25 Bedford Row

25 Bedford Row

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Aleister Adamson

Aleister Adamson

Aleister Adamson is a criminal defence advocate with a public law background, instructed in a wide range of serious and complex criminal matters, including fraud, serious violence, drugs, public order, and sexual offences. Aleister is recognised for his meticulous preparation and unyielding approach to defending his clients’ interests. From the earliest stages of proceedings, he pursues every viable line of defence with care and precision. He has secured numerous successful outcomes through submissions of no case to answer, abuse of process arguments, and robust challenges to the admissibility of evidence. His practice frequently involves cases in which exacting scrutiny of the prosecution evidence and strategically deployed legal argument are decisive. Drawing on a professional background advocating for some of the most disadvantaged in society, Aleister brings a tenacious and disciplined approach to advancing his clients’ interests. He has particular experience representing clients with complex needs, including those who are neurodivergent or face challenging personal circumstances. He is adept at identifying procedural and evidential failings in police investigations and ensuring that such deficiencies are brought squarely before the court and rigorously tested.
Emma Akuwudike

Emma Akuwudike

Emma is an outstanding barrister who exudes confidence and gravitas. She is fearless and committed to defending her clients. She has earned an excellent reputation amongst her professional colleagues, lay clients, and the judiciary. Emma has a great rapport with juries due to her relatable manner. Her closing speeches are a work of art. Emma has extensive experience in a wide range of criminal offences of a high profile and complex nature. Her cases often receive national media coverage. She defends in multi-handed cases. Her practice predominantly involves homicide, serious and organised crime, firearms offences, kidnapping, armed robbery, and drug conspiracies. Emma is also very experienced in serious sexual offences.
Warwick Aleeson

Warwick Aleeson

Warwick Aleeson is a highly experienced trial advocate with over 30 years' experience defending in the most serious criminal cases.  He specialises in cases of homicide, high end multi-handed drug conspiracies, complex fraud matters (including money laundering, tax evasion and confiscation proceedings) and serious crime. Warwick combines his meticulous approach to case preparation and a natural flair for advocacy with a robust and fierce defence of his client’s case, ensuring that each client is represented to the highest possible standards.   He has very high standards of client care. His high acquittal rate reflects his hard work and commitment to every case he is instructed in. Warwick can analyse complex documents and evidence and is able to convert them into readily understandable evidence to present before the jury in support of his client’s case. Warwick has represented high profile defendants and has successfully overturned convictions in the Court of Appeal.
Bethany Baggaley

Bethany Baggaley

Bethany is a specialist defence advocate who is regularly instructed as sole counsel and as a led junior. She acts across a range of serious cases including drugs (supply and importation), offences involving serious violence both in individual and group offending, and those concerning weapons including firearms. A careful approach to case preparation, together with a clear and focused manner on her feet make her an effective advocate before both judge and jury. Not only is Bethany an effective trial advocate, her close attention to cases from the earliest stage of instruction have seen results at the pre-trial stage including abuse of process arguments and applications to dismiss for which she was specifically instructed. Bethany has obtained leave to appear and had success in the Court of Appeal. She undertakes both publicly and privately funded work cross the criminal spectrum. Recognised for her dedicated client care, Bethany is adept at representing vulnerable individuals including children and young people, those with mental disorders and learning disabilities, and those who have been victims of violence and modern slavery. She is experienced in cases where clients and witnesses require significant adaptations to the court process.
Aisling Byrnes

Aisling Byrnes

Aisling has over 25 years’ experience of defending in criminal cases of the utmost seriousness and now practises almost exclusively in the private sector, advising and representing professional and high net worth individuals from the pre-charge stage up to appellate proceedings. She is regularly instructed by the country’s leading law firms. Aisling is a true expert in the field of sexual allegations and other sensitive proceedings which have a real impact on the reputation of an individual both personally and professionally. Aisling also has a flourishing practice in the field of sports regulatory proceedings and has been appointed as a Specialist Panel Member of the Football Association’s independent Judicial Panel, where she chairs disciplinary hearings at first instance and appeal. She also has experience in the field of professional disciplinary proceedings, having represented police officers, veterinary surgeons and other professionals. She has  conducted numerous cases before University tribunals, particularly in the context of allegations of sexual misconduct. Aisling has a well-deserved reputation for commitment, extraordinary preparation, tactical nous and a robust sense of realism. She is accessible to her clients from the point of instruction and leaves absolutely nothing to chance. In court or before a tribunal, she is a compelling advocate who commands respect from her opponents and judges alike.
George Carter-Stephenson KC

George Carter-Stephenson KC

George is a highly sought after specialist defence Silk with a varied and wide-ranging practice extending over all types of criminal cases and disciplinary proceedings. He is extremely experienced in dealing with highly involved and complex cases, including all areas of commercial, corporate and financial crime, incorporating SFO prosecutions and high-value confiscation, asset recovery, restraint proceedings, high value VAT tribunal work, murder and terrorism. George's disciplinary and regulatory work includes representing financial and sports professionals.
Kate Chidgey

Kate Chidgey

Kate practices in serious crime and public law. She is an intelligent and tenacious advocate who is renowned for her disarming and personable approach. Kate is entirely committed to the defence of all those she represents, which has resulted in success at every level, including at the High Court and Court of Appeal. She is well-equipped to deal with both complex legal challenges and difficult witnesses. Her experience in dealing with cases involving vulnerable witnesses and defendants have led to her frequent instruction in high-profile cases involving serious sexual and human trafficking offences. Kate is instructed alone, as a led junior and as a leading junior.
Laura Collier

Laura Collier

Laura is a highly regarded advocate and tactician, with a reputation for excellent client care. She has extensive trial and appellate advisory experience, receiving instructions as a leading junior across the spectrum of white collar and heavyweight crime. Laura is regularly instructed in the most serious cases including murder, manslaughter, drugs and firearms matters. She also specialises in complex fraud and money laundering. Laura is frequently trusted with cases involving serious sexual offences including allegations of rape, including historic grooming and offences against children. In addition, she has extensive experience of representing defendants accused of both fatal and non-fatal driving offences including in complex matters (e.g. non-insane automatism), regularly receiving instructions from insurers in such cases. Laura has significant experience in the cross-examination of expert witnesses, including in the fields of pathology, cellsite and accident reconstruction. She has a significant practice in appellate advisory work and is frequently instructed to appeal convictions and/or sentence on a private basis. She is known for her thorough preparation, her sharp tactical judgement and her ability to distil the issues in cases of the utmost complexity, with speed, class and precision. She has developed a reputation as a dynamic in-court advocate, with a calm and reassuring out-of-court manner. She is particularly skilled in dealing with very vulnerable clients; both adults and youths.
John Cooper KC

John Cooper KC

Professor John Cooper KC has one of the most high-profile practices at the Bar. He is recognised as one of the most effective cross-examiners and has been instructed in some of the most high-profile court cases in recent years, including cases for members of the security forces (including Generals) and senior police officers. Professor Cooper is well-known for his ability to effectively and rigorously represent his clients and stand up to the most probing scrutiny at tribunals - his reputation for being fearless is well merited. He is one of the most effective and popular KCs practicing at the Old Bailey and has achieved many notable acquittals both there and up and down the country, successfully representing clients in cases ranging from the most serious of allegations to those which are potentially, individually and personally devastating to the accused and their families. John represented the majority of bereaved families at the Manchester Arena inquiry.
Sonal Dashani KC

