Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Leading Silks

Narita Bahra KC  – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Narita has built a formidable reputation as one of the finest advocates around. A go-to silk for high-profile fraud and white collar crime cases.’
Cameron Brown KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Cameron is a fair but firm prosecutor, who is always completely on top of the detail.  He has a lightness of touch that endears him to judges and juries, and cuts straight to the heart of the case.’
George Carter-Stephenson KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘One of the best KCs there is.'
Michael Goodwin KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Michael is a consummate advocate. He is careful, measured and precise. He is a details barrister who leaves no stone unturned.'
Nicola Howard KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Nicola is authoritative yet serene and reassuring. She is pragmatic and garners a client’s trust with great skill. An advocate with a commanding presence.'
Gillian Jones KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Gillian is a brilliant advocate. She is very intellectual, with a fantastic work rate.’ 
John Kelsey-Fry KC – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘John is strategic, supremely committed to his client’s best interests, and has an astonishing work ethic. A massively bright silk in fraud law.'
Sean Larkin KCQEB Hollis WhitemanSean is a fantastic advocate with charisma, confidence and eloquence in equal measure. No matter how difficult the case or the issue, he rises to it.’ 
Cairns Nelson KC – 23ES ‘Cairns commands the court room with his advocacy. Judges and juries listen to him with intent. He is extremely cerebral, approachable and skilled. He is a top silk.'
Simon Pentol KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Simon embodies charisma and formidable intelligence, retaining the jury’s attention. He also possesses phenomenal intuition and judgement.’
Jim Sturman KC – 2 Bedford RowJim is absolutely top class. He is a man for all seasons – the crème de la crème.’
Ian Winter KC – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘Ian is an outstanding barrister. He has a tremendous eye for detail and his preparation for cases is first class.'
Richard Wormald KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Richard is a straight-talking and formidable barrister. He has a gift for simplifying the most complex issues down to their basic ingredients, and is able to attractively develop a point that interests the court. He’s an excellent addition to any team.’
Colin Aylott KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Colin is a first-rate silk. He is utterly charming and his cross-examination is very effective.'
Jane Bewsey KC – Red Lion ChambersJane is a brilliant jury advocate in complex fraud cases. She is able to simplify the most complex issues in a manner the jury understands. Her cross-examination is outstanding.'
Edmund Burge KC – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Edmund is a seriously impressive advocate, with the rare ability to balance a steely tenacity in cross-examination with a genuine sensitivity with vulnerable witnesses.'
Julian Christopher KC – 5 Paper Buildings ‘He is a master of detail in complex cases. His encyclopaedic legal knowledge and quietly authoritative style of advocacy is appreciated by judges and clients alike.’
Kevin Dent KC – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Kevin has an extraordinary command of the details of very complicated, fact-heavy cases. An understated, yet devastating, advocate.'
David Durose KC5 Paper Buildings ‘David is pragmatic, grounded and well liked by the judiciary and the Bar. Clients find him easy to work with.’  
Richard Fisher KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Richard has a level head and is a first-class advocate in court.'
Dean George KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘A silk with a keen intellectual mind and brilliant tactical approach.’
Neil Hawes KC – Crucible ChambersNeil's capacity for mastering large amounts of complex material with an extraordinary level of precision and detail is highly impressive. He is a tenacious advocate and exceptionally hard-working.’
Mark Heywood KC – 5KBWMark is a doyen of the criminal fraud Bar – a devastatingly persuasive advocate who is charming and erudite in equal measure. Even in the most complex fraud cases, he has every detail at his fingertips.’
James Lewis KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘James is readily approachable. His advocacy is superb and subtle, readily adjusting to the situation.’
Helen Malcolm KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Helen is an outstanding and effective advocate, commanding the respect of both the court and jury in complex matters.'
Tim Owen KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Tim is an excellent advocate. He is hard-working and user-friendly.’
Pavlos Panayi KC – 7BR ‘He is a master in front of the jury.’
Alison Pople KC – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘Alison is one of a kind – a hugely able and intelligent silk who works incredibly hard, yet has a wonderfully witty, unflappable and approachable manner that makes her a true pleasure to work with and joy to watch in court. Her tactical nous and feel for what will land well with a tribunal is remarkably astute and her cross-examination skills are adroit.’
Mark Rainsford KC – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Mark is an excellent advocate: measured, incisive and persuasive. He has a natural authority, which catches the court’s attention and makes his points land.'
Nathaniel Rudolf KC25 Bedford Row ‘Nathaniel is a heavyweight silk. He is exceptionally bright and a shrewd tactician.'
Clare Sibson KC  – Fountain Court Chambers 'She has fantastic technical excellence which leaves others in the shade. Clients have 100% confidence in her.'
David Walbank KC – Red Lion ChambersDavid is an excellent orator. He commands respect and is fearless in his defence of his client.’
Andrew Wheeler KC – 7BR ‘Andrew is a team player who is easy to work with. He is formidable in court and meticulous in his preparation.’
