Exchange Chambers

Alex G. Williams

The majority of Alex’s practice is focused on personal injury work. Alex is regularly instructed by Claimants and Defendants in multi-track and fast track cases on all areas of personal injury work, including road traffic accidents, occupiers’ liability, employers’ liability, public liability, CICA claims and Highways Act claims. Alex has a very busy trial practice and regularly attends CCMC’s and interim hearings, especially where technical procedural arguments are raised. Some examples of recent multi-track work include: Advice and representation of the Claimant in a liability admitted matter arising from a road traffic accident. The claim is pleaded in excess of £200,000. Representation of the Claimant at a two-day trial in an employer’s liability matter. Liability was disputed and the Defendant raised issues of dishonesty. Following the trial, the Claimant was awarded a significant sum of damages. Representation of three Claimants at a two-day trial in a road traffic matter. The Defendant raised issues of causation and fundamental dishonesty. Following the trial, the Claimants were each successful. Advice and representation of the Claimant who sustained injury following shoulder surgery. Advice and representation of the Claimant who suffered a crush injury to the hand at work. For more information about Alex’s Defendant practice, please see his “Personal Injury: Defence” CV. Alex also has extensive knowledge of credit hire law and regularly acts for Claimants and Defendants. He was recently instructed in successfully responding to an appeal on a novel area concerning the precise interpretation of impecuniosity. Alex has written articles and provided seminars on s. 69 ERRA, interim payments and on issues relating to jurisdiction and the applicable law for accidents abroad.

Alfred Weiss

Experienced Counsel who enjoys building a good rapport with his professional and lay clients alike.  An extremely effective advocate and advisor who is equally at home working as sole Counsel, or as part of a larger team with solicitors, fellow barristers and leading Counsel.  Expertise in a number of practice areas leaves him particularly well-placed to deal with cases that are multi-faceted and at the inter-play between his fields of expertise.   Has appeared at all level of Court up to and including the Court of Appeal.  A member of the Attorney General’s Regional Panel, is instructed by Central Government Departments and Agencies with great frequency.  A fluent Spanish speaker, he is happy to deploy his language skills in appropriate cases.  Employment Heavyweight statutory employment claims with an emphasis on discrimination, whistleblowing, and transfer of undertakings – regularly briefed in complex, high value and/or multi-week hearings Discrimination in goods and services Restrictive covenants, confidentiality, database rights, fiduciary duties – expertise in overlap between Commercial and Employment law Instructed by private employers, central government department and agencies, local authorities, individual employees ranging from shop-floor workers to directors, trade unions Commercial Breach of contract, sales of goods and services, economic torts Claims for breach of trust, unjust enrichment, monies had and received Injunctive relief Overlap between commercial and employment law Professional Negligence Experienced professional negligence practitioner including in claims against solicitors and barristers, accountants, lenders, finance professionals, surveyors, estate agents ‘mis-selling’ claims Acts for claimants and defendants  Insolvency Directors’ disqualification and public interest winding up Liquidator claims Corporate and personal insolvency Claims against IPs Public law Judicial Review – regularly instructed by Government Legal Department as member of Attorney General’s Regional Panel Claims for and against the police in particular malicious prosecution and unlawful arrest Human Rights Act claims and Data Protection Act claims Inquests Experienced in complex and lengthy inquests of up to four weeks’ duration Frequently instructed by Government Legal Department as member of Attorney General’s Panel Acts for public and private organisations, healthcare professionals, prison officers, Families Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Experienced in a range of personal injury, industrial disease and clinical negligence disputes up to and including cases of catastrophic injuries Experienced trial advocate and negotiator at JSM Particularly well-placed to deal with cases at interplay between Employment Law and Personal Injury

Andrew Wastall

Andrew is an extremely experienced barrister. His practice extends to the following areas of law: Family law: extensive practice in matrimonial finance, private law children matters and injunctions. Personal injury: acting for Claimants and Defendants in a range of personal injury cases. Andrew is very client focused and puts his clients at ease at the earliest opportunity. Whilst sensitive and empathetic to the situations facing his clients, he offers firm, independent and realistic advice, whilst adopting a practical and proactive approach. Over the course of his practice lay clients have included senior judiciary and other legal and medical professionals, Premiership footballers and other international sports people. He prioritises and sees the importance in each individual case regardless of financial value or scale. He offers a fast turnaround on paperwork and is happy to speak with solicitors either in or out of hours for ad-hoc queries or assistance.

Andrew Haslam

Andrew is a highly experienced criminal and regulatory barrister with over 28 years’ experience at the Bar.Andrew has particular expertise in high value fraud and financial crime for both the prosecution and defence. These include mortgage, VAT, financial services, investment fraud and fraudulent trading. He regularly receives instructions for advice pre-charge by the Serious Fraud Division (SFD), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and other regulatory bodies, including National Trading Standards.In his work for the MMO, Andrew has dealt with and developed a unique understanding of wholly new areas of domestic and international law. In Op Iroko, he was instructed to provide pre-charge advice in the first prosecution of a business directly connected to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing off West Coast of Africa. He was notably instructed to advise the Falkland Islands Government in R v Baston and others, the first prosecution for deliberate targeting of fish without a licence.Alongside his financial crime specialism, Andrew continues to act for individuals charged with serious and organised criminal offences, from murder and firearms cases to serious sexual offences and drugs conspiracies.Andrew prides himself on his attention to detail, thorough preparation, his understanding of complex legal and evidential issues and his ability to resolve them.

Anna Bond

Anna joined Exchange Chambers in February 2021 after completing a criminal pupillage at a leading London chambers. During her first six, Anna experienced a range of criminal trials, as well as regulatory work such as police misconduct, professional negligence and private prosecutions. In the second six months of pupillage, Anna built a busy general crime practice, appearing daily in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court in all stages of the criminal process. Anna is on the approved list of CPS external advocates and therefore regularly prosecutes as much as she defends. She also has experience of appellate work having been instructed and assisted in appeals in the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal. Anna’s written advocacy is as strong as her oral advocacy and, as such, she is regularly instructed to produce written advices on a range of matters. Anna came to the Bar from a successful career in teaching during which time she held various posts including Assistant Head of English and Head of Law. Having worked for 6 years with 11-18 year olds, she is particularly passionate and adept at working with youths and the vulnerable. Anna has undertaken further training in youth justice and vulnerable witness handling to specialise even further in this area. Anna is passionate about access to the Bar and continues to speak at panel events to promote equality and diversity in the profession.

Ashley Serr

Ashley is a personable approachable client focused Barrister with over 20 years of experience specialising in the provision of expert legal advice to businesses of all sizes, Government Departments and individuals. While originally known as one of the leading employment juniors in the country Ashley’s practice has grown immeasurably in recent years and now also encompasses  contract disputes, restrictive covenant cases (involving employees, directors and shareholders) directors disqualification (both for directors and the Secretary of State) personal/corporate insolvency and judicial review. He routinely appears in the appeal courts on behalf of central government departments, local authorities SME’s and FTSE 250 firms. He has extensive experience in restrictive covenant cases including IP/database issues that require forensic IT examination. Endorsed by all the major legal directories he is always realistic on fees and can accept instructions on a direct access basis where appropriate. Ashley has been consistently recommended as a leading junior in his field by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. He is on the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel.

