Crime (general And Fraud)

Leading Silks

Richard Atkins KC –St Philips Chambers ‘Richard is a highly effective prosecutor. He has the ability to manage the challenges of serious multi-handed cases and to present cases of complexity with clarity. He commands the respect of the court, cross-examines robustly and thoroughly, and holds sway with the jury.'

Michael Duck KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Michael is one of the main silks in Birmingham, equally strong when defending and prosecuting. He has gravitas in court and is a very strong advocate.'

Michelle Heeley KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Mary Prior KC – The 36 Group ‘Mary is one of the best silks around. She is a fantastic advocate - jurors love her. She breaks complex concepts down very easily and enables a jury to follow her arguments with ease. Her client care is also brilliant.'

Christopher Donnellan KC –The 36 Group ‘Christopher is charismatic, thorough and fair. His presentation of cases is second-to-none. He has a real flair for detail.’

Kevin Hegarty KC –St Philips Chambers

Adrian Keeling KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Adrian has astounding tactical nous. He is a particularly good judge of character which makes him very effective when it comes to making sensible tactical decisions. His behind-the-scenes advocacy in dealing with his opponents and co-defendants is skillful and, importantly, he plays with a straight bat and quickly gains a reputation for being honest and fair whilst navigating a case to a favourable conclusion.'

John Lloyd-Jones KC – The 36 Group ‘John has exceptional client care skills, an exceptional eye for detail, exceptional drafting skills and his advocacy is then over and above all other areas. He is a jury trial advocate of superb quality.'

Harpreet Sandhu KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Harpreet is a very smooth operator. He is equally comfortable prosecuting and defending. More importantly, he is equally brilliant in serious crime or fraud cases. He is a great jury advocate and has a very caring manner when dealing with clients. A leading KC in the region.’

Andrew Vout KC – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Andrew is an advocate whose grace belies his steel – he is often disarming and always forensically powerful. When the judiciary and opponents respect an advocate, such as Andrew, that individual gives a real added value to the presentation of a case – especially the difficult ones. Although relatively junior in silk, he already stands ahead of many of his peers in the front row.’

Simon Ash KC – The 36 Group

Michael Burrows KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Jonas Hankin KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Mark Heywood KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Mark has a calm and authoritative manner born of years of experience. Juries plainly warm to him.’

Allison Summers KC –Drystone Chambers

2023 Silks

James Horne KC – Castle Gate Chambers ‘James is unique. His command of the court room is second to none, his manner with clients is sensitive and his written work and advocacy are perfection. He is an advocate of the highest calibre.'

Philip Rule KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Philip is an incredibly hardworking barrister. His written and oral advocacy is always clear and effective. In particular, his written advocacy never fails to be comprehensive and to take every point which has a reasonable prospect of being argued. Philip is able to distil really complex legal issues to be directly relevant to the facts of an individual case.'

Rebecca Wade KC – St Philips Chambers ‘Rebecca is excellent in all aspects. She is always meticulously prepared with a bespoke case strategy that best serves her client's interests. Her advocacy style is incisive and engaging, combined with an eye for technical and forensic detail. Her client care is also excellent.'

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Barker –St Philips Chambers ‘Jonathan has a technical mind which allows him to assimilate material very quickly. He focuses on the issues and the intricacies of each case in order to represent his clients to the very best of his ability, which is indeed outstanding. He is extremely good with lay clients and their families and in legal arguments he can think on his feet and address all issues eloquently and with meaning.’

Ian Bridge – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Ian has excellent analytical skills and his level of accuracy and attention to detail is outstanding. He has a real command of the courtroom when representing clients; his communication and presentation skills are phenomenal.'

Ben Close – St Philips Chambers ‘Ben has a sound, analytical approach to work. His strength is in analysing a complex case and getting on top of the details; he is a junior for particularly difficult and demanding cases. His advocacy is also sound. Ben is a silk of the future.’

William Douglas-Jones – St Philips Chambers ‘William's key strength is his meticulous approach to case preparation. He is comfortable liaising with all parties and is a keen negotiator. He has an eye for detail and is a superb advocate. He is a stand-out barrister on the circuit.'

Justin Jarmola – Citadel Chambers

Jennifer Josephs –St Philips Chambers ‘Jennifer is a talented advocate with a persuasive manner. She is intellectually able, diligent, and astute in terms of the strategy and tactics of a case. She is highly respected by the judiciary and by her colleagues at the Bar.’

