Exchange Chambers

Adam has a broad commercial chancery practice, encompassing: Company and insolvency Partnership Commercial fraud Professional Negligence Insurance and reinsurance General commercial litigation Adam’s primary focus is on litigation but he also regularly acts for insurers and reinsurers on insurance business transfer schemes and schemes of arrangement.

Alaric Bassano

Alaric is a specialist criminal barrister who acts for both the prosecution and defence in cases of the utmost gravity. He is frequently instructed in areas including homicide, attempted murder, rape and serious sexual violence, serious violence and large scale drug trafficking, firearms offences and gang-related criminal activity, fraud and money laundering and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor.

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

Alice Dobbie

Alice acts exclusively for Defendants and is recognised as a leading junior by the Legal 500. She is a specialist in civil fraud, negligence and costs. Her High Court and multi-track work includes clinical negligence, personal injury, insurance disputes and costs litigation. She is instructed as a sole junior against King’s Counsel. She has substantial experience in claims arising out of employer’s liability, occupier’s liability, product liability and public liability. In 2019 she was one of the youngest barristers to be appointed a Recorder. Her strong academic background, outstanding written and oral advocacy and judicial experience make her first choice counsel for a number of insurers and defence firms.

Alun James

Alun advises on all direct taxes in a business context, as well as SDLT and VAT. He aims to help businesses achieve their commercial objectives in the most tax efficient manner. The majority of his professional clients are accountants and the work business orientated. He deals with matters such as: Corporate reorganisations Share buy-backs and returning capital Debt restructuring Buy-outs S703 and clearance work Employment-related securities, EMI schemes EIS/VCT issues and so on Much of his practice is advisory, whether planning, transaction-based or assisting in relation to disputes with HMRC. Litigation is also undertaken, usually at Commissioner/VAT Tribunal level, but visits to the High Court are not unknown, most recently in a judicial review context. In the past, Alun has acted for HM Customs & Excise, being a member of the Attorney-General’s Provincial Panel. Alun seeks always to develop a good working relationship with his clients. Many are in contact on a regular basis, sometimes just to talk a matter through, as well as for specific advice. He has been one of the editors of Bramwell’s Taxation of Companies and Company Reconstructions since 1992. He lectures in his areas of particular interest across the UK, and often participates in clients’ in-house discussion sessions on topical tax issues. He features in both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 as a leading junior. He has been in practice since 1988 and is also a member of Temple Tax Chambers.

Amanda Johnson

Amanda is a specialist criminal practitioner, instructed to prosecute and defend all manner of criminal cases including white collar fraud, serious drug offences and conspiracies, violence, sexual offences (including grooming) and public disorder, murder and conspiracy to murder, and arson. She is also experienced in the field of prison law. Amanda has become a specialist in serious sexual offences including historic rape, multi-complainant cases, and sexual grooming.

Amie Boothman

Amie was called to the Bar in 2019 and became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2021 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Andrew Vinson and James Malam. Amie has a commercial and chancery practice that includes commercial litigation, insolvency (corporate and personal), property and trusts. Across those areas, Amie regularly appears in the county and high courts for interlocutory hearings and trials and is frequently instructed to draft statements of case and formal advice. Amie advises clients in conference, writing and has experience in dealing with claims from the outset to conclusion, providing informal advice and guidance throughout the course of proceedings. Amie has also represented clients at mediation. Amie is also developing a niche practice in equestrian law. Examples of Amie’s recent equestrian work includes: Successfully representing the claimant purchaser in a two-day trial relating to the sale of a horse, concerning issues of breach of contract, misrepresentation, negligence, and agency. Drafting pleadings relating to sales and purchase disputes, breach of contract, livery disputes, and jurisdictional matters. Outside of her practice, Amie is regularly involved in the training provided by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for students. Amie is also an interviewer for the Inn’s GDL and BPC major scholarships and a pupil mentor on behalf of the Chancery Bar Association.

Andrew Williams

Andrew has a very specialised Real Estate litigation practice. Unusually for a barrister outside London, he practises exclusively in the field of property law. Accordingly he has extensive experience of almost every type of property dispute. The Legal 500 describes Andrew as being “formidable in court” and Chambers and Partners states that he has an “encyclopaedic knowledge of property litigation”. He has appeared in courts and tribunals at all levels all the way up to the House of Lords/Supreme Court. As a former university lecturer in land law and with over 25 years’ experience at the Chancery bar, he is frequently involved in complex property litigation. He has appeared in numerous reported decisions and his articles on property law topics have been published extensively, mainly in specialist journals. Andrew’s practice extends to: All aspects of commercial & residential Landlord and Tenant: e.g. dilapidations, business tenancies, forfeiture, service charges, leasehold enfranchisement, agricultural tenancies Proprietary estoppel, adverse possession, restrictive covenants, mortgages, sale of land, beneficial interest disputes Solicitors negligence claims arising out of property transactions Nuisance, boundary disputes, easements, possession claims Property-based estates disputes and partnership disputes Overage, options and land development disputes Real estate litigation of all types

Andrew Vinson

Andrew has a busy practice which has covered the full spectrum of chancery and commercial work for the past 15 years. He has a particular emphasis on insolvency, property and commercial litigation as well as professional liability matters. Andrew prides himself on, and is consistently recommended as, being an incisive barrister and a team player who understands and promptly responds to the needs of his clients. He is well aware of the practical and commercial realities facing clients in litigation and works hard to take these into account in his approach to cases. Andrew’s wide client base includes private individuals through to national and multi-national companies. His clients have included Premiership football clubs and media figures. Many clients are insolvency office holders, and Andrew has vast experience of acting for numerous local authorities and registered social landlords. Andrew has been appointed to the Attorney General’s regional panel of Counsel and has experience of dealing with director’s disqualification proceedings and public interest winding-up petitions. Examples of recent cases in which Andrew has been instructed include: successfully recovering an interest in property with a substantial value on the basis that its disposition had amounted to a transaction at an undervalue advising in relation to a sizeable preference claim along with numerous allegations of breach of director’ duties representing the successful claimant in relation to negligence on the part of a conveyancing solicitor leading to a substantial six figure recovery. advising in a combined claim against both solicitors and accountants in relation to an aborted land transaction and the significant consequential losses arising representing a liquidator alleged by the company’s former shareholders to have acted negligently in the disposal of company assets successfully defending a claim for sums due on a quantum meruit basis over the course of a 5 day trial advising a developer in relation to the terms and exercise of an option agreement

Andrew Ward

Andrew is recommended in the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories as a leading personal injury junior. He represents Claimants and Defendants in high value employers’ liability, public liability and RTA personal injury claims. He has extensive experience of cases involving traumatic brain injury, amputation, chronic pain conditions, functional neurological disorder, paralysis caused by spinal injury, fatal accidents, issues of motor insurance policy coverage and fundamental dishonesty. Andrew has substantial heavyweight trial experience. His recent cases include Michael Mantey -v- Ministry of Defence [2023] EWHC 761 (KB) and Brian Muyepa -v- Ministry of Defence [2022] EWHC 2648 (KB) (successful defence with a finding of fundamental dishonesty in a £1.5 million and a £3.7 million claim respectively). He is experienced in representing properly interested persons at inquests. Andrew was shortlisted for the “Barrister / KC of the Year” award at the Manchester Legal Awards 2023. He is a member of the Attorney General’s Regional ‘A’ Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. He is also a tenant at 12 King’s Bench Walk in London.

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 Jebb

Andrew is a specialist defence criminal advocate. He is instructed by leading law firms and is keen to provide advice from the earliest stage of cases. Recognised as a leading white-collar defence junior outside London – Chambers UK 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.Cases: 2016 – Operation Lunar – representing former HMRC officer alleged to be involved in tax evasion schemes for high net-worth individuals causing a loss to HMRC of approximately £150m 2015/2016 - R v C – representing Defendant accused of £2m money laundering 2015/2016 – R v C and others – representing businessman alleged to be involved in £180m banking fraud, being prosecuted by Serious Fraud Office 2015/2016 – Operation Affleck – representing Defendant in £3.5m Land Banking fraud 2015/2016 – Operation Alveras – representing Defendant in £11m money laundering scheme 2013/2014 – Operation Cactus Hent – represented main Defendant in multi-million pound alleged pension fraud – all defendants acquitted at the close of the Crown’s case – ruling upheld after unsuccessful appeal by the Prosecution – R v Quillan [2015] EWCA Crim 538 2012/2013 – Operation Valgus – represented Defendant in £30m mortgage fraud 2012/2013 – Operation Kalo – represented Defendant in nail-bombing conspiracy 2012 – Operation Dumpcart – represented Defendant in £3m VAT repayment fraud 2011/2012 – Operation Nacho – represented Defendant in multi-million pound ‘crash for cash’ insurance fraud 2011/2012 – Operation Chaplin – represented lead Defendant in large-scale international conspiracy to import up to 40 tonnes of cocaine from South America 2011 – Operation Quicksand – represented acquitted Defendant accused of multi-million pound procurement corruption involving Network Rail 2009/2010 – Operation Tankard – prosecuted multi-million pound Financial Advisor fraud. Thought to be the first ever prosecution for the practices of churning and bond-stripping. 2010/2012 – Operation Raiment – represented Defendant in multi-million pound payroll fraud 2009/2010 – R v Goodison – represented acquitted Defendant accused of participation in €90 million fraud on HSBC 2009 – Operation Seahog – represented Defendant in large-scale Security Industry fraud 2008 – R v Brumskill – represented acquitted main Defendant accused of multi-million pound ILA fraud R v Ornstein – represented acquitted Defendant accused of attempting to defraud Irish banks of $35m as part of a Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud

Andrew Smith

Andrew has over 30 years of experience of litigation in courts at all levels. He has practised at the Scottish Bar (call 1988, silk 2002) and since 2006 at the English Bar. He took silk in England in 2016 after establishing a busy and successful practice in England as well as Scotland. Andrew has extensive trial and appellate experience in all courts having appeared in an estimated 300 trials and proofs; and well over a hundred appeals. He has a wealth of court experience, including ten appearances in the Supreme Court as leader, and several in the House of Lords and Privy Council previously. He has represented several clients in applications to the European Court of Human Rights. He has appeared at all levels of court in both Scotland and England. Andrew has particular expertise and interest in commercial litigation, insurance and professional negligence product liability work (including metal to metal hips, PIP implants, Vioxx and Celebrex litigation, VW emissions claims). He has extensive experience in medical negligence claims and commercial claims in both Scotland and England. He is instructed for a claimant in England, the claim having an estimated value of in excess of $300m, and is working together with US and UK based lawyers to seek multi-jurisdictional pre litigation orders. He has been rated in the legal directories for several categories (including commercial litigation, professional regulation, medical negligence and personal injury) and praised for his “attention to detail, meticulous preparation and ability to innovate.” Andrew obtained a qualification in Arbitration from Aberdeen University in 2017, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has appeared in arbitration hearings, and regularly provides advice to clients on contractual matters with a view to protecting their position in arbitration issues.

Andrew Haslam KC

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.

Anesta Weekes KC

Anesta Weekes KC is considered by many as a top tier criminal advocate, known for her decisive cutting edge cross examination and memorable passionate closing speeches. She is an excellent Court of Appeal/Privy Council advocate. Anesta has particular expertise in dealing with sensitive issues of national importance which is reflected in her work on a number of major national Public Inquiries and Reviews, one of the most memorable being The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. Anesta maintains this level of expertise by imposing upon herself the discipline of detailed preparation in every case. She practices the skill of preparation outside the courtroom as a leading advocacy trainer in her spare time, in the UK and common law jurisdictions including the Caribbean, South Africa, Scotland, Dublin/Northern Ireland and Kuala Lumpur.

Anja Lansbergen-Mills

Anja specialises in commercial dispute resolution and insolvency. She is frequently instructed by insolvency office holders and their assignees in actions against directors and is well placed to act in shareholder actions and associated matters. Anja’s strength lies in combining a forensic attention to detail with strong technical skill and sound commercial judgement. Clients have observed that she is “fantastic on her feet”, “always incredibly well prepared” and “a fearless fighter in court” (Chambers and Partners 2024) and have described Anja as “commercial and very pragmatic” and “very hard-working and articulate” (Chambers and Partners 2023). Anja relates well with clients and is astute in her pursuit of their objectives, generating feedback that she “really considers client requirements and aims” and is “really easy to work with and presents well before clients” (Legal 500 2023). Anja has proved a popular choice for led work, through which she has acquired experience of drafting, advocacy and strategy formulation in high value and complex disputes. Led briefs include a c.£4m fraud claim in which she obtained a without-notice freezing order and proprietary injunction, and subsequent Norwich Pharmacal relief, and an application brought by administrators of a peer-to-peer lending platform concerning the treatment of security realisations. Anja’s experience otherwise includes: Advising trustees in bankruptcy in respect of a purported secured debt of c.£1.5m; Advising on an intimated claim concerning misuse of confidential information, for damages of c.£500k-800k; Defending a claim for specific performance on the grounds of the contract being induced by misrepresentation, and counterclaiming for rescission or damages of c.£230k; Securing undertakings on an application for injunctive relief brought in the course of a s.994 petition, to restrain ongoing prejudicial conduct detrimental to the company; Successfully defending an application for an administration order brought on the basis of a contingent debt of circa £337k, where the contingent event was one of solvency (Interactive Digital Systems Ltd v VST Enterprises Ltd [2021] EWHC 887 (Ch)). Anja has a firm grounding in matters of procedure. In 2018 she was appointed by the Lord Chancellor as a barrister member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, and thereafter was re-appointed for a second three-year term in 2021. Whilst a member of the Committee Anja has worked on projects including the re-write of Part 81 on Contempt, on which she presented to the Law Society alongside Mr Justice Kerr. Anja was appointed as junior counsel to the Crown (regional panel C) commencing 1 March 2021, since which she has regularly appeared for the Secretary of State in director disqualification proceedings. Anja also sits on the advisory board to the University of Liverpool School of Law, which she was asked to join in 2024.

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.

Anthony Metzer KC

Anthony Metzer KC is a highly-regarded silk in criminal defence work with considerable appellate and Privy Council experience, particularly in regards to cases of serious sexual and physical violence. He also specialises in fraud and money laundering allegations and has substantial experience in health and safety prosecutions. His criminal practice includes high profile cases such as the recent ‘Nigella Lawson Case’, where he successfully represented the first of two sisters charged with defrauding their employers, Ms Lawson and Charles Saatchi. Anthony is consistently recommended in Chambers & Partners and has recently been described in the 2018 edition as a “devastating cross-examiner”. He is presently listed in the categories of Crime (Band 3 – Silk) and in Police Law – mainly Claimant (Band 2 – Silk). Chambers & Partners notes that Anthony frequently acts in claims against the police for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance and assault. He offers particular experience in human rights cases and has been instructed to act against the police and local authorities. His strengths are: “he is very nice on a personal level, always willing to help and is very responsive” and “he has impressive advocacy skills and is excellent with clients.” Chambers & Partners has also detailed that Anthony acted in a claim against the Police of the Metropolis, a claim under Articles 3 and 8 of the Human Rights Act arising out of the disappearance and subsequent suicide of a mentally ill man. His expertise has also been recognised by the Legal 500 2017 edition, where he is recommended as a Leading Silk in Band 2 in crime as ‘a well-prepared, thorough and engaging advocate – his legal arguments are consistently impressive’ and as a Leading Silk in Band 3 in the civil liberties and human rights category as being “well known in the field, especially in claims against the police.”

Anthony Eyers

Anthony practised as a tenant of Exchange Chambers until March 2007, specialising exclusively in criminal law. Since March 2007, Anthony has lived and practised exclusively in criminal law in Perth, Western Australia. In particular, Anthony enjoys and acts in complex commercial prosecutions, both defending and acting for the prosecution on behalf of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. He has defended in a substantial number of homicides, as well as numerous complex allegations of fraud, drug importation, tax evasion and sexual offending. Anthony retains the right to practise in England and Wales as well as all Australian States and Territories.

Anthony Goff

Anthony is an experienced clinical negligence practitioner, with extensive knowledge across a wide range of medical disciplines. He deals with claims regarding: Cosmetic surgery Dental negligence GP negligence Gynaecology Obstetric and neo-natal management Oncology Orthopaedics Psychiatry Anthony has a thorough understanding of complex medical issues as a result of his personal injury and clinical negligence practice. An assured advocate, Tony inspires confidence in clients with the way that he handles highly sensitive matters. He also has wide ranging experience of inquests and fatal accidents arising from medical negligence.

Anya Horwood

Called 1991

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.

Ben Myers KC

Benjamin Myers KC is a leading criminal silk. Described as ‘brilliant’, ‘extremely astute’ ‘an exceptionally gifted lawyer – a fearsome advocate,’ with ‘an exceptional ability to digest complex cases’, he appears in courts across the country and is ranked at the top of his field in crime and financial crime in Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and in the Legal 500. He has been shortlisted as the Legal 500 Crime Silk of the Year 2022. Ben handles cases in all areas of the criminal law including murder, manslaughter, high value fraud, money laundering, multimillion-pound confiscation under POCA, regulatory offences, drug trafficking, national and international organised crime, rape and historic sexual abuse. He deals with prosecutions by the CPS, the SFO, the OFT and other agencies and regulatory bodies. He is experienced in leading large teams in substantial, complex and sensitive cases, many of which have a high public profile. He has huge experience as a criminal trial advocate and appellate advocate, and is described as ‘an excellent lawyer with great courtroom skills’, who has ‘an excellent rapport with juries.’ Recent cases include the defence of David Duckenfield, the police match commander at the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy, tried for gross negligence manslaughter; Operation Lunar, an investigation by HMRC into a £330 million tax fraud; and R v Barton, the leading Court of Appeal authority defining the test for dishonesty in English criminal law. He is currently representing Lucy Letby, a nurse accused of multiple offences of murder and attempted murder, in proceedings before the Crown Court. Ben is highly regarded for his ‘meticulous preparation’ and his ability to formulate astute case strategy. He can be relied upon to ‘put clients at their ease’ and is attuned to the pressures upon them; whether that is because of their public status, the risk to their assets, their vulnerability and mental health, or more generally the impact of criminal proceedings on their personal or professional life. He has represented company directors, financial directors, investment managers, police officers, teachers, medical practitioners and public figures. Ben is able to provide advice at all stages of proceedings, including pre-charge; challenging prosecutions from the earliest stages and thereafter. His work includes judicial review, privacy and media-related applications in the context of criminal law. He has a wide experience of appellate work and provides advice and representation on appeal. Ben undertakes both legally aided and privately funded work.

Ben Berkson

Ben became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2021 following pupillage under the supervision of Martine Snowdon. His busy case load has provided Ben experience in all manner of Crown Court hearings. Ben has a varied practice in both the Magistrates Court and the Crown Court. His experience spans a broad range of instructions (both prosecuting and defending) in the following areas: Motor and vehicle offences Drugs offences Offences against the person Sexual offences Dishonesty offences As a CPS grade 1 prosecutor, Ben has prosecuted appeals against convictions in the Crown Court. In the Magistrates’ Court, Ben has successfully defended and prosecuted a number of trials. He has also built experience in questioning vulnerable and child witnesses. Ben has also been instructed on committal hearings in the County Court for breaches of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (often acting for the Applicant).

