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Asa is a specialist chancery/commercial practitioner and one of the founder members of 23ES Commercial, joining from St James’s Chambers in July 2015. He undertakes work in all aspects of those fields, but with particular specialism in the areas of banking, company, defamation, insolvency, landlord and tenant, probate, professional negligence, real property, trusts and general commercial litigation.
Barry has a vast 23 years experience of Criminal Law, procedure and advocacy. Prior to Joining 23 Essex Street, he was employed as in-house Counsel for a leading national firm attending courts around the Country on a daily basis. Before qualifying he practised as a Senior Crown Court Caseworker and Head of Crown Court and Police Station departments for Solicitors firms and to this day remains an Accredited Police Station Advisor occasionally representing suspects. His practise has been built up on his ability to communicate with clients from all walks of life, a skill he has learnt from hours in police stations and having his own clients to work with and to build a report with. He has an ability to juggle numerous issues and cases and can rapidly decipher that which is relevant. Barry is an all- round advocate with impressive skills that are widely demonstrated to his lay clients. His meticulous preparation, enthusiasm and fiery stubbornness in the interests of his client are highly regarded. He is well known and respected throughout the profession and has built up a vast network of contacts over the years from experts to other legal professionals. Defending at the highest level of practice he has represented clients across the entire range of criminal cases . Barry differs from many in that he has dedicated his life to the legal profession, having represented his first murder suspect when he was 17 years old. HIs professional empathy and patience in handling clients with diverse vulnerabilities is well known. As a good, solid all-rounder he has been instructed on a wide range of criminal, regulatory and other tribunal based litigation over the years. Barry also holds a personal interest in International Criminal Law and will be developing this practise area.
Bob Sastry is a very experienced practitioner who was called to the bar in 1996. He specialises in heavyweight Crime and Professional Discipline proceedings. His criminal practice involves all aspects of serious violence, drugs and firearms offences, sexual offences and fraud and other dishonesty offences. He has defended in serious drugs conspiracies including two recent matters involving encrypted telephones. Bob is renowned for his meticulous preparation and calm persona. In 2018, he was involved in the longest ever criminal trial at Liverpool Crown Court, defending as junior counsel in a multi-million pound fraud trial. In 2020 this became the leading criminal case relating to the test for dishonesty (Regina v Barton and others [2020] EWCA Crim 575). His Professional Discipline and Regulatory practice involves frequent appearances at the MPTS acting on behalf of the General Medical Council and also defending in regulatory matters in the Crown Court. A number of his cases have attracted national media coverage. Bob also provides advice in relation to other regulators such as the SRA and IPReg, and has also appeared on behalf of the GOC and the GDC. Bob is a member of the 23 ES Inquests and Inquiries team.
Brad has a broad-ranging commercial litigation and arbitration practice, covering diverse areas including contract, unjust enrichment, insolvency, company and partnership, sale of goods, insurance, professional negligence and privacy. The majority of Brad’s work is in the Business and Property Courts of the High Court and he has appeared with success in the Court of Appeal a number of times, including most recently in the important contract/unjust enrichment case of Barton v Gwyn-Jones (2019) EWCA Civ 199 and, prior to that, in Gahan v Emirates [2018] 1 W.L.R. 2287, a test case concerning the interpretation of EC Regulation 261/2004, the Montreal Convention and questions of extraterritoriality in international law. He also drafted the submissions to the Supreme Court in response to Emirates’ unsuccessful application for permission to appeal. Brad has recently completed an LLM in International Corporate and Commercial Law at King's College London, graduating in 2019. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in October 2019. In addition to the above areas, Brad practises in sports law where, in addition to acting as advocate and adviser, he sits as arbitrator and disciplinary panel member for organisations including the Football Association and Sport Resolutions.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Brian Williams worked in the commercial and financial sector including two years with a large firm of commercial solicitors dealing with insolvency and commercial disputes. After starting at the Bar with a mixed practice, he soon gravitated towards criminal work and for the last 25 years his main practice has been in criminal advocacy. He has extensive experience in dealing with criminal cases of every type for both defence and prosecution. He has been instructed in many cases involving historic sexual abuse, large scale drugs conspiracies and homicide. Recent examples of his work include prosecuting a solicitor for fraud, prosecuting a pharmacy dispenser for supplying drugs which contributed to a young boy’s death, defending in an historic sexual abuse cases in which two brothers abused their younger step sister over a number of years defending in a multi handed gangland firearms conspiracy and defending in a multi handed people trafficking conspiracy. Although regularly instructed in the most serious cases he maintains the ethos that no matter what the circumstances are, every case is important to his client and is deserving of the best representation He has been described as a thorough and persuasive jury advocate with a good manner with clients of all types. Outside work his time is taken up by his family and his interests in music and outdoor activities.
