Christopher May > Chambers of David Josse KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Christopher May

+44 (0) 207 332 5400 clerks@5sah.co.uk View profile

Work Department

Chris is a heavyweight criminal barrister instructed in some of the most serious and often high profile criminal cases either as the leading junior or sole advocate.

He is ranked in Chambers and Partners for his criminal work.

Position

Chris is a heavyweight criminal barrister instructed in some of the most serious, and often high profile criminal cases either as the leading junior or sole advocate. Chris is ranked in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for his criminal work.

Chris is the head of the Criminal Prosecutions Team at 5SAH and he is the Senior of the Kent Bar Mess.

Examples of Chris’s instructions include: murder, organised crime, serious offences against the person and sexual assaults and rapes, including historical allegations.  Chris also has extensive experience of cases involving large-scale frauds, confiscation and asset forfeiture and regulatory health and safety matters involving allegations of corporate manslaughter.

Chris is an experienced criminal barrister and safe pair of hands.  He has an impressive style and presence when appearing in court.

Direct Public Access

• Chris accepts direct public access instructions in appropriate cases.

Chambers and Partners 2021:

“A polished advocate who is charming and carries a lot of weight with the jury.”

Client feedback:

“Can I take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to yourself and of course John [Keal] for your handling of this very difficult and complex case. You have been superb and have delivered a prosecution of the utmost quality. It has been a pleasure working with you.”

Detective Inspector, Complex Abuse Unit Surrey in the case of R v Chilcott and Pusey.

“Mr May was extremely professional, very approachable and in my view his delivery of the evidence was very impressive. This is the second case I have had with Mr May, on both occasions his dedication shone through.”

Feedback from those instructing Chris May. November 2016.

Career

• Chris was called to the Bar in 1983.

• Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) List of prosecuting advocates at Level 4: London and the South Eastern Circuit.
• CPS Serious Crime Panel at Level 4.
• CPS rape and serious sexual assault prosecution list: London and the South Eastern Circuit at Level 4.
• Band C (10 years’ call and above) appointed advocate for the General Dental Council (GDC).

Business Crime & Financial Regulation

Chris has prosecuted and defended in fraud cases of all types, including giving pre-charge advice in potential MTIC and money-laundering cases. He has successfully conducted VAT fraud cases involving companies and company directors (e.g. R v Bayly; Harrow Crown Court).

Criminal Defence

Chris is a heavyweight criminal barrister and is instructed to defend in some of the most serious, and often high profile criminal cases either as the leading junior or sole advocate.

Criminal Prosecutions – Private & Public

Chris appears in the most serious criminal cases.  He has appeared as either leading or sole Counsel in many homicide cases including sexually motivated killing (R v Coates); the murder by a woman of her partner on the day of his release from prison (R v Carter) and joint enterprise Murder.

He has prosecuted gang violence cases, including leading in a 20 Defendant case at Woolwich Crown Court (all convicted).  He has appeared in many cases involving allegations of organised criminal activity including drugs and violence. He has long experience of Flying Squad and HMRC cases and those involving all forms of sensitive material, surveillance and PII. He has considerable experience of kidnapping cases and those involving firearms.

Sexual Offences

Chris is on the CPS Rape Prosecution list for London and the South Eastern Circuit at Level 4. He has enormous experience of both prosecuting and defending in sexual cases, whether historical allegations or those involving children or other vulnerable witnesses or defendants; including the use of the full range of special measures and intermediaries. He has appeared in cases involving multiple complainants and allegations of sexual abuse spanning several decades.

Chris successfully defended a man on life licence charged with 5 offences of rape and other offences of violence (R v D; Isleworth Crown Court).  Chris also succeeded in the defence of a mother jointly charged with other family members of the abuse of a very young child (R v G; Maidstone Crown Court). He recently prosecuted a case involving transmission of HIV through sexual abuse resulting in the imposition of a life sentence.

Chris accepts Private Prosecution Instructions.

Memberships

• South Eastern Circuit (Elected representative for Kent).
• Criminal Bar Association.
• Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association.
• Senior of the Kent Bar Mess.

Education

• MA (Hons) Cantab.
• Exhibitioner in Law, Christ’s College, Cambridge.