The 36 Group

Adam Pearson

Adam Pearson practises in consumer and criminal law. His practice is increasingly focused on cases involving criminal breaches of consumer protection legislation. He has particular experience and expertise in Trading Standards prosecutions and other regulatory offences and is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, companies and private individuals in respect of such matters. Adam is a contributing editor to Consumer and Trading Standards: Law and Practice (4th Ed, Jordans 2015), with responsibility for the law relating to food safety and labelling. His general criminal law practice, covers all aspects of criminal practice for both prosecution and defence. His practice spans the full spectrum of criminal work, including murder, offences of violence up to and including section 18, drugs supply, dishonesty, fraud and proceeds of crime. He is a CPS Grade 3 prosecutor on the Midland and South Eastern Circuits. Direct Public Access qualified. Work undertaken: Consumer and Trading Standards Crime Fraud

Alexander Knight

Alexander Knight specialises in matrimonial finance, cohabitee disputes and private law children matters. He is frequently instructed on complex factual and legal matters, requiring intellectual rigour, sound judgement and clear advice. Alexander has already earned praise for his skilful and impressive advocacy, and manages all of his cases with an exceptionally high standard of client care.

Allan J Myers

QC specialising in commercial law, constitutional and administrative law, corporations law, equity and trusts, petroleum law, property law, taxation law, trade practices law.

Amelia Wilson

Approachable family law barrister focussed on Children Law and Matrimonial & Family Finance including; Schedule 1 Applications and Cohabitee Disputes (TOLATA). Amelia has a keen interest in relocation matters and alleged instances of parental alienation. She also has experience of surrogacy law having dealt with one of the first applications for a single parent Parental Order.

Andrew Howarth

Prior to being called to the Bar Andrew worked in international banking in the city. A member of the Criminal Bar Association and both the Midland and South Eastern Circuits and practising widely on both circuits. A practice divided equally between prosecution and defence work, including prosecuting and defending in serious sexual offences, child abuse, murder and serious offences of violence. Recent experience also includes confiscation and offences arising from company insolvency.

Andrew Dinsmore

Andrew is developing a broad commercial practice with particular emphasis on shipping, international arbitration and litigation. Prior to joining Chambers, Andrew completed pupillage at Essex Court Chambers.

Andrew Copeland

Andrew is a highly respected leading Junior who has dealt with allegations of serious, organised and high profile crime. He prosecutes and defends in equal measure and his success has been built on an ability to marshal complex cases quickly whilst distilling and presenting the issues in an incisive manner; he is a forceful and persuasive jury advocate. Andrew has extensive experience in homicide offences as a led Junior and drug, serious violence and fraud offences as a leading Junior. He has gained a sound understanding of scientific evidence namely, DNA, computers and mobile telephone analysis coupled with a wealth of experience in the forensic presentation of the same. He is recognised as a specialist in rape and difficult sexual offences. More recently Andrew’s practice has centred on financial crime and he specialises in Money Service Business fraud, VAT fraud, insurance fraud, advance fee fraud, mortgage fraud, high value benefit fraud and money laundering together with the associated confiscation procedures. He has a particular interest in criminal aspects of intellectual property law namely, trademarks, copyright and all areas of trading standards. Although based in London, Andrew is always pleased to receive instructions to appear in major court centres throughout the Country. Andrew is a Grade 4 Crown Prosecution Service panel advocate and is a member of the Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association. Work undertaken: Serious and complex crime (including homicide and drugs) Business crime and fraud Rape and serious sexual offences Trading Standards

Andrzej Bojarski KC

Barrister specialising in family work, head of family finance law at 36 Family. Also a prominent arbitrator, neutral evaluator and mediator. Practice specialised in financial relief, including financial aspects of relationship breakdown outside marriage, such as trusts of land claims, and also general property law and inheritance disputes. Many substantial asset ancillary relief cases undertaken, including businesses, trusts and farming cases. Also instructed in proceedings involving intervening parties in relation to companies, trusts and complex property arrangements, including cryptocurrencies. Frequently instructed by solicitors where the case has some unusual or complex features requiring thorough scrutiny and legal argument. Author of a well-regarded textbook on ancillary relief practice, and regularly lectures on the topic in England and outside the jurisdiction. Andrzej is also the consul ting editor to Halsbury’s Laws of England 6th edition (Matrimonial and Civil Partnership volumes).

Ben Mansfield

Ben Mansfield is a specialist children law barrister, dealing with complex private and public law cases. His busy case practice involves international cases, internal relocation, complex private law, serious allegations of emotional and physical harm including fatality and sexual abuse, complex expert evidence and novel points of law. Ben is regularly involved in high profile reported cases, most recently Re: C (‘Parental Alienation’; Instruction of Expert) 2023 EWHC 345 (Fam)). Ben is equally adept at representing high net worth clients and the most vulnerable. Instructing solicitors confirm that he is very highly regarded as a persuasive and cogent advocate, and his written advocacy is also exceptional. He is known for his clear focus on case strategy and mastery of the detail of the case and ability to instil confidence in the client.

Ben Amunwa

Ben is an experienced judicial review practitioner with a track record of acting for both claimants and defendants in challenges to the policies, practices and decision-making of public authorities. Ben’s cases concern disputes arising from education, disability rights, public sector contract delivery, equality duties, asylum support, unlawful detention, trafficking, human rights and immigration. He has acted unled up to the Court of Appeal level and frequently collaborates with leaders on cases with lasting implications. His breadth of knowledge across different jurisdictions allows him to deal with niche legal points that may arise such as privacy, privilege, data protection, disclosure, costs and other aspects of civil procedure. He is known for his impressive advocacy and drafting skills. He understands that solicitors often require realism, whether about the merits of a case or counsel’s capacity levels. He is down-to-earth, responsive and easy to work with. As an adaptable advocate, Ben assists commercial clients with advice and representation in employment law and international business disputes. He is equally fluent with multi-week trials in discrimination and whistle-blowing cases as he is with appellate level advocacy. At trial, Ben is undaunted by senior opponents. He is a key player on counsel teams alongside senior colleagues and supports his leaders whenever required, on the big picture issues and the details. Unusually, Ben has cross-examined numerous solicitors in employment cases, including partners and senior associates at city law firms. He has even been moments away from cross-examining a judge in a lengthy dispute over coronial fees. He is a popular choice in complex, sensitive dispute resolution for individuals, employers, commercial start-ups, trade unions, regulated professionals and public authorities. In recent years, Ben has had particular success in achieving the suspension of central government policies. Working closely with colleagues at Deighton Pierce Glynn (‘DPG’) solicitors and The Unity Project, a leading charity, Ben secured the suspension of a policy which switched family migrants from the 5-year route to settlement to the 10-year route, if, due to hardship, they required access to welfare benefits. This followed a series of five judicial review policy challenges over the course of a year. The suspension is pending cross-departmental review and was announced in the House of Commons on 7 February 2022 by Kevin Foster MP during Parliamentary questions to the Home Office. Further recent cases illustrate Ben’s wealth of expertise: R (AB) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 1524 (Admin) Alongside a team of lawyers and NGO colleagues, Ben assisted the claimant and her 2 young children to challenge the lawfulness of the government’s prohibition on migrants accessing mainstream welfare benefits. AB argued that the government had failed to amend the Immigration Rules and/or guidance to caseworkers to reflect the duty to have regard to the best interests of affected children, despite the Divisional Court previously declaring the same policy unlawful in April 2021. Lane J. agreed with the claimants, finding that (i) the policy sanctioned or authorised unlawful conduct and (ii) it would generally be in the interests of children affected by the policy to have access to public funds, if required. The judgment is likely to assist migrant families with children to access public funds where necessary to avoid destitution. ‘Y’ (2022) Working with DPG, Ben acted for a destitute and disabled Hong Kong British National (Overseas) citizen in a judicial review claim that was successfully resolved by consent, challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to impose a ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition on the claimant’s grant of leave to remain and the wider policy on how those decisions are made. R (on the application of ALW) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 557 (Admin) Ben represented an asylum-seeking father and his 15-year old son (‘H’) who is a wheelchair user with brain damage and severe learning difficulties and significant physical disabilities. For over 2 years, the family of 4 were accommodated by the Defendant in inaccessible accommodation. Ben successfully obtained an interim mandatory order and a costs order against the defendant, with the result that the family were moved to alternative, accessible accommodation in their preferred location. At trial, the Court found the defendant’s delay to be irrational, in breach of statutory duty and that the defendant had discriminated against H because of something arising in consequence of his disability. This case provides an important example of the application of the principles in R (DMA & Others) v Secretary of State for the Home [2021] 1 W.L.R. 2374; [2020] EWHC 3416 (Admin), an earlier leading disability rights case in which Ben also acted. ‘S’ (2022) Instructed by Lawstop Solicitors, Ben represented the parent of a child with special educational needs who had not received special educational provision for several school terms in her mainstream school placement. The matter was resolved successfully when the local authority agreed to fund parent’s preferred independent special school placement, making a significant difference to the child’s development and progress. Ben is currently involved in several policy challenges to the lawfulness of the government’s guidance and practice regarding the administration of asylum support payments and the restitution of backdated payments for sums due. Further challenges in this area include several claims relating to interpretation of asylum support legislation. He is also engaged in a group litigation seeking damages under the Human Rights Act 1998 for over 90 claimants, including British children, who were wrongfully prohibited access to public funds while destitute. Ben provides the highest quality service to all his clients. He assists with advice, negotiation, mediation and litigation at all levels. His approach is accessible to all backgrounds, genders, abilities and beliefs. He is LGBTQI+ friendly and open to all faiths and none. Ben supports several initiatives seeking to address inequality at the Bar. In October 2021 he was appointed by the Bar Council to a panel of trainers to implement a course to barristers chambers nationally, entitled ‘An introduction to conversations about race in chambers’. He trains other professionals and organisations on discrimination law and race equality. Before coming to the Bar, Ben spent a decade in research and campaigning, focusing on the environmental and social impacts of the oil and gas sector worldwide. He is passionate about supporting the legal community in his practice areas and seeks to make difficult areas of law and procedure more accessible.

Cameron Crowe

Cameron is a specialist in four key areas: consumer law and trading standards, money laundering, professional discipline and licensing law. He is a contributing editor of the leading textbook on consumer law as well as a frequent lecturer at the annual Trading Standards Institute Conference. His experience in consumer law includes representing private companies, local authorities and private individuals in both criminal prosecutions and Part VIII Enterprise Act enforcement. He has particular knowledge of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and is currently instructed in one of the largest ‘rogue trader’ prosecutions ever brought by a local authority. Cameron has a wealth of experience of prosecuting and defending serious fraud and money laundering cases. This experience is frequently utilised by those instructing him for the purposes of post-conviction confiscation orders, as well as applications for cash forfeiture. He represents doctors, nurses, accountants, police officers and sportsmen in disciplinary proceedings before their respective professional bodies and is approved counsel to the Police Federation. Cameron is frequently instructed in licensing matters by local authorities and applicants. He has experience of the spectrum of entertainment licensing, but has developed a particular expertise over the years in cases involving taxi drivers. His practice has developed from a broad background of criminal and civil law – including judicial review – resulting in an in-depth knowledge of practice and procedure.

Cecilia Hulse

Cecilia practises in Public Law, Asylum and Immigration Law and Employment Law. She regularly advises and represents clients in Asylum and Immigration Law at all levels including the High Courtand the Court of Appeal as well as Tier 1 and the Upper Chamber of the Asylum and immigration Tribunal. She has particular interest in removal and deportation cases affecting children and in EEA Law regarding refusalsof residence and expulsions of EEA nationals. She has dealt with a number of immigration related domesticviolence cases and Article 8 cases involving the settlement of children. Additionally her work has included AnkaraAgreement applications, Judicial Review, emergency injunctions and applications to the European Court ofHuman Rights.

Charles Debattista

Charles Debattista practises as counsel in the areas of dry shipping law, international trade and international arbitration. He appears in Court and in arbitrations in the UK and abroad, and also regularly provides Expert Opinions on English law for use in Courts and Tribunals abroad. He has also regularly sat as an Arbitrator over almost two decades under LMAA, ICC, LCIA, SCMA, Swiss Chamber of Arbitration terms or ad hoc, both in this country and abroad. Widely published and cited, he has been closely associated with many of the main instruments used in shipping and trade law, spanning from COGSA 1992 to Incoterms 2020. Much of Charles’s practice is cross-border and he has particular experience before and on tribunals composed of both common and civil lawyers, a context with which he is very comfortable having first qualified in Malta, a civilian jurisdiction, and then of course in England as a common lawyer. Practice areas: All areas of dry shipping Charterparties Bills of Lading, and other Cargo Documents Contracts of Affreightment Commodities and International Trade Sale of goods contracts for bulk commodities, dry and wet Sale of goods in containers Incoterms 2020 Trade Finance Letters of Credit Bank Guarantees and Performance Bonds International Arbitration Sits as arbitrator in the above areas Acts as Counsel before Tribunals in the above areas Litigation arising out of arbitrations, particularly challenges to Awards

Charlotte Jewell

Charlotte has been practising in family law since 1999. She specialises solely in financial remedy matters and has significant experience at first and appellate court level. She is thoroughly adept at cases involving complexities such as foreign elements, seemingly intractable disputes, third party interests, asset tracing, forensic accountancy and interlinked company structures. She has a successful niche practice in drafting and advising on pre and post nuptial agreements and has lectured frequently on this topic. Charlotte is known for her down to earth, firm manner which instils confidence in clients and for her thorough determination to achieve the best for them, either at court or in negotiation.

Chloe Kenvin

Chloe’s practice encompasses matrimonial finance, private law children proceedings and disputes between cohabitants. She has experience in complex financial remedy proceedings involving issues such as non-disclosure, third-party property, companies, trusts, and non-matrimonial property. She has a particular interest in nuptial agreements and has lectured on the recent developments in this area of the law. She welcomes instructions in TOLATA and Schedule 1 cases. Chloe regularly acts in private law children cases including those involving allegations of abuse, alleged parental alienation, and/or relocation disputes. Before coming to the Bar she spent time working in anti money-laundering compliance at Goldman Sachs.