Ayesha Smart

Ayesha has practised in the North of England since commencing her pupillage in 2014. She continues to enjoy a mixed practice of crime, personal injury/clinical negligence and regulatory law. Ayesha prosecutes and defends a variety of offences, however, her speciality is in serious crime and she excels in cases involving medical or expert evidence. She is also recognised as a specialist in animal welfare law. Ayesha also accepts instructions in personal injury, clinical negligence and regulatory matters. Prior to coming to the bar, she worked in Pathology within the NHS and therefore has particular strengths when dealing with medico-legal cases.

Caroline Abraham

Caroline was called to the Bar in 2013. She is an experienced criminal practitioner who has been briefed to appear and advise, on behalf of the prosecution and defence, in a broad range of matters including: Assault and violent offences Fraud Drugs offences Public Order offences Motoring and vehicle crime Sexual offences Caroline is dedicated to client care and is happy to respond to informal requests for advice, contact is welcomed by email or otherwise.

Ceri Widdett

Ceri has over 20 years’ experience practising in employment law and personal injury and is a highly sought after advocate, continuously recommended as a leading junior in both Chambers and Partners UK and the Legal 500. She has extensive experience of equality law including sex, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief, sexual orientation and discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. She also undertakes all other aspects of employment law including whistleblowing. She has been instructed to advise and act on behalf of numerous Local Authorities and Unions including the Police Federation and the MPS, and has advised the Football Association on the impact of equality law outside the workplace. Ceri undertakes all aspects of personal injury work but has a particular specialism in occupational stress at work claims. She further specialises in, Highways Act claims, road traffic accidents, civil motor fraud, defective premises, occupiers’ liability and accidents at work. Ceri further specialises in regulatory law and has recent experience of appearing before the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Health Care Professional Council.

Charlotte Noddings

Charlotte was called to the Bar in 2019 and became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in October 2021 following the successful completion of her pupillage. During her pupillage, Charlotte covered a range of common law matters including criminal and regulatory law. Charlotte has developed a busy criminal practice, regularly appearing in both the magistrates’ and Crown Courts. She receives instructions in a broad range of criminal cases including drugs, theft, violence, fraud and driving matters. As a result, Charlotte is confident acting in all stages of the criminal process. She has also been instructed in both civil and criminal confiscation proceedings on behalf of the CPS and Police. Charlotte also accepts instructions in motoring and vehicle crime. She has experience of exceptional hardship applications and special reasons arguments in both the magistrates’ and on appeal to the Crown Court. Most recently, Charlotte has acted as junior counsel in a multi-handed murder trial and continues to act as junior counsel in a long running environmental prosecution. In addition to her criminal work, Charlotte has a growing regulatory practice and is regularly instructed in Environmental Protection Act private prosecutions and on behalf of local authorities. Furthermore, Charlotte has also acted for a number of defendants in positions of responsibility, including police officers and company directors. She has a keen interest in the field of regulatory and professional discipline, an area that she would like to continue to develop. Charlotte has already built a reputation as a confident and conscientious junior who goes above and beyond for both her professional and lay clients. A passionate advocate for increasing diversity at the Bar, Charlotte appears at and runs events that promote equality and diversity in the profession (see further here).

Chris Tehrani

Chris is a shrewd advocate known for his formidable ability in the courtroom. He specialises in all serious crime, including homicides, serious sexual offences drugs, fraud, and ancillary issues such as confiscation, proceeds of crime and money laundering. In recent years Chris’s professional work load has involved the prosecution and defence of complex and particularly serious criminal cases, with a particular emphasis on medico-legal and scientific issues, and the defence and prosecution of professionals such as solicitors, barristers, medical practitioners, healthcare professionals and other professionals. Chris is acknowledged as having expertise in all issues relating to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, The Data Protection Act and cases involving non-accidental head injuries in infants . He has lectured prosecuting authorities, other government agencies and defence criminal solicitors on issues relating to the Data Protection Act in the context of criminal proceedings, The Proceeds of Crime Act and Deferred Prosecution Agreements. Chris is computer literate. He produces his own paperwork and schedules for use at trial and produces his own databases in complex cases. He frequently advises upon the content and use of electronic court presentations during trials.

David Went

David is internationally renowned as a leading competition law specialist. He won the Chambers and Partners 2022 Competition Junior of the Year Award, was noted as a Competition Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Competition 2018 (dedicated to the world’s leading competition experts aged 45 and under), and in 2012 was featured in Global Competition Review’s list of leading competition lawyers under 40 years old worldwide. For a number of years now he has been recognised (among only a select number of barristers) in Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2021: Competition Juniors and Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2023. Prior to returning to his roots as a barrister during 2015 (having originally been called to the bar in 1999), David’s considerable competition law experience has been acquired at two leading US law firms in Brussels and London, most recently as partner at Sidley Austin LLP. David has acted for clients (e.g., ADM, Alberto Culver, Aon, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, GSK, Hachette, IBM, LG Electronics, Spectris, Viterra, and Western Union) on some of the most significant and complex matters over the past 16 years across the spectrum of competition law work. Regularly appearing before the main EU and UK courts and competition authorities, David specialises in all litigation and advisory aspects of competition law, covering: Abuse of dominance Cartels Commercial practices Compliance Damages actions M&A Public procurement State aid Related areas of EU, public and regulatory law David has experience of working in a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, agriculture, automotive, financial services, FMCG, high-tech, insurance, IT/internet, life sciences, manufacturing, media, mining, publishing, shipping, sports, telecoms, and utilities. He has worked on a large number of multi-jurisdictional matters using, where needed, a network of trusted local counsel. David also has good working relationships with competition law specialists at the main economic consultancies. As clients make clear in legal directory submissions, David is approachable, practical, and commercially focused. In addition, clients appreciate his ability to quickly understand their business models and needs, coupled with his creativity in finding solutions. He combines huge commercial knowledge with a second-to-none understanding of competition law. A naturally industrious advocate his attention to detail is truly market-leading.

Eddison Flint

Since joining chambers from the Crown Prosecution Service in 2019, Eddison has developed a strong criminal practice spanning the North-Eastern and Northern Circuits. He acts for both prosecution and defence in the full range of criminal proceedings in the Crown Court. He understands the importance of maintaining effective working relationships with clients and encourages conferences at the early stages of cases to ensure that all stages progress smoothly. Eddison also accepts instructions in a broad range of civil matters, acting for both claimants and defendants in the county courts. Using the experience garnered from his criminal practice, Eddison has also carried out work in the niche area of committal applications; he has defended in proceedings ranging from breaches of Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions in the County Court, to six-figure breaches of freezing injunctions in the High Court.

