The Bar - Regional Bar • Northern Circuit
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Crime (general and fraud)

18 St John Street Chambers

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The members of 18 St John Street Chambers have expertise in defending and prosecuting across a wide range of cases, including murder, serious sexual offences, fraud, and terrorism. Siobhan Grey KC and Richard Vardon both have substantial experience in cases regarding organised crime, murder, and sexual offences, and both exclusively act for the defence. Rachel Shenton is sought after for her knowledge of sexual offences work, and has been involved in several grooming trials. Cases surrounding drug offences and dishonesty are a strength of Rachel Faux, in addition to cases regarding serious injuries to, and death of, children. Of recent note, Faux prosecuted a woman who was found guilty of murdering a 13-month-old baby, who she was also planning on adopting. Andrew Evans is another key name at the set, and he specialises in proceeds of crime matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'James Hotchin is the senior criminal clerk in chambers and has an excellent reputation among instructing solicitors and indeed other chambers. He is organised and amenable to assisting whenever he can.'
  • 'The clerks are amazing, very polite, very helpful and they keep you informed of any changes to the case. James Hotchin and Oliva Aldred are an asset to their team.'
  • 'James Hotchin, the senior criminal clerk, is quite simply exceptional in all aspects of his job, in particular the way he deals and communicates with solicitors.'
  • 'James Hotchin really stands out. He is extremely helpful and attentive. One of the best clerks around.'
  • 'James Parks is unlike any other clerk! His commercial approach to cases and ability to provide proactive advice is extremely valuable. He is always willing to assist!'
  • 'James Hotchin provides an exemplary service.'
  • 'James Hotchin is widely renowned as the best criminal clerk in the city. His wizard-like ability to navigate listings and get counsel to hearings makes him a favourite among solicitors. If you need particular counsel for a given hearing, James will ensure they are there. No ifs, no buts.'
  • 'The clerks room is exceptional, headed by senior criminal clerk James Hotchin. He ensures the availability of chosen counsel, is very accommodating and approachable, and under his leadership, the junior clerks will continue to offer an exceptional service.'

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.
Siobhan Grey KC
18 St John Street Chambers
 'Siobhan is one of the best barristers to instruct for all serious and complex criminal allegations. She always finds time to have professional conferences with you to ensure that the litigation she requires is prepared correctly, and she provides clear guidance as to what work is needed to defend a 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
Rachel Faux
18 St John Street Chambers
‘Rachel's advocacy is truly second-to-none. She is incredibly personable, both with the client and the jury in the court room, and she is extremely thorough and leaves no stone unturned.'
2
Andrew Evans
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Andy is extremely thorough and meticulous, both in his preparation prior to court and in court. He is available for conferences and clients warm to him given his extensive knowledge.'
2
Rachel Shenton
18 St John Street Chambers
‘Rachel is an outstanding counsel, and her trial advocacy is consistently powerful and engaging. She maintains excellent communication throughout the contact that she has with both clients and instructing solicitors, explaining her reasoning for the actions being taken at every step of the way, and her preparation is detailed and she consistently reviews unused material to ensure that all avenues possible are considered when planning the defence case.'
2
Richard Vardon
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Richard deals with heavyweight cases of serious violence, drugs conspiracies, and fraud. He is an excellent barrister with fantastic oratory skills that are extremely persuasive.'
3
Claire Brocklebank
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Claire marries outstanding intellect with an incredible work ethic. She goes above and beyond in every case, providing first-class client care and ensuring that every angle of the case is covered.'
3
Daniel Calder
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Daniel has an excellent knowledge of the law and he exercises sound judgement. His advocacy is compelling and engaging too.'

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