Christopher Donnellan

Christopher Donnellan KC has extensive experience in prosecuting  and defending serious crime including murder, manslaughter, and death by driving. He has particular expertise in health and safety cases involving death in the workplace and transport industry. He has also prosecuted serious sexual offence cases including a country wide paedophile group. Prosecuting on the Midlands and South Eastern Circuits he has presented complex cases to the jury involving  gunshot residue, DNA, mobile ‘phone and cell site data, and CCTV imagery. Recent cases included the attempted murder in Leicester of four victims chosen at random : the first a child mown down by a car, and others stabbed in the street:  an elderly man on his way to the shop,  a mother collecting her child after school, and a child standing on the pavement as his mother parked her car,   (R -v- Racitalal) with evidence pieced together from complex expert imagery comparison from CCTV.  Similar use of imagery from CCTV together with DNA and footprint evidence led to a conviction for murder (R -v- Jessop). He prosecuted the case of the murder of a 9 year child as she played in street, the  jury found that the defendant had done the act:(R -v- Skebas). Defending, he recently secured the acquittal of murder (joint enterprise) of one of group of young men present when the victim was stabbed in the street in Oxford, successfully challenging the interpretation of the CCTV evidence as presented by the Crown. He secured the acquittal on a charge of murder (joint enterprise) of  a vulnerable man starved to death, receiving a determinate and lesser sentence for allowing the death (R -v- Rickard).  He also successfully argued for a stay of proceedings in a case involving injuries caused to a baby, not simply because of inordinate delay in bringing the case to trial but because of the delay having such a significant impact on her mental health. With his experience of prosecuting a train driver following the Watford train crash in which one person died and others seriously injured he was invited to co-author the response of the Bar to the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, and gave evidence to the House of Commons Committee. He successfully secured the acquittal of a maintenance manager prosecuted over the death in the work place when a piece of machinery exploded. He defendant the owner of a transport company charged with manslaughter when one of the drivers was killed while transporting goods in breach of working time regulations involving tachograph evidence and cross examination of a sleep expert.  Prosecuting, he secured convictions on health and safety offences against a company director personally, and his company, for a death on a building site.

Christopher Carr

Chris Carr specialises in financial disputes when relationships end, whether through divorce or separation. His cases will typically involve complex financial and legal issues, and those which require excellent client care and witness handling skills. He is generally instructed in cases in which there are substantial assets and income, complex company structures, partnerships, trusts, hidden assets and income, parties with a high profile, or an international dimension. Chris lectures on family finance to fellow barristers and solicitors, and is a contributing author to the Practical Law Company website on family law. Chris is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and Resolution. Specialist in Financial remedies Cohabitation claims Schedule 1 Children Act applications

Colin Wright

Colin Wright is a highly experienced barrister with a practice which embraces all areas of international commercial litigation and arbitration, including shipping, commodities, insurance, international trade, carriage of goods, sale of goods, insolvency, commercial fraud and trade secrets.  He is particularly well known for shipping litigation (both wet and dry) and has extensive experience in collisions, charterparties and marine insurance.  His clients include insurers, financial institutions and P&I clubs. In addition to his practice as an advocate, he also sits as an arbitrator. He has an international practice and regularly undertakes work in Hong Kong and the Far East in addition to England & Wales. He is noted for his user-friendly and commercial approach.

Colin Ong

Queen’s Counsel at 36 Stone; Counsel at Eldan Law LLP (Singapore); Senior Partner, Dr Colin Ong Legal Services (Brunei) Dr. Colin Ong is a leading international arbitrator and lead counsel who has broad experience in diverse areas (including banking/energy disputes/information technology/infrastructure/intellectual property/investor-state disputes and shipping). Extensive commercial arbitration and court experience. Extensive experience as presiding or co-arbitrator in civil law and common law jurisdictions in areas of practice including: construction; insurance disputes; intellectual property; mining and minerals disputes; Considerable experience as counsel in acting against and also for governments; state owned enterprises; multinationals in resolving complex large quantum disputes. Arbitrator and/or acted as counsel in arbitrations including AAA, BANI, CIETAC, ICC, KCAB, KLRCA, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, SCMA, TAI, UNCITRAL, and WIPO rules

Dan Tan

Barrister And Arbitrator. International arbitration, particularly in the US and Asia. Court litigation in US and Singapore. Particular areas of expertise include; Commercial, Construction, Intellectual Property. Recent notable cases: Currently acting as counsel in two SIAC arbitration proceedings involving in excess of US$200m of disputes relating to construction of major plant facility in South East Asian country by state-owned entity. (SIAC Arbitration, no seat agreed, South East Asian law.) Currently acting as counsel in ICC arbitration proceedings involving breach of licensing distribution and partnership agreement. (ICC Arbitration, California seat, Delaware law.) Currently acting as counsel in ICC arbitration proceedings involving breach of distribution agreement between US and Asian parties. (ICC Arbitration, Singapore seat, Texas law.) Currently acting as counsel in 2 arbitrations involving joint venture dispute in Asia in the education industry (SIAC arbitration, Singapore seat, Hong Kong law.) Successfully acted as counsel for Argentinian and Panamanian entities suing U.S. company for patent infringement in AAA arbitration. Amounts in dispute exceed US$100m. Obtained favorable arbitration award in client’s favor. (AAA arbitration, New York seat, New York and Federal law.) Successfully acted as lead counsel in SIAC-administered UNCITRAL arbitration representing South-East Asian company against Asian state owed entity in oil and gas dispute. Opposing party represented by one of the leading international law firms. Obtained complete victory for client in liability phase both on contractual liability (liability on this count alone exceeding US$500m) and for breach of obligation of good faith and fair dealing (yet to be quantified but liability expected to be quantified in the hundreds of millions). Amount in dispute US$500m++. (UNCITRAL arbitration, Singapore seat, New York, Singapore and third Asian country law.) Counsel for airplane systems designer and manufacturer in ICC arbitration in New York in dispute with aircraft manufacturer involving patent and IP licensing, technical design and manufacturing compliance, delay issues, and intellectual property infringement claims. Amounts at issue exceed US$300 million. (ICC arbitration; New York seat; New York governing law.) Counsel for international fiber and polymer company in US federal court and state court proceedings, ad hoc arbitration in Switzerland, and ICC arbitration in Paris involving patent inventorship, trade secrets, and confidentiality disputes. Amounts at issue exceed US$1B. (ICC and ad hoc arbitration; Paris and Geneva seats; French and Swiss governing law.) Counsel representing three respondents in two SIAC arbitration proceedings brought by well-known global entertainment and lifestyle company involving sale of Asia-wide luxury entertainment chain. Also acting as counsel in associated court proceedings in Singapore. Amounts in dispute approximately S$100m (US$80m). Counsel for US and Brazilian companies in ICC arbitration in Sao Paulo in relation to indemnity in joint venture agreement for environmental claims (ICC arbitration; Sao Paulo seat; Delaware law.) Arbitrator appointments: Currently Chair in 3-person Tribunal (with Michael Hwang SC and Jennifer Kirby) in HKIAC arbitration involving alleged breaches of Share Purchase Agreement and Shareholder’s Agreement. Amount in dispute exceeds US$50 million. (HKIAC Arbitration, Hong Kong seat, Hong Kong law.) Currently Chair in 3-person Tribunal in AAA arbitration involving contract in aviation industry. (Dispute exceeds US$50m) (AAA Commercial Rules arbitration / California seat / New York law.) Currently party-appointed arbitrator in AAA / ICDR arbitration proceeding seated in San Francisco involving dispute over website and underlying sales technology in the travel industry. Dispute exceeds US$40 million (ICDR arbitration, San Francisco seat, California law.) Currently co-arbitrator in dispute between US and Chinese investors in US and Chinese joint venture companies in AAA / ICDR arbitration proceeding seated in Nevada in dispute involving medical industry. (AAA/ICDR arbitration, Nevada seat, governing law not yet determined on specific issues.) Currently sole arbitrator in dispute between US and Chinese parties involving sale of goods in ICDR arbitration seated in San Jose (ICDR Arbitration / California seat / California law.) Chair in 3-person Tribunal in ICC dispute between household-name Asian manufacturer and European company. (ICC Arbitration, Maui Hawaii seat, New York law.) Chair in 3-person Tribunal in ICC dispute between English and Asian companies in dispute involving power project in South East Asia. (ICC Arbitration, London seat, South East Asian country law.) Sole arbitrator in HKIAC arbitration involving the sale and purchase of helicopters between a Chinese buyer and U.S. manufacturer. (HKIAC arbitration, Portland Oregon seat, Oregon law.) Sole arbitrator in ICC dispute between US and Canadian companies where US$10m is in dispute. (ICC Arbitration, Albany New York seat, New York law.) Sole arbitrator in UNCITRAL arbitration between Chinese and U.S. parties in dispute over commissions and royalties stemming from investment contract. (UNCITRAL arbitration, Hong Kong seat, California law.) Sole arbitrator in ICC arbitration involving product defect and indemnity claims in sale and purchase agreement involving materials used to manufacture drilling equipment for oil wells. (ICC arbitration, Singapore seat, New York law.) Sole arbitrator in AAA / ICDR arbitration involving American company against Brazilian company for breach of contract claim. (ICDR arbitration, New York seat, New York law.) Chair in shareholder dispute involving obligations arising out of share purchase agreement. (HKIAC-administered arbitration, Hong Kong seat, New York law.) Co-Arbitrator in 3-person Tribunal (with Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Carlos Bianchi) dealing with indemnity claims between household name global multinational companies. (ICDR arbitration, New York seat, New York law.) Sole arbitrator in ICC arbitration involving breach of contract claims between North American and South East Asian entities in the aviation industry. (ICC arbitration, New York seat, New York law.) Sole arbitrator in contractual dispute brought by chief executive officer against country club. (SIAC arbitration, Singapore seat, Singapore law.)

David Herbert

David Herbert QC is a specialist in criminal law. He is a formidable jury advocate, tactically astute and known for the pursuit of the fine detail of his cases. David’s work currently involves cases of murder and organised crime, particularly gang related shootings. He appears in the most serious cases of this type on the Midlands Circuit and is noted for his ability to handle the most sensitive and challenging cases, often those with formidable quantities of telephone evidence. He is regularly instructed by the East Midlands Complex Casework Unit to prosecute their most serious and complicated cases. David is considered an expert in cases involving covert law enforcement and is adept at dealing with the sensitive issues that arise in such matters. He has significant experience in cases involving drug importation/supply, money laundering and unlawful immigration on an international scale. Some of his cases have been amongst the largest investigations of their type and involved linked investigations abroad in places such as India, South Africa, the Unites States of America and Holland. He has recently concluded the prosecution of a case involving 27 defendants charged with conspiring to supply drugs around the United Kingdom on a massive scale. David is also a member of the British Association of Sports Law and appears in cases involving all aspects of sports discipline and regulation. He acts as a legal advisor to the Leicestershire RFU Constituent Body on disciplinary matters. David sits as a Recorder in the Crown Court. Recent cases: R v Furniss and others (Nottingham Crown Court) [2014] Murder – the prosecution of a contract killing case arising from a dispute between rival drug dealers in Nottinghamshire. The case involved over 25,000 pages of evidence including extensive telephone and cell site evidence. The complex detail of the case was described by the trial judge (Haddon-Cave J) as a paradigm for telephone/cell site evidence. R v Leon Angel Robinson and others (parts I & II – Nottingham Crown Court) [2014] Conspiracy to supply class A drugs – the prosecution of a case involving the organised supply of massive quantities of cocaine across the Midlands by an organised crime group of a serious calibre. Approximately 20,000 pages of evidence including extensive telephone and cell site evidence. The number of defendants involved meant that the case had to be split into two trials.

Deborah Revill

Deborah's work covers all areas of immigration law. She is particularly interested in paragraph 398(c) of the Immigration Rules ('serious harm' and 'persistent offenders'), the proper interpretation of Appendix FM, and the 'reasonableness' test under s117B(6) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. She has considerable experience of asylum appeals by Christian converts (in which she is able to draw on her undergraduate theology studies) and Sri Lankan nationals. Deborah is an accomplished written advocate who is frequently praised by judges for the quality of her skeleton arguments, grounds of appeal, and judicial review grounds. She enjoys identifying and advancing novel points of law and challenging common Home Office practices and assumptions. Before coming to the Bar, Deborah worked for the Immigration Advisory Service (formerly the UK's largest provider of legal advice on immigration and asylum), and was accredited by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. She then spent a year as the employee of two direct access immigration barristers. She completed pupillage in a predominantly criminal set and, on accepting tenancy there, chose to specialise in immigration law, going on to establish a successful practice in the field almost from scratch. She subsequently expanded and strengthened this practice at Lamb Building before moving to The 36 Group in 2021.

Diana Wilson

Diana primarily practices in the areas of serious, and organised crime and cases involving complex or novel legal issues. She is particularly noted for her attention to detail when preparing large multi-handed cases and for her calm and focused approach under pressure. She is often instructed in cases involving complex or novel human rights arguments. Her years working internationally have given her an exceptional ability to handle voluminous and complex cases and advise at an early stage in relation to lengthy investigations. When defending she is particularly noted for her forensic pursuit of relevant disclosure.  She also has a particular interest in cases involving complex technical and/or telephone evidence. Diana is an experienced advocate who varies her style as the case requires; from being described by one of her opponents as having a calm, measured and fair approach when prosecuting, to being described by one of her instructing solicitors when defending as ‘a bulldog’, to being sensitive and nuanced when advising the most vulnerable of clients or examining young witnesses.

Dominic Happé

Dominic Happé’s practice focuses on all aspects of international trade, particularly shipping (both dry and wet) and commodities, as well as ship sale and purchase and shipbuilding. He acts in arbitration, in the Commercial Court and in the Court of Appeal. He has wide experience in interlocutory applications, particularly anti-suit injunctions. He advises on all aspects of his practice, including the drafting of large scale commodity, mining and mineral exploitation contracts. Dominic is particularly experienced in assisting in devising and co-ordinating an effective strategy over multiple jurisdictions. Cases of interest include: OMV v Vector [2014] Lloyd’s Rep. Plus 31 – dispute over recovery of customs penalties paid the opposing party had been engaged in the circumvention of EU anti-dumping penalties and the origin of the goods was concealed; The ‘Bulk Chile’ [2012] 2 Lloyds Rep 594 – the first case to consider the interrelationship between a notices/rights of lien and notices/rights of interception of freight; Christian D [2011] ILPr 38: anti-suit injunctions; whether or not a declaratory arbitration award is enforceable; Easybiz Investments v Sinograin & Anor ‘The Biz’ [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 688: cargo claim, breach of arbitration agreement; Novasen v Alimenta [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 390: commodities; FOSFA Appeal; The “Kallang” No. 2 [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep.124; The “Duden” [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 145: anti-suit injunction; scope of arbitration agreement and anti-suit relief in the context of arrest proceedings; Samsun Logix v Oceantrade [2008] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 450: shipping; nature of lien over sub-hire; interrelation of lien and arbitration award.

Doran Doeh

Qualified in England as both a barrister and a solicitor, Doran has over 40 years of legal experience in London and Moscow, including complex cross-border transactions as well as disputes. In April 2019, he returned to London to practice as an arbitrator at 36 Stone.   He has worked extensively in the energy sector and in M&A, banking and finance, commodities and shipping. His diversity of background enables him to accept a wide range of arbitral appointments.  For example, he has recently held one in a dispute between oil traders concerning two transactions between them and another in a dispute between a lender and a customer over enforcement of a loan in default.