Sarah Knight –The 36 Group ‘Sarah is an exceptional advocate with a clear and persuasive approach to advocacy. She takes the most complicated of cases and carves a clear channel through the evidence with her understanding. She is calm and methodical and oozes good judgement and presence in a court room. She is quite exceptional all round.’

John O’Higgins – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘John has excellent communication skills with clients, with the ability to reassure clients who are anxious about proceedings. His performances in court are masterclasses. He is the most powerful advocate around and his cross-examination of witnesses is strategically brilliant and phenomenal.'

Tim Pole – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Good communication skills and a very commercial outlook makes Tim an ideal choice for clients. He is good when it comes to paperwork as well as as a courtroom advocate.'

Ben Williams –St Philips Chambers 'Ben is a superb barrister. He has a very approachable manner, both with instructing solicitors and lay clients. He approaches all cases with a thoroughness and attention to detail. In court, his representations are persuasive and concise, whereas with juries he is personable and provides great clarity to seemingly complex issues.'

Sharon Bahia – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Sharon’s strength lies in her intuition. Her reaction to the unanticipated displays a real-world understanding of the exigencies of criminal litigation. She has a down-to-earth manner which inspires confidence in her clients. She has a perfectly-balanced approach of tenacity and realism.’

Claire Fraser – The 36 Group ‘Claire is an exceptionally able advocate who has demonstrated over a significant period that she can be trusted with very serious and complex criminal work. Her advocacy skills, both written and oral, are of a very high standard. Claire is in a class of her own, a true leader and a real team player whether leading or junioring.’

Sarah Gaunt - 2 Harcourt Buildings

Rajinder Gill –St Philips Chambers 'Rajinder has all the assets needed to be a highly-skilled barrister. His quiet, self-effacing manner belies his extremely sharp, perceptive mind. His attention to detail is second to none and his bedside manner with clients is to be much admired. A definite must on anyone's short list.'

Marcus Harry – St Philips Chambers

Nadeem Holland –The 36 Group ‘As an advocate Nadeem comes across as thoughtful, calm and authoritative when on his feet in court. He puts his lay clients at ease with his approachable manner. He is a very fine advocate.'

Amy Jackson – St Philips Chambers ‘Amy is a no-nonsense, hard working junior who is fearless and excellent with clients.'

Andrew Jackson –St Philips Chambers ‘Andrew is very good at charming a jury. He is calm under pressure, extremely experienced, and develops excellent working relationships with other professionals. He is a safe pair of hands and always tries hard for the client and provides a consistently high standard of service.'

Ben Mills –St Philips Chambers

Sophie Murray – St Ives Chambers ‘Sophie is quick to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of a case. She is a good advocate and has the ability to keep things clear and simple for a jury.'

Kevin Saunders – 23ES

Nadia Silver –The 36 Group

Samuel Skinner – The 36 Group

James Armstrong-Holmes – Castle Gate Chambers ‘James is a confident advocate who deals sensitively with the most difficult cases whilst putting his case robustly when necessary. His client care is exceptional and he always makes time for his client, his instructing solicitors, court staff and barrister colleagues. He is well liked and respected amongst his peers.’

Matthew Iain Bolt – Cornwall Street Barristers 'Matthew is a superb barrister who possess a first-class knowledge of criminal black-letter law and procedure and an impressive set of 'soft skills' that immediately put the lay client at ease.'

Simon Burch – St Ives Chambers

Stefan Fox – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Stefan is a pleasure to work with. His knowledge on the law is phenomenal. He is also very good in court and advocates in such a way that juries understand and connect with him.'

Lisa Hardy – The 36 Group 'Lisa has a very good eye to detail; she is very thorough and provides advice on the evidence well in advance of hearings. She has excellent client care skills and creates a rapport with clients within seconds.'

Laura Hocknell –Castle Gate Chambers ‘Laura is an excellent orator and her cross-examination is devastatingly good. She is very personable and promotes confidence in clients.'

Laura Pitman – Castle Gate Chambers ‘Laura is a tenacious and fearless advocate. Her focus is the best interests of her client and she will work tirelessly to achieve a just outcome. She has real steel and is a devastating cross-examiner.’

Michael Tanney – St Ives Chambers

Dharmendra Toor – 5 St Andrews Hill

Carl Templar-Vasey – St Philips Chambers

Tom Walkling – St Philips Chambers ‘Tom has always shown an excellent ability to analyse and assimilate the evidence in order to identify the issues in the case. He is able to identify very quickly those matters which are of importance and which require further scrutiny. He is an intuitive trial advocate, with the ability to deal with issues as they arise throughout trials calmly and appropriately.'