Benjamin Aina KC

Benjamin Aina KC is a first-class Silk with a wealth of experience in criminal law. Since 2016 he has undertaken in excess of 25 Homicide cases for the prosecution and 20 Homicide cases for the defence. He has a particular speciality in defending juveniles accused of Homicide. He is predominantly a criminal practitioner but also practices in public law. Benjamin took silk in 2009 and is often asked to advise in cases where something has gone fundamentally wrong with the criminal Justice system; or where an esoteric point of law has arisen. In 2008, he considered 20 criminal and civil cases in advising the Governor and Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands on the removal of a Grand Court Judge for misbehaviour: Privy Council: Re: Madam Justice Levers [2010] UKPC 24, paragraphs 14-20, 32. Between August 2010 and March 2011, Benjamin was instructed to advise on a series of complaints brought by a barrister and senior police officer, against three Grand Court Judges (including the Chief Justice), the Attorney General, Solicitor General and a senior civil servant. This led to a 185 page report. In Operation Pointer [2015], a serious public disorder took place in Birmingham during the August 2011 riots, where during the disturbance, cars drove into a crowd killing three Asian men. The case received national television and press coverage, and eight men were charged with murder and were acquitted by the jury. The CPS received a formal complaint about the handling of this murder case, and Benjamin was instructed to advise on this formal complaint. In Jack Mount (2016) a 96 year old former headmaster was accused of historic rape of his daughters and 60 children. He advised the Chief Crown Prosecutor and the DPP on the correct process of dealing with this complex and sensitive case. Benjamin was instructed in 2023 by the CPS to take over the re-trial of the Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy after difficulties emerged in the first trial leading to acquittals. In Lucima v CCC; DPP v Woolwich: [2020] EWHC 3243 (Admin) the custody time limits had been extended to a period approaching one year during the pandemic period. A circuit Judge had ruled that the Government had not provided sufficient resources. Benjamin invited the LCJ to put a cap of 8 months custody time limits for Juveniles – he disagreed but Parliament subsequently introduced legislation adopting his argument! R v. Lanning & Camille [2021] EWCA Crim 450: Benjamin invited the Court of Appeal to revisit the law, and widen the scope of overwhelming super intervening act in homicide cases. The revisit is due to existing professional unease about the liability in homicide cases for a secondary parties where the secondary party has no knowledge of the principal’s possession and use of a knife. Fulford LJ is a reference for me in respect of this case and Anderson below. Anderson v AG Isle of Man [2021] UKPC 20 PC: Prosecuting on behalf of the AG of Isle of Man, he responded to an appeal involving the scope of expert psychiatric evidence in diminished responsibility cases. Benjamin has extensively assisted in the development of the law in: Okafor (1994) 99 Cr.App.R. 97 – applicability of code C.10-12 in Customs cases Ofori & Tackie (No.2) (1994) 99 Cr.App.R. 223 – Admissibility of foreign evidence in English courts. ex parte Salubi (2002) 2 Cr.App.R. 40 – Abuse of process in section 51 transfer cases De Silva (2003) 2 Cr.App.R.5 – ambit of Customs co-operation interviews. Abiodun [2005] EWCA Crim 09 – criteria to be applied before lawful intercepts can take place in prison. Malcolm v DPP [2007] 2 Cr App R 1 [Prosecuting Counsel] – admissibility of new evidence after justices have retired. Wallace [2007] 2 Cr App R 30 – application of bad character provisions in circumstantial evidence cases. Ulcay [2008] 1 Cr.App.R. 27 – ambit and scope of cab rank principle in complex fraud cases R v. Stanton [2014] EWCA Crim 1695 [Prosecuting Counsel]: the correct approach to circumstantial evidence in murder cases R v. Sliogeris [2015] EWCA Crim 22 [Prosecuting Counsel]: The correct approach to bad character hearsay evidence where cut throat defences are being run in a murder case. R v. PW [2016] 2 Cr.App.R 27 [Prosecuting Counsel]: The applicable mens rea in indecent images; abuse of process principles; the Tryrell principle; preferring indictments on electronic system; jurisdiction of Court of Appeal in Terminating appeals.

Bill Braithwaite KC

Brain injury guru Bill Braithwaite KC “makes a difference” to any complex claim” (Legal 500). Bill is a vastly experienced and well-known personal injury practitioner. He has represented over one thousand catastrophically injured claimants, and regularly recovers more than £50 million a year in compensation for catastrophically injured claimants. Bill’s practice is highly specialised. He represents claimants only, in claims involving catastrophic brain and spine injury, however caused, including clinical negligence.

Brynmor Adams

Brynmor specialises in property and public law. He has particular expertise in cases where these two areas interact such as in the fields of social housing and local government. He frequently deals with the impact of human rights and equality law on these sectors. Brynmor recently joined Exchange from a specialist property and housing law chambers in London. He has experience of appearing at all levels of court and tribunal and can be instructed for cases nationwide. Brynmor’s property practice ranges from trusts of land and real property through to landlord and tenant matters. He is experienced in private sector and public sector property disputes. He has appeared on numerous occasions before the Property Chamber of the First-Tier Tribunal in leasehold and land registration disputes, and on appeals to the Upper Tribunal. Brynmor’s clients include a wide range of public bodies and local authorities. He is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel, which enables him to represent central government departments. He frequently represents the government in judicial review proceedings in the High Court or UTIAC.

Cairns Nelson KC

Cairns is an experienced criminal barrister with substantial expertise in the field of fraud, particularly revenue fraud (direct and indirect tax frauds) including civil actions. He has appeared in a number of cases involving prosecutions relating to the trade in military goods under the Export and Trade Control legislation and regulations. This is a complex area of law, involving UK statutory provisions, EC directives and UN sanctions. He has appeared in most of the leading complex cases in this field, involving military aircraft parts to Iran, bombs to Sri Lanka, and body armour to Iraq. Cairns also has wide experience of defending homicide cases. In the regulatory field, he recently represented the BSB in an appeal concerning the fairness of the Bar disciplinary processes.

Caitlin Edwards

Caitlin became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in March 2022 following the successful completion of her pupillage. During her pupillage, Caitlin experienced a range of Personal Injury, Court of Protection and Family work. Caitlin predominantly practises in Personal Injury, appearing in Court on an almost daily basis on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. Her practice throughout second six has encompassed small claim and fast track trials, applications, CCMCs, Stage 3 and approval hearings. Caitlin is also frequently instructed on credit hire claims, and has experience representing clients who are accused of fundamental dishonesty. Caitlin has a busy paperwork practice, regularly drafting pleadings and advising on both liability and quantum. Prior to pupillage, Caitlin worked as a paralegal in the Catastrophic Injury and Large Loss team of a busy global firm, often assisting the file handlers by drafting pleadings and other legal documents. Her experience working in a firm of this size has demonstrated to Caitlin what a solicitor requires from those they instruct. She therefore provides a quick turnaround on papers and communicates well with those who instruct her, promptly updating them as to the outcome of her hearings. Caitlin is also happy to assist file handlers on both a formal and informal basis and welcomes contact by email or telephone. Caitlin previously volunteered with the Citizen’s Advice Witness Service for three years. As a result, Caitlin is able to put her lay clients at ease due to her personable approach and ability to quickly build rapport with those she represents, reflected in the feedback she has received.

Carly Sandbach

Carly is a leading individual whose practice covers all aspects of chancery and commercial litigation and advisory work. She has a broad range of experience in matters including insolvency (both personal and corporate), company and partnership, shareholder disputes, directors disqualification, professional negligence, banking, mortgage, guarantees and recovery of assets, trusts, contractual disputes and sale of goods. Carly is consistently recommended as a Leading Individual in Chambers and Partners. In Chambers and Partners 2021 she was recommended as a Leading Individual in both the fields of Commercial Dispute Resolution and Restructuring/Insolvency. Described as “technically excellent and a very, very good advocate”; clients report that she is sensible and down-to-earth, fights cases with vigour and is proactive and able to quickly grasp the issues. “She can be a real fighter when she needs to be, but is also very polished and very clever.” Carly has earned a reputation for thoroughness: her preparation for hearings and conferences is described by the Legal 500 as simply “excellent on the law and extremely tenacious.” In 2010 Carly was appointed as Junior Counsel to the Crown (Provincial Panel) and was re-appointed in 2018 to Regional Panel A. Her clients include insolvency practitioners, banks, multi-nationals, small businesses, professional firms and private individuals, as well as the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and other Government Departments.

Caroline Gee

Caroline specialises in matrimonial finance and private law children disputes. Within financial provision proceedings, Caroline has a breadth of experience of not only high value claims involving company valuations, analysis of business accounts, inherited wealth, foreign property, farming cases, contributions arguments, pension issues, but also lower value claims which bring to bear their own complexities. In her work involving children, Caroline regularly deals with residence and contact applications and all the sensitive and complex issues relating thereto. Caroline has a reputation of having a very personable approach with clients and adopts a constructive approach to litigation. She is valued by solicitors for her high level of client care and negotiating skills. Caroline prides herself on dealing with issues in a sensitive manner whilst adopting a practical and realistic approach. She will fight hard for her clients in every instruction.

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.

Catherine Knowles

Catherine practises in all areas of employment law and personal injury law. She is on the Attorney-General’s Regional A Panel of Junior Counsel and she is regularly instructed to act on behalf of government departments and agencies in cases concerning her areas of expertise. Catherine has a well-earned reputation for her organisation, her teamwork and her ability to merge sensitivity with strength when instructed. The fact that Catherine’s practice encompasses both employment and personal injury means that she is well placed to advise in cases which require consideration of both areas of law. This includes claims in the County and High Courts involving allegations that the employer has failed to protect the Claimant from suffering psychiatric injury due to stress at work, claims under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and Employment Tribunal discrimination claims which involve allegations of personal injury and claims for substantial compensation.

Celestine Greenwood

Celeste is human rights lawyer and activist recently returned to practise here in the UK in family law, specifically public law children cases. She was called to the Bar in 1991 and in 2011, having reached the pinnacle of junior work in her field, decided to follow her dream to work overseas in the international human rights field. Since her return she has seamlessly picked up her practice and is a highly respected and very sought-after advocate regarded as a leader in the public law family field. She brings a wealth of experience, including experience garnered in the criminal jurisdiction augmented by her overseas experience, a feminist and human rights-based approach, intellectual rigour, and passion. Prior to her sojourn overseas she was regularly the advocate of choice both for the local authority and parents alike in the most serious cases such as shaken baby, FII and baby death cases. Although often led in such cases she was regularly entrusted by the local authority to take on leading counsel. Whilst overseas Celeste pursued her passion for the full realisation of the human rights of women and girls and worked with abused girls and issues of access to justice in Tajikistan, led a team of trainers providing human rights training to the range of stakeholders and beneficiaries from small NGOs to Parliamentarians and High Court judges across the Pacific, and working for USAID in Afghanistan on the world’s largest women’s empowerment project. Whilst in the United States she gained her LLM in International Human Rights and Gender then being asked to join the teaching staff of her university.

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).

Charlotte Atherton

Charlotte is a specialist criminal practitioner with experience in a wide range of criminal matters including fraud and money laundering; violent offences; drugs offences; public order offences; serious sexual offences; dishonesty; road traffic offences; environmental offences; confiscation proceedings; and asset recovery. Charlotte has particular experience of large and complex fraud cases including money laundering offences. She has been involved in a number of VHCCs dealing with voluminous case papers, requiring extensive and detailed case preparation. Charlotte prosecutes on behalf of the CPS (Category 3), DWP, Local Authorities, Health and Safety Executive and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. She has been admitted to the CPS specialist Rape Panel and List C of the Regulatory Panel. She has represented the Environment Agency and defended Local Authority prosecutions. She also has experience of conducting contested appeals against the revocation of environmental permits and waste management licences before the Inspectorate.

Charlotte Rimmer

Charlotte began her career in licensing law, appearing as an advocate at contested tribunals before joining the CPS and completing pupillage in 2008. She quickly progressed through the organisation, leading Crown Court teams in Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria, before becoming Head of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences for the North West. Charlotte has experience handling the full range of criminal offences, including homicide, fraud, serious violence, drug supply and serious sexual abuse and brings a reputation for excellence. Though Charlotte has many years of experience in prosecution work and understands what it takes to offer the best possible service to a prosecution client; her unique insight is equally invaluable in a defence setting. Also highly skilled in overseeing the most sensitive of cases, Charlotte offers the best standards of client care, particularly in cases involving children, youths and vulnerable adults. A calming presence both in and out of court, Charlotte is regarded for her approachability and pragmatism and after years of handling some of the most challenging prosecutions in the region, Charlotte is unfazed by complexity and volume, combining an ability to quickly identify the issues in a case with a meticulous approach to preparation.

Charlotte Kenny

Charlotte is an accomplished advocate and a leading junior for the defence with a comprehensive and wide-ranging experience of serious and complex criminal cases. As a Level 4 prosecutor, the specialist divisions of the Crown Prosecution Service regularly instruct Charlotte as a leading junior in heavyweight cases. She has extensive litigation and advisory experience in a wide range of substantial fraud cases, large-scale international and national drug conspiracies and other areas of serious crime including money laundering, homicide, armed robbery and firearms offences, serious sexual offences, and child cruelty. Instructions are also regularly received in complex POCA cases and Charlotte has a comprehensive knowledge of criminal restraint and asset protection.

Chloe Fordham

Chloe is an experienced junior, specialising in criminal and regulatory law. In her criminal practice, her emphasis is on organised and financial crime and she has prosecuted and defended in a large number of complex and high-profile cases of that nature. By prosecuting and defending in drugs and firearms conspiracies, Chloe has become accomplished in the handling of large amounts of multi-faceted evidence. She also applies those skills defending large-scale fraud and money laundering cases. She is a Grade 4 Prosecutor and a member of both the Specialist Serious Crime and Specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) lists of prosecutors. Chloe is regularly instructed by the General Medical Council to present fitness to practice cases at the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal. These cases range from clinical cases which require mastery of intricate medical expertise to sexual malpractice and dishonesty. Chloe has a wealth of experience in and in-depth understanding of disclosure which she has applied not only in large-scale criminal cases but also in the Hillsborough Investigation. Having practiced in London for a decade before her move to the Northern Circuit in 2015, Chloe also maintains a practice there.

Chris Gutteridge

Chris completed pupillage at Exchange Chambers in 2007. Since then he has established a strong practice in personal injury and clinical negligence work, principally for claimants (but with experience of acting for defendants). He works exclusively in multi-track litigation including cases involving catastrophic injury and undertakes all aspects of advisory and court work. He prides himself on good relationships with solicitors, quick turnaround of paperwork and flexibility in addressing case management issues. This coupled with determined court advocacy has resulted in Chris being a much sought after advocate.

Chris Richards

Chris was called to the Bar in 2016. He became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2017 following the successful completion of his common law pupillage with Chambers. Chris is a specialist personal injury practitioner. Chris has a strong multi-track practice and an established fast-track practice. Chris accepts instructions across all areas of personal injury work, including road traffic accident claims, occupier’s liability claims, and public liability claims. Chris regularly acts in cases of significant value, often representing Claimants who have suffered lifelong injury and compromise at work. Chris has appeared in the County Court and High Court and has extensive appellate experience. Chris has recently been appointed to the prestigious Attorney General’s Regional C Panel (to run from March 2023). Recent multi-track instructions include the following (updated in January 2023): An ongoing claim involving a significant spinal injury, with the claim pleaded up to £200,000 (and likely to increase); A successful claim involving a serious injury to a foot, with the claim being settled for more than £30,000 (August 2022); A successful claim involving a serious fracture injury to an ankle, which successfully settled for £80,000 (around May 2022); A successful claim involving a significant injury to the knee, which settled for over £100,000 in damages and costs (March 2022). Chris believes strongly that people who have been injured should have access to effective representation. For more information about Chris’s experience in representing Claimants, please see the ‘Personal Injury’ tab. Chris frequently assists with defending claims brought against insurers and local authorities. For more information about Chris’s experience in representing Defendants, please see the ‘Personal Injury: Defence’ tab. Chris is incredibly client-focused and approachable and understands the importance of a strong relationship with his clients and instructing solicitors. He prides himself on quick turnaround of papers, and is happy to provide advice on an informal basis.

Chris Tehrani KC

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.

Christian Taylor

Christian practises exclusively in personal injury law and its related litigation. He has particular expertise in clinical negligence; Criminal Injuries Compensation; employer’s liability; highways claims; industrial disease; limitation issues; military claims; product liability; public liability; and road traffic accidents (especially cyclists). Christian has a busy fast and multi-track practice, dealing with complex cases involving issues of liability and causation. Publications “Unfair crime compensation scheme inflicts lasting pain”, The Times, The Brief, 17th February 2016 "CICA Appeals; some practical points” Personal Injury Law Journal, June 2015 (136)

Christopher Barnes KC

Chris practises exclusively in the areas of personal injury, clinical negligence and related litigation. Chris has experience of all levels of multi track claims up to and in excess of £10 million, particularly involving catastrophic injuries including brain, spine and amputations; fatal accidents; military claims; and product liability. He has experience of the full range of catastrophic injury claims with recent settlements exceeding £3 million. Chris has experience of a wide range of clinical negligence work including orthopaedic negligence; obstetric negligence; general hospital care; dental negligence; cosmetic surgery. He has a particular interest in claims involving military personnel.

Christopher Cook

Chris has substantial experience in most areas of commercial and chancery work. He acts for office-holders, creditors, shareholders and financiers in a range of matters including: Intellectual property claims Licensing and assignment Fraud claims Commercial and contractual disputes Securities claims Professional negligence Having first qualified as an engineer, he is regularly instructed in cases involving technological issues. He has particular expertise in all aspects of intellectual property and its related litigation, including trade marks and passing off, copyright and performing rights, industrial design, patents and restraint of trade (individual and corporate). Chris is recognised for being extremely client-friendly yet formidable in court. He has both technical understanding of his subject matter and the ability to fight tooth and nail for those he represents. These attributes have helped Chris build a superb practice and he remains very much in-demand in his areas of expertise.

Christopher Allen

Chris practices exclusively in catastrophic / serious injury. His practice encompasses all means of drafting, advisory work and court appearances, and he has particularly adept at drafting large schedules of loss in cases involving spinal injuries, brain injuries, amputees, fatal accidents and otherwise catastrophic injuries including schedules exceeding £10 million. He drafts schedules in Word, Excel and via PI Calculator according to his instructing solicitor’s preference. He is instructed as sole counsel in cases pleaded up to £2 million and frequently as led junior in cases worth in excess of £2 million. He has been involved in finalising multiple multi-million-pound settlements in the last year including a £19.5 million and £17.5 million settlement (see attached list of cases for examples). He appears frequently against Kings Counsel and has considerable experience in obtaining substantial interim payments after contested applications. Significant areas of expertise are: Catastrophic injuries – brain / spinal / amputees Cases involving Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 Military Claims including psychiatric injuries, NFCI and other very serious injuries Interim payments Costs inc. MOJ Appeals Chris is also regarded as a costs specialist who regularly achieves very favourable budgets at CCMC’s. He is regularly instructed in technical costs arguments. In addition, Chris is considered by many to be a specialist in dealing with technical arguments and preliminary issues such as abuse of process, limitation and insurance indemnity. He has an extensive practice in military claims acting only for Claimant. He fully understands the nuances of the military structure, of establishing career projections and pension loss calculation. He is regularly instructed to represent service personnel for have suffered NCFI’s at joint settlement meetings and has extensive experience of dealing with other very serious injuries involving military personnel. Chris also regularly undertakes professional negligence actions for and against firms of solicitors who have been involved in alleged negligence arising out of personal-injury matters. Chris is friendly and approachable. He encourages solicitors to contact him directly by telephone or email at all stages of litigation even before formal instructions have been sent. He maintains a comprehensive and updated database of experts and welcomes the opportunity to recommend suitable experts at an early stage.

Christopher Stables

Chris is an established practitioner specialising in criminal advocacy and advisory work. His defence work is undertaken for a wide range of solicitors across Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. This work spans all aspects of serious crime and includes both VHCC and graduated fee cases. His prosecution work includes instructions from the CPS, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Environmental Agency. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor and is appointed to the Attorney General’s ‘A’ list of Prosecuting Advocates for the Northern Circuit. His areas of expertise include large and complex fraud, POCA and asset recovery, excise, revenue and oil fraud, murder/manslaughter/homicide, serious violence, drugs offences (importation, production, supply) and serious sexual offences. In addition, Chris has extensive experience of conducting police disciplinary work on behalf of the Police Federation at tribunal level and above.

Chuba Nwokedi

Chuba was called to the Bar in 2015. He became a tenant of Chavasse Court Chambers in September 2020 following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Jacqueline Deans. Chuba joined Exchange Chambers in October 2020. During his first six, Chuba experienced a range of criminal and family law hearings. Family law During his second six, Chuba developed a burgeoning family law practice in both private and public law. The proceedings Chuba has experience in include: Care and Supervision Orders Interim Care Orders Contact Residence Occupation Orders Non-molestation Orders Criminal Alongside his family practice, Chuba balances a criminal practice appearing in the Crown Court and Magistrates Courts. He has acted for both the prosecution as a CPS Grade 1 Advocate and Defence in a variety of matters including Magistrates court trials, preliminary matters, sentencing hearings and appeals against conviction and sentence. He also represents individuals in the county courts with regards to injunctions (such as Anti-social Behavioural Injunctions and gang related violence injunctions). Data Breach and Privacy Chuba is a member of the data breach and privacy team and is keen to develop his practice in this specialist area. He is able to offer both formal and informal advice and pleadings in relation to all areas of data protection law, the torts of misuse of private information and breach of confidence. Along with his practice as a barrister in the United Kingdom, Chuba’s legal experience and qualifications expands to the shores of Nigeria. In the years between being called to the Bar and commencing pupillage Chuba moved to Nigeria where he was called as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. During this time he worked as a lawyer specialising in a variety of areas including oil & gas law, commercial litigation and international arbitration where he represented international oil companies and worked with British solicitor firms. Chuba is able to receive instructions and advise on Nigerian law. Upon his return to England, before commencing Pupillage Chuba gained further advocacy experience. In 10 months he appeared in over 350 general civil, enforcement hearings and small claims trials in the County Courts as Solicitors’ Agent.