Elizabeth Blackburn

Elizabeth Blackburn QC has been in practice at the Admiralty/Commercial Bar since 1980 and took silk in 1998. She is recommended as a top-tier leading shipping silk in all the main directories.  She is also a registered practitioner in the ADGM Court of Abu Dhabi and in the DIFC Court in Dubai. In addition to her commercial work, she is one of the most experienced KCs at the Bar in the field of large-scale casualty work and regularly advises on and acts in high profile maritime cases. Most recently she has been heavily involved as Leading Counsel in the major EVER GIVEN incident in the Suez Canal. After the successful outcome of an important preliminary issue in the Admiralty Court in March 2023, the case is now due for hearing in the Court of Appeal in February 2024. Her professional standing as an experienced commercial arbitrator has been recognised globally with membership of all the main commercial panels worldwide including the HKIAC, AIAC, SIAC, SHIAC, BVI IAC, LCIA Europe and the SCMA.  She is also a Member of the Baltic Exchange and a supporting member of the LMAA. She has acted as Chairman and sole Arbitrator in ICC commercial arbitrations, including not only international trade disputes and shipbuilding contracts, but also supply contractual disputes in the energy sector. She has been a LOF Salvage Arbitrator since 2009.

Ellis Wilford

Ellis practices in asylum & immigration and has appeared in the Upper Tribunal, the Administrative Court and theCourt of Appeal. He has been praised by instructing solicitors as "a very skilled and knowledgeable Barrister". Ellis regularly advises and appears in: Judicial review (eg fresh claims, certification, procedural fairness claims, ETS etc) Business Migration (Tier 1 entrepreneur, Tier 2) Family reunion (Article 8, Appendix FM) Asylum Deportation (including "Nexus" appeals) Unlawful detention and false imprisonment European Union law (Residence Cards, sham marriage allegations, Ankara applications) Nationality law (British citizenship: registration, naturalisation and revocation)

Emily James

Specialist family barrister. Emily is a specialist family law leading junior  who acts in  a wide range of complex, serious and sensitive cases relating to private and public law children. She regularly appears in the High Court and has acted in  a number of very significant cases in the Court of Appeal. Emily is Directory Ranked as a Leading Junior. She has a loyal following of excellent solicitors, many of whom are top ranked, with whom she works closely.

Eric Fripp

Eric Fripp has appeared in many leading cases concerning refugees, immigration, nationality, and human rights. His practice extends across a wide spectrum covering these areas and he is noted for his thoroughness and skill as an advocate and for the breadth of his supporting interests in international affairs, legal and political philosophy, and history. In addition he is recognised internationally as a particular authority on nationality and statelessness and their interaction with the Refugee Convention 1951 and other protective instruments. He has a particular commitment to good analysis of relevant factual matters and the clear exposition of complex legal issues.   Areas of Experience: Human Rights Immigration International International Human Rights Law Nationality and Asylum Public Law   Recent cases Superior Courts in UK/ European Court of Human Rights: WAS (Pakistan) v SSHD [2023] EWCA Civ 894- Court endorsed and extended the ‘common-sense point’ of Sedley LJ at YB (Eritrea) v SSHD [2008] EWCA Civ 360 that in a sur place case ‘a tribunal cannot be criticised if it is prepared to infer successful covert activity on the basis of limited direct evidence’- ‘Those observations have even more force in the light of the great changes since 2008 in the sophistication of such methods, in the availability of electronic evidence of all sorts, and in the ease of their transmission.’  The UT erred by ‘losing sight of the fact that direct evidence about “the level of and the mechanics of monitoring” in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be available to an asylum claimant or to a dissident organisation’ as well as imposing too high a standard of proof.   R (SWP) v SSHD [2023] EWCA Civ 439- Court of Appeal dismissed appeal against exclusion of Toier 2 PBS migrant spouse from Destitution Domestic Violence Concession (‘DDVC’), but also refused Secretary of State’s application to file late evidence on appeal, applying Ladd v Marshall [1954] EWCA Civ 1; [1954] 1 WLR 1489, and reiterating public law defendant’s ‘duty of candour and cooperation with the court’ it being ‘important that the defendant public authority should set out an accurate factual position to the court’.  Procedural rigour ‘applies as much to defendant public authorities as it does to claimants’.  Public funding granted for application to Supreme Court.   Hussein (Ismail) v SSHD UKSC Ref 2020/0198 [2022] 12 WLUK 664; [2022] Lexis Citation 145; [2022] All ER (D) 13 (Sept)-  Supreme Court allowed appeal from Court of Appeal re enhanced protection from deportation of long resident EU national, by consent, SSHD accepting CA erred in accepting reasons of FTT as adequately addressing question of ‘enhanced protection’ from deportation for EEA nationals who had gained permanent residence status and been continuously resident for 10 years ; Hussein (Ismail) v SSHD [2020] EWCA Civ 156; [2020] 2 CMLR 34-   Examines EEA provisions concerning deportation: nature of ‘enhanced protection’ from deportation for permanently resident EEA nationals continuously resident for 10 years, and of lesser ‘intermediate protection’ test of 'serious grounds of public policy or public security' as required by Article 28 of Directive 2004/38/EC. Allowed and remitted to UT(IAC) as regards intermediate protection,  permission to appeal to Supreme Court re enhanced protection granted (see above); WA (Pakistan) v SSHD [2019] EWCA Civ 302; [2019] All ER (D) 124 (Mar)-  Important appeal on freedom of religion and belief and refugee status, including application of the 'right to live freely' in a protected identity per HJ (Iran) v SSHD; HT (Cameroon) v SSHD [2010] UKSC 31; [2011] 1 AC 596- the Court held that the UT(IAC) erred in its MN and others (Ahmadis - country conditions - risk) Pakistan CG [2012] UKUT 389 (IAC) country guidance by imposing requirement for ‘particular importance’ to expression of protected identity, an illegitimate fetter on refugee definition;

Fenella Cooil

Fenella Cooil is a specialist children law barrister. She is regularly instructed in complex private children cases including those with allegations of domestic violence and parental alienation. Fenella is also instructed to advise and represent parties in internal and international relocation cases and Hague and Non-Hague convention child abduction cases. Fenella acts for local authorities, parents and children’s guardians in proceedings involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury and chronic neglect. She represents vulnerable clients with drug/alcohol addiction, mental health disorders and learning difficulties and has experience in cross examining experts including paediatricians, psychologists and psychiatrists. Fenella has a pragmatic and straight-talking approach; she is described by her clients as empathetic, tenacious and incisive.

Fergus McCombie

Fergus McCombie has an established practice in employment and discrimination law. However, he also accepts instructions in related areas, including; commercial disputes, public and regulatory law. Recent and ongoing cases include acting for a Premier League football manager in his contractual and unfair dismissal complaint against his former club; for the Easy group of companies defending the dismissal of senior executives; for a claimant in relation to the statutory authorisation regime for glider inspectors. His previous experience includes a post as a judicial assistant to the Court of Appeal Civil Division. Before joining the bar he worked in corporate tax accounting in the City. Solicitors see him as an “excellent technical lawyer” who produces “technically excellent” pleadings and opinions. They value his “commercial and pragmatic” advice. Local authority lawyers comment on his “ability to relate to officers and members whatever their level of seniority”. As an advocate “he quickly gains the respect of employment judges with his confidence, obvious experience and familiarity with the arena, realistic approach, quick identification and focus on the salient points and clarity of presentation”. Lay clients are equally impressed by his “reassuring presence [which] naturally inspires confidence” – “His analysis and retention of the facts meant that his advocacy was right on the money and he could react and respond quite brilliantly to the other lawyer”. Fergus regularly gives lectures to solicitors and other professionals on employment law topics. Fergus is also able to accept instructions via the direct access scheme.

Flavia Kenyon

International litigation, financial crime, fraud, bribery, financial sanctions, regulatory, cyber litigation, crypto-assets and blockchain. Flavia Kenyon is a leading British barrister who practises from The 36 Group chambers in London. Flavia was educated at Oxford University and called to the Bar in 2005. Flavia holds an impressive portfolio of national and international cases and advisory work. She has appeared in many high -profile criminal trials throughout her Bar career that spans over 17 years. Flavia’s expertise combines years of high-end courtroom advocacy and legal representation with high technology – her practice extends equally to criminal and civil liability: fraud, cyber litigation, blockchain and digital assets litigation, DeFi, regulatory matters, privacy/data protection, deepfakes, online harms, and human rights. Flavia’s cyber legal journey began in 2015 when she represented a coder and malware creator in the largest phishing and malware- as- a- service conspiracy trial so far in the UK. Since then she has gained specialist training and accreditation in blockchain technology and strategy from Oxford University and in crypto-assets from the London School of Economics. Flavia combines extensive advocacy and legal experience with technical knowledge and understanding of her clients’ businesses and digital projects, and has become a much sought after and trusted advisor to SMEs, digital assets investors, founders, brands, Web3 entrepreneurs, governmental, and non-governmental institutions, embassies, private and public companies, and recently, to DAOs (decentralised autonomous organisations). Flavia is a well-known media commentator, and writer on cyber law and the disruptive technologies, and has written numerous articles published in leading national and international press, such as The Guardian, Bloomberg, Compliance Week, Verdict, and legal and academic journals.

Frances Oldham

Frances Oldham QC Chaired the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (2014-2017) which looked at historic sexual abuse in care and foster homes in Jersey, including the former Children's home at Haut de la Garenne. She is regularly instructed in high profile and complex cases of the most serious and sensitive nature. Her practice encompasses all aspects of both serious and complex crime and child law, involving detailed medical, scientific and mental health issues. Recent significant cases: R v Connors, leading the prosecution team in the first successful prosecution of the new offences of 'Slavery' under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. R v Rideout, defence of Anglican priest charged with 37 offences of sexual abuse of children in care. High profile cases include R v Karen Matthews, mother charged with kidnap and false imprisonment of her 9 year old daughter. R v Driza, Brazilian cleaner blackmailing two Judges, highly publicised. In Family Division frequently instructed by solicitors where the case has some unusual or complex features requiring thorough scrutiny and presentation. Member of a Foreign and Commonwealth delegation to Palestine to report upon children in military custody. Selected for knowledge and experience of Human Rights law and procedures relating to both criminal law and child welfare.. Publication: Report on Children in Military Custody 2012.

Gavin Lyon

Gavin Lyon is a family finance specialist with an established and successful practice throughout London, the Midlands and the South East. He has appeared in the family courts at all levels to the Court of Appeal and is available to represent and advise clients in all matters of financial remedy on divorce and separation, including under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.

George Harley

Children Act work is focused to private children case, in particular parental alienation matters or where there is a breakdown down in contact in light of implacable hostility from one parent, and the manipulation of children in such disputes is often a challenge to overcome. Financial remedies work is focused on high net cases with an international element. Often, World Wide Freezing Orders are a necessary application being made before the High Court . In particular, cases where assets have been dissipated prior to divorce proceedings and an add back needs to be established. Also, Schedule 1 cases in respects of a child’s financial needs. A nuanced area of George’s practice is void/voidable and non-marriage cases, often requiring expert evidence as to cultural practises which can be fascinating.

Gillian Temple-Bone

Barrister specialising in the law concerning children – public law representing Local Authorities, parents and children. Her particular expertise and interest is in cases that involve numbers of medical experts in complex non-accidental injury and death. Considerable experience of sexual abuse, and of representing those with personality disorders or mental illness, or accused of fabricating illness. Having spent many years also practising in criminal law, her knowledge of the interplay between the two disciplines is an additional asset. Since 1998 has trained social workers in human rights law, court skills and questioning the professionals. Reported cases include: G v N County Council [2009] 1 FLR 774; Re : M [1998] 2 FLR 371; Re: W and X [2004] 1 FLR 415.

Grace Hale

A Grade 4 Prosecutor, Grace is one of the most sought after juniors in the East Midlands for cases involving rape and serious sexual offences. She has a reputation for tenacious advocacy and thorough and meticulous preparation well suited to complex cases, particularly those involving multiple victims. As well as enjoying a particularly high success rate she is also commended for her approachability and empathy with young and vulnerable victims and witnesses. Although Grace’s work is predominantly for the Prosecution she also defends and is frequently able to draw on her experience to identify the weaknesses in the Prosecution case.

Greg Pryce

Barrister specialising in public law – children (regularly instructed on behalf of applicant local authorities, parents and children’s guardians), private law – children and family – matrimonial breakdown.

Hannah Markham

Hannah is a formidable silk renowned for her role in leading and appellate cases, often those which tackle ground breaking areas of law.  Since taking silk Hannah has balanced complex private law cases, international children law cases and appellate work with the most serious of public law (care) cases.  Private law cases involve those with the most serious of issues, domestic abuse, alienation and emotional abuse; physical abuse including sexual and those with international and complicated relocation (both internal and external) arguments.  Known for her work in cases involving serious allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional harm, she is also highly regarded in her work in medical cases: non accidental injury, shaken baby syndrome and cases involving mental health issues. She impresses with her good reasoning both in and outside court, and is said to have the ‘ear’ of the court. Hannah’s work also focuses on judicial review issues both within family law cases and as free-standing issues, notably her recent challenges against the Government in respect of transgender parental right issues, surrogacy cases and in respect of diplomatic immunity and the interplay with child protection. Her approach to clients is noted as being highly personable, warm, open minded and thorough; be they lay or professional clients. Her attention to detail and management of case papers is standout.  Hannah is currently the Chair of Women in Family Law, an association she brought together for all women who practice in Family law. She is also the Vice chair of the FLBA and Head of Family at 36 Group.  Hannah is also a part of the President’s Working Group reviewing changes in Public law, was part f the sub-committee reviewing guidance for Special Guardianship orders and currently reviewing the ambit and scope of supervision orders. She is also the Chair of a commission reviewing Child Poverty in Milton Keynes.

Hannah Jones

Hannah specialises in matrimonial finance proceedings.  She has experience in all aspects of financial remedy proceedings and also specialises in claims under Schedule 1 of the Children Act.  Hannah’s practice has a particular focus on high-value cases, with high-profile and high net-worth clients who require the best representation and excellent client care. Her cases typically involve valuable business assets and complex financial, and jurisdictional, issues. Hannah is a founding and only barrister member of ‘Family Law Live’). This incredibly successful initiative was shortlisted for ‘Family Law Commentator of the Year’ for 2 years’ running at the Family Law Awards.  Hannah was also shortlisted for ‘Young Barrister of the Year’ at the 2017 Family Law Awards. Specialist in: All aspects of financial remedies Schedule 1 Children Act applications Notable Cases: K v S (appeal against registration of an order of a Member State) [2019] EWFC B43​

Ishfaq Ahmed

Ishfaq Ahmed has been practising at the Commercial and Admiralty Bar since October 2000 representing and advising in a wide range of commercial and shipping litigation and arbitration. He specialises in all aspects of commercial and shipping law, including: domestic and international carriage of goods; international trade; shipping (wet and dry); marine and other insurance disputes; P&I Club issues; collision, salvage and towage disputes; fatal and non-fatal maritime accidents; fraud claims; maritime limitation of liability; conflict of laws and jurisdictional disputes; commodities; ship sale and purchase; shipbuilding and various aspects of international law (including treaties). He has particular experience of international arbitration (including LMAA and DIAC) and has appeared before the Dubai World Tribunal.  He also has significant experience in interim applications including anti-suit and freezing injunctions. He is also experienced in all aspects of employment law and related disputes, including: contracts of employment (terms, restrictive covenants, interpretation and breach); dismissal (unfair and wrongful dismissal); discrimination; equal pay; redundancy; transfer of undertakings; health and safety; collective labour law and statutory interventions into the employment field.