Richard Whittam KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Richard is an imperturbable and urbane advocate.'
Natasha Wong KC – 5KBW ‘Natasha has a very measured and natural advocacy style.'
Jonathan Ashley-Norman KC – Three Raymond BuildingsJonathan deploys exceptional tactical skills in the most persuasive and understated manner.’
Simon Baker KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘Simon is hugely erudite, and if he doesn’t know something he is an expert in it by the end of the day. He is dedicated to every case, and clients and solicitors love working with him. He really is first class.’
Gary Bell KCLibertas Chambers ‘Gary is a natural communicator, speaking with a unique and authoritative voice. He is also adept at boiling down a diffuse prosecution case into the issues that really matter to his client.’
Charles Bott KC – Mountford Chambers ‘Charles is brilliant in all aspects and a true gentleman to boot.’
Graham Brodie KC – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Graham is a superb strategist and a tenacious advocate.'
Gideon Cammerman KC – 187 Chambers ‘Gideon is unbelievably committed. Clients love him for his practical advice. He is hugely respected and understands exactly how to present fraud cases to a jury.’
Richard Christie KC – 187 ChambersRichard is determined, and will not be pushed off course by a hostile judge. He is fearless in sticking to his task.’
Allison Clare KC – Red Lion ChambersAllison is a ferocious advocate. She is fearless in the face of stout opposition or hostile judges. Her understanding of the evidence and instructions from clients is swift, confidence-inspiring and accurate.’
Sarah Clarke KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘She is a fantastic, fearless and formidable advocate. She commands universal respect.’
Giles Cockings KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Giles is an expert negotiator, and is particularly well suited to large-scale fraud cases. He works incredibly hard and always manages to maneuver his client into the best possible position. His advocacy is fine tuned and to the point.'
Mark Cotter KC – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Mark is a heavy hitter in the field of serious and complex fraud. He has a forensic attention to detail and can cut through extraneous material to access the core facts of cases he is instructed in. He is good with clients, providing a calm and reassuring presence during conferences and in court.’
Benjamin Douglas-Jones KC – 5 Paper BuildingsBen is highly professional. He is an exceptional advocate with an excellent legal mind. He quickly grasps complex legal and factual evidence and turns it into something a jury readily understands. He is an outstanding performer.’
Jonathan Fisher KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘An expert in his field.’
Adam Kane KC – Libertas Chambers ‘A silk with excellent knowledge of tax fraud matters.’
Abbas Lakha KC – 9BR Chambers ‘Abbas has great strategic vision and superb judgement. A fantastic leader with wonderful client handling skills, and his advocacy is targeted, persuasive and effective.'
John McGuinness KC – Foundry Chambers ‘John is a formidable advocate, tough and determined in pursuit of his client’s case. He is much admired as a black letter lawyer and is easily understood by juries. An all-round excellent barrister.’
Charles Miskin KC – 23ESAn assiduous, very experienced silk, who has a good court manner.’
Miranda Moore KC – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Miranda is one of the most impressive barristers around. She is tough but fair, brilliant at explaining difficult concepts to a jury, and also humane. She is the best.’
Tom Price KCMillennium Chambers ‘Tom is a seasoned leader. An unruffled and incisive silk, who is strategically solid, versatile and adaptable.’
Stan Reiz KC – 2 Bedford Row ‘A methodical and outstanding jury advocate. His legal arguments are well considered and he is tactically astute. He frequently obtains outstanding results for clients and he has a wonderful manner with them.’
Jason Sugarman KC – Foundry ChambersJason has enormous gravitas. His commitment to the client is second to none - he always fights hard for them. A silk with the ear of the court.’
Bernard Tetlow KC – Furnival ChambersBernard’s keen forensic mind is combined with a great jury manner. A premier KC in this area.’
James Waddington KC – Foundry Chambers ‘James is exemplary. He is undoubtedly an extremely safe pair of hands, offering forthright and steady advice. He grasps the salient points with ease, has very good client skills, is easy to work with and inspires confidence without hesitation. He is a true advocate with real presence.’
Adrian Waterman KC – Matrix Chambers ‘Adrian is a cerebral lawyer. He is brilliant at analysing and deconstructing black letter law, and is excellent at strategy. A polished jury advocate.'
Alistair Webster KC33 Chancery Lane 'He is an exceptional advocate with a commanding presence in court. Juries love him.'
Simon Csoka KC – Libertas Chambers ‘Simon has a huge intellect and can break down complex factual processes for clients in a very user-friendly way. A phenomenal advocate that juries immediately warm to.’
Tom Forster KC – Red Lion Chambers ‘Tom's advocacy is smooth and persuasive, and his knowledge of the law is incredibly impressive. He is an exceptional asset to chambers.'
Alexandra Healy KC – Foundry Chambers ‘Alexandra has exceptional advocacy skills. In legal arguments she can be relied upon to take difficult points and to articulate them clearly and persuasively.'
Edward Henry KC – Mountford ChambersEdward is amazing on his feet in court. He fights for his clients.'  
Richard Jory KC – Foundry Chambers ‘Richard is a fair prosecutor who presents cases well to the jury.’
Tom Little KC – Deka Chambers ‘Tom possesses great judgement and is superb with judges. He is a fantastic barrister.’
Andrew Radcliffe KC – 2 Hare Court 'An excellent jury advocate.'
Nigel Sangster KC – 25 Bedford Row ‘Nigel is a first-class advocate who has juries eating out of the palm of his hand. A charismatic silk.'
Charles Sherrard KC – Furnival Chambers ‘He has a very engaging style of advocacy and is able to charm a jury and judges to great effect.’
Andrew Trollope KC – 187 Chambers ‘A silk who will fight for his clients.’