Damian Nolan

Damian specialises in criminal work. He undertakes defence work mainly, but as a Category 4 (the highest grade) Prosecutor continuously since 2005 he represents the Crown in complex matters. He has also been appointed to both the CPS Serious Crime Panel and the Fraud Panel. Damian has recently been appointed to the Specialist Regulatory Panel List B. He has consistently appeared as recommended counsel and a “leader in his field” in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 since 2003. Since 2016 in each edition of “Chambers and Partners”, Damian was one of only 3 junior counsel ranked in Tier 1 on Circuit. He is well respected within the profession by his peers and the judiciary. He appears as a leading junior, led junior and junior alone in complex and lengthy cases and has vast trial experience in all aspects of serious and heavyweight criminal work including experience in financial and regulatory offences and serious organised crime. He has appeared in a number of high profile cases and regularly appears in cases covering all aspects of business related crime and enforcement. Damian has experience of the multi-faceted and multi-jurisdictional aspects of criminal procedure including legal professional privilege, judicial review, appeals by way of case stated, voluntary bills of indictment, appeals against terminating rulings and appellate work including when not counsel originally instructed. Damian also undertakes inquest work and appears as an advocate before various professional disciplinary tribunals. Damian likes to be involved in each case at an early stage and is able to adopt a team approach to the conduct of criminal litigation. Damian recognises that in complex litigation a successful outcome to a case can more often than not be underpinned by detailed preparation in advance of the trial and an early recognition of the key issues in the case combined with the formulation of the appropriate strategy applicable to the case at hand. He is bright while remaining grounded when dealing with issues. These key attributes coupled with his tenacity and determination to see each instruction through set him apart from others. Damian is known by those who instruct him to work tirelessly for his professional and lay client, seeking to provide clear, robust advice and a high standard of advocacy throughout the course of proceedings. He is known for his meticulous preparation of cases, his clear focus on the client’s cause, but also his relaxed and approachable style. Defence work is undertaken for a wide range of solicitors across Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, The Midlands, West and North Yorkshire. He has established a loyal following amongst senior solicitors and this work spans all aspects of serious crime. His extensive practice includes both privately funded and legal aid work.

Damian Garrido KC

Damian is recognised as a leading family law specialist, listed in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. He provides sound, practical advice in all aspects of family law, conducting skilful negotiations to achieve consensual outcomes and undertaking robust advocacy in court when necessary. He is known for his devastating cross-examination and focused submissions. The breadth of his experience in both child and financial family law applications is welcomed by clients seeking a holistic solution to the problems of relationship breakdown. He will undertake early neutral evaluations in both child and financial disputes to help parties avoid the court process where possible. Damian has particular expertise in applications for financial remedy following divorce, notably where complexities arise due to the nature and value of the parties’ assets and sources of income (e.g. private businesses or family trusts) and/or difficulties caused by bankruptcy, third-party intervention and/or an international element. He is similarly experienced in cases involving nuptial agreements, cohabitation, child maintenance and civil partnerships. He also often represents parties in parental disputes about children, particularly in the difficult and sensitive area of international child abduction (both Hague and non-convention cases) and relocation (both international and internal). He has co-written the leading textbook on child relocation, now in its 2nd edition. His forensic skills are also in demand in cases of parental alienation and where serious allegations are raised against a parent His child-care practice encompasses the most complex cases including those involving alleged radicalisation, the most serious injury or death, sexual exploitation, the youth or incapacity of a parent and/or issues of publicity, non-disclosure and public interest immunity. He can use his forensic experience to the advantage of a range of clients in the Court of Protection, inquests and public inquiries. He is a Recorder sitting as a judge in the Family Court and is also authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Family Division.

Daniel Prowse

Daniel’s practice is based on serious crime, encompassing cases of serious violence, sexual offences, firearms, drugs and fraud. Daniel has particular experience and expertise in multi-handed, document-heavy cases such as large-scale drug supply, conspiracy to commit violence and other offences (often involving firearms) and all types of fraud. Daniel always strives to ensure his client’s case is robust, whilst also carefully considered, and has particular expertise in handling cases involving vulnerable defendants, such as youths or those with mental health problems. An advocate who believes the key to success lies in solid preparation and working closely with his instructing solicitors, Daniel has been briefed in some of the most serious and complex cases in the North West, often deploying carefully crafted legal arguments as well as using IT and presentation aids to great effect.

Daniel Travers

Daniel is an experienced junior advocate who specialises in conducting trials involving serious criminal matters including murder, drugs conspiracies, firearms, fraud, money laundering, sexual offences and serious motoring offences. Known for his expert scrutiny and strategic approach, he is routinely instructed in cases which involve detailed analysis of phone data, and examining leading expert witnesses involving cell site analysis, accounting, DNA, firearms and gunshot residue. Daniel has a particular interest in motoring related offences. He has previously represented several defendants involved in large scale diesel frauds. He has wide experience of defendants charged with dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink and drugs (cannabis), and cases where defendants want to avoid being disqualified from driving.

David Sandiford

David practices in the fields of higher value personal injury, civil actions involving the police, inquests, licensing and immigration. His personal injury practice has a healthy balance between claimant and defendant work. In his police work he is instructed on behalf of defendants as is the case with his panel immigration work. In licensing he has a particular interest in taxi licensing and firearms. He is a member of the Attorney General’s “A” Panel of Regional Counsel and regularly receives instructions in high value personal injury cases involving service personnel, inquests arising from prison deaths and immigration work with a particular expertise in unlawful detention. He is a strong advocate & negotiator but equally has a friendly and forward thinking approach to his practice and when appropriate he is more than happy to take an informal call to discuss a new case or discuss an issue in a case which wouldn’t necessarily justify a formal instruction.

David Mohyuddin KC

David is a highly experienced commercial litigator, his practice covering insolvency, company; shareholder and partnership disputes; banking, mortgage and asset recovery; commercial fraud; and professional negligence. His insolvency work includes contested recovery actions, appearing on routine, controversial and urgent applications (including injunctions) and advising on complex, technical matters arising in the conduct of insolvencies. He acts on behalf of office-holders and those subject to and affected by insolvency proceedings. He frequently acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in public interest winding up matters and directors disqualification proceedings. His professional negligence work includes bringing and resisting (including on insurers’ instructions) claims against professionals including solicitors, accountants, insolvency practitioners, architects and company directors.

David Tyack

David practises in the areas of clinical negligence and personal injury. He has experience of a wide variety of clinical negligence claims including those concerning: Mismanagement of labour resulting in serious disabilities including cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and Erb’s palsy Failures to diagnose and treat neurological complications, resulting in paraplegia and brain injury Failures to diagnose and treat cancer Surgical errors, including mishandling of hip replacement, removal of thyroid and removal of gall bladder operations Cosmetic surgery errors GPs’ negligence including failures to refer for investigation for serious illnesses (e.g. cancer) or injuries (e.g. serious fractures) David regularly gives seminars and talks and is an invited speaker for AvMA seminars.

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.

David Birrell

“David’s attention to detail is extraordinary.” (Legal 500, 2023) “His patience and understanding make him stand out from others.” (Legal 500, 2023) “Nothing is ever too much trouble” (Legal 500, 2023) Ranked as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 2023, David specialises in serious crime. He handles cases in all areas of the criminal law including homicide, drug trafficking, terrorism, high value fraud and money laundering, and rape and sexual abuse. He has experience of leading teams in complex and sensitive cases. He is regularly instructed in long running and high-profile cases which attract widespread media coverage. He defended as leading junior in R v Green and others, described by the BBC as ‘the UK’s biggest drugs conspiracy’. He also defended in R v Barton and others, a year-long fraud trial in which his client was the only defendant to be acquitted. Hardworking and dedicated, David goes the extra mile for his solicitors. His lay clients appreciate his calm, patient and sympathetic manner. His advocacy, particularly his cross examination of witnesses, is devastatingly effective. Despite his criminal background, David sits as a part time civil judge, which is testament to his intellectual versatility and his ability to quickly grasp the key issues and evidence in any given case.

David Williams

David’s practice includes a wide range of personal and corporate insolvency matters, property law and contractual disputes. In addition to regularly appearing in the winding up list, bankruptcy proceedings and small claims, David has also appeared on behalf of office holders in the applications list in Manchester. He is able to handle contractual disputes of all kinds and has undertaken a variety of work including sale of goods and case management conferences. David also deals with commercial aspects of property disputes including possession actions by mortgagees, LPA Receivers and landlords; actions for unlawful eviction; liability orders for business rates and council tax; boundary disputes; and business tenancy disputes.

David Bentley

David Bentley is an experienced criminal practitioner, specialising in serious crime, fraud, inquests and regulatory law. He is regularly instructed in high profile cases involving serious and organised crime including murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, commercial fraud, money laundering, large scale drug conspiracies, firearms, human trafficking and rape. David is also instructed by the Health and Safety Executive and Environmental Agency. He has extensive experience of professional disciplinary hearings. His work brings him into close contact with the General Medical Council and the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service when representing doctors facing allegations of serious misconduct. He is also trusted to represent police officers on behalf of the Police Federation when officers find themselves facing disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings. Such cases involve allegations of assault, perverting the course of justice, sexual offences, possession of Class A drugs and misconduct in a public office. David appears regularly at Inquests especially those involving a jury and Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He is the Counsel of choice for many NHS Trusts who require representation at Inquests involving deaths in hospitals or where the deceased has had contact with the hospital prior to their death.

David McCormick

David was called to the Bar in 2014. He has a mixed practice of personal injury and family work. David has a reputation for his efficiency in completing paperwork and responding to queries. He is always happy to assist solicitors, either formally or informally. David prides himself on the relationship he forms with his professional and lay clients. As one solicitor put it: “David has an excellent rapport with clients and has the ability to put them at ease in the most difficult circumstances. His preparation is diligent and thoughtful and his advocacy is very effective.”

David Fearon

David is a specialist in construction, engineering and process engineering work. He is also experienced in and deals with general commercial dispute resolution and accepts appointments as adjudicator, arbitrator, and legal adviser to arbitrator. He is an accredited civil and commercial mediator. David qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and as a solicitor advocate in 2004 and transferred to the Bar in 2013. Before qualifying as a solicitor he worked for many years in the construction, engineering and process engineering industries as a quantity surveyor, project manager and costs control manager with responsibility for a wide variety of projects throughout the UK, Ireland and the USA. He is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), Chartered Builder (MCIOB) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). His professional qualifications, extensive practical experience and technical knowledge aid him in providing early case assessments and advise and dispute resolution support on all contractual and professional negligence matters. His commercial dispute resolution experience covers a wide range of matters including general property related disputes, supply only contracts, labour only contracts, supply of goods and services, IT, disputes with utility providers, specialist manufacturing contracts and associated issues, and damage arising from hazardous materials, negligence and nuisance. David has acted for a variety of clients including international employers, developers, consultants, major, medium and small contractors and specialist sub-contractors, individuals and insurers. He is a registered public access practitioner. David is consistently recognised as a leading individual by Chambers and Partners UK and The Legal 500, and was recently named Construction Disputes – Barrister of the Year – UK at the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2018.

David Temkin KC

David Temkin KC is a stand-out silk who is in extremely high demand. His reputation is for meticulous attention to detail, rigorous advocacy and exceptional client care. He prosecutes and defends in equal measure and with equal commitment. For many years, David has been recommended in the UK’s Legal Directories where descriptions include “thorough, meticulous and courageous”, “extraordinarily good” and “a lovely person to work with”. The Legal 500 2023 notes David’s ability to “lead a jury to exactly where they need to be, in order to get the result he has been instructed to achieve”. David was appointed King’s Counsel in March 2021, after two decades specialising in criminal work (prosecuting and defending). Prior to taking silk, David was a Grade 4 Prosecutor and an approved advocate on both the Serious Crime Group Panel and the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel. He spent 15 years on the Attorney-General’s List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates. He acted for the General Medical Council for a number of years. He represented police officers before their disciplinary tribunal and at the Crown Court. Highlights of David’s work as King’s Counsel include prosecuting and defending murders (domestic and gangland), manslaughters, shootings and drug conspiracies. David undertakes both legally-aided and privately-funded work. He has enjoyed particular successes defending in privately-funded sex cases. David sits in the Crown Court as a criminal recorder (appointed in 2018; authorised to sit on serious sexual cases in 2019). He is an approved advocacy trainer for the Inner Temple (where he was elected as a Governing Bencher in 2021) and for the Northern Circuit (where he is Head of Continuing Education). David conducts advocacy training internationally. In 2023, he trained prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This year, he has trained advocates in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. David is currently Visiting Professor at the BPP University Law School.

David Knifton KC

David specialises in high-value personal injury and clinical negligence cases, particularly those involving brain or spinal cord injuries, amputations, serious psychiatric injuries and historical sex abuse claims. He acts almost exclusively on behalf of claimants, where his abilities as an outstanding advocate are widely recognised. He is consistently recommended as a leading barrister in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. As a junior, he was regularly instructed, with or without a leader, in claims of the utmost severity. His highest award in that capacity was £5.85m, and he consistently achieved settlements totalling around £20m per year. Since taking silk, his catastrophic injury practice has continued to develop, and his enormous experience, meticulous preparation, excellent client skills and pragmatic approach are highly-valued by clients. David generally only accepts new instructions in cases with a value in excess of £1m. He has acted at a number of high-profile Inquests and public inquiries, including the North Wales (Waterhouse) Child Abuse Inquiry and the ‘Blue 25’ Inquest concerning the deaths of 5 UK servicemen shot by a rogue Afghan policeman.

David Toal

David is a specialist criminal barrister of over 25 years’ experience who provides expert advice and robust advocacy in cases of the utmost complexity and gravity. He has a consistently high rate of success on contested trials in the Crown Court and is therefore in great demand to represent people charged with serious offences. He has also represented numerous professionals facing criminal proceedings and/or breaches of regulations including directors of companies, police officers, military personnel, healthcare professionals, teachers, sportsmen/women etc. He both prosecutes and defends in cases involving Local Authorities and is experienced in all types of such work but in particular Trading Standards and Consumer Protection. David is also Direct Access qualified which means members of the public can instruct him without having to go via a solicitor.

David Tinkler

David specialises in all aspects of employment law. He represents employees and employers across a wide variety of sectors including NHS, government (local and central), education, police forces and private companies. David is regularly instructed in complex and lengthy (multi-week) whistleblowing and discrimination litigation. He also has considerable experience in equal pay claims, TUPE and unfair dismissal. He is on the Attorney General A panel for employment law. David also specialises in high value personal injury litigation on behalf of Claimants. His personal injury work overlaps with his employment practice in cases relating to the Protection from Harassment Act and stress claims.

Duncan Hedar

Duncan joined Exchange from a Magic Circle law firm where he was a Managing Associate and solicitor advocate. Duncan has extensive experience acting for national and multi-national clients in complex, high-value and business-critical litigation and arbitration. Duncan has particular expertise in the banking, energy and telecoms sectors and has previously advised: Two major multi-national energy companies in relation to numerous High Court procurement challenges arising from a multi-billion-pound energy infrastructure project. A number of major multi-national energy companies and their subsidiaries in High Court proceedings relating to the decision of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to award contracts for difference facilitating the construction of some of the world’s largest offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Mobile operator Three in High Court judicial review proceedings and a subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal, in respect of Ofcom’s application of competition measures in the £1.3 billion Public Sector Spectrum Release auction process. The Government of Timor-Leste in a dispute with Australia before the International Court of Justice relating to the seizure of data and documents by Australian intelligence officers. Lloyds Banking Group in judicial review proceedings of significant public interest relating to the sale of PPI. The representative beneficiaries of IBM’s defined benefit pension scheme against IBM in High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings relating to the closure of the scheme and the scope of the employer’s duty of good faith. A major telecoms provider on the potential impact of US sanctions and regulatory measures applying to Huawei. A major multinational investment bank in relation to an FCA investigation into its compliance with transaction reporting regulations. A major international accountancy and business services firm in relation to US, UK and UAE regulatory investigations and US court proceedings arising from an alleged multi-billion-dollar private equity fraud. A major telecoms company in relation to an Ofcom investigation into alleged breaches of the Communications Act 2003. A major retail bank in relation to an FCA investigation relating to the sale of packaged bank accounts. A multi-national business services and outsourcing provider in respect of SFO and FCA investigations into suspected market abuse and related litigation. Sberbank in Admiralty proceedings relating to its interest in an arrested cargo vessel.

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.

Elizabeth Brennan

Public Law Elizabeth has experience of acting for local authorities, parents, intervenors and children in Public Law Proceedings. She has appeared at all levels of Court up to the Court of Appeal. She is regularly instructed in cases involving neglect, sexual abuse, and non-accidental injuries; and has acted on behalf of local authorities, parents and children in a number of ‘shaken baby’ cases. She has particular experience of acting for parents with limited cognitive functioning and regularly works with clients supported by intermediaries and mental health advocates. She also receives instructions from the Official Solicitor in relation to parents who lack capacity to conduct proceedings. Private Law Elizabeth accepts instructions in relation to all aspects of private law, and is regularly instructed on behalf of children in complex Private Law Proceedings. Disclosure and Public Interest Immunity Elizabeth has experience of acting on behalf of local authorities in relation to applications in criminal proceedings for disclosure of social services records. Her role involved reviewing, flagging and redacting large volumes of material in cases involving allegations of historical sexual abuse. She also dealt with the public interest immunity hearings in the Criminal Court.

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.

Eric Lamb

Eric has broad and extensive experience of defending and prosecuting a vast range of serious offences in the criminal courts. He is instructed regularly by many leading defence practices in Merseyside. He is a Grade 4 CPS Prosector and is appointed to the Attorney-General’s Unified B List of Prosecutors. Eric has an in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system and is adept at understanding and acting upon the intricacies of each legal issue. He offers robust, well thought out arguments, and it is this, coupled with a detailed approach to his submissions, that has enabled his practice to go from strength to strength.

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.

Fiona McNeill

Fiona has developed a wide ranging criminal practice involving both prosecution and defence work. She has considerable experience of prosecuting and defending a range of serious crime including serious sexual and violent offences, large scale drugs and firearms conspiracies. Fiona also has a family law practice with experience of both private and public law matters. She also conducts cases in the employment law arena, and has a developing practice in the area of data protection.

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.

Gareth Roberts

Over the last 19 years Gareth has conducted all types of criminal cases from serious violence and murder, high value fraud to serious sexual assault and rape. In addition, Gareth has recently prosecuted a number of politicians for offences against the Representation of the People Act.

George Rowell

Practice Areas George is a commercial barrister specialising in tax disputes, professional negligence and insolvency. He combines heavy-weight advocacy experience with in-depth tax and commercial knowledge. Professional Negligence George is routinely instructed as sole or leading junior counsel in multi-million pound claims against accountants, tax advisers, IFAs and solicitors. He has a particular interest in claims arising from negligent tax and financial advice and failed property investment schemes. Tax Disputes George “cut his teeth” in-house with HMRC before moving to independent practice. He represented HMRC as a member of the Attorney-General’s Panel between 2008-2021 but now concentrates on advising businesses and private clients. His main areas of expertise are employment-related taxes, CGT, IHT, VAT, judicial review, avoidance schemes and penalties. Insolvency George is routinely instructed as sole or leading junior counsel in multi-million pound proceedings against directors and shareholders. He has a particular interest in cases with overlapping tax and insolvency issues, such as misfeasance claims arising from failed tax avoidance schemes. Examples of recent cases: - £20m negligence claim against promoter of EBT tax scheme - £10m bribery and negligence claim against accountants and solicitors in respect of 14 tax schemes - Defending £5m misfeasance claim against directors who used an EBT tax scheme. - Acting for liquidators in £2m misfeasance claim against directors who used failed tax schemes - £5m claim against solicitors over defective share purchase agreement - Acting for investors challenging management of insolvent pension administrator with £1.3bn assets under management Publications Co-author of Tax Penalties: A Practitioner’s Guide (Sweet & Maxwell; 1st edn 2017; 2nd edn, 2019); former consultant editor of Simon’s Taxes.

