2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS > London, England > Set Profile
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS Offices
TEMPLE
EC4Y 9DB
England
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Crime Tier 4
2 Harcourt Buildings, with ‘a broad range of quality advocates‘, is gaining a reputation for being ‘a prominent defence practice‘ as well as an established prosecution set. Catherine Donnelly is well-known for handling high-profile homicide and serious sexual offences cases. Jane Osborne KC balances defence and prosecution work, primarily prosecuting homicides, including those involving young people alleged to have connections to gangs. Edward Franklin is ‘an intellectual heavyweight’ with ‘an easy command of complex legal principles’ - he has considerable experience in complex multi-handed cases.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Keith Poynter is really good and very straightforward to deal with. Gary Wright is a really nice guy and a very helpful clerk. They’re both really safe pairs of hands.’
‘Keith Poynter is a top clerk and a natural leader. He is extremely responsive, always available and great at sorting diary issues. He is widely respected by solicitors, counsel and other clerks. He is ably assisted by Gary Wright who complements his proactive approach.’
‘2 Harcourt Chambers has now developed into a set with a prominent defence practice. Historically, they have had a reputation as being a prosecution set but are now conducting complex and high-profile defence work.’
‘A premier league set in every respect.’
‘2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding chambers. It has a national reputation for conducting the most serious prosecutions, and is a ‘go-to’ set for two counsel cases. At the junior end it is arguably the most experienced and able set of criminal juniors at the Bar.’
‘A fine chambers with a broad range of quality advocates. A top set.’
‘A set whose clerks are always happy to assist where they can. Both senior and junior members are popular and sought-after.’
London Bar > Fraud: crime
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS > Set Profile
2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding set of criminal barristers, with counsel of the highest quality at every level. Members of chambers prosecute and defend in the full range of criminal cases and are noted for their dedication, commanding courtroom performances, and sound advice.
Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. In addition, chambers has a particular specialism in cases investigated under Serious and Organised Crime Command, and the National Crime Agency. Regular instruction in the most heavyweight of criminal cases, combined with a tradition of retaining two counsel cases within chambers whenever possible, provides the juniors at 2 Harcourt Buildings with experience far beyond their call, enabling them to command the respect of opponents and judges alike.
Recent cases include: Operation Strey – prosecution of 7 of the most wanted organised criminals and was the most significant NCA investigations of modern time. We have also prosecuted retired senior MET police officers of huge quantities of serious sexual offence, the Bishopsgate robberies/stabbings, Lord Patten’s son in law for a gangland shooting and are about to prosecute the Exeter private school attempted murders by a current student and the missing head murder in Boscombe.
Work undertaken
Crime: Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. In addition, chambers has a particular specialism in cases investigated under Operation Trident or by the Flying Squad, Serious and Organised Crime Command, and the National Crime Agency.
Financial crime:  Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings specialise in high value and complex financial crime. Members of chambers are well known for their advisory skills, their performance in court, and their ability to process, assimilate and present the large quantities of information often involved in such complex cases.
Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in fraud and financial crime cases involving allegations in all areas but particularly including multi million pound banking fraud, diversion fraud, investment and boiler room frauds, tax fraud, duty evasion, money laundering allegations, bribery and corruption charges, cyber-crime offences, and immigration fraud. Instructions come from all areas, but particularly cases prosecuted by the Specialist Fraud Division of the CPS, the SFO and the FCA, and investigations conducted by HMRC. Members of chambers are experienced in conducting private prosecutions and are alert to the particular challenges such proceedings can present. Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings are frequently instructed for the outset of an investigation, providing advice pre-charge, through to the conclusion of proceedings, including dealing with restraint and confiscation.
The presentation of evidence electronically at trial is something chambers as a whole is familiar with. Junior members of chambers often appear as junior counsel and learn by example how to present and manage complex investigations and trials.
Recent cases include: Operation Elaborate – the biggest anti-fraud operation as described by the Metropolitan Police, Operation Maclura the highly sensitive prosecution of an ex solicitor and the defrauding of the LAA with links to the Iraqi War, Operation Barbados – currently the biggest MTIC carousel fraud and Operation Volcanic – largest benefit fraud in this country.
Professional discipline:Â 2 Harcourt Buildings is establishing a reputable inquests and public inquiries practice. Members of chambers act for bereaved families, medical professionals and state Interested Persons in Article 2 inquests heard before juries. Members are able to bring their expertise in criminal law to inquests involving evidence from the police, the prison service and the probation service, as well as a high standard of advocacy developed in the Crown Courts.
Members have advised the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to a potential judicial review arising from whistle-blower evidence concerning a historic inquest into a sensitive police shooting, and advising on, and drafting grounds of, the judicial review of the decisions made by Coroners during the course of inquests.
Members are regularly sought after to represent both the council and registrants before the General Dental Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council. Members have been instructed in the full array of proceedings including lengthy substantive hearings before the Conduct and Competency Committee, hearings before the Health Committee, restoration applications, registration appeals, and fraudulent/incorrect entry cases
Recruitment: Chambers prides itself on offering structured, challenging and fulfilling twelve-month pupillages to high quality applicants. Chambers aims to prepare all pupils for a successful career within our chambers and actively seeks to recruit junior tenants from amongst their number.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
James Dawes KC | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Paul Cavin KC | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Head of Chambers | Jane Osborne KC | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 |
Sean Brunton KC | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Kate Blumgart KC | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Mark Paltenghi | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Mark Gadsden | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Jane Carpenter | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Sarah Gaunt | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Toby Fitzgerald | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Sally Halkerston | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Sally Thompson | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Nicholas Alexander | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Catherine Donnelly | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Fer Chinner | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Paul Casey | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Christopher Stimpson | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Tom Nicholson | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Sally Mertens | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Edward Franklin | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Jenny Burgess | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Duncan Cooke | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
John Ojakovoh | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
James Caldwell | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Dominic Hockley | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Natalia Constantine | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Sam Barker | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Imogen Nelson | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Amy Oliver | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Charles Drinnan | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Mahesh Karu | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
William Goss | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Page Nyame | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Joe Weeks | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Julian Jones | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 | |
Chris Moran | [email protected] | 020 7353 2112 |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
James Dawes | View Profile | ||
Catherine Donnelly | Specialist in homicide and child sex abuse. Criminal Defence Criminal Prosecution – Grade… | View Profile | |
Mr Edward Franklin | View Profile | ||
Dominic Hockley | Dominic has a reputation for fearless advocacy and sound legal advice. He… | View Profile | |
Mahesh Karu | Mahesh is a dedicated advocate with a drive to ensure his clients… | View Profile | |
Tom Nicholson | Tom is a leading specialist criminal barrister, whose reputation is built on… | View Profile | |
Page Nyame | Page is a highly regarded junior specialising in corporate crime and public… | View Profile | |
Ms Jane Osborne KC | Jane has a leading criminal practice in complex prosecution and defence work… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Keith Poynter : Senior Clerk Gary Wright : First Junior Clerk Amanda Copas : Second Junior Clerk Clare Wright : Third Junior Clerk- Crime