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‘A pre-eminent set’ with ‘great depth at senior and more junior levels’, 2 Bedford Row fields a wealth of leading defence silks. William Clegg QC is an ‘all-round class act and one of the best in England’, Jim Sturman QC’s ‘trial advocacy skills have no equal’, and Ian Stern QC is ‘excellent and highly persuasive’. The ‘hardworking’ Nigel Lithman QC, Maura McGowan QC and Peter Griffiths QC are also recommended. Among the juniors, Michael Haynes, Dean Armstrong, Christine Agnew, Michael Levy and Barry Gilbert stand out.

2 Hare Court is ‘one of the ablest and most gifted sets of chambers in London’. Clients rate Orlando Pownall QC as ‘one of the top criminal silks’, and Brendan Kelly QC impresses with his ‘mastery of the details of a case’. Jonathan Laidlaw QC is currently prosecuting a member of the Saudi Royal family accused of murdering his aide in London. Peter Wright QC and David Waters QC are also highly sought after. Craig Ferguson, Parmjit-Kaur Cheema and the ‘highly intelligent, clear, calm and able’ Christopher Coltart are all recommended juniors.

6 King’s Bench Walk has ‘an excellent track record’ and fields leading individuals at both silk and junior level. Among the ‘excellent range of silks’, David Perry QC stands out as a figurehead of the criminal bar. John Ryder QC is also recommended, as is Nicholas Hilliard QC, who is regularly called on for cases involving complex medical or scientific issues. Duncan Penny (‘a star of the criminal bar’), Miranda Hill and Gareth Patterson are all recommended.

Three Raymond Buildings is ‘one of the top sets for extradition, fraud and criminal work’. Head of chambers Alexander Cameron QC is ‘very strong’, as is Patrick Gibbs QC, who ‘has a wonderful advocate’s voice’. Richard Horwell QC joined from Cloth Fair Chambers, and brings with him a significant track record in appellate cases, and Trevor Burke QC arrived from Charter Chambers. Since taking silk in 2009, Hugo Keith QC has cemented his reputation for his ‘solid-gold intellect coupled with a voracious work ethic’. Hugh Davies’ ‘sensitive handling of emotional situations and robust approach to situations which need firmer resolution’ make him an ideal candidate for prosecuting child exploitation and human trafficking cases. Richard Wormald is ‘unflappable in a crisis’.

25 Bedford Row ‘always has its finger on the pulse of new developments’. ‘Formidable advocate’ George Carter-Stephenson QC handles all types of criminal defence work, and Jeremy Dein QC is also singled out as an ‘extremely hardworking silk who is great with clients’. The ‘down-to-earth’ Paul Mendelle QC ‘genuinely cares about his clients and getting the best possible result for them’, most recently representing the mother of baby P in a murder charge. Diana Ellis QC and Paul Hynes QC are also recommended, as are juniors Ronald Jaffa, Jonathan Mann (‘destined to take silk’), Annette Henry (‘at the very top of her field’), and Arlette Piercy.

Doughty Street Chambers ‘combines strength in depth with efficiency’, and is particularly respected for its terrorism trial experience. Several new appointments bolster a silks list that includes the ‘very experienced’ Edward Fitzgerald OBE QC, Christopher Sallon QC, who is ‘both a first-rate lawyer and a top-class advocate’, and James Wood QC. Recommended juniors include the ‘excellent’ Jill Evans, who ‘identifies the crucial issues immediately but takes the time to explain complex and difficult issues with an understanding manner’; Paul Taylor, who ‘has an unrivalled knowledge of the workings of the Court of Appeal’; and David Bentley, whose ‘diligence and cleverness are head and shoulders above other juniors’.

23 Essex Street has ‘considerable experience in a wide cross-section of work’. Head of chambers Simon Russell Flint QC is a ‘skilled advocate who has a great presence in court’, and is currently prosecuting the first juryless criminal trial. Christopher Kinch QC is ‘an advocate of great presence, calm and measured with a persuasive manner’, and Gareth Rees QC and Daniel Janner QC are both recommended. Leading junior Rupert Pardoe ‘impresses with his advocacy skills’, and Gareth Branston is ‘very amenable with clients and able to engage with them whatever their background or intellect’. ‘Well-prepared and meticulous advocate’ Zafar Ali is a ‘flawless courtroom performer’.

QEB Hollis Whiteman has ‘a huge array of excellent advocates from the most junior upwards’. William Boyce QC has ‘all the skills one would expect from a talented silk, with none of the attitude’, Rebecca Poulet QC has ‘the ability to almost immediately inspire confidence and maintain it’, and David Jeremy QC ‘focuses on what really matters in a case’. Anthony Glass QC is also recommended. Linda Strudwick, Adrian Darbishire, Paul Raudnitz, and Benn Maguire are among the rated juniors, with Kerry Broome also drawing praise for her ‘excellent grasp of the issues – there is no doubt she has an excellent future ahead of her’.

