Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Crime (general And Fraud)

Exchange Chambers

Lincoln House Chambers

7 Harrington Street

Kenworthy's Chambers

18 St John Street Chambers

23 Essex Street

Nine Chambers

Deans Court Chambers

Garden Court North Chambers

St John’s Buildings

Leading Silks

Kate Blackwell KC – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Kate is the best silk. She is exceptionally thorough, practical, approachable and a true leader. Her advocacy is masterful.’

Simon Csoka KC – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Simon is a tenacious and determined advocate. He does not let an argument or an issue go, which can be very effective.’

Nina Grahame KC – Garden Court North Chambers ‘Nina is an accomplished advocate. She is forensic in her approach to evidence and very skilled at unravelling complex factual and scientific issues. She has a first-class way with clients, particularly in explaining the relevant issues in their individual cases.’

Nicholas Johnson KC – 7 Harrington Street ‘Nicholas is an outstanding jury advocate and tactician and is meticulous in preparation.’

John Jones KC – Exchange Chambers 'John's meticulous attention to detail is second to none. His calmness and client care puts clients at ease under very stressful situations.'

Alexander Leach KC – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Alex is highly articulate and immaculately well-prepared. He has the ear of judges who trust his submissions. He is a devastating cross-examiner.’

Richard Littler KC –Exchange Chambers

Benjamin Myers KC – Exchange Chambers ‘Benjamin is very analytical in his approach. He has excellent client care skills.’

David Temkin KC – Exchange Chambers ‘David is capable, confident and an extremely safe pair of hands. His case preparation is meticulous.’

Andrew Thomas KC –Lincoln House Chambers

John Harrison KC – Lincoln House Chambers 'John’s key strengths lie in his exceptional technical knowledge and ability to develop innovative legal strategies. His advocacy is calm, precise, and devastatingly effective.'

Michael Hayton KC – Deans Court Chambers

Nigel Power KC – 7 Harrington Street ‘Nigel is the best advocate when strategically cross-examining witnesses on complex issues.’

Richard Pratt KC – 7 Harrington Street

Imran Shafi KC –Exchange Chambers ‘Imran is persuasive and can argue his case with vigour and courtesy.’

Brenda Campbell KC – Lincoln House Chambers 'Brenda takes command of any courtroom. She is skilled at explaining complex issues to vulnerable clients in a straightforward and accessible way.'

Andrew Ford KC – 7 Harrington Street

Mark Ford KC – Lincoln House Chambers

Peter Glenser KC – 7 Harrington Street ‘Peter devotes his whole focus and energy to his clients. He conveys his arguments with disarming candour and clarity, no matter how intellectually complex, always revealing his extraordinary compassion.’

Siobhan Grey KC – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Siobhan is an exceptional advocate with an unparalleled work ethic.’

Abdul Iqbal KC – Lincoln House Chambers 'Abdul is an exceptionally charming advocate with a wide range. He can be both measured and forceful, as occasion demands. He is a hugely impressive performer who is always completely at ease with his audience, whether judge or jury.'

Mark Rhind KC – Exchange Chambers ‘Mark has a great presence in court. His cross-examination is exemplary and his closing speeches are superb. Jurors listen intently. Everyone listens intently.'

Iain Simkin KC – Deans Court Chambers

2025 Silks

Richard English KC – Lincoln House Chambers 'Richard is a strong advocate who has a keen eye for detail and is meticulous in his preparation.'

Leading Juniors

Clare Ashcroft – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Clare is an outstanding advocate. She is calm, compassionate and respectful in all aspects of her work.’

Fiona Clancy – Exchange Chambers ‘Fiona is always well prepared, superb with clients, and a strong advocate.’

Barry Grennan – Kenworthy’s Chambers

Joseph Hart – Deans Court Chambers

Virginia Hayton –Deans Court Chambers ‘Virginia is brilliant with clients. In court, she is excellent.’

Charlotte Kenny – Exchange Chambers ‘Charlotte is an exceptional barrister. She is a formidable advocate who commands the courtroom.’

Michael Lavery – Exchange Chambers ‘Michael is fearless. A barrister at the top of his game.’

Damian Nolan – Exchange Chambers ‘Damian is a fantastic barrister with a huge courtroom presence. He is a real fighter.’

