Crime (general And Fraud)

Leading Silks

Richard Atkins KC –St Philips Chambers ‘Richard's attention to detail is the best. He is on top of his papers and reads every line of the page and, as a result, has a better grasp of the case. His advocacy is detailed, thorough and persuasive.’

Michael Duck KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Michael is thorough and very good with clients. He has excellent advocacy.’

Michelle Heeley KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Michelle is an exceptional and responsive barrister. She always responds to queries quickly and comprehensively.’

Mary Prior KC – The 36 Group ‘Mary is an exceptional advocate. She is formidable, hard-working and very down-to-earth. She is tactically very astute and is especially good with vulnerable witnesses.’

Christopher Donnellan KC –The 36 Group ‘Christopher is always on top of his papers, having read everything and identified the key issues. He is a great tactician, always able to anticipate his opponent's next move. He is an excellent lawyer and a class act.’

Kevin Hegarty KC –St Philips Chambers

Adrian Keeling KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Adrian's eye for detail is second to none. He can grasp facts of cases with ease and presents complex legal issues in a clear and straightforward manner.’

John Lloyd-Jones KC – The 36 Group ‘John's advocacy is exemplary. He is meticulous in his preparation. In court, he focuses on the central issues in the case and is in absolute control of every aspect of the evidence.’

Harpreet Sandhu KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Harpreet is very thorough in his preparation and grasp of long, multi-handed complex cases. His advocacy puts the jury at ease, and he makes complex arguments very easy to understand.’

Andrew Vout KC – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Andrew has a very calming and reassuring manner with clients. His written legal arguments are always well-reasoned, and he is an able and articulate advocate.’

Jonas Hankin KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

James Horne KC – Castle Gate Chambers 'James tirelessly prepares his cases and knows the evidence inside out. His conversational style is much liked by juries, and his speeches, which combine a brilliant analysis of the facts, law and evidential gaps, are listened to from beginning to end.'

Allison Summers KC –Drystone Chambers 'Allison is a formidable advocate. In court, she is persuasive to judges, and juries listen to her every word. She can manage the most difficult of clients.'

Rebecca Wade KC – St Philips Chambers 'Rebecca is an outstanding silk beyond her years in silk. She is calm under pressure and a skilled and devastating cross-examiner.'

2025 Silks

Jennifer Josephs KC –St Philips Chambers ‘Jennifer is a skilful and able advocate. Her advocacy is persuasive and effective in submissions as she is in cross-examination, a top-class performer.’

Tom Walkling KC – St Philips Chambers ‘Tom is an exceptionally talented barrister. He is meticulous in his preparation and thinks well on his feet, responding to matters raised with ease.’

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Barker –St Philips Chambers ‘Jonathan is a dedicated barrister who works very hard for his clients. He quickly obtains the trust of his lay clients and will temper his style according to the audience. His advocacy is exceptional.’

Ian Bridge – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Ben Close – St Philips Chambers ‘Ben is super bright. He is direct, straightforward, approachable, hard-working and great to deal with.’

William Douglas-Jones – St Philips Chambers ‘William's preparation of cases is meticulous. He is a strong advocate and is robust in his advice but approachable to litigants and clients. He has strong interpersonal and communication skills.’

Justin Jarmola – Citadel Chambers

Sarah Knight –The 36 Group ‘Sarah is a brilliant advocate who prepares her cases with skill and talent. Her quiet, forensic style of advocacy is compelling and persuasive.’

John O’Higgins – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘John is very thorough in preparing cases for trial and is a persuasive advocate in court. His communication style with clients is exceptional and can make clients feel at ease even in the most stressful situation in court.’

Tim Pole – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Tim is a very hard-working barrister who puts every ounce of effort into his cases.’

Ben Williams –St Philips Chambers ‘Ben is a thoroughly well-prepared advocate. His written work is first-class.’

Sharon Bahia – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Claire Fraser – The 36 Group ‘Claire is a measured and thoughtful advocate who takes the most complex cases and presents them in a simple and straightforward way. She has a forensic style of advocacy. Her case preparation is exceptional, and she knows her cases inside out.’

Sarah Gaunt – 2 Harcourt Buildings

Rajinder Gill –St Philips Chambers

Marcus Harry – St Philips Chambers 'Marcus is always prepared and has a good grasp of his case.'

Nadeem Holland –The 36 Group ‘Nadeem is an exceptional barrister. His technical judgement is superb and concise and persuasive advocacy.’

Amy Jackson – St Philips Chambers ‘Amy's competence is second to none. Her advocacy and client care are excellent, and her thorough preparation means no stone is left unturned.’

Andrew Jackson –St Philips Chambers ‘Andrew is a good operator who can identify the key issues in a case.’

