Set Profile > 5 St Andrews Hill > London, England
5 St Andrews Hill Offices
5 St Andrews Hill
LONDON
EC4V 5BZ
England
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5 St Andrews Hill > The Legal 500 Rankings
Fraud: crime
2019 Silks
Leading Juniors
Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
Rising stars
Leading Juniors
International crime and extradition Tier 2
5 St Andrews Hill is 'well known for extradition work', with 'a strong cadre' of 'talented and experienced extradition lawyers'. Recent instructions include the 'first-class' David Josse QC and 'passionate' Ben Keith representing the appellants in Yilmaz and Yilmaz v Government of Turkey, which involved issues concerning Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and prison conditions in Turkey. Keith is said to have 'unrivalled knowledge' when it comes to Russian and CIS state extradition requests. A 'great tactician', Natasha Draycott is particularly strong in cases with human rights or political issues as well as complex Part 2 cases. Gemma Lindfield's family law expertise gives her 'a greater advantage to many of her peers when dealing with extradition cases that have a family element to them'. Also of note, Danielle Barden is a rising star who has particular expertise in modern slavery cases as they relate to extradition law.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Crime
Leading Silks
Mark Cotter QC-5 St Andrews Hill‘Has grown as a relatively new QC into an absolute foundation for any high-profile or complex criminal case. Throws everything into the case, and it consumes him for that period. He is easy to work with and is excellent on his feet, with jurors, judge and opponent. I have seen juries eat from his palm.’
Leading Juniors
Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
Leading Juniors
Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture Tier 3
The 'excellent' 5 St Andrews Hill houses 'highly regarded barristers for POCA work', according to instructing solicitors. In a recent highlight, James Fletcher acted for the National Crime Agency (NCA) in its first contested account forfeiture orders against three bank accounts, with an aggregate value of £500,000, held in the name of Vlad Filat. The court permitted the forfeiture on finding that the money was derived from Filat's father, the ex-Moldovan prime minister convicted of bribery and corruption offences in 2016 for his role in the disappearance of $1bn from three Moldovan banks. The court also took into consideration the possibility that the funds were derived from money laundering.
Leading Juniors
Family (including divorce and financial remedy)
Leading Juniors
Set overviews: England and Wales
5 St Andrews Hill is a go-to chambers for international crime and extradition matters, as well as regulatory, general crime, and POCA cases. Boosting the set's core practice areas, Sharmistha Michaels has joined from Drystone Chambers. Also of note, Ben Keith has been elected chair of the Defence Extradition Lawyers Forum and appointed a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).Clerks:
Testimonials
Clerks:
Clerks are helpful and efficient and are prepared to go ‘extra mile’ to ensure that client and barrister are supported.
Clerks have always provided a good quality service under the able leadership of Dave Scothern.
Dave Scothern, director of clerking is superb.
Dean Cook is an asset to chambers, always helpful, never needs chasing and a safe pair of hands.
Excellent clerking across the board and Chambers Director Dave Scothern brings a wealth of experience to the role.
First-class clerks room – always willing to go the extra mile!
Gary Norton is excellent and the clerking team are always straightforward to deal with and provide quick turn around times.
Chambers are client-focused and will try to work to provide representation for those clients struggling to afford representation.
The clerks are all very dependable and can be counted on to give honest answers which is a quality not all chambers possess.
The Clerks are always eager to assist and have a detailed understanding of extradition work, meaning they can recommend appropriate counsel. Dean Cook, in particular, is excellent at maintaining relationships with instructing solicitors
The clerks are friendly and approachable. They are willing to go the extra mile for their instructing solicitors.
The clerks will always go out of their way to assist and arrange suitable cover even at the last minute. They are quick to respond to any queries and come across as pleasant and professional.
Set:
5SAH are our go to set for counsel in the south of England. With lawyers peppered around Essex, Greater London, the Home Counties and the South Coast their reach is unmatched.
5SAH have a huge pool of talented and experienced extradition lawyers.
5SAH is one of the leading extradition sets and has a real depth of counsel, at every level. They are great at engaging with instructing solicitors and are active in providing legal update seminars and blog posts.
5SAH provide a number of training sessions which are very beneficial to the profession. The barristers are very approachable and often take their own time to offer additional support and training to solicitors.