Charlotte Rimmer – Exchange Chambers ‘Charlotte has an exceptional grasp of the issues in the case. She is particularly adept at cross-examining vulnerable witnesses.’

David Toal – Exchange Chambers ‘David is extremely thorough in all aspects of case preparation and presentation. He is a formidable jury advocate.’

Ian Whitehurst – Exchange Chambers

Philip Astbury – 7 Harrington Street 'Philip can remain calm under extreme pressure, which is impressive and vital in managing the case to a successful outcome.'

Waheed Baber – Kenworthy’s Chambers

David Birrell – Exchange Chambers ‘David has excellent knowledge of criminal law and procedure. He is tenacious in court.’

Richard Brigden – Exchange Chambers ‘Richard is a stalwart of the criminal Bar. He works hard and has a good head for tactics.’

Patrick Cassidy – Kenworthy’s Chambers 'Patrick is very experienced and easy to work with.'

Mark Connor – St John’s Buildings ‘Mark is methodical and has an excellent eye for detail. He instils confidence in dealing with clients and is a superb trial advocate.’

Richard Dawson – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Richard is a formidable advocate in court, with oral submissions that are second to none, consistently leading to successful outcomes for his clients.’

Gerard Doran – Lincoln House Chambers 'Gerard is extremely experienced and has extensive legal knowledge. He handles the most serious of cases and is excellent in court.'

Jonathan Duffy – 7 Harrington Street

Andrew Evans – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Andrew is very strong on written advocacy, quantum, and presentation of large volumes of material he has assimilated.’

Rachel Faux – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Rachel is a fantastic advocate whose in-depth trial preparation is evident and reassuring to her clients that she knows their case inside out. In court, she is calm and collected.’

Rebecca Filletti – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Rebecca’s energy and commitment to her clients and her case preparation is phenomenal. Her passionate belief in fair and proper process makes her a fearless advocate, and she presents carefully prepared, detailed and well-reasoned submissions to impressive effect.’

Simon Gurney – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Simon is an exceptional barrister. His written submissions are outstanding, making points concisely and persuasively, and his knowledge of the law is exceptional. He is an extremely persuasive advocate.’

Martin Hackett – Lincoln House Chambers

Sara Haque – Kenworthy’s Chambers

Gwen Henshaw – Cobden House Chambers ‘Gwen has a fabulous way of dealing with extremely vulnerable clients. Her presentation of closing speeches to a jury is always very impressive.’

Paul Hodgkinson – Exchange Chambers

Andrew Jebb – Exchange Chambers

Benjamin James Knight – Central Chambers ‘Ben is a robust advocate and always very well-prepared. His client care skills are excellent.’

Alex Langhorn –7 Harrington Street

Daniel Lister – 23 Essex Street ‘Daniel offers practical and workable solutions. He is meticulous in his preparation and offers advice at the earliest opportunity.’

Sarah Magill – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Sarah is a formidable advocate. She is a real fighter who gives it her all for her clients. She has a remarkable ability to establish trust, offering them the confidence that their case is in the hands of an advocate who will fight relentlessly on their behalf.’

Gemma Maxwell – St John’s Buildings ‘Gemma is a strong advocate whose commitment and preparation are second to none. She is very persuasive in presenting her points succinctly.’

Hugh McKee –23 Essex Street

David Morton –Kenworthy’s Chambers

Erimnaz Mushtaq – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Erimnaz is calm, collected and thoroughly unflappable. She is a true professional, and her advocacy is thoroughly prepared.’

Rebecca Penfold – St John’s Buildings ‘Rebecca is outstanding. Her communication and drafting skills are excellent. She is proactive and defends her clients with tireless enthusiasm. She can run complex legal arguments.’

Gareth Roberts – Exchange Chambers ‘Gareth is extremely good with clients and goes the extra mile.’

Bob Sastry – 23 Essex Street ‘Bob has an excellent bedside manner with clients. He is an articulate and persuasive advocate.’

Rachel Shenton – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Rachel is a highly effective performer. Her knowledge of the law and has an engaging manner with the jury.’

Stephen Tettey – Kenworthy’s Chambers

Vanessa Thomson – Nine Chambers 'Vanessa is very good with clients. She is exceptionally well prepared on all aspects of the case and available to discuss issues.'

Richard Vardon – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Richard is a leading practitioner. He is a game-changing advocate who can change the outcome of a case. He grabs the essential issues and changes how people see them.’