Gerard Martin KC

Gerard is a renowned silk who specialises in brain injury and spinal injury cases for adults and children. He also has a wealth of experience dealing with claims for amputees, pain and somatoform disorders. His practice has been for the last thirty years exclusively for claimants. With each new case he enjoys getting to know his clients and building in them a trusting relationship with him. Achieving justice and fair compensation for those injured by reason of the fault of others is his motivation. The majority of his work in silk has been for clients with severe brain and spinal injuries, resulting as the consequence of accidents or by way of clinical negligence. Through his vast experience he knows that each case of severe injury is unique and with this in mind he believes it unwise to generalise about outcomes, and that much depends upon the individual and the support they receive. Practising in this sphere has meant that the experts on both sides of the litigation divide are known to him, as are the centres of excellence for rehabilitation of the brain injured. Gerard prides himself on ensuring each client, especially in cases where they may lack capacity to make decisions themselves, has a clear understanding of each action he will undertake on their behalf. He believes that by visiting the client and their family at home, hospital or rehabilitation unit enables him to gain a better understanding of the important issues in their lives. This in turn enables him to work hard to ensure the best possible outcome. His working ethos aims to encourage and promote teamwork between client, solicitor, counsel and their expert advisors. He believes he works best when instructed at the outset of the case. This enables him to bring his considerable influence to its direction and to assist with ensuring the best experts to assist each client. Gerard applies this philosophy when also managing claims for spinal injury, amputees, complex regional pain syndrome and other somatoform disorders. Often cases settle by negotiation rather than trial in court. This is where Gerard provides real expertise and value. One of his recognised skills is the preparation for and conduct of the negotiations which may lead to the conclusion of the case. His has a tried and tested ability to foresee well in advance the arguments to be deployed against his client, to gather the evidence and serve in advance of the meeting so as to defeat those arguments. Gerard sits on the national board of trustees of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum. UKAIF is a charity which connects those with brain injury and their supporters to other like minded organisations so as to improve outcomes for those with brain injury. The charity works for all those with brain injury, the vast majority of whom have no legal claim to pursue. Working as a trustee provides Gerard with experience and expertise of outcomes for the brain injured in many aspects of their lives, health and social care, education and the criminal justice sector. He brings that broad insight to those he represents in their claims.

Giles Maynard-Connor KC

Giles is Head of the Business and Property Department and Head of the Insolvency Team at Exchange Chambers. Recognised as a robust, thorough advocate, he has a clear grasp of commercial issues and how best to overcome them. He works with his clients, favouring a team approach, particularly when faced with complex issues. With an in-depth understanding of the commercial world, he is adept at keeping his clients informed and aware of any issues that may arise at the earliest opportunity. Giles is a truly commercial litigator in terms of approach to his cases and his clients’ interests and needs. He recognises the importance of leading a legal team in order to achieve his clients’ aims and objectives (whether at trial or through ADR) as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. Giles is consistently noted as a leader in his field, is highly regarded for his ‘technical knowledge and commercial know-how’, and has a wealth of experience dealing with substantial commercial litigation. Over the last 30 years he has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal and even in the Supreme Court of the Seychelles and in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. His practice has a particular emphasis on civil and corporate fraud, company and contentious insolvency work, professional negligence (claimant and defendant) and banking. Before taking Silk, Giles was Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional Panel A) and his work for the Secretary of State focused on contentious public interest winding up petitions, including the appointment of provisional liquidators and appropriate injunctive relief, and disqualification applications under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. In recent years he has successfully completed a number of high profile high value corporate fraud cases, leading other junior Counsel, and has acted as the leading Counsel in a number of high value international arbitrations. Giles has also recently appeared in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, where he successfully appealed against a decision of a liquidator of a foreign insurance company in order to confirm a substantial proof of debt based on a UK judgment; and has dealt with the high profile insolvency of the Redcar based steel business operated by SSI UK Ltd, now in liquidation. He has also represented over 300 claimants in a multi-million pound corporate fraud case in the Cayman Islands. His most recent work includes the successful defence of a £125M claim against a high-profile fashion and internet entrepreneur, which was dismissed as being fraudulent. Giles won and was awarded the accolade of ‘Barrister/KC of the Year’ at the Manchester Legal Awards 2023.

Gordon Cole KC

Gordon specialises in all serious crime including murder, manslaughter, drugs, fraud, police corruption and serious sexual abuse. He has specialised in crime for over 40 years and has both prosecuted and defended in all types of cases as a junior, a leading junior and in Silk. Gordon has been involved in many substantial drug, murder and fraud cases many of which have been VHCC cases. He has conducted cases all over the country and has considerable experience in cases which have been heard in the Court of Appeal. Ranked as a leader in his field by the independent legal directories he is described by instructing solicitors as “unflappable” and “outstanding” with “great judgement and common sense”.

Graham Sellers

Greg Plunkett

Greg is a commercial and chancery barrister. He was formerly a senior partner and head of a commercial litigation team at Hill Dickinson LLP, a leading UK and international law firm. He was a Board Member and the firm’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer for many years. A desire to continue practising law at the highest level led Greg to transfer to the Bar in 2013. He qualified as a solicitor in 1988. His clients range from international corporations, insurance companies, utility companies, local authorities, NHS trusts, private companies, LLPs, partnerships and individuals. He regularly acts on behalf of high profile individuals facing sensitive professional and personal issues, including solicitors, barristers, senior civil servants, local government officials, business executives, celebrities and sportsmen. Greg is often entrusted with high value complex matters (including several major group actions). Greg has extensive experience in commercial litigation, arbitration and chancery practice, including: Arbitration Asset and uninsured loss recovery claims (including freezing injunctions and search and seizure orders) Banking litigation Breach of trust Breach of warranty Contract claims Contract drafting Company law issues and disputes (including breach of directors’ duties, shareholder claims and section 994 petitions, directors disqualification proceedings) Fire, flood and property damage claims Fraud and misrepresentation Group litigation Guarantees Insolvency disputes Insurance Nuisance Judicial review Partnership and LLP disputes Professional negligence Product liability Sale of goods

Guy Vickers

Guy has a broad commercial practice, divided between traditional chancery litigation concerning land and probate disputes, and commercial litigation concerning the protection and enforcement of contractual rights and remedies. Guy’s areas of practice include breach and enforcement of commercial contracts, boundaries and rights of way, freezing/search and seizure orders, The Inheritance Act 1975, professional negligence, the interpretation of wills and commercial landlord and tenant. Guy also undertakes work involving building and construction disputes, sale of goods, personal and corporate insolvency and partnerships. He has recently been involved in various disputes arising out of the insolvency of a major solicitors’ practice in the North West. His property practice encompasses rights of way, easements, covenants, contracts for the sale of land, adverse possession, nuisance, proprietary estoppel and trusts for sale, Breach of Covenant, 1954 Act, underletting, and service charges. Guy has considerable experience litigating in relation to Share Purchase agreements. Guy regularly acts for a leading Private Healthcare Insurer, both advising on strategic issues and handling litigation. He acts and has acted for a number of artistes in the entertainment world, in particular in relation to issues arising out of performers’ royalties and neighbouring rights. Guy has also, as a result of his involvement in the Autofocus fraud litigation and the Bent appeal, become a leading expert in Credit Hire issues.

Harriet Lavin

Having completed a three month secondment with the Crown Prosecution Service back in 2020, Harriet was able to gain experience that ordinarily only employees of the Crown Prosecution Service would have. She is now a confident Level 2 prosecutor and has been instructed by the Complex Case Unit in her own cases. She has experience as a led junior in large scale drug supply cases involving Encrochat evidence. Harriet has developed an equally busy defence practice. She has experience in defending in the most��serious cases, including murder. Confident and approachable, Harriet has shown she has the necessary “soft skills” which allow her to communicate effectively with others as well as support clients through the process. She is well equipped to deal with the most vulnerable clients. Harriet has a particular specialism in road traffic offences. As part of the Exchange Driving Team, Harriet gained considerable experience defending summary only offences and formulating arguments on special reasons and exceptional hardship. More recently, her specialist training and experience of defending in Crown Court matters involving issues of dangerous and careless driving has equipped her to deal with the influx of new instructions on the new serious injury by careless driving cases. Harriet has also applied her skills as a criminal advocate in regulatory work and inquests. Some examples include representing a local council in taxi licensing cases and presenting on behalf of Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Harriet Hartshorn

Harriet’s practice covers all aspects of commercial litigation and advisory work, including banking, guarantees, consumer credit, recovery of assets, trusts, contractual disputes, tort and sale of goods. She is frequently instructed by major banks and lenders and has a wealth of trial experience. Harriet is listed as a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 in commercial litigation and has been described as 'thoughtful in her advice... pragmatic and sensible in her approach and her advocacy is excellent, with an ability to get judges on side'. Harriet’s recent work has included: Acting for prominent asset finance companies in relation to the conversion of assets, including drafting statements of case, obtaining interim injunctive relief, advancing successful specific disclosure applications, and obtaining judgment; Routinely appearing at trial on behalf of major UK lenders defending fraudulent misrepresentation claims brought pursuant to s.75 of the CCA 1974; Advising upon and representing parties in applications for summary judgment and / or strike out in a range of disputes including claims arising from guarantees and indemnities; and Drafting a range of statements of case. Recent drafting work includes producing Particulars of Claim in respect of breaches of exclusivity clauses, and a preparing a defence on behalf of a lender defending a claim to set aside a series of mortgages on the basis of forgery and/or undue influence . Harriet has particular experience of acting for banks and lenders in claims relating to banking, finance and asset recovery, together with consumer credit matters. Harriet has experience of representing financial institutions in claims relating to secret commissions and alleged unfair terms. Other examples of her recent work in this area includes advising on the regulated nature and enforceability of loan agreements, and drafting statements of case in claims arising from the conversion of assets subject to hire purchase agreements. Harriet has recently been led on an appeal relating to the certification of a Collective Proceedings Order by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. She has also been led in the substantial group litigation following the collapse of the Fundão Dam in South-Eastern Brazil.

Hedley Nield

Hedley is an experienced personal injury practitioner. As a former senior solicitor for a North West personal injury firm (called as a solicitor in 2001), he brings a wealth of experience beyond his year of call to the bar (2016). He regularly acts in multi track claims on behalf of both claimants and defendants in a range of personal injury issues in all matters of drafting, advisory and court work. His areas of expertise include: Catastrophic injuries – brain / spinal / amputees Capacity Credit hire Employers liability Public liability Road traffic accidents Hedley enjoys taking a hands-on approach at every stage of a case and encourages instructing solicitors to make contact by telephone or email. Hedley routinely drafts complicated pleadings and schedules of loss included in claims pleaded in excess of £1 million. Hedley keeps a substantial data base of experts and encourages those that instruct him to make early contact on expert selection. Hedley is renowned for his advocacy skill as well as his personable and client-friendly manner.

Helen Rutherford

Helen practises in all areas of personal injury, including clinical negligence. She has a particular interest in Animals Act cases and regularly gives seminars on the subject. Helen was called to the Bar in 2010. Since then she has built up a busy practice, covering all areas of civil law. She has a particular interest and growing reputation in equine and animal law matters and contributes to a national equine magazine, answering readers’ questions on equine legal issues. She is also instructed in matters of veterinary negligence. She has built a national reputation in credit hire litigation, acting for both Claimant and Defendants from interlocutory applications to appeals. She is particularly requested for matters concerning the hire of replacement fleet or taxi vehicles and replacement prestige vehicles. Helen is a popular court advocate as well as having a thriving advisory and paper practice. Helen has been invited to speak at national conferences and seminars on credit hire matters. Helen is also experienced in clinical negligence matters, having been instructed on matters from the advisory stage to multi-track trials. Her practice covers all aspects of personal injury work, including RTAs, EL/PL, CICA appeals and Animals Act matters. Helen is known to be a strong advocate, with excellent case preparation and presentation skills.

Helena Williams

Helena Williams joined Exchange Chambers in March 2021 having completed pupillage at a London set in October 2020. During her first six months of pupillage, Helena observed in a wide range of criminal trials including fraud, murder, rape and drug conspiracies. Since then, Helena has built a busy criminal practice, prosecuting and defending in trials in the Youth and Magistrates Court. She has dealt with a variety of hearings in the Crown Court including appeals against conviction and sentences. Helena has successfully been appointed to the CPS Advocates Panel. Prior to commencing pupillage Helena worked as a paralegal at a criminal defence firm working on a variety of matters, including cash forfeiture, dishonesty offences, sexual offences, drug offences and judicial reviews. Whilst on the Bar Professional Training Course, Helena volunteered with the Free Representation Unit, where she represented clients at the Social Security Tribunal and the Personal Support Unit, where she assisted litigants in person in the civil and family courts. She gained particular experience working with those who had never attended court before and vulnerable clients. Outside of crime, Helena has worked as a paralegal in public children law acting on behalf of local authorities, parents and guardians.

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.

Huw Edwards

Huw has been a barrister specialising in criminal law for 12 years. He has wide ranging experience both prosecuting and defending the most serious criminal offences including homicide, fraud, drug and firearms offences, serious violence and sexual offences. Huw is a Category 4 Prosecutor and is a member of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) panel. Huw is also a member of the Specialist Regulatory Panel and accepts instructions to either prosecute or defend matters brought by the Environment Agency and the HSE. In addition, Huw has conducted a variety of licensing cases both in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown court, as well as attending other bodies such as the Road Traffic Commissioners Court. Huw has conducted a variety of firearms licensing cases, including appeals against the revocation of shotgun certificates. Huw also acts on behalf of parties in Inquests and Public Inquiries.

Ian Tucker

Ian specialises in Commercial and Chancery litigation with an emphasis on Insolvency. He regularly appears in the High Court and has frequently appeared in the Court of Appeal, both on his own and as a led-junior. He is consistently recognised as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Ian recently (led my Mark Cawson QC) appeared for a creditor and preferential shareholder on a successful application for an administration order, the purpose of which was to enable a conspiracy claim, potentially in excess of £100m, to be pursued against a former director and secured creditor. His practice covers all aspects of personal and corporate insolvency, CDDA proceedings, contractual disputes, banking, trusts, mortgage transactions and debt recovery. As a former mathematician, he is able to quickly analyse difficult problems and come up with pragmatic solutions.

Ian Whitehurst

Called 1994

Imran Shafi KC

Imran is widely regarded as one of the leading criminal barristers on circuit, if not nationwide. He is instructed in the most serious criminal matters and has appeared in numerous groundbreaking cases. A dozen or so of his Court of Appeal cases are reported in the leading criminal textbooks. In recognition of his ability and experience, he was appointed King’s Counsel and a Recorder of the Crown Court. Solicitors and clients seek him out for his legal knowledge, his performance in court and his incredible work ethic. He strives to do his utmost to represent his clients to the best of his ability and achieves great results. Unsurprisingly, he is very much in demand, client’s securing his services at the earliest opportunity, often pre-charge. He is renowned for his track record of having cases discontinued, dismissed and successfully applying to exclude evidence. He has a great rapport with everyone from clients to solicitors through to Judges. Treating everyone with courtesy and respect. In recent years, his practice has increasingly featured ‘paper heavy’ fraud and complex money laundering allegations. His meticulous preparation, logical approach and ease with accounting and financial evidence lends itself well to defending in this specialist area. In addition to his recognised strength in fraud, he is frequently retained to defend in, murder, terrorism, serious drugs conspiracies, gang violence and large-scale immigration facilitation cases. Imran’s instructions are increasingly private, however he does still accept instructions in serious publicly-funded work.

Jacqueline Deans

Jacqueline is a Family Law practitioner specialising in Public Law Proceedings. In acting for parents, children and interveners, Jacqueline has extensive experience in cases involving serious non-accidental injuries and where death is alleged. She has experience of challenging and presenting cases involving complex medical evidence. She is also regularly instructed in cases where serious sexual abuse is alleged. Jacqueline frequently acts on behalf of vulnerable parents and parents with significant mental health and/or learning difficulties. She has conducted multiday fact finding hearings and conducted many cases involving different cultures and languages and is experienced in working with interpreters and intermediaries. Recent cases include parents from Pakistan, Republic of Yemen, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Romania and Lithuania. Jacqueline is currently being led by Lorraine Cavanagh QC, representing the mother in a case where it is alleged that she has poisoned her child with sodium chloride. This case involves complex medical evidence from two world renowned Nephrologists. Up until 2006, Jacqueline’s practice consisted of both Crime and Family Law, which means she can offer the skill and experience gained as a criminal advocate but also the discipline, thoroughness and accuracy that Family work brings.

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.

James Malam

James practices in most areas of commercial and commercial Chancery law, with a particular emphasis on professional negligence, construction, insurance and insolvency matters. James is frequently instructed against silk. James was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 2002, having been granted its Lord Justice Holker Award, and completed a Chancery and commercial pupillage at the Chambers of Geoffrey Vos QC, 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn. On completing his pupillage, James joined Fishburns Solicitors, where he specialised in insurance and professional negligence work. Having experience of life as an advocate and working for a solicitors firm, James is noted for his thorough grasp of the commercial realities of any case and ability to find a practical solution, as well as his technical ability as a lawyer. During 2007, James spent six months working as a Judicial Assistant to the Court of Appeal, where he was assistant to Lord Justice Carnwath.

Jayne Acton

Jayne’s practice includes private and public law instructions on behalf of local authorities and is experienced in advising across a wide range of issues. She is recognised for her sympathetic client manner with a grounded approach that enables her to deal with complex issues with a clear sense of direction.

Jennifer Hunt

Jennifer focuses her practice on private and public law matters representing parents, extended family members, children and interveners. She appears in all levels of the Family Court. Public Law Jennifer has experience of proceedings involving issues of chronic neglect, domestic violence, substance misuse, non accidental injuries, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. She regularly represents young vulnerable mothers and parents with low cognitive functioning and mental health conditions. Private Law Jennifer is regularly instructed in complex Section 8 Children Act applications involving allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She represents all parties in applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. She accepts instruction on a legal aid or private basis. Jennifer also represents parties in Family Law Act proceedings including application for ex parte Non Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders.

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.

Joel Finnan

Joel was called to the Bar in 2018, and became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2019 following the successful completion of his pupillage under Richard Tetlow. Joel’s main focusses are commercial litigation and insolvency law. Joel appears regularly in the County and High Courts for procedural hearings, applications and trials, and has considerable experience of handling winding-up lists and bankruptcies. He also frequently accepts instructions to draft statements of case, applications, and to provide formal advice. Beyond his year of call, Joel has also appeared in a number of high-value disputes, including: an application to extend time to contest jurisdiction in a claim valued at £3.4 million; an injunction to restrain the disposition of property allegedly at an undervalue featuring a number of Respondents, some of whom were domiciled in the Seychelles; and an injunction to restrain the notification of a winding-up petition valued at £1.2 million involving allegations of a large-scale tax fraud.

John Waiting

John has a broad practice encompassing commercial, property and insolvency law. He covers a wide range of commercial litigation involving issues such as contractual disputes; banking, finance and asset recovery; professional negligence; sale of goods; and construction. His property practice covers possession actions by mortgagees, LPA Receivers and landlords; disrepair actions by tenants; leasehold enfranchisement; actions for service charges and administration charges; actions for unlawful eviction; complaints against bailiffs; liability orders for business rates and council tax; boundary disputes; and business tenancy disputes. His insolvency practice encompasses personal and corporate bankruptcy including bankruptcy petitions and applications to set- aside statutory demands; public examination of bankrupts; orders for sale by the trustee in bankruptcy; administration applications and applications for extension of an administrator’s term of office; applications for directions to office holders from the court; wills and probate; and contentious probate claims.

John Wyn Willams

John is a senior criminal and regulatory barrister. He defends and prosecutes all manner of criminal offences including homicide and serious sexual offences such as rape and historical sexual allegations. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor and on the CPS Specialist Rape Panel. He acts for a wide range of companies and local authorities dealing with a wide range of regulatory issues. He has a wealth of experience in trading standards; food safety; consumer protection; animal welfare; and countryside matters. John has extensive knowledge and experience of environmental regulation law and he regularly prosecutes on behalf of the Environmental Agency. He has a particular interest in ‘waste’ and ‘water pollution’ cases, as well as ‘statutory nuisance’ cases brought by local authorities. He is adept at dealing with large POCA cases.

John Jones KC

John is a highly-acclaimed KC with over 40 years’ experience at the Bar, over 20 of which have been in Silk. He is widely acknowledged as a ‘go-to’ advocate for major heavyweight criminal cases and is recommended year after year in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. He is currently ranked for Financial Crime and Crime in Chambers and Partners, and ranked Tier 1 for Crime and also ranked for Business and Regulatory Crime including Health and Safety in The Legal 500. Highly sought after, he has been involved in some of the most high profile cases in the country. His practice encompasses: Fraud Money laundering Insider dealing/city-based regulatory crime Murder Manslaughter Historic sex abuse Terrorism John has a well-established Criminal practice with heavy emphasis on all forms of serious fraud and ancillary issues, such as confiscation of proceeds of crime and money laundering. He has extensive experience of both prosecuting and defending matters of serious crime including manslaughter, historic sex abuse, drugs and terrorism related offences. He is sought after for cases of complexity, and has been instructed on a large number of high profile national cases. From the foundations of a successful criminal practice, John has developed a strong professional disciplinary and regulatory practice, with particular expertise in health and safety and environmental work. He is highly sought after for his regulatory work, representing employers, directors, individuals and public bodies on all aspects of health and safety and environmental enforcement. John is an incisive advocate known for his formidable ability in the courtroom. He is equally at home with detailed cross examination as he is in ensuring the jury fully understands with complete clarity, the issue he is raising. He is a calm, yet persuasive presence who, through years of heavyweight, hard-hitting advocacy is widely respected by opponents, juries and judges alike.