A long standing criminal set known for high end prosecution work. Over the years have produced a number of silks and judges.
A top Proceeds of Crime set. Chambers educational events are interesting, entertaining and through provoking.
A very good set with a breadth of experience in crime, fraud, regulatory , extraction and asset forfeiture.
A very good set with some real all round strength. They run excellent seminars and training and have some excellent barristers. A go to set in order to instruct counsel to find a solution to a problem for a client.
Highly capable set mostly known for prosecuting work and also capable defenders.
This is an extremely professional chambers which makes our cases its biggest priority via its great staff. Every barrister we have used on our cases, which haven’t been straightforward, have always been well informed and confident advocates.
Quick to respond, always available, never late.
The Chambers staff are always very professional and helpful at all times.
The set are dynamic. They are mixed practice of defence prosecution, civil and family.
The set as a whole are excellent. There are a great deal of excellent barristers which leave you assured that even if your brief is returned for a hearing there will be another counsel available of equal calibre to assist.
They are deservedly well known for extradition work with a strong cadre of available counsel.
This is an excellent set of chambers. They have an excellent team and provide a superb service. The barristers are all approachable and experts in their field.
5 St Andrews Hill > Set Profile
The set: 5SAH is ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. 5SAH has specialist barristers who provide legal advice and representation in Asset Forfeiture, Crime, Business Crime, Civil, Extradition, Family and Regulatory Law.
5SAH is a progressive set, with the head of Chambers, David Josse QC, pushing the boundaries in terms of the work streams and the profile of 5SAH within the legal market and wider media.
The Chambers at 5 St Andrew’s Hill is fully equipped with the latest technology to ensure that its clients receive the highest level of service. 5SAH runs a fully computerised Meridian diary and fees system and is fully equipped with high capacity scanners and the latest in networking solutions enabling 5SAH to transfer large quantities of information with ease.
5SAH was first established in 1949 by Anthony Cripps QC and was located in 1 Harcourt Buildings, Temple. In 2007 5SAH relocated to a new building at 5 St Andrew’s Hill, which has allowed 5SAH’s membership and practice areas to grow and the improved facilities has allowed for a more streamlined service to clients.
Areas of practice: 5SAH offers a responsive service and results-orientated representation for its clients. The barristers of 5SAH have extensive experience in their respective practice areas. They are instructed in the most complex cases, often with esoteric points of law. 5SAH prosecutes and defends in equal measure, offering expertise in both.
5SAH provides high quality advocacy and advice in the following practice areas:
- Asset Forfeiture;
- Crime;
- Business Crime;
- Civil;
- Extradition & International Crime;
- Family; and
- Regulatory Law.
The barristers at 5SAH are instructed in some of the most high-profile and cutting edge cases within their practice areas. The Business Crime Team have been involved in defending in the LIBOR trials and the Asset Forfeiture team continues to be involved with the confiscation process flowing from LIBOR. The Extradition Team appear in a large amount of appellate cases and are frequent visitors to the High Court and Supreme Court. 5SAH’s Asset Forfeiture barristers have some of the leading specialists within this practice area, they lecture and write on the subject and appear in the leading cases year on year.
5SAH prides itself on running cutting edge seminars, providing legal updates to clients and providing comment, opinions and articles in the press.
5SAH was recently nominated by The Legal 500 Legal Awards for ‘Crime Set of the Year’ 2018. 5SAH was also recently nominated by the Solicitor’s Journal Awards 2017 in the category of ‘Chambers of the Year.’