Karen Walton – Drystone Chambers 'Karen is a skilled and exceptional advocate. She consistently demonstrates wise and sound judgement in difficult and sometimes unexpected circumstances. She is scrupulously well-prepared, with a firm grasp of all the evidential and legal aspects of a case. She also has a lovely manner with both juries and opponents alike.'

Darron Whitehead – St Philips Chambers

Lucinda Wilmott-Lascelles – St Philips Chambers

Oliver Woolhouse – Cornwall Street Barristers

Sara Wyeth – St Philips Chambers

Rising Stars

Chloe Ashley – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Chloe is an outstanding junior barrister. She is hard-working, tenacious and has excellent judgement.’

Callum Church – St Philips Chambers ‘Callum is an energetic and positive advocate who always demonstrates commitment to his cases with admirable enthusiasm.'

Matthew Cullen – St Philips Chambers ‘Matthew is an exceptionally well-prepared advocate. He is thorough and extremely competent. His advocacy is well structured, well presented and well received. He is a young man who has the potential for greatness.’

Queenie Djan – St Ives Chambers ‘Queenie is a confident and exceptionally capable advocate. She prepares cases in great detail and together with her knowledge of the criminal procedure rules, she is often able to persuade the judge with her arguments.’

Thomas Duggan – St Ives Chambers 'Thomas is an exceptionally talented barrister. He is both a confident and capable advocate, and has a great knowledge of the criminal procedure rules.'

Arthur Kendrick – The 36 Group ‘Arthur is an extremely able, hardworking, and intelligent junior barrister who is swiftly rising through the ranks. His strengths lie in his case preparation and attention to detail. He also has a very good manner with lay clients and puts them at ease. He is a good choice for all complex cases.’

Tom Parker – The 36 Group ‘Tom is an outstanding young barrister. He is clever without feeling the need to show his intelligence off. He is calm and performs well under pressure. He is also a thoroughly decent individual and this shines through in his engagement with others making him both persuasive and very effective. He is destined for great things.'

Catherine Ravenscroft – St Philips Chambers ‘Catherine is able and confident with even the most trying of cases. She is always well prepared and has a thorough grasp of the facts and issues. She is an impressive advocate with skills well beyond her call. She relates well to defendants. Catherine has a bright future ahead of her.’

Lachlan Stewart – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Sebastian Walker – The 36 Group ‘Sebastian is professional, intelligent, focused, unfalteringly diligent, flexible, robust, and eloquent, with an irresistible advocacy style. He is without doubt one of the most impressive barristers around.'

Crime (general and fraud) in Regional Bar

Tier 1 sets

No5 Barristers' Chambers

No5 Barristers’ Chambers remains ‘a powerhouse of a set‘ with strength in depth in terms of criminal barristers. Michael Duck KC, ‘equally strong when defending and prosecuting’, has particular expertise in cases involving organised crime – he recently represented an 18-year-old man co-accused of the torture and murder of a drug addict over £300 of missing money who ultimately received a minimum of 28 years in prison. Michelle Heeley KC, current leader of the Midlands Circuit, regularly prosecutes and defends in the most serious and high-profile of cases – she prosecuted a 26-year-old engineering student convicted of preparing acts of terrorism, namely building and planning to deliver a drone to Islamic State, as well as researching chemical weapons and explosives. John O’Higgins, ‘a senior junior of the highest calibre’ noted particularly for his powerful advocacy, handles murder, terrorism, and sexual offences cases. Ian Bridge is well-known for defending in the most challenging and serious road traffic cases, including death by dangerous driving.

Testimonials

‘Andrew Trotter is an institution. His client care is second to none.’

‘Chris Norman is a stand out clerk.’

‘The service provided by No5 Chambers is second to none. Andrew Trotter has propelled No5 to such a high standard.’

‘No5 is a set of chambers that recruits only the very best in their particular field. The senior clerks are easy to approach and they will almost inevitably always secure your first choice of counsel.’

‘No5 Chambers is a strong powerhouse of a set and has a good selection of counsel at most levels in this area.’

‘A wonderful set populated by highly talented practitioners.’

