2 Hare Court

Tom Beardsworth practises across Chambers’ core specialisms.

The principal part of Tom’s practice is criminal prosecution and defence. He is trusted by instructing solicitors to handle an increasingly serious caseload including, as sole counsel, allegations of attempted rape, false imprisonment, and a bomb hoax.

Tom knows from experience the value of preparatory work. He gives early and detailed consideration to disclosure and unused material, yielding powerful points to deploy at trial. He is well-versed in making submissions on hearsay, bad character and adverse inferences that have proved influential or determinative on the outcome of trial.

Tom has represented a number of businesspeople, sports figures, and professionals in criminal, coronial, and disciplinary proceedings. Tom recently represented a Metropolitan Police sergeant accused of predatory sexual behaviour and dishonesty in which the Panel were persuaded to make a rare finding of ‘no case to answer’ before the sergeant had given evidence.

Tom is regularly instructed to advise on civil and quasi-criminal issues. He recently advised the Department for Transport on the consequences of procedural errors by several train operating companies in their prosecutions of fare evaders. Tom has a particular interest in the exercise of investigative powers and the civil recovery of the proceeds of crime. He represents both applicants and respondents in asset freezing and forfeiture applications brought under Part 5 of POCA, both as sole counsel and led by King’s Counsel.

Before coming to the Bar, Tom worked for five years as a financial journalist at Bloomberg.

Called in 2021.

BA (Hons) Philosophy, Politics and Economics (First Class), University of Oxford (2011–2014); Graduate Diploma in Law, City, University of London (2019–2020); PGDip Bar Vocational Studies, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2020–2021); Winner, ICCA Moot; Winner, Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Moot; Maitland Advocacy Prize; Haldane and Droop Scholarships, Lincoln’s Inn.