Barrister Profiles
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Danielle Barden | Danielle Barden specialises in criminal and extradition law. Danielle also practises in… | View Profile |
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Georgia Beatty | Georgia was called to the Bar in 2017. | View Profile |
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Charles Bennett | Charles Bennett practises in all main areas of chancery, commercial and company law, landlord… | View Profile |
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Roger Birch | Roger Birch has a multi-disciplinary practice which combines chancery and commercial, family… | View Profile |
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Andrew Bird | A specialist in white collar crime, civil and criminal asset forfeiture, civil and… | View Profile |
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Edmund Burge | Edmund Burge is a leading junior, ranked in Chambers and Partners as… | View Profile |
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Benjamin Burge | Ben Burge joined 5 St. Andrew’s Hill in October 2013 and regularly… | View Profile |
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Louisa Collins | Louisa Collins is a barrister specialising in extradition, human rights and serious… | View Profile |
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Dominic Connolly | An experienced criminal practitioner whose practice principally concerns serious and large-scale organised… | View Profile |
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Claire Cooper | Claire Cooper practices in all areas of crime with a particular focus… | View Profile |
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Mark Cotter QC | Mark Cotter Q.C. took silk in 2017, following a highly successful career… | View Profile |
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John Crawford | John Crawford is developing a growing practice in all areas of criminal… | View Profile |
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Alexandra Davey | Alexandra Davey has developed a busy practice covering all matters of: General… | View Profile |
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Kevin Dent | Kevin Dent has built up a wealth of experience over 20 years… | View Profile |
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Bernard Devlin | Bernard Devlin has practised continuously at the Bar since 1980 in the… | View Profile |
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Natasha Draycott | Natasha Draycott is a leading extradition barrister who acts for both foreign… | View Profile |
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Andrew Evans | Andrew Evans is an experienced criminal practitioner, specialising in the prosecution of… | View Profile |
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Sarah Fairbairn | Called to the Bar in 2017. | View Profile |
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James Fletcher | James Fletcher practises in both civil and criminal law. He is a specialist… | View Profile |
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Ian Foinette | Ian Foinette has been a member of chambers since 1987, having been… | View Profile |
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Philip Galway-Cooper | Philip Galway-Cooper is a property barrister appearing before all tribunals including the… | View Profile |
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Eve George | Eve was called to the Bar in 1997. | View Profile |
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James Harris | James Harris is a barrister with very wide experience at the Bar,… | View Profile |
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David (Harry) Hewitt | Harry Hewitt specialises in prosecuting and defending heavyweight financial crime cases. Harry… | View Profile |
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Wendy Hewitt | Wendy Hewitt’s main practice areas are professional discipline, regulatory and crime. Wendy has a… | View Profile |
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Rebecca Hill | Rebecca Hill is an experienced criminal advocate with specialist expertise in extradition… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Ingram | Jonathan Ingram is a specialist criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends serious… | View Profile |
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Daniel Jones | Dan Jones has developed a busy practice in the Crown court, accepting… | View Profile |
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Nicholas Jones | Nick Jones is an experienced criminal advocate. Prior to joining the Bar,… | View Profile |
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David Josse QC | David Josse Q.C. is a barrister specialising in extradition, human rights, international… | View Profile |
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Jaqueline Julyan S.C. | A graduate of Stellenbosch and Cambridge Universities, Jaqueline was called to the… | View Profile |
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John Keal | John Keal is an experienced criminal barrister who both prosecutes and defends… | View Profile |
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Ben Keith | Ben Keith is a barrister specialising in Extradition, Immigration, Serious Fraud, Human Rights… | View Profile |
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Caroline Knight | Caroline was called to the Bar in 1985. | View Profile |
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Alexa Le Moine (Pupil) | Alexa was called to the Bar in 2018. | View Profile |
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Hilary Lennox | Hilary Lennox is a barrister called to the Bar in Ireland, Northern Ireland… | View Profile |
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Francesca Levett | Francesca Levett is a criminal practitioner who has developed a significant practice… | View Profile |
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Gemma Lindfield | Gemma Lindfield is an experienced extradition barrister and has been involved in… | View Profile |
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Alecsandra Manning-Rees | Solicitor Advocate from January 2016 and called to the Bar in 2018. | View Profile |
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Christopher May | Chris May is a heavyweight criminal barrister instructed in some of the… | View Profile |