Work highlights

St Philips Chambers

St Philips Chambers maintains ‘a fine reputation as one of the top sets for criminal law on the Midlands Circuit’. Richard Atkins KC, ‘a great advocate with an easy courtroom manner’, defends and prosecutes in murder, manslaughter, fraud, and drugs cases, among others. In 2023 Rebecca Wade KC defended a mother charged with gross negligence manslaughter after her baby daughter drowned in the bath having been left unsupervised, with both parents under the influence of drugs at the time. Jonathan Barker has notable experience in high-profile cases – he recently represented social media influencer Mahek Bukhari, who, along with seven others, was charged with the double murder of her mother’s lover and his friend after their car was forced off the road into a tree. Ben Close, with a practice primarily consisting of ‘paper-heavy and multi-defendant cases‘, has recent experience handling money laundering matters involving considerable cryptocurrency purchases. Jennifer Josephs’ varied expertise covers murder, sexual offences, and drugs cases.

Testimonials

‘Andrew Rourke is helpful, courteous and extremely efficient. He is backed up with equally efficient juniors.’

‘James Withers and Somaya Sheikh are excellent. They are always polite and approachable and frequently go the extra mile to assist in making counsel available no matter what the court, type of instruction or short notice of the request.’

‘St Philips is one of two leading chambers in the West Midlands and more broadly on the Midlands Circuit. Their acquisition of Andrew Rourke to the clerking team has supplemented an already strong team led by Joe Wilson as CEO of the chambers.’

‘The clerks are, across the board, excellent. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors and work conscientiously to ensure that counsel are available.’

‘The best set in Birmingham and one of the strongest in the country.’

‘St Philips Chambers has a breadth and depth of counsel across the spectrum. They are competent, friendly and above all, never let you down.’

‘St Philips Chambers has always been a set with a fine reputation and an excellent pool of counsel. It has recently attracted additional counsel, broadening that pool.’

Work highlights

Tier 2 sets

The 36 Group

The 36 Group is widely praised as ‘a strong set of criminal practitioners who are adept at dealing with complex and serious matters’. ‘First-rate trial advocate’ and crime group head Mary Prior KC is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in high-profile and medically complex murder cases involving the deaths of children – she recently prosecuted the mother and stepfather of a ten-month-old who died after physical abuse compared by a pathologist to a multi-storey fall; the stepfather was convicted of murder and the mother of causing or allowing the death of a child. Claire Fraser is recognised as ‘an engaging and fluent advocate whose style endears herself to juries’. Lisa Hardy recently defended a man acquitted on charges of with unlawful act manslaughter , having allegedly spiked his date's vape fluid with a lethal dose of painkiller oxycodone. Arthur Kendrick’s burgeoning practice covers organised crime, homicide and fraud cases.

Testimonials

‘Michelle Simpson leads an impressive team who are always keen to assist and find solutions to any problem.’

‘The 36 Group is a standout chambers. The breadth of the work they do means that they are able to assist with almost any case that arises with a selection of excellent barristers to choose from. The clerking team is second to none. Michelle Simpson runs a tight ship which results in excellent service. You cannot go wrong with the 36 Group.’

‘The clerks are always helpful and usually respond on the day.’

’36 Crime is a strong set of criminal practitioners who are adept at dealing with complex and serious matters, supported by a particularly professional and pro-active clerks’ room.’

‘The 36 Group is a long-established set of chambers that has a powerful team of criminal barristers who prosecute and defend in serious and complex criminal cases throughout the Midlands, as well as nationally.’

‘The 36 Group is the pre-eminent set in the East Midlands.’

‘The 36 Group is an excellent set of chambers with an especially strong presence in the Midlands.’

Work highlights

Tier 3 sets

Stanford House, 19 Castle Gate

Castle Gate Chambers is widely seen as ‘the go-to set in Nottingham‘ for criminal barristers. James Horne KC is ‘an excellent barrister with great people skills’, routinely instructed to defend against homicide and serious sexual offences charges. ‘Excellent silk’ Andrew Vout KC acts in high-profile cases – he recently represented a 21-year-old mother of two accused, alongside her partner, of murdering her 10-month-old son. Laura Pitman’s broad practice covers murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, and firearms cases, among others. James Armstrong-Holmes is ‘well-respected by judges and lawyers alike in the East Midlands’. He has notable experience handling drugs conspiracy, historic sexual offences, and s18 wounding with intent cases.

Testimonials

‘The clerks offer a great service, especially Richard Pell. He is always available if needed and can be relied on completely.’

‘The chambers is well run and clerked by Richard Pell who is always contactable and prompt to return calls/emails.’

‘No matter which clerk you speak to at Castle Gate, they all know the answers. Instructing solicitors can have faith that whenever you call them up with any queries, they are going to be responded to swiftly.’

Coverage By Practice AreaRegional Bar