6KBW College Hill > London, England > Set Profile

Chambers of Simon Denison KC
6KBW College Hill
21 COLLEGE HILL
LONDON
EC4R 2RP
England

Email firm Visit website 020 3301 0910

London Bar > Crime Tier 1

6KBW College Hill is regarded by many as the leading prosecuting set in London, hosting a wide range of outstanding barristers regularly involved in complex and high-profile cases, often but not exclusively for the prosecution. Annabel Darlow KC prosecuted a conspiracy theorist telecommunications engineer who received a sentence of six and a half years for preparing attacks on radio, phone, and TV masts as well as major roadways. Louis Mably KC prosecuted a man who, after learning his bed bound grandfather was accused of sexually abusing girls, stabbed him to death – the defendant admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and received a discretionary life sentence in the first case in which the judge’s sentencing remarks were broadcast. Alison Morgan KC and Alistair Richardson prosecuted a British Embassy security guard in Berlin charged with passing on sensitive information, including classified intelligence material, to Russia, contrary to the Official Secrets Act 1911. The set also handles defence work – Alex Du Sautoy represented an IPP prisoner who was acquitted on four counts of administering a noxious substance by throwing urine and faeces over prison officers, also known as “potting”.

Rising stars

Alex Du Sautoy – 6KBW College Hill ‘Alex’s advocacy is second to none. He is a fearless and tenacious barrister with expertise handling the most difficult of witnesses. He is caring and listens to clients and gets a lot of respect in the courtroom.’

Ranked: Tier 1

Leading Silks

Sasha Wass KC – 6KBW College Hill 'Sasha is really great with clients, really calm and reassuring. Her judgement is first class and in court she is commanding and unflappable. She is one of the most experienced criminal silks about.'

Ranked: Tier 1

Simon Denison KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Simon is one of the Bar’s class acts. He prosecutes cases of the utmost gravity with a fairness that makes him an extremely difficult opponent. His advocacy is also second-to-none.’

Ranked: Tier 2

John Ryder KC – 6KBW College Hill

Ranked: Tier 2

Annabel Darlow KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Annabel is extremely clever and exceptionally hard working. Her tactical ability is impressive and her jury speeches are great. Overall a very impressive barrister.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Duncan Atkinson KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Duncan is at the very top of the profession in terms of prosecuting. He is an excellent lawyer and a first class advocate. He is steely and very knowledgeable.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Duncan Penny KC – 6KBW College Hill 'Duncan's clarity of thought and his ability to see and assess the strength of evidence and its implications is outstanding. He has a rational approach that gets straight to the point as well as a clear advocacy style.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Jacob Hallam KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Jacob is incredibly well respected by all. His knowledge of the law, analytical dexterity, and advocacy skills are unrivalled and his experience manifests in a calming and confidence-inspiring influence. He is highly intelligent and tactically supreme.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Tony Badenoch KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Tony is excellent tactically and a really good orator. He also fights for his clients.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Gareth Patterson KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘He is a first rate prosecutor who has an impressive knowledge of the law and an easy and persuasive manner with the jury. A charming but formidable advocate.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Aftab Jafferjee KC – 6KBW College Hill 'He is excellent at seeing good legal points and using them to optimum effect. He is a particularly effective cross-examiner of expert witnesses and of the most contentious witnesses. His skill is impressive to watch.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Alison Morgan KC – 6KBW College Hill

Ranked: Tier 3

Louis Mably KC – 6KBW College Hill ‘Louis is highly sought-after. He is always on top of the legal or factual issues in a case and is balanced in his approach. He presents in a clear and structured manner which allows juries to identify issues from the start and follow the evidence with ease.'

Ranked: Tier 3

2022 Silks

Miranda Hill KC – 6KBW College Hill

Leading Juniors

Alistair Richardson – 6KBW College Hill ‘Alistair is a beautifully calm and persuasive advocate who knows his cases back to front. He demonstrates real integrity and his communication is excellent.'

Ranked: Tier 1

Paul Jarvis – 6KBW College Hill ‘Paul is a highly respected practitioner who thinks with pure clarity. He is a fountain of knowledge and knows the law inside out. He is a true expert in defending sexual offences and is a master of tactical decision making. He is silk quality and clients are in total awe of him.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Peter Ratliff – 6KBW College Hill ‘Peter's advocacy is excellent: to the point, crystal clear, well thought out, always presented with the utmost reasonableness - and therefore very engaging and persuasive. He has great skill in addressing both juries and trial judges and defendants are justly worried at the prospect of being cross-examined by him.'

Ranked: Tier 2

Ben Lloyd – 6KBW College Hill ‘Ben presents evidence with skill and confidence. He is always calm, approachable, sensible and has a great sense of humour. A quality advocate.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Denis Barry – 6KBW College Hill ‘Denis is a brilliant jury advocate: he is highly articulate, amusing and quick on his feet. His style of advocacy calms and concentrates a jury taking them by the hand and leading them over what can be exceptionally difficult areas of law. He is one of the best juniors at the criminal Bar.’

Ranked: Tier 2

Simon Ray – 6KBW College Hill ‘Simon is a first class brief, who is a silk in all but name. He picks up the details of a case quickly, and understands what matters. He fights his corner fiercely but fairly and his cross-examination is well-prepared and effective.’

Ranked: Tier 3

Esther Schutzer-Weissmann – 6KBW College Hill ‘Esther is an experienced and technically gifted barrister who is calm, collected and strategic in her approach. An exceptional lawyer who is at ease with any tribunal.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Adam Payter – 6KBW College Hill 'Adam is a very bright and hard working advocate. He is extremely client friendly and can also steer witnesses and the jury through material, including technical details, in an attractive and careful way. He is a very safe pair of hands on a legal argument, with mastery of the relevant law.'

Ranked: Tier 3

Thomas Williams – 6KBW College Hill

Ranked: Tier 4

Lucy Organ – 6KBW College Hill ‘Lucy has excellent judgement, a great court manner, is naturally clever and scrupulously fair and committed.’

Ranked: Tier 4

Testimonials

‘Both Andrew Barnes and Mark Essex are fantastic clerks: they are commercially minded, responsive and a pleasure to work with.’

‘The service and the clerks’ room are both exceptional. Richard Summerscales and Lizzie Labrum are consummate professionals with really good personal qualities.’

‘Lizzie Labrum is incredibly efficient. She is a magician at juggling matters so preferred counsel can deal. This efficiency is particularly notable when chambers is briefed at the same time on multiple cases, in multiple locations for the same defendant.’

‘6KBW College Hill is an excellent set.’

‘6KBW is the pinnacle of the prosecuting criminal chambers. The strength in depth seems never-ending at every level.’

‘An exceptional set with a galaxy of superlative advocates.’

Work highlights

London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations) Tier 2

6KBW College Hill is regularly instructed to prosecute as well as defend across a variety of high-profile and sensitive corporate crime matters, including complex financial crime, criminal fraud, bribery and corruption, and fields ‘some of the leading barristers in the country with expertise at all levels‘. For example, ‘Top choice junior‘ Katherine Hardcastle, led by David Perry KC, defended the ferry operator P&O from a criminal investigation by the Insolvency Service in relation to the high-profile mass redundancies in March 2022.