Eddy Steele

Eddy is an immensely experienced criminal and regulatory practitioner with over 15 years’ experience in the legal industry. After achieving first class honours in law, Eddy qualified as a solicitor and worked in that capacity for nine years.  He then transferred to the Bar in July 2022 and joined Exchange Chambers in September of the same year. The first period of his career was spent working at a regional heavy-weight criminal defence firm in Leeds, where Eddy worked 24/7 as a police station accredited representative for years before qualifying as a solicitor in October 2013, and then qualified as a duty solicitor in the summer of the following year.  He later became a Higher Rights Advocate.  Eddy therefore has extensive historical experience in criminal matters in the Magistrates’ Courts and also in the police stations, in respect of the full range of criminal offences, including public order, theft/dishonesty offences and all other offences. The second substantial period of his career as a solicitor was spent working in regulatory law, from 2015 onwards.  This involved Eddy developing a national reputation (including being recognised in the Legal 500 and speaking at national conferences), and operating as the lead criminal regulatory solicitor for one of the biggest global business law firms, DLA Piper. In this role Eddy acted for household name global businesses in very sensitive investigations and prosecutions and in health & safety fatality work which garnered the attention of national and international news coverage. Eddy has become an expert in reputation management for large commercial organisations which become embroiled in very sensitive, national headline regulatory cases. His regulatory experience is very broad, including – Ecclesiastical regulatory work arising out of historical child sexual exploitation allegations; Inquest proceedings as advocate, usually where there is high risk of a neglect rider and/or Prevention of Future Deaths Reports, for various sectors including: aviation, food, manufacturing, workplace fatality (range of sectors over the years), hospital negligence, medical devices/pathways cases, Article 2 prison deaths, gas network deaths, product liability, mental health/workplace bullying, care homes and many other sectors; Health & Safety fatality and serious injury work, including privileged investigations and Crown Court prosecutions, under various regulations including: DSEAR, CDM/management of contractors, COSHH, asbestos, WAH, PUWER, legionella, and a myriad of others to cover boutique situations.  He has successfully acted for various commercial organisations under sections 2 and 3 HSWA and also for senior directors/officers under section 37; Road traffic, both in respect of individuals at risk of losing their licence and for commercial organisations on section 172 allegations, right through to death by dangerous and death by careless prosecutions at the Crown Court, very often involving complex, expert evidence; Environmental law proceedings, including under the permitting regulations and also more boutique prosecutions in respect of water law; Fire safety prosecutions under the FSO (prior to post-Grenfell fire safety/building safety legislation) and advising commercial organisations and ALMOs in respect of compliance with the new reigime; Public Inquiries, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry where Eddy was the senior criminal regulatory solicitor acting for a key Core Participant involved in the manufacturing process of the cladding. This work mandate involved international travel to conduct privileged investigations pursuant to corporate manslaughter allegations; Product safety and compliance with EU regulations; Trading Standards cases; Licensing law, including alcohol, gambling and firearms, usually where the facts involved a fatality, for example in respect of appearing at expedited review hearings where the business stands at risk of being shut down as a function of the tribunals review of the licensing conditions after a fatality and risk management review by the Police; Food safety, including national headline cases involving allergen labelling, and significant experience acting for organisations higher up the manufacturing chain, being investigated by regulatory bodies. Related product recall proceedings; Anti-bribery and corruption advice under the Bribery Act 2010, anti-money laundering and modern slavery advice. Since being called to the Bar and joining Exchange Chambers in 2022, Eddy has already acted in significant crime and regulatory proceedings, both as prosecution and defence advocate. He regularly appears at professional discipline proceedings, in respect of the police, as well as prosecuting for various regulatory agencies, most recently the Marine Management Organisation in respect of fisheries law prosecutions. Eddy is rightly recognised as an expert in road traffic matters, whether it be his string of successes in saving a driving licence for totters under exceptional hardship or special reasons arguments, through to defending death by dangerous and death by careless prosecutions at the Crown Court. Eddy has received extremely positive feedback from various instructing solicitors and lay clients in respect of his results driven approach, care for detail, and drawing on his skills as a solicitor in relation to communication to solicitor and lay client at all times.  He takes particular pride in his attention to detail and responsiveness to his clients. He also has a busy care home practice, having developed a reputation for being a strong and determined advocate at inquest proceedings in the last 10 years, appearing nationally and in headline-grabbing Article 2, jury inquests, as advocate.  Drawing on his substantial experience, Eddy is often called in to represent commercial organisations at PIR Hearings and also at full Inquest hearings in cases which involve a risk of a rider of neglect, finding of unlawful killing (post-Maughan and the civil standard) and in cases involving the risk of a Prevention of Future Deaths report. Eddy is regularly instructed by insurer firms and global business law firms of solicitors, both in respect of regulatory proceedings and criminal law proceedings, but also to provide strategic advice in respect of managing the relationship with a regulator (HSE/EA) or the LA and managing the response of the duty holder lay client.  He encourages early contact by his instructing solicitors to ‘set the tone’ which can often have a significant impact on the direction of travel in a regulator’s investigation, prior to any prosecution being properly or thoroughly contemplated by said regulator.  Eddy has had significant success in this regard over the years, notably (for example) in a COSHH investigation involving a household name car manufacturer and in respect of a climbing wall serious injury incident. He gives talks (and has done for years) to commercial audiences on regulatory law, safety risk management and more particular topics in health & safety, and has been recognised in Legal 500 for health & safety law. Running concurrent with his regulatory practice, Eddy is an accomplished criminal advocate in the Crown Court.  He has a busy caseload on the full spectrum of criminal offence, from public order, dishonesty, violence and sexual offences on the one hand, through to murder and manslaughter and other very serious offences at the other.  Eddy has a busy trial diary and is regularly at the Crown Court across the northern and north eastern circuits, either as junior alone or being led by KC’s, depending on the nature of the allegation. Eddy has successfully defended a number of Crown Court trials, his most recent being a section 18 and then a robbery trial.  He is a respected advocate, fearless in his approach yet courteous in equal measure, both in courtroom delivery and behind the scenes dealings (with client and opponent alike), which leads to the professional respect he enjoys from the Judiciary and his opposing counsel. Eddy also prosecutes for the Crown Prosecution Service where, again, he has managed to develop a reputation as a formidable advocate and a compassionate individual in respect of dealing with vulnerable complainants and witnesses. In additional to his workload as a barrister, in June 2022 Eddy was appointed as a deputy coroner and he regularly sits in that capacity at Hull Coroners Court.

Eleanor d'Arcy

Eleanor has developed a strong and diverse Commercial and Chancery Practice focusing principally on the areas of insolvency and corporate restructuring, property (both real and commercial) and dispute resolution. Eleanor was recommended as Up and Coming on the North Eastern Circuit for Restructuring/Insolvency in Chambers & Partners UK for both 2013 and 2014 and in 2015 was described by Chambers & Partners UK as “one of the Northern Circuit’s rising stars” in Chancery work.

