Mr Ben Myers KC > Exchange Chambers > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile
Exchange Chambers Offices
201 DEANSGATE
MANCHESTER
M3 3NW
England
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Mr Ben Myers KC
Work Department
Criminal
Position
Benjamin Myers KC is a leading criminal silk. Described as ‘brilliant’, ‘extremely astute’ ‘an exceptionally gifted lawyer – a fearsome advocate,’ with ‘an exceptional ability to digest complex cases’, he appears in courts across the country and is ranked at the top of his field in crime and financial crime in Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and in the Legal 500. He has been shortlisted as the Legal 500 Crime Silk of the Year 2022.
Ben handles cases in all areas of the criminal law including murder, manslaughter, high value fraud, money laundering, multimillion-pound confiscation under POCA, regulatory offences, drug trafficking, national and international organised crime, rape and historic sexual abuse. He deals with prosecutions by the CPS, the SFO, the OFT and other agencies and regulatory bodies. He is experienced in leading large teams in substantial, complex and sensitive cases, many of which have a high public profile. He has huge experience as a criminal trial advocate and appellate advocate, and is described as ‘an excellent lawyer with great courtroom skills’, who has ‘an excellent rapport with juries.’
Recent cases include the defence of David Duckenfield, the police match commander at the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy, tried for gross negligence manslaughter; Operation Lunar, an investigation by HMRC into a £330 million tax fraud; and R v Barton, the leading Court of Appeal authority defining the test for dishonesty in English criminal law. He is currently representing Lucy Letby, a nurse accused of multiple offences of murder and attempted murder, in proceedings before the Crown Court.
Ben is highly regarded for his ‘meticulous preparation’ and his ability to formulate astute case strategy. He can be relied upon to ‘put clients at their ease’ and is attuned to the pressures upon them; whether that is because of their public status, the risk to their assets, their vulnerability and mental health, or more generally the impact of criminal proceedings on their personal or professional life. He has represented company directors, financial directors, investment managers, police officers, teachers, medical practitioners and public figures.
Ben is able to provide advice at all stages of proceedings, including pre-charge; challenging prosecutions from the earliest stages and thereafter. His work includes judicial review, privacy and media-related applications in the context of criminal law. He has a wide experience of appellate work and provides advice and representation on appeal.
Ben undertakes both legally aided and privately funded work.
Career
Called 1994; QC 2014
Memberships
- Northern Circuit
- Criminal Bar Association
- JUSTICE
Education
- LLM – International and European Human Rights Law (Distinction) – University of Leeds
- BA – Joint Honours – University of Leeds
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Benjamin Myers KC – Exchange Chambers ‘Ben is exceptionally hardworking and time and time again masters the most serious and complex technical information. In terms of advocacy, Ben is a true heavyweight of the Bar and with good reason, as he is able to bear the immense pressure of some of the most daunting and distressing cases brought before the courts with unwavering professionalism and integrity.’
Exchange Chambers is praised as a ‘veritable Northern powerhouse’ with an ‘array of highly-respected practitioners’. The crime team in chambers defends and prosecutes at all levels, covering the entire spectrum of serious crime, including murder, financial crime, alleged serious sexual offending and drug offences. The set is home to John Jones KC, who has a thriving practice working exclusively for the defence in serious crime, fraud, money laundering, and insider trading cases; he acted for the defendant in a gangland murder case concerning the execution-style murder of a rival drug dealer in a public street in broad daylight in Liverpool. Gordon Cole KC has a well-established and varied practice, having acted in murder and manslaughter cases, and Ben Myers KC has substantial expertise in high-value fraud and money laundering cases. The set also houses Richard Littler KC, who has significant experience in cases concerning terrorism, fraud, and organised crime – he is acting for a defendant in a drug importation case stemming from the interception of 350kg of cocaine, 90kg of heroin and 150kg of cannabis. Mark Rhind KC is strong in high-value MTIC and tax fraud cases. Imran Shafi KC also primarily defends in serious and high-profile cases regarding murder, terrorism, and drug conspiracies – he represented a woman who was acquitted on charges concerning her alleged membership of an extreme-right group planning violence using, among others, 3D-printed firearms. Turning to the set’s juniors, David Birrell was sole counsel for a defendant who played a leading role in a case concerning the supply of 180kg of Class A drugs, involving a significant amount of Encrochat evidence. James MacAdam was appointed to the circuit bench in September 2023 as was Ian Harris in October 2023.