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 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.
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.
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
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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
Anja was called to the Bar in 2014 after completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh School of Law. She has a commercial / chancery practice that includes insolvency (corporate and personal), contract, tort, housing, property and trusts. Across those areas Anja undertakes a range of court work including: applications in the Chancery Applications list (e.g. responding to an application to rescind a winding up order, responding to an application for a mandatory interim injunction) half- and full-day insolvency applications in the County Court and High Court (e.g. responding to an application to set aside statutory demand in the County Court, advancing a contested application for an administration order in the High Court) interim hearings in the County Court and High Court (e.g. a CCMC in £7.5 million claim in the TCC in London) fast track and multi-track trial work (e.g. a three-day trial defending a claim for declaration of trust over a residential property). Anja has been led by Mark Cawson QC acting on behalf of the liquidators of a company previously trading in the supply of fuel bunkers for vessels, defending a claim for a declaratory relief as to whether circa USD $40million of receivables fell within the scope of security given to a bank. She has also been led by David Mohyuddin QC to advise on the merits of a prospective claim in breach of confidence arising from an aborted share purchase transaction, and by Stephen Connolly to advise on a prospective claim arising from exclusion of tender for local authority transport contracts. Anja is considered thorough in her preparation, and a confident committed advocate who uses intellectual rigour with commercial understanding to find a route through complex legal issues. In October 2018 Anja was appointed by the Lord Chancellor as a barrister member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee. The Committee is a non-departmental public body which makes rules of court for the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Court. Anja has been appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown by the Attorney General (Regional Civil Panel C) for a five-year term commencing 1 March
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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’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’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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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”.
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 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 was called to the Bar in 2016. She became a tenant of Exchange Chambers in September 2018 following the successful completion of her pupillage. Harriet has developed a common law practice with a focus of personal injury and commercial work. Prior to commencing pupillage Harriet worked as an in-house advocate representing claimants and defendants in a range of county court matters. Personal Injury Harriet has developed a personal injury practice in which she advises and represents both claimants and defendants. Harriet’s key areas of practice include: Road traffic accidents Fraud and low velocity impact cases Employer’s liability Occupier’s liability Highway accidents Public liability Harriet adopts a proactive approach to work and is happy to provide informal advice as cases progress. She offers a quick turn around on paper work providing both formal and informal advice. Harriet welcomes contact by email or phone. Commercial Harriet is developing a commercial practice which encompasses a range of insolvency matters and contractual disputes. She regularly appears in the winding up list. Harriet acts in bankruptcy matters, applications and small claims. She has experience of appearing for both claimants and defendants in fast track trials.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Lisa Linklater K.C. is acclaimed by clients, instructing solicitors and the legal directories for her advocacy at trial, on appeal, in applications and Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as her technical and strategic excellence, service quality and client care in the following practice areas, in which she has specialised for over 25 years: Shareholder disputes (unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up petitions, derivative claims and breaches of and exits under shareholder agreements); Partnership and LLP disputes; Joint venture disputes; Claims against directors; Corporate and personal insolvency and restructuring (administrations, liquidations, CVAs, the new moratorium and restructuring plans): Claims against directors and accomplices (including breaches of directors’ duties, misfeasance, knowing assistance, knowing receipt, conspiracy, wrongful trading, loan accounts and unlawful dividends). Technical applications within corporate insolvency involving novel points of law under the Insolvency Act 1986, cross-border issues or wider legal issues such as property. Issues relating to fixed and floating charges, including priority of charge holders and creditors. Office holder claims under the Insolvency Act 1986 (transactions at an undervalue, transactions defrauding creditors, preferences, wrongful and fraudulent trading). Asset recovery (e.g. trusts, real property, tracing and retention of title). Contested administration applications and winding up petitions. Challenges to CVAs. Contractual claims of all types (particularly share and business sale agreements and shareholder agreements), including the arbitration of such disputes or their resolution by expert determination; Law of Property Act receiverships; Mortgages, debentures and other forms of security; and Proprietary estoppel. Claims in restitution. Lisa is recommended as a leading silk in Chancery, commercial dispute resolution and insolvency and restructuring by Chambers UK Bar 2023 and in company/insolvency by Legal 500 2023, following consistent recommendations as a leading junior in this field. Lisa is an extremely effective trial advocate, skilled in cross-examination of both factual and expert witnesses, including forensic accountants. Lisa is valued for bringing a commercial, creative, collaborative, strategic and practical approach to advancing her clients’ objectives. Lisa served as Junior Counsel to the Crown (Attorney General’s Regional Panel) for three consecutive terms (18 years) and was regularly instructed by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in high-profile, complex company director disqualification applications and public interest winding up petitions, as well as by HM Revenue and Customs in precedent-setting cases and multi-million pound tax fraud cases. She is currently instructed as lead Counsel by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in a complex director disqualification in the retail sector. Recent highlights of Lisa’s practice include: