Six Pump Court

6pumpcourt.co.uk

Peter Alcock

His extensive criminal practice covers the entire spectrum of crime including murder, serious non-fatal violence, rape, other sexual offences, dishonesty offences, fraud, drugs offences, duty evasion and illegal entry. His practice also includes regulatory and road traffic work. His practice involves both defence and prosecution work. He has the longstanding following of a significant number of excellent defence solicitors. He is also regularly instructed by the CPS as a grade 4 advocate (which includes the rape panel). Since 1995 he has been an extremely busy practitioner in his field and accordingly has acted both as counsel alone and also as junior counsel in many high-profile cases. In more recent years he has been instructed as leading counsel in such cases within his field including murder, drugs offences, fraud and duty evasion. He has superb presentation and communication skills which enable him to master complex, multi-handed and sensitive cases, including those involving defendants or witnesses who are vulnerable. He is currently instructed in significant on-going work of the above type including murder, serious fraud, regulatory and sexual offences.

Grant Armstrong

Grant has a wide general common law practice. He acts in all types of family matters and handles ancillary relief at all levels. He has experience in Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 cases arising from cohabitation and property disputes and in cases where co-ownership has affected ancillary relief proceedings. In other family areas he has acted in probate and Inheritance Act cases. He has also acted in a number of commercial matters where understanding the business model of the litigating parties proved important to the ultimate resolution of the case. In the course of practice he has participated in several formal mediations.

Giles Atkinson

Giles is an experienced planning specialist with a broad practice encompassing all aspect of planning work which includes advisory work, inquiries and hearings, criminal defence and prosecution, injunctions and judicial review and with a particular expertise in enforcement matters. Giles’s practice covers every aspect of advocacy and advisory work concerned with planning, development management, policy and particularly enforcement work, on behalf of local authorities, developers and private individuals. Giles has a huge experience of planning inquiry work from large housing schemes in the South East to the smaller scale, particularly enforcement cases, including those affecting listed buildings and advertising control matters. Giles is increasingly instructed in estate regeneration CPO work and has an established High Court practice. Giles also regularly appears and is instructed in judicial review matters, principally defending local authorities’ decision making in the High Court. Also in the High Court, Giles has much experience of obtaining planning injunctions under section 187B TCPA.

Christopher Badger

Christopher Badger has an established practice in commercial regulatory investigations and prosecutions, specialising in environmental enforcement, acting for both corporate and individual defendants and on behalf of the Environment Agency. High profile cases in which he has recently been instructed include allegations of the deliberate illegal disposal of hazardous waste, the export of waste abroad, end of waste and environmental issues relating to the Thames Tideway super-sewer project. He is often asked to provide early-stage advice into on-going investigations, both pre-interview and pre-charge. Reported authorities include Environment Agency v Walker & Son (Hauliers) Ltd, the defining case on liability of landowners in environmental disputes, R v Rogers, Beaman and Tapecrown Ltd, the leading authority on the use of fresh evidence in appeals against sentence to the Court of Appeal and Environment Agency v Tapecrown Ltd, a landmark authority concerning the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal in contempt of court appeals and the novel use of third parties to act as a means of enforcing Court ordered environmental remediation orders in criminal proceedings. Recent written advice and lectures have included issues on water pollution, legal personality and “linked organisations”, the definition of causation, the meaning and treatment of hazardous waste, environmental liabilities for private investors and institutional and regulatory steps required to achieve ‘equivalence’ with current environmental standards in a post-Brexit environment.

Nicholas Baldock

Nicholas Baldock was called to the Bar in 1983 and joined Six Pump Court in April 1985. He regularly appears in the High Court, County Courts, Tribunals and also the Court of Appeal. Personal injury and property damage claims form a large part of his practice. Within those areas fall a broad range of claims. Nicholas has a substantial practice relating to nuisance and pollution claims including Group Actions. He also advises in commercial matters including the drafting of contracts. Nicholas is a CEDR trained mediator and often represents parties in ADR procedures as well as acting as mediator himself. Nicholas regularly lectures to both solicitors (in both large and small groups including at seminars in person and on line) and non-lawyers including medical groups and commercial bodies.