Sonal Dashani KC

Appointed Silk in 2026, Sonal specialises in defending complex fraud and white-collar crime cases and has significant expertise being prosecuted amongst others, by the Crown Prosecution Service (including the Serious Fraud Division), the Serious Fraud Office, Revenue and Customs, the Financial Conduct Authority and Trading Standards agencies. She heads the Financial and Business Crime team at 25 Bedford Row. Acting for both the Corporate and individual client, Sonal advises on all stages of proceedings and is sought after for lengthy and complex frauds. She is regarded as a fearless and skilful advocate who prepares her cases meticulously. She is renowned for her client care and her ability to deal with vulnerable clients particularly through the use of intermediaries. Sonal has particular expertise in all aspects of confiscation proceedings including forfeiture and enforcement proceedings and asset freezing orders. She has particular expertise in cryptocurrency. Sonal has substantial experience in associated money laundering allegations, confiscation and enforcement proceedings. She is well adept at handling high profile and sensitive cases and those cases involving large volumes of material.
Eleanor De

Eleanor De

Eleanor is a committed criminal defence specialist, with a developing public law and regulatory practice. She is instructed alone and as a led junior across a broad range of criminal matters including serious violence, supply of drugs, sexual offences and fraud. She is dedicated to meticulous case preparation, effective advocacy and exceptional client care. Eleanor’s expertise includes representing young people and vulnerable adults. She has a keen interest in cases engaging issues of exploitation, modern slavery and gang violence, and appears as assigned advocate in the Youth Court for unusually grave or difficult cases. She is also experienced in dealing with paper-heavy cases involving complex legal issues, expert evidence and substantial disclosure.
Jeremy Dein KC

Jeremy Dein KC

Jeremy Dein KC is one of the most highly regarded defence counsel in the country. He has an unparalleled reputation for the committed fearless, relentless, and highly professional defence of his clients. Jeremy is uniquely skilful at trial before a jury, on sentence in front of a judge, and in the Court of Appeal. His objective is always the same, the best result for his client humanly possible. Jeremy has vast experience in defending the gravest, most serious, complex and high-profile cases. Including some of the most significant criminal trials of our time. With unrivalled involvement in homicide cases at the Central Criminal Court, Jeremy also defends in serious sex, organised crime and private crime matters. Jeremy has a longstanding special interest in appellate work, believing that the Court of Appeal is a route that must be followed whenever feasible. In August 2025, Jeremy was appointed Honorary Visiting Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Criminal Law).
Alex Di Francesco

Alex Di Francesco

Alex is a leading criminal junior who defends those accused of serious crime and professional misconduct. Alex is instructed as leading counsel in cases alleging serious organised crime, including financial crime and the distribution of controlled drugs. Alex has appeared on behalf of notable individuals in criminal and civil proceedings. He is instructed privately in complex fraud, serious sexual offences, driving matters and contempt of court proceedings initiated in the High Court. Alex represents professionals before their regulators, interested persons in the Coroner’s Court and core participants in public inquiries. The Court of Appeal has described Alex’s submissions as elegant and persuasive.
Henry Dickson

Henry Dickson

Henry practises in all areas of criminal defence and has extensive advocacy experience, acting both alone and as a led junior. He is personable and a forceful advocate with particular expertise in cases concerning the large scale supply of drugs and other organised crime, human trafficking, serious violence and firearms. His practice includes representing those accused of sexual offences as well as dishonesty, fraud, complex money laundering and POCA. Henry has experience working with vulnerable defendants including those suffering with mental health disorders and those accused of gang related crime. Henry also has experience in regulatory investigations including on significant and highly sensitive regulatory investigation for band 1, white collar crime firm. He is dedicated to meticulous case preparation and the building of a defence case strategy. He is level-headed and highly suited to the demands of complex and high-profile investigations.
Peter Doyle KC

Peter Doyle KC

An immensely experienced criminal defence practitioner instructed across a range of offences and disciplines. He has a reputation for taking on some of the most complex cases both in fraud related work as well as in mainstream serious crime; particularly murder and manslaughter cases. Peter has built a reputation for excellence in professional disciplinary and regulatory cases from the foundations of a long-established criminal and fraud practice in complex and sensitive cases. He has advised in and conducted hundreds of police discipline and associated cases representing every rank up to and including Chief Constables and their equivalent ranks in the Metropolitan Police. He has also advised on the impact on the appointment and retention of chief officers following the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners. His expertise includes advising individuals, corporations and professional advisers (e.g. accountants, lawyers, medical professionals) as to obligations and strategic approach to SFO Section 2 Notices and regulatory investigations, including all aspects of potential conflicts of interest, issues of client confidentiality, advice and litigation privilege and the role of/and protection of the interests of “whistle blowers” and treatment of same by employers. Peter's practice has covered an enormous range of cases including allegations of breach or failure of duty or neglect, inquiries into deaths in custody, the operational integrity of fatal firearms operations, inquests, as well as those cases calling for a detailed review of policing policy and operational practice both within the United Kingdom and in relation to staff seconded abroad. Tribunal experience includes representing individuals alleged to have breached medical standards and who have issues of "fitness to practice", Health and Safety investigations, including fatal accidents in the workplace.
Will Durrands

Will Durrands

Will is a committed criminal defence barrister dedicated to the best interests of his clients. His approachable, friendly and easy-going manner allows him to quickly build rapport with lay clients. Will is often instructed in cases involving organised crime, firearms, serious violence and large-scale drug supply, alone or as a led junior. Will is an intelligent and perceptive advocate, targeting punchy and persuasive submissions as the situation requires. Will has a growing practice instructed by insurance companies for client in road traffic cases.
Hannah Edwards

Hannah Edwards

Hannah Edwards is a highly sought after junior whose practice encompasses the spectrum of serious crime including homicide, international organised crime and large-scale fraud. Hannah is renowned for her meticulous preparation and incisive cross-examination. She is quickly able to assimilate complex information and is both forensic in her attention to detail and uncompromising in her preparation.  As a result, Hannah is regularly instructed in high-profile criminal cases involving a very high page count and substantial disclosure. Hannah is often privately instructed to act for high net-worth individuals where her robust judgement, discretion and command of the detail distinguish her. She is known for her tactical insight and clear strategy from the outset of a case.
Nicholas Ferrari

Nicholas Ferrari

Nicholas is a tenacious advocate, with a busy practice in serious crime, handling complex cases, both acting alone and as led counsel. He has experience in conspiracy cases, serious violence, firearms offences and fraud offences, with a growing practice in cases of homicide. Nicholas’ forensic approach to reviewing evidence and calm manner in conference sets his clients – both lay and professional – at ease. He is known for his sound trial strategy and considered cross-examination which often obtains the best results. As a result of his strong written and oral advocacy, Nicholas is often the author of successful and persuasive legal arguments. His keen eye for burgeoning areas of law allows him to deploy arguments to their best effect. He has a wealth of experience in representing vulnerable and young people at all stages of the trial process, including in the Youth Court.
Tom Flavin

Tom Flavin

Tom’s practice involves work across all areas of criminal defence, in particular he specialises in fraud, confiscation and enforcement, sports law, violence, drugs, public disorder and sexual offence cases. Tom is regularly instructed on serious cases in both the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. He has experience representing high-profile clients as well as those who are young or vulnerable. Tom acts in professional disciplinary matters including in healthcare tribunals. Tom was previously seconded to the Football Association, giving him early insight in the investigation, preparation and presentation of regulatory and disciplinary law. This platform has given Tom thorough and wide-ranging expertise and experience. Tom has acted on behalf of the Football Association in a number of high-profile regulatory tribunals involving former premier league players and managers; as well as preparing advices and drafting charges for regulatory breaches.
Rudi Fortson KC

