9BR Chambers

9BR Chambers is widely respected as one of the leading sets specialising in all aspects of criminal law. Whilst it is a progressive and proactive set it still retains its traditional core values. At the heart of its business is the commitment to providing a professional, approachable and result-driven service to our clients.  In its drive towards digital working Chambers uses modern technology and traditional knowledge based resources to provide the best possible support to members of chambers and clients.

Work undertaken

Crime: This continues to be 9BR Chambers core practice area covering offences ranging from murder to burglary. Chambers has a well-respected group of practitioners with extensive experience of prosecuting and defending murder, manslaughter, terrorism, firearms, fraud, drug trafficking, cybercrime, modern slavery, knife crime and sexual offences. In serious crimes, we focus particularly on active case management and team leadership. When prosecuting, we provide a full case preparation service, aiming for a robust, efficient and effective trial. Defending, we can advise solicitors on case preparation and management at an early stage – on occasion before charge. Chambers has specialised youth and sexual offences teams who are fully trained in dealing with children and vulnerable witnesses whether victims, witnesses or defendants. We have direct access to leading experts in forensics – in areas such as DNA, blood spattering, fingerprints, fibres, handwriting, ballistics, voice and facial analysis, and mobile telephony.

Disciplinary/Regulatory: Members have substantial experience of acting both for regulators and regulated professionals in fitness to practise and disciplinary proceedings. Their practice encompasses proceedings across a range of sectors including healthcare, accountancy, financial services, police, education and architecture.

Members practise in sports law including sitting on panels, advising on anti-corruption, safeguarding and ethics and appearing at disciplinary proceedings.  Their experience includes matters related to the British Horse Racing Association, England Boxing, the Football Association, the Rugby Football Union, the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation and Sports Resolution.

Dispute Resolution: Chambers has a small team of experienced commercial litigation barristers, with a range of expertise across a broad range of areas including civil fraud and asset tracing, company law, contractual disputes and insolvency cases. We regularly appear in commercial cases in the Business and Property Court, Commercial Court, Insolvency and Companies Court as well as the Central London County Court and local County Courts. We have extensive experience working closely with solicitors, accountants and other professional advisors and pride ourselves on our collaborative and accessible approach. Some of our members are licensed to litigate.

Extradition & Interpol: 9BR Chambers is a leading extradition set with a distinct international profile.

Team members assist requested persons and requesting states at every stage of extradition proceedings, from pre-arrest advice to appellate proceedings at all levels. The team combines dependable service in core European cases with a global outlook which has seen members work in complex, high-profile cases from across the world. Our client focus and depth of experience also enables us to assist in niche areas lying outside core extradition practice.

Comprehensive extradition service – Team members offer high standards of litigation and client care in cases before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the main first instance extradition court, where all members are well known and well regarded. We draw on trusted international networks to obtain evidence and help clients achieve pragmatic outcomes such as sentence transfer to the UK or alternative measures which spare them the ordeal of extradition. Members provide strategic ability, build strong cases and pursue them in appeals and even international forums, acting in cases which develop the law such as FK v Germany, Enasoaie v Romania, Szatkowski v Poland or Balaz v Slovakia (High Court); Konecny v Czech Republic (Supreme Court); and Case C-648/20 PPU PI (Court of Justice of the EU).

European and international outlook – All members undertake regular work in core European cases. Team members provided some of the most visible analysis during the transition from European arrest warrant to the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and are regularly instructed in complex matters for both requesting states and individuals. However, the team, as part of 9 BR’s international group, also boasts a truly “global” extradition practice. Members have been instructed by the Governments of, among others, Armenia, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Switzerland and the USA, and by requested persons in Interpol or extradition cases from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Egypt, Malaysia, India and many more. These include sensitive and high-profile cases involving political figures, which often see counsel acting as part of international teams working in different forums.

Thinking outside the extradition box – 9 BR’s team recognises that client needs extend beyond the boundaries of routine extradition proceedings. Members draw on tested experience in less common areas where advice is at a premium, such as pre-emptive challenges to INTERPOL red notices; the nexus of extradition and deportation; and “import” extradition to the United Kingdom. We are also able to assist solicitors and lay clients by working with foreign lawyers to pursue cases in and against requesting states themselves, e.g. proportionality submissions leading to the withdrawal of an arrest warrant in Gibraltar and an ongoing challenge to a breach of the specialty after extradition in a major Spanish case.