Richard Banwell

Richard Banwell regularly appears in public inquiries and the High Court, acting on behalf of developers, local planning authorities and third parties. He has particular expertise and experience in dealing with infrastructure projects including energy generation, waste water and waste disposal, transport schemes and other strategic developments such as tall buildings in central London, sustainable urban extensions and large housing schemes. He advises on housing supply, EIA, listed buildings and conservation areas, Green Belt and countryside issues as well as agriculture and horticultural related development and cases involving gypsies/travellers. He has particular experience in relation to enforcement matters (including appeals and prosecutions) and the use of injunctions. He has particular experience where the planning and environmental regimes intersect. He regularly advises developers, local authorities and the Environment Agency in connection with each regime and his practice includes all aspects of the European dimension of environmental law and implementing domestic legislation. He appears in environmental permitting statutory appeals into revocation, suspension and enforcement notices and prosecutes and defends against the Environment Agency and other regulators. He is an expert in contaminated land and site remediation issues connected with development and has advised on the planning and permitting requirements for the acceptance of Low Level Radioactive Waste for disposal at landfill. He is regularly involved at the early stages of an investigation or prior to controversial technical or operational changes being made on site and has been sought as Counsel of choice by both sides on numerous occasions.

Richard Barraclough KC

Richard Barraclough KC is an exceptionally experienced common law advocate whose practice spans serious crime, regulatory law, family proceedings and complex civil litigation. He prosecutes and defends cases of the utmost seriousness, with particular expertise in homicide, serious violence, abuse, fraud, proceeds of crime and other complex jury trials. His wider practice includes catastrophic injury and death, child welfare and fact-finding proceedings, coronial work, consumer and regulatory law, environmental and planning enforcement, civil fraud, professional negligence and commercial disputes. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Richard has represented individuals, local authorities, insurers and major organisations, including London Underground and Transport for London. He has appeared at every level of court, including the Court of Appeal, House of Lords and Privy Council, and has acted in a number of cases which have contributed to the development of law and practice.

Pascal Bates

Prosecuting and defending regulatory prosecutions brought by national and local enforcement agencies, at first instance and on appeal – primarily health and safety but also railway, fire, food, trading standards and environment: eg. Taunton Deane BC v WH Smith (2018), HSE v Claxton Engineering Services and others (quadruple fatality at Great Yarmouth) (2017). Advised HSE/ORR on the structural collapse onto the railway at Gerrards Cross. Enforcement Notice appeals: e.g. Cooperative Group Food v Steward (Three Rivers DC) (2017). Disputes about primary authority arrangements. Confidential/strategic advice on regulatory/commercial matters: eg. hydrocarbon pipeline safety; enforceability of non-compete clauses; joint venture agreement between developers. Inquests: eg. In re Fairweather (2018). Disclosure/PII in both civil and criminal contexts. General common and public law with an emphasis on statutory construction: eg. rights to UK passports; allocation of statutory powers between rival public bodies; extent of investigators’ powers; application of EU/UK controls to imported foods. Commercial contract and property: eg. ICFL v Trafalgar Leisure (2018), Halberstam v Gladstar [2015] EWHC 179 (QB), Meretz Investments v ACP [2008] Ch 244, Haller v Deutsche Bank. Contested probate.

Mark Beard

Mark Beard is a leading public law practitioner specialising in planning, environmental, local government and regulatory law. He is recommended in both Chambers UK and Legal 500 and has been shortlisted for Planning and Environment Junior of the Year (Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019) and Planning and Land Use Junior of the Year (Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022 and 2025). He was formerly a member of the Planning and Environmental Bar Association Committee and served as PEBA's representative on the Bar Council Wellbeing Panel. Mark is instructed by local authorities, developers, statutory bodies, regulators, community groups and private clients across the full spectrum of planning, public, environmental and local government law. He has a substantial advisory practice and is particularly valued for strategic advice on planning enforcement, local government powers, equality duties, judicial review risk, Community Infrastructure Levy, planning obligations and politically sensitive decision-making. He combines extensive advocacy experience with a substantial advisory practice, and regularly appears at major planning inquiries, examinations in public and appellate proceedings. He was a member of the Attorney General’s Civil Panel of Counsel (B Panel) from 2005 to 2010. Mark's practice is distinguished by the breadth of his expertise across planning, public and environmental law, particularly where those disciplines intersect. He is frequently instructed in matters involving judicial review, statutory challenge, planning enforcement, injunctions, environmental regulation, equality duties, human rights and local government powers.

Lee Bennett

Lee Bennett is a specialist regulatory barrister practising primarily in the areas of: health and safety; trading standards; licensing; food safety; environmental health. He also has a well-established practice in complementary areas of environmental law, particularly the law of nuisance and civil law, principally defending in personal injury employer and public liability cases.

