23 Essex Street > Manchester, England > Set Profile
23 Essex Street Offices
23 Essex Street
Waterhouse, 2nd Floor, 41 Spring Gardens
Manchester
M2 2BG
England
23 Essex Street > The Legal 500 Rankings
South Eastern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 2
The barristers at 23ES are well-known for representing clients in the full range of serious criminal offences, from multi-handed murder, gangland killings and rapes to money laundering and fraud. Eloise Marshall KC defended a man in a four-defendant murder trial stemming from a gangland shooting, while Kate Lumsdon KC defended a teenager accused of killing a vulnerable adult in his home. James Bloomer represented a defendant accused of a bomb hoax and possessing an imitation firearm in a bank.2022 Silks
London Bar > Crime Tier 3
23ES is ‘a very well established and highly respected set’ with a ‘breadth of talent‘. Prior to her December 2023 appointment to the Circuit Bench in November 2023, Allison Hunter prosecuted a thirteen-defendant drug conspiracy involving 1000kg of cocaine in a case featuring Encrochat evidence. Elisabeth Acker prosecuted alone in a case in which the defendant was convicted for importing and selling endangered species, specifically jewellery containing elephant parts, contrary to CITES – the matter involved arguments on the adequacy of expert opinion, the appropriate method of scientific testing, the admissibility of evidence obtained from abroad, and on the statutory interpretation. James Bloomer was instructed for the defence in the case of a young man of previous good character accused of a bomb hoax and possession of an imitation firearm following a bungled attempt at a bank robbery – the case turns on the psychiatric evidence, assessing whether he was in the grip of a psychotic episode at the relevant time as well as the admissibility of a quasi-confession given during interview.Leading Silks
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks’ room is a happy and industrious place. The clerks work brillantly as a team, led by the example of Wayne King and Adam Chapman. Jo Wheeler is supremely calm, confident and good humoured. Michael Barrett grows in confidence every day, is courteous and efficient. Jon Page runs an efficient and hardworking team.’
‘Adam Chapman is simply brilliant. He really goes the extra mile when needed.’
‘Adam Chapman remains outstanding and a pleasure to work with. The rest of the clerking team have a fine role model in Adam.’
’23 Essex Street have a breath of talent.’
’23 Essex Street is a very well established and highly respected set. They have real strength in depth.’
’23ES is a really good set and perhaps doesn’t get the recognition they deserve when compared with some of the other leading sets. Their middle-junior end are particularly good and offer good consistency of quality.’
’23ES clearly has a wealth of experienced barristers in crime, especially silks. It is refreshing to see so many female silks in one set.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Fraud: crime Tier 3
23ES has several strong silks that regularly defend and prosecute in big fraud and money laundering cases. Cairns Nelson KC stands out as an experienced financial crime specialist whose ‘light touch with witnesses makes for effective cross-examination'. Tom Godfrey  is active in high-profile cases of alleged VAT fraud, with other members of chambers having experience in matters prosecuted by trading standards authorities and alleged Ponzi schemes.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Wayne King is enthusiastic, hard working and popular both within chambers and with clients and other clerks.’
‘Adam Chapman is excellent; efficient, courteous and he leads the rest of the room by example.’
‘Liam Kitcher goes out of his way to assist and is friendly and easy going.’
‘Jo Wheeler is supremely calm, confident and good humoured.’
‘The Clerks’ Room is a happy and industrious place. The clerks work brilliantly as a team, led by the example of Wayne and Adam.’
‘Adam Chapman is at the very top of his game.’Â
‘The clerks room works hard to provide an excellent service to solicitors and clients. They are excellent at gauging the needs of clients and finding the right practitioner for the case.’Â
Work highlights
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 3
23ES‘ members are well versed in representing clients from the financial services, healthcare, sports and legal sectors. Paul Ozin KC heads up the regulatory and disciplinary team in chambers, and has a solid track record in representing professionals and regulators in a range of complex matters. Turning to the juniors, Rebecca Vanstone acted on behalf of the GDC in prosecuting a registrant facing multiple allegations of clinical misconduct; the registrant received a 12-month suspension.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Wayne King and Adam Chapman are exceptional clerks offering a top-level service.‘
‘Wayne King is a star who will always go the extra mile for the solicitors he works with.‘
‘Adam Chapman is excellent. The clarity, service and responsiveness provided is of the highest standard, and he is always willing to go the extra mile to provide a top-class service.‘
‘Daniel Randall is always responsive, accommodating, and will assist whenever he can.‘
‘Excellent clerks who are always professional and accommodating.‘
‘A well-rounded set.‘
‘Good set with strength in depth.’