Jacqueline Matthews-Stroud

Family law practitioner specialising is law relating to children particularly complex care proceedings and private law applications including those relating to surrogacy and same sex couples. Trained family mediator.

James Collins

James Collins specialises in all the practice areas of chambers, in particular public and administrative law and immigration and human rights law. He is regularly instructed in many of the cutting edge challenges in this area and has been involved in a series of seminal cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords and more recently the Supreme Court. A full list of representative lead cases published in the Law Reports is available but recent lead cases include: Secretary of State for the Home Department v Baiai at al [2008] 3 WLR 549 (House of Lords); Ahmed Mahad & Others v Entry Clearance Officer [2010] 1 WLR 48 (Supreme Court); HH & Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] Imm AR 563 (Court of Appeal) James Collins is preferred counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. More recently James successfully represented the Claimant in Mehmet Ebcin v SSHD [2011] Imm AR 552 the first case to come before the High Court on the issue as to whether an application to revoke an automatic Deportation Order made in accordance with the UK Borders Act 2007 generates a right of appeal under section 82(2)(k) of the Nationality and Immigration Act 2002; James also appeared in AAO v Entry Clearance Officer [2011] EWCA Civ 840 a case before the Court of Appeal where there was no previous authority, either in Strasbourg or the United Kingdom, in which a dependent parent argued she had a right pursuant to Article 8 ECHR to join an adult daughter in the United Kingdom; James also successfully represented the Claimant in Ali Polat v SSHD [2011] EWHC 3445 Admin the first case where the High Court considered how the exclusion clauses of the 1951 Refugee Convention applied to an applicant to a discretionary policy of the Secretary of State In 2012 James was instructed on a pro bono basis by Liberty to represent a Palestinian family and in three different ‘Country Guidance’ cases in the Upper Tribunal in relation to Albania, Azerbaijan and Ethiopia. Decisions in two of those have now been handed down [2012] UKUT 00348 (IAC) EH (Blood Feuds) Albania and [2013] UKUT 00046 (IAC) SL (Unmarried mother with mixed race child) Azerbaijan. James is presently instructed in a series of Court of Appeal matters including a challenge to the current interpretation of the Court of Appeal decision in Kugathas v SSHD [2003] EWCA Civ 31 and a challenge as to whether the Upper Tribunal can depart from extant country guidance in respect of Somalia.

James Petts

James has a mixed private law civil practice, with increasing focus on chancery work, and a particular specialism in civil cases involving fraud and dishonesty of all kinds. Notable recent cases include Khan v. Nationwide Solicitors [2014] E. W. H. C. 841 (Q. B.) (a partnership claim against a firm of solicitors), Maqsood v. Mahmood [2012] E. W. C. A. Civ. 251 (White Book 3.4.4) (a claim arising out of alleged fraud in a business context, where he was instructed for the appeal) and Graham v. Sand Martin Heights Residents’ Company Limited (2011, unreported) Southend County Court (H. J. J. Maloney, QC) (an appeal in which it was held, controversially, that the small claims track rules on costs over-ride contractual provisions as to costs). James has also been instructed recently in very high value credit hire cases involving elements of alleged fraud, contentious probate cases involving alleged forgery, a claim in deceit arising out of an international property investment, applications for freezing injunctions, a partnership case involving alleged exclusion and diversion of profits, various insolvency proceedings, advising on setting aside settlement agreements allegedly procured by fraud, possession claims in the context of probate proceedings, claims arising out of alleged avoidance of care home fees, and an international dispute concerning the administration of a deceased person’s estate in India where jurisdiction was in issue. In his earlier years of practice, James acquired a wealth of experience in criminal law, and still occasionally appears in criminal courts, including recently the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in an appeal against conviction in a case of fraud. James also has experience of employment and personal injury work. James prides himself on giving robust, practical and intellectually sound advice at all stages of litigation and has a particular interest in litigation strategy.

Jamie De Burgos

Jamie is a barrister dealing with cases involving medical, including psychiatric, and scientific evidence of special interest, and where there may be sensitive issues. Criminal law, especially sex/child abuse cases, fraud and general crime, eg R v CAZ (1990) (child evidence). Family law both children (public and private law) and financial aspects and international child law eg Belton v Belton (1987). Court of Protection work including right to life and care issues and mental health and adult care law including judicial review. Notable recent cases include: Re JT, Thurrock Borough Council v T High Court (Family Division) 7 February 2011; HH Judge Cahill QC sitting as a High Court Judge. Public law (care proceedings) in which a highly disturbed child was out of control of her adoptive parents. Unusual background; international features are an adoption of a Brazilian child in Brazil by German parents, who were resident in England at the relevant time for proceedings. The court was faced with expert paediatric evidence that the child was several years older than originally believed from the evidence of the birth certificate. (2) Re M, St A’s Hospital v M and others. Court of Protection, Mostyn J 28 September 2010. Appeared for local authority who provided social work mental health care to a patient who was mentally ill. The patient was refusing a diagnostic biopsy or further treatment for suspected myeloid leukaemia and was likely to die within weeks without treatment. He was adjudged incapable within the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Official solicitor intervened on behalf of patient. Hospital where patient currently held under Mental Health Acts sought a declaration that it was lawful not to treat him. High Court judge (sitting in Court of Protection) heard evidence and legal argument, and granted declaration sought. TG and AH v North Somerset Council QBD (Admin Court) Laws LJ, July 1, 2011. Appeared for local authority which successfully resisted a judicial review of the quantum of payments and method of delivery of payments and services to severely disabled and mentally incapable young adults.

Jamsheed Peeroo

Barrister specialising in international arbitration with expertise in conflicts of laws and jurisdictions, commercial law and international trade, “offshore” corporate and trusts disputes, infrastructure, and investment law.   Notable recent cases: Counsel in ongoing LCIA arbitration of a multi-million USD shareholder subscription dispute involving a concession to operate and maintain oil and gas infrastructure in an African port; Counsel in ongoing ICC arbitration in a commercial dispute involving a bank guarantee and the sale and shipment of commodities under CFR terms; President of an ICC Arbitral Tribunal in multi-million dollar London-seated arbitration of a dispute relating to an international licensing contract in the IT and telecommunications sector; Counsel in an ongoing appeal before the Privy Council after having successfully resisted an application to set-aside a MARC international award before the Supreme Court of Mauritius; Counsel successfully representing a leading insurance company and an airport handling provider in an international dispute arising out of services provided in France to a national airline; Counsel successfully obtaining ex parte interim measures in aid of LCIA arbitration Counsel successfully representing an operator in a multi-million euro international arbitration involving the fisheries sector under the LCIA-MIAC Rules; Counsel successfully representing an international investor seeking recovery of investments and assets from a complex corporate and trusts structure related to the “Paradise Papers”; Counsel for a leading international group in the hotel and tourism sector in successful applications for interim measures and for the enforcement of an ICC Award rendered in Paris; Co-counsel in an ongoing MARC arbitration over an international dispute under a consultation contract pertaining to the procurement of services in an African country; Counsel successfully representing a sovereign fund with investments in several African countries on a corporate governance dispute and, separately, on resisting enforcement proceedings of an ICC Arbitral Award made in Paris   Recognition “African Arbitrator of the Year” and “Best Case Counsel Team” shortlists at Africa Arbitration Awards 2020, 8th East African International Arbitration Conference

Jane Bacon

Jane specialises in all cases relating to children in both public law and private law. Her practice focus is in complex care, adoption and private law proceedings, commonly where there is alleged non accidental injury (subdural haemorrhage, fractures, burns, factitious disorder) or sexual abuse. Jane is able to use her skill and knowledge as a former nurse and midwife to very good effect in taking clients and witnesses through these difficult cases. She represents local authorities, children, parents and other family members. Jane is experienced in international relocation cases and the jurisdictional issues that arise. Jane has over 10 years of experience in medical regulation sitting as a Chairwoman at the General Medical Council in cases against doctors of alleged professional misconduct.

Jane Elliott-Kelly

Jane is a specialist immigration practitioner whose broad practice encompasses asylum, deportation, EU law,human rights, trafficking and business immigration. She has a wide range of experience in this field, representingclients at all stages of the immigration and asylum process. Jane regularly appears in the Asylum and Immigration Chamber of both the First and Upper-tier Tribunal, and isalso instructed in a wide range of judicial review challenges in both the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal.She has particular experience in challenges under the Dublin system, and in unlawful detention claims and otherimmigration-related challenges such as age assessments. A significant proportion of Jane's clients are vulnerable (including victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors,and clients with mental health problems) and she is committed to representing vulnerable individuals within theimmigration system. Jane provides training to solicitors and other practitioners on developments in immigration and asylum law.

Jessica Franses

Jessica Franses is a commercial lawyer who spends most of her art law practice advising and assisting on high value sales transactions, involving Fine Art, Contemporary Art and Classic or Historic cars. Jessica in particular, deals with private collections in the UK and internationally. Jessica advises and assists art galleries, dealers, agents, collectors, art buyers, art sellers, international lawyers, professional advisers, museums, artists, photographers, designers and filmmakers. Her work involves: Contract drafting (from sales contracts, agent agreements, artist–agent agreements to exhibition loan agreements); Advising and negotiating transactions; Advice on provenance, good title and due diligence; and Litigation advice. As a sector based lawyer Jessica has had wide exposure and experience with the main issues that arise in art sales involving Fine Art: from problems with provenance and due diligence, problems at auction, title issues, cultural heritage issues, restitution issues, national treasure laws, export and import licence issues, negligence, misrepresentation or negligent misstatement by experts, dealers and auctioneers, fraud and fakes, wills, trusts and tax issues. On the Contemporary Art side, she reviews and drafts artist–agent agreements, artist commission agreements, exhibition loan agreements, assists artists and galleries with IP & copyright issues, Artist Resale Rights, publishing and licensing agreements for artwork prints, reproductions and showcasing art on websites. She also advises on issues concerning the specifications of the artworks, such as longevity and durability of the art and also issues concerning insurance claims for loaned or transported artworks that may be lost or damaged in transit, storage or through display in inappropriate climatic conditions. She works with a small Specialist Art Law Team and also brings in other relevant experts or professional advisers, such as tax law specialists, accountants, valuers, appraisers, art dealers, art historians, forensic scientists and shippers to ensure her clients receive specialist advice. Jessica writes her own art law blog – www.jessicafranses.com.

Joanna O’Connell

Joanna’s practice encompasses all aspects of family law. In cases involving children, she is regularly instructed in the most complex private and public law children proceedings, including cases that involve vulnerable clients and witnesses in complex family cases and those with mental illness and learning disabilities. Joanna is also regularly instructed in cases focusing on the financial aspects of relationship breakdown following marriage or co–habitation. Typical cases Joanna is instructed on involve substantial assets, foreign elements, companies and inheritance issues.

Joanne Ecob

Joanne Ecob specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children and has extensive experience of the more complex and high profile private and public law proceedings. She works across the full spectrum of cases in the Family Court, the High Court and the Appellate Courts. Joanne has a particular interest in private law cases involving educational issues and in cases involving complex medical issues. She is known for her calm, reassuring and sensitive approach in cases of seemingly intractable disputes over arrangements for children following the separation of parents. She frequently acts in cases involving intermediaries and children with and without capacity and she is experienced in both domestic and international abduction and relocation cases.

John Small

John is an employment law specialist and regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal, the EAT and all other courts. The vast majority of his practice is claimant work. Details of past cases are: Bellway Homes Ltd – UKEAT/0309/09/CEA and Miller v Bellway Homes Ltd – UKEAT/0436/09/CEA – successfully acted for the claimant in her indirect sex discrimination claim in both the Employment Tribunal and the EAT; Roberts v History & Heraldy (Sheffield ET) – acted for the claimant in her unlawful pregnancy discrimination claim; Smith v ECHG (Leicester ET) – acted for the claimant in unlawful pregnancy discrimination claim; Stanford v Centrica (Leicester ET) – acted for the claimant in his disability discrimination claim; Kozan v Somerfields Ltd (Leicester ET) – acted for the respondent in disability and racial discrimination claim.

John Hallissey

John is a criminal law specialist whose practice is focussed upon serious and organised crime. He is a grade 4 prosecutor, a grade 4 member of the Serious Crime Group Panel and a member of the CPS Rape and Child Sexual Abuse list. John’s ability to make large volumes of material readily intelligible to a jury means that his practice primarily involves complex and paper-heavy prosecutions. John’s cases typically involve a significant amount of telephone and surveillance evidence or significant amounts of financial documentation. In recent years John’s practice has seen a bias toward large-scale drug operations, firearms offending, people trafficking/modern slavery and homicide John prosecutes for local and regional Trading Standards Services, typically being engaged at an early, often pre-charge, stage of the proceedings to advise on the best strategy from the outset. A natural advocate, John is forceful and persuasive in front of a jury and has an ability to cut straight to the point of a case.