Matrix Chambers’ clerks are ‘exceptionally good’. Tim Owen QC is ‘a quite exceptional appellate advocate’, Mark Summers has ‘very good knowledge of extradition case law’, and at the more junior level Alison Macdonald delivers ‘considered advice’. Clare Montgomery QC is ‘one of the best criminal silks around’.

7 Bedford Row is ‘a very strong set of criminal barristers with high-quality advocates at all levels, and excellent clerks’. Its London capability is supplemented with a pre-eminent position on the Midland Circuit. William Coker QC, Tim Barnes QC, Nigel Rumfitt QC and Richard Latham QC are all recommended, as are Gordon Aspden and Lauren Rafter.

36 Bedford Row ‘operates with real pride and strength in depth’. David Farrell QC has extensive homicide, money laundering and terrorism offences expertise. Christopher Donnellan QC is also recommended, particularly for cases with a high degree of complexity and sensitivity, thanks to his ‘excellent brain and bedside manner’. Frances Oldham QC straddles criminal and family matters to great acclaim. Matthew Lowe is ‘an excellent advocate, understated and clear’, and Jonathan Spicer ‘calmly and patiently deals with substantial matters clearly and with an eye for detail’. Up-and-coming junior Claire Howell is ‘analytical and thorough’.

At Cloth Fair Chambers, Nicholas Purnell QC and Jonathan Barnard are ‘in a class of their own’, and Ian Winter QC is ‘among the best silks around’.

Garden Court Chambers’ counsel are ‘innovative, friendly and willing to take up any challenges’. Newly appointed silk James Scobie QC is ‘extremely professional and completely dedicated to his clients’, and David Spens QC ‘uses the intelligent strategy and tactical analysis of a military general’. Richard Harvey is ‘inspirational’, and Tom Wainwright ‘never gives up on a case’.

Clients consistently praise the ‘quality of representation by counsel, and also the quality of administration by the clerks’ at 18 Red Lion Court. David Etherington QC ‘is very conscientious, a good lawyer and a first-class advocate’, and Anthony Arlidge QC ‘always provides excellent service to both solicitors and clients’. Peter Carter QC is also recommended. John Lyons has ‘excellent interpersonal skills’, and Jennifer Dempster is ‘a skilful and competent advocate’.

Tooks Chambers is a ‘hardworking set’, which has ‘good cover throughout the ranks’. Michael Mansfield QC’s ‘commitment to unpopular causes and cases has raised his profile to that of a celebrity, not least because in so many cases he has been proven right’. Stephen Kamlish QC ‘is committed, hardworking and tenacious, and does not fear becoming unpopular with judges or other lawyers if it is in the interests of his clients’. Danielle Cooper is also recommended – ‘under her easy, fluid delivery lurks a fast mind and a tough constitution’.

9 Bedford Row’s recommended silks include Anthony Berry QC, Elizabeth Marsh QC and Steven Kay QC. David Hughes and Benjamin Squirrell stand out among the juniors.

At 9-12 Bell Yard, Mukul Chawla QC is ‘a very safe pair of hands and well suited to “holding the ring” in a multi-handed case’, and Constance Briscoe has ‘huge experience in the field of sexual offences cases’.

Carmelite Chambers’ John Jones QC and Michael Wood QC are both rated for their expertise in homicide cases, and Mark Harries has a respected defence practice. William England is also recommended, and Stephen Leake is a ‘star in the making’.

Outer Temple Chambers has strength in extradition, financial crime and regulatory matters, with Christopher Wilson-Smith QC singled out.

Also recommended are: Bernard Thorogood at No5 Chambers; ‘heavyweight junior’ Paul Phillips and Michael Neofytou (a ‘shining star in the ascendancy’) at Charter Chambers; Anthony Metzer at Argent Chambers, who ‘conducts cases with skill and integrity’; Fred Ferguson’s ‘very strong eye for detail’ at 9 Gough Square; ‘excellent leader’ Camden Pratt QC and ‘competent and authoritative junior’ Julian Woodbridge at 1 King’s Bench Walk; Nadine Radford QC at 187 Fleet Street Chambers; Patrick Upward QC and Sophie Shotton at 15 New Bridge Street; Fiona Horlick at Outer Temple Chambers; and ‘technically brilliant’ solicitor advocate Jo Cooper, and the ‘thorough and conscientious’ Stephen Walters at Perren Buildings Chambers.

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