Dijen Basu KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersDijen is thorough and thoughtful. He's good in court and picking up issues on his feet.
Police law (forces and constables)
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Jason Beer KC
5 Essex ChambersJason is, in my view, one of the most outstanding advocates at the Bar today. He possesses an extraordinary ability to absorb and analyze vast quantities of complex information and present it with clarity, precision, and authority. His judgment is excellent; he is strategically astute, and he remains calm and measured even under the most intense pressure. Jason is rightly in great demand and is involved in many of the most significant public inquiries, inquests, and police law cases in the country. Despite the demands of his practice, he remains approachable, responsive, collaborative, and focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients.
John Beggs KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersJohn is an incredibly pragmatic lawyer. He gets straight to the point, and along with his exceptionally strong intellect, he is an exceptional negotiator.
Gerard Boyle KC
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
Andrew Warnock KC
Deka ChambersAndrew is faultless in my view. He is the best defendant police counsel with whom I have worked: utterly unflappable, highly astute, competitive, and with a sharp brain. He is extremely well-respected and deservedly so: he is straightforward, fair, and he gets results through a combination of talent and diligence. He is a highly skilled advocate: understated and incisive. He is immensely likable, and it is an absolute privilege to work alongside him.
Fiona Barton KC
5 Essex ChambersShe has an in-depth knowledge of police law.
Matthew Butt KC
Three Raymond BuildingsMatthew is obviously a superstar at the top of his game. He is one of those very lucky counsels who seem to have it all: an easy mastery of the law, an ability to retain all the facts, and a persuasive, charming, and commanding advocacy that gets great results.
Patrick Gibbs KC
Three Raymond BuildingsPaddy is one of the top criminal lawyers. His witness handling is legendary. He understands how juries think, and every word is thought through for maximum impact.
Hugh Davies OBE KC
Three Raymond BuildingsGreat tactician, especially in terms of finding the legal weaknesses in a case.
Wonderful calm presentation in court, which catches the tribunal's ear. Extremely persuasive in setting out the most complex of issues at all levels.
Alan Payne KC
39 Essex Chambers
Ian Skelt KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersIan has a fantastic tone and puts witnesses and clients at ease, safe in the knowledge he is doing a fantastic job and will achieve great results.
Paul Stagg KC
Deka ChambersPaul is one of the best at everything he does. If Paul is instructed, I know that the case will work out okay.
Anne Studd KC
5 Essex ChambersShe is, quite rightly, very well thought of within the sector and her standing as leading counsel is thoroughly deserved. What sets her apart, however, is how genuinely collaborative and personable she is to work with — she treats the instructing solicitor as a true partner in the case rather than a mere conduit to the client. She is unfailingly supportive, generous with her time, and takes real care to ensure that those instructing her feel backed and informed at every stage. Her advice is measured, commercial, and delivered with a clarity that clients immediately appreciate. She is a silk I instruct with complete confidence and one I would recommend without hesitation.
Charlotte Ventham KC
5 Essex ChambersCharlotte is one of the best, if not the best, courtroom advocates in police law. Her cross-examination of witnesses is a masterclass, and her in-depth knowledge and understanding of police law are second to none. You always want her on your team.
Francesca Whitelaw KC
5 Essex ChambersShe brings considerable strategic insight to complex matters, particularly when representing state bodies at inquiries. She handles difficult issues with calm assurance. Her witness handling and presentation of the evidence in inquiries are first-rate. Very easy to work with for clients and, where appropriate, develops a productive collaborative approach with opponents.
Alisdair Williamson KC
Three Raymond Buildings2025 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
James Berry KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersHe is a very bright leading counsel whose intellectual horsepower is evident from the first conference. His work is meticulously thorough — no stone is left unturned and his written advice is consistently of the highest quality. He is impressively responsive, with queries dealt with promptly and without fuss, which makes managing matters alongside him genuinely straightforward. On a personal level, he is warm and personable, and notably client-friendly in conference, with a real ability to put clients at ease while explaining complex issues in accessible terms. He is a silk I instruct with complete confidence and would recommend without hesitation.
Rachel Scott KC
Three Raymond Buildings
George Thomas KC
Serjeants' Inn ChambersHe is widely recognized as one of the leading experts in public order law and the policing of protests, and his reputation within this field is second to none.
Nicholas Yeo KC
Three Raymond BuildingsFantastic "black letter lawyer", but also combined with excellent advocacy skills developed over many years of criminal practice. He is very well placed to deal with cases that are legally complex but which also require careful, strategic decision-making. He's also very good in conference; he has a really "down-to-earth" manner and explains complex matters in a very digestible and client-friendly manner.
2026 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