‘Excellent set with good availability.‘
Northern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud) Tier 3
23 Essex Street is praised as ‘a great set with strength in depth and a go-to set for crime’, and its members prosecute and defend on significant cases, including those involving serious sexual offences and murder. Hugh McKee has strengths in cases regarding road traffic, as well as conspiracies to rob and to supply drugs. Of recent note, McKee prosecuted in the case of Operation Porcupine, a conspiracy to supply class A drugs from Liverpool to Blackpool. The set is also home to Daniel Lister, who has a well-established criminal practice, and he defended in a case concerning alleged attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Bob Sastry appears in complex cases, including large-scale drug cases.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Sean Hulston and Kevin Ambridge are exceptional clerks. If you contact them you can be assured that they will take all of the stress away from you having to find an advocate to deal with a case, as they will arrange cover for the case.’
‘Wayne King is excellent, as is Adam Chapman.’
‘Wayne King and Adam Chapman are first class. Always available and willing to go the extra mile for you.’
‘There is a depth of experience and professionalism within the clerks’ room at 23 Essex Street, with Chambers Director, Wayne King, being note-worthy.’
‘They have very good communication between chambers, solicitors, clients, experts, and other parties.’
’23 Essex Street has a number of very good advocates and offers strength in depth. It also has a number of junior advocates who are very quickly proving themselves to be very competent.’
’23 Essex Street is an excellent set with a good range of counsel.’
‘A great set with strength in depth and a go-to set for crime.’
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
Northern Circuit > Property and construction
2024 Silks
Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation
2024 Silks
Leading Juniors
Northern Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
Leading Juniors
Northern Circuit > Company and insolvency
Leading Juniors
Midland Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
Midland Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
23 Essex Street > Set Profile
23ES is a modern, innovative, approachable set of barristers, with a leading reputation in crime, fraud, a range of regulatory and disciplinary matters and more recently commercial law. Kate Lumsdon KC and Eloise Marshall KC were elected as joint head of chambers in November 2021. Under their collective stewardship chambers has continued to grow and is a national criminal set in London and Manchester.
The set: Chambers has a genuine commitment to teamwork, supported by both its formal training programme and its inherent culture, which ensures important recent experience is shared across chambers. This experience is broad, with members of chambers undertaking the entire range of mainstream criminal law, as well as associated regulatory and civil work. Within this, chambers has set up a number of specialist teams, offering a strong portfolio of barristers who are effective at all levels, to harness and develop expertise in certain niche practice areas.
Members regularly appear in high-profile cases in all levels of court in England and Wales as well as other jurisdictions, including the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Chambers is supported by a motivated clerking team that are committed to delivering a first-class service to clients and members alike.
Types of work undertaken: Chambers deals with crime, financial and corporate crime, regulatory and professional discipline work, Inquests and Inquiries, civil and commercial work. Specialist areas include corporate and financial regulatory, healthcare discipline, police discipline, environmental crime, IP crime and trading standards. Chambers also undertakes court martial, prison law, property law, sports law and direct access work. Chambers also has a strong track record in international work with members appearing in human rights cases involving genocide, war crimes, and international terrorism.
Crime: 23ES is one of the largest and strongest sets of criminal barristers in England and Wales. Chambers currently has over 117 barristers. The size and national presence of chambers enables it to offer a genuine depth and expertise across the full spectrum of criminal law. Chambers not only defends at the highest level, but is also instructed by all of the major prosecuting agencies including the Serious Fraud Office, FCA, Organised Crime Division, the Complex Casework Units and BEIS, on a national level. The general crime team also have a particular expertise in sexual offences involving vulnerable witnesses, and county-lines drug offences.
Financial and corporate crime: 23ES continues to enjoy a superb reputation in this field, with talented and sought after members prosecuting and defending in many serious and notable fraud cases both in the UK and other common law jurisdictions. Chambers has significant and growing experience in advisory and investigation work in fraud related HMRC tribunal work. Alongside the financial crime practice, runs the civil fraud team comprising commercial law specialists with expertise in civil consequences of fraud such as insolvency. Many of the juniors undertake secondments at the key financial regulators, including the FCA, HMRC and SFO, enhancing chambers knowledge and experience.
Professional regulatory and discipline: Chambers continues to present the most serious of cases on behalf of various regulators, including appellate and public law work. These include healthcare regulators (GMC, GDC, GCC, GOC, NMC, RCN, SRA, HCPC), financial regulators (notably ACCA and CIPFA), police work and niche work regulators, including the British Psychoanalytical Council and the Forensic Science Regulator.