Kieran Brand

Kieran Brand has established himself as a busy practitioner on the South Eastern Circuit. His practice encompasses a wide range of criminal offences. He regularly defends in cases involving serious sexual misconduct including rape, historic sexual abuse and other sexual offences committed against vulnerable complainants and children. He is also instructed to both defend and prosecute in cases involving serious violence including GBH/wounding with intent, armed robbery and kidnap as well as cases involving people trafficking, large scale drug supply, complex fraud and other dishonesty. He also specialises in defending clients charged with road traffic offences. Kieran also acts in related criminal proceedings including applications for and variations of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Domestic Violence Prevention Orders, Dog Destruction Orders and confiscation and forfeiture hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Kieran has also represented clients facing disciplinary proceedings brought by professional bodies such as the General Dental Council and Security Industry Authority. He also has experience of both defending and prosecuting in proceedings involving regulatory and quasi-criminal offences brought on behalf of local authorities. Grade 3 CPS Panel Advocate (London and South East)

Noémi Byrd

Noémi Byrd has a broad practice spanning the law relating to the built and natural environment. Much of her work is in planning, with other complementary areas of public and private law including access to open space, common land registration, easements, ecology, heritage and listed buildings, highways, nuisance, tree and hedgerow protection, and trespass. Noémi is also experienced in a range of local government regulatory areas including licensing and food hygiene. She is an experienced advocate in civil and criminal courts and tribunals, and at public inquiries. She has acted as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal. Noémi has a longstanding specialism in public rights of way, advising in cases where rights of way and development proposals overlap, and acting for highway authorities and landowners in Definitive Map Modification Order inquiries. She is also experienced in Commons Registration and Village Green matters. Having started her tenancy at Six Pump Court in 2005, between 2012 and 2020 Noémi was an Associate Member of Chambers, employed as a lecturer in law and not regularly practising as an advocate. Before returning to full time practice she worked on public interest cases, advising prospective judicial review claimants on climate change issues. She is a case reviewer for Advocate on public law matters.

Isabella Crowdy

Isabella has a strong practice in the field of inquest work, acting for bereaved families and other Interested Persons in sensitive and often complex deaths. She has experience in cases involving fatal drownings, suicide and Article 2 ECHR issues, providing clear, compassionate, and effective representation throughout the coronial process. Her recent instructions include inquests into the deaths of a young child who drowned during a seaside trip, a young man who drowned at Chatham Historic Dockyard, and an Article 2 inquest concerning a man who took his own life after travelling a significant distance from home and coming into contact with a number of individuals and public bodies. Alongside her inquest practice, Isabella is regularly instructed in the field of firearms licensing, dealing with each case robustly and pragmatically. She frequently represents police forces in appeals concerning the refusal and revocation of firearms and shotgun certificates, explosives certificates and firearms dealer registrations. Her work has involved cases concerning domestic abuse allegations, offending histories, non-disclosure, public safety concerns and the assessment of psychiatric evidence. Her recent instructions include appeals arising from the revocation of firearms and shotgun certificates, repeat applications for shotgun certificates, and applications refused on suitability and public safety grounds. Isabella also has experience in proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She is instructed in confiscation matters arising from criminal proceedings and is developing a practice in complex asset recovery and financial enforcement work. Her broader criminal and regulatory experience places her well to advise and represent clients in cases involving the restraint, recovery, and confiscation of criminal assets. In addition, Isabella is highly experienced in applications for civil protection orders and other preventative measures designed to protect the public. She is regularly instructed in matters involving Sexual Risk Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Stalking Protection Orders, Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Closure Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions. Many of her cases involve complex factual disputes, risk assessments, and the consideration of expert evidence. Recent instructions have included applications for Sexual Risk Orders involving contested psychiatric evidence, orders sought against individuals accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace, and Stalking Protection Orders arising from sustained and escalating stalking behaviour. Combining careful preparation with confident advocacy, Isabella is frequently instructed in matters where public safety, risk assessment and detailed evidential analysis are central to the case.

Grace Cullen

Grace is recommended in the Legal 500 for her work in employment law. She has a strong reputation and has acted for individuals, companies and local authorities in a wide range of cases including unfair dismissal, breach of contract, working time, redundancy and discrimination claims, including discrimination on grounds of philosophical belief, in tribunals and the EAT. She has recently and successfully represented Claimants in age discrimination claims against the Ministry of Justice and the University of Oxford. Grace also acted for one of the first emergency workers to attend the London bombings and who subsequently developed PTSD, in a claim of constructive unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. She has acted in other cases that have generated national interest. Grace also has a strong advisory practice and has experience with and advised upon many aspects of employment law, including complex pension claims and international TUPE cases. In addition, Grace provides training seminars with CLT in employment law and on civil law for the Kent Law Society. Grace's civil practice includes health and safety at work and negligence claims.