John Lloyd-Jones

King’s Counsel specialising in criminal law. Defending and Prosecuting on the Midland and South Eastern circuits and in the Court of Appeal. Instructed in the most serious, high-profile and often multi-handed cases, involving murder, firearms, conspiracy, fraud and cybercrime. A trial strategist, dedicated to the forensic analysis of evidence and passionate about the in-court examination of witnesses.   Recent cases R v MS & others (2023 Derby & Leicester) Murder and s.18. Defended young Kurdish asylum seeker (acquitted) alleged to have been involved, with four co-accused, in town centre fight with six other armed males in which one man was killed and another seriously injured.   OP Holyhead (2023 Nottingham) Successfully prosecuted four Defendants for stabbing to death a man on day release from prison. The murder, which took place on a busy city centre street at night, was planned and targeted.   R v Phillips (2023 Northampton) Murder/Manslaughter: Defended 19-year-old man charged with killing another young man in an impromptu fight in the street in broad daylight.   R v Karbauskas (2022 Lincoln) Successfully prosecuted Lithuanian Defendant for stabbing to death a member of his family. Issue at trial was identity of the killer; main Prosecution evidence came from five ‘lay-listeners’ (relatives and associates of both the Defendant and the Deceased) who recognised their voices from a Nest audio recording that captured the events of the killing.   R v Sergiu Boianjiu (2022 Northampton) Rape and Attempted Murder. Defended Moldovan man (previous conviction for Murder in Moldova) charged with ambushing young woman as she walked home from nightclub in early hours of morning; brutally assaulting her; dragging her down an alleyway, raping her and then trying (unsuccessfully) to beat and stamp her to death.   OP Mountain (2022 Derby) Successfully prosecuted four armed Defendants who ambushed a group of men with whom they were in dispute. One man stabbed to death.   OP Rorschach (2021 Nottingham) Conspiracy to commit firearms offences. Prosecuted (for East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) two multi-handed conspiracies (over three trials) relating to targeted, revenge shootings at addresses in rural Derbyshire and central Nottingham.   OP Haxey (2020 Nottingham) Successfully prosecuted seven Defendants for their involvement in revenge machete murder of vulnerable drug addict during attempt to regain control of his flat that had been seized by rival Class A drug dealing gang. The largest COVID-19 pandemic trial, heard before a High Court Judge across three courtrooms.   OP Spruce (2020 Blackfriars & Inner London) Money Laundering. Prosecuted (for West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) multi-handed conspiracy to export stolen cloned Range Rovers and Mercedes to Southern Africa and Far East.   R v Amari Smith (2019 Northampton) Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuted young Defendant for stabbing to death young victim (both armed with knives) during argument/encounter on the street. [2021] 1 Cr.App.R.(S.) 37   R v Gamble (2018 Leicester/Central Criminal Court) Instructed by CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, London. Prosecuting Defendant (15/16 years old at the time) for hacking (‘social engineering’) into computers and communication accounts of Director of CIA, Deputy Director of FBI, Secretary of Homeland Security and other high-ranking US government and intelligence officials. Defendant was founding member of online collective “Crackas with Attitude”. He also gained unauthorised access to US Department of Justice and law enforcement networks.   R v Alan Yeomans (2018 Derby) Confiscation/Money Laundering. Defending. Defendant had disguised a substantial luxury mansion as a farm shed. Insolvency Service claimed a benefit and available amount figure of £8m. Reduced, after complex proceedings, to £650,000.

John Reeder

John Reeder’s practice is split between acting as an arbitrator and mediator and accepting instructions as counsel from overseas lawyers and clients in all types of shipping and commercial disputes. As counsel he established a wide ranging practice covering all aspects of shipping and other commercial fields. In particular, he has been concerned with a large number of shipboard fires, explosions, collisions, total losses, damage claims, ship construction disputes and technical cases involving fire, unseaworthiness, stability, oil shortage, speed claims, rust and cargo fermentation. He has also acted as counsel in major inquiries into shipping casualties – as far away as Papua New Guinea. Much of his technical expertise has been derived from collision and salvage cases but also from public inquiries into shipping casualties from the Penlee Lifeboat Inquiry in 1982, the square rigged sail training barque Marques to the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987 and the Marchioness in 2001. As a result he is particularly familiar with naval architecture and ship construction. He spent 17 years as Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitrator and now accepts appointments as arbitrator in all types of shipping and commercial matters. He also acts as a mediator in shipping, commercial and other disputes.

Jonathan Lux

After an extremely successful career culminating as a senior partner at one of the City’s leading law firms (Ince & Co) Jonathan made a decision to specialise independently in Mediation, was subsequently called to the Bar and joined Chambers in 2013. Jonathan is well placed to take on mediation and arbitration cases that require a highly skilled and personal approach. Jonathan has the ability to grasp the key issues of a case quickly. His vast experience and the range of mediation and arbitration cases that he has been involved with, have given him the tact and robustness that leads to a satisfactory conclusion, enabling all parties to cost-effectively put the case behind them and get on with their business. Jonathan is one of the founder members of CEDR, and is well known for the use of the ADR (alternate dispute resolution) principle in resolving cases. His wise guidance, flexible approach and excellent communications skills as a team player make him the right choice for contentious or straightforward mediation cases. He has lectured widely and written numerous articles on the subject of mediation, and is co-author of ADR and commercial disputes. Jonathan was awarded Global Shipping and Maritime Lawyer of the Year for both 2010 and 2011 by Who’s Who Legal. In December 2011 he featured in Lloyd’s List of Top Ten Legal Personalities and was a finalist for the Lloyd’s List global Shipping and Maritime Lawyer of the Year award 2012. Jonathan is also fully accredited by and a member of the International Mediation Institute (http://imimediation.org/jonathan-lux). Jonathan has received regular appointments as arbitrator and mediator both in relation to maritime disputes and international commercial law disputes more widely. He is a fluent French and German speaker making him much in demand for national and international mediations.

Jonathon Rushton

Jonathon Rushton is a specialist Chancery barrister. Called to the Bar in 1997 his practice is firmly within the specialist spheres of property law, commercial and residential landlord and tenant law. Dealing with the contentious and non-contentious matters within these sectors Jonathon has developed a reputation for his no nonsense approach to problem solving whilst keeping a weather eye on litigation. Jonathon lectures and writes on property matters within chambers and externally in partnership with solicitors firms and other professionals. Jonathon is also a CEDR qualified mediator.

Julie Warburton

Julie is an experienced criminal practitioner whose tenacity as an advocate has gained her a reputation as a formidable opponent and a persuasive jury advocate. She has an extensive criminal practice, regularly appearing in cases of the most serious nature including murder, attempted murder, people trafficking and modern slavery offences, GBH, rape and historic child abuse spanning several generations and involving multiple victims, drug trafficking, money laundering, blackmail, kidnapping, false imprisonment, child cruelty and large scale public violence, and has been instructed in such cases both as junior and lead counsel. She has a particular skill in dealing with sensitive cases including serious violent and sexual offences towards adults and children, trafficking and slavery of vulnerable adults and children, having extensive experience of cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses and defendants, and those with disabilities, special needs and mental health issues. She is highly regarded for her ability to communicate with both witnesses and clients and for her meticulous approach to every case. She quickly gains the trust and confidence of both lay and professional clients by her exensive knowledge and detailed preparation, combined with a down to earth approach. She is reguarly instructed to deal with high profile, complex and serious cases, including cases which have attracted national and international press coverage.

Kate Tompkins

Kate is a specialist family and children law barrister. Kate previously enjoyed a combined criminal and family practice. Kate is thorough in her preparation of cases and is able to offer invaluable advice and guidance to her clients at all stages of the legal process. She has extensive experience of representing parties in proceedings involving the death, rape, serial sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or chronic neglect of children, both in the family and criminal courts. She uses her knowledge of both jurisdictions to ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved for clients involved in family proceedings that arise as a result of the alleged commission of a serious criminal offence. Kate is experienced in cases involving complex and technical medical evidence including cases which involve the medical treatment of children abroad which is not supported by medical professionals within this jurisdiction.  Kate has had extensive experience in cases involving diplomats and the need to protect their children when present in this jurisdiction.  In her private law practice Kate has extensive experience in cases involving the most serious and complex of issues including those in which domestic abuse is alleged, the issue of parental alienation is raised and where there is a question about whether a child should relocate to live outside of the jurisdiction.  She is sensitive to the needs of her client and she works tirelessly to achieve the desired outcome in any case. She is particularly well regarded for her calm and creative approach in private law family cases when presented with a seemingly intractable dispute between parents. As an approved direct access family barrister Kate accepts instructions directly from the public without the need for a solicitor, acting under the Bar’s public access rules and as a qualified family dispute mediator Kate offers mediation for all manner of family disputes, including issues relating to a child’s residence, a child’s contact with another family member or how a child should be educated.

Kate Grieve

Kate Grieve is a Children's Law practitioner. Ranked as a leading junior 5 years running, Kate specialises in complex private and public family law in relation to children including: child arrangements, breakdown of relationships with children, domestic abuse, parental alienation, modern families, internal and external relocation, specific issues in relation to welfare such as education, appeals, and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998. Kate is experienced both in court and arbitrations Her clients say this, She "is a fierce advocate whose preparation is unparalleled. Kate maintains excellent relationships throughout cases and ensures that there is a co-working relationship between counsel and solicitor." Kate is "relaxed in her dealings with clients and solicitors but anything but in the courtroom. Her innate emotional intelligence puts clients at ease straight away... She works very hard for the client and her attention to detail gives you absolute confidence." "Kate is like a headmistress with her no-nonsense approach to cases. She has a real way of getting difficult, unreasonable clients to see the bigger picture." "Fantastic with clients and is a clear, effective advocate and negotiator." Kate "is a measured and calm advocate who can find solutions to benefit all parties." "Kate has an immense capacity to care, getting really involved in the case and providing an incredible level of support and aftercare. She is very astute and to the point, knowing how to manoeuvre through the trickiest and most intractable cases with utmost tact." "Her strengths lie in her efficiency and attention to detail." "Judges hold her in such high regard, and her big personality and strength in court means she is a hit with clients." Notable Cases H-W (Children) and H-W (Children) (No 2)[2022] UKSC 17 https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2022/17.html H-W (Children: Proportionality) [2021] EWCA Civ 1451 (07 October 2021) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1451.html S (Parental Alienation: Cult: Transfer of Primary Care) [2020] EWHC 1940 (Fam) (15 July 2020) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2020/1940.html S (Parental Alienation: Cult), Re [2020] EWCA Civ 568 (29 April 2020) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2020/568.html P (A Child), Re [2018] EWCA Civ 720 (11 April 2018) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2018/720.html B (A Child by her Guardian), Re [2017] EWHC 488 (Fam) (15 March 2017) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/488.html S (a Child), Re [2015] UKSC 20 (25 March 2015) https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2015/20.html O v Medway [2015] EWFC B164 https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/2015/B164.html Haringey London Borough Council v Musa [2014] EWHC 2883 (Fam) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/2883.html Re H & R (Adoption) [2014] EW Misc 18 (CC) (26 February 2014) https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5a8ff71960d03e7f57ea77a7 B & H (Children) [2009] EWCA Civ 228 https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/228.html Katuwall v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2009) IA/10650/2009

Kathryn Howarth

Kathryn Howarth practices in domestic and international crime, extradition, public law and public international law. Kathryn has particular expertise in relation to international criminal law. She worked for the Office of the Prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague in the case of Prosecutor v. Charles Taylor. She was Trial Counsel / Legal Officer (2008 – 2011) and Appeals Counsel (2012). She is currently junior counsel for the prosecution in the case of R. v. Kumar Lama (the prosecution of a Nepalese Colonel charged with torture). Over the last decade she has worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (defending), the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (prosecuting), and the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Freetown (prosecuting). Between April 2013 – April 2014, Kathryn undertook a 12 month secondment with the Extradition Unit at the Crown Prosecution Service. During the secondment Kathryn gained significant experience in conducting proceedings under the Extradition Act, building upon her prior experience defending in extradition proceedings. In terms of her domestic criminal practice, Kathryn has prosecuted and defended in the Crown Court on numerous occasions and has successfully represented Appellants in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division. Kathryn was appointed to the Serious Fraud Office’s C-Panel of counsel in 2013. Kathryn has a thorough grounding in public law, in particular in the context of immigration and asylum proceedings. She has represented Appellants in the Immigration & Asylum Tribunal on numerous occasions, as well as in the Administrative Court. She can advise on actions for judicial review in the context of criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings, extradition proceedings and immigration and asylum proceedings, including where issues of public international law and European Union law arise.

Kelly Webb

Kelly practises in Private Children Act and International Children Act cases. Kelly also practises in Abduction cases. Kelly has been recognised in cases for her meticulous approach to both advocacy and Written documents. Kelly was commended by a High Court Judge in an International Relocation case for her conduct in a case (she was instructed hours before the hearing commenced and was able to conduct the case meticulously and to a high standard). Kelly practises at a high level in Private Law Children cases. She has become a specialist in the last 3 years in parental alienation and high conflict cases and has given lectures in this area throughout the country. These cases require robust advocacy with a focus on ensuring a parent has a direct consistent relationship with their child often after months/years of another parent refusing contact. Kelly has had numerous cases of allegations made by children against a parent and is extremely able to forensically examine the issues in these complex cases. Kelly has repeatedly secured a long term Order for Shared Care in cases where previous Orders have been flouted and a parent previously reduced to only indirect contact. Kelly regularly practises in International Children Act cases where one Party seeks to relocate to Hague and Non Hague countries or to Return to this Jurisdiction. Further Kelly practises in Abduction cases and recently persuaded a court in an abduction case not to Order Summary Return on the basis of Welfare of the children. Kelly initially practised in Criminal Law particularly sex crimes cases. Kelly also practised in complex Public Law proceedings for many years with detailed medical evidence and where Fact Finding Hearings were required.  These years of advocacy experience Kelly now brings to Private and International cases meaning her ability to cross examine the other side or draft persuasive Written Submissions are of the highest standard. Kelly recently gave a lecture on Parental Alienation which was described as “excellent” in terms of what should be expected when instructed in a case : the identification and resolution by the advocate.     "Kelly Webb's down-to-earth, sensible approach ensures even the most difficult cases run smoothly. A spirited advocate who fights tirelessly for the right outcome, she is known for her perceptiveness around welfare issues." Chambers and Partners 2023 ""Kelly Webb's down-to-earth, sensible approach ensures even the most difficult cases run smoothly. A spirited advocate who fights tirelessly for the right outcome, she is known for her perceptiveness around welfare issues."" Chambers and Partners 2022 ""She will fight tooth and nail to get to where things need to be."" Chambers and Partners 2022 "Is calm, considered and empathetic but equally robust when required. Clients trust her and know that in very difficult circumstances, she is on their side." Legal 500 - 2021 "Excellent at thinking on her feet and handling clients in difficult situations." Legal 500 2020 "Fights a case like it is her own" Legal 500, 2018   Notable Cases Jv HvOrs [2022] EWHC 862 (Fam)  REPORTED Application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 for an order pursuant to Article 12 of Hague Convention directing the summary return of five children, aged between 14 and 7, to Germany. Application made by Mother who remained in Germany with the two younger children. GAL supported the Application and Local Authority. Opposed by the father until Day 1 of the Hearing. The father removed the children from Germany in July 2021. On arrival the father claimed asylum, naming the children as dependants. The asylum claims sought not to return to Iraq. The children had arrived by channel crossing. LA v Parents Case involved two parents from Pakistan. M was in this Jurisdiction and represented by OS as lacked capacity. F was resident in Pakistan. LA sought transfer of proceedings to Pakistan supported by parents. Kelly argued for the children that there was no effective current Protocol with Pakistan, children habitually resident here and welfare mitigated against transfer. Section 9 Judge highlighted no effective Protocol Transfer Application withdrawn F v M  Relocation to Australia: M had made a second Application to relocate the Parties 7 year old son to Australia. First Application unsuccessful. Second Application Section 7 Report supported Relocation. F was extremely distressed at prospect his child would move to Australia. Kelly successfully persuaded the court to adjourn the case producing a forensic Position Statement about missing evidence including PNC check of Ms new boyfriend whom she planned to live with. Judge adjourned commenting that Ms solicitors would be wise to use Kelly Webb’s Position Statement as a guide to what evidence was required. After the case was adjourned M abandoned her Application and F is now enjoying a stable regular relationship with his son. F v M Private Law the became Public Law  F spent 18 months defending Allegations from a M whom refused to promote any contact despite repeated court Orders and a Committal Hearing by a Circuit Judge that resulted in her being ordered to undertake unpaid work due to breaches of court orders. M failed to undertake this work. M had left the family home without notice to F and then basically hid the child from professionals 4-day Fact Finding Listed: M failed to attend. Allegations dismissed Case transferred to High Court. M then went on the run and despite numerous court Orders/tip staff involvement and 3 separate police forces the child could not be found. Kelly persuaded a District Judge after full legal and factual Submissions to dismiss Ms Allegations in full. This is a rare decision by a court particularly as properly allegations of domestic violence are important for a court to consider. Kelly argued that in ensuring Ms Right to a Fair Hearing were uppermost in the courts minds the Right of the F to a Fair Hearing had become subsumed. Public Law Proceedings:High Court FINAL HEARING before Section 9 Judge. Decision child would remain with Father with supervised contact only with Mother. INTERNATIONAL AND ABDUCTION 2018: Non-Hague Convention  Refusal of Summary Return. Children abducted by one parent to this Jurisdiction. Kelly argued against Summary Return on Welfare Grounds. Summary Return refused. S v G [2014] EWHC Jackson J Private Law: jurisdiction case – application for move to Russia for child. Commendation to Kelly in conduct of case instructed on day one of hearing Re: G (interim threshold) [2017] EWFC B34 (20 June 2017) Public Law: parents of two children. The 3 month old suffered bruising.  Consultant later concluded there was ‘strongly suggestive of non accidental injury.’ The local authority issued proceedings and submitted at an initial interim hearing  the court should not in effect conclude the case at an interim hearing. We argued successfully that the court must consider as per Finding of Fact dicta and the Judge adopted my summary. The Judge accepted that even though it was an interim hearing that she could be guided my Submissions on the law and found that interim threshold was not made out. Proceedings ended. CHILDREN LAW A Local Authority v M & M (by their Guardian) & Ors [2009] EWHC 3172 (Fam) Hedley J Instructed on behalf of First Resp in application (jointly with Guardian) to discharge father from proceedings due to risk posed. Application allowed Public Law: parents of two children The 3 month old suffered bruising.  Consultant later concluded there was ‘strongly suggestive of non accidental injury.’ Local authority case must continue to Fact Finding Hearing some months away. Kelly argued that the case should be determined at the first Interim Hearing based upon a detailed Submissions document. Judge persuaded to conclude matters at an interim hearing. Proceedings ended. Abduction and Relocation : Reported cases RVH v TF Non Hague Convention: Refusal of Summary Return [2018] EWHC 1680 (Fam) Re DD [2016] EWHC  3546 (Fam) Abduction re Northern Cyprus. Instructed by Cafcass Legal FB v IB [2014]  EWHC 759 (Fam) Hague Convention. Relocation from USA to UK (instructed in Children Act Proceedings following Abduction proceedings) S v G [2015] EWFC 4  Child Abduction Re C (Care Proceedings: Parents with Disabilities) [2014] EWCA Civ 128