INTERPOL, sanctions and international human rights litigation – The team’s broad outlook means members can also assist international clients in other areas, even if they present no connection to UK extradition proceedings. We offer the valuable commodity of genuine, acquired experience in the now well publicised area of INTERPOL red notices. We also accept instructions (either alone or as part of international legal teams) to assist clients with international actions such as challenging EU or UN sanctions; providing human rights arguments for use in foreign litigation; and applications to the European Court of Human Rights or UN human rights bodies, e.g. in relation to asset seizures, fair trial rights or arbitrary detention. In some cases, this work can be undertaken for individuals on a public access basis.

The core team is composed of Ben Joyes, Stefan Hyman, Jonathan Swain, Stuart Allen, Alex Tinsley and Josh Kern, who together account for all of the work described above. The team writes exclusively for Crime Line’s Extradition Hub and has lectured and published widely on the subject of extradition. The clerks’ room understands this sector and is at your disposal.

Financial & Corporate Law: Global initiatives against bribery and corruption have brought additional complexity to business – with organisations affected by legislation not just in their home countries, but also in local markets around the world. A number of Chambers’ barristers have worked in specialist prosecuting authorities such as the SFO and FCA, while others have worked for HNW individuals and heads of state. Members are experienced in POCA, restraint and confiscation hearings and have advised on Unexplained Wealth Orders. We have direct access to Forensic accountants when required.

Firearms: Chambers has an outstanding reputation in the areas of firearms licensing and gun control, hunting and conservancy. Members advise and represent individuals and organisations in this field and are regularly instructed in criminal cases that involve forensic analysis of firearms.

Immigration:  Chambers accepts instructions in matters before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and High Court, including appeals, error of law hearings, emergency injunctions, substantive judicial review matters and unlawful detention. Members of Chambers also cover a range of delicate asylum cases involving unaccompanied minors, sexual orientation claims, human trafficking and religious persecution.

International: Members, including the Head of Chambers, Steven Kay KC, have appeared in some of the highest-profile cases heard in international courts and our experience and reputation guarantees access to a broad network of legal experts across Europe and beyond. Chambers has expertise in international and domestic human rights law, international crisis management, and cross-border complex financial crime, including bribery and corruption law. In 2020 Chambers set up the UK Bribery Act International Advisory Service.

Investigations: Members of this team have experience of both International and Domestic Investigations. The team specialises in investigating and advising both individuals and corporates on all aspects of criminal and regulatory law but with particular experience in fraud, money laundering, bribery & corruption, cartel offences, facilitation of tax evasion, insider dealing and market abuse.

Members investigate and advise on corporate crime. These issues often surface following internal audits, or a whistle-blower (including financial journalists) coming forward.

Some members have experience of high level employment investigations and some conduct serious private criminal investigations such as suspected murder/manslaughter.

Licensing: This has always been an important practice area within Chambers, because of the overlapping expertise gained from criminal and regulatory law. We have developed a specialist expertise in firearms licensing and legislation with Peter Glenser KC being recognised an leader in the area.

Mediation: Counsel can be instructed to act as a mediator in civil and commercial disputes, community mediations, workplace mediations and in pre/post conflict situations.

Military: Chambers has an outstanding reputation in the area. Chambers has a number of members who are ex- military and take pride in providing high quality advice and presentation to military personnel and their families. Members have appeared in many Court Martial hearings in England and abroad and represented interested parties at Inquests.

Private Prosecution: Barristers practising in this area are members of the Private Prosecutors Association, are widely respected and experienced in this rapidly developing area of law, and are able to offer a comprehensive service.

Public Access: Many members accept instructions direct from the public under the Bar Council Public Access Scheme. Members are able to provide this service over a diverse legal spectrum, from Chancery and Commercial Court actions to private prosecutions and motoring offences. Some members are also licensed to conduct litigation.

Driving: Members are specialists in the field of road traffic defence. We advise and represent clients in a wide range of driving related cases, from causing death or injury by dangerous driving to speeding.