Jonathan Rogers

Jonathan is an experienced advocate whose practice is weighted in serious fraud. He has also developed a growing practice in a wide variety of regulatory offences. Jonathan is widely recognised for his meticulous preparation and clear client communications. He leaves no stone unturned in each case, working hard with both solicitors and lay clients to achieve the best possible outcome wherever possible.

Jonathan Lowe

Jonathan qualified as a solicitor in 1995 at Keoghs and in 2000 was made a Partner and Head of Commercial Litigation before transferring to the Bar. His commercial practice encompasses many of the areas in which he practised as a Solicitor notably as follows: Professional negligence Insurance Contractual disputes Insolvency Banking, trusts and mortgage litigation Property disputes Probate. As a former Solicitor he understands the challenges and demands that Solicitors face and he uses that experience to work well under pressure and as part of a team. He is a trained mediator and accepts instructions to act as a mediator.

Jonathan Elystan Rees KC

Jonathan has a heavyweight practice in white collar, complex and serious crime, and has been involved in some of the most important authorities on fraud and costs in the criminal courts in recent years. He is highly regarded as a specialist in regulatory prosecutions, being regularly instructed on behalf of local authority trading standards teams, environmental agencies and other government bodies. He has an outstanding reputation for representing police officers in criminal and gross misconduct proceedings, and acted in the UK’s biggest police corruption trial. Jonathan’s case history includes: Defending in proceedings for the murder of an adopted infant daughter by a gay father; high profile and national media publicity; complex medical evidence (25 expert witnesses) relating to the cause of death and injuries (‘non-accidental head injury’ case); Defending in a £35 million international money laundering prosecution involving cross-jurisdictional evidence (England, Netherlands, China and Pakistan); Defending in a £170 million ‘blockbuster’ SFO fraud case, involving complex issues of planning law, mineral law, local government law, company law and international law – defendant acquitted with the SFO ordered to pay costs in excess of £3m; Defending a former police Inspector accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to a murder investigation in 1988-1990 which resulted in three men being convicted for the murder of a prostitute in Cardiff following alleged forging of witness statements and the use of oppression – acquitted after 4 month trial collapsed; Prosecuting an international prostitution ring, involving Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Bulgaria, the Republic of Ireland, and UK; led a cross-jurisdictional team, with investigators from the Garda, the PSNI and the Serious Organised Crime Agency, resulting in a hidden assets confiscation order and a total of 17 years’ imprisonment for main offender; Defending soldier accused of abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the Bread Basket Camp, Basra during the second Iraq war.

Judith Fordham

Judith practises exclusively in matrimonial finance and is head of the Family Department at Exchange Chambers. She specialises in matrimonial finance, dealing with cases of high value and with complex assets involving forensic issues. Her areas of expertise include: Financial remedy in divorce Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 Civil partnership disputes Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims Professional negligence in family law ADR. Her experience covers almost any area of employment or self-employment or corporate activity of her clients including farming, restaurant groups, manufacturing companies, agencies, the legal profession, the medical profession, architects, property developers etc. She has established relationships with forensic accountants, tax experts and agricultural experts. Judith is recognised for her understanding of financial complexities and how to navigate her clients through what are often stressful times. Her instructing solicitors highly commend for being an advocate who has an in-depth understanding of family law and who will fight hard to ensure the best outcome.

Julian King

Julian specialises in professional discipline, regulatory and serious criminal cases. He spent 20 years working within policing before commencing practice. He often represents police officers or other professionals facing criminal or disciplinary proceedings. He has detailed knowledge of serious crime, with specific experience within the fields of fraud and corporate crime. Julian is appointed to the Specialist Regulatory Panel (List C).

Julian Goode

Julian practices extensively in the Crown court, dealing with high level criminal cases. His practice involves undertaking both prosecution and defence work. He conducts cases on a wide variety of matters including: Fraud Sexual offences Dishonesty Proceeds of Crime Drugs Violence Julian is a RASSO accredited CPS Prosecutor. He also has an extensive knowledge of road traffic matters. Julian regularly appears for the Department of Work and Pensions, prosecuting Benefit fraud cases, and represents Police officers in Police misconduct matters and representing defendants’ interest in all aspects of prison law including applications for Judicial Review, adjudications and Parole Hearings. He is fast gaining a reputation for great client care skills and thorough preparation in all matters. He is personable and amiable but can also be very robust in his representations. In addition to his busy criminal practice, Julian has an expanding personal injury litigation and clinical negligence practice. He drafts advices as well as attending conferences, trials and other court hearings. Julian has also undertaken the training to accept direct access instructions.

Julie Forsyth

An experienced advocate with a career spanning over 35 years, Julie is recognised as a true specialist in the family law sphere. Her practice covers all aspects of children law, including both public law and private law proceedings. Up until 2009, Julie also maintained a criminal practice alongside her family work. She is a Category 4 Prosecutor and has defended and prosecuted (in equal measure) serious cases of murder, attempted murder, serious physical assaults, rape, kidnapping and physical and sexual abuse of children. Her experience at the criminal bar complements her established family practice. Julie is regularly instructed to represent parents, adopters, relatives and children in cases involving: Care Proceedings Private Law Proceedings PII Cases Adoption Special Guardianship work Deprivation of Liberty Relocation and abduction of children (both domestic and internationally) Her cases often involve the most serious allegations of infant death, sexual abuse, factitious induced illness (FII), domestic violence and physical abuse of children. Many of these cases involve complex medical evidence and require difficult cross examination of a wide array of medical professionals, including paediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons, paediatric radiologists, ophthalmologists, paediatricians, haematologists, geneticists, pathologists , psychiatrists and psychologists. Julie finds her work both rewarding and challenging. She is regarded as a tenacious cross examiner of all witness, whether lay or professional. Approachable and supportive, she is a popular choice with lay-clients due to her ‘down-to-earth’ nature. Many of these individuals have mental health difficulties and/or learning issues. Julie will always ensure that her clients are able to engage in and understand these highly traumatic and complicated matters.

Julie Case

Julie has a broad commercial and chancery practice, covering wills and probate (including Inheritance Act claims); trusts and settlements; Court of Protection; real property and landlord and tenant; company and partnership; insolvency; and professional negligence.

Kathryn Dale

Kathryn specialises in family law and is regularly instructed in public and private law matters, appearing in the Magistrates Court; County Court; High Court and Court of Appeal. Public Law Kathryn acts for parents and children in care proceedings involving issues of neglect, non-accidental injury, mental health and drug issues, sexual abuse, as well as applications for deprivation of liberty orders, applications for secure accommodation orders, and dispute as to jurisdiction. She has experience of dealing with parents with limited capacity and/or cognitive functioning issues, necessitating the input of intermediaries, advocates and the Official Solicitor, as well as parents with psychological/psychiatric disorders and/or disabilities, and cultural and language differences. Private Law Kathryn accepts instructions in respect of applications for child arrangement orders, enforcement orders, specific issue orders, leave to remove from the jurisdiction, and applications under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996, as well as 16.4 cases – both privately funded and covered by Legal Aid. Such applications have involved issues of parental alienation, fictitious illness, physical and emotional harm, and domestic abuse.

Kathryn Hughes

Kathryn qualified as a Solicitor in 1999. From 1999 to 2003 she worked as a Family Solicitor, managing a caseload of public and private children cases. She gained invaluable experience working directly with clients from the commencement of the proceedings and in the preparation of their cases, particularly drafting of documents. It provided insight, which continues to be of benefit now, as to the practice and pressures on family Solicitors. She developed her advocacy skills and decided that advocacy was what she wanted to focus on. In 2003 she was successful in applying to transfer to the Bar and has not looked back. Kathryn has developed a busy practice, specialising in children cases, both public and private law. In public law cases she has represented parents, family members, interveners and children. She is passionate and committed to the representation of her clients in every case. She is determined and will fight hard to ensure the best possible outcome for her client. She is a good communicator and when representing some of the most vulnerable of clients will use such communication skills to make sure they understand the proceedings and can engage successfully. Kathryn often represents clients with very low IQ, young parents, mental health conditions and those facing the most grave of allegations of harm (sexual, physical and emotional). In addition, her negotiation skills include a level of diplomacy that is often required in reaching a fair settlement on issues in dispute. If there is no scope to settle issues she is not afraid to ensure that those issues are litigated when it is in the best interests of the client to do so. She has represented many children in cases and has developed trusting working relationships with many Children’s Guardians and Solicitors. Kathryn’s experience covers almost any area of work in the public/private children cases. In public cases this includes complex and serious cases involving non-accidental injuries/death, sexual abuse, FII, domestic abuse. In private law this includes 16.4 cases, relocation (internal and out of jurisdiction), intractable contact. Kathryn is also a qualified Pupil Supervisor.

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.

Kerron Rohrer

Kerron practises exclusively in personal injury. He practises mainly in respect of claimants but also has a substantial practice representing defendants. More recently, he has represented various local authorities, carrying out drafting and advisory work as well as conducting trials in a wide array of cases, at both fast-track and multi-track level. Kerron’s practice largely comprises claims with a value greater than £25,000, with a substantial proportion of those cases having values in excess of £100,000. The vast majority of paperwork will be turned around within 7-14 days (2-3 days for the more straightforward advices/pleadings) but he is responsive to any request for faster or urgent turnaround. He has extensive experience in the following areas of practice: Advising across a range of liability and quantum issues in cases worth up to £3m. Particular experience in chronic pain syndrome/CRPS/Fibromyalgia cases and the particular difficulties those cases involve; Costs budgeting hearings; Fatal accidents; Drafting schedules of loss in multi-track cases; Clinical negligence work Kerron likes to meet the client wherever that is possible and as early as possible. He finds it improves greatly the assessment of a case’s merits and value, and puts the client at ease about the future progress of the case. He ensures he is available to talk to instructing solicitors at any time on the telephone, and is happy to provide informal advice on cases regardless of whether he has been, or will be, instructed in the case. He considers that his primary role is to make his instructing solicitor’s life easier.

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

Kevin Slack

Kevin is a highly experienced practitioner in criminal and regulatory work. He is a CPS Category 4 Prosecutor and a CPS Specialist Prosecutor on the Fraud Panel (category 4) and Serious Crime Panel (category 3). He is also on the Regulatory Advocates Panel (List B). Kevin undertakes all aspects of criminal work but has particular expertise in: fraud money laundering confiscation environmental crime He will often be instructed to prosecute cases which have attracted national media interest. Kevin has wide-ranging experience of regulatory work. He prosecutes on behalf of the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive and Insolvency Service and has, for many years, represented the GMC in disciplinary proceedings against medical practitioners. Kevin also has an interest in taxi licensing and has represented a number of different local authorities in relation to cases involving the regulation of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Kevin prides himself on his attention to detail, thorough preparation and his understanding of complex issues and how to resolve them.

Kim Whittlestone

Kim has a strong criminal practice, regularly instructed on criminal matters such as homicide, drugs, conspiracies, serious violence, robbery, sexual offences, fraud, money laundering, and theft. She is also a Category 4 Prosecutor and has been selected to act on behalf of the General Medical Council.

Kirsty Robinson

Kirsty specialises in representing parents, children and intervenors in Public Law Proceedings. Kirsty also has extensive experience of representing children (pursuant to Rule 16.4 FPR 2010) in complex Private Law Proceedings. In Public Law Proceedings Kirsty regularly deals with cases where there are complex and intractable issues including Inflicted Injury, Sexual Abuse and Physical and Emotional Harm. She has extensive experience in representing parents with very low IQ and fluctuating capacity, including representing parents who require the assistance of the Official Solicitor. In Private Law proceedings Kirsty accepts instructions in relation to difficult disputes often including intended relocation of children both within the jurisdiction and internationally. Kirsty is regularly instructed in cases involving: Representation of parents with significant mental health problems; Issues of domestic abuse: physical, sexual and coercive and controlling behaviour; Neglect; Sexual Abuse of children; Allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness; Issues in relation to gender assignment of children Representation of very young parents; Representation of children of different ages and different needs within the same family; Representation of children whose views differ from their Guardian and have capacity to instruct in their own right; Parental alienation; FGM and Forced Marriage.

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.

Kyra Badman

Kyra is a talented junior and has a well-established criminal practice. She is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in a wide range of cases involving: Drugs offences Assault and other violent offences Sexual offences Dishonesty offences including burglary and robbery Proceeds of Crime Applications Motoring and vehicle offences Kyra is a Category 2 Prosecutor, and has also prosecuted on behalf of local authorities and the RSPCA. She is particularly adept at working with young and vulnerable defendants due to her sensitive and patient nature.

Lawrence McDonald

Lawrence is an experienced commercial litigator with particular expertise in property, insolvency and professional negligence cases. He acts for companies, individuals, office holders and public bodies before courts and tribunals of all levels in England and Wales. Prior to life at the bar, Lawrence worked at a number of law firms both in London (Linklaters and Nabarro’s) and Liverpool (Brabners). This has enabled him to build a practice that understands the complexities of both sides of the table. He also has an extensive advisory and mediation practice. Lawrence has recognised strength in: Property litigation of all types including real property, landlord and tenant and service charges Commercial litigation including contractual disputes, Tort claims, injunctions, company, partnership, trusts and probate and property related commercial cases Personal and corporate insolvency Professional negligence, particularly in claims involving solicitors, often for conveyancing or other property related negligence.

Lee Speakman

Lee has a broad practice encompassing personal injury law, family law and local government and social housing work. His personal injury practice comprises both fast track and multi track litigation on all manner of personal injury work including employers’ liability; public liability; road traffic accidents (including fraud & LVI); credit hire; military claims; and CICA appeals. His clinical negligence work encompasses claims involving missed diagnoses of fractures and infection, and negligent nursing care received in hospital. Lee regularly acts in private law family cases involving contact, residence and prohibitive steps orders and has experience of ancillary relief and enforcement of court orders, including through committal proceedings.

Lisa Linklater KC

Lisa Linklater KC specialises in litigation and related advisory work in the following practice areas: - Shareholder disputes (unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up petitions, derivative claims and breaches of shareholder agreements) - Partnership and LLP disputes - Joint venture disputes - Claims against directors - Corporate insolvency and restructuring (administrations, liquidations, CVAs, and restructuring plans) - Contractual claims (particularly share and business sale agreements) - Commercial fraud - Law of Property Act receiverships. Lisa is acclaimed for her excellent and versatile written and oral advocacy at trial, in mediation, on appeal and in applications. She is an extremely effective trial advocate, skilled in cross-examination of both factual and expert witnesses, including forensic accountants. Lisa served as Junior Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s Regional Panel) for three consecutive terms and was regularly instructed by BEIS and HM Revenue and Customs in many precedent-setting cases. Publications Member of the editorial advisory board of the Company Lawyer (Sweet and Maxwell). Recent articles include “Shareholder Disputes: Unfair Prejudice Petitions and the Art of Share Valuation” (Solicitors’ Journal, August 2022), “Directors’ Duties in Times of Change” (R3’s Recovery newsletter) and “Restructuring Plans and HMRC: Recent Developments” (R3 update 2023)

Lisa Feng

Lisa’s practice covers a broad range of commercial and chancery litigation. Her commercial practice covers disputes over commercial contracts, partnership disputes and commercial property litigation. She is frequently instructed to advise and act in cases involving more complex issues of law such as those concerning defective guarantees, penalty clauses, and difficult cases of interpretation and rectification of contracts. Lisa appears regularly in the Business and Property Courts where she has substantial experience in dealing with a broad spectrum of applications and claims under the Insolvency Act 1986 and Companies Act 2006. Examples of cases include shareholders’ disputes, contentious winding up petitions (including petitions for just an equitable winding up) and acting for office holders and respondents on misfeasance claims. She frequently deals with more difficult and contentious issues which may arise under the Insolvency Act, for example, contentious administration applications, remuneration challenges and issues over trustees’ conduct under section 303 of the Insolvency Act. Lisa is particularly adept at researching niche points of law and using various authorities to support her case at Court. With vast advocacy experience Lisa is able to deal with more complex litigation where her thorough preparation is always an asset. Lisa has recently been appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown by the Attorney General (Regional Panel B). Examples of Cases: Acting as junior counsel for the Claimant in a high value and complex claim involving issues of breach of trust against the Defendant executor for misappropriating sums from the deceased’s estate. Successfully acting for Highways England in a multi-track quantum only trial where the Defendant had caused a significant oil spill resulting in damage to the motorway. The trial involved complex issues on causation in respect of the extent of damage, nuanced legal arguments as to whether general or special damages were appropriate and detailed cross examination of the Defendant’s expert quantity surveyor. Acting for directors and administrators in an application to regularise a defective appointment due to the lack of FCA consent: Gregory & Others v A.R.G. Mansfield Limited (In Administration) [2020] EWHC 1133 Acting on behalf of a bankrupt in a complex application to compel a trustee to conclude a 6-year bankruptcy pursuant to section 303 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and for permission to challenge remuneration and expenses. Successfully acting for a liquidator in a 2-day trial in respect of claims against a director for breach of duty, wrongful trading and payments of unlawful dividends. Resisting an application to set aside a statutory demand which was issued for over £800,000 as sums due under a personal guarantee. Case involved consideration of commissions and clawbacks in contracts with insurance intermediaries. Acted for the Respondents in successfully resisting an appeal before a Circuit Judge against an order for possession made against trespassers. The appeal involved arguments over the applicability of the Equality Act 2010 including the extent of the Respondent’s public sector equality duty and interference with the Appellant’s Article 8 rights.

Louis Browne KC

Louis Browne KC has a wide ranging civil practice with particular emphasis in catastrophic personal injury claims, inquests and inquiries, public law and media law. He appears regularly in the Higher Courts. In recent years, Louis has been instructed in some of the most high-profile cases (see specific examples in ‘Cases’ section). Louis has considerable expertise in all areas of public law and judicial review. He frequently acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in the Administrative Court. His particular areas of specialism are human rights-based challenges in the context of community care, immigration, education and mental health. He is ranked as a Leading/Tier 1 Silk by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 in Personal Injury, Inquests and Inquiries, Administrative and Public Law and IT, Telecoms and Data Protection. Louis has a reputation for being accessible, easy to work with and for giving clear and straightforward advice.

Mark Ainsworth

Mark has an extensive criminal and regulatory practice involving both prosecution and defence work. He is regularly instructed in large and complex fraud cases in cases involving homicide, drugs, firearms, sexual offences, fraud and health and safety. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor on the Attorney General’s list for the Northern Circuit. He is also authorised to prosecute rape and other sexual offences. Mark also regularly represents professionals in disciplinary proceedings, and he has also been instructed in proceedings on appeal to the Divisional Court. Mark is routinely instructed in cases involving General Practitioners, Consultant Anaesthetists, Consultant Gynaecologists and Consultant Pathologists. Mark also represents the interests of doctors whose performance has been the subject of scrutiny during an inquest in the Coroner’s Court. He has experienced of variety of such proceedings, including an Inquest into the death of a patient detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mark Mulrooney

Mark’s practice is exclusively in personal injury litigation. He represents both claimants and defendants. His largest claim to date settled for £4.75 million. Mark has an extensive background in personal injury litigation and has particular interest and expertise in significant head injury, multiple orthopaedic injuries, serious spinal injury, claims involving extensive care and/or the need for alternative or adapted housing. Mark prides himself on being amiable and has the ability to put his clients at ease throughout all stages of instruction. He ensures clients have his full attention at all times and believes communication between barrister and client is of prime importance. Other areas of his practice include advice and advocacy in difficulty liability issues, fatal accident claims and psychiatric injuries.

Mark Kellet

Mark is an experienced criminal barrister, who prosecutes and defends in cases of the utmost gravity. Having specialised in homicide cases for many years, he has developed particular expertise in mental health and defences, not just diminished responsibility but general defences, including psychosis and self-defence. He has prosecuted and defended numerous multi-handed frauds and conspiracies. Mark also has a high level of security clearance to deal with cases involving the security services.

Mark Rhind KC

Mark specialises in criminal and regulatory work. His criminal work chiefly consists of fraud (carousel and eBay), money laundering, confiscation and asset recovery, homicide, large gangland conspiracies, armed robberies and drugs conspiracies. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor and is certified to prosecute offences of rape and other serious sexual offences. Mark has been involved for some time in representing those involved in motoring matters from fatal RTAs to cases in the lower court. Mark has particular experience in regulatory healthcare work and so frequently represents healthcare professionals who are interested parties after a death in hospital or other institution. He is conversant with hospital practice and procedures and is able to deal with cases involving complex medical issues. Mark is currently instructed in a number of inquests including cases which have attracted nationwide publicity. He is also experienced in defending a wide variety of cases prosecuted by the Environmental Agency, in particular those involving the owners/directors of waste management companies and farms.