Rudi Fortson KC

Rudi Fortson KC is noted for his work in relation to serious crime, including fraud, confiscation, asset-recovery, money-laundering, drug law, law of evidence, homicide, and weapons. Rudi Fortson was a consultant to the Law Commission for England and Wales in respect of it's Firearms project, it's  Anti-Money Laundering project (2018-2019); and, recently (September 2020 to current) its reform of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 confiscation regime after conviction.  For a copy of the Law Commission Report entitled “Anti-money laundering: the SARs regime”. For a copy of the Law Commission Consultation Paper (No.249)“Confiscation of the proceeds of crime after conviction: a consultation paper” Rudi Fortson KC served on the ‘Runciman’ Independent Inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971” as its principal legal adviser (Police Foundation, Chair: Lady Runciman DBE). He was a participant at the Academy of European Law (ERA) Conference on “Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Services in the EU” (Trier, Germany, 15th-16th November 2018) and at the ERA 2021 “Annual Conference on Financial Compliance in the EU” (4th-5th November 2021).  More recently, Fortson spoke at the “Conference on the EU Law in the Digital Age“, Uppsala, Sweden (Swedish Network for European Legal Studies, June 2022). Fortson has attended various ‘experts meetings’ at the European Commission in Brussels. He was a member of a Task Force jointly set up by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) on ‘the Future of EU, UK and US Cooperation in Criminal Justice and Police Cooperation’ (i.e., ‘Brexit’). He spoke in Paris (May 2019) on the question “Brexit and Criminal Justice: Will pragmatism prevail over politics?”. In recent years, Rudi has advised various businesses and individuals on complex UK and EU legal issues concerning the production, importation and distribution of medicinal products, psychoactive substances, hemp products, medicinal cannabis, CBD products, licensing, the medicines legislation, food products, product safety, cosmetics, and their regulatory controls.
Chantel Gaber

Chantel Gaber

Chantel is a criminal defence specialist and a passionate, committed advocate, with an outstanding presence in Court. She has experience defending in cases involving all types of allegations, including fraud, violence, drugs, sexual and public order offences. She has experience in serious youth cases, modern slavery defences and complex mental health cases. Chantel has acted in cases across the spectrum of financial wrongdoing including acting in proceeds of crime proceedings (POCA) and account freezing, restraint, forfeiture, confiscation and money laundering hearings. Chantel acts both alone and as a led junior. Recent substantial cases in which she has been led include modern slavery and human trafficking, conspiracy to supply Class A and assisting an offender in a complex homicide case. Chantel has worked on a number of cases involving allegations against Grime artists, and has made successful bail applications on behalf of high profile artists.
Sebastian Gardiner

Sebastian Gardiner

Sebastian practises as both leading junior and junior counsel in all aspects of serious crime. He is predominantly instructed in allegations of murder, armed robbery, large-scale importation and supply drugs offences and fraud, as well as prison work and inquests. He has developed a particular expertise in offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act and has been involved some of the largest drugs cases in the UK. Sebastian has a keen interest and expertise in issues surrounding the right to protest and to lawful assembly. He has provided advice on police powers and prosecutions for matters relating to civil disobedience and non-violent direct action. He has successfully represented clients in the Court of Appeal and advises in that regard.
Michael Gomulka

Michael Gomulka

Michael is a specialist advocate in fraud, financial crime and regulatory law. He is a leading junior with extensive experience of all aspects of criminal defence including homicide, organised crime, drug and money-laundering conspiracies and serious sexual violence, as well as the financial and regulatory matters in which he now specializes. In fraud, cases have ranged from the use of international businesses as alleged fronts for washing the proceeds of crime, to large-scale investment frauds, boiler room fraud, thefts in breach of trust and other financial malfeasance. Michael has extensive experience of cash seizures, retentions and forfeiture, contested confiscation hearings and consequent appellate work. Recent instructions have included: a $250m warrant fraud for the head of desk; £100m money-laundering conspiracy; an carbon credit boiler room; an extensive land-banking conspiracy; 20-year care home fraud; large and complex international cigarette smuggling conspiracy; £multi-million fraudulent conspiracy and bribery case regarding an internationally renowned charity; property fraud scheme regarding loans, lease options and mortgages over a number of years.
Alistair Grainger

Alistair Grainger

Alistair is a trial specialist with a wealth of experience in defence work. He is tenacious in the pursuit of his clients’ best interests. Alistair defends at the highest levels to include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to rape, rape, fraud, death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, blackmail, and kidnap to name just a few.  He has also defended clients at Courts Martial and undertakes appellate level instructions. A naturally gifted advocate, Alistair has an undeniable ability to connect with juries, no matter what the circumstances of the case he is presenting.  He skilfully conducts examination in chief and cross examination of both professional and lay witnesses, and his speeches are always presented with the utmost care and passion. He is known for his sound judgement, objectivity, honest and straightforward advice, and these qualities are reflected in his excellent results.
James Gray

James Gray

James Gray is a dedicated criminal advocate known for his commitment to every client’s case. He is consistently recommended by the leading directories as a ‘go-to’ choice for cases involving homicide and serious sexual offences. He is a trial lawyer of considerable experience and highly regarded by those with whom he works. His practice takes in a wide range of criminal work but is founded on allegations of murder, manslaughter and serious violence or fraud and financial crime.   He has extensive experience in cases concerning allegations of serious sexual violence having appeared to represent clients charged with rape and similar offences for over a decade. He is also sought-out for cases involving complex and novel areas of law brought by agencies such as local authorities.
Garry Green KC

Garry Green KC

Garry is a distinguished and highly sought-after criminal defence advocate with an outstanding practice. A passionate and committed advocate, Garry Green KC fearlessly defends his clients’ right to a fair trial. Garry is is devastating in cross-examination, measured in judgment, and fearless in the face of confrontation. His speeches are thought provoking, passionate yet elegant. Garry’s advocacy has achieved international recognition. He works as an accredited advocacy trainer for SERI the highly regarded Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa. Clients adore Garry’s unpretentious style. He is committed, grounded, personable and relaxed. He abhors pomp and never loses sight of the significance of his work to client’s, their families, and communities.
Carolina Guiloff

Carolina Guiloff

Carolina is a criminal defence specialist, instructed both alone and as junior counsel in the most serious and organised crime cases, including major fraud, organised crime, drug importations, homicide and serious violence, rape, and child abuse. Carolina appears both at the first instance and appellate level and has appeared in the High Court on applications for judicial review. Carolina is known for her skilled advocacy, methodical case preparation, and sound tactical judgment. She is passionate and committed and is proficient in dealing with vulnerable defendants and witnesses. She has a high capacity for voluminous cases and has an unfaltering commitment to secure the right outcome in every case.
Allison Hochhalter

Allison Hochhalter

Allison is a criminal defence specialist, who is instructed in a range of matters across the Crown Court, magistrates’ court, and the youth court. She is committed to meticulous case preparation, tactical strategy, and effective advocacy. Allison adapts her client care style for an array of needs, including those with mental health difficulties, neurodiversity and learning disabilities. Allison is particularly adept at confiscation proceedings, which combines skills from her previous career in finance with a detailed knowledge of the confiscation regime. She has been instructed in all stages of proceedings, from advising on draft statements in advance of contested hearings to appearing at enforcement hearings following the imposition of orders.
Nicola Howard KC