Charles Machin has over 40 years’ experience in the fields of Chancery and Commercial litigation, advisory and drafting work as a meticulous and skilful all-round advocate in those fields. He has practised since 1974 from Manchester chambers in Chancery & Commercial law and litigation. He is noted for his perceptive and robust cross-examination and persuasive advocacy, and has appeared in several important, leading and reported cases.
'She has a cost-effective and commercial approach’. Legal 500, 2015 : Commercial, banking and insolvency Claire’s practice includes company and shareholder disputes, freezing injunctions, professional negligence, sale of goods, consumer credit, restitution, defamation and soft intellectual property. She is frequently retained in high value contractual litigation, recent examples of which include a tri-party High Court dispute over title to goods with a damages claim in excess of £2 million, and a claim for commissions in excess of £1 million arising out of the selling of packaged financial products. Claire often acts for banks and well known finance providers in a wide range of disputes. She recently represented an international bank in a successful appeal against a decision concerning the recoverability of “claw back’ commissions. Claire’s practice includes a traditional Chancery element, and she regularly advises and acts in cases involving boundary disputes, easements, covenants, resulting and constructive trusts, landlord and tenant and contentious probate. Claire has appeared in the Ecclesiastical Court and the Lands Tribunal and she has been retained in high profile inquests. Claire has a particular interest in insolvency, and regularly appears in the High Court in relation to wide range of insolvency related matters. Having studied Conflict of Laws as part of her Bachelor of Civil Law degree, Claire has maintained her interest in Private International Law in practice, and frequently advises in cases that have a cross border element. Claire has significant experience in the regulatory field. She often represents a well-known regulatory body, and has advised and acted in relation to enforcement of industry regulations, both by the regulator and by consumers. She has also, in her capacity as Counsel for the regulator, had conduct of a number of judicial review matters and recently successfully appeared before the Head of the Commercial Court in a case involving the determination of whether or not the regulator owed a consumer a duty of care. Claire particularly enjoys conducting cases with a commercial fraud element, recent cases including a 7 day trial involving a complex insurance ring fraud and a matter involving a sophisticated cross border property investment scam. Claire has a rapidly developing practice in Sports Law. Recent cases include advising an international athlete in relation to her prospects of successfully appealing a doping ban, and advising a Premiership footballer as to the construction of an ‘exit clause’ in his contract with the club.
Daniel has experience in all areas of criminal law. He is a fearless advocate, who tirelessly prepares and applies sound judgment. He has acted in cases involving murder, rape, organised crime, serious violence, armed robbery, and serious fraud. Daniel is regularly led in complex matters and has gained experience in managing paper heavy cases. He is confident with sensitive and challenging issues. Daniel has been instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority and has gained experience in financial regulation. He has also completed a secondment with the office of fair trading gaining experience in competition law and consumer regulation. Daniel gained experience in regulatory compliance while instructed in a Jersey Financial Services Commission investigation involving anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
Edmund Potts joined chambers as a tenant in May 2023 following the successful completion of his pupillage. Edmund is a criminal advocate regularly instructed to defend clients across the country, charged with a range of offences. In addition, Edmund appears in professional disciplinary matters before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Prior to the Bar, Edmund worked in criminal defence, and spent a year at the Criminal Cases Review Commission working on high-profile miscarriage of justice cases.
Hugh McKee is a senior criminal practitioner with a heavyweight caseload. For many years he has been instructed in all areas of crime, including; sexual offences, violence, serious fraud/confiscation, drugs, road traffic, health and safety, trading standards and police discipline. Hugh has defended in a number of high-profile cases involving allegations of violence and in recent years has been involved in a number of lengthy and complex fraud trials with the Legal 500 noting him as having ‘wide fraud experience’. Hugh has also prosecuted and defended in a number of health and safety related cases primarily where a death has occurred. Regulatory work has included environmental cases, food-hygiene and acting as a legal assessor for the GMC. Hugh has accumulated a wealth of experience in all aspects of criminal law. He appears alone, leads and is led both for the prosecution and defence.
Imran Khan has developed a fast expanding criminal practice. He has swiftly established a reputation as an effective and persuasive advocate, with an eloquent court demeanour paired with a meticulous approach to case preparation and an engaging client manner. Imran’s previous experience within the legal sector has ensured he is able to adopt a clear and robust approach in court and deal with complex legal matters whilst maintaining an exceptional service and achieving the best possible result for his client. Imran accepts instructions in all matters relating to crime
Jonathan has a wide and varied chancery and commercial practice split evenly between contentious and advisory/drafting work. Following a traditional chancery pupillage he has acquired a reputation for dealing with significant matters relating to wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, court of protection and family provision, and regularly gives seminars on connected topics. He practises extensively in all aspects of property law, from matters as diverse as commercial landlord and tenant, neighbour disputes, claims for legal and beneficial interests, to agricultural partnerships, building disputes and statutory compensation. Jonathan has undertaken a significant number of claims against solicitors for professional negligence in connection with conveyancing transactions, the conduct of litigation and will preparation/execution.