Alaric Walmsley – 7 Harrington Street

Marianne Alton – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Marianne is excellent. She masters the details of the most difficult cases. Her analytical skills are second to none. Her preparation for cross-examination is thorough and devastating.’

Katy Appleton – 7 Harrington Street ‘Katy is diligent and hard-working. She is thorough in preparation and adaptable on her feet.’

Jamie Baxter – 7 Harrington Street

Hayley Bennett – Nine Chambers

Claire Brocklebank – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Claire is fully appraised of her brief and can absorb and deploy complex factual scenarios quickly and accurately. She is excellent with clients, with a down-to-earth rapport that belies her intelligence and legal abilities.’

Daniel Calder – 18 St John Street Chambers ‘Daniel is an excellent barrister who is meticulous in his preparation of cases. His advocacy is of the highest standard.’

Anna Chestnutt – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Anna is very organised and brilliant with her paperwork - she is an extremely responsive barrister who can always be relied upon for support throughout a difficult case. She is a very persuasive advocate.’

Rachel Cooper – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Rachel's legal arguments and knowledge of the law are her strengths.’

Nicola Daley – Exchange Chambers

Huw Edwards – Exchange Chambers ‘Huw is outstanding in presenting his client's case in the best possible light. His court manner is exemplary: polite, clear and persuasive.’

Chudi Grant – Kenworthy’s Chambers

Matthew Howarth – Lincoln House Chambers

David John James – St John’s Buildings 'David has a calm and assured manner. He has an eye for detail, particularly in more complex matters.'

Harriet Johnson – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Harriet is a very thorough and conscientious barrister. Her advice is always clear and succinct.’

Emma Kehoe – Lincoln House Chambers

Sophie Kenny – Cobden House Chambers ‘Sophie is excellent. She is patient and has excellent communication skills. She is good in court and is confident in her presentation.’

Helen Longworth – Nine Chambers ‘Helen is always well prepared and on top of her brief. Her judgement is impeccable, and she is a hard worker. Her advocacy is short, punchy and effective.’

Ian McMeekin – Lincoln House Chambers

Holly Nelson – Lincoln House Chambers 'Holly delivers controlled, persuasive, focused advocacy. She can delve into the heart of the key issues in the case and draw the jury with her. She masters tricky points of law with ease and confidence.'

Brendan O’Leary – Lincoln House Chambers 'Brendan is highly skilled in handling complex and sensitive matters. He has a fantastic knowledge of the law and can put clients and juries at ease with his personable and approachable manner.'

Kimberley Obrusik – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Kimberley is energetic and always on top of her brief.’

Verity Quaite – 18 St John Street Chambers 'Verity is outstanding, very thorough and brilliant with difficult clients. She puts in the hard work and leaves no stone unturned.'

John Richards – Kenworthy’s Chambers 'John is a very good advocate, well-liked by clients and easy to deal with.'

Ellen Shaw – Lincoln House Chambers 'Ellen provides clear guidance on case preparation and skilled handling of client conferences. When advising a client with additional needs, she has found the most effective ways to break down the issues in a case and present the client with a clear understanding of the issues and their choices.'

Robert Neil Smith – Nine Chambers 'Robert is an excellent advocate. He is always professional and listens to the clients before providing detailed and honest advice. He is patient with clients, and his advocacy skills are excellent.'

Isobel Thomas – Lincoln House Chambers

Geoff Whelan – Nine Chambers

Barry White – 23 Essex Street

Rachel White – Lincoln House Chambers

Rising Stars

Rosalind Burgin – Garden Court North Chambers ‘Rosalind is very committed to her work and understands her clients.’

Emma Clarke –Nine Chambers 'Emma is an exceptionally bright barrister. She is very intuitive and has knowledge and skills beyond her year of call.'

Tom Farr – Exchange Chambers ‘Tom is an excellent advocate. His legal knowledge is outstanding.’

Anthony Horsfall – Lincoln House Chambers 'Anthony is a level-headed barrister who offers robust advice to clients. He is personable and knows how to deliver in court.'

Niamh Ingham – Lincoln House Chambers

Hamish McCallum – Garden Court Chambers ‘Hamish is a superb advocate. He grasps complex cases quickly and has a flair for developing complex and novel legal arguments in oral and written submissions. His advocacy style is confident and persuasive.’