Kevin Barry

Kevin Barry is a barrister specialising in consumer and trading standards law, regulatory, cybercrime and complex and serious crime matters. He is a popular choice to defend and prosecute in complicated consumer and criminal cases, representing private individuals, companies and local authorities. He is regarded as a tenacious and convincing advocate who fights challenging and occasionally unattractive cases with commitment and resolve. Kevin is well known among those that instruct him for his thorough preparation, excellent client skills and his commercial and practical approach in consumer and regulatory cases. He is well regarded for his incisive and effective cross–examination, particularly where technical and expert evidence is involved. He is at ease in the Court of Appeal, regularly appearing in cases involving complex factual and legal points. He is a Level 4 CPS prosecutor (the top grade). He has prosecuted and defended in numerous homicide cases, both leading and as a led junior. Kevin Barry is a member of the Cybercrime team. He is regularly instructed in some of the most complex (and interesting) cybercrime case. His expertise have developed over the past few years since he was instructed for the defence in the very high–profile computer–hacking case of R v Ackroyd and Others (Southwark Crown Court 2013). This case involved members of the Lulzsec / Anonymous ‘hacktivist’ groups, who were alleged to have caused in excess of £30 million of loss and damage to international corporations such as News International and Sony, and UK and US state agencies including the CIA. Kevin has continued to develop his specialist expertise in the field of cybercrime, prosecuting and defending in a string of the most complex cybercrime cases across the country over the last few years. He recently defended in the case of R v Kane Gamble (Old Bailey 2018), who was accused of ‘cyberterrorising’ several very senior figures in the US state security apparatus, including the Director of the CIA and the Dep. Director of the FBI. Work undertaken: Consumer Criminal Enforcement, including under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Civil Enforcement, including under the Enterprise Act 2002 Intellectual Property Consumer Contracts Product Safety / General Product Safety Regulations 2005 Pricing Fraud and money Laundering Age Restricted Sales Food Standards and Labelling Environmental trading Standards Crime Cybercrime Homicide Complex Fraud Drug Importation Rape and child sex cases Kidnap Intellectual Property Offences Death by driving People Trafficking Serious Violence Money Laundering Confiscation

Lauren Lanson

Lauren’s practice is predominantly focused on family finance, inclusive of applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act. She has experience in dealing with all manner of financial remedy applications, including complex cases with an international element and cases where a robust approach is necessary.

Marisa Allman

Marisa specialises in complex private law children and financial remedies cases, particularly international cases and those involving multiple businesses, family trusts, and third-party interests, including Schedule 1 and applications. Marisa is a qualified arbitrator (finance) and also offers her services as a neutral evaluator at Private FDRs. Her international expertise extends to issues of cross border personal status – marriage, divorce, gender, parenthood or parental responsibility and international adoption. She also represents parties in child abduction cases. She has particular experience in jurisdictional disputes, and regularly advises where there are competing jurisdictions. Marisa has provided expert evidence as to English family law to overseas courts in a number of cases. She is a fellow of the IAFL. She has additionally developed a niche practice in fertility law, donor conceived children, and surrogacy and is co-author of “Children and Same Sex Families: A Legal Handbook” aimed at family lawyers, professionals and people in same sex relationships (published by Jordan Publishing in March 2012). She regularly acts in High Court matters concerning recognition of parental status. A tenacious advocate when she needs to be, Marisa is known for her clear advice, attention to details and creative, pro-active approach to negotiating settlement. Clients particularly welcome her calm and collected approach.

Mark Roscoe

Barrister specialising in dual disciplines of family work and property litigation, offering significant experience in analysing complex legal issues and practical courtroom advocacy. Mark’s practice in public and private children law frequently involves allegations of violence, non-accidental injuries, emotional damage, sexual abuse, mental health/capacity issues and chronic substance misuse. His experience in representing local authorities, parents, other family members and children (both through their children’s guardians and independently) enables him to accurately assess the issues that the court is most likely to be concerned with when making decisions. He is able to offer parents and relatives sympathetic yet pragmatic guidance in their cases. Knowledge of special needs and education law provides Mark with a particular advantage in concisely analysing expert evidence and gives him genuine insight into the issues often encountered in public law children cases. Mark’s property work encompasses conveyancing issues, boundary disputes, easements, commercial landlord and tenant, residential tenancies and nuisance. He also regularly acts in the commercial and professional negligence proceedings which are often linked to property litigation and resultant business disputes. In addition to the traditional courts, Mark’s work takes him before specialist tribunals and to mediations. Mark also provides advice overseas to armed forces personnel and their dependents in relation to divorce, child residence/contact and legal disputes arising from financial problems.

Mark Jones

Mark Jones is a barrister with a broad commercial practice, encompassing general commercial work, fraud, banking, insurance, shipping, commodities and trade. He acts in cases before the English Courts and in arbitration, and has wide-raging experience of international arbitrations conducted under various institutional rules both in London and abroad. He is particularly well known for his expertise in matters of shipping, commodities and international trade. His trade practice covers both the sale and carriage of goods, and the related financial and insurance transactions. His shipping expertise extends to all corners of the shipping and offshore industries, from charterparties to salvage, from cargo claims to collisions, from ship finance to performance guarantees, and from marine insurance to general average. He has a particular specialism in shipbuilding disputes and cases about the sale of second-hand tonnage. He also acts in significant commercial arbitrations covering a diverse range of subject matter, from the construction of hospitals in the UAE, through the sale of rare vintage motor cars, to the operation of railway infrastructure, and has extensive experience of the remedies available under the Arbitration Act 1996. In addition, he provides expert evidence on English maritime and commercial law for use in foreign proceedings and arbitrations. Before moving to the Bar, Mark trained as a litigation solicitor at Ince & Co focusing on shipping and insurance matters. Mark sits as a Recorder (a deputy Circuit Judge) in the County Court (civil) and in the Crown Court (crime), and accepts appointments as arbitrator.

Martin Kingerley

Martin Kingerley specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children and particularly in those cases which are factually complex and high-profile. His practice encompasses both public and private law proceedings. Martin’s expertise extends to proceedings which concern assisted conception, surrogacy and other aspects of the HFEA 2008. Martin also acts in cases involving vulnerable adults within the Court of Protection. Martin is recognised as a Leading Silk in Family and Children Law due to a combination of specialist knowledge in his field, excellent judgment, tactical acumen and a measured approach. His skills are much sought after by a wide variety of clients. Prior to being called to the Bar, Martin worked in a residential setting with adults with learning difficulties and psychiatric illnesses

Mary Prior

In the past two years Mary has secured the acquittal of the youngest person in the United Kingdom to be accused of terrorism. She represented the stepmother of Arthur Labinjo Hughes at her trial for murder and cruelty and successfully argued at the Court of Appeal that her sentence was not unduly lenient. She secured the acquittal of the alleged leader of a significant organised crime group who was said to run the sale and supply of drugs and firearms in the Coventry area of the Midlands by violence and threats. She secured the conviction on retrial of Emma Magson and the conviction of John Jefferies who killed two young men in revenge for damaging his car. She is currently instructed to prosecute two horrific murders of 10 month old babies in the Derbyshire area. Mary Prior KC has a reputation for being a powerful, persuasive advocate who commands the respect of the court room and gets results. She has especial expertise with the vulnerable including people on the autistic spectrum, with ADHD, learning difficulties, addictions, sex workers, those in the “looked-after” system. She is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend cases where the key witnesses are vulnerable (children/special needs). Mary takes highly complex factual and legal cases and presents them in a simple manner to ensure everyone understands the issues. She takes great care to ensure that all relevant material is considered and utilised. When prosecuting, she gains the trust of the families of the deceased and works well as part of a team of officers and lawyers. When defending she regularly visits her clients, gains their trust and determines a focussed trial strategy. Mary is fearless when cross-examining those who require a robust approach. She ensures that the best points in a case are not lost by focus on irrelevancies. She prosecutes and defends in equal measure in the best traditions of the independent Bar. She provides early and thorough written advice and strategy as to the best approach. She is often commended by Judges for her handling of cases and of witnesses. She is often instructed in murders of children involving complex medical evidence, homicides by groups of young people, homicides with a history of domestic violence, all homicides, organised crime groups using firearms and violence to distribute drugs on a massive scale. She is instructed in multi-defendant and complainant historic sexual offences which involve the control of people, slavery and sexual exploitation. She was called to the Bar in 1990 and has over 30 years experience as a criminal barrister. TIER ONE LEADING SILK MIDLAND CIRCUIT LEGAL 500 WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2020 WOMEN IN THE LAW UK FINALIST FOR LEADING SILK OF THE YEAR 2019 LEGAL 500 RECORDER IN CRIME RECORDER IN FAMILY Work undertaken: Terrorism Organised crime groups Homicide – death of children Homicide – history of domestic violence Homicide - youths Rape and serious sexual offences and historical sexual offences Large scale child sexual exploitation Institutionalised child sexual abuse Large scale conspiracies to import drugs Work which crosses family and criminal law - arson, child abduction, homicide, cruelty.

Mary Thomson

Mary is a Chartered Arbitrator and Mediator. Besides being a barrister in England & Wales and Hong Kong, she is a former solicitor who specialised in high court litigation, including the Court of Final Appeal, arbitration and mediation. Mary’s extensive experience spans the financial, insurance, transport, energy, commodities and manufacturing sectors. Mary has conducted domestic and international arbitrations including HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, SCMA, LMAA, CIETAC and LOF arbitrations and has been appointed arbitrator since 1996 including pursuant to ‘commercial men’ clauses. She is on the panel of arbitrators of various regional and global arbitration centres and also a number of mediator panels. She regularly sits as arbitrator in London, Hong Kong and Singapore and has successfully mediated large international commercial disputes.

Michael Rudd

Michael has a mixed practice encompassing planning, environmental, public and administrative law, as well as matters of civil and commercial law, including employment disputes. He has particular expertise in judicial review challenges. Michael acts for developers, government agencies, local planning authorities, residents’ groups, pressure groups and private individuals. He has considerable experience in planning, enforcement and compulsory purchase appeals for a wide range of developments as well as in local plan inquires. He is frequently instructed in statutory reviews, judicial reviews, injunction applications and criminal prosecutions. He recently successfully represented a local authority in the first case addressing the definition of a ‘hedge’ under the High Hedges legislation (Castelli v London Borough of Merton [2013] EWHC 602 (Admin)). He has also both prosecuted and defended in the Magistrates’ and Crown Court in matters relating to enforcement and stop notices, noise abatement notices, waste management licences, statutory nuisance, trading standards and the control of advertising regulations. Michael has advised on matters relating to the Commons Registration Act and has petitioned the Cross-Rail Parliamentary Select Committee on behalf of a local residents association. He deals with a full range of matters such as domestic development through residential schemes to commercial and industrial projects (retail, office, leisure, hotel and landfill and equestrian centres) and has an established practice representing gypsies, travellers, and travelling show people in both planning and criminal matters. He also has a particular expertise in proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 following on from planning enforcement prosecutions. Michael regular provides pre-application advice and expediency advice on enforcement and statutory nuisance matters. In the field of asylum and immigration law he regularly appears in the First Tier and Upper Tribunal, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal. Michael has a particular interest and expertise in cases involving Tamil, Eritrean and Somali asylum claims, Gurkha dependant matters, Article 8 arguments and general entry clearance disputes. In AZ v SSCLG (2012) EWHC [2012] 3660 (Admin) he recently employed his knowledge of Article 8 and the ‘best interests of children’ arguments in the first successful High Court planning law challenge based on rights under the UNCRC and Children Act 2004. Michael practises extensively in employment law, representing both claimants and respondents in many kinds of cases including unfair dismissal, breaches of contract, TUPE, redundancy, pregnancy and sickness related dismissals and all forms of discrimination, with a particular expertise in maternity leave matters. He advises on and drafts contracts, compromise agreements and all types of pleadings. Michael also has a broad civil litigation practice, providing advice and representation at all levels. He has particular expertise in respect of residential and commercial property, boundary disputes, trespass, negligence and nuisance cases. Advice and representation is also available in contractual and personal injury matters.