Richard is a litigator whose practice encompasses both traditional Chancery matters, as well as more general commercial disputes. His Chancery practice covers disputes about rights of way and other easements, boundary disputes, and restrictive covenants. He also deals with professional negligence claims arising out of conveyancing. He also frequently advises and appears on claims under the Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependants) Act 1925 in addition to probate claims, and claims to remove executors. The field of landlord and tenant, both commercial and residential, is of particular interest to him. He regularly advises commercial clients in the field of dilapidations claims. His commercial practice includes disputes arising from the sale of goods and out of construction contracts. He often appears in the Technology and Construction Court. He regularly appears in the High Court as well as County Courts throughout the NorthWest.
Sarah Thorne has been in practice for over 25 years. Over the last decade she has been employed in-house exclusively defending. She is in the process of applying for CPS grading. She has built up an excellent reputation in Sussex as counsel who is always well prepared and able to efficiently and expeditiously conduct cases at the highest level. Sarah routinely deals with cases of the utmost seriousness. Sarah is well known as counsel who is excellent at sensitively handling clients and witnesses in cases involving allegations of sexual assault and rape. She has many years of experience in questioning child and vulnerable witnesses and has dealt with s.28 cases. She has conducted a number of murder trials as a junior, the most recent of which involved dealing with one of the largest phone downloads seen by either the OIC or the trial judge. Sarah is regularly instructed in complex drugs cases and the resulting POCA disposals and has recent experience dealing with Civil Asset Freezing Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Sarah has been described by a senior Judge as: ‘a highly practical and effective advocate’ as well as ‘energetic and forceful, perfectly capable of dealing with the most truculent of clients’ and able to ‘cross-examine with both subtlety and vigour’. Sarah is not afraid of giving straight advice where necessary but will passionately fight for her client without fear. Another senior Judge has commented that Sarah is: ‘always well prepared and clearly has a great rapport with clients and opponents alike. She is able to assist on procedural issues and makes realistic and persuasive arguments. Sarah comes across as hardworking and a team player’. Sarah is very proficient in dealing with the technology necessary for a successful practice in the 21st century. She is fully computer literate and able to quickly learn the necessary skills to deal with new technological developments as they arise.
Highly regarded, experienced, meticulous and incisive, he is instructed on behalf of the CPS (Grade 3), and the Defence, in criminal cases of considerable gravity and complexity, providing a first-rate service to his professional and lay clients. Noted for his careful and comprehensive case preparation, sound judgment, and skilful advocacy, he has built a busy and successful practice at the criminal bar. He has represented clients in cases across the entire range of criminal offences, including grave offences of violence, rape and other sexual offences, riot and other public order offences, large scale drugs importation and supply offences, conspiracies to kidnap, armed robberies, firearms offences, money laundering offences, and serious fraud.
"A great advocate, concise and thorough in all his work."Legal 500, 2020 Commercial, Banking, Insolvency and Chancery Law"Experienced in shareholder disputes."Legal 500, 2019 Commercial, Banking, Insolvency and Chancery LawTom's practice encompasses all areas of commercial and chancery litigation before the Business and Property Courts of the High Court including; - Company litigation- Shareholder and partnership disputes- Commercial contract disputes- Banking and finance- Real property- Wills, Trust and Probate. He has an in-depth understanding and particular exoperience of shareholder disputes and unfair prejudice petitions under s.994 Companies Act 2006. Tom has a wealth of experience in advising and acting in contentious probate and trusts matters. This includes challenges to the validity of wills, Inheritance Act claims, the removal of trustees/personal representatives and asset recovery. He frequently acts in estates and trusts valued at £1m+ and has been instructed in high-value estate matters exceeding £5m. He has a particular interest in estates and trusts involving companies and partnerships. Tom is an expert in ratings law and practice. He is instructed exclusively on behalf of numerous billing authorities across England and Wales in respect of rating matters before the Magistrates Courts, High Court, First- tier Tribunal and VTE, including National Non-Domestic Rates, Council Tax, Local Government Finance and related property and insolvency matters. In addition, Tom has vast experience of employment law. He is regularly instructed to advise and represent parties before the Employment Tribunal and High Court, in respect of matters concerning contracts and pay, restrictive covenants, dismissal, redundancy, discrmination and TUPE.