Andrew Bird KC
5 St Andrews Hill5 St Andrews Hill demonstrates proficiency in all aspects of asset recovery, forfeiture, and confiscation work. Frequently acting for both applicants and respondents, the set’s barristers are recommended for focus areas such as unexplained wealth orders, account freezing orders, and challenges to investigation orders and warrants under POCA and other legislation. Andrew Bird KC is acting for the NCA in a listed assets forfeiture application regarding £3.2m worth of jewellery, while also appearing in confiscation proceedings in respect a £22m confiscation order made against a company after an international bribery scheme. James Fletcher acted for a defendant accused of having failed to disclose Manx and Pakistani bank accounts in breach of the provisions of two freezing orders.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks, and in particular Dean Cook, always go the extra mile, they are friendly and always on hand when needed.'
- 'Excellent service and assistance by the clerks, specifically Dean Cook. He is always on hand to assist with matters arising before hearings such as listing issues and counsels’ availability.'
- 'The clerks are probably the best around, Dean Cook in particular.'
- 'A great clerking team. Responsive, very approachable and commercially minded, understanding the needs of instructing solicitors. Dave Scothern runs a brilliant operation. A special mention for Dean Cook as well - perhaps the friendliest, most charming and helpful clerk I have had the pleasure of dealing with.'
- '5 SAH - very good set. Wide range of quality barristers.'
- 'They have Barristers that specialise in Proceeds of Crime matters, and the crime set in general is very vast in terms of expertise and experience of the barristers.'
- 'A great set with a diverse mix of work.'
- 'Superb. Truly top of their game.'
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.
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.
Gary Pons
5 St Andrews Hill
James Fletcher
5 St Andrews Hill ‘James is responsive, knowledgeable, efficient and pragmatic: pretty much everything you would want in a barrister.'
Sarah Wood
5 St Andrews Hill ‘Sarah is a total star. She quietly gets on with it. Works her fingers to the bone. Always gives sound advice on complex legal issues. She is utterly reliable and has the soundest judgement.'
Barnaby Hone
5 St Andrews Hill ‘Barnaby has a deep knowledge and experience of proceeds of crime litigation matters.'
John McNamara
5 St Andrews Hill ‘He is very down to earth: clients like him and repeatedly request for him to be instructed.’
Gemma Rose
5 St Andrews HillRising 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.
Rebecca Thomas
5 St Andrews Hill ‘Rebecca is tenacious and not afraid to get stuck into a POCA argument. Her skeleton arguments and notes to assist the court are some of the best.’