Holly Menary – 7 Harrington Street ‘Holly is amazing. She is very keen, well organised, always up to speed in terms of the evidence and brilliant at using all relevant technology.’

Graham Rishton – Lincoln House Chambers ‘Graham is meticulous in his preparation, ensuring that no stone is left unturned. He is a strong advocate, and his cross-examination of witnesses is thorough.’

Crime (general and fraud) in Regional Bar

Tier 1 sets

Exchange Chambers

Exchange Chambers‘ team has ‘great strength in depth’. ‘A silk at the very top of his game’, Benjamin Myers KC recently acted for Lucy Letby in her appeal to the Court of Appeal following her convictions for murdering babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital. John Jones KC specialises in homicide defence and recently represented a man accused of the murder of his 22-month-old infant. David Toal prosecuted a man who was convicted and sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment after using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse pseudo-photographs based on innocuous images of children, and selling them to paedophiles, as well as encouraging the rape of a child under thirteen.

Les références

‘All the clerks are exceptional and will go above and beyond in assisting with administration and contacting the court. Graeme Hipkiss particularly stands out. Nick Buckley is exceptional.’

‘Andy Leech is great to work with. Very prompt and efficient with his responses and strives to assist in any way he can.’

‘Nick Buckley is an exceptional senior clerk. He manages a tight ship where things get sorted. Andy Leech provides an excellent service.’

Principaux dossiers

Lincoln House Chambers

Lincoln House Chambers is ‘an excellent set’ with several strong barristers defending and prosecuting various criminal matters. Head of chambers Kate Blackwell KC is ‘an outstanding advocate’, who practises exclusively in criminal defence, emphasising cases involving sexual offences charges. Simon Csoka KC is ‘an extremely persuasive advocate who achieves outstanding results’, and represented a Cayman Islands customs officer in a successful appeal against conviction for cocaine importation, her lawyer having made sexual advances towards her in the run-up to trial, and when they were rebuffed, underprepared for trial. Alexander Leach KC, ‘a calm and composed advocate with a forensic eye for detail and a commanding presence in the courtroom’, recently prosecuted in a six-handed people trafficking case, centred on the smuggling of highly vulnerable migrants, including very young children, hidden in the rear of refrigerated lorries. In March 2025, Richard English KC was elevated to silk.

Les références

‘The senior clerks, David Wright and Andy McGuiness run a very well-organised set of chambers and always respond to emails and phone calls.’

‘Andy McGuiness and David Wright are both excellent clerks. They are helpful and assist whenever possible.’

‘Andy McGuiness is excellent.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 2 sets

7 Harrington Street

At 7 Harrington Street, members have established expertise in handling the full range of criminal law matters. Nicholas Johnson KC prosecuted in the Lucy Letby case at trial and on appeal. Nigel Power KC, ‘a very strong advocate who will fight his client’s case as hard as it can be fought’ with ‘a prodigious work ethic’, acted as defence counsel for one of the defendants in a case involving multi-handed voice over internet protocol minutes MTIC fraud. Jonathan Duffy acted for one defendant charged in a case concerning multi-handed people trafficking, and Philip Astbury was junior counsel for the prosecution in the case regarding the stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, in which three children were killed - the defendant, who was seventeen at the time of the offence and entered a guilty plea, received a minimum term of 52 years.

Les références

‘John Kilgallon is quite simply the best criminal clerk.’

‘The clerks are excellent. They respond efficiently to queries and have a friendly manner.’

‘7 Harrington Street has a good mixture of very experienced clerks.’

Principaux dossiers

Kenworthy's Chambers

Kenworthy’s Chambers is home to a distinguished team of seasoned counsel, frequently instructed in complex and high-profile criminal matters, acting for both the prosecution and the defence. Barry Grennan is renowned for his formidable defence work in challenging cases, including drug conspiracies, historic sexual offences, and murder. Patrick Cassidy brings a wealth of experience across a broad spectrum of criminal law, regularly appearing before the courts at all levels. David Morton is highly skilled in managing cases involving a wide array of criminal allegations.

Les références

‘The clerks are always very helpful, quick to respond to enquiries.’