Emily Hassell

Emily was called to the Bar in 2019. She became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in March 2022 following the successful completion of her criminal pupillage. During pupillage, Emily appeared regularly in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts. She has experience prosecuting and defending a broad spectrum of criminal and quasi-criminal matters, including: Driving Violence Fraud Theft Drugs POCA Dangerous Dogs Football Banning Orders She has also appeared in the Youth Court and secured the acquittal of a s.18 Wounding in respect of a vulnerable youth defendant. Emily has established a busy motoring practice and has represented defendants and appellants in relation to a variety of offences. She has secured successful outcomes in ‘Special Reasons’ and ‘Exceptional Hardship’ applications. Prior to joining the Bar, Emily worked for the National Probation Service. She has in-depth working knowledge of the sentencing regime and extensive experience prosecuting breaches of court orders. She has also previously undertaken roles with the Financial Ombudsman Service and with HMCTS. Emily is extremely affable and has already established herself as an approachable, confident, and hardworking junior. She accepts instructions in all areas of crime.

Fiona Clancy

Fiona Clancy is an experienced Junior with an expanding practice in serious and complex crime. She has extensive experience in analysing and presenting high-profile cases involving Conspiracy offences, Organised Crime, Drugs, Firearms, and serious violence including Murder; having both prosecuted and defended as a led Junior in multi-handed, serious and complex cases.  Fiona has the fortitude to deal with legal arguments in a fearless manner, and prides herself on her detailed written advocacy and preparation. As one of a team of lead investigators on the Hillsborough Investigation for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Fiona honed her skills in dealing compassionately with witnesses and in analysing and investigating extensive historic evidence.  She is also adept at working patiently and sensitively with youths, and in the cross examination of vulnerable individuals, and has particular experience in dealing with Defendants who suffer from mental health. Fiona is a former member of the Royal Military Police, and therefore has an excellent understanding of defending those in the military or emergency services.  She was also previously a member of the General Medical Council Legal Team, and is proficient in cases involving complex medical evidence and multiple expert witnesses, including cases involving non-accidental injuries. Fiona is a Grade 3 CPS Prosecutor and has taught Advocacy, Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation on the Bar Professional Training Course, Graduate Diploma in Law and LLB Law. She is committed to supporting social mobility at the Bar and through the Inns of Court.  She mentors Bar students, and has given her time to sit on the scholarship panel for Inner Temple.  Fiona is Chambers’ Pro Bono Champion with the charity Advocate.

Frida Hussain

Frida Hussain KC is instructed in private fee and legal aid cases. She is known for her professionalism, dedication and hardworking approach with particular attention to detail. She is determined, robust and well respected by the judiciary, colleagues, professional and lay clients. She specialises in high profile criminal defence cases involving single and multi-handed allegations of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, terrorism, drugs, sexual offences, fraud and other serious organised crime. These cases engage complex issues such as conspiracy, joint enterprise, gang membership and often involve vulnerable individuals. She is instructed to defend in many of the countrys most serious high profile terrorism trials and is regularly instructed in this field. She has a cultural understanding and knowledge of theological issues that are often at the core of such cases. She defended in the ‘London Bombing 21/7’ trial that involved a conspiracy to murder passengers on London transport by detonating bombs. She also defended in the ‘aeroplane bomb plot’ trial. This involved a conspiracy to commit mass murder of passengers by detonating liquid bombs onboard transatlantic flights and was described as the most grave and wicked conspiracy in Britain. She has defended in ISIS inspired conspiracies to murder and many cases involving the preparation for acts of terrorism. She successfully defended in UK’s first ever prosecution of parents charged with female genital mutilation. This was based on evidence from a 3 year old child and involved complex medical and anthropological expert opinion. She also defended in the first prosecution under the Terrorism Act of offences relating to the setting up and attendance at UK terrorist training camps. Her practice takes her nationwide and in particular across London and in the North of England. She appears in courts at all levels and is multilingual as a fluent speaker of Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. She lectures on topical criminal law issues and provides advice in respect of interlocutory and pre-charge matters, including applications for warrants of further detention. She is an approved Inner Temple advocacy trainer. As a member of the Bar International Relations committee she taught advocacy skills to barristers from foreign jurisdictions. She is an Inner Temple Scholarship Committee panel member and was awarded the Pegasus Scholarship earlier in her career, to gain experience working in the Australian criminal justice system.

Harriet Hartshorn

Harriet was called to the Bar in 2016. She became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2018 following the successful completion of her pupillage. Harriet has developed a common law practice with a focus of personal injury and commercial work. Prior to commencing pupillage Harriet worked as an in-house advocate representing claimants and defendants in a range of county court matters. Personal Injury Harriet has developed a personal injury practice in which she advises and represents both claimants and defendants. Harriet’s key areas of practice include: Road traffic accidents Fraud and low velocity impact cases Employer’s liability Occupier’s liability Highway accidents Public liability Harriet adopts a proactive approach to work and is happy to provide informal advice as cases progress. She offers a quick turn around on paper work providing both formal and informal advice. Harriet welcomes contact by email or phone. Commercial Harriet is developing a commercial practice which encompasses a range of insolvency matters and contractual disputes. She regularly appears in the winding up list. Harriet acts in bankruptcy matters, applications and small claims. She has experience of appearing for both claimants and defendants in fast track trials.

Holly Betke

Holly is an experienced criminal practitioner. She acts for both the prosecution and defence in conducting trials, preliminary hearings, plea and case management hearings, sentences and newton hearings. She has acted in a wide range of matters including violent offences, from common assault to murder; dishonesty offences, from shoplifting to armed robbery; fraud offences including revenue fraud; drug offences; sexual offences; public order offences; environmental offences; proceeds of crime applications and confiscation enforcement proceedings; local authority prosecutions; and VOSA Prosecutions. Holly is a Category 1 Prosecutor.

James Kinsey

The focus of James’s practice is on Personal Injury and Employment work. On the Personal Injury side, James is regularly instructed by claimants in multi-track and fast track cases involving road traffic accidents, employers’ liability, public liability, occupiers’ liability, credit hire, and costs hearings. He has significant experience of cases involving allegations of fraudulent and exaggerated personal injury claims. On the Employments side, James regularly acts for claimants and respondents in Employment cases and has experience in a range of matters involving unfair dismissal including constructive dismissal, wrongful dismissal, discrimination and equality law claims, redundancy related claims, holiday pay, restrictive covenants, unlawful deduction of wages, worker status.

Jodie Wildridge

Jodie was called to the Bar in 2018 and became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2020 following the successful completion of her pupillage. Jodie has swiftly developed a strong practice encompassing insolvency and commercial work, in both the County Court and the High Court. In addition to accepting instructions in lower value matters, Jodie represents clients in claims at all track levels and has recent experience in high value, multi-track claims. In addition to her Court experience, Jodie is regularly instructed to draft statements of case and applications across her practice areas; and often provides formal advice in respect of the same. Jodie has experience in dealing with cases from start to finish, and is happy to provide informal advice throughout the course of the proceedings. Keeping abreast of updates to the law in her areas of practice, Jodie goes above and beyond to assist those instructing her by regularly publishing articles and offering webinars to ensure her knowledge is passed on.