Ben Mills –St Philips Chambers

Sophie Murray – St Ives Chambers

Kevin Saunders – 23ES 'He is particularly adept at managing difficult clients, balancing firm, practical advice with a reassuring and professional manner.'

Nadia Silver –The 36 Group

Carl Templar-Vasey – St Philips Chambers 'Carl can communicate with clients of all intelligence levels, which is second to none. A great advocate and always happy to help.'

Sara Wyeth – St Philips Chambers 'Sara is always very calm and considerate. She can explain difficult issues and advise clients in sensitive cases.'

James Armstrong-Holmes – Castle Gate Chambers

Chloe Ashley – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Matthew Iain Bolt – Cornwall Street Barristers

Andrew Fitch-Holland –The 36 Group ‘Andrew has a great manner with juries and is down to earth. He is fair and an effective judgement.’

Stefan Fox – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Stefan has an excellent way with clients. He is responsive and prompt at dealing with queries, and his written work and legal arguments are always of an excellent standard.’

Lisa Hardy – The 36 Group ‘Lisa is a highly passionate advocate. She researches the evidence thoroughly and never fails to find flaws. She is a persuasive jury advocate who never ceases to fight for her clients and justice.’

Laura Hocknell –Castle Gate Chambers ‘Laura is a highly persuasive advocate who works incredibly hard to leave no stone unturned. She can mix several advocacy styles and pick the right approach for the right witness at the right time.’

Claire Howell – Drystone Chambers 'Claire is incredibly dedicated to clients. She has excellent legal knowledge and is great at drafting legal submissions.'

Christopher Jeyes – Drystone Chambers 'Christopher is always very well prepared. He is always calm and deals with any client with confidence. He is persuasive when making submissions to the court.'

Kevin Metzger – Great James Street Chambers 'Kevin has an attractive advocacy before a jury and in submissions before a judge alone. He is engaging and articulate.'

Vishal Misra – Great James Street Chambers 'Vishal is calm, confident and composed. He is very approachable and delivers an excellent closing speech before the jury.'

Laura Pitman – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Laura is a first-class senior junior. She is superb with clients, always giving clear advice in easily understanding language. She is always approachable, clear and concise.’

Joshua Purser – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Joshua is extremely thorough in his case preparation and highly approachable.'

Catherine Ravenscroft – St Philips Chambers 'Catherine is a promising junior in crime. She is very hard-working, intelligent, an efficient and straightforward advocate.'

Katya Saudek – The 36 Group 'Katya is a passionate and intense advocate who persuades juries of her arguments. She leaves no stone unturned in her fight for justice for her clients. She is fiercely independent, works exceptionally hard and gains the trust of her clients.'

Dharmendra Toor – 5 St Andrews Hill

Karen Walton – Drystone Chambers ‘Karen is thorough in her preparation and has excellent attention to detail. She is always calm and in control of the case, never phased. She is a strong and persuasive advocate who wins juries over.’

Lucinda Wilmott-Lascelles – St Philips Chambers

Rising Stars

Callum Church – St Philips Chambers ‘Callum is a highly intelligent, thoughtful and hard-working advocate who defends fearlessly and well. He has an excellent bedside manner with lay clients and an easy affability with his solicitors, who trust him with cases beyond which those of his call would ordinarily be instructed.’

Matthew Cullen – St Philips Chambers ‘Matthew is always well-prepared and can articulate case issues to clients. He is a remarkable man whose ability far outweighs his experience.’

Queenie Djan – St Ives Chambers ‘Queenie is incredibly well-articulated in court and can think on her feet to build her submissions. Her client care skills are impeccable.'

Thomas Duggan – St Ives Chambers

Tom Parker – The 36 Group ‘Tom is a diligent and tenacious advocate with a grounded and engaging style. His intelligence and attention to detail shine, particularly in complex matters.’

Morgan Pirone – St Ives Chambers 'Morgan is an exceptional barrister. His brilliance lies in his deep understanding of the law and exceptional advocacy skills. His ability to examine legal issues and offer insightful advice has been invaluable.'

Lachlan Stewart – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Sebastian Walker – The 36 Group ‘Sebastian is a frighteningly bright legal mind and a fierce and thoughtful advocate. He has an exceptional ability to cut through complex cases and see the points that speak to a jury, whether prosecuting or defending.’

Olivia Whitworth – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Olivia is very analytical in assessments and well-liked by clients. She provides thorough and detailed advice where required.'