Chambers services cross-over criminal/regulatory work from BEIS, FCA, Environmental, Trading Standards and CMA. There is strength across call bands, including the junior members of chambers have a depth of experience beyond their call built on secondment posts with the regulators.
Commercial: The team offers barristers of differing seniorities and styles, with specialisms ranging from traditional chancery areas such as trusts, wills, probate and real property, company law, partnership, Inheritance Act claims, charities and taxation to general commercial litigation, sale of goods and professional negligence. It also has considerable expertise in corporate and personal insolvency.
Additionally, a number of members of the team have significant experience in banking and finance matters, acting for a number of large lenders as well as borrowers on areas ranging from securities to the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Education and training: Members of chambers are involved in all stages of education and training at the Bar. Chambers is proud to have provided several chairmen of the Criminal Bar Association as well as a leader of the South Eastern Circuit and many members of the committees of these and other organisations; thereby contributing to the sustainability and growth of the bar. Paul Ozin KC co-authors a leading practitioners text on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and was co-ordinating editor of 23 Essex Streets Financial Crime Update in Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law. The general editor of Archbold and Criminal Law Week, James Richardson KC, remains a door tenant having practised from chambers and members regularly contribute to a range of legal periodicals. 23 Essex Street is a recognised leader in the field of legal training, running its own continuing education seminars and a well renowned pupillage training programme. Chambers commitment to education and training is ongoing.
Tenancy: Applications should be addressed to the director of tenancy, Alan Gardner KC. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please see the website for further details.
Pupillage: Applications are advertised on the website – www.23es.com
Mini-pupillage: A limited number are available.
Correspondence regarding mini-pupillages should be made via the email address [email protected].
London:Â Â 1 Grays Inn Square, London, WC1R 5AA
Manchester:Â Waterhouse, 2nd Floor, 41 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BG Tel: 0161 870 9969 DX: 303434 Manchester
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Joint Head of Chambers | LUMSDON KC, Kate (2018) | ||
Joint Head of Chambers | MARSHALL KC, Eloise (2018) | ||
PRICE KC, John (1982) | |||
NELSON KC, Cairns (1987) | |||
MISKIN KC, Charles (1975) | |||
FITZGIBBON KC Francis (1986) | |||
BOGAN KC, Paul (1983) | |||
MULHOLLAND KC, James (1986) | |||
ALI KC, Zafar (1994) | |||
CROWTHER KC.Tom (1993) | |||
FENHALLS KC, Mark (1992) | |||
WILDING KC, Lisa (1993) | |||
OZIN KC, Paul (1987) | |||
CLARK KC, Tim (1993) | |||
SCAMARDELLA KC, Rossano (2018) | |||
HOSSAIN KC, Ahmed (1996) | |||
KNIGHT KC, Jennifer (1996) | |||
GARDNER KC, Alan (1997) | |||
RASIAH KC , Nathan (2007) | |||
POMFRET KC, Brad (2004) | |||
MACHIN, Charles (1973) | |||
HARRISON, Michael (1979) | |||
HORNSBY, Walton (1980) | |||
MCKEE, Hugh (1983) | |||
RILEY, John (1983) | |||
SHAY, Stephen (1984) | |||
WILLIAMS, Brian (1986) | |||
CRANSTON-MORRIS, Wayne (1986) | |||
FORGAN, Hugh (1989) | |||
SMITH, Jonathan (1991) | |||
AMIS, Christopher (1991) | |||
MOORE, Richard (1992) | |||
MILNE, Richard (1992) | |||
O'CONNOR, Ged (1993) | |||
MCCRINDELL, James (1993) | |||
BENTWOOD, Richard (1994) | |||
CASELLA, Bart (1995) | |||
MCGRATH, Francis (1995) | |||
SASTRY, Bob (1996) | |||
BRODY, Saul (1996) | |||
HOPE, Ian (1996) | |||
MORRIS, Sarah (1996) | |||
ROYLE, Charles (1997) | |||
SANDYS, Neil (1998) | |||
HUNTER, Tim (1998) | |||
SMITH, Graham (1999) | |||
BATES, Leslie (1999) | |||
DUNKIN, Oliver (1999) | |||
GREY,Tim (1999) | |||
HUSBANDS, Abigail (2000) | |||
HAMLET, Christopher (2000) | |||
BLOOMER, James (2000) | |||
FARLEY, David (2001) | |||