2023 Silks

Ben FitzGerald KC – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Ben is an exceptional lawyer. He combines intellectual ability with a very practical outlook.’
Jonathan Lennon KCDoughty Street Chambers ‘Jonathan works tirelessly for clients and is completely on top of every matter he deals with. He has that rare quality of being able to being able to translate the most complex of issues to make sure that both the jury and the client are fully engaged in the proceedings.’
Benjamin Newton KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘One of the best barristers in the field of fraud and white collar crime. He is always 100% prepared and knows exactly how to challenge the evidence.’

Leading Juniors

Stuart BiggsCloth Fair Chambers ‘Stuart is an outstanding advocate, an exceptional lawyer and a devastating cross-examiner of experts.’
Duncan Jones – 25 Bedford Row ‘Duncan is a very accomplished advocate, with a calm and reassuring yet authoritative presence in court. His forensic attention to detail makes him stand out.’
Rhys Meggy – Cloth Fair Chambers ‘Rhys is an extremely hard-working, clever and eloquent barrister. He takes a lot of care with every case to ensure that everything he does is completed to the highest possible standards. A top junior barrister.’
Alastair Smith – 2 Bedford Row ‘An advocate with gravitas. He is meticulous in his attention to detail and always thinks outside of the box. Alastair is someone who can turn his hand to any case no matter how serious.’
Graham Arnold – Farringdon Chambers ‘Graham’s strategic nous and direction is a real strength. He is incredibly forward thinking and future-proofs everything that he says and does.'
Faras Baloch – Red Lion ChambersFaras is extremely intelligent. His ability to forensically analyse and deconstruct a situation to a very high level, and then pick all the pieces back up again and come up with a solution is impressive.’ 
Peter Caldwell – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Peter is committed to achieving the best results for his clients. He is an extremely knowledgeable lawyer and a pleasure to work with. On his feet, Peter is calm and collected, with the ability to easily guide the judge and jury through the most complex arguments.'
Christopher Convey – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Christopher is simply excellent: great with clients and exceptional in court.’
Sonal Dashani – 25 Bedford Row ‘Sonal is very knowledgeable and utterly fearless in court. She has enormous empathy as well as a great legal mind.'
Felicia Davy – Red Lion Chambers ‘Felicia is incredibly thorough, prepared and hard-working. In court her advocacy style is direct and persuasive. She is always ahead of everyone else in court in matters of law and her arguments are immaculately prepared and coherent. She is a star.'
Philippa Eastwood – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Philippa is a first-rate advocate. She is incredibly hard-working, intelligent, and great with professional and lay clients.’
Tim Forte – 3TG ‘Tim is great before a jury, with excellent client care skills.’
Leila Gaskin – Crucible Chambers ‘Leila provides robust advice and is not afraid of voluminous evidence. She identifies key issues at an early stage. She is a passionate advocate who is incredibly confident and brave, and displays a calm manner that is well liked by the judiciary.'
Roderick James – Crucible Chambers ‘With a patient, calm-under-fire but forceful advocacy style, he is favoured by judges and juries and rightly so.’
Keith Mitchell – Libertas Chambers ‘Keith's strategic thinking on cases is invaluable. He is rightly respected by the judiciary and is loved by clients.'
Vedrana Pehar – Matrix Chambers ‘Vedrana is a razor-sharp advocate who works exceptionally hard to deliver results for her clients. She is what you need in a time of crisis.’
Samantha Riggs – 25 Bedford Row ‘Samantha is one of the best barristers in her field. She is extremely knowledgeable and thorough in all aspects of cases.'
Alexandra Scott – Mountford ChambersAlexandra's advocacy inspires confidence through her mastery of the material, her concise and comprehensible analysis, and her fluent charm.'
Kevin Toomey – 2 Bedford Row ‘Kevin is a highly skilled and fearless barrister instructed in only the most serious of cases. He is highly respected by the judiciary.'
Benjamin Waidhofer – Foundry Chambers ‘Ben has a good head for fraud cases, he pays attention to detail and is able to distil complex information quickly and easily. Watching him make legal submissions is to witness a wizard at work.’
Kathryn Arnot Drummond5KBW ‘Kathryn is a fierce cross-examiner; determined, methodical and robust. Her advocacy is focused and persuasive – legal argument is her natural home.’
Thomas Daniel – 2 Bedford Row ‘Thomas is a brilliant advocate who is unfazed by whatever a court case or trial throws at him. He is a real star of the future.’