Mark Davies

Mark is an established junior with particular specialisms in regulatory (criminal and civil), public inquiries and inquests. His work encompasses: Road transport (including public inquiries and impounding hearings before the Traffic Commissioners, appeals to the Upper Tribunal, clandestine penalty entrant appeals and general advice work); Health and safety (including criminal proceedings, civil appeals against notices and inquests); Environmental and planning (including rights of way issues, enforcement matters, planning inquiries, criminal proceedings and related matters under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002); Food law (including acting for major retailers in hearings arising from unsatisfactory food safety and hygiene inspections); Fire and building safety (including advising on matters arising from the changes to the fire and building safety regime post-Grenfell and acting in appeals against notices served by fire and rescue authorities); Other regulatory (including prosecutions brought by water undertakers, matters involving abattoirs and slaughtermen, actions arising out of the health and social care legislation and housing matters); Public inquiries (including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry); Licensing (including taxi licensing and proceedings under the Licensing Act 2003).

Tom Dunn

Tom is an experienced criminal advocate who prosecutes and defends in cases involving the most serious allegations. A Level 4 advocate on the CPS Advocates Panel, Tom has been instructed as sole counsel to prosecute major drug and tobacco importation cases and has substantial experience of complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations. His expertise includes foreign evidence gathering, sensitive material and public interest immunity, mobile telephone and cell-site evidence, tachograph and satellite-navigation analysis, and confiscation and restraint proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Tom has advised HMRC and UKBA on complex disclosure issues involving highly sensitive material and a range of state agencies. He has also prosecuted cases arising from insolvency and company legislation and has experience of proceedings brought by the DWP and local authorities involving benefit fraud. Alongside his prosecution practice, Tom maintains a substantial defence practice and regularly represents individuals accused of serious violence, sexual offences, fraud, drug supply, armed robbery, arson and firearms offences. He is known for providing clear, practical advice, taking a careful approach with clients and maintaining a determined focus on achieving the best possible outcome. Tom also retains an interest in civil litigation and accepts instructions in appropriate cases. He has particular experience in regulatory and planning matters, including acting for local authorities at public inquiries, as well as multi-track litigation involving personal injury and contractual disputes.

Nina Ellin KC

Nina Ellin is an experienced specialist criminal practitioner who undertakes both prosecution and defence work across all areas of the criminal spectrum, including cases involving murder, manslaughter and serious violence; serious sexual misconduct; organised criminal activities such as the supply drugs, robbery and fraud. She has acted in high profile cases involving the murder of young children including as junior prosecution counsel in the trial involving the murder of 6 year old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and the murder of two young children by their mother (case of Porton). She has conducted many trials both for the defence and prosecution in cases involving serious sexual offences. These have involved child familial abuse (recent and historic), stranger attacks, abuse of trust involving professionals/persons in a position of authority and gang related sexual abuse. Witnesses have included very young children, teenagers and young people, mentally disordered and vulnerable adults. She has used intermediaries on many occasions including in cases where the needs of the witness were complex and is extremely experienced in handling sensitive cases. She is an experienced Legal Assessor to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and conducts professional disciplinary cases TeachingNina Ellin KC has been approved as a Facilitator for the Advocacy and the Vulnerable training programme and facilitates at training days at the Inner Temple. She also acted as group leader at an advocacy training weekend run by Inner Temple and regularly undertakes advocacy training for them, as well as in chambers. Nina Ellin KC engages in outreach with local schools and other organisations to support public speaking and understanding of the law and legal systems. She judges the Jessup International Law Moot National Rounds annually. Nina Ellin KC taught on the Bar Vocational Course between 2007 and 2009. She has a Certificate in Academic Practice (City University, London) in 2009.

Craig Evans

Craig is a very busy and experienced barrister who appears in criminal cases of the utmost seriousness. He is known for his thorough approach to his casework, as well as his empathetic attitude to those who find themselves appearing at Court. He is instructed by both the prosecution and defence across all areas of the criminal spectrum, including serious drug and violent offences. His recent defence work has involved representing those charged with offences of serious violence including allegations involving the use of firearms and bladed articles. Craig is regularly instructed in drug offences involving the importation and supply of class A drugs, from street level dealing to multi million pound conspiracies. Craig has appeared in Court of Appeal on behalf of both Appellants and Respondents. Craig has a detailed knowledge of the law concerning Dangerous Dogs, both under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Dogs Act 1871. Craig is available to advise and appear in cases concerning both Destruction Orders (including Contingent Destruction Orders) and Control Orders.

