John O'Higgins > Chambers of Adrian Keeling KC and Jonathan Jones KC > Birmingham, England > Barrister Profile
No5 Barristers' Chambers Offices
No5 Barristers' Chambers
103 Colmore Row
BIRMINGHAM
B3 3AG
England
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John O'Higgins
Position
Serious Crime
Career
Articled to Tony Edwards at T.V. Edwards & Co, London E1 1984-86
Admitted Solicitor 1986
Called to Bar of Middle Temple 1990
[Pupil master Anthony Leonard – now HHJ Leonard QC]
Tenant at Chambers of Stephen Hockman QC, 6 Pump Court, Temple, London: 2004 to present
Tenant at No5 Chambers Birmingham concurrently from January 2017
Formerly Senior of Kent Bar Mess
Sometime member of South East Circuit committee.
Memberships
South Eastern Circuit
Midland Circuit
Kent Bar Mess
Criminal Bar Association
Education
Wyggeston Grammar School, Leicester
Queens’ College, Cambridge University 1979-82
B.A. Hons in Modern History
M.A. 1986
Nottingham Law School [Trent Polytechnic] 1983-4
Common Professional Examination 1983
Law Society Final Examination 1984
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Midland Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1John 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.’
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.