Mark Stephenson

Mark is an experienced criminal practitioner, regularly instructed in serious and high profile cases, almost exclusively for the defence. His practice covers a wide range of serious criminal matters including complex fraud; money laundering; large drug conspiracies; serious violence; and serious sexual offences. He has a particular specialism of dealing with complex financial and accounting matters. He also has extensive experience of international cross-border issues particularly the admissibility and investigative powers.

Martine Snowdon

Martine is an experienced Category 4 Prosecutor with a wide range of experience in both prosecuting and defending criminal cases. She is appointed to the Specialist Panel for serious crime at Level 4, and is a member of the CPS Specialist Rape Panel. She covers all aspects of criminal work including: Fraud (VHCC, vat, fuel, benefit, publishing, banking fraud, identity, insurance and mortgage fraud) Proceeds of Crime, money laundering, forfeiture and confiscation Sexual offences Serious violence and firearms offences Murder and attempted murder Drugs supply, conspiracies and importation Motoring offences including fatalities Environmental, Health and Safety and RSPCA prosecutions Martine has particular experience in complex and high value frauds and drugs conspiracies as well as cases of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Martine is able to communicate effectively with people, be they clients or witnesses, so they are comfortable in her company. She is able to gain their trust even when dealing with complex and harrowing cases. She can deal with distressing subjects sensitively and comprehensively, instilling confidence in people. For example, she was Junior Counsel defending the youth charged with the murder of 7 year old Katie Rough. A tenacious and formidable presence and authority in the courtroom with the ability to put her case over powerfully, her growing practice continues to go from strength to strength. Martine is also a Pupil Supervisor at Exchange Chambers. .

Matthew Stockwell

Matthew specialises in serious injury litigation and public law. His caseload is made up almost exclusively of cases with a mixture of high value (or other importance), sensitivity and complexity. He is recognised for his technical expertise and advocacy skills, combined with a strong work ethic and empathy with clients. Matthew served on the executive committee of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) between 2007 and 2015, as Vice President in 2012 and President in 2013. He is co-author of the APIL Guide to Accidents at Work and has particular knowledge and experience of brain injury litigation, delivering APIL’s brain injury training courses and actively contributing to APIL’s catastrophic injury training programme. Matthew has extensive involvement in appeals, test cases and declaratory proceedings. He is often counsel of choice in cases involving novel and developing areas of the law to assist on strategy. He relishes the prospect of working collaboratively with other professionals and places particular importance on delivering excellent client care and successful outcomes as part of a team. Matthew has extensive experience of clinical and professional negligence claims and other cases of medical and technical complexity. In the sphere of public law, Matthew has a longstanding academic and professional interest in health and social care provision. He obtained a Masters Degree from Trinity College, Dublin, following comparative research about issues of capacity and consent in the context of obstetric management, and regularly appears in the Court of Protection, Family and Administrative Courts on matters of the utmost sensitivity. Matthew advises and lectures widely in the areas of health and social welfare decision-making, mental capacity and mental health, community care provision, learning disability and funding & charging issues.

Michael Scholes

Michael is a former Solicitor (admitted in 1974) who transferred to the Bar in 1995. He specialises in criminal work for the defence and prosecution. Although traditionally regarded as an outstanding advocate defending in the full range of serious criminal cases in more recent years he has been sought out to prosecute the same offences he previously exclusively defended. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor. A specialist prosecutor of both serious crime and rape/serious sexual offences, he has extensive experience in the following areas of practice: Fraud Money laundering Confiscation Regulatory work Large scale drugs conspiracies (national and international) Murder and other homicide offences Serious sexual offences Firearms Robbery Benefit fraud Large scale public order offences and prison riot/mutiny Appellate work (House of Lords and Appeal Court) Michael has acted for the defence in the following specific areas of fraud work: Mortgage fraud Revenue/Excise fraud White collar (business) fraud Counterfeit good/services (advance fee fraud) Michael has a down to earth, practical approach to his cases and clients alike. As a former solicitor, he understands both sides of the table and brings a fearless tenacity to Court. His hard-working yet amiable manner makes him a popular advocate in some of the most complex cases.

Michael Lavery

Michael is an experienced criminal and regulatory practitioner, with over 20 years’ experience in major heavyweight criminal cases. He is an expert in cases where fraudulent activity is alleged, and he has been instructed on MTIC, eBay, reverse transaction and Ponzi fraud. In recent years Michael’s practice has gravitated to regulatory private client and defendant insured basis work. His practice encompasses Food Safety, Health and Safety (Defence and Prosecutions), Police and Prison Officer disciplinary hearings and the defence of Healthcare professionals. Michael also has a busy Inquests practice, particularly in regards to representing the interested persons in inquests arising out of deaths in the workplace and deaths in custody.

Nadia Koucheksarai

Nadia practises exclusively in family law. When practising as a solicitor she was a member of the Children Panel. Nadia undertook extensive advocacy representing both parents and children. Nadia continues to represent children; including those with capacity to instruct her in their own right, as well as children via their court appointed guardians.Nadia’s practice is predominantly in Public Law. She is regularly instructed in matters involving allegations of inflicted injury, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. She has considerable experience of representing parents with capacity and cognitive issues, including working alongside intermediaries. Nadia has also undertaken a number of cases dealing with jurisdictional issues including the application of Article 15 Brussels II revised.In Private Law proceedings Nadia has substantial experience representing both parents and Guardians in finding of fact hearings dealing with serious sexual and physical harm allegations. She is often instructed to represent the interests of the children in matters dealing with complex family dynamics and the instruction of experts.Nadia prides herself on her thorough preparation, personable approach and focused advice.

Natalia Cornwall

Natalia is an experienced criminal advocate who acts on behalf of both the prosecution and defence. She handles all manner of criminal cases involving violent offences; dishonesty charges; drugs offences; public order offences; sexual offences; road traffic offences; and confiscation proceedings. She is a Category 3 Prosecutor for the CPS and also acts for DWP and HMRC. Natalia also undertakes work on behalf of local authorities and has experience in taxi-licensing law. Natalia has experience in private law children applications, ancillary relief, and public law. In children cases Natalia has represented local authorities, parents and guardians in residence and contact disputes and care proceedings.

Natasha Barnes

Natasha Barnes is a highly-regarded junior who acts in a variety of sensitive and complex cases focusing on judicial review, indirect tax and other areas of public and human rights law. She appears before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, the Administrative Court and the Tribunals (Tax and Immigration Chambers). Natasha advises a wide spectrum of clients including individuals, companies, public authorities and government departments. She is a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel.

Neil Hawes KC

Neil specialises in commercial fraud and associated financial work. Highly experienced in defending large scale prosecutions brought by the SFO, FCA, CPS, and CMA, he remains down-to-earth and well known for his team approach. Neil has a reputation for the extensive preparation and strategic foresight that is necessary for large and complex cases. He is consistently sought after and instructed by large corporations and national firms of solicitors. Neil has represented a wide range of individuals from Board Directors to employees alleged to have been involved in numerous offences including fraud, cartel activity, bribery, corruption, money laundering, cheating the Inland Revenue, company offences, insider dealing and related FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) offences and regulatory breaches. Neil’s work also involves advising on ‘live’ money laundering issues, and he has extensive experience in restraint and confiscation. This includes associated and appellant work. Neil appears in publications as a Leader of the Bar, and has been consistently recommended in Chambers & Partners for criminal fraud since 2012 to present. He has been a contributor author to the Practical Law Company Practice Notes in the area of commercial fraud. As the keynote speaker at the London City Solicitors Association Annual Conference in Amsterdam in 2012, lecturing on ‘The Internationalisation of the Criminal Law’, looking at Corruption, Bribery and Cartel Investigations and offences. He has also lectured on a number of other subjects including cartels, immunity applications, corruption & bribery, deferred prosecution agreements (DPA’s) and financial crime. Neil accepts direct public access instructions on certain work.

Nicholas Walker

With over 20 years’ experience in complex cases, Nicholas’ practice now centres on professional discipline where he is in demand across the country for his hard-working and common-sense approach and his persuasive advocacy. Although he no longer accepts instructions in general legal-aid crime, he will defend professionals in the criminal courts where there are concurrent or pending disciplinary proceedings. Nicholas also enjoys cases with scientific evidence and often presents complex cases involving medical specialisms at the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service on behalf of the General Medical Council. Nicholas is particularly adept in cases where there are sensitive issues or vulnerable witnesses and is accredited by the Inns of Court College of Advocacy as a Lead Facilitator for Vulnerable Witness Training as well as a Northern Circuit Advocacy Trainer. He sits as Legally Qualified Chair in police misconduct hearings.

Nicholas Johnson KC

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.

Nicola Daley

Nicola is a specialist criminal practitioner who has particular experience in a wide variety of cases including: Serious Organised Crime (including firearms, drug trafficking and serious violence) Fraud (including MTIC Fraud, Money Laundering and Benefit Fraud) Homicide Serious Sexual Offences Confiscation and POCA She is a Category 4 Prosecutor and also on the Attorney General’s list of Counsel. Whilst preparation and attention to detail are important in any case, Nicola strives to ensure that it is witness handling which her main focus; even the most robust questioning of witnesses can be done with care and empathy.

Nigel DH Edwards

Prior to being called to the Bar, Nigel served as an officer in the Royal Navy. After leaving the Navy he went to St John’s College, Cambridge where he read Law and won the McMahon and Larmor Awards. His practice centres on substantial personal injury claims, fatal accident claims, medical negligence and general common law and he enjoys the complexity that comes with jurisdictional disputes, credit hire claims and contractual disputes flowing from an accident. His common law practice covers a wide range of areas, including: Catastrophic injuries Brain injuries Spinal injuries Inquests Dental negligence Medical negligence Consumer credit hire claims Workplace accidents Fatal accidents and inquests Professional negligence disputes generally involving Lawyers Industrial Disease including Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Chemical Poisoning

Oliver Jarvis

Oliver’s areas of specialism include murder, organised crime involving international drugs conspiracies, money laundering and fraud, fatal road traffic offences – as recommended by the ‘Legal 500’, and regulatory offences. Oliver is a defence specialist and has acted as lead counsel in many trials. Oliver defends throughout England and Wales in the most serious and often high-profile cases. He has specialist experience of cases involving journalistic intrusion and linked human rights issues, covert surveillance, regulation of investigatory powers and issues of abuse of process and exclusion of evidence. Oliver’s knowledge of information technology assists him particularly in fraud cases which demand the management of vast amounts of material. He has acted as lead counsel in numerous large scale frauds.

Olivia Beesley

Olivia was called to the Bar in 2018. She completed a criminal pupillage and secured tenancy in a Birmingham set. After three years of practising, she returned to her hometown of Liverpool. She enjoys a practice of both defence and prosecution work. Olivia is a Grade 3 Prosecutor for the CPS and on the specialist panel for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO). Her work includes Crime and Regulatory cases. She is approachable, pragmatic and brings an affable flair to her work. Olivia is regularly instructed in a wide range of cases including; Drugs offences Sexual offences Dishonesty offences including burglary and robbery Assault and other violent offences Proceeds of Crime Applications Motoring and vehicle offences Over the course of 2020 and 2021, she appeared in the Court of Appeal as part of a team representing a Sub-Postmaster. This appeal focussed on lack of disclosure from the Post Office during a succession of trials. Both Category 1 and Category 2 Abuse was argued. Recently, she secured a unanimous acquittal in a multi-handed Conspiracy to Supply Class A trial in Inner London Crown Court. The 8-day trial involved cell site analysis evidence, focussing on her 28-year-old client’s movements in early 2020. In her Regulatory practice, Olivia has experience in prosecuting on behalf of City and District Councils. Recently she was seconded to Birmingham City Council; assisting in court, as well as behind the scenes with charging decisions and advices. Her work with Local Authorities includes but is not limited to, Trading Standards, Environmental, Health and Safety, Food and Hygiene, Licensing and Nuisance. Beyond this, she has experience in Health and Care Professional Council work. Olivia has represented the Registrant, a paramedic, in a five-day Final Hearing. The Panel found that Fitness to Practice was not impaired, and no sanctions were imposed. She also represented a social worker in allegations of dishonestly in deprivation of liberty cases at Social Work England. Olivia has been briefed in several Mental Health Tribunals, concerning s.2 Mental Health Act. She has found success in this area, and has previously secured a discharge from hospital for her clients.

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 Hodgkinson

With over 25 years of experience, Paul is known for his direct, robust and no-nonsense approach in both his defence and prosecution practice. Renowned for his fearlessness, he can find a route through the most intricate and complex legal issues. His practice involves the most serious and complex criminal cases including murder, fraud, large-scale conspiracies and serious sexual offending. He qualified as a solicitor in 1997, transferring to the Bar in 2002 where he specialises in serious crime, fraud, regulatory and coronial work. His confident and considered approach has enabled him to develop an enviable criminal practice. Over time, Paul has developed his practice and defended some of the most high profile, serious and complex cases on circuit. He is a Category 4 Prosecutor. Paul’s regulatory practice continues to grow. He is frequently involved in defending Health and Safety Executive prosecutions and has experience of defending Care Home owners in alleged abuse and neglect cases. His inquest work also goes from strength to strength as he regularly appears in Article 2 cases involving deaths in custody or care. He is a registered lawyer with the Football Association and provides training and advice on criminal law to young premier league club players. Paul is recognised as a Tier 1 advocate in the Legal 500 and has been included in the guide each year since 2010. Paul was appointed as a Recorder in 2019.

Paul Clark

Paul acts for injured claimants only. His personal injury practice is wide-ranging. It covers injuries arising from road traffic accidents, employer’s liability cases, public liability cases and common law matters. Paul is regularly instructed in catastrophic brain injury or spinal injury cases, multiple orthopaedic injury cases including upper and lower limb injuries and chronic pain syndrome matters. Paul is particularly chosen by many solicitors in relation to their fatal accident cases and road traffic accident liability disputes requiring forensic analysis.

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.

Peter Dixon

A Chartered Surveyor who transferred to the Bar in 2013 after more than 25 years’ in practice in planning and development. His experience enables Peter to identify and appreciate the commercial implications of any instruction and to take a considered view about possible outcomes. He has a keen, informed, analytical approach combined with a practical understanding of the issues at hand. He has extensive experience in dealing with large, complex and controversial planning proposals at application and appeal stages and in subsequent court proceedings, acting as advisor to both public and private sector clients on strategy, tactics and procedure. A much-valued team player, Peter is comfortable working alongside fellow professionals as part of the project team. All well as all aspects of town and country planning in England and Wales (including applications, appeals, enforcement, environmental impact assessment, CIL, planning obligations, local and neighbourhood plans, local and neighbourhood development orders, listed buildings and advertisement control), Peter is also familiar with dealing with the consenting arrangements in the Planning Act 2008 for NSIPs as well as other consent regimes (e.g. Transport and Works Act, Electricity Act, hybrid bills) and associated areas of law including highways/ public rights of way, compulsory purchase, assets of community value, environmental and land law (including in relation to boundaries, easements, covenants and rights to light). Peter is an accredited mediator. Find out more – www.peterdixonmediator.co.uk

Peter Killen

Peter is a highly experienced advocate with a burgeoning criminal practice. After a successful career as a solicitor, where he was a partner at a top criminal law firm and Head of the Advocacy Department, he recently transferred to the Bar. After qualifying as a Higher Courts Advocate in 2007, Peter has been employed as a full-time advocate since, routinely instructed in long running cases involving murder, serious sexual offences, drugs and other serious crime. He has appeared for the defence and conducted numerous trials, sentence hearings, and other interim hearings. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division on many occasions making applications to appeal both against sentence and conviction. Peter is a Category 3 Prosecutor and a member of the specialist CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel. With extensive experience as a specialist criminal litigator, Peter has recognised strengths in preparing complex cases for trial and in particular analysing and challenging complicated scientific, expert and telephonic evidence. With a reputation for hard work and a forensic attention to detail, Peter is able to bring his skills to the fore when representing his clients.

Philip Marshall KC

Philip is a family law practitioner specialising in matrimonial finance and property and related divorce cases. He has extensive experience of “big money” matrimonial disputes at all levels, many with an international or jurisdictional element, and appeared in both White and Miller and McFarlane in the House of Lords. Philip is recognised as a leading silk in both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. He is a Bencher and former vice-chairman of the Advocacy and CPD Committee of Gray’s Inn, a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and an associate member of Resolution. He is former Chairman (2016/2017) of the Family Law Bar Association (FLBA).

Philip Tully

Philip has 21 years’ experience dealing with the most serious and complex of cases in the areas of criminal and regulatory law. He is someone who appears on a regular basis in the highest Courts in the country and has the ability to quickly absorb and analyse information/evidence and formulate/present (either orally or in written form) complex and detailed presentations/arguments. Philip has vast experience in dealing with a very large amount of disclosure in both complex criminal and regulatory cases. He has also previously been instructed as disclosure counsel in a multi-handed criminal case, involving the prosecution of members of a firm of Solicitors. That case involved the consideration of over 100,000 pages of unused material. He is someone with a heavy workload, which requires sound judgement, decisiveness and an ability to work under pressure. He has experience in leading other barristers when conducting cases has a commitment to Justice, independence and fair treatment. Philip is a qualified Pupil Master, involved in the training of new Barristers. He has the ability to explain things clearly and succinctly, work constructively with others and inspire respect and confidence from people.

Rachael Woods

Rachael is a specialist criminal advocate regularly instructed by defence and prosecution in serious and complex cases involving: Armed robbery Homicide Drug conspiracies Fraud Serious sexual offences including allegations of a historic nature and child cruelty and neglect She has been a Grade 4 Prosecutor for a number of years. Rachael has practised at the Bar for over 14 years and prides herself on being approachable and providing advice and representation in a direct and robust manner.

Rachel Coyle

Rachel is a specialist property and commercial/chancery barrister who also has experience in insolvency and private client. Rachel acts in all types of property disputes (residential and commercial). Rachel has appeared in the High Court in the Business and Property Courts, Companies Court, King’s Bench Division, Probate and Chancery Division in matters such as but not limited to contractual and tortious disputes, replacement of trustees, partnership and joint venture disputes, sale of goods and services, construction, personal and corporate insolvency, data protection, TOLATA 1996, Inheritance Act 1975 and Colonial Probates Act 1892. She has built a strong experience in the County Court to multi track level. She also has experience in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and (Land Registration), and representing and advising parties in matters such as but not limited to leasehold and freehold disputes, business tenancy disputes, land (boundary, easements, common land, agricultural land, village greens, farm tenancies, adverse possession, highways/public rights of way, Japanese Knotweed, Tree Preservation Orders, Electronic Communications Code), nuisance, Housing Act 2004. Clients that Rachel has worked with include private and commercial landlords, commercial and residential tenants/leaseholders, banks, U.K. solicitors’ firms with domestic and/or international clients, start-ups, private equity sponsors, local government departments and councils, property management companies, charities, high net worth individuals, beneficiaries, trustees and more vulnerable members of society. Rachel’s expertise is founded on her time at the Bar, pro bono work, webinar/seminar programmes and her work experience before coming to the Bar when she spent time working in hedging product mis-selling at Seneca Banking (part of Seneca Partners), volunteering in the procurement and commercial team at Stockport Homes, volunteering as a cleaner at a temporary accommodation for domestic violence victims at Stockport Homes, paralegal work at law firms such as DWF LLP (Manchester) and Horwich Farrelly, and on secondments at Hyde Housing and OneSource.

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.

Rebecca Clark

Rebecca is a very experienced advocate who has specialised in personal injury law, with a focus on multitrack personal injury litigation and, in more recent years, the Court of Protection. Rebecca is known for her thorough preparation, attention to detail, effective advocacy and cross examination and her excellent working relationships with lay clients and experts. Clients include the individual claimant or defendant, as well as local authorities and insurers, family members and the official solicitor. Rebecca welcomes being able to provide informal advice on potential claims at an early stage, and frequently provides advice to professional clients on on-going case management as part of an efficient and effective ‘team approach’. Rebecca has considerable experience in all respects of personal injury law and the Court of Protection. As a qualified mediator she is interested in pursuing all alternative means of dispute resolution. Reflecting her training and experience as a volunteer for the National Autistic Society, Rebecca provides advice and represents parents in the First Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) on choice of schools. Rebecca is a reviewer on the Bar Pro Bono panel.