Keith Walmsley

Throughout his career, Keith has had a hugely varied practice that has taken him from the House of Lords and the Privy Council to the homes of countless Claimants the length and breadth of the country.He is at his happiest based at his home in the Lincolnshire Wolds and travelling to clients and courts in the north-east of England, from Sheffield to Newcastle. (At conferences and home visits, he is often accompanied by his widely travelled and totally discreet Golden Retriever, Clixby).Keith has specialised for many years in clinical negligence and personal injury work and strongly believes in establishing good relationships and a team spirit as early as possible in the conduct of a case. Whether the claim involves a child with cerebral palsy, a young person with head injury, or a widow whose husband has died prematurely through substandard treatment, relationships of trust and sensitivity must be built up to ensure the best possible outcome and as much satisfaction as the legal system permits.To his delight, all his regular instructing solicitors have become personal friends – which greatly contributes to pleasant working relationships that inevitably lead to good results and contented clients.

Kevin Naylor

Prior to a life at the bar, Kevin originally qualified as a doctor and practised medicine for 7 years. He now practises in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence, acting for both claimants and defendants. His medical background means he is somewhat unique at the bar and is an enormous asset to his clients. He is one of a small number of dual qualification barristers practising in the UK. Kevin is routinely instructed in high value cases involving clinical negligence in all areas, injury to the central nervous system including catastrophic brain and spinal cord injury, multiple orthopaedic injuries, psychiatric injury and fatal accidents. He has wide experience and expertise in the following areas: Inquests and inquiries – having represented interested parties in the Shipman Inquiry and more recently the inquiry into the death of Chloe Fahey Employers liability claims involving injury or disease, particularly where there are novel or complex issues of causation Chronic pain syndrome Fibromyalgia and reflex sympathetic dystrophy Education claims including failure to diagnose dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder Civil Procedure

Kirsty Malloch

Kirsty was called to the Bar in 2018 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn after achieving an Outstanding on the BPTC at Manchester BPP. She moved to Exchange Chambers in 2023 and has a broad commercial and chancery practice that includes insolvency, property, wills, trusts and probate and commercial litigation. Kirsty appears regularly in the County and High Courts, both remotely and in person, for procedural hearings, interlocutory applications and trials, and has considerable experience of handling winding-up lists, bankruptcies and possession hearings. In addition to her court experience, Kirsty is regularly instructed to draft formal advice, statements of case and applications across her practice areas. Kirsty also provides informal advice and guidance throughout the course of proceedings. Kirsty is based in Leeds but practices nationwide and is happy to travel across the country for court hearings and conferences to ensure the best possible service for her clients. Outside of her practise, Kirsty regularly assists with educational events for students at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and at universities in the North East.

Kristian Cavanagh

Prior to coming to the Bar, Kristian was a solicitor advocate for 6 years on both the Northern and North Eastern Circuit and was called to the Bar in 2007. Since joining the Bar, Kristian has been involved in cases of significant complexity. He prosecutes and defends in equal measure, and has extensive experience in the following criminal matters: Homicide and serious violence Drug trafficking and organised crime Fraud and money laundering Health and safety offences He is a Level 2 prosecutor and on the HSE’s approved list of specialist regulatory advocates (List C). Kristian’s background as a solicitor advocate provides him with a unique understanding of the solicitor’s role in any case and the importance of forming strong working relationships at an early stage. His mature and sensical approach, accompanied with his in-depth knowledge of criminal proceedings extends far beyond his year of call.

