Paul Taylor KC KC > Doughty Street Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Doughty Street Chambers Offices
53-54 DOUGHTY STREET
LONDON
WC1N 2LS
England
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Paul Taylor KC KC
Work Department
Position
Paul specialises in criminal appeals. He has developed a particular expertise in cases involving fresh expert evidence, homicide, and offenders with mental disorders.
He regularly represents appellants before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) (being instructed at the appellate stage).
Career
Year of Call: 1989; Middle Temple; joined Doughty Street Chambers 1990; Year of Silk: 2018
Recently, Paul has also appeared (remotely) in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in a murder appeal from the British Virgin Islands, and in the appeal of Roger Mootoo in the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Mootoo had been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 28 years imprisonment with hard labour. His conviction was quashed and no retrial ordered.
Paul has appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, (as junior counsel) in capital appeals from the Caribbean, and as leading counsel in Philips v The Director of Public Prosecutions (St Christopher and Nevis), a murder appeal from St. Kitts and Nevis and Williams v Supervisory Authority, an appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Antiguan money laundering regulations [Watch the hearing: here.]
Paul is also instructed to appear (together with Amanda Clift-Matthews and Daniella Waddoup) in a forthcoming appeal from the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas to challenge the imposition of a sentence of 50 years for manslaughter.
He has also extensive experience in drafting submissions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and representations in relation to the judicial setting of tariffs in murder cases under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Paul was appointed a Recorder in 2019.
Publications of note: Taylor on Appeals (Criminal Law Library) 2000. Publications of note: Taylor on Appeals (Sweet and Maxwell) (author) 2000; Taylor on Criminal Appeals (OUP) (editor and contributor): 2012; Taylor (Bonnett): (Case Comment) [2013] Crim. L.R. 10, 844-848; R. v Pope (John Randall): (Case Comment) [2013] Crim. L.R. 421-425; R v McCook (Jason): (Case comment) [2015] Crim LR 350; R v Gray and others (Case comment) [2015] Crim LR 352.
Languages
Memberships
Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association
Criminal Bar Association
Door tenant at Allum Chambers, Trinidad and Tobago
Education
Orange Hill Comprehensive School; Polytechnic of the Southbank (LLB (Hons) First Class) 1984-87; Downing College, Cambridge University (Cantab)) 1987-88.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Paul Taylor KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Paul is a leading expert in criminal appeals. He has exceptional intellect and is able to easily analyse complex issues and reach clear and reasoned decisions. He is also a very able advocate.’
Members of Doughty Street Chambers, widely praised as one of the ‘premier’ sets in London, are regularly involved in complex and high-profile criminal cases across the country, primarily acting for the defence. Criminal appeals, including cases from Caribbean jurisdictions with appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, as well as protest law matters are notable areas of specialist expertise. Tim Moloney KC recently acted in a significant appeal concerning a murder trial, in which after the judge directed the jury that he would accept a minority verdict, the jury was shown an exhibit in the case without the knowledge of counsel from either side. Paul Taylor KC was successful in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, overturning a sentence of fifty years imprisonment imposed for manslaughter by the Bahamian courts, after the convict’s original death sentence for murder was overturned.