Dominic D’Souza – Goldsmith Chambers ‘A great jury advocate.'
Rachna Gokani – QEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Rachna is very hard-working and personable. She possesses great intellect and strategic insight. She is one of the best juniors at the white collar Bar.’
Jenny Goldring – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Jenny is a fantastic barrister. She is a consummate team player, who leaves no stone unturned in her preparation of a case. She has the ability to assimilate vast amounts of information and distill it down to the pertinent facts. This level of preparation means that she is able to enter a courtroom, pre-empt her opponents, and meticulously marshal the evidence to benefit her clients.'
Michael Gomulka  – 25 Bedford Row ‘Michael approaches a case with ingenuity. In court he is strong, erudite and authoritative.’
Sean Hammond – 2 Bedford RowSean's approach to cases results in well-constructed advocacy where he never misses any points. His client care is second to none.’
Gerard Hillman – Libertas Chambers ‘Gerard is adept at marshalling complicated evidence and presenting it in an attractive and persuasive way. He is a brilliant lawyer and an outstanding advocate.'
Dominic Hockley  – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Dominic is charismatic, responsive, charming and effective in court. He goes above and beyond to ensure any prosecution is presented in the most polished and perfected manner for the jury to understand. He is dogged and tenacious in ensuring a just result.'
Frederick Hookway – 5KBW ‘Frederick displays a preternatural calm in court which instils confidence in judges, leading counsel and instructing solicitors alike. He is always well prepared and meticulous.'
Stephen Hopper – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Stephen is an extremely talented advocate, combining judgement, ability and charm. He is seriously impressive.’
Henry Hughes – 187 Chambers ‘Henry’s work ethic is off the charts. He quickly gets to grips with complex financial fraud cases and is particularly astute at reading a court room.'
Ben Isaacs7BR ‘Ben is super responsive. He has deep, practical experience and a fabulous knowledge of the law. He is a joy to work with.’
Nick James  -33 Chancery Lane  ‘An exceptional advocate with an approach that combines passion for his craft with superb judgement in even the most difficult situations.’
Alex Jamieson – 25 Bedford Row ‘Alex is a great tactician. He inspires confidence in his clients with his gravitas and reasoned approach.'
Annie JohnstonMillennium Chambers ‘Annie inspires confidence and calm in stressful situations. No case is too small or too big to warrant her undivided attention to every detail.’
Ashraf Khan – 2 Bedford RowAshraf'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.'
Senghin KongQEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Senghin is quite brilliant. When he speaks everyone listens as they are aware he is in complete command of facts and law, and presents his advocacy persuasively and reasonably. A first-class barrister with impeccable judgement.’
Lewis MacDonald – 2 Hare Court 'He is very bright and hardworking.'
Eleanor Mawrey – Deka Chambers ‘Eleanor exercises impeccable judgement, and is a highly eloquent advocate.’
Gareth Munday – Deka Chambers ‘Gareth is a confident, determined and thoroughly prepared advocate with a mastery of his case.'
John Ojakovoh – 2 Harcourt Buildings ‘A junior with a highly analytical approach to cases.'
Osman Osman – 25 Bedford Row ‘Osman is meticulous in his case preparation, a great tactician, and very persuasive on his feet. He is a silk in the making.'
Andrew Price – Drystone Chambers ‘Andrew is dedicated, organised and very capable. His advocacy is authoritative.’
Gordon Ross – 3TGGordon is a talented cross-examiner. He is a persuasive advocate and commands respect in court. Juries listen to him and clients like him.’
Ellis Sareen – Foundry ChambersEllis is exceptionally knowledgeable and very practical. He has razor-sharp focus, a commanding presence in court, and handles difficult, multi-handed fraud matters with significant confidence.'
Esther Schutzer-Weissmann – 6KBW College Hill ‘Esther is a superb lawyer with a thoughtful, strategic, and resilient approach.'
Ben Smitten – 25 Bedford Row ‘Ben has a fairly punchy yet effective advocacy style, is always all over the detail and has great tenacity.'
Kabir Sondhi – 9BR Chambers ‘Kabir's greatest strength is his meticulous preparation. He is always well prepared, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law and procedure.'
Ben Summers  – 25 Bedford Row  ‘Ben is an absolute powerhouse. He has understated class and a total command of his brief. He is capable of conjuring results from the least promising cases.’
