Set Profile > Red Lion Chambers > London, England

Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations) Tier 2

Viewed as 'strong' in the field of business crime, Red Lion Chambers' members are adept at prosecuting and defending cases involving corruption, bribery, and Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigations. Recent highlights include Trevor Archer representing the SFO in a corruption case concerning alleged payments made to a public official in South Korea to secure contracts for seismological equipment to monitor earthquakes and nuclear weapons tests in North Korea over a 13-year period.

Crime Tier 2

Red Lion Chambers, among a range of criminal experts, has number of members with specific strengths in sexual offences and modern slavery matters, and handles a strong mixture of prosecution work as well as challenging defence instructions. Kate Bex QC successfully represented the defendant, a solicitor, in the second-ever prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation Act. Rosina Cottage QC represented the Crown Prosecution Service, successfully defeating an appeal against conviction brought in the name of publicist Max Clifford, who died three years into a prison sentence for indecent assault. Among the juniors, David Malone prosecuted two gang members involved in the production of drill music videos on YouTube for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH), and successfully applied after their conviction for the first criminal behaviour order targeting drill music. Elsewhere, Paul Evans represented a man named in the press as a former president of the Sussex chapter of the Hell's Angels, who was acquitted of GBH with intent. Sally-Ann Hales QC was appointed to the circuit bench in May 2018.

Fraud: crime Tier 2

Red Lion Chambers' Gillian Jones QC is acting in a long-running private prosecution concerning alleged international property fraud and forgery of company documents set, while Jane Bewsey QC prosecuted in Operation Twilight, a case concerning six defendants charged with tax fraud by claiming tax relief on a film scheme which never resulted in a film being made.

Crime

Red Lion Chambers is home to a wide range of criminal barristers, who both prosecute and defend across the spectrum of both public and private work. Notable recent work examples include Simon Spence QC prosecuting in a three-defendant murder case concerning the beating to death of a homeless man following a perceived slight, and Gillian Jones QC defending in the case of a man who was charged with murdering his wife while his daughter was upstairs, and claimed self-defence as his wife attempted to stab him - he was convicted of the lesser manslaughter charge.

Set overviews: England and Wales

Red Lion Chambers ‘continues to grow and go from strength to strength’ across the gamut of criminal defence and prosecution. The set is ‘organised and efficient’. ‘They will ensure all cases are covered properly and that solicitors are always kept informed.’ While a London set, it is also active in Kent’s criminal cases and maintains an outpost in Chelmsford. In recent news, Michelle Nelson, Christopher Paxton, and Michael Goodwin took silk in 2019; Sara Lawson QC has been appointed general counsel of the Serious Fraud Office and David Malone has taken a sabbatical to work as the deputy head of the specialist fraud division at the Crown Prosecution Service; Angela Rafferty QC has been appointed a circuit judge on the South Eastern Circuit. The set has recently launched a lecture series which is described as ‘unprecedented’ by clients: ‘These events are invaluable to the solicitors’ profession in terms of continued professional development and are very much highly regarded.’ The clerks’ room is ‘fully understanding and willing to assist in those rare moments of crises’. Mark Bennett is the senior clerk/practice director; deputy director Nick Parkinson, assistant practice director Lee Young, and practice manager and lead Chelmsford clerk Chris Jones are also key contacts. Offices in: London and Chelmsford

Diversity

Red Lion Chambers [“RLC”] can demonstrate its commitment to equality of opportunity and in some areas, we significantly outperform the Bar statistics.

Gender: In the 100th year of women at the Bar, 35% of QCs in Chambers are female against the Bar statistics of 15.8%. This year, 75% of our pupils are female as against the Bar average of 50%.

Non-traditional: Almost half of our members (46%) were the first in their family to go to University and just under half (47%) coming from a UK state school background compared to 39% of members who were educated privately.

We reflect the Bar statistics in that:

• 58% of tenants are male and 38% female.
• 78% of members define themselves as British White. 13% identify as from ‘Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds meeting the representation at the Bar and
• 6% identify as having a disability.

Corporate social responsibility

• Over half of our members (51%) work in roles supporting a range of charitable institutions or community organisations often from Board level down and across a wide range of entities, including schools, housing, legal, BME, female and sports. 34% have worked with the organisations for over 5 years demonstrating a long-standing commitment.
•  This year RLC set up projects with ELBA [East London Business Alliance] and UEL Open Doors which aim to provide mentoring and training, opening access to the legal profession and motivating the recipients to achieve their potential.