Lisa Linklater

Lisa Linklater K.C. is acclaimed by clients, instructing solicitors and the legal directories for her advocacy at trial, on appeal, in applications and Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as her technical and strategic excellence, service quality and client care in the following practice areas, in which she has specialised for over 25 years: Shareholder disputes (unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up petitions, derivative claims and breaches of and exits under shareholder agreements); Partnership and LLP disputes; Joint venture disputes; Claims against directors; Corporate and personal insolvency and restructuring (administrations, liquidations, CVAs, the new moratorium and restructuring plans): Claims against directors and accomplices (including breaches of directors’ duties, misfeasance, knowing assistance, knowing receipt, conspiracy, wrongful trading, loan accounts and unlawful dividends). Technical applications within corporate insolvency involving novel points of law under the Insolvency Act 1986, cross-border issues or wider legal issues such as property. Issues relating to fixed and floating charges, including priority of charge holders and creditors. Office holder claims under the Insolvency Act 1986 (transactions at an undervalue, transactions defrauding creditors, preferences, wrongful and fraudulent trading). Asset recovery (e.g. trusts, real property, tracing and retention of title). Contested administration applications and winding up petitions. Challenges to CVAs. Contractual claims of all types (particularly share and business sale agreements and shareholder agreements), including the arbitration of such disputes or their resolution by expert determination; Law of Property Act receiverships; Mortgages, debentures and other forms of security; and Proprietary estoppel. Claims in restitution. Lisa is recommended as a leading silk in Chancery, commercial dispute resolution and insolvency and restructuring by Chambers UK Bar 2023 and in company/insolvency by Legal 500 2023, following consistent recommendations as a leading junior in this field.  Lisa is an extremely effective trial advocate, skilled in cross-examination of both factual and expert witnesses, including forensic accountants. Lisa is valued for bringing a commercial, creative, collaborative, strategic and practical approach to advancing her clients’ objectives. Lisa served as Junior Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s Regional Panel) for three consecutive terms (18 years) and was regularly instructed by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in high-profile, complex company director disqualification applications and public interest winding up petitions, as well as by HM Revenue and Customs in precedent-setting cases and multi-million pound tax fraud cases.  She is currently instructed as lead Counsel by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in a complex director disqualification in the retail sector. Recent highlights of Lisa’s practice include: Shareholder Disputes Successfully securing the purchase of minority shareholder’s shares by majority shareholder Respondents to unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006 and related claims involving niche antiques businesses in Mayfair, London and Hamburg, Germany in a dispute between two families that had lasted over ten years (2021 – 2023 in case listed for trial in HCt, BPC in 2024). Successfully securing purchases of the shareholdings of minority shareholders in privately owned companies following the presentation of an unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006 in the following situations: Petitioner inherited shares from her late husband in company in the engineering sector, involving 6 companies and a lengthy factual history (2021 onwards, case settled before trial in HCt, BPC on liability in 2023).  Case involved complex legal issues as to whether there was a quasi-partnership and whether a minority shareholder discount should be applied. Company in the hospitality sector in London.  The petition included allegations of potential tax evasion (2021 onwards, case settled before trial in HCt, BPC in 2023). Dispute between former friends in hard-fought combined unfair prejudice and just and equitable petitions in respect of two substantial property developments in Manchester (2019 onwards, case settled in 2023). Acted for 3 shareholders in successful resolution of threatened unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006, valued by the Petitioner in excess of £6 million involving complex factual issues spanning 30 years, a discretionary trust and allegations of excessive remuneration and failure by directors to recommend dividends. Complex and valuable legal issues on whether or not a minority shareholder discount should be applied and forecasting issues on valuation of Petitioner’s shareholding in light of the Covid pandemic.  Company in the manufacturing sector. Resolved successfully at mediation before issue of proceedings (2021 – 2022). See further Lisa’s company CV. Corporate and Personal Insolvency Re Torotrak plc (in liquidation)[2023] EWHC 115 (Ch): Successfully secured directions from the High Court for liquidators in an application involving novel issues arising from a proposed distribution in a liquidation to a significant number of members, residing around the globe (2023). Advising LPA receivers and lender in respect of priority between a debenture and option agreement, involving lending of £9 million (2023). Advising and acting as lead Counsel for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in a director disqualification matter in the retail sector (2023). Cleveland Bridge UK Limited (in administration): Successfully secured directions from the High Court for joint administrators of a former global leader in the design of complex structures including the Shard on a complex application relating to the distribution of £7 million. The application involved novel issues relating to fixed and floating charges, the equitable doctrine of marshalling, substantial preferential creditor claims by HM Revenue and Customs and Saudi law (2022). Advising high-profile respondent to statutory demand for £11.7 million and involving complex issues on the construction of a suite of finance documentation and issues relating to the release of collateral security over property with development potential (2022). Securing a favourable settlement for the defendants to a £5 million misfeasance and transaction defrauding creditors claim, brought by the liquidators of an offshore partnership that had moved onshore in long-running HCt BPC proceedings (2018 – 2021). Commercial Litigation Successfully securing in HCt, BPC the dismissal of an application for an interim injunction to prevent a finance house from enforcing its security in respect of a substantial property development, involving a debt of over £1 million (2023). Successfully securing the discontinuance of a claim in restitution against a director in respect of tax liabilities relating to an employee benefit trust, shortly before the trial of the claim (2023). Advising and acting for shareholders and lenders in respect of proposed interim injunction for breach of a shareholders’ agreement in dispute involving a substantial property development in the North West with an interface with a planning appeal (2023). Successfully deflected threatened removal as a director of a company of client who was accused of tax evasion, securing important strategic success in bitter dispute between family members of a business in the leisure sector. Lisa acted in parallel with other silks in different fields of specialism (2022). Acting in a factually and legally complex property dispute spanning 40 years within a family in respect of a property portfolio valued at c. £4m and alleged partnership, in which she led other Counsel (2020). Commercial Contract Disputes Acting in respect of a public contract relating to substantial property development (2023). Acting in respect of claim for earn-out of up to £11 million under a share purchase agreement in the technology sector (2023). Advising in respect of the construction of contract relating to the supply of test kits for coronavirus (2022). Successfully acted for construction company in claim for specific performance of contract to purchase land with a contract value of £4m in a dispute that had lasted 10 years (2020 – 2021). Commercial Fraud Acting in alleged claim by company administrators of £12 million for alleged knowing assistance and knowing receipt of breach of trust and alleged breaches of directors’ duties.  Lisa is collaborating with Jersey lawyers in respect of a freezing order obtained in the Royal Court of Jersey (2023). Successfully acted for Petitioner in unfair prejudice petition under s994 of the Companies Act 2006, involving allegations of tax evasion in respect of a company in the hospitality sector in London (2021 onwards, settled before trial listed in 2023). Successfully obtaining the withdrawal of an appeal against an assessment of over £1m in a complex MTIC tax fraud involving precedent legal issues and in which the fraud had taken place in Poland and Hungary (2016 – 2021) Lisa is widely published in her fields of specialism, including in Sweet & Maxwell’s Insolvency Intelligence, R3’s Recovery and the Company Lawyer. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of the Company Lawyer. Recent seminars by Lisa include Shareholder Disputes, the Art of Share Valuation, Directors’ Duties, the New Moratorium and Restructuring Plans introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. Lisa is also a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Business Law and Practice at the University of Leeds.

Nicholas Johnson

Nick Johnson KC provides expert representation for corporates, individuals and specialist agencies in the fields of financial crime, associated regulatory work and other serious and organised crime, often with an international dimension. He has been ranked as a Leading Silk for many years for Crime (General and Fraud), Business and Regulatory Crime in the Legal 500 and has a Tier 1 Silk ranking for Financial Crime in Chambers & Partners. In 2024 a leading legal directory described him as “a superstar: a superb advocate who meticulously prepares his cases, and has exceptional legal knowledge. He adapts beautifully to any circumstances and always finds the perfect tone.” He is Deputy Head of Crime at Exchange Chambers. Nick has appeared as leading counsel in some of the largest financial crime jury trials in the UK. He specialises in bribery and corruption cases, including cross-border investigations and trials. He is frequently retained to provide pre-charge and wider strategic advice. Nick also has experience of corporate fraud investigations brought by the DOJ and SEC in the United States and similar investigations and litigation in Europe, Russia/CIS and the Middle East. In addition, Nick has extensive experience of civil fraud/recovery, economic sanctions, corporate compliance, production and freezing orders, asylum and extradition proceedings, regulatory and professional misconduct proceedings, health & safety enforcement, and inquests, acting for professionals, company officers and businesses. These proceedings often cross-over into his financial crime practice. Notable examples of his financial crime work include representing a chartered accountant and a senior bank executive in one of the largest money laundering investigations in English legal history, where £266m cash was allegedly laundered through the NatWest bank and Dubai gold trades, giving rise to multiple ongoing prosecutions, including by the FCA. He acted for a former VP Finance in UK, US and Greek investigations into alleged corporate bribery of surgeons in a worldwide medical devices fraud. He appeared in the first ever UK jury trial of a company charged with a s.7 corporate failure to prevent bribery offence. He is currently instructed to lead for the prosecution in an alleged Ministry of Defence procurement fraud. Nick is appointed to the SFO KC Panel. Nick continues to prosecute and defend in high-profile serious and organised crime cases. For many years he has been instructed in gangland murder cases, including defending the “Iceman Assassin” alleged to have executed prominent figures Paul Massey and John Kinsella. He has extensive experience in cases of alleged baby murder including those involving NAHI/AHT. He has defended multiple cases involving EncroChat and other encrypted devices. He prosecuted a doctor for non-consensual surgical assaults in Saint Helena. He defended a teenage girl in the killing of 7-year-old Katie Rough, a case concerning schizotypal and persecutory delusional disorders. Complementing his work as UK barrister, Nick has worked alongside US, Russian, Greek Swiss and UAE lawyers in foreign jurisdictions. He is a contributing author of “Lissack & Horlick on Bribery and Corruption” (Lexis Nexis 3rd ed. 2020). He is the Silk Representative of the North-Eastern Circuit on the Bar Council. Nick speaks conversational Japanese and undertakes advocacy training at the University of York and in local schools. He is Direct Access accredited and, in appropriate circumstances, is happy to accept instructions on this basis. Further details are available in his CV, which can be downloaded on https://www.exchangechambers.co.uk/people/nick-johnson-kc/.  