Jack TalbotRed Lion Chambers ‘A skilled cross-examiner, engaging and persuasive, and he has a very good manner with juries.'
Jessica Tate – Foundry Chambers ‘A very committed junior, who has a meticulous eye for detail.'
Ini Udom – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘A junior with a tremendously meticulous eye for detail.'
Giles Bedloe – Deka Chambers ‘A cogent junior with an incisive understanding of the law.’
Daniel Chadwick – 2 Hare Court 'Very personable and detail-oriented.'
David Claxton – Red Lion Chambers ‘David offers insightful and practical advice. He has a real depth of knowledge that informs his tactical decision making.'
Catherine Collins – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Catherine is extremely bright, articulate and highly proficient.'
Dominic Connolly – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘Dominic is a very well-respected senior junior who leaves no stone unturned in court.’
Alexander dos Santos – Serjeants’ Inn ChambersA junior with an incredible intellect and encyclopaedic legal mind. He always takes a measured approach to cases and is a calming influence.'
Thom Dyke – Deka Chambers ‘Thom’s understanding and application of the law is exceptional.  He is able to analyse and apply the law to unusual and complex aspects of trials with impressive speed.'
Tom Godfrey – 23ES ‘An excellent barrister who has a lovely manner with the jury and all parties in court. His judgement is spot on.’
Ashley Hendron2 Bedford Row ‘Ashley’s attention to detail is phenomenal. He prepares an excellent case and builds trust with clients, so they respect the advice he gives.’
Michael Hick – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Michael is vastly experienced in complex fraud cases. He has very good judgement. He is calm and fair.'
Nichola Higgins – Matrix ChambersNichola has a relentless work ethic, huge legal knowledge and a great memory for details. A brilliant legal talent.’
Joe Hingston – Mountford ChambersJoe is an outstanding lawyer. He is meticulous in his preparation and clearly cares about all of his clients. He is a formidable advocate and a superb junior.'
Tim Hunter – 23ESTim has huge breadth of experience and instils immediate confidence in teams facing difficult issues. He is committed to winning.’
Arthur Kendrick – The 36 Group ‘Arthur has a real talent for navigating complex cases involving extensive evidence. He is always meticulously prepared, having combed through voluminous material to find the winning points. In court, he is a force to be reckoned with and his cross-examination of witnesses is highly effective.’
Matthew Lawson – Libertas Chambers ‘Matthew is a brilliant advocate both with clients and before a jury.'
James Martin – 5KBW ‘James is a very clever and skilful barrister. He is naturally gifted and highly sought after in the field of fraud. He is silk quality.'
John McNamara – 5 St Andrews Hill ‘An up-and-coming fraud junior. He is a lovely and fair prosecutor who will go far.’
Natalie McNameeFoundry Chambers ‘Natalie is a powerful advocate who always knows her brief inside out.’
Tom Nicholson2 Harcourt Buildings ‘Tom is very responsive and hard-working. He is able to engage the jury and judge with great ease and is a pleasure to watch on his feet.’
Sophie O’SullivanOuter Temple Chambers 'Sophie is very articulate and very thorough.'
Adam Payter6KBW College Hill ‘Adam is able to cut through a mass of difficult and complicated material to identify the essential issues in a focused and productive way. A highly effective advocate.’  
Luke Ponte – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Jurors and judges always take note when Luke addresses them: he commands the court. A go-to brief for heavyweight cases.’
Matthew Radstone – 25 Bedford RowMatthew is a remarkably brave and gifted advocate, strategic, clever and great on his feet.'
Peter Ratliff6KBW College Hill ‘Peter is a real asset when it comes to the most difficult cases. He is an intelligent, knowledgeable and effective lawyer. He provides clear, well-thought-out advice, and is a phenomenal strategist.’
Kat Shields – 7BR ‘Kat is an exceptional advocate. She has the benefit of a first-class legal mind, as well as having an acute awareness of the issues that really matter, and the ability to put things simply and concisely.'
Jonathan Underhill – 3PBJonathan’s ability to process detail is outstanding. He brings great technical knowledge, and that gives him a wonderful air of confidence which puts his clients at ease.’
Greg Unwin187 Chambers ‘Greg is hard-working, thorough, and patient, with a level-headed analytical approach.’
Alexander Upton – 23ES ‘Alexander is a superb advocate who prepares very thoroughly. A junior who inspires confidence.’
Helen Valley – 25 Bedford RowHelen is incredibly diligent. A good cross-examiner who is very persuasive on her feet.’