Crime (general and fraud) in Regional Bar

Tier 1 sets

No5 Barristers' Chambers

No5 Barristers’ Chambers continues to be recognised as ‘a very efficient barristers’ chambers’, with its members appearing in a wide array of high-profile and complex criminal cases, including allegations of murder, terrorism, drug conspiracies, and serious sexual offences. Michael Duck KC recently secured convictions in a trial involving the fatal stabbing of a non-league footballer on a nightclub dance floor—two defendants were convicted of murder, while a third was found guilty of affray. Michelle Heeley KC, described as ‘excellent with clients and advocacy’, successfully prosecuted a defendant in a case involving the homophobic murder of an elderly gay man; the offender received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years. John O’Higgins recently represented a man convicted of manslaughter after being accused of murder in a case involving the brutal assault of a vulnerable individual in his own home. Ian Bridge and Tim Pole remain go-to counsel for serious road traffic matters and are regularly instructed in cases involving fatal collisions and life-altering injuries.

Les références

‘Andrew Trotter can always be relied on to provide a response and keep up to date with the progress of a case or counsel’s instructions. He goes above and beyond his duties.’

‘Micky Powell and Andrew Trotter offer sterling service and are always available to take calls and emails and respond swiftly.’

‘The clerks are friendly and approachable and very swift to respond. Andrew Trotter leads the set excellently.’

Principaux dossiers

St Philips Chambers

Displaying ‘strength in depth and a wide variety of counsel’, St Philips Chambers remains the ‘go-to set’ for advice on the full spectrum of serious criminal work. ‘Effective and robust cross-examiner’ Richard Atkins KC recently prosecuted a case involving a gang who, after attacking a rival’s home on consecutive nights, fatally hacked the rival’s father to death with machetes in broad daylight, resulting in convictions for all defendants for conspiracy to murder, two for murder, and one for manslaughter. Rebecca Wade KC, who is known for her ‘calm and measured approach in advocacy’, successfully prosecuted a gang involved in the fatal stabbing of a man over an electric bike, raising issues around joint enterprise, loss of control, and property ownership, and concluded with multiple convictions for other defendants and a life sentence with a 25-year minimum term for the principal offender. ‘Excellent criminal barrister’ Tom Walkling KC and Jennifer Josephs KC, who is widely praised for her ‘flawlessly prepared, incisive and powerful cross-examination and legal submissions’ took silk in March 2025.

Les références

‘Andrew Rourke, Dan Zouch and Daniel Shriane are reliable, helpful and approachable.’

‘Daniel Shriane is exceptional.’

‘The clerks are extremely helpful and always do their best to assist where they can. Andrew Rourke can be relied on to sort out any issues that may arise.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 2 sets

The 36 Group

The 36 Group is ‘a strong chambers with quality, reliable barristers at every level, for both prosecution and defence’. Mary Prior KC successfully defended a young man with severe schizophrenia who was acquitted of the murder of his mother, whom he fatally stabbed in the street, believing she was an alien intent on destroying the world. ‘An assiduous and conscientious barrister’, Christopher Donnellan KC prosecuted a 51-year-old man convicted of murdering his mother in a complex case involving issues of fitness to plead, conflicting psychiatric evidence, legal arguments over the reliability of a 999 call made by the defendant. Sarah Knight, noted as ‘a highly capable advocate’, prosecuted a cross-border organised crime group from a travelling community involved in a conspiracy to steal and burgle over £500,000 from ATMs across England and Scotland.

Les références

‘Jack Curtis stands out for his calm efficiency and willingness to get the best result possible. Daisy Parsons and Lewis Collier are long-term diary planners, seamlessly resolving diary management issues with pinpoint accuracy.’

‘The clerks are exceptionally efficient and informative. Jack Curtis, Elliot Styles, Daisy Parsons and Lewis Collier do everything they can to assist and, with crystal balls in hand, predict difficult situations, take control and fix it.’

‘The clerks are always helpful and honest. Elliot Styles goes out of his way to help with difficult situations.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 3 sets

Stanford House, 19 Castle Gate

‘A go-to local chambers’ with ‘a good group of barristers’, Castle Gate Chambers handles both prosecution and defence in serious crime matters, including murder, sexual offences, and drug conspiracies. Andrew Vout KC, noted for being ‘very diligent in preparation’, recently secured convictions against five gang members for the murder of one of their own. ‘An excellent tactician and a fantastic jury advocate’, James Horne KC has ‘the ability to grasp the issues in a case swiftly, and confidently navigate clients through any difficulties’ and is renowned for defending clients in high-profile and complex murder cases. Laura Pitman, whose ‘advocacy skills make her stand out’, has established expertise in handling cases of homicide, large-scale drug conspiracies and serious violence. ‘A skilled and measured advocate’, Laura Hocknell is currently prosecuting a seven-handed conspiracy involving the supply of Class A and B drugs and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, with defendants using rented Airbnbs across the country as bases for drug preparation and distribution.

Les références

‘The clerk’s room is well run by Richard Pell. He is personable, reliable and always on hand with an ability to help.’

‘Richard Pell runs the clerks’ room superbly. He leads by example, is responsive, switched on, and personable.’

‘Richard Pell is an excellent clerk. He is hands-on, organised and a good communicator.’

Classements par PratiqueRegional Bar