Nicholas Hammond

Nicholas Hammond qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has worked in the field of criminal defence exclusively during his career. Latterly he was a partner at a well respected firm in Leeds City Centre. His experience as a solicitor gave him an insight into the level of client care required and expected by both solicitors and lay clients, when dealing with serious criminal allegations. He has defended in all types of cases including complex fraud, murder, terrorism, modern day slavery and serious sexual offences. Nick has defended complex regulatory cases, including those brought by The Environment Agency and other Government departments. Nick has also defended in complex and protracted POCA proceedings where there was a suggestion of assets being hidden in numerous jurisdictions and corporate entities. He is authorised by the Legal Aid Agency to act as a supervisor in very high cost cases as a result of his experience in dealing with those types of specific contract cases. Nick has held Higher Rights of Audience in Criminal courts since 2004 and has conducted all types of proceedings in crown courts throughout the country. He has appeared at the Court of Appeal. During his time as a solicitor, Nick specialised in representing clients who were in danger of losing their driving licence, specifically those who wished to argue that a driving disqualification would cause Exceptional Hardship. He has extensive experience of representing those appearing before Parole Boards throughout the country, especially those who have been deemed dangerous and are subject to indeterminate periods of imprisonment.

Pankaj Madan

Pankaj specialises in Catastrophic and Life-Changing Injury with specialist expertise in Brain Injury, severe limb injury, high-value Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) claims. He attracts a loyal and ever-increasing following from both Defendant insurers and Claimants. He acts usually only in very high value cases often involving pedestrians or motorcyclists. He is adept at liability issues. He is from a medical family and has an excellent understanding of medical issues. He is renowned for his meticulous eye for detail and sensitive, sympathetic client approach. Pankaj continues to be commended every year by the Legal 500 since 2008: “A first rate lawyer with IT and technology skills second to none. Combative with charm. Knows exactly what he is doing. Has a real touch for big PI claims. More hard-working than almost anybody I know. More than a safe pair of hands.” “Works very hard to achieve the right result. Doing a mixture of Claimant and Defendant work is able to present a balanced view whichever side has instructed him. Very detailed analysis of complex medical issues.” The Legal 500 2021, Personal Injury, Tier 1 Pankaj is routinely instructed nationally by leading firms and he frequently confers with insurers, medical experts in chambers or severely injured claimants often in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities or their own home. Travel anywhere in the country is not an issue. He is instructed and respected by leading Defence firms, and sought after by the insurers often at the first intimation of a claim. He adopts a team approach with the insurer and Solicitor. Pankaj has efficiency at the foremost of his practice and operates a “paperless” practice. He welcomes instructions in entirely electronic (PDF) form. This results in better use of fixed or budgeted costs and enhanced security. He is a Deputy District Judge and has considerable expertise in costs management of high value cases for both Claimants and Defendants. He is experienced in claims of the utmost severity exceeding £5 million. He often appears against Leading Counsel on his own. He has ongoing cases with a potential value up to £18 million. Areas of practice Brain injury ranging from catastrophic severity to the subtle but severe – “CRPS” Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Chronic and serious limb injuries with actual or potential amputation often with CRPS issues as well. Spinal Injury Also high-value cases involving:- Hyper-extension flexion injuries leading to Chronic Pain syndrome, or exacerbating pre-existing conditions such as fibromyalgia and joint-hypermobility syndrome Unusual Psychiatric Injury e.g. Somatisation Disorder and Hysterical Coversion Syndrome Fatal accidents Pankaj is also a national lecturer in personal Injury and published multiple author. He has written several books on Subtle Brain Injury and Chronic Pain. He is writing his third book on Catastrophic Brain Injury. He has been guest lecturer at the Royal Society of Medicine on the subject of Chronic Pain and CRPS and at the Peterhouse Annual Medico-legal Conference in Cambridge, and the International Birmingham Pain Forum.

Paul Kirtley

Paul is considered one of the leading civil practitioners on the North Eastern Circuit. His expansive practice covers a wide range of areas including: Personal injury and clinical negligence – highly experienced in complex, high value injury claims – particularly traumatic brain injury, amputee and chronic pain claims. Employment – regularly appears on behalf of clients in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Civil Courts. Regulatory – his practice covers a number of sectors, including police, fire, healthcare, sport and local authority.  He is one of a select group of barristers who is instructed on behalf of the Police Federation to represent its members. Mediation – Paul is an accredited civil and commercial and workplace mediator. He regularly mediates in a wide range of disputes, including commercial; employment including race and sex discrimination; public sector; solicitors and valuers’ negligence claims; medical negligence and personal injury claims.

Rachel Webster

Rachel qualified as a solicitor in 2015. Having joined Exchange Chambers in 2016, Rachel has developed a busy criminal practice, who regularly appears in both the magistrates’ and crown court. She receives instructions in a broad range of criminal cases including: Drugs Sexual offences including assaults and images Theft and burglary Robbery and all levels of serious assault Fraud offences Confiscation and enforcement proceedings Motoring offences Rachel has a great deal of experience in road traffic matters, successfully advancing arguments involving exceptional hardship and special reasons. Rachel has excellent advocacy skills and prides herself on her ability to forge excellent client relationships and offer a fast turnaround of work.

Sarah Barlow

Sarah has been practising as a barrister for over 20 years and has a wealth of trial experience. She is regularly instructed in demanding and complex cases and has considerable skill in dealing with a wide-range of expert evidence, including surgeons, pathologists, scientists and accident investigators. She is known for her “fearless” advocacy as well as for her strategic approach and the clarity of her advice and written work. Sarah is approachable and gains the trust and confidence of her clients from the outset, providing clear, and when necessary, robust advice throughout proceedings. Sarah has a broad ranging practice providing advice and representation in serious crime, personal injury, inquests and health and safety work.