Miriam Carrion Benitez

Preferred counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Miriam’s practice combines all aspects of immigration, nationality and asylum law with an ongoing commitment to Human Rights and publicly funded work. She has developed a particular skill in presenting complex cases of law and fact both at tribunal level and in the High Court. Under the Direct Access scheme, Miriam regularly advises clients in the UK and overseas on all aspects of business immigration. In addition to her practice at the Bar, she has worked with both governmental and non–governmental organisations. She continues to work for the European Human Rights Advocacy Project assisting Russian lawyers with the drafting and presentation of cases of gross human rights violations before the European Court of Human Rights. She has trained judges, lawyers and members of NGOs in subjects such as international human rights law, trafficking of women, the Geneva Convention relating to the status of Refugees 1951 and the unlawful deprivation of liberty of those in care. Miriam’s notable cases include: EO (Ghana) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWCA Civ 40; MS (Coptic Christians; Egypt) Country Guidance [2013] UKUT611; Bah (EO (Turkey) – Liability to deport) [2012] UKUT 009196 (IAC); MB (Inability to provide protection–JAM) Trinidad & Tobago, Country Guidance [2010] UKUT (IAC); Musayev & Ors v Russia ECtHR, Applications Nos 57941/00, 60403/00 & 5869900, 31/01/08; Makhauri v Russia ECtHR, Application No 58701/00, 31/03/08; SS (Adan–sexual violence–UNHCR Letter) Burundi v SSHD (2004) UKIAT 00290, Country Guidance.

Nadeem Holland

Nadeem’s practice focuses on cases of financial wrongdoing, serious organised crime and homicide. Nadeem is highly sought after by both defence solicitors and prosecution agencies. Nadeem is ranked as a leading junior in the 2022 Edition of the Legal 500.

Nadia Silver

Nadia Silver's expertise is in the prosecution of serious organised crime, homicide, serious violence, and fraud. She also undertakes regulatory work, in particular prosecutions on behalf of local authority trading standards departments, in cases ranging from fraudulent trading to the sale of counterfeit goods. She is a CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor. Nadia Silver's expertise is in the prosecution of serious organised crime, homicide, serious violence, and fraud. She also undertakes regulatory work, in particular prosecutions on behalf of local authority trading standards departments, in cases ranging from fraudulent trading to the sale of counterfeit goods. She appears both as junior and leading counsel in the cases of the utmost factual and technical complexity. She is a CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor.   Recent notable cases include: Operation Debating (Birmingham CC - 2023 - ongoing): a case arising from Operation Venetic, the NCA investigation into the use of the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform by serious organised crime groups. Nadia is instructed by the Serious Organised Economic and International Directorate of the CPS as leading counsel in this prosecution of five defendants charged with a conspiracy to import approximately 140 Kg of cocaine into the West Midlands from the Netherlands. Operation Riddle (Northampton CC - 2023): Nadia was instructed by the East Midlands Complex Casework Unit as sole counsel, in this prosecution of a large group defendants charged with a Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs.  The case concerned the activities of a Leicester-based organised crime group and involved the analysis and presentation of complex telephone evidence, covert surveillance and evidence from undercover police officers.  The case resulted in 15 convictions. R v Nindi (Notthingham CC - 2022): Nadia was instructed at an early stage to advise as to the appropriate charging in this unusual case which involved the death of a woman who had consented to undergo a traditional Zimbabwean medical practice conducted by the defendant which involved the consumption of tobacco powder.  The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful act manslaughter. Operation Poetry (Northampton CC 2021): Nadia was instructed by the East Midlands Complex Casework Unit as leading counsel, in a series of three linked prosecutions of separate county-lines drug trafficking conspiracies in Northampton.  Each arose from a single, highly resourced investigation, which deployed undercover officers over a period of months to investigate the activities of organised crime groups based in London and Birmingham.  Each case involved the coercion of young and vulnerable individuals by those higher up in the criminal hierarchy.

Nadia Mansfield

Nadia is a member of the family team, specialising in public law work. She is also a member of the modern families team. Known for her ‘skilfully presented submissions’ (LJ Sedley LCC v B [2008] EWCA Civ 1216) she regularly represents children, parents and local authorities across the breadth of the family court, with expertise in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, chronic neglect and forced marriage. Nadia is highly regarded for her calm and pragmatic approach and careful, thorough preparation. These skills make her counsel of choice in complex cases, and she regularly acts in fact finding hearings requiring forensic cross-examination of experts.

Niki Langridge

Niki specialises exclusively in family work, her practice being almost entirely financial remedies. Her practice generally covers high income and asset cases and matters that contain complex legal or factual issues, often with an international dimension. She also has experience of cases concerning issues as to validity of marriage and divorce, especially where there is an international element. She has developed significant experience and expertise in negotiating and drafting pre-nuptial agreements. She also ‘sits’ as a private judge conducting private FDRs Her preparation is meticulous with great attention to detail, but she is also able to provide sound commercial and pragmatic solutions. She is regarded as having excellent judgment and clients feel instantly comfortable and confident with her. Most of her work reaches resolution by settlement following negotiation but in court she is highly persuasive and can be tenacious when necessary.

Olivia Magennis

Olivia is a specialist family law barrister, with a particular emphasis on the law as it relates to children. In both private and public law cases Olivia acts for parents, children, extended members of the family and local authorities. She regularly appears in complex cases involving serious injury, with complicated or conflicting medical evidence, whether with or without a leader. Olivia also has a wealth of experience in cases involving serious allegations of sexual and physical abuse, NAHI, factitious illness, insulin poisoning and emotional harm. Olivia has particular experience of and expertise in highly contentious private law cases, and takes a calm, measured approach to all.

Paul Prior

Paul’s practice is predominantly in Crime. He is regularly instructed to appear for the Defence and Prosecution. He is a Grade 4 CPS RASSO (Rape and Serious sexual offences) prosecutor. He specialises in cases with complex legal issues. He regularly defends in cases Homicide, serious sexual offending (including rape and child sexual exploitation), arson (with intent to endanger life), large–scale supply of drugs and fraud. He is regularly instructed in firearms matters, including cases where firearms are used to commit serious crime. He has an excellent knowledge of computers and cell-site technology, leading to his instruction by CPS complex Casework Units in a variety of cases. One example in 2019 was an instruction to prosecute a significant revenge hacking cyber attack by a disgruntled former employee - see https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/samir-desai-sutton-coldfield-warwickshire-15676312. Paul has a particular interest in Health and Safety law and associated regulatory offences. He has appeared in numerous Local Authority and HSE-prosecuted cases including gross negligence manslaughter. Paul is also consulted by Local Authorities in cases involving unusual or complicated Anti–Social Behaviour Orders. Paul is often instructed in cases that require a robust challenge to Police evidence and / or legal challenges to admissibility of Police evidence. Paul takes a thorough approach to preparation, offers written advice on each set of instructions and is briefed in cases that require careful consideration and analysis of significant tracts of documentary and telephone evidence. In cases involving novel points of law, Paul will undertake the necessary research and draft the appropriate skeleton argument. Paul has dealt with cases in the Court of Appeal as well as Administrative Court matters. Paul defended in the case of R v Singh [2015] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 14, where a £1m Confiscation Order was quashed by the Court of Appeal. Paul has experience in a wide variety of County Court matters and is a qualified mediator. He regularly presents lectures on new elements of law and has done so for Leicestershire Law Society, individual Firms and his Chambers. Paul is a facilitator for training other advocates in the questioning of Vulnerable Witnesses. Paul jointly runs the Leicestershire Schools Trials Competition which allows state school children between 13-16 to take part in mock trials at Leicester Crown Court. Paul was awarded Leicestershire Law Society’s Barrister of the Year in 2015. Paul is a member of the Criminal Bar Association.

Paul Infield

Barrister, arbitrator and mediator. Leading counsel in Birch v. Birch in the Court of Appeal ([2015] EWCA Civ 833, [2016] 2 FLR 467) and junior counsel in that case in the Supreme Court ([2017] UKSC 53, [2018] 1 All ER 108, [2017] 1 WLR 2959, [2017] 2 FLR 1031) Publications: The Law of Harassment and Stalking (Co-author) (Butterworths, 2000)

Paula Thomas

Regarded as a specialist, family and children barrister. Paula is an extremely approachable Barrister, specialising in Public and Private Law cases and in particular, those in which complex allegations or issues. She has acted for Applicant Local Authorities, Parents, Cafcass,  in complex care proceedings such as fabricated induced illness cases or in cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and non–accidental injury and is a particularly sensitive advocate for vulnerable clients. In private Law, undertaken cases with multi-jurisdictional aspects in particular relocation matters, intractable disputes, and domestic violence matters. Paula has had many successes representing clients with learning disabilities. Paula is an approved direct access family barrister regularly accepting instructions directly from the public without the need for a solicitor, acting under the Bar’s public access rules. Prior to coming to the Bar, Paula worked for the Legal Aid Agency for 9 years, working in conjunction with the SRA and police dealing with fraud investigations. Notable cases: W (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 804

Philip Hackett

Philip Hackett Q.C. specialises in financial regulation, civil and criminal fraud, international corruption and sanctions, health and safety, environment and consumer law. Over the past 25 years he has been instructed in many of the leading financial regulation cases including the most serious matters investigated by the FCA and SFO and other regulatory bodies. This practice has given him considerable experience in banking, accountancy, taxation and market compliance matters. His clients are typically multinational corporations, CEOs, finance directors and other senior officers. He advises on compliance obligations and practice, and at all stages in of investigations into potential breaches. The leading cases he has appeared in include three BCCI trials, Arrows, Maxwell, Gooda Walker, Wickes, Merrion Re Insurance, AIT, TransTec, ‘City Slickers’, Kent Pharmaceuticals, Bae Systems, Parliamentary expenses, V Mobile, Vantis, Torex, Asil Nadir, Oil for Food, Innospec, Celtic Mining,  LIBOR and FOREX. The international aspects of his practice have resulted in experience of offshore matters in connection with BVI, the Channel Islands, Bermuda and Isle of Man and many European jurisdictions as well as US, Caribbean and Africa. Many of his cases involve multi-jurisdictional investigations. He is the author of the Chapter on the UK Bribery Act in Sweet and Maxwell’s recently published book ‘International Corruption’.

Philippa Daniels

Barrister at 36 Bedford Row practising across the full range of chancery and chancery commercial litigation, drafting and advisory work. Her practice includes real property litigation (easements, co-ownership, restrictive covenants, land registration, adverse possession, boundary disputes, conveyancing, mortgages) as well as landlord and tenant (residential and commercial). She also has experience acting and advising in company and partnership disputes and personal and corporate insolvency including directors disqualification proceedings as well as trusts and estates together with associated professional negligence. Notable cases include: Edginton v Sekhon [2012] EWCA Civ 1812 (costs of a discontinued counterclaim); Quaintance v Tandan ChD Unreported, 24 July 2012 (change of common intention in jointly owned property); Ibuna v Arroyo [2012] EWHC 428 (Ch); [2012] WTLR 827 (Grant of letters of administration to the partner and daughter of a deceased Filipino politician); RMS Properties v Singh [2012] EWCA Civ 533 (Adverse possession – judge made errors in analysis of the evidence); Bowling & Co v Edehomo [2011] EWHC 393 (Ch); [2011] 1 WLR. 2217; [2011] PNLR 18; [2011] 2 EGLR 45; [2011] 21 EG 96; [2011] 10 EG 106 (CS); [2011] NPC 27 (Accrual of limitation period runs from date of exchange of contracts rather than completion).

Rachel Coyle

Rachel Coyle is a specialist property barrister that also works in commercial dispute resolution and private client. She acts in all types of commercial and property disputes, whether arising from contract, breach of duty, or otherwise. Rachel’s practice also encompasses contentious trusts, wills, and probate (including TOLATA and Inheritance Act claims) and insolvency. Rachel’s expertise in property and commercial law is founded on time spent working in hedging product mis-selling, volunteering in the procurement and commercial team at Stockport Homes, paralegal work at law firms such as DWF LLP and on secondments at Hyde Housing and OneSource. In the USA, she acted pro bono in property and planning matters in the State of Virginia whilst studying for her LLM in American Legal Studies. Clients that Rachel has worked with include global banks, U.K. solicitors’ firms with domestic and/or international clients, a Cypriot law firm, start-ups, private equity sponsors, local government departments and councils, large landowners and property management companies, charities, high net worth individuals and more vulnerable members of society. As part of her private client practice, she assists and represents trustees, beneficiaries and estates with inheritance and administration-related matters Rachel can assist with advice, negotiation, mediation and litigation to the Court of Appeal level. Rachel has appeared in the High Court in the Business and Property Courts, Companies Court, Queens Bench Division, Chancery Division and Administrative Division. She has built a strong experience in the County Court to multi track level. She also has experience in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and First-tier Tribunal (Land Registration) cases including service charges, enfranchisement, boundary disputes, easements, breaches of covenant, adverse possession and the Housing Act 2004. She also accepts instructions in a developing area of interest, Equine Law. Rachel delivers and assists with training at Inner Temple and with webinar and seminar providers across the country. She is a pro bono volunteer at Queen Mary, University of London Legal Advice Centre and trains students there. She has also taught Brazilian Lawyers on the Legal System of England and Wales.  

Rajiv Sharma

Rajiv specialises in Immigration, Asylum and Administrative Law with a particular emphasis on Human Rights. Rajiv regularly appears before both tiers of the Tribunal system as well as the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal. Rajiv also undertakes work on a direct-access basis.

Raphael Jesurum

Raphael practises in asylum, immigration and nationality law. He appears regularly in the Upper Tribunal, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal. Raphael accepts instructions from law firms and members of the public ("direct access"). He has been praised by instructing solicitors as dedicated and willing to go the extra mile for clients. His advocacy has been described as "exemplary". Raphael's main interest is strategic litigation: working in partnership with solicitors to identify new legal points, training caseworkers to spot them, and advising early in order to test the issues on appeal. The aim is to build cases with overwhelmingly strong evidence, and develop arguments to test and change the law. An example is the successful campaign to secure settlement rights for the children of Gurkha veterans: working closely with Howe & Co. Solicitors, Raphael developed a case preparation template based on causation and historic injustice, and developed the arguments (adopted by the other parties) which were accepted by the Court of Appeal in R (Gurung) v SSHD [2013] 1 WLR 2546. The Upper Tribunal then developed the case law further, recognising that historic injustice will "normally require" a decision in an appellant's favour (Ghising and others (Ghurkhas/ BOCs- historic wrong- weight) [2013] UKUT 567 (IAC)). As a result, the Home Office modified its policy. Before coming to the bar, Raphael was a successful broadcaster and foreign correspondent, working for the BBC and other international news outlets. He reported on the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, the Albanian uprising in 1997 and separatist violence in Macedonia.