Nicola Howard KC

Nicola is instructed on behalf of corporates and individuals to provide specialist strategic advice at an early stage of an investigation into bribery, corruption and financial crime matters. She is experienced in the conduct of the most serious and complex cross-border financial crime investigations, and deals with high net worth individuals, Company Officers and SMEs. Hardworking, tenacious and strategically astute, Nicola is a sought after Silk. She is client friendly with exceptional judgement, and is highly respected by her opponents and the Judiciary alike.
Paul Hynes KC

Paul Hynes KC

Criminal, financial and regulatory defence and advice. Has a broad practice often involving complex factual, legal and multi-jurisdictional issues. Extensive experience of bribery, company offences, corruption, confiscation, drugs, homicide, serious and organised crime, terrorism, fraud, money laundering, white-collar, commercial and regulatory proceedings. Has appeared in a number of reported and high-profile cases at first instance and on appeal. His practice reflects a particular interest in financial crime and terrorism, but covers a wide spectrum which recently has included a 15 year old charged with murder, modern slavery allegations, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, representing a Defendant in the Hillsborough disaster criminal trial, an historic child sexual abuse ring and instructions in relation to a 95 Defendant High Court action brought on behalf of the tax collecting authority of the Danish government. Regular author, lecturer and broadcaster on criminal law.
Alex Jamieson

Alex Jamieson

Alex is regarded as one of the country's leading junior barristers, practicing principally in the areas of: National security; Inquests and Inquiries; Regulatory law; and Business and Organised crime. He is a tenacious and results-driven advocate. The hallmarks of his practice are forensic analysis, strategic advice and uncompromising advocacy. The unifying feature of his broad specialism is those cases that engage substantial conflict between the interests of the individual and the State. Alex has been an appointee of the Attorney General’s panel of Special Advocates since 2017. As such, he has the necessary experience and security clearance to represent individuals in formal Closed proceedings and those that otherwise deal with matters of national security. Alex has been instructed to appear at many of the major public inquiries of recent years, both on behalf of core participants and as Counsel to the Inquiry. In 2024/25, Alex was instructed to represent the victims of Lucy Letby at Lady Justice Thirlwall’s Inquiry. During 2023 he served as junior Counsel to Sir John Mitting at the Undercover Policing Inquiry, where (amongst other duties) he represented the Chairman in relation to restriction orders sought by the Security Service and the police forces. Before that, between 2019 and 2022 he served as first junior counsel for bereaved families of those killed in the Manchester Arena Bombing. Complementing his inquiry practice, Alex has extensive experience in inquest proceedings where he represents both families and those under scrutiny. He has appeared in many complex Article 2 cases, particularly those that touch upon deaths arising in healthcare, prison and military settings. Alex has many years of experience in the litigation of allegations of fraud and of serious organised crime. He tends to be particularly sought after where factually and legally complex allegations are concerned. As well as providing courtroom representation, Alex advises individuals and corporates, particularly in the areas of regulatory compliance and investigations. Recent clients have included international sporting bodies and household-name corporates.
Duncan Jones

Duncan Jones

Duncan Jones specialises in criminal and white-collar defence advice, advocacy and investigations. He has particular expertise in fraud and financial crime, business crime and regulatory enforcement. Duncan advises individual and business clients facing investigation and prosecution by a range of agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, the US Department of Justice, HM Revenue & Customs, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service. Duncan has worked on numerous sensitive and high-profile matters and is frequently instructed to represent professionals, high profile, and high net-worth individuals in relation to confidential matters. Duncan’s court practice encompasses proceedings at all levels of the English criminal courts. He acts as junior alone or as led-junior defending in complex trials. His recent cases include boiler-room frauds, international VAT and excise diversion fraud, international bribery and corruption, and ‘rogue trader’ fraud worth many millions of pounds. In general crime, Duncan has successfully defended those facing allegations of organised crime including a national conspiracy to supply drugs, conspiracy to handle stolen goods, conspiracy to import tobacco, and conspiracy to rob. He has acted for defendants facing allegations of serious violence, weapons offences and sexual offences. Duncan has substantial experience of a range of motoring law matters including drink and drug driving, dangerous driving, careless driving, vehicle and licencing offences. He has dealt with road traffic prosecutions involving fatal accidents.
Dermot Keating KC

Dermot Keating KC

Dermot Keating KC is a highly regarded and versatile barrister whose practice spans public inquiries, professional discipline, financial and corporate crime, and serious criminal law. Dermot has appeared in many of the most significant public inquiries of recent years. He was counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, leading on issues relating to emergency response and compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act. He was instructed as counsel to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry examining core government decision making. His understanding of institutional process, combined with his court craft, makes him a go-to adviser and advocate in cases requiring strategic foresight and discretion. As a leading financial crime KC, Dermot has represented individuals and companies in major fraud and tax evasion prosecutions. He has acted in high-profile cases involving the SFO, NCA, and HMRC. His calm authority and strategic approach are valued in multi-handed, document-heavy litigation. In the field of professional discipline, Dermot is a Legal Adviser to the General Pharmaceutical Council, and a former Chair of a Fitness to Practice Panel. He is known for his clarity, fairness, and deep understanding of healthcare and public protection law.
Paul Keleher KC

Paul Keleher KC

Paul Keleher KC is regularly instructed in cases of murder and is also asked to advise and act in complex fraud matters both nationally and internationally in trials at first instance and in the Court of Appeal. His ability to communicate well with lay clients, sound tactical approach to complex cases, incisive cross-examination and expertise in technical areas of expert evidence, including computer use, complex DNA analysis, cell site and video analysis is well-known. He adopts an innovative approach in court using audio visual tools to illustrate, explain and simplify complex issues. Because of his expertise he is regularly asked to lecture to other lawyers on matters of law and evidence, including bad character, hearsay, disclosure and IT security and to forensic experts on presentation of evidence. Paul is recognised as not only an outstanding trial advocate but also for his interest in the practice and development of the law.
Joy Lewis

Joy Lewis

Joy practices in all areas of criminal defence, with an emphasis on serious violent crime, drugs and public order offences, as well as a developing fraud practice. She is instructed alone and as a led junior, and appears before the appellate courts. Joy is known for her outstanding client care and robust advocacy in defence of her clients. She has a particular interest in representing young and vulnerable clients, and has experience working with clients with mental health disorders, including appointment by the court to represent defendants found ‘unfit’ to stand trial. Recent instructions include a multi-handed false imprisonment trial, a large-scale Class A drugs conspiracy, and as a led junior in an extensive investigation into fraud in the care system Currently instructed counsel on UCPI inquiry.
Natasha Lloyd-Owen

Natasha Lloyd-Owen

Natasha is an experienced junior practising at the intersection of public and criminal law, with a particular emphasis on public inquiries and inquests. Natasha is known for her meticulous approach to preparing cases and her excellent client care. Natasha specialises in public inquiries. She has been involved in several major public inquiries in recent years on behalf of Core Participants and as Counsel to the Inquiry including the Covid-19 Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Lampard Inquiry and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Natasha welcomes instructions in all aspects of coronial law. She has experience of inquests involving healthcare settings, police detention and domestic abuse. Natasha has specific expertise working with vulnerable and bereaved people, and as such, welcomes instructions from bereaved families. Natasha was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2024.
Leon-Nathan Lynch