Sean Smith

Sean has a strong criminal and regulatory practice. As a former managing partner of a leading criminal law firm in Yorkshire, Sean has amassed significant experience in high level criminal cases. A former solicitor advocate, Sean appreciates the needs and demands of solicitors from his first-hand experience. He understands the importance of early contact in order to establish a strong working relationship, and has excellent practical knowledge of all stages of a case. Sean is instructed in cases nationwide, and is happy to travel to where he is needed. Sean has experience of the full range of criminal matters including: Fraud Money laundering Human trafficking Sexual offences Murder and manslaughter Drug conspiracies and importation Armed robbery, kidnap and all levels of serious assault Health and safety Sean has particular experience dealing with all types of serious sexual offences including historic abuse and offences involving vulnerable witnesses. He has extensive expertise in the field of complex fraud and regularly undertakes lengthy trials in this area. He was sole junior in the largest cheque fraud investigation case in the UK. As a consequence of his work in this area, Sean has sound knowledge of POCA proceedings. He has vast experience defending health and safety prosecutions involving deaths or accidents in the workplace and other breaches of regulations. Sean also has experience of defending in high profile Environment Agency prosecutions involving water pollution, waste transfer sites and permit cases. He has also defended Food Standards Agency cases on behalf of restaurants and fast food outlets and cases involving death at work brought by Health and Safety Executive. He is recognised nationally for defence work against the RSPCA and Dangerous Dog cases up to High Court level. Sean also has significant experience of liquor licensing matters. He has experience of road traffic matters, not only of exceptional hardship and special reasons cases but also appearing in front of the traffic commissioner due to his knowledge of the road haulage industry, having previously held a HGV licence. In 2018, Sean was one of the speakers at our annual flagship Local Government and Social Housing Seminar. His talk covered disclosure in criminal proceedings, and tactics therein.

Simon Lewis

Simon practises almost exclusively in employment and commercial law. He frequently represents clients in complex multi-day employment tribunals. He has experience advising and representing both claimants and respondents in areas such as: unfair and wrongful dismissal, all types of discrimination, whistleblowing, unlawful deductions and holiday pay, employment status, redundancy and TUPE. In January 2016, Simon was appointed as an independent Case Examiner at the General Optical Council. As such, he considers allegations against individual opticians and optical businesses and, exercising the delegated powers of the Investigatory Committee, determines whether there is a realistic prospect that the registrant's fitness to practise is impaired. He has experience in all manner of commercial litigation involving contractual disputes, directors' duties, unfair prejudice petitions, insolvency matters and possession. He appears in High Court, fast track and small claims trials and an increasingly wide range of application hearings. He acts for major businesses in the finance, energy and brewing sectors.

Simon Ross

Simon is an experienced personal injury practitioner. He is dual-qualified and practised as a solicitor for a number of years prior to transferring across to the Bar in 2004. Simon was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 2010 and has recently been appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown by the Attorney General (Regional Panel A). He is recognised as a leading individual in both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for his personal injury practice. His work encompasses all aspects of the case whether drafting, advisory work and/or representation at trial or JSM. He is regularly instructed as sole counsel in cases pleaded up to £1million. Simon has an extremely busy practice that encompasses all areas of personal injury work including road traffic accidents, employers’ liability claims, occupational illness, fatal accidents and clinical negligence. He also in experienced in professional negligence cases where the underlying claim was a personal injury matter; these types of cases were within his areas of specialism when he practised as a solicitor. Simon is skilled in dealing with complex procedural issues and he is often instructed to advise and/or represent parties on appeals where there are tricky questions of procedure or costs.

Stephen Grattage

Stephen is recommended as a Leading Junior in Chambers and Partners for his fraud work. He is experienced in paper heavy cases of complexity including sensitive issues of disclosure, legal professional privilege and public interest immunity often international in scope. Stephen is regularly instructed in large regulatory offending by both individuals and companies, notably defending multi-billion pound corporate clients in relation to health and safety, environmental and Trading Standards prosecutions ranging in seriousness from technical weights and measures offences to breaches of health and safety regulations resulting in death. Stephen is able to understand complex issues and communicate them in clear language to those he represents. He is widely recognised as having a level of skill and detail well beyond his year of call. His experience of regulatory proceedings ranges from Inquest, through trial, to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Throughout his career, Stephen has prosecuted and represented those alleged to be involved in computer related crime.

Steven Fennell

Steven specialises in commercial, financial and insolvency litigation and professional negligence and regulatory matters for the legal and accountancy professions. Steven qualified as a solicitor in 1996, as an insolvency practitioner in 1999, and a solicitor advocate in 2013, before transferring to the Bar in 2014. He became a CEDR-accredited mediator in 2012. Steven’s commercial practice includes: Shareholder disputes Partnership and LLP disputes Sale of goods and supply of services Banking and finance litigation Franchise litigation Commercial fraud, including applications for freezing injunctions and search and seizure orders Consumer Credit Steven also regularly undertakes non-contentious advisory work on instructions from solicitors.

Susanna Kitzing

Susanna practises exclusively in the field of Professional Discipline.  She has significant experience in this area having presented cases for The General Medical Council since 2013 when she was appointed to a panel instructed to conduct Interim Order hearings. Since then, Susanna has been instructed in Fitness to Practice hearings dealing with issues of: Professional performance Criminal Convictions Dishonesty Cases involving prescribing errors. Sexual Misconduct Health Use of Alcohol / Drugs Susanna has additionally presented cases involving doctors’ applications for restoration, review hearings and hearings before the Investigation Committee. In the last year, Susanna had been instructed in several complex and long-lasting cases.  The case of Dr Vardhineni concerned the doctor’s involvement in a tutoring agency alleged to have been ‘coaching’ International Medical Graduates when preparing for the GMC’s PLAB 2 examinations.  The case involved analysis of a considerable amount of evidence found on social media sites. She is also instructed in an ongoing case, which commenced in September 2021 concerning the duties of a doctor practising in assistance medicine and making decisions regarding repatriation.

Victoria Smith-Swain

Victoria is a specialist criminal and regulatory advocate. Acting for both the prosecution and defence, she conducts trials, sentences, newton hearings, plea and case management hearings and mentions across a full spectrum of criminal matters including dishonesty and fraud offences; violent offences ranging from common assault to murder; sexual offences; drug offences; public order offences; road traffic offences; ASBO and Football Banning Order applications; POCA applications and Confiscation Enforcement proceedings; and DWP and Local Authority prosecutions. During her time at the General Medical Council, Victoria gained experience of the MPTS Fitness to Practise Panel and Interim Order Panel hearings for cases involving misconduct, deficient performance, health, conviction or multi-factorial impairments. She attended appeals and drafted witness statements, allegations, sanction submissions and instructions for Judicial Review.

William Hanbury

An accomplished barrister with more than thirty years of experience, Bill practises in most areas of commercial dispute resolution with an emphasis on property law including landlord and tenant (commercial and residential), conveyancing, trusts of land disputes, Inheritance Act claims and disputes over partnership property including professional negligence claims arising out of these practice areas. Bill also specialises in local government law especially local government finance and has appeared in the High Court in statutory appeals, judicial review challenges and appeals by way of case stated in relation to liability orders and is recommended in the 2023 edition of Chambers Directory for local government work. This includes: Business rates and council tax – acting for both ratepayers and billing authorities including advising on the success or otherwise of tax avoidance measures; Appearing and advising on town and village green enquiries – acting both for applicants and respondents. Since joining chambers in 2008, Bill has advised local and other public authorities as well as companies and individuals and appeared at all levels of the courts and tribunals system including the Lands Chamber, Administrative Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Bill adopts a flexible fees structure including working for fixed fees where appropriate. Bill is consistently recommended as a leading individual in the Legal 500 guide and Chambers and Partners directory.