Private FDR hearings.

William Horwood

William undertook pupillage in chambers in 2016/17, and joined chambers on completion of pupillage in 2017. His practice encompasses the following areas of law: Family Law (public law care cases, acting for Guardians appointed in private law children cases, ancillary relief and trusts of land cases) Abuse and neglect (claims against public authorities and private institutions in relation to abuse or neglect suffered whilst in the care of those authorities/institutions) William undertakes a significant amount of work on a pro bono basis, and was recognised for his contribution in helping to secure access to justice for those who cannot afford legal representation and are not eligible for public funding by being awarded the Birmingham Law Society Pro Bono Award in March 2023.  

William Baker

William Baker specialises in Family Law Children Proceedings. He acts for parents, children through their guardians and Local Authorities in both public and private law cases in the High Court and County Courts. William is a popular barrister of choice in cases involving complex cases in family law children cases and the Court of Protection. He appears routinely in the High Court and County Court. He is experienced in appearing in the Court of Appeal. With his reassuring and calm manner, William is well suited to the sensitive issues involved in the cases and dealing with vulnerable clients. His thorough and inquisitorial approach is well matched for factually complicated cases.

Yolanda Pemberton

Yolanda specialises in all aspects of child law with an extensive background in all aspects of public law, private law children work, Forced Marriage (including FGM), Brussels II, Wardship and Inherent Jurisdiction. Yolanda has an extensive background and experience of representing local authorities, parents and children in public law cases involving serious injuries to children, FII, fractures, bruising, attempted suffocation, sexual abuse (including subject child as victim and perpetrator), complex medical issues, mental health, including parents who require the assistance of the Official solicitor (acting for both parents via the Official Solicitor) and child death. In addition, Yolanda has experience of representing both parents and local authorities in adoption proceedings. In private law children work this includes representing parents, grandparents, children and all other family members in cases involving child arrangements orders including high conflict and intractable disputes (including involving 16.4 appointments), applications to remove children from the jurisdiction, applications to relocate children within the jurisdiction, specific issues relating to education, medical and religion, issues of mental health, fact-finding hearings and domestic abuse within families. Yolanda is known for her meticulous preparation of all of her cases, being able to quickly and expertly get to the core of any dispute and known to be uncompromising in her approach for any client, ensuring they receive the best and most robust representation. Yolanda excels with vulnerable clients in complex cases. Yolanda has experience before all levels of judiciary including the Court of Appeal.

Zaheer Afzal

Zaheer has a strong and established criminal and regulatory practice. He operates predominately on the Midlands circuit but is also regularly instructed on cases in London and on the Northern circuit. Zaheer has extensive trial advocacy experience. He is regularly instructed in serious and complex cases. He has had numerous successes in cases including offences of murder, manslaughter, fraud and POCA, regulatory and serious organised crime. Zaheer is a patient and compassionate barrister with a reputation for strong advocacy, fighting fearlessly on behalf of his clients. Zaheer provides a highly professional and seamless service for his clients. Zaheer is committed to creating a strong working relationship with clients seeking to obtain the best outcome for their case.