Richard Brigden

Richard is a criminal defence advocate with an excellent reputation, involved in a wide range of work in the Crown Court, High Court (quasi criminal matters) and Court of Appeal. His varied Crown Court practice encompasses a variety of serious criminal offences including murder, firearms, violence, sexual offences, drugs and fraud. Richard is experienced in dealing with complex and voluminous evidence which often involves expert evidence regarding cell site, firearms, computers and environmental issues. He is also experienced in dealing with complex expert medical evidence in the area of diminished responsibility and pharmacology.. He is known for his expertise in dealing with vulnerable defendants and has extensive experience of representing defendants with complex mental health needs and defences involving insanity, loss of control and diminished responsibility. He is experienced in advising and instructing the relevant experts as well in the use of intermediaries. Richard is regarded as a leading protest lawyer and has recently been instructed in precedent cases in the Court of Appeal Criminal and Civil Division. He is ranked in the 2022 Edition of The Legal 500 as a leading junior in general crime.

Richard McLean

Richard specialises in employment and discrimination law. He also has a growing sports law practice. Richard acts for a wide range of clients in employment cases including businesses, individuals, trade unions, local authorities and government departments. He frequently acts for claimants and respondents in multi-day employment and discrimination cases, including at appellate level. Richard has a busy sports law practice with experience of anti-doping cases, disciplinary and contractual disputes across a range of sports such as football, athletics and both codes of rugby. He is a member of the Football Association’s Judicial Panel, acting as chairperson in FA misconduct cases. Richard also has advocacy and advisory experience in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals covering healthcare and financial services. Additionally, Richard brings a wide range of experience since being called to the bar a decade ago, having worked in-house at HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, and Nursing and Midwifery Council in addition to self-employed practice. Richard is a member of the Attorney General’s Regional B Panel. He is a member of the bar’s pro bono charity Advocate, the Sports Resolutions pro bono panel, and previously worked for a law firm in Texas representing death row prisoners.

Richard Wilcock

Richard is an experienced and highly sought after costs practitioner with a wide range of expertise in costs and litigation funding. He is head of chambers’ expanding costs team and undertakes along with other members, regular training sessions and seminars for solicitors and costs lawyers. Richard is often asked to speak at costs’ conferences including the annual meeting of the Association of Costs Lawyers, which is a significant event in the costs calendar. Richard advises clients (both paying and receiving parties) in conference and in writing on all aspects of costs litigation including retainer disputes, litigation and third party funding, costs budgeting and matters involving complex areas of costs law. He is regularly instructed to undertake non-contentious costs work including the drafting of retainers and complex Conditional Fee Agreements and Damage Based Agreements. His advocacy work regularly takes him to the Senior Courts Costs Office, in addition to the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal to represent paying and receiving parties at Detailed Assessment hearings and costs appeals. With costs disputes involving an increasing amount of evidence and witness statements, Richard experience as a commercial cross examiner is of significant assistance to his client’s cases. With the increasing amount of Solicitor and Client assessments being pursued, Richard is now regularly instructed to advise solicitors on assessments which are being vigorously pursued on behalf of former clients by claims companies. Commercial Litigation His practice covers all aspects of commercial litigation work including contractual disputes, sales of goods, consumer credit, insolvency, professional negligence, banking & asset recovery, insurance disputes and director disqualification. He has particular expertise in motor insurance disputes including the long standing challenge between motor insurers and credit hire organisations. He has advised and acted for all of the major credit hire company heavyweights on matters of policy and litigation procedure & practice. He is also regularly instructed by motor insurers to defend claims for credit hire, especially when an element of exaggeration or fraud is suspected.

Richard Tetlow

Richard is an experienced junior practising in the Commercial, Commercial Fraud, Insolvency and Property departments, with extensive experience of acting in an advisory capacity or drafting, and in advocacy of all kinds. Richard has a broad commercial practice, covering contractual disputes, banking, mortgages and asset recovery, professional negligence, sale of goods/product liability, company and partnership law and commercial litigation generally. He also practices extensively in insolvency, acting for both office holders and those subject to insolvency proceedings. Richard is also a member of the commercial fraud department, with significant experience in the area. Richard’s practice also covers various areas of property law, including real property disputes, landlord and tenant disputes and trusts. Richard is listed as a Leading Individual in Chambers & Partners in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Restructuring/Insolvency, and a Leading Junior in The Legal 500 in Company and Insolvency. He has been variously described as: “He is very good on his feet. He is careful and well prepared, and he has a manner that clients can gel with.” “He’s very persuasive in front of a judge and very good at spotting unusual points.” “He is very approachable and very user-friendly.” (Chambers and Partners 2021) “Good to work with. Team player. Nothing too much trouble. Reliable and hard working.” (The Legal 500 2021) “Very diligent and always well prepared.” (Chambers and Partners 2020) a “talented junior with a burgeoning reputation, who handles a wide variety of commercial disputes including company, contractual and insolvency-related matters”, having “exactly the right attitude” and being an “extremely able and user-friendly junior – he is very much a safe pair of hands on all things chancery, commercial and insolvency related.” (Chambers and Partners 2019) “a future star who is particularly good at cross-examination” (Chambers and Partners 2018) Richard is Junior Counsel to the Crown (Regional A Panel).

Richard Littler KC

Richard is a criminal silk described by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as “exceptionally bright”, “a stand out name”, “ a leading name in his field” and “ has a wonderful calming manner with clients.” He is simply outstanding in front of a jury, has exceptional advocacy skills and his wealth of experience is clear to see. He is involved in the most serious/high-profile criminal cases. He successfully defended the first Defendant Gregory Frankel (Director of Fowler Oldfield) in R v Frankel and Others [2021- 22] the largest Money Laundering case in UK legal history attracting huge media interest as the son in law of Bernie Ecclestone was a defendant, and the FCA had already prosecuted the NatWest (the bank used by Fowler Oldfield) who had pleaded guilty to Money Laundering offences arising out of the facts of the case. Cash was deposited approximating £264m into Nat West over five years. The result after an 8 month trial was a hung jury; the re-trial is listed for October 2024. He defended in R v Reynard Sinaga (2016-20), the most prolific sex offender in worldwide legal history, a case attracting international interest and influencing Government policy on the classification of GHB. Richard successfully prevented an Attorney General appeal for a whole life sentence in the Appellate court. He defended in R v Mark Peers (2021-2022) in what the BBC reported as the “UK’s biggest ever drug conspiracy” concerning importation of controlled drugs in vast quantities from the European continent into the UK. The case is ongoing. He represented two directors in two companies in a complex multi-million pound Fraudulent Trading case alleging both Directors were complicit in misleading consumers nationally in the Bi-Fold doors industry. Both were acquitted of all charges brought [R v Green and Warren 2020]. Richard also famously defended and dismissed the largest HMRC tax avoidance case in legal history (£134m film scheme fraud) R v Jonathan Hirst. His skills as a defence jury advocate and his desire to fight for his client is obvious from the numerous repeated acquittals he secures (see cases below). Richard is instructed by the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division of the CPS in complex matters including an Appeal Conviction concerning a high profile execution murder in Liverpool. Richard successfully argued against the conviction being held unsafe due to a suggested Gateway F bad character misdirection [R v Gabbana 2020]. Richard has defended with success in significant reported cases such as R v Rainzeib Ahmed & Habib Ahmed, the first prosecution in the UK alleging membership of Al Qaeda and leading authority on hearsay admissibility. He successfully defended in R v Farah, a defendant charged with international terrorism connected to the Jihadi Twins, and also in the famous case of R v Stringer, a significant reported pre R v Jogee joint enterprise parasitic accessorial liability murder case. He is Head of Manchester Exchange Chambers Criminal Department and Head of Professional Discipline. He also specialises in defending police officers up to and including the rank of superintendent, both in the Crown Court, before their disciplinary bodies, the Police Appeal Tribunals and in the High Court. He is also regularly instructed to defend those before the GMC, GCC, Football Association Disciplinary Panels and Inquests. Richard has written many published legal articles, regularly presents lectures to fellow professionals, attends schools and universities to meet with students and is currently part of a professional committee advising and contributing towards a government report on ADHD in the Criminal Justice System: A case for Change (a topic Richard has a strong personal interest in).

Richard Fisher KC

Richard Fisher KC provides advice and advocacy for individual and corporate clients whose cases involve allegations of financial crime, issues of bribery and corruption, the proceeds of crime and related litigation, and regulatory compliance. His non-contentious and advisory work sees him providing guidance to companies and their individual directors and officers on whether or not their business activities are at risk of incurring regulatory or criminal sanction. Advisory work has included: a UK/Japanese corporate on money laundering regulations; a Big Four firm on the law governing offshore company and tax evasion legislation; a multi-jurisdictional £900m criminal tax fraud and money laundering investigation; corporate client on the impacts of Proceeds of Crime legislation on insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings. Richard is co-author of Blackstone’s Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Oxford University Press, fifth edition. The sixth edition is currently in the commissioning process) and he was invited to give expert evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Proceeds of Crime legislation (2016). In contentious work Richard is instructed in cases involving allegations of fraud, cheat, money laundering and where the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is engaged to restrain, recover, forfeit or confiscate assets. Richard is routinely instructed to advise both individual and corporate clients before any criminal proceedings have commenced, during the investigation stage, representing those who have been charged with criminal offences, acting for those affected by the various forms of civil recovery litigation/Restraint proceedings, advising third parties affected by asset recovery measures and assisting those seeking to appeal against convictions, sentences or other orders. Richard has also conducted linked litigation in the High Court. Recent cases of note include representing the principal defendant in a series of Film Tax fraud trials, an IFA in another Film Tax Fraud, representing four defendants in an international bribery and corruption case prosecuted by the SFO, a multi £m fraud on the Welsh Assembly and the EU, confiscation proceedings in the HBOS case and criminal/confiscation proceedings in a Town and Country Planning Act prosecution.

Robert Povall

Robert specialises in family law, representing local authorities, parents, grandparents and children through their guardians (including under FPR 16.4) as well as parties in domestic abuse proceedings. He is a confident and thorough advocate whose cross-examination has been described as ‘incisive’ by the judiciary. Practice areas: Child Arrangements (Residence and Contact) Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders Care & Supervision Special Guardianship Interim Separation Placement and Adoption Deprivation of Liberty Applications to Discharge or Vary Parental Responsibility and Declarations of Parentage Part 25 Applications Appeals Enforcement & Committal for Contempt Robert has developed an expertise in cases featuring complex issues such as non-accidental injury, domestic and sexual abuse, substance misuse, psychology, parental alienation and jurisdiction. Diligent and down-to-earth, Robert is respected for his ability to identify the key issues at an early stage. When representing parents and other vulnerable individuals, he employs a frank but empathetic approach to manage expectations and advance the best case possible on their behalf. Notable Cases 2020: Shadowed in Re C [2020] EWCA Civ 257 at the Court of Appeal. Successfully represented an applicant in complex domestic abuse proceedings with historical allegations and voluminous digital evidence. Findings made that the respondent’s ‘relentless’ harassment would continue without an order and that his conduct during proceedings constituted an extension to his controlling behaviour. Defended a client with over 140 breaches proven against him in an application by a local authority for a total exclusion clause. Detailed written submissions prepared on client’s Article 8 rights which persuaded the court against making the order. 2021: Represented a mother at an interim hearing where the care plan had changed last minute, causing great distress to her and the child. The court described Robert’s submissions as ‘compelling.’ Successfully applied to dispense with notice of proceedings upon a father incarcerated for attempted murder and kidnap. Robust submissions made that the mother and children’s Article 6 rights should supersede those of the father. Successfully opposed interim separation of a new-born from his mother even though his four older siblings had been removed seven months prior under the same threshold. Cross-examined an independent social worker on behalf of a father and undermined the fairness of her assessment. Resultantly, the matter was adjourned part-heard for the instruction of a fresh expert. Represented a social worker who faced allegations of professional misconduct in private law proceedings. No findings made. Successfully represented a mother in an interim separation contest. The guardian supported the local authority. The court did not sanction removal and described Robert’s submissions as thorough and well-prepared. Whilst representing a mother, Robert advanced a case on behalf of a child’s grandparents who acted in person. The local authority sought a placement order and the grandparents had received a negative independent social worker assessment. After a contested final hearing, the court was persuaded to adjourn for further assessment of the grandparents.

Robert Wyn Jones

Robert is a highly experienced criminal advocate who defends and prosecutes the full range of criminal work including serious cases involving murder, rape, serious drugs conspiracies and complex fraud. He is appointed as a Category 4 Prosecutor and Specialist Rape Prosecutor. Facing criminal allegations can be very distressing and Robert is able to provide reassurance from the very beginning of the Crown Court process to the defendant who may be unfamiliar with the Court, how it operates and what the likely outcome of the process will be. He is clear in his communications and provides grounded advice to ensure those he defends understands what is happening at each step. This makes him a popular advocate with instructing solicitors, as Robert ensures what is often a daunting time is as stress free as is possible. As a Specialist Rape Prosecutor, Robert regularly meets complainants of sexual violence well in advance of any trial to provide reassurance, an explanation of how the Court process and cross-examination works and to answer any questions that the witnesses may have. Meeting the barrister who is actually to conduct the trial in advance of the Court date is essential to ensure that any witness feels fully part of the Court process and that they fully understand what is involved. Sadly this service to complainants and witnesses is not always provided by overstretched Police Forces. Robert is strategically astute and always thoroughly prepared. This enables him to work tirelessly to do everything in his power to achieve the best outcome. He is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public in circumstances permitted by the Bar Standards Board.

Robert Dudley

Rob specialises in prosecuting and defending serious criminal cases, particularly matters of fraud; drug trafficking; money laundering; counterfeiting and sexual offences, but also including murder; conspiracy to murder and serious multi-handed violence. He has particular expertise in analysing, interpreting and presenting evidence obtained from mobile telephones, computers and banking materials. Rob has experience in conducting ancillary matters including Proceeds of Crime Act applications involving many millions of pounds; contested applications for Production Orders; extradition proceedings and applications to extend police detention. He has acted for companies and individuals in more esoteric matters such as marine pollution; contravention of BSE export regulations; and breaches of aviation safety regulations. Rob is a category 4 CPS prosecutor who is on the Rape and Child Sexual Abuse List, the Fraud Panel, the Serious Crime Panel and Proceeds of Crime Panel. He regularly conducts prosecutions for CPS Specialist Fraud Division, Complex Crime Unit and Organised Crime Division and has advised HMRC’s Criminal Advisory Team on policy matters, particularly in relation to applications for Search Warrants and Production Orders.

Robert O'Sullivan KC

Robert O’Sullivan is an experienced criminal fraud specialist, who prosecutes and defends in serious and complex fraud cases. He also advises on the law and case strategy pre-charge, including cross-jurisdictional issues relating to evidence and justiciability. Robert has considerable experience in direct and indirect tax fraud. He has prosecuted many multi-handed MTIC VAT frauds, including the successful prosecution of an HMRC investigation into a £98 million pound marketed income tax avoidance scheme in the film industry. He also has extensive experience in murder/manslaughter cases and health and safety criminal litigation, medicines and medicinal products prosecutions (including advising the MHRA in the Seroxat investigation) and courts-martial advocacy in the UK and overseas, having defended in the Camp Bread Basket prisoner abuse trial arising out of the second Iraq war. He is a member of the Serious Fraud Office Panel of King’s Counsel. Prior to taking silk, he was on the Attorney-General’s A List of specialist advocates and a Category 4 Prosecutor. He is a member of the Bar Council’s Law Reform Committee and its Surveillance and Privacy Working Group.

Roger Hillman

Roger is a highly experienced advocate. His practice mainly encompasses personal injury, local government and Court of Protection work. His personal injury practice encompasses both claimant and defendant work, including representing local authorities in a wide range of employee, occupational disease and general accident claims. He has substantial experience of highways, school and sports centre claims. He also has wide experience of representing interested persons in inquests, including those which engage ECHR Article 2. Roger acts for parties in the Court of Protection on welfare and Dols issues arising in cases involving adults lacking mental capacity.

Rupert Bowers KC

Rupert Bowers KC was called to the Bar in 1995 and took silk in 2015. He was ranked as a leader in his field in the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 publications before taking silk and has been ranked every year since being in silk. Rupert leads the chambers Business Crime & Investigations team in Doughty Street maintaining a practice in financial crime and extradition, and data protection and information rights, with expertise in ancillary matters associated with criminal investigations and data breaches. Rupert is one of the country’s leading experts in challenging search warrants of all types, seizures of property and information and in challenging asset freezing orders. He is one of only a few KC’s with experience not just of heavy trial and appellate work in the criminal courts, but with vast experience of judicial review and other applications in the civil courts. His breadth of knowledge across different jurisdictions is his strength. He was the only criminal silk in the case of Lucas v Security Service [2017] 1 All E.R. 283 (Click here) which challenged the lawfulness of the mass interception of communications data by GCHQ before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (Click here), a case with many parallels with the recent transnational operation targeting the use of EncroChat. Rupert was instructed in the lead EncroChat case (Click here and here). Rupert also practices in sports regulation and discipline which has included cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Rupert only acts for a small number of high net-worth private clients and companies at any one time which allows him to focus on their particular needs, and when involved in criminal cases he tends to act for those who engage him at the investigative stage.

Sara Sutherland

An experienced junior who is instructed in multi track personal injury and clinical negligence cases, Sara has been recommended most recently in the Legal 500 as “a knowledgeable and confident lawyer”. Sara prides herself on providing a proactive, engaging, thorough approach with each case and a robust approach with her opponents. Having been appointed as an Assistant Coroner in June 2011, Sara is regularly instructed to act on behalf of families, medical professionals and health care providers, employers, insurers and care homes. Sara is able to provide advice about any aspect leading up to and including the inquest. Sara is regularly instructed in cases involving clinical negligence, dealing with cases of surgical and pharmaceutical negligence, dental negligence, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis, inappropriate treatment and failure to obtain informed consent. Sara prides herself on her client care skills – she is affable, amiable and accessible.

Sarah Griffin

Sarah is a talented junior. Clients praise her affable nature, her ability to understand their issues and her attention to detail in preparation of cases. Acting for both the prosecution and defence, Sarah is a specialist criminal practitioner with experience in a range of criminal matters including: Serious violent offences Drugs offences Fraud Confiscation proceedings Murder Sarah prosecutes on behalf of the CPS (Category 3 Prosecutor), DWP and Local Authorities. She is happy to provide advice at any stage in the proceedings and is willing to give advice over the telephone or by email on an informal basis and at short notice.

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.

Scott Redpath

Tax disputes and planning, companies, employment and incentives, National Insurance, pensions, share schemes, trusts and estates, residence, domicile, indirect tax, VAT, IPT, customs duties (warehousing, wholesalers, and hydrocarbon) insolvency, share and property valuation, penalties and enforcement, proceeds of crime. complex fraud, money laundering, tax and duties evasion, pensions fraud. Brexit implications for National Insurance, pensions and duties. Notable cases: HMRC v Cotter (SC); Pike v HMRC (CA); Bulley, HMIT v Hemmer Investments Limited (HC); Chadwick (Trustee in Bankruptcy for Braniffe) v National Crime Agency (FtT); Eatough v HMRC (FtT); R v Lee (CA Crim Div); R v Roach (CA Crim Div); Jennings v Crown Prosecution Service (CA and HL). Employment and pensions, litigation, advice and drafting, corporate support, all areas of employment and discrimination law, TUPE, National Minimum Wage, public, private and overseas pensions; social security. Notable cases: Merry v Ministry of Justice (CA); Department for Education v Molyneux (CA). Judicial review and public law. Notable cases: R (Howard) v Official Receiver (Admin); R (Rouse) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners (UT); R (Derry) v Revenue and Customs (Admin).

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.

Sian Jones

Sian practises exclusively in civil law and the vast majority of her work involves personal injury or clinical negligence claims and their related litigation. Sian represents both claimants and defendants and has particular experience in LVI/fraud issues in road traffic accident cases. Sian also has significant experience in representing local authorities. In 2009, Sian was appointed as Assistant Coroner in the Preston and West Lancashire jurisdiction. She has a significant inquests practice appearing as counsel for a range of interested persons. Her grounded personality puts her clients at ease and she works tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome.

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.

Simon Gorton KC

Simon Gorton QC is a barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law. Simon practises throughout the UK, in the North at Exchange Chambers and in the South at Old Square Chambers. He is consistently ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leader in Employment Law.Simon’s attracts diverse clients from corporations, company directors, hospital trusts, trade unions, public bodies, doctors and private individuals.He handles all types of employment disputes in the High Court, Employment Tribunal, EAT and the Court of Appeal for employers, employees, Directors and shareholders.Simon recently represented a former LIBOR currency trader in High Court litigation based on a Malik claim. The action also included a £1billion counterclaim.Simon also specialises in high value personal injury claims (acquired brain and spinal injuries as well as complex psychiatric cases). He is well known as an astute tactician managing multi-jurisdictional with employment and personal injury matters, including protection from harassment and stress claimsSimon is Direct Access Qualified.

