2 Bedford Row

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

• 'Paul Rodgers and Lee Bartlett are the twin pillars of 2BR, working under the clerking legend that is John Grimmer. Overall, an excellent clerking team.'
• 'John Grimmer is a top clerk and runs a very effective and efficient clerks' room, which is a combination of good knowledge and a strong work ethic. Paul Rodgers and Tom Powell are always on hand to assist and accommodate instructing solicitors.'
• 'Joe Martin is a great clerk. Nothing is ever too much. He goes the extra mile for solicitors and is very friendly. In general, the clerks' room is very strong. They are very accommodating and efficient. They tend to urgent matters quickly and will do what it takes to accommodate requests.'
• 'Nobody has done it for longer than John Grimmer and nobody has better judgement or more contacts. First Junior Paul Rodgers is top class and would be a worthy successor. Joe Martin is forthright, efficient and well liked.'
• '2 Bedford Row is an excellent set with skilled pool of barristers of all years of call.'
• '2BR is a large set which specialises in criminal law, with a variety of different counsel to cover different types of cases.'
• '2BR is a Premier League criminal set of chambers with strength at all levels both prosecuting and defending.'
• '2 Bedford Row is a leading set in Crime, providing a first-class service in all areas of criminal law.'

Silks

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1

Jim Sturman KC

2 Bedford Row

‘Jim is absolutely top class. He is passionate and driven to succeed and is the solicitors' best choice for taking on difficult issues head on. He is charming in court but is like a dog with a bone when he needs to get stuck into a witness and is relentless in pursuing his lay client's case. Jim is a man for all seasons - the crème de la crème.'

1

Brian Altman KC

2 Bedford Row

2

Christine Agnew KC

2 Bedford Row

‘Christine has an unmatched eye for detail and is razor sharp and incisive in her presentation of arguments and cross-examination.'

2

Kieran Vaughan KC

2 Bedford Row

‘One of Kieran's greatest strengths is his ability to identify and get to the heart of issues very quickly. He communicates well with clients and has the ability to explain things clearly with precision and focus. This translates into his court advocacy where he commands respect and attention from juries, fellow counsel and judges.'

2

Tracy Ayling KC

2 Bedford Row

3

Dean George KC

2 Bedford Row

‘Dean is quite simply one of the best barristers around. His work rate, dedication and attention to detail is matched only by his unequalled advocacy skills that frequently unravel and dissect apparently strong cases for the prosecution with enviable ability.'

3

Stan Reiz KC

2 Bedford Row

‘Stan oozes calm confidence and has a painstaking attention to detail. Opponents who are unprepared find themselves quickly on a back foot which they rarely recover from. Clients are assured by his measured demeanour and his guidance and explanations which make the most complex legal issues understandable by all.'

3

Louise Sweet KC

2 Bedford Row

'Louise is brilliant at jury advocacy; she paints a picture with words that makes a case clear and simple. She has a collaborative approach and her written advocacy is excellent.'  

4

Jacqueline Carey KC

2 Bedford Row

4

Samuel Magee KC

2 Bedford Row

 ‘Sam is an exceptional advocate and always presents the case at its height in the most effective manner. He is also adept at identifying weaknesses in the case and taking action early to address anticipated challenges arising from same. This case building is invaluable.  He is a skilled lead counsel and obtains good results in very difficult cases.'

4

Anand Beharrylal KC

2 Bedford Row

‘Anand is a fierce advocate with a keen eye for detail. He is meticulous and thorough in his preparation for each and every case. His advocacy approach is effective and persuasive. He will tailor his tone and approach specific to the witness and the stage of the case’

Juniors

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

2

Craig Rush

2 Bedford Row

2

Christopher Martin

2 Bedford Row

‘Chris has an unmatched eye for detail and is razor sharp and incisive in his presentation of arguments and in cross-examination. He is especially skilled and extraordinarily knowledgeable about court martial matters.'

2

Charles Langley

2 Bedford Row

 ‘Charles is one of the best juniors at the Bar and is undoubtedly silk material. He has an elegant and persuasive style of advocacy which both judges and juries find compelling. He is a joy to watch.’

3

David Patience

2 Bedford Row

3

Nick Barraclough

2 Bedford Row

‘Nick is a brilliant, charming, impressive advocate who is fearless in his approach. He quickly understands complex cases and his advocacy is superb.'

3

Sean Hammond

2 Bedford Row

 ‘Sean is well prepared and tactically astute. His client care is also second to none.' 

3

Ashraf Khan

2 Bedford Row

 ‘Ashraf's gentle manner belies a very sharp mind. He is a lawyer first and foremost and prepares beautifully. Ashraf's demeanour with clients inspires confidence and he has a talent for explaining difficult concepts with exceptional clarity.'

3

Alastair Smith

2 Bedford Row

'Alastair is an excellent and very experienced barrister who is destined for silk. HIs client care is second to none and he has a reputation for hard work, meticulous preparation and fearlessly fighting for his clients.'

4

Sam Thomas

2 Bedford Row

‘Sam is an exceptional advocate with excellent client care. He follows brief whilst bringing his own experience and views to a case. His representation is first class and he also has the appropriate manner for presenting sensitive mitigation. Sam is a persuasive advocate who consistently achieves excellent results.’

4

Ashley Hendron

2 Bedford Row

 ‘Ashley is a very confident barrister who immediately puts clients at ease. He provides robust advice with excellant client care. He is not afraid of voluminous evidence and identifies key issues at an early stage. Ashley is an incredible jury advocate who displays a calm manner. He can be robust when required and is well liked by the judiciary and other counsel.'

4

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters

2 Bedford Row

4

Alex Stein

2 Bedford Row

‘Alex is an authoritative advocate who immediately commands respect so people listen to him. He gets to grips extremely quickly with the facts and demonstrates great judgement as well as an ability to work efficiently.’

4

Lucy Sweetland

2 Bedford Row

‘Lucy is one to watch for the future. She is always superbly prepared and has a concise but persuasive advocacy style as well as superb interpersonal skills.’

4

Natalie Bird

2 Bedford Row

‘Natalie is very thorough and persuasive. Her cross-examination is first class and she is very compassionate when she needs to be, and can easily work with vulnerable clients.’

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.

Alex Davidson

2 Bedford Row

‘Alex has a tremendously sharp legal mind, is charming and confident on his feet, and extremely hard-working. He is a star of the criminal bar in the making.’