EAGLESTONE, William (2001) | |||
STANGOE, Heather (2001) | |||
MCCARROLL, Isobel (2001) | |||
PAGE, Flora (2002) | |||
KHAN, Aisha (2002) | |||
DYE, John (2002) | |||
JAMES, Rhodri (2002) | |||
HILL, Rina-Marie (2002) | |||
SAUL, Sonya (2002) | |||
COMMON, Hamish (2003) | |||
GODFREY, Tom (2003) | |||
GODDARD, Lisa (2003) | |||
SAUNDERS, Kevin (2003) | |||
WATKINS, Adam (2024) | |||
GOSLING, Tom (2004) | |||
UPTON, Alexander (2004) | |||
MOHAMMED, Rashad (2004) | |||
MOLLOY, Andrew (2004) | |||
BUNBURY, Claire (2006) | |||
TEMPLETON, Joseph (2006) | |||
VANSTONE, Rebecca (2006) | |||
BARRACLOUGH, Lee (2006) | |||
DUFFY, Patrick (2007) | |||
WHITE, Barry (2007) | |||
DEVANS-TAMAKLOE, Jennifer (2007) | |||
ROSENBERG, Jeremy (2009) | |||
SAYNOR, Richard (2009) | |||
LISTER, Daniel (2009) | |||
ACKER, Elizabeth (2010) | |||
DUONG, Helena (2010) | |||
GAINZA, Victoria (2010) | |||
CUMMINGS, Stephanie (2010) | |||
MCINTYRE, Sarah-Kate (2011) | |||
TOLSON, Asa (2012) | |||
MILLS, Alex (2012) | |||
TREFGARNE, Sam (2012) | |||
CLARE, Carina (2012) | |||
MURPHY, Micheal (2013) | |||
DAINTY, David (2013) | |||
O'DONOGHUE, Daniel (2013) | |||
COBB, Elizabeth (2013) | |||
JONES, Rebecca (2013) | |||
MORRISON, Emile (2013) | |||
QUEFFURUS, Sasha (2014) | |||
SAUNDERS, Nick (2014) | |||
WHEELER, Carl (2015) | |||
TEALE, Josephine (2016) | |||
STEWART, Caroline (2017) | |||
HODGETTS, Matthew (2017) | |||
GOLDRING, Jessica (2017)) | |||
CLARK, Sam (2017) | |||
GRIFFITHS, Wesley (2018) | |||
WILLIAMS, Katie (2018) | |||
BARNES, Arianna (2018) | |||
KHAN, Imran (2018) | |||
POTTS, Edmund (2018) | |||
SMALL, Oliver (2020) | |||
HALLIDAY, James (2020) | |||
TAI, Leila (2021) | |||
BIBBY, Josh (2021) | |||
ENGLISH, Olivia (2021) |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Lee Barraclough | View Profile | ||
Saul Brody | Highly regarded, experienced, meticulous and incisive, he is instructed on behalf of… | View Profile | |
Claire Bunbury | ‘She has a cost-effective and commercial approach’. Legal 500, 2015 : Commercial,… | View Profile | |
Mr Tom Gosling | “A great advocate, concise and thorough in all his work.”Legal 500, 2020 Commercial,… | View Profile | |
Wesley Griffiths | View Profile | ||
Daniel Lister | Daniel has experience in all areas of criminal law. He is a… | View Profile | |
Charles Machin | Charles Machin has over 40 years’ experience in the fields of Chancery… | View Profile | |
Hugh McKee | Hugh McKee is a senior criminal practitioner with a heavyweight caseload. For… | View Profile | |
Richard Moore | Richard is a litigator whose practice encompasses both traditional Chancery matters, as… | View Profile | |
Mr Micheal Murphy | View Profile | ||
Mr Brad Pomfret KC | Brad has a broad-ranging commercial litigation and arbitration practice, covering diverse areas… | View Profile | |
Bob Sastry | Bob Sastry is a very experienced practitioner who was called to the… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Smith | Jonathan has a wide and varied chancery and commercial practice split evenly… | View Profile | |
Asa Tolson | Asa is a specialist chancery/commercial practitioner and one of the founder members… | View Profile | |
Mr Adam Watkins | View Profile | ||
Mr Barry White | Barry has a vast 23 years experience of Criminal Law, procedure and… | View Profile | |
Mr Brian Williams | Prior to being called to the Bar, Brian Williams worked in the… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Clerks : 11 Fees : 4Languages
Spanish Portugese English Urdu Hindu Punjabi French German Italian Welsh Cantonese- South Eastern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
Set Rankings
- Crime
- Fraud: crime
- Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
- Northern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
- Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- Northern Circuit > Property and construction
- Northern Circuit > Commercial litigation
- Northern Circuit > Chancery, probate, and tax
- Northern Circuit > Company and insolvency
- Midland Circuit > Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)
- Midland Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)