Rising Stars

Molly Dyas – 2 Bedford RowMolly is a tenacious barrister. She makes good closing speeches and is charming with other counsel and judges.’

Fraud: crime in London Bar

2 Bedford Row


2 Bedford Row houses an ‘excellent fraud team‘. Simon Baker KC has ‘a brilliant legal brain’, and has been kept busy handling major money laundering and trading standards cases. Kevin Toomey is currently defending an individual against allegations of fraud committed against Macmillan Cancer Support by making over 100 fraudulent grant applications for non-existent cancer sufferers. The ‘tenaciousMolly Dyas is experienced in advising on international money laundering and boiler room fraud cases.

Les références

‘John Grimmer is excellent. He is a legend.’

‘John Grimmer remains the most highly experienced and respected clerk in the business, and Paul Rodgers is fantastic at providing the level of client care that chambers’ clients have come to expect.’

‘Paul Rodgers is always a pleasure to deal with.’





2 Hare Court


2 Hare Court is highly regarded as a leading set for heavyweight financial crime work. David Whittaker KC recently defended one of 29 individuals in relation to a charge of cheating the public revenue through the VAT & Construction Industry Scheme. In a separate matter, Jonathan Laidlaw KC and Angus Bunyan represented the owner and director of major utilities company and League One football club, Andrew Pilley, who was charged with money laundering offences and fraudulent trading concerning the systemic mis-selling of energy contracts. Vivienne Tanchel has established expertise in representing individuals and companies in complex white-collar crime matters.





25 Bedford Row


25 Bedford Row is ‘an impeccable defence set‘ and houses a team with an excellent track record in handling high-profile fraud cases. In recent work for the group, Nathaniel Rudolf KC was instructed to represent one of the defendants in a case where four people were charged with constructing a pan-European pension diversion fraud scheme, resulting in 285 victims losing a total of £24m. In a separate matter, Osman Osman represented the principal defendant in a multi-handed case involving alleged fraudulent trading and money laundering offences, concerning the alleged mis-selling of energy-saving wall coverings. Sonal Dashani garners praise for her ‘great tactical sense‘. Key developments for the set in 2024 included Alfie Lee being appointed as Director of Clerking, following Guy Williams’ retirement in December 2023; Chris Jones returning to the set as Senior Practice Clerk; and Dermot Keating KC being appointed to silk.

Les références

‘Alfie Lee brings new energy.’

‘Alfie Lee is an outstanding clerk with a tremendous ability to deal with issues skilfully and sensitively.’