Leon-Nathan Lynch

Leon-Nathan Lynch is a criminal defence barrister specialising in serious crime. He is regularly instructed in cases involving murder, attempted murder, firearms, serious violence, gang-related offending, county lines and large-scale drug conspiracies. Leon has particular experience defending young and vulnerable defendants, including those alleged to be involved in gang-related violence, organised crime and county lines activity. Leon is frequently instructed in cases where the evidence is complex, technical and contested. His recent practice has involved detailed analysis of cell-site, CCTV, forensic, pathology and expert drugs evidence, as well as cases involving gang-related intelligence and money laundering allegations. He brings that experience to serious cases involving targeted shootings, fatal stabbings, firearms, modern slavery defences and large-scale organised crime. Leon is also regularly instructed in private driving matters, particularly where clients face the risk of disqualification, loss of licence or reputational consequences. In addition to his criminal practice, Leon accepts instructions in inquests and public inquiries, particularly where there is an overlap with criminal law, disclosure, complex factual investigation or professional conduct issues.
Chiara Maddocks

Chiara Maddocks

Chiara specialises in serious and complex crime, with a developing public law and regulatory practice. She is regularly instructed in complex and document-heavy criminal cases, through which she has developed a reputation for thorough case preparation, excellent client care and sound judgement. She has acted as both leader and junior in a number of cases, including long running frauds and has acted as junior alone in serious multi-handed cases. Chiara has extensive experience in cases involving mental health, fitness to plead and fitness to stand trial issues, and excels in representing young and vulnerable clients. Alongside a busy court practice, Chiara has experience in inquiries, having been instructed for a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry since 2019.
Priya Malhotra

Priya Malhotra

Priya is an exceptional advocate, renowned for her attention to detail, meticulous preparation, sound judgment, and skilful witness handling. She is an experienced barrister who regularly appears in tribunals, public inquiries, and inquests – often in complex cases attracting significant media attention. She sits as an Assistant Coroner for Inner West London and the City of London and was appointed Assistant Coroner for Berkshire in June 2023. Priya specialises in public inquiry, inquests, professional discipline, environmental law, as well as all areas of criminal defence, in particular fraud and financial crime. She is an experienced trial advocate who has appeared in the Court of Appeal, VAT and Duties tribunal, professional disciplinary tribunals, Coroners Courts, Crown Courts, Magistrates Courts and Employment Tribunals.
James Martin

James Martin

James Martin is an experienced practitioner who prides himself on attention to detail and a fearless approach to defending his clients' interests. James acts as leading counsel in the full range of criminal offending but in particular tends to focus on serious organised crime and fraud. He is also regularly led in homicide cases. He has particular experience in dealing with complex multi-handed cases of all types and is very adept at dealing with technical evidence such as that retrieved from 'phones, computers and associated cell site evidence.
Stephen Moses KC

Stephen Moses KC

Stephen is a ‘go-to’ Silk in cases of homicide, including matters of gross negligence manslaughter, ‘baby shaking’, cases which involve vulnerable defendants with mental health issues and which involve the partial defences of diminished responsibility and/or loss of control. Stephen has successfully appeared in numerous multi-handed cases involving young persons in which ‘cut throat’ defences are employed and which are said to be ‘gang related’ and rely on the doctrine of ‘joint enterprise’. He also has a reputation for defending in cases involving Serious and Organised Violence, Large-scale Complex Fraud as well as Serious Sexual Offences and Terrorism, including the recent successful defence of a’ so-called’ Neo-Nazi who had built a sub-machine gun in the preparation of a terrorist attack. He has regularly appeared successfully on appeals against both conviction and/or sentence in the Court of Appeal and is much sought after to advise on the merits of “old” convictions where there is “new evidence”. Stephen is regularly instructed in high-profile matters.
Daniel Murray

Daniel Murray

Daniel practises in all areas of fraud and serious crime. He has acted as leading counsel defending a client charged with murder and in the largest counterfeit pharmaceutical case ever prosecuted in the UK. He has represented clients charged with other serious offences such drug importation, firearms possession, gang related violence and serious public order offences. His main practice is concentrated on serious crime, frauds, regulatory proceedings and money laundering sometimes involving complex cross jurisdictional issues. Daniel has considerable experience in regulatory proceedings.
Sophie Nandy

Sophie Nandy

Sophie is a criminal defence specialist with a busy crown court practice. She has experience defending in cases involving all types of allegations including fraud, sexual offences, serious violence, drugs, public order  and driving offences. Sophie is a committed and passionate advocate, with a dedicated approach to client care and a meticulous approach to case preparation. She has a particular interest in cases involving serious violence as well as sexual offences across the spectrum. A recent case in which she was led involved historic sexual offences. The defendant was acquitted. Sophie also appears in the Youth Court for cases involving serious offences. In addition, she has experience in the civil jurisdiction of the criminal courts. Sophie acts in a range of matters as a led junior and junior alone.
Sheryl Nwosu

Sheryl Nwosu

Sheryl is routinely instructed as leading counsel and as a leading junior in a broad spectrum of complex and serious cases and has particular expertise in defending young people charged with the most serious offenses. She has been instructed in numerous cases of homicide and serious violence, as well as firearms offenses, large-scale drug importations, and conspiracy cases. Her strengths as an advocate lie not only in the measured but persuasive presentation of her cases in court but also in her meticulous scrutiny and application of the law and evidence often leading to well-timed successful legal arguments. Her down-to-earth approach outside of the courtroom, in addition to her fearless presentation in court proves extremely popular with both lay and professional clients, and court colleagues. As a lawyer, Sheryl is known to provide instructive and decisive advice on all legal matters to her professional clients; her wide interest in various other areas of law and developments within the law means she is often called upon for opinion or direction outside of matters relating to criminal law and practice. Her legal acumen and ability to interpret and advise on law and legal concepts means she is often called upon for opinion or legal direction in areas where the law (including criminal law) now intersects; her reading and research in one such area has led to advice to businesses and individuals in areas of social media use and legal pitfalls, and more recently privacy in this new digital age; having represented artists and other individuals in the music industry she now frequently provides talks and advice to organisations including record labels around artists, music and the criminal justice system including advising on internal response and legal support and the ways in which individuals/employees may be in contact with the criminal justice system. As a lawyer Sheryl employs her critical awareness of racial inequality within the Criminal Justice System, maintaining in her practice an intersectional perspective on how race, background, and gender can impact the experience of individuals in the justice system. She is the senior Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) officer within Chambers and a member of the Race Equality, Inclusion & Anti-Racism working group at her Inn.
Osman Osman

Osman Osman

Osman is a highly sought after leading junior. He has developed an enviable practice in business crime and holds specialisation in Proceeds of Crime and asset recovery. He is regularly instructed in complex POCA proceedings, section 10(A) and interested party applications, as well as proceedings relating to corporates seeking asset recovery, variation of freezing orders, and related civil contempt proceedings. He regularly represents corporations facing complex proceeds of crime proceedings as a consequence of regulatory offending. Osman has over 20 years’ experience defending in complex criminal cases both here and abroad. He has acted as external counsel to AXAI on anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance; specialising in advising on third party agreements and joint-venture agreements, both within the insurance and sub-soil sector. He frequently advises companies and organisations in emergency ABC/AML situations where immediate action is required. Osman has unrivalled expertise in defending in complex Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) licence and HMO cases and of challenging the related POCA proceedings. Osman has defended in the very rare cases brought under section 96(2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008 where a school has been accused of operating as unregistered independent schools. In business crime, Osman has defended in corporate fraud cases, representing directors as well as legal professionals. He was counsel defence counsel for the first defendant in Gibraltar’s longest and most complex fraud case involving allegation of misuse of offshore trust funds. Osman is known for his tenacity and hard work ethic ensuring both lay and professional client receive a total all round service.
Simon Pentol KC