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John McNamara | John McNamara is a barrister practising in criminal law and all related… | View Profile |
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David McNeill | David McNeill is a barrister with a strong practice in fraud and… | View Profile |
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Mark Mullins | Mark Mullin’s practice is split between crime and immigration. He is a… | View Profile |
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Edward Munir | Edward Munir has a long and varied experience at the Bar. Before… | View Profile |
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Jose Olivares-Chandler | Jose Olivares-Chandler has been ranked in the Legal 500 for Crime (London… | View Profile |
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John Oliver | John Oliver specialises in crime and extradition. John has particular experience in… | View Profile |
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Joe O’Leary (Pupil) | Joe was called to the Bar in 2019. | View Profile |
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Gary Pons | Gary Pons is a talented and dedicated barrister. His approach to cases… | View Profile |
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Anthony Prosser | ony is a heavy-weight criminal barrister, who has been a member of… | View Profile |
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Don Ramble | Don Ramble is instructed in the most serious of criminal cases and… | View Profile |
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Alex Rooke | Alex maintains a busy 50/50 defence and prosecution practice, and believes this… | View Profile |
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Gemma Rose | Gemma is a barrister practising in all areas of criminal law. She… | View Profile |
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Maria Scotland | Maria Scotland practices exclusively in family law with a specialism in high… | View Profile |
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Richard Scott | Richard Scott is a courteous, conscientious and confident advocate. He returned to 5… | View Profile |
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Eleanor Scott-Davies | Eleanor’s practice covers criminal, prison and extradition work. Eleanor regularly appears in… | View Profile |
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Mark Smith | Mark Smith is a barrister specialising in crime, extradition, family and civil… | View Profile |
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David Stern | David Stern‘s practice focuses on corporate regulation, business crime and serious fraud… | View Profile |
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Bridgett Todd | Bridget is an experienced criminal barrister who practises in all areas of… | View Profile |
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Ini Udom | Ini Udom is a barrister specialising in regulatory work and complex criminal… | View Profile |
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Paul Valder | Paul Valder is an experienced barrister who prosecutes and defends crime at… | View Profile |
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James Vine | James Vine is an experienced criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends in… | View Profile |
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Allister Walker | Allister Walker has twenty five years’ experience as a barrister in independent… | View Profile |
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Vivian Walters | Vivian has over twenty-five years experience in prosecuting and defending serious crime.… | View Profile |
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John Warrington | John Warrington is a barrister specialising in professional disciplinary proceedings, regulatory and… | View Profile |
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Abigail White | Abigail White has extensive experience prosecuting and defending in a wide range… | View Profile |
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David Williams | David Williams practices in Extradition, Human Rights, Public Law, Sports Law / Regulation… | View Profile |
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Alexandra Wilson | Called to the Bar in 2018. | View Profile |
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Sarah Wood | Sarah Wood is Joint Head of the Business Crime Team at 5… | View Profile |
Interviews
David Josse Q.C.
What do you see as the main points that differentiate 5SAH from its competitors?
Our clients are central to everything that we do at 5SAH. We offer and provide each and everyone a bespoke service. The barristers they instruct will be experts in their field and provide realistic advice. They are client focused and results driven.
In addition, we want our members and staff to be happy and to be part of and proud of 5SAH because we offer a unique and welcoming workplace and environment. We are flexible with our working practices for both our staff and members. We offer a generous package for anyone on parental leave. As a result, we retain our barristers and clerks, many of which have been with us throughout their years at the Bar. We offer a generous pupillage package and we always aim to retain our pupils in order to grow our talent from the bottom up. We do not believe it benefits the individual or 5SAH as a whole, to take on pupils if we cannot accommodate them as tenants.
Which practices do you expect to grow over the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
Business Crime: This team is a busy and successful group of expert barristers. We expect this group to grow over the next 12 months due to the upsurge in financial based crime. Our team receives some of the biggest cases in the market in this area and we are confident this will continue. Much of the work has become advisory on pre-charge and investigation stage and this has significantly increased instruction in this area.
- Extradition & International: Whether we like it or not – a remainer or a leaver – Brexit will have a huge impact on our legal landscape. This applies to a great an extent in the area of Extradition Law. No one knows quite how it will impact both legally and practically, but our barristers will be ready to tackle the challenges that leaving the EU will throw at them. This will be a very busy time for our Team, almost certainly providing real and interesting opportunities for legal challenges.
How has direct public access changed the work of your chambers? Is this a growth area for your set?