Simon Povoas

Simon is a specialist family law practitioner in all aspects of Children Act work but his focus and practice relates to the representation of parents, intervenors and children in complex public law proceedings involving serious and fatal injury to children. He has a particular interest in paediatrics and medicine generally, especially head and spinal injuries, but regularly represents parents and children in the full spectrum of cases that involve the perpetration of harm or alleged harm. Recent cases that highlight this interest include the development of significant bruising and its inter relationship with bleeding disorders: specifically viral transient inhibitors; the inducement of hypernatraemia by the protracted salt poisoning of a very young child; rare genetic and inherited bleeding disorders and their association with bone fragility and intracranial haemorrhages. Simon has a background in the practice of mental health tribunal work (and criminal law); has particular experience of representing vulnerable adults; those with issues of capacity; and, parents with personality disorders. He regularly appears on behalf of the Official Solicitor and in cases that engage the dual jurisdiction of the Court of Protection. Simon has also developed a specific interest and a practice in cases that involve the interplay of general medicine with psychology and psychiatry and their convergence in cases, such as those that involve FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness).

Simon Vaughan

Simon is an experienced barrister with a mixed practice encompassing commercial and chancery and personal injury law. He has developed a strong and loyal following amongst his solicitors who continue to instruct him in a broad range of high value work. He is recognised for his calm approach, for his ability to distil the issues in a case and for his attention to detail. The breadth of his practice gives him the ability to analyse a case from many angles. Court work is his forte. His client feedback is second to none. His commercial practice encompasses the following areas of work: Shareholder and company disputes Commercial contract disputes. Sale of Goods (including the transport and sale of goods overseas) Insurance disputes (including policy interpretation) Banking disputes (including regulatory aspects of Banking Law) Building disputes (commercial and domestic) Civil fraud Partnership disputes Professional negligence (lawyers, accountants, surveyors, financial advisors, insurance brokers) Utilities work (including regulatory aspects of the gas, water and electricity industries) Contested mortgage actions (including mortgage fraud) Real property Simon also maintains a strong personal injury and clinical negligence practice, acting for both claimants and defendants in a wide range of matters.

Simon Whitfield

Simon was called to the Bar in 2009 having previously been a partner at international law firm Squire Patton Boggs. His experience at a leading law firm gives him a unique insight into cases, and he adopts a practical, pragmatic, commercial approach. His commercial practice includes contractual disputes, interpretation of contractual provisions, sale of goods, injunctive relief and enforcement of judgments. Highly regarded for his construction practice, he advises on all aspects of the process from procurement through the whole project life-cycle. He has experience of the traditional standard forms of contract, bespoke agreements, PFI and PPP. He is a TECBAR accredited adjudicator. Allied to his construction work, Simon frequently acts for and against professionals in professional negligence claims. He also undertakes insolvency work covering both corporate and personal insolvency. Simon is a recognised expert on non-domestic (or business) rating law. He regularly appears in Magistrates’ Courts on contested liability order applications as well as in the High Court on appeals – either by way of case stated or judicial review. A keen supporter of ADR, Simon has acted for clients in many mediations, expert determinations and early neutral evaluations. He also accepts appointments as a mediator. Simon regularly lectures on up to date legal issues to clients and to students on the Bar Professional Training Course. He is also licensed to accept instructions on a direct access basis.

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.

Stella Hayden

Stella is a busy and highly regarded practitioner, routinely instructed in serious criminal and regulatory proceedings. She has experience across the whole ambit of criminal law, defending allegations of manslaughter, high-value fraud, and drugs conspiracies. Stella regularly appears before healthcare regulators representing those charged with misconduct, lack of competence or on health grounds. Her recent cases include serious breaches of professional boundaries and charges of contributing to a patient’s death. Stella was recently instructed the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of their joint Prudential Regulatory Authority investigation into the Co-op Bank’s £1.5bn capital shortfall. The investigation culminated in a censure for the firm and its CEO, and this was the first occasion on which a CEO of any bank has been formally censured, since the 2008 crisis. Apart from this, Stella also has particular expertise in election law, and has acted for the DPP in the Tower Hamlet’s Election Petition and advised regarding the potential for a follow-on criminal prosecution. Stella also prosecutes on behalf of the RSPCA and League Against Cruel Sports, and has a broad understanding of the issues arising in animal welfare and Hunting Act proceedings. She appeared in the ‘landmark’ prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt.

Stephen Mallinson

Stephen specialises in all areas of family law. He has represented clients successfully in the County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Public Law Stephen represents parents, Guardians and Local Authorities at all stages of Public Law proceedings. He is experienced in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and neglect. Stephen also has experience of cases involving deprivation of liberty (children). Private Law Stephen’s practice covers all areas of Private Law disputes, including those involving international and jurisdictional issues. He is instructed regularly in multi-day fact-finding and final hearings. He is experienced in cases involving allegations of rape and domestic abuse. Stephen also drafts committal applications and represents clients at committal hearings. Recent instructions have seen Stephen represent a number of professional sportsmen and medical professionals. Matrimonial Finance Stephen represents clients at all stages of matrimonial finance proceedings. He has dealt with cases involving consideration of company accounts, assets outside of the jurisdiction, and pensions.

Stephen Meadowcroft KC

Stephen has specialised in crime for more than 40 years and has both prosecuted and defended in all types of cases. He is known as a criminal defence specialist dealing with serious and high profile cases. Apart from appearing in more than 150 murder cases throughout his career, he deals with all types of serious and high profile crime, including international drugs and money laundering cases, gangland crime, serious sexual offences, drugs offences, prison riots, fraud, animal rights cases and every type of conspiracy and joint enterprise case.

Stephen McNally

Steve practises in all areas of criminal law and appears on behalf of both the prosecution and defence. An accomplished Category 4 Prosecutor, his practice regularly encompasses cases involving serious violence, drugs offences, firearms, rape and sexual assaults. He is also experienced in cases of conspiracy to murder, manslaughter, large scale fraud and large scale drugs conspiracies which invariably involve multiple defendants. Steve is a VHCC panel advocate and has conducted such cases (involving drugs conspiracies, firearms and complex fraud allegations) on behalf of both the prosecution and the defence. He has also been specialist disclosure counsel in a number of cases and has significant experience of dealing with complex disclosure issues, public interest immunity and sensitive material. In addition to being tactically astute and rigorous in his preparation, Steve is regarded as approachable, pragmatic and down-to-earth.

Stephen Connolly

Stephen is an exceptional commercial barrister. He is highly respected and specialises in high value and complex disputes. He has over 20 years’ experience in the fields of commercial and property litigation and is recommended as a leading practitioner by both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. His practice comprises: Shareholder and company disputes Partnership disputes Commercial contract disputes Commercial fraud Professional negligence – solicitors, surveyors and accountants Product liability Real property disputes Contested mortgage disputes and mortgage fraud Arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution Stephen is renowned for his hard working and no nonsense approach, for the pragmatic and strategic advice that he provides and for his ability to relate to his clients and to communicate his advice to them in an unstuffy, clear and practical manner.

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.

Steven Swift

Steven has over 25 years of experience practising in criminal law. Having completed his pupillage and joined Liverpool chambers, he has developed a common law practice with particular emphasis on criminal work. Steven has extensive experience of preparing and presenting cases at all levels of criminal courts. He has a diverse caseload, covering grave and complex cases that include murder and manslaughter, as well as armed robbery and serious offences of violence, rape and sexual offences (recent and non-recent), and importation and supplying of Class A and B drugs. He has also represented clients facing serious fraud matters, HMRC restraint hearings and Proceeds of Crime Act determinations. Steven also undertakes professional regulatory work, appearing before the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Stuart McCracken

Stuart is recognised as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 2023. His multi-track practice extends to all aspects of personal injury work, including road traffic accidents, employer’s and public liability, and costs budgeting. He has particular interest and expertise in military claims. He is regularly instructed in cases pleaded in excess of £500,000. He also has experience of CICA, CIC(O) and AFCS claims, and actions against the police. With a caring, compassionate nature and an innate sense of justice, human rights issues are very important to Stuart, having worked in Parliament and at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. This included the development of draft legislation to criminalise British participation in extraordinary rendition, and litigation in the UK and US under Freedom of Information laws to secure the release of important information on rendition. Naturally he welcomes instructions with a human rights element that will enable him to bring his experience and skills in this arena to the fore.

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.

Tammi Bannon

Tammi practises exclusively in family law, with expertise in all aspects of Public law. She is extremely experienced in all aspects of care proceedings including applications/discharge of Care Orders, applications for Placement Orders under the Adoption Act, applications involving secure accommodation/deprivation of Liberty under the Court’s inherent jurisdiction, and more recently matters involving Jurisdictional issues including Article 15 B11R transfer applications. She will represent parties at all Court levels has undertaken cases both in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Tammi has extensive experience representing parents, grandparents, other family members (as intervenors) and children either through their Guardian or by taking instructions directly.Tammi’s cases range from single issue, alleged non accidental injury right the way through to multi issue matters including multiple physical injuries, substance misuse, neglect and poor mental health of both children and adults and the impact upon ability to parent. She has a particular interest in cases involving psychiatric and medical issues and has undertaken several Factitious Disorder cases (Munchhausen’s Syndrome and Munchhausen’s by proxy) which require the forensic consideration of medical records and she frequently represents Parties with mental health issues through the Official Solicitor.Her experience of representing parents involves the very sensitive handling of individuals who are often themselves very damaged by virtue of their own parenting. More often, difficult information contained in psychiatric and/or psychological reports needs to be effectively conveyed to encourage engagement in the process or at the very least, understand why difficult decisions are being taken. Tammi’s priority, when representing a parent, is to build trust as quickly and effectively as possible to ensure positive engagement in the process. Many of Tammi’s cases often run in parallel with Police proceedings and she is able to provide advice in this regard.The Guardian is a professional client and as such, the working relationship demands an ability to have open debate which encourages different viewpoints to be considered within the context of securing the best outcome for the child who is always the focus of the relationship. When taking instructions directly from young adults, Tammi is acutely aware they are part of a care system and will often face challenges on a daily basis. Managing their hopes and expectations in light of a care plan they disagree with can be very rewarding when a positive relationship is formed.Tammi is friendly and sensitive but is equally happy to engage in tough decision making. She is well-equipped to provide clear, robust advice where required.

Tania Griffiths KC

A vastly experienced Silk, Tania has a wealth of experience over a wide range of practice areas, with particular expertise in personal injury and crime. As a junior she developed a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense advocate defending personal injury claims (including claims for catastrophic injury) both as Treasury Counsel and representing Local Authorities. After taking Silk, Tania turned her focus to crime and specialises in defending allegations of serious sexual assault, in particular, cases of an historic nature, but she also deals with the full range of sexual allegations and cases of murder, manslaughter and child cruelty. Her personal injury practice as a junior stands her in good stead in dealing with complex medical issues that can arise in these types of case. She mainly represents professionals involved or formerly involved in caring for or working with children as well as sexual allegations arising within the family, frequently in the context of divorce and custody/contact disputes. Tania believes that, in any forum, justice cannot be achieved without proper and timely disclosure of information and that it is important to persevere in ensuring that disclosure duties are met. She is particularly well versed on issues relating to equality and diversity; and in particular learning disabilities such as ASD/ADHD/ FASD (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) and the longterm impact of adoption including attachment difficulties, emotional and mental health issues. She has a keen interest in educational issues relating to additional needs, EHCPs and specialist education. She never forgets that the client is a person, not a case, and embraces the team approach, putting the client at the heart of the case, ensuring they are fully involved in discussions and strategies. Highly skilled, sensitive, supportive and approachable , she is recognised for her excellent client care skills and works tirelessly for the client and always gives her best. Clients have identified her “tremendous will to win.” This is founded on her strong belief that every client has the right to expect that their advocate will do their utmost for them to achieve the best possible outcome. She believes that enthusiasm, attention to detail, hard work and excellent preparation is the only way to ensure success. Tania is consistently ranked as a leading individual in The Legal 500 UK Bar Guide.

Tim Wilkinson

Tim specialises in high value, catastrophic personal injury claims with a particular interest in cases involving Brain and Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation and Fatal Accident claims. He has been recommended in The Legal 500 as a “Leading Junior with the practice of a Silk”. Regularly instructed on cases of the utmost of severity, Tim is personable and second to none in his ability to develop a rapport with clients and their families. Described as a thoroughly prepared practitioner who is attentive and superb at identifying, managing and securing the needs and objectives of his clients, Tim is highly skilled at spotting precarious situations that need to be handled with care, empathy and sensitivity. Tim is regarded as being an “exceptional advocate” who is “unflappable in the court room”.

Timothy Evans

Tim practises exclusively in crime and has 25 years of experience at the criminal bar. He prosecutes and defends almost every offence in the criminal calendar including: Murder and attempted murder Manslaughter Rapes and other serious sexual offences Firearms offences, fraud Major car ringing and clocking cases All varieties of arson Major drugs importation and supply cases Major ‘bootlegging’ cases causing death by dangerous driving Serious assaults Major public order offences He has prosecuted for Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the DTI, amongst others. Tim has conducted a number of health and safety prosecutions involving deaths (including one particularly complex case for Liverpool City Council involving asphyxiation by nitrogen).

Tom Clarke

Tom was called to the Bar in 2015. He became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2017 following the successful completion of his common law pupillage with Chambers. Tom has a busy and developing common law practice, with a focus on criminal law and personal injury. He has acted for both the prosecution and defence in a variety of different criminal matters including sensitive domestic violence cases, drugs offences, motoring offences and POCA proceedings. He also has experience of acting for both claimants and defendants in a broad range of personal injury matters involving applications, trials, case management conferences, Protocol hearings and written advices on liability and quantum. Tom has an excellent rapport with solicitors and clients, his common sense and analytical approach provides clarity to the litigation process. Tom adopts a proactive approach that seeks close involvement from the early stages of a case. He is happy to provide informal advice during any stage, and welcomes contact by email or telephone.

Tom Longstaff

Tom Longstaff has a broad commercial and insolvency practice, with experience of complex High Court litigation at all stages, from pre-action through to trial, as well as of appeals in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. His recent work includes: Led by Mark Cawson QC in the Court of Appeal in one of the leading authorities on seeking interim relief against a public body: R. (on the application of the Governing Body of X) v Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills [2020] EWCA Civ 594. Led by Mark Cawson QC in proceedings brought pursuant to s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986, which concerned the ability to use s.423 to challenge transactions which settled money under trust. Led by David Mohyuddin QC in a multi-million pound dispute relating to a Share Purchase Agreement, following an alleged breach of warranty. Led by David Mohyuddin QC in an appeal relating to the application of the Damages-Based Agreement Regulations 2013 to commercial contracts (RVA Surveyors Limited v BIAS Harrogate Limited [2019] EWCA Civ 2433), and acting as sole counsel in a related appeal. Instructed by a national law firm, and led by Giles Maynard-Connor QC, in a dispute relating to the failure of a provider of online legal resources to properly develop and install bespoke practice management, human resources and client relationship management software. Led by Mark Cawson QC and Louis Browne QC in the substantial group litigation which followed the collapse of the Fundão Dam in South-eastern Brazil. Led by David Mohyuddin QC in a group action which followed the VW Emissions scandal. Led by Louis Browne QC in advisory work concerning the merits of an application for a Group Litigation Order in respect of a substantial number of consumer claims. Instructed as sole Counsel by a leading provider of postal services in the United Kingdom to advise on the ability to terminate a contract with a value of approximately £340 million per annum. Acting for Oldham Athletic Football Club following an application to place the club into administration. Acting in a dispute between a Super League Rugby League team and the owners of the stadium, which followed a without notice application for interim relief to enforce the alleged terms of an agreement. Acting for a former director of Bury Football Club in bankruptcy proceedings. Acting in a number of high-profile insolvency matters, including BHS and Pizza Express. Acting for a group of creditors in an application which challenged the use, by the administrators of a company, of the deemed approval procedure in Schedule B1 to the Act in circumstances where it was envisaged that unsecured creditors might receive a distribution of realised assets (see Re Taylor Pearson (Construction) Ltd (In Administration) [2020] EWHC 2933 (Ch)). Tom also has experience of arbitration, including in disputes administered by LCIA, SIAC and ad hoc rules: many of the cases in which he has been involved include a substantial international dimension. His experience spans a range of sectors, and he has substantial experience of acting as sole counsel, as well of being part of a larger counsel team in highly complex and high-value litigation. Before being called to the bar, Tom was a member of the Dispute Resolution practice at Linklaters LLP.

Trudi Olivia Moore

Trudi was called to the Bar in 2018. She became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2020 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Mark Ainsworth. During her first six, Trudi experienced a range of personal injury hearings, family law hearings, professional disciplinary work and clinical negligence work. Personal Injury Throughout her second six, Trudi has developed a busy fast-track personal injury practice. She has represented Claimants and Defendants in a range of hearings. Alongside her fast-track practice, she acts as junior to two senior members of chambers in high value brain injury cases and has drafted complex applications in the course of such. She has also assisted in multi-track matters and has recently been instructed on her own. Trudi has a particular interest in high value personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She has experienced mediation and joint settlement meetings and has been involved in preparing position statements and schedules of loss. Data Breach Trudi is a member of the data breach team and provides formal advice and drafts statements of case. During her pupillage, she assisted with and experienced an appeal in the Royal Courts of Justice. Trudi prides herself on good relationships with solicitors and her approachable nature with clients. She has a proactive approach to her work and turns paperwork around quickly. She offers both formal and informal advice and is happy to be contacted by email or telephone. Family Trudi has a rapidly expanding family practice with an interest in matrimonial finance matters. Trudi has handled matters through from first directions to final hearings. She is experienced in dealing with varied asset portfolios including company accounts and pensions. Clinical Negligence Trudi has a developing clinical negligence practice. With a wealth of knowledge in drafting pleadings and advising Claimants, she has significant experience in handling complex and high-value claims. Trudi has experience of cases, including (but not limited to) the following; Inappropriate management of pregnancy and labour. Missed diagnosis and delayed diagnosis cases. For example, Trudi has recently drafted the pleadings and advised in conference with a consultant endocrinologist, representing a claimant who sustained injury following delay of diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Advising the families in fatal claims following clinical negligence. For example, Trudi has recently drafted the pleadings, in a case where an individual died of suicide after he was negligently granted leave from a psychiatric facility. This case has settled. Assisting two senior members of Chambers in drafting a preliminary advice in a catastrophic brain injury case. This case is ongoing. Negligent performance of plastic surgery She has experience in inquests and has acted for families and interested persons. Trudi is passionate about providing clients with outstanding advice and support, using her expertise to represent their best interests. She strives to ensure that her clients are fully informed throughout the entire process.

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.

Wayne Jackson

Wayne Jackson is an established criminal law practitioner. In addition to a particularly strong fraud practice, he has also amassed considerable experience in defending all manner of offences of a serious sexual nature, offences of serious violence and large scale drugs importation conspiracies. He has been junior counsel in numerous murder cases and successfully defended his first manslaughter case as a junior, alone, in 1989. IT fraud is an area of long standing interest and expertise, and Wayne prides himself on keeping up to date with the latest digital technology. His work often involves a detailed critical assessment of digitally stored information followed by an appraisal of that evidence against the background of the case itself. Great care has to be taken in the meticulous examination of such evidence, as there are often many tens, if not hundreds of thousands of pages of information to consider. While Wayne has, on occasions, been led in fraud cases but more often than not he is leading junior counsel. He relishes the challenge of tackling cases of a complex and technical nature, and has a wealth of experience in the preparation and defence of cases such as large scale car ringing operations. He has also been involved in defending a number of very large Trading Standards prosecutions and has significant experience in working on high cost cases.

William Waldron KC

Travels the country handling catastrophic injury claims of complexity and high value with particular expertise in brain, spine and amputee cases Spent over a decade as Junior Counsel in catastrophic injury claims before taking Silk in 2006 A decade of handling very high value catastrophic injury claims as Queen’s Counsel Chair of Northern Circuit Advocacy Training, Deputy Chairman of the Advocacy Training Council until its cessation in 2016 when he was appointed as Vice Chairman of the newly created and prestigious Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Over 20 years’ experience of teaching advocacy skills to young barristers Nationally recognised speaker on all aspects of catastrophic injury claims and regular contributor to legal journals Qualified Mediator Radio broadcaster Recent Cases SB – Tetraplegia claim: damages recovered £6.7m FE – Brain injury: damages recovered £2.1m LP – Catastrophic limb injury with brain injury component: damages recovered £2.35m

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.

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