’25 Bedford Row is home to some of the elite white collar and fraud practitioners.’





QEB Hollis Whiteman


At QEB Hollis Whiteman, recent work for the group includes Paul Raudnitz KC defending an individual charged with multiple counts of confidence fraud and money laundering, having allegedly posed as a wealthy aristocrat in order to obtain loans from private investors. Sean Larkin KC has an excellent reputation for handling a broad spectrum of very high-profile, complex financial crime cases, and is adept at prosecuting and defending directors and corporate entities. Turning to the juniors, Jennifer Newcomb prosecuted two individuals charged with false representation, money laundering and abuse of position after submitting fake invoices to suppliers while working at the London office of a prominent US law firm.

Les références

‘The clerks, particular Chris Emmings and Faye Stimpson, are exceptional.’

‘Excellent clerking team that really is a team. Faye Stimpson is great!’

‘The clerks provide a good service to solicitors – always matching the right barrister to the case. Faye Stimpson is a star.’





Red Lion Chambers


Red Lion Chambers is widely regarded as ‘one of the pre-eminent fraud sets with advocates specialising in both prosecution and defence work’. Michael Goodwin KC is sought after for his expertise in handling large-scale serious fraud cases, and David Walbank KC is well known for his extensive experience in white-collar defence matters. Among the juniors, Jack Talbot is well versed in defending and prosecuting corporate entities in a wide range of fraud matters, including longrunning, multimillion-pound money laundering cases. Tom Payne KC and the 'fearless advocateRebecca Chalkley KC were appointed to silk in March 2024; Chalkley KC stands out as 'highly regarded in the fraud world' and recently prosecuted five individuals charged with setting up fake investment schemes and money laundering offences.

Les références

‘They have professional clerks that are easy to work with. Mark Bennett has been exceptional in his dealings with us.’

‘Mark Bennet is calm, unflappable and totally committed to supporting his counsel team and those who instruct them.’

‘Nick Parkinson, Lee Young and David Pilkington are all excellent, and tirelessly helpful.’





Cloth Fair Chambers


Cloth Fair Chambers stands out as ‘an undisputed heavyweight‘ in the fraud and financial crime space. John Kelsey-Fry KC has an excellent reputation for being ‘one of the most persuasive advocates at the Bar‘. Rhys Meggy stands out as ‘one of the very top junior barristers of his generation‘. Stuart Biggs is another highly regarded junior in the financial crime field, with a solid track record in appearing for both the defence and the prosecution. In recent work for the set, Biggs is defending the manager of an Iranian-owned money exchange business against allegations of money laundering and using part of the money for the sale and purchase of Bitcoin. In a key development for chambers, Dean Brown joined the set as Head of Practice Management in July 2024.

Les références

‘Cloth Fair has an unrivalled panel of the top KCs in criminal law who are all at the top of their game.’

‘An outstanding set with a reputation working on the most high-profile and difficult mandates.’

‘Cloth Fair is an undisputed heavyweight in the fraud/financial crime world.’





Foundry Chambers


Foundry Chambers has 'a great reputation and strength in depth for fraud work'. John McGuinness KC has established strength in prosecuting and defending in a broad range of fraud matters, including money laundering offences and VAT fraud cases. Natalie McNamee is 'a tremendous advocate' who 'handles difficult, sizeable, complex, multi-handed fraud matters with confidence'. The 'very persuasive' Benjamin Waidhofer is regularly instructed for the defence in complex fraud work. Jessica Tate is representing a man in a case concerning alleged money laundering, involving the trading and brokering of cryptocurrency into fiat currency.

Les références

‘The clerks’ room is very efficient. Angela May and Daniel Blackman are incredibly approachable and will always do what they can to assist. They know the skill set of all their barristers and will only recommend someone if they consider them appropriate for the case.’

‘Angela May is really personable.’

‘The clerks are always extremely willing to assist. Angela May is extremely accommodating.’





Three Raymond Buildings


At Three Raymond BuildingsHelen Malcolm KC is highly regarded for her experience in handling a broad range of complex, large-scale fraud cases, often involving international elements, and is sought after for her strength in advising on high-value tax fraud matters. Among the junior end of chambers, Luke Ponte recently defended a woman charged with money laundering offences arising from a investment fraud orchestrated by a partner at a law firm and a financial advisor. The senior end of the team was bolstered by the arrival of Amanda Pinto KC in June 2024.

Les références

‘Emma Makepeace is a dependable clerk.’