Direct public access work has changed the work of 5SAH. We still receive the majority of our work from traditional streams, however direct public access is an important provider and is growing. It is a brilliant way for members of the public to directly access and instruct a barrister in appropriate cases where there is less need for litigation support. It cuts the costs for them and any duplication of work. It also shows how the Bar is modernising for the needs of our clients, which is always a good thing.
It is a growth area for 5SAH. We have our Public Access barristers listed on the website for ease if clients wish to find them for this service. We are likely to expand these pages on our website as it is such a growth area. We have to follow the needs of our clients. If the public are showing more interest in instructing our barristers directly, 5SAH needs to adapt in order to provide a more streamlined service for the client in this respect. Let’s watch this space!
What other issues are driving change at the modern Bar? How are you adapting to such change?
The modern Bar is adapting, however it still has a way to go before we can say that it accommodates all. We need to be better at accommodating members of the Bar who want to engage to a greater extent in a family or personal life. The unpredictable hours, travel and last minute nature of disclosure and paperwork all need to be managed in a better way. Of course funding in some practice areas has a huge impact on how a case is managed. The legal profession cannot provide a family friendly working environment if the legal system we use does not support this.
5SAH offers a generous parental leave package for its members and we have a high retention rate of barristers coming back to work after they have had children. Other sets also need to offer its members better incentives to stay within the profession so that we do not lose talented members of the Bar unnecessarily.
As a profession we also need to encourage members from non-traditional legal backgrounds to join and stay within the profession. We have many members that are from non-legal backgrounds. We have had members appear in the press publicising their own journey in order to encourage others. We support the #IAmTheBar campaign from the Bar Council and think that this is a great campaign and hope this will continue.
What’s the biggest change you’ve made in chambers that you believe will benefit clients?
Chambers has always supported Pro-Bono work and it is something that on a personal level I have been keen to encourage. Its value to both Chambers and independent development is something that I always emphasise. It affords a real opportunity to work in new and, at times, interesting and challenging areas of practice. I can vouch for this on a personal level. As a result of some gentle encouragement, more members of chambers now undertake pro-bono work and we are proud of Natasha Shotunde’s recent award in this area. Clearly this benefits our clients, our barristers and Chambers as a whole.
- A general growth in international work. This goes well beyond extradition as an area of practice and now encompasses advisory work in both business crime, family law and importantly in Rule Of Law matters. On a personal level, I am delighted to see that many of our juniors are keen to make their mark in the world of International Criminal Law. Having spent five years defending in War Crime trials at an International Tribunal I can vouch for how stimulating and fascinating such cases are and how on return to domestic practice they make an individual a far better and more rounded lawyer.
What technology has chambers recently invested in?
Chambers has for years been using cloud-based case management software and this has dramatically decreased the need for paper-based cases. This is across a broad range of our practice areas. The cases that do come in paper form are quickly converted into electronic format, which allows barristers to work securely and remotely wherever they are.
How has this tech changed the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
We use our skype and video conference facilities far more than five years ago for local, national and international clients. We can even have conferences directly with people in detention. This has cut down travelling times and enabled us to provide faster client service.
What other chambers’ facilities are a benefit to clients?
We have outstanding seminar facilities and a regular programme of educational events for solicitors, investigators and government lawyers to help keep us at the forefront of our practice area. Our people are our asset and our team of clerks aims to provide the highest service to all types of client.
What are clients looking for from a modern chambers?
Clients do not want to instruct a stuffy set of barristers. Our clients expect an approachable counsel who is open to new ideas and collaborating towards the agreed end point of their case. Clients also expect a Chambers not only to provide quality legal services but also be up to date with current news items, political topics and how they will impact a particular practice area or legal issue. They expect an all round service and at 5SAH that is what we aim to deliver.
Where do you see your set in three years’ time?
We want to improve our market position by receiving interesting and important work across a range of fields. We want to educate and mentor our junior barristers to progress their careers and encourage more of our members to become QC’s.
We have recently had 2 silks appointed (Kevin Dent Q.C. and Edmund Burge Q.C.) .
XTop Tier Set Rankings
Set Rankings
- London Bar International crime and extradition
- London Bar Crime
- London Bar Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- London Bar Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
- London Bar Family (including divorce and financial remedy)
- Regional Bar Set overviews: England and Wales
- London Bar Set overviews: England and Wales