Alan Gardner KC > 23ES > London, England > Barrister Profile

23ES
1 Gray's Inn Square
WC1R 5AA
England

Position

Alan is an experienced and highly regarded junior who prosecutes and defends in all types of serious criminal cases.  He has acted as leading counsel, a led junior or a junior alone in a very wide range of criminal cases, including high profile murder cases, serious sexual allegations, complex fraud, complex multi handed trials, fatal road traffic cases, kidnap and organized professional robberies.

Alan is ranked as a leading criminal junior in Chambers and Partners 2015 and 2016, where it is said that he is “particularly known for his strength in sexual offence cases.”  He is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor.  He is on the CPS Specialist Rape Panel, and is instructed by specialist CPS divisions such as Special Casework and the Specialist Fraud Group.

Alan’s recent experience includes:

  • Leading counsel for the prosecution in the trial of a number of men accused of the rape and sexual exploitation of several young girls;
  • Junior counsel for the prosecution in a complex fraud trial at the Central Criminal Court;
  • Several cases of attempted murder (ranging from a throat cutting in a pub to a fight with meat cleavers in a Chinese restaurant);
  • Other recent trial experience includes cases of gang-related kidnap, cyber fraud and armed robberies investigated by the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad.

Alan is regularly instructed to prosecute or defend cases involving allegations of sexual offending, and he has acted in numerous cases of historic allegations of sexual crimes, including cases dating back half a century or more; cases involving allegations made by multiple complainants, cases of joint enterprise sexual offences; familial sexual abuse; cases involving vulnerable witnesses and complex, multi-handed trials involving allegations of sexual abuse and torture.

Alan recently acted as legal advisor on the forthcoming Channel 4 drama dealing with historical sexual abuse, “National Treasure”.

Alan is qualified to accept direct access instructions.

Career

Called 1997; Middle Temple.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association, Sussex Bar Mess, Kent Bar Mess.

Education

University of Leeds (BA First Class (Hons) History); Leeds Metropolitan University (CPE (Distinction)).

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Crime

(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1

Alan Gardner KC23ES ‘Alan’s presentation of cases is immaculate. He is cool and level headed at all times, scrupulously fair and consistently courteous.’

Regional Bar > South Eastern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)

(2022 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1

Alan Gardner KC23ESA level-headed silk.’