‘They have efficient support staff.’

‘Very good and very responsive clerks.’





23ES


The team of ‘talented barristers‘ at 23ES is well known for advising on a broad spectrum of complex fraud and financial crime matters. Cairns Nelson KCoffers a masterclass in advocacy each time he steps foot into a courtroom‘. Alexander Upton represented one individual in a multi-defendant case concerning the mis-selling of alleged energy saving devices called “Magic Boxes.” Other key contacts include Tim Hunter, who specialises in handling multi-handed fraud cases, and recently appeared for the prosecution in a national SMS phishing fraud case.

Les références

‘Wayne King is a fantastic clerk. He is a gentleman and an astute businessman.’

‘Adam Chapman is totally outstanding!’

A first-class clerks’ room. Adam Chapman is a standout figure in the defence world.’





33 Chancery Lane


33 Chancery Lane is ‘a very strong set for financial crime and criminal fraud work‘. Narita Bahra KC is highly regarded as a ‘go-to advocate‘ for complex fraud matters, recently representing a defendant who was convicted of online romance fraud after defrauding multiple women out of £100,000. The 'calm, measured, and persuasiveAlistair Webster KC recently acted for a company director charged with alleged involvement in a major diversion fraud. At the junior end of chambers, Catherine Collins is well versed in prosecuting and defending in complex fraud matters.

Les références

‘Martin Adams is very good to deal with and makes a point of understanding the case as well as just dealing with commercials.’

‘Chris Chiles is very hard-working and pleasant to deal with.’

‘Martin Adams is professional, friendly and has a wealth of knowledge.’





5KBW


5KBW's team is building a strong reputation for handling a broad range of financial crime matters. Mark Heywood KC is sought after for his expertise in handling multimillion-pound, multi-handed fraud cases. Kathryn Arnot Drummond has extensive experience in prosecuting complex fraud matters, including boiler room frauds and money laundering cases, and Frederick Hookway's workload includes alleged Ponzi schemes, phishing offences, and international money laundering cases. The senior end of the team was bolstered by the elevation of Jonathan Polnay KC to silk in March 2024.

Les références

‘The clerking team is a great credit to chambers. They are quick to respond and understand the needs of the client.’

‘The clerks provide an excellent customer service.’

‘Great quality and depth.’





Doughty Street Chambers


Doughty Street Chambers is 'a great set which has strength in depth for fraud cases'. Rupert Bowers KC represented an individual in a private prosecution brought by the Premier League concerning illegal streaming of matches. Among the juniors, Philippa Eastwood has an excellent track record in handling complex fraud and money laundering cases, and the 'inventive, clear, dynamic and concisePeter Caldwell is well known for advising on cases involving cryptocurrency fraud.

Les références

‘Matthew Butchard and his team deliver an outstanding service efficiently and professionally. Matt’s commercial acumen and commitment to meeting solicitors’ needs distinguish him as one of the best clerks in the business.’

‘Chloe Cousins is an excellent clerk, always willing to help and find the right counsel.’

‘Matthew Butchard is an absolute pleasure to work with.’





Matrix Chambers


High-quality setMatrix Chambers houses a team with established strength in advising on high-profile fraud work. Among the silks, Adrian Waterman KC garners praise for being ‘a fearless advocate who is able to navigate juries, witness handling and legal argument with extraordinary skill’. Among the junior end of chambers, the ‘razor-sharp advocate‘ Vedrana Pehar is sought after for her expertise in handling the full range of complex financial crime work, including fraud and money laundering offences.

Les références

‘The clerks, in particular Paul Venables, are great- Paul is responsive and goes out of his way to help.’

‘A very slick clerking operation.’

‘Paul Venables has an excellent reputation.’





Mountford Chambers


The team at Mountford Chambers continues to handle an increasing amount of complex fraud work. Edward Henry KC garners praise as 'one of the finest advocates' in the financial crime field. In recent instructions for the group, Joe Hingston represented one of two individuals charged with fraudulently operating a cryptocurrency investment scheme, involving purported purchases of shares in a cryptocurrency called "Telecoin" - both defendants were convicted of conspiracy to defraud.

Les références

Ben Heaviside is in a different league. He is a delight to work with, flexible and accommodating.’

‘Ben is an excellent head clerk and very commercial.’

‘The clerks are fabulous and can’t do enough to help. Nathan Warren, Dean Allen and Ben Heaviside are always on the ball.