Simon Pentol KC

Simon Pentol KC has been continually instructed as a leader for the past 25 years, particularly in cases of serious fraud. He is one of only a few defence Silks who is equally proficient, experienced and comfortable in cases of murder / organised crime and Serious Fraud / allied regulatory matters. Simon’s track record for achieving notable results for corporate & individual clients in very difficult circumstances has rightfully earned him plaudits from a wide range of lay & professional clients alike. His leadership qualities and strategic thinking make him the first choice for corporate & individual clients both at the investigation stage and to proactively develop compliance protocols to meet anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and anti-tax evasion requirements. He is experienced in dealing with substantial & complex investigations and cases brought by HMRC, the SFO, the FCA, the NCA & the City of London Economic Crime Directorate. He has earned the reputation as a formidable performer among his peers and the judiciary. Simon brings a skill-set comprising judgment, intuition, versatility, assurance and commitment to all cases in which he is instructed. These qualities combined with his experience of leading in numerous high profile cases have afforded Simon the opportunity to uniquely develop a parallel practice in the specialist field of Sports-related work. He is now sought after in Sports disciplinary/regulatory and advisory work (legal and commercial) in all sports but most notably Football and Boxing in which he has acted for or alongside federations (The FA, CAF & The Ghana FA), clubs, individual participants and corporate partners. The combination of his criminal law background and an advanced understanding of regulatory frameworks make Simon one of the few Silks properly versed in sports/criminal law crossover cases. Simon’s strength of personality and understanding of modern media/PR make him best placed to meet the demands of clients regularly in the public eye. Accordingly, he continues to be instructed on behalf of high profile / high net worth individuals and business professionals from the worlds of finance and sport & entertainment.
Harry Potter

Harry Potter

Leading Junior and junior for the defence in all areas of crime, including courts martial. Harry also has experience in prison law, including advising on judicial reviews, appearing at adjudications, and pro bono work making submissions on life tariffs and on removal from Category A Status. Harry Potter has represented professional footballers on road traffic offences, and other private clients for fare dodging, for obscene publications, and for indecent images. PUBLICATIONS 1983-2016: Articles on the War Poets, Sir Thomas Browne, the Book of Job, Jeremiah, the CJA 1991, life sentence tariffs, Category A prisoners, and young offenders, and various articles in History Scotland and History Today. 1993: Hanging in Judgment: Religion and the Death Penalty in England from the Bloody Code to Abolition (SCM Press) 1993 Hanging and Heresy: The Special Relationship: Anglo-American Attitudes to the Death Penalty (University of Kent, Pamphlet 28). 1994: (Ed. with Rodney Bomford)  Father Diamond of Deptford (Ditchling) 2000 ‘Rudyard Kipling and the Great War’ (The Kipling Society Journal, 74 December 2000) 2003  Bloodfeud: The Murrays and Gordons at War in the Age of Mary Queen of Scots (Tempus) 2004 Edinburgh Under Siege in the Marian Civil War, 1571-1573 (Tempus) 2015 Law, Liberty and the Constitution: A Brief History of the Common Law (Boydell and Brewer) 2019 Shades of the Prison House: A History of Imprisonment in the British Isles (Boydell and Brewer) 2022 Alexander Paterson: Prison Reformer (Boydell and Brewer) 2022 A Brief History of the Common Law, Chinese edn (Peking University Press) Forthcoming in 2024:  ‘The Happy Warrior: Alexander Paterson and the Bermondsey Battalion’ in London Pride: the 47th Division (Helion) Shades of the Prison House: A History of Imprisonment in the British Isles Chinese edn (Peking University Press)  
Matthew Radstone

Matthew Radstone

Matthew specialises in the areas of serious crime, complex fraud and regulatory matters. His reputation is built on his forensic mind, sound tactical judgement and affable approach. He is passionate about his cases and leaves nothing to chance as a result of his meticulous preparation. He is an effective advocate who enjoys submissions involving complex legal argument. Matthew has spent the last two years as leading junior counsel and is currently instructed in high profile murder and drugs cases nationwide. Matthew has also been engaged to defend in large scale Fraud prosecutions brought by the SFO, CPS Economic Crime Unit and the FCA. Matthew has written on the subject of ‘internal investigations and corporate self-reporting’ and has had work on this issue published in the Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law. He recently featured in the Channel 4 series 'Barristers: Fighting for Justice', a TV series featuring the UK’s leading defence barristers.
Samantha Riggs

Samantha Riggs

Samantha Riggs is an established and well-regarded leading junior advising and defending corporate and individual defendants in complex fraud and regulatory investigations and prosecutions with extensive experience in environmental crime with particular expertise in waste management/environmental permitting and statutory nuisance. Sam often advises pre-charge, is accustomed to taking a pro-active approach at the outset of proceedings, is skilled in taking pre-trial challenges including legality of search warrants, abuse of process and technical issues arising from the Environmental Regulations. She is experienced in restraint, confiscation and enforcement receivership acting on behalf of defendants and interested third parties. Civil background and experienced in appeals in the VAT Tribunal, before PINs on permit appeals and civil enforcement by the Environment Agency in the High Court. Other regulatory work includes health and safety, food safety, trading standards. Experienced in judicial review. A team player who inspires confidence and described as "a fierce and fearless barrister whom it is good to have on your side". Incredibly hard working, with an eye for detail, great tactician and her technical understanding is simply outstanding. Experienced in working with experts.
Justin Rivett

Justin Rivett

Justin has specialised in criminal defence for over 30 years. He has a broad range of experience, representing defendants charged with the most serious offences, as leading Junior and junior alone, including but not exclusively, large scale frauds; more often than not involving professional clients. He also has a wide range of experience of most other serious offences and in particular, drug importation and supply, large scale Immigration offences, serious offences of violence. Justin has considerable experience in confiscation proceedings and and money laundering cases. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions, as well as representing defendants in a number of high profile cases, including one of the largest money laundering cases in the UK. He has recently been instructed in a number of multi handed, fraud, immigration and tax conspiracies prosecuted by the SFO, Home office and HMRC.
Kerrie Ann Rowan

Kerrie Ann Rowan

Kerrie practises in all areas of criminal defence including murder, violence, robbery, drug offences and dishonesty offences. Experienced in all criminal courts, including Court of Appeal. Kerrie has particular experience in white-collar crime and investigations. In 2017-2018 Kerrie was part of the team representing a former FOREX trader who was prosecuted by the US Department of Justice for conspiracy to fix prices in the FOREX market. The trial ended in an acquittal in the Southern District of New York in 2018. Kerrie also has a strong interest in human rights and international criminal law. For almost two years, Kerrie served as case manager and legal assistant on the Haradinaj defence team at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). During this time she also worked as a research assistant at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kerrie has also worked as a law clerk to Justice Arbel at the Supreme Court of Israel, where her research focused on comparative international and domestic human rights law. Whilst studying for her LLM, Kerrie volunteered with Innocence McGill and served as a fellow with the One Justice Project.
Nigel Sangster KC