Shareholder Disputes Successfully securing the purchase of minority shareholder’s shares by majority shareholder Respondents to unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006 and related claims involving niche antiques businesses in Mayfair, London and Hamburg, Germany in a dispute between two families that had lasted over ten years (2021 – 2023 in case listed for trial in HCt, BPC in 2024). Successfully securing purchases of the shareholdings of minority shareholders in privately owned companies following the presentation of an unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006 in the following situations: Petitioner inherited shares from her late husband in company in the engineering sector, involving 6 companies and a lengthy factual history (2021 onwards, case settled before trial in HCt, BPC on liability in 2023). Case involved complex legal issues as to whether there was a quasi-partnership and whether a minority shareholder discount should be applied. Company in the hospitality sector in London. The petition included allegations of potential tax evasion (2021 onwards, case settled before trial in HCt, BPC in 2023). Dispute between former friends in hard-fought combined unfair prejudice and just and equitable petitions in respect of two substantial property developments in Manchester (2019 onwards, case settled in 2023). Acted for 3 shareholders in successful resolution of threatened unfair prejudice petition under s994 Companies Act 2006, valued by the Petitioner in excess of £6 million involving complex factual issues spanning 30 years, a discretionary trust and allegations of excessive remuneration and failure by directors to recommend dividends. Complex and valuable legal issues on whether or not a minority shareholder discount should be applied and forecasting issues on valuation of Petitioner’s shareholding in light of the Covid pandemic. Company in the manufacturing sector. Resolved successfully at mediation before issue of proceedings (2021 – 2022). See further Lisa’s company CV. Corporate and Personal Insolvency Re Torotrak plc (in liquidation)[2023] EWHC 115 (Ch): Successfully secured directions from the High Court for liquidators in an application involving novel issues arising from a proposed distribution in a liquidation to a significant number of members, residing around the globe (2023). Advising LPA receivers and lender in respect of priority between a debenture and option agreement, involving lending of £9 million (2023). Advising and acting as lead Counsel for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in a director disqualification matter in the retail sector (2023). Cleveland Bridge UK Limited (in administration): Successfully secured directions from the High Court for joint administrators of a former global leader in the design of complex structures including the Shard on a complex application relating to the distribution of £7 million. The application involved novel issues relating to fixed and floating charges, the equitable doctrine of marshalling, substantial preferential creditor claims by HM Revenue and Customs and Saudi law (2022). Advising high-profile respondent to statutory demand for £11.7 million and involving complex issues on the construction of a suite of finance documentation and issues relating to the release of collateral security over property with development potential (2022). Securing a favourable settlement for the defendants to a £5 million misfeasance and transaction defrauding creditors claim, brought by the liquidators of an offshore partnership that had moved onshore in long-running HCt BPC proceedings (2018 – 2021). Commercial Litigation Successfully securing in HCt, BPC the dismissal of an application for an interim injunction to prevent a finance house from enforcing its security in respect of a substantial property development, involving a debt of over £1 million (2023). Successfully securing the discontinuance of a claim in restitution against a director in respect of tax liabilities relating to an employee benefit trust, shortly before the trial of the claim (2023). Advising and acting for shareholders and lenders in respect of proposed interim injunction for breach of a shareholders’ agreement in dispute involving a substantial property development in the North West with an interface with a planning appeal (2023). Successfully deflected threatened removal as a director of a company of client who was accused of tax evasion, securing important strategic success in bitter dispute between family members of a business in the leisure sector. Lisa acted in parallel with other silks in different fields of specialism (2022). Acting in a factually and legally complex property dispute spanning 40 years within a family in respect of a property portfolio valued at c. £4m and alleged partnership, in which she led other Counsel (2020). Commercial Contract Disputes Acting in respect of a public contract relating to substantial property development (2023). Acting in respect of claim for earn-out of up to £11 million under a share purchase agreement in the technology sector (2023). Advising in respect of the construction of contract relating to the supply of test kits for coronavirus (2022). Successfully acted for construction company in claim for specific performance of contract to purchase land with a contract value of £4m in a dispute that had lasted 10 years (2020 – 2021). Commercial Fraud Acting in alleged claim by company administrators of £12 million for alleged knowing assistance and knowing receipt of breach of trust and alleged breaches of directors’ duties. Lisa is collaborating with Jersey lawyers in respect of a freezing order obtained in the Royal Court of Jersey (2023). Successfully acted for Petitioner in unfair prejudice petition under s994 of the Companies Act 2006, involving allegations of tax evasion in respect of a company in the hospitality sector in London (2021 onwards, settled before trial listed in 2023). Successfully obtaining the withdrawal of an appeal against an assessment of over £1m in a complex MTIC tax fraud involving precedent legal issues and in which the fraud had taken place in Poland and Hungary (2016 – 2021) Lisa is widely published in her fields of specialism, including in Sweet & Maxwell’s Insolvency Intelligence, R3’s Recovery and the Company Lawyer. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of the Company Lawyer. Recent seminars by Lisa include Shareholder Disputes, the Art of Share Valuation, Directors’ Duties, the New Moratorium and Restructuring Plans introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. Lisa is also a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Business Law and Practice at the University of Leeds.
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 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’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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’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.
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 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.
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
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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