Principaux dossiers

Tier 3 sets

18 St John Street Chambers

The criminal law team at 18 St John Street Chambers is widely renowned for ‘offering a great depth of experience and talent all round’. Among its leading silks, Siobhan Grey KC is praised for her ‘extremely hard working and meticulous preparation for trial’ and notably securing the overturning of the conviction of a man who had spent twenty years in prison for a murder he did not commit in a Privy Council case from Saint Kitts. Described as ‘a highly effective performer’, Rachel Shenton prosecuted alone a man who was convicted of murdering his father; the matter involved bad character evidence and issues regarding causation given the father was not taking his prescribed warfarin.

Les références

‘James Hotchin i attentive, and James Parks runs a tight ship.’

‘James Hotchin provides high levels of service.’

‘James Hotchin is excellent. He replies to emails and queries efficiently and will go out of his way to try to assist.’

Principaux dossiers

23 Essex Street

23ES has a strong reputation for its expertise across the full spectrum of criminal law. Bob Sastry, a ‘go-to barrister’ with ‘sharply honed advocacy skills’, recently acted in a drug conspiracy case involving a defendant accused of travelling to North America to import Class A drugs into the UK. ‘Tenacious advocate’ Daniel Lister represented a defendant in a multi-handed case of robbery and kidnapping, where violence was used against a vulnerable cryptocurrency trader to force the transfer of over £600,000 worth of assets.

Les références

‘Wayne King is a class act in the clerks’ room.’

‘Sean Hulston and Wayne King ensure that instructing solicitors receive a high level of service from the barristers in chambers.’

‘The clerks offer a top-tier service. Wayne King goes out of his way to help and always knows how to recommend the right barrister for the case.’

Principaux dossiers

Nine Chambers

Nine Chambers is active in both prosecution and defence across a broad range of criminal matters. Vanessa Thomson, praised as ‘fierce in the courtroom’ and known for leaving ‘no stone unturned’ in her case preparation, acted for a teenager charged with attempted murder after crashing his stepmother’s car during a police pursuit.

Les références

‘Chris Swann and Austin Brock-Clements are great and always happy to assist.’

‘Chris Swann is helpful and quick to respond.Chris Swann is exceptional.’

‘9 St John Street Chambers is a superb set with real quality at all levels and superb clerking.’

Principaux dossiers

Deans Court Chambers

The barristers at Deans Court Chambers are regularly instructed in serious criminal cases, covering a broad spectrum of grave offences. Michael Hayton KC is currently acting for the lead defendant in a multi-handed murder trial involving the killing of a rival gang leader. Virginia Hayton appeared as junior counsel in a multi-defendant case concerning the murder of a drug dealer, while Joseph Hart is frequently instructed in complex cases involving allegations of murder and serious sexual offences.

Les références

‘Peter Kelly never fails to assist. He is super quick to respond with a solution every time.’

‘Deans Court Chambers is an excellent set.’

Principaux dossiers

Garden Court North Chambers

Garden Court North Chambers is widely regarded as ‘a first-class set’, with a strong practice spanning primarily defence but also some prosecution work. Nina Grahame KC, ‘a leading silk with the perfect temperament for supporting the most vulnerable in society’, recently led the successful defence of an 18-year-old driver acquitted of secondary involvement in a joint enterprise murder following a late-night road rage incident.

Les références

‘All of the clerks are polite, helpful and effective.’

‘The clerks are responsive and proactive.’

‘All the clerks are hardworking, professional and helpful.’

Principaux dossiers

St John's Buildings

St John’s Buildings is regarded as a ‘great set’, with a strong reputation for handling a wide range of criminal law matters. Mark Connor, noted for being ‘thoroughly prepared’ and lauded for his ‘clear oral advocacy’, successfully prosecuted a man who received a 32-year custodial sentence for multiple counts of child sexual abuse and possession of indecent images of children. Gemma Maxwell, recognised for her ‘outstanding written work, advocacy, client care, and commitment’, represented a defendant in a joint enterprise murder trial arising from a road rage incident. Described as ‘a highly dedicated and tenacious barrister’, Rebecca Penfold is renowned for her ‘unwavering passion for justice’ and acted for a defendant accused of attempted murder by stabbing.

Les références

‘Avril Vaughan is very helpful.’

‘Mark Heald is tremendous.’

‘Mark Heald is exceptional, extremely dedicated.’

Classements par PratiqueRegional Bar