Nigel Sangster KC

One of the most senior Silks at the Criminal Bar, Nigel Sangster KC specialises exclusively in defending those accused of the full range of fraudulent offences and has acted for many directors, solicitors, accountants, financial advisers, companies and financial institutions. Nigel has appeared or advised in many lengthy, serious and complex fraud cases, defending a full range of offences including alleged investment, ponzi, advance fee, MTIC, banking, bonds, stocl market, VAT, tax, carbon credits, long firm, precious metal and film shceme frauds. He is experienced in complex money laundering proceedings and is recongnised for his successes in multi-jurisdictional allegations. He also has experience in planning and environmental cases.
Clementine Simon

Clementine Simon

Clementine has a busy Crown Court practice defending people accused of dishonesty offences, weapons, serious violence, drugs, and domestic abuse. Clementine acts as led junior or junior alone. As junior alone, Clementine frequently defends in drugs cases representing young people and vulnerable adults who have been victims of modern slavery. Clementine joined 25 Bedford Row from Release where she ran legal-outreach projects at drug and alcohol clinics so she has particular expertise assisting those with substance use disorders. Clementine also appears in the Youth Court for unusually grave or difficult cases requiring certificate for counsel. As led junior, Clementine has recently acted in complex frauds as well as firearms cases.
Melanie Simpson KC

Melanie Simpson KC

Melanie Simpson KC is a highly regarded criminal defence barrister who is sought after by professional and lay clients. She is renowned for her exceptional cross-examination and high acquittal rate. Melanie is typically engaged defending in cases involving multiple defendants, her work encompasses the full range of complicated criminal law matters. Melanie’s high-profile cases attract extensive media interest and she has been invited to give her legal expertise to media organisations including the BBC Radio 4, Channel 4 and YouTube (with whom she has established a consultant role). Melanie’s practice is increasingly taking on an international element; she has advised Defendants charged with governmental fraud, corruption and money laundering offences.
Tobias Smith

Tobias Smith

A fearless advocate, Tobias’ has been noted for his sound judgment under pressure, his ability to carefully construct legal arguments, and his deft handling of prosecution disclosure failures. Since joining chambers following successful completion of his pupillage, Tobias has acted in serious criminal cases, including murder, complex drug conspiracies, kidnapping and blackmail, serious violence, money laundering, fraud, and sexual offences. Recent notable cases include: -           R v AC – Murder – Led junior for a defendant in a five-handed murder case. The deceased had been killed during a house party and it was said that all five defendants were involved in disposing the body of the deceased and concealing the death. Each of the defendant’s ran a cutthroat defence. -           R v GB – Kidnapping and Blackmail – Acted alone for a young man accused of kidnapping a teenage boy at knifepoint and extorting money from the victim’s brother. -           R v OO – PWITS Class A – Acted alone for a defendant accused of drug supply following the defendant being attacked at knifepoint and consequentially crashing his car. The car was searched and drugs were found. -           R v RC – s18 wounding with intent – Acted alone for a youth accused of stabbing another young person as part of a group attack. -           R v OE – Conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life – Led junior in a complex four-month trial relating to the activities of a large Nottingham drug supply operation. -           R v MA – Money laundering – Acted alone for a defendant accused of laundering the proceeds of a £30k fraud against an elderly victim. Tobias has expertise in cases involving the civil jurisdiction of the criminal courts. He has acted for football fans defending charges of public order and violence committed at football matches or resisting applications for football banning orders. He has resisted applications for gang injunctions in the magistrates’ court, and on appeal in the Crown Court. He has experience in applications for Criminal Behaviour Orders, Stalking Protection Orders, and Domestic Violence Protection Orders. Tobias regularly represents clients in relation to driving matters in the Crown Court. He has acted for clients accused of drink or drug driving, careless driving, failure to stop and a myriad of other offences. He has a track record of success in helping clients who face disqualification as a “totter” keep their drivers’ license through exceptional hardship arguments. During 2020, Tobias volunteered to act as a legal observer at the Black Lives Matter protests.
Tyrone Smith KC

Tyrone Smith KC

Tyrone is a highly sought-after specialist defence Silk who consistently defends in very serious, substantial and often high-profile criminal cases, including murder, fraud, terrorist offences and large scale drug conspiracies. He is first choice counsel for leading defence solicitors. Tyrone is exceptionally good with clients, empathetic and decisive. He is strategic, tactical, extremely hard working. Tyrone is renowned for offering pro-active representation in all areas of criminal work. He is highly experienced in private crime, including serious driving matters and provides discreet, effective representation of professionals and high-profile individuals.
Ben Smitten

Ben Smitten

Ben has 20 years’ experience at the highest level of criminal proceedings from pre-charge written advice to appellate advocacy. Ben has experience in criminal defence, private prosecutions and inquests. For almost a decade Ben has been instructed on a private basis in relation to all levels of alleged criminality and at all stages of criminal proceedings including the pre-charge stage, pre-trial applications and fully contested trials. His phenomenal results and level of instruction are testament to his work rate and winning strategies. Ben is a specialist criminal defence advocate and adviser with particular expertise in defending serious and organised crime, large-scale fraud, regulatory proceedings, inquests and homicide (from multiple murders to corporate manslaughter). Ben has been regularly and privately instructed by London’s leading firms to privately represent a range of individuals from company directors (from multiple jurisdictions), foreign nationals, doctors, police officers, professional sports persons and ultra-high net worth individuals. His work rate, ability and experience in defending in large scale, serious and complex criminal cases is unrivalled. He is committed, extremely hard working and determined.
Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens

Mark is a highly regarded criminal defence specialist. Mark is approachable, dependable and fearless in his desire to seek the best interests of his clients. Instructed in cases covering all aspects of the law, and with specific expertise in homicide, serious violence, sexual offences, organised crime, drug importation and complex fraud and money laundering matters. Renowned for his engaging court style, a natural jury advocate, Mark has established a strong track record, both as a leading junior, a led junior and acting alone, in matters of great weight and complexity. He is highly committed to the defence of those he represents, combining an approachable, thorough and dependable style, which has resulted in a number of successful appearances at all levels including in the Criminal Court of Appeal. To meet the wide variety of criminal cases he defends in, Mark is adept at changing his approach, combining both a delicacy of touch when required with potentially vulnerable witnesses, with the fearless tenacity of a skilful cross-examiner when a more hard-hitting style is appropriate. Mark is an advocate of great integrity, he consistently maintains the highest professional standards, and by doing so, has earned the respect of the judiciary, his colleagues and clients alike.
Emma Stuart-Smith

Emma Stuart-Smith

Emma’s practice encompasses all areas of criminal defence work, focusing particularly upon serious violence and organised crime. Her practice also includes sexual offences, money laundering and fraud offences. With a focus on homicide, serious violence, firearm and drug conspiracies, her experience includes allegations of human trafficking within drug conspiracies and other allegations under the Modern Slavery Act. Emma has strong experience representing young and vulnerable defendants, including those with learning difficulties and mental health issues. She has experience working with intermediaries and advising on cases where fitness to plead is an issue. Emma receives instructions as a junior alone and a led junior.
Ben Summers