John Fitzgerald KC

John FitzGerald is an established and busy practitioner on the South Eastern Circuit. He specialises in defence work and has developed a highly successful practice encompassing all areas of serious crime. John has experience in a wide range of cases including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery, Section 18 and other offences of violence. He has also defended in cases of rape, sexual offences involving children, death by dangerous driving, large drug supply conspiracies, fraud, and other offences of dishonesty. John also has experience appearing in Courts Martial. John is also a Grade 3 prosecutor.

Peter Forbes

Peter has a general common law practice. In criminal work, he both defends and prosecutes and has experience in a wide range of cases encompassing crimes of violence (including murder), drugs importation, duty evasion and offences of dishonesty, including substantial fraud. A significant proportion of his practice comprises family work, covering all aspects of the Children Act and adoption; in addition to private law cases he undertakes public law work on behalf of parents, local authorities and children’s guardians. His civil litigation practice is predominantly personal injury work, mainly for defendants, but also includes general contractual disputes and landlord & tenant cases.

Jessica Foxwell

Jessica is a barrister with core specialisms in public inquiries, civil, regulatory and family law. She is qualified to accept instructions under the Public Access scheme. Jessica has extensive public inquiry experience, having been instructed continuously since 2022 by both Core Participants and Counsel to the Inquiry on a number of inquiries. She is currently junior Counsel to the Inquiry for the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. Alongside her inquiry work, Jessica appears regularly in the County, Crown, Magistrates’ Courts and High Court across a range of criminal, regulatory and general civil proceedings. Her civil practice often has family law crossover; she has experience in seeking disclosure from family proceedings on behalf of the police for concurrent criminal investigations. Jessica’s regular civil work for the police also extends to applications for behavioural orders involving stalking, harassment, domestic abuse and sexual harm. Jessica's family law practice across private children and Family Law Act proceedings often involve an element of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. Jessica has regulatory experience and often accepts instructions on taxi/private hire licencing appeals to the Crown Court. She has appeared for both drivers and the DVSA in driving prosecutions. Jessica accepts instructions in all areas of public, family and civil law.

Robert Griffiths KC

Fellow of the Erasmus Foundation 2018 President of the London Chamber of Arbitration 2017 Master of the Bench, Middle Temple, 2004 Special Advocate, 2004 Senior Counsel (New South Wales), 1999 Junior Counsel to the Crown (Common Law) (‘A’ Panel), 1989-1993 Standing Counsel to the National Grid, 1987-1993 Standing Counsel to the National Dock Labour Board, 1983-1989

Mark Harris

Mark has a prominent reputation in his almost exclusively regulatory practice. Mark undertakes matters such as pollution control, waste management and the disposal of dangerous substances. Coupled with his health and safety practice, Mark also has substantial background and experience in inquest law. Mark has acted in high-profile environmental and regulatory criminal proceedings including the recent Buncefield case (R v Total (UK) Ltd & ors) brought by the Environment Agency and the HSE against the oil companies involved. Mark is one of very few, if not the only member of the Bar to have completed the Basic Offshore Safety Qualification permitting visits to offshore structures for the purposes of site visits. Mark offers a comparatively rare practice combining, in almost equal parts, regulatory work in both environmental law and health and safety for which there is a significant degree of cross-fertilisation of principles and expertise.

James Harrison

The majority of James’ work is criminal and he appears almost daily in the Crown Court. James prosecutes and defends across the full spectrum of criminal offences as a junior alone and a led junior. James has acted for Kent Police for various ancillary orders such as, Stalking Protection Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and restraining orders. In addition, James has also been instructed in the prosecution of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 offences. James also regularly acts in regulatory matters for local authorities and government prosecuting bodies. Most often he appears in the First-tier Tribunal Health, Education and Social Care Chamber representing the Care Quality Commission, but he also undertakes summary trials and inquests. Before pupillage, James worked as a paralegal for eighteen-months at a regional law firm. He gained experience in environmental law as a researcher at Plan.B Earth and on the committee for the PIEL UK conference. James has also worked on secondment at Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP in the business crime and investigations department.

Natasha Hausdorff

Natasha’s practice spans civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters and public international law. She acts for a variety of domestic and international clients, private companies and government departments, and is regularly instructed in matters before the high court, county court, crown court, magistrates’ court and Tribunals, as both sole counsel and as junior to leading counsel. She accepts instructions in most of Chambers’ main areas. Before coming to the Bar, Natasha qualified as a solicitor in 2015 with the US commercial