Rebecca Rothwell

Rebecca Rothwell practices exclusively within Chambers’ family team, specialising in matrimonial finance, cohabitee disputes and private children’s matters. She has successfully represented clients in the Magistrates Court, County Court and High Court. She has direct experience of cases in which financial conduct and non-disclosure are in issue and where jurisdiction is disputed. Her Children Act practice is varied and includes contact disputes, leave to remove applications and the engagement of Brussels II. Her practice includes all Financial remedies: Trusts (on/off shore) Company/business assets Foreign property Non-matrimonial property Third party ownership Freezing injunctions Property disputes involving cohabitees

Richard O’Dair

Richard is a barrister specialising in employment law, which takes up 80% of his practice, with a particular emphasis on discrimination law, restrictive covenants and TUPE issues. Richard was counsel for Mrs Dacas in the ground breaking decision of the Court of Appeal in Brook Street UK Ltd v Dacas [2004] IRLR 317 and also appeared in James v Greenwich Council [2008] IRLR 302. He was also counsel on the employment status of agency workers, instructed by the CEHR to act for the appellant in Seldon v CJW [2010] IRLR 865 (CA) and has now been granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. Richard appeared for the appellant in the Court of Appeal in the important case of Orr v Milton Keynes DC [2011] IRLR 317. He has broad experience of representation in front of professional regulatory bodies such as the GSCC and the GTC, and has represented several of the employees dismissed in the aftermath of the baby P-affair. Richard was appointed to the Attorney Generals Regional Panel in December 2007. He was appointed to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights specialist panel of approved counsel in January 2011. Richard undertakes employment related personal injury work (such as ‘stress claims’ and ‘Eastwood v Magnox’ claims). Building on his background as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law at University College London, Richard uses his extensive knowledge of contractual remedies and the law of restitution to undertake general contract and commercial work. In December 2007, he appeared in the Court of Appeal in the case of Rhind v Giles [2009] Ch 291 which decided that S32 of the Limitation Act can postpone the running of time for claims under S423 of the Insolvency Act 1986. He appears regularly in the civil courts at all levels, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He lectures widely on a variety of topics and presented for central law training a much appreciated seminar entitled ‘Getting Results in Difficult Cases’.

Sally Hobson

Sally is a senior criminal practitioner with a practice consisting predominantly of complex criminal matters. She is sought-after due to her substantial experience of difficult and serious sexual offence cases involving both contemporary and historic allegations and is excellent in dealing with defendants and witnesses with mental health issues and other vulnerabilities. Although sensitive to the needs of the vulnerable, she has been described as ‘highly skilled’ in her cross-examination of witnesses. Due to the serious nature of Sally’s practice she is instructed to appear at Court Centres throughout the country and has extensive experience of homicide, rape and serious sexual allegations, fraud and money laundering, and large scale drug conspiracies. Sally is frequently instructed in difficult cases due to her consultative approach and knowledge of expert witnesses. She is able to advise at an early stage of the proceedings as to the suitability of a particular expert. In addition to her criminal practice, Sally appears at adjudications and parole hearings within the prison system. She is also able to advise at an early stage as to judicial review of a refusal to grant parole.

Sandra Akinbolu

Sandra is a skilful and experienced advocate, specialising in Immigration, Asylum, Nationality and Public law. Ranked as a Leading Junior by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, she is approachable, knowledgeable and committed to the interests of her clients. Immigration, Asylum and Human Rights. Sandra acts at all levels, from the advisory stage upwards, dealing with all aspects of public and private immigration work. She appears regularly in the Tribunal and Court of Appeal, providing careful and professional representation in asylum, deportation and family cases.  She also provides regular top quality advice on business immigration and nationality applications. Sandra is an experienced and popular trainer in this area, providing expert seminars for HJT, the leading provider of training in immigration and human rights law. She is a member of the ILPA European Subcommittee, and trains with ILPA. She is also the lead reviewer for Advocate, the Bar’s leading provider of pro bono work. Public Sandra has a busy judicial review practice, advising and appearing on refusals of fresh human rights and asylum claims, challenges to refusals to grant British citizenship, unlawful detention, challenges to age assessments and injunctive relief for removals and administrative errors, amongst others. Direct Access Sandra is Direct Access qualified, and accepts instructions in all areas of immigration, nationality and administrative law. Easily accessible and clear in her instructions, Sandra provides advice and representation to both individuals and organisations as appropriate. Vulnerable clients Sandra is committed to ensuring that vulnerable clients have a fair opportunity to have their voice heard. She is a Liaison Reviewer with Advocate, the Bar’s leading pro bono charity providing legal assistance, and works with UKGLIG, ILPA and various law centres to promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable in society.

Sarah Gaunt

Sarah Gaunt is an experienced criminal practitioner specialising in cybercrime, international justice and serious organised crime and complex criminal cases. She sits as a Legally Qualified Chair in police disciplinary proceedings and has been heavily involved in the Undercover Policing Inquiry since 2019. Known for her thorough preparation, excellent and accessible client/witness care and eloquent but robust advocacy, she has been graded 4 (highest grade) since 2012 on the general and specialist International Justice and Serious Organised Crime/ Rape and Serious Sexual offences prosecution lists. She regularly deals with the country’s most complex and paper heavy cybercrime and international justice and serious organised crime cases, encompassing large scale international fraud and money laundering, homicide, and serious sexual offences. Recent cases include an estimated 50,000 complainant/£9 million loss multi-defendant cyber conspiracy conducted via a serious of fraudulent websites enhanced by vishing techniques, youth murder and a multi-defendant murder with a suspected serious organised crime background. She regularly speaks at cybercrime seminars in London and countrywide, including at the Midlands Fraud Forum, at various events involving defence solicitors and to several specialist prosecution units in London and Birmingham. Sarah completed the certified course in Cryptocurrency and Disruption at the London School of Economics in 2019. A vulnerable witness and advocacy trainer at Lincolns’ Inn, she is committed to equality and diversity, providing input to various forums and research in this area. In 2015 Sarah became a CEDR qualified mediator. Work undertaken: Cybercrime International Justice and Serious Organised Crime Financial Crime & Fraud Homicide Serious Sexual Offences Professional Misconduct & Disciplinary Tribunals

Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller is an unregistered barrister. She is only able to accept instructions on advisory matters. She specialises in commercial and maritime law; admiralty law; electronic commerce. Particular areas of expertise: marine insurance, international sale of goods, carriage of goods by sea, salvage, collisions at sea. arbitration, including sitting as an arbitrator as a member of Lloyd’s Panel of Arbitrator under Lloyd’s Arbitration Scheme Tier 1 and appointments for LMAA arbitrations. A special expertise in the field of electronic commerce, particularly in relation to the carriage of goods by sea. Cases of note: The ‘Choko Star’ [1990] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 516 – salvage – agency of necessity of casualty’s master; The ‘Volvox Hollandia’ [1988] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 361 – jurisdiction – forum non conveniens – claim for damage to pipeline in North Sea by Dutch dredger with English subcontractors; The ‘Span Terza’ [1984] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 119 – ownership of bunkers on time chartered vessel; The ‘Bamburi’ [1982] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 312 – war risks insurance of vessel trapped during Iran/Iraq war; drafting the legal framework for Bolero International (1997-99); drafting the legal framework for E-Title Authority Pte Ltd (2005-07).

Simon Harding

Simon believes in giving clear, no nonsense strategic legal advice to companies and individuals alike through solicitors to directly. Simon practices in 3 main areas. He represents businesses, particularly start ups and small business (but also large organisations and local authorities such as Asda and London local authorities) in 4 key areas: Cash flow (helping companies put systems in place to collect their debts, as well as assisting with their contracts to ensure they match their actual workflow; he also has experience in litigating and mediating construction cases;) Employment and related systems (in particular advising and managing disciplinaries and sickness absences, both internally and at the employment tribunal and setting up systems to recruit and manage fairly) Company asset protection (in particular issues of database theft, intellectual property protection, social media and related issues, creating consumer law complaint website policies, group moves and breaches of restrictive covenants). Commercial immigration issues, including Tier 1 entrepreneur and investor visa cases. He has extensive experience in representing for both employers and employees in the Employment Tribunal and above. He has undertaken extensive work in cases both for and against solicitors and firms of solicitors in both county court and employment trials. Equally, he has represented doctors and teachers before the employment tribunal and before their regulators. Simon has also extensive experience in all issues of immigration and asylum law, with a particular focus on Article 8 family cases, deportation appeals, administrative review cases, judicial review and commercial immigration.

Steven Evans

Barrister specialising in crime, in particular defence practice. Serious sexual assaults, murder etc. Particularly instructed for those defendants with mental health problems and young offenders. Numerous reported cases.

William Harbage

William Harbage KC is a highly regarded advocate specialising in criminal and regulatory law. He is known for his thorough and conscientious approach. In crime, he undertakes both prosecution and defence work in roughly equal measure. William’s practice is mainly in cases of homicide; he has built up a particular expertise in cases with a medical or nursing element. His practice extends to all heavyweight and white collar crime including terrorism, cybercrime, fraud, money–laundering, confiscation, misconduct in public office, kidnapping and armed robbery. In regulatory law, his cases have involved Trading Standards, professional and sports disciplinary hearings, and the marketing of prescription medicines. He sits as an Appeal Panel Chairman for the Rugby Football Union. Work undertaken: Serious & Organised Crime (including Homicide & drugs) Cybercrime Fraud & Business Crime Disciplinary & Regulatory offences Serious sexual offences Consumer Law & Trading Standards

William Tyler

Specialist Family Silk. Practice areas include complex, serious or sensitive Children Act cases, in particular those involving death, very serious injuries or sexual abuse or particularly difficult private law disputes involving international matters, surrogacy and gamete donation, implacable hostility or sensitive client issues. Also significant High Court experience practice in the Court of Protection. Notable cases include: Re S (Parental Alienation: Cult) [2020] EWCA Civ 568, Court of Appeal, McCombe, Eleanor King & Peter Jackson LJJ Re D (A Child) (Appeal Out of Time) [2020] EWHC 1167 (Fam), High Court, Francis J Re A Local Authority v The Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 1233 (Fam), High Court, Williams J Re C (Children) (Covid-19: Representation) [2020 EWCA Civ 734, Court of Appeal, Peter Jackson, Eleanor King and Asplin LJJ Re M (Children) [2019] EWCA Civ 1364, [2019] 4 WLR 115, Court of Appeal, McFarlane P, Simon & Davies LJJ Re H (A Minor: Hair-Strand Testing) [2017] EWFC 64, [2017] 4 WLR 179, [2018] 1 FLR 762, Jackson J Re H (A Minor) v Northants. County Council & The Legal Aid Agency [2017] EWHC 282 (Fam), [2018] 1 WLR 5912, [2018] 1 FLR 499, Keehan J Re B (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 20, [2018] 2 FLR 1, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Davis & Underhill LJJ Northants. County Council & AW v The Lord Chancellor (via The Legal Aid Agency) [2018] EWHC 1628 (Fam), [2019] 1 FLR 169 Francis J Re F (A Child: Placement Order: Proportionality) [2018] EWCA Civ 2761, [2019] 1 FLR 779, Court of Appeal: Longmore, Jackson & Asplin LJJ Re M (Children) (Disclosure to Police)  [2019] EWCA Civ 1364, McFarlane P, Simon & Davies LJJ Re G (Interim Care Order) [2011] EWCA Civ 745 [2011] 2 FLR 95, Court of Appeal: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Rix LJ Sutton v Gray and Others (No 1) [2012] EWHC 2604 (Fam), [2013] FLR 833, Hogg J Sutton v Gray and Others (No 2) [2012] EWHC 2763 (Fam), [2013] FLR 914, Hogg J Re TG (A Child) [2013] EWCA (Civ) 5, [2013] 1 FLR 1250, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Aikens LJ & Hedley J Re M (Children) [2013] EWCA Civ 388, Court of Appeal: Sullivan & Rafferty LJJ, Ryder J Re W (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 662, Court of Appeal: Thorpe, Hallett & Elias LJJ Re DF and GF (Children) (Placement Order or Special Guardianship Order) [2013] EWHC 2607 (Fam), Pauffley J Re E (Brussels II Revised: Vienna Convention: Reporting Restrictions) [2014] EWHC 6 (Fam), [2014] 1 WLR 2670, [2014] 2 FLR 151, Sir James Munby P Re R (Children: Temporary Leave to Remove from the Jurisdiction) [2014] 2 FLR 1402, HHJ Bellamy London Borough of Haringey v Musa [2014] EWHC 2883 (Fam), Newton J Re X (A Child) [2014] EWHC 1871 (Fam), Sir James Munby P Re S (A Child) [2015] UKSC 20, [2015] 1 WLR 1631, [2015] FLR 208, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Kerr, Wilson, Hughes & Toulson M v LA [2015] EWHC 2082 (Fam), Hayden J Re B (A Child) (Habitual Residence) (Inherent Jurisdiction)[2015] EWCA Civ 886, [2016] 2 WLR 487, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black & Underhill LJJ Re A (Fact-finding) [2015] EWFC 68 (Fam), Russell J Aidiniantz v Aidiniantz [2015] EWCOP 65, [2015] COPLR 643, Jackson J Re T (A Child) (Early Permanency Placement) [2015] EWCA Civ 983, [2017] 1 FLR 330, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black & Bean LJJ Re N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112, [2016] 1 All ER 1086, [2016] 1 FLR 621, Court of Appeal: Sir James Munby P, Black LJ & Sir Richard Aikens X County Council v AB & CD [2015] EWFC 98, Keehan J Re B (A Child) [2016] UKSC 4, [2016] 2 WLR 557, [2017] 1 All ER 899, [2016] 1 FLR 561, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Clarke, Wilson, Sumption & Toulson Re N (Children) (Brussels II Revised: Article 15) [2016] UKSC 15, [2016] 2 WLR 1103, [2016] 1 FLR 1082, Supreme Court: Baroness Hale, Lords Neuberger, Wilson, Kerr & Carnwath Re RA (Baby Relinquished for Adoption: Case Management)[2016] EWFC 25, [2017] 1 FLR 1610, Cobb J Re E (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 473, [2017] 1 FLR 1675, [2016] Crim LR 649, Court of Appeal: McFarlane, Macur & Gloster LJJ Re K (Children) [2016] EWHC 1606 (Fam), Hayden J Re U (Children: Residence Order) [2016] EWCA Civ 1332, [2017] 4 WLR 1, [2017] Med LR 37, (2017) 153 BMLR 152, Court of Appeal: McFarlane & Lindblom LJJ, Henderson J Re JS (Disposal of Body) [2016] EWHC 2859 (Fam), Peter Jackson J Re W (A Child) (Secure Accommodation Order) [2016] EWCA Civ 804, [2016] 4 WLR 159, Court of Appeal: Moore Bick & Macur LJJ East Sussex County Council v SV, TG and AG [2017] EWHC 536 (Fam), MacDonald J Re M (A Child) [2017] EWFC B79, HHJ Booth