Ben Summers

Ben is a very experienced barrister with a practice in serious crime, fraud and business crime, professional discipline, public inquiries and inquests, and regulatory matters with specialist experience in data protection issues. Ben acts in a wide variety of cases involving allegations of serious criminal offending, including murder and serious violence, rape and other serious sexual offences, firearms and drugs offences. He combines the attention to detail and thorough preparation for which he is known in other areas of his practice, with excellent advocacy and a first–rate service to his lay and professional clients. Ben is instructed in a wide range of fraud, bribery and anti-trust/cartel investigations and prosecutions brought by a range of bodies including the SFO, OFT/DOJ & SEC/EU, NCA, CPS and HMRC. Ben is also experienced in cross-jurisdictional investigations and mutual assistance requests made by, and of, the UK. Ben advises both corporate and individual clients subject to FCA enforcement activity and in relation to non-contentious FSMA issues including advice on RTC and RDC decisions. Ben has extensive experience of acting for a range of core participants and witnesses before public inquiries, and for interested persons in Article 2 and non-Article 2 inquests.  Ben has appeared in inquests arising in medical, care home and policing contexts, acting for individuals, organisations and families. Ben has acted for individuals and corporates in Information Commissioner’s Office investigations including matters involving high profile losses of data by public bodies and where data protection issues arise in the context of criminal or regulatory investigations and proceedings.
Dominic Thomas

Dominic Thomas

Dominic is a specialist in criminal defence and regulatory barrister. Dominic is regularly instructed to act in heavyweight criminal cases, and has a busy and successful practice in all areas of criminal law, particularly murder and manslaughter, terrorism, complex fraud, major drugs and EncroChat cases, serious sexual offences and organised crime. Dominic has acted in celebrated murder cases for decades. More recently, he has developed a specialty in cryptocurrency frauds and terrorism offences. Having been instructed as sole or led junior for many years, he is now more frequently instructed as leading counsel, often in multi-handed cases of complexity or sensitivity. Dominic often defends white-collar clients. He is trusted to defend those working within the criminal justice system and he has the distinction of being recommended to clients by other barristers. Dominic is increasingly instructed in private work for trial or sentence, pre-charge or post-conviction. He is instructed in VHCC cases. Dominic is a founder member of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association and is qualified to act on a public/direct access basis. He has completed his Vulnerable Witness training.
Helen Valley

Helen Valley

Helen has successfully combined her work in financial crime with a heavy criminal practice. Helen is regularly instructed on behalf of professionals such as Doctors, Local Authority Officials and Company Directors accused of fraud, and other corporate crime. Helen is known for her calm and measured approach. This has proved invaluable when working with clients, counsel acting for co-defendants and counsel acting for the relevant prosecuting authority. She is thorough in her preparation and tactically astute. Helen is experienced in dealing with prosecutions brought by a wide variety of agencies including matters conducted by the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service, and HMRC. Helen is particularly known for her sensitivity and patience with clients and her ability to deal with vulnerable and young defendants.
Clare Wade KC

Clare Wade KC

Clare Wade KC is an experienced Silk who specialises in murder, manslaughter and serious sexual offences at trial and appellate level. Clare has a high-profile trial practice consisting of murder, manslaughter, sexual offences and serious violence (in the context of domestic homicide or gang associated killings). Recent work has included gang murder and drug- related killings, domestic homicides, joint enterprise killings and other murders including a cold case conspiracy to murder from 1981. She can think ‘outside the box’ combining excellent client care with legal acumen and attention to forensic detail. She has extensive experience defending in historical sex cases. Clare is a highly experienced and successful appellate advocate. She regularly advises on out-of- time appeals against conviction and sentence often where trial counsel has advised that there is no prospect of a successful appeal. She has been instructed in some of the most high profile appeals of the last few years. Clare is a specialist on women and the criminal justice system. She is often instructed to provide pre-charge advice or to advise on  one-off matters such as drafting representations. She gave oral evidence before the Public Bills Committee on the Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24.
Colin Wells

Colin Wells

Colin's criminal defence expertise includes Fraud, Money Laundering, Confiscation and related Regulatory proceedings and Criminal Cost Appeals. Colin regularly advises advocates, litigators, solicitors and direct access lay and professional clients on: pre-charge criminal investigations; criminal procedure (including abuse of process, disclosure and private prosecutions); the merits of and preparing criminal costs applications (including Senior Courts Costs Office and Court Of Appeal Criminal Division criminal costs cases); criminal liability of private individual and company defendants (fraud, money laundering and confiscation); and with associated court based advocacy.
Nicholas Whitehorn

Nicholas Whitehorn

Nick is an experienced and fearless barrister who brings astute tactical acumen and polished advocacy to the most serious criminal cases. He is versatile, and can adapt to whatever circumstances the case demands. He has for many years now acted as junior alone or leading junior in heavyweight criminal cases, including for defendants charged with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, high-level and complex fraud cases, Very High Cost Cases (VHCC), serious organised crime and industrial-level importations of class A drugs. He has been described as a ‘natural advocate’, ’superb’ and ‘phenomenal’ by those who instruct him. He is as comfortable making submissions before the Court of Appeal as he is before juries where his speeches have been described as compelling and his cross examination ‘first class’. His understanding and application of the criminal law is excellent, acquired over many years of trial and appellate experience and he is constantly abreast of new developments.
George Wills

George Wills

George’s practice focuses on criminal defence and defending regulatory prosecutions. In respect of criminal defence, George enjoys a wide practice in general crime both as a led junior and as counsel alone. He is as at home dealing with cases with high volumes of witnesses and papers as he is cases involving vulnerable defendants and/or prosecution witnesses. George deals with road traffic offences of all kinds. He has successfully argued unusual ‘special reasons’ and ‘exceptional hardship’ on a number of occasions including in the defence of a United States Air force pilot based in the UK and other very high profile clients. Experienced in a range of regulatory work, including countless cases arising out of Housing and Planning Enforcement and associated Proceeds of Crime Proceedings. He is also accustomed with the Unfair Consumer Trading Regulations and breaches of Trading Standards’ regulations.
Lisa Wilson

Lisa Wilson

Lisa is a specialist criminal defence practitioner. Recognised as a leading individual in heavyweight crime and VHCC cases, she is sought-after to defend in cases involving serious violent and organised crime, including murders, where she frequently takes on advocacy roles. Lisa is regularly instructed as junior alone in attempted murders, kidnaps and serious sexual offences. She is instructed as a leading junior in major drug trafficking offences. Lisa has developed particular expertise in medico-legal cases, especially those involving medical/insanity defences, contested fitness to plead hearings and is sought after for cases involving complex baby deaths. Lisa is frequently instructed in large-scale frauds and money-laundering offences, including as leading junior. Lisa is an Advanced Advocacy Trainer of the Inner Temple and an accredited trainer on the ICCA ‘Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law’ course. She is a skilled and sensitive court advocate and cross examiner and is highly adept at dealing with both complex legal challenges and difficult witnesses. Lisa is highly committed to the defence of those she represents, which has resulted in numerous successful appearances at all levels including in the Court of Appeal. She has a busy Court of Appeal post-conviction referral practice, including advising on appeal against convictions and sentences. Lisa sits as a Fee-Paid Judge in the Mental Health Tribunal and Employment Tribunal. She is also a Governing Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
David Wood

David Wood

David is a specialist criminal defence barrister. He is an expert in defending serious criminal allegations including murder, firearm possession, grievous bodily harm, rape/serious sexual offences, and Class A drug dealing. Many of David’s cases over the years have involved allegations of organised international criminal activity with a high media profile. Alongside his criminal practice, David also defends in professional discipline and regulatory law (for example before the General Medical Council, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and in Police misconduct proceedings). Additionally, he acts in inquests and public inquiries – most notably as junior Counsel to two core participants in the Manchester Arena Inquiry in 2021. David is a Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple and a member of its Advocacy Training Committee – regularly teaching advocacy to younger barristers. He is a former Secretary of the Criminal Bar Association and played a significant role in the development and delivery of the inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme. In 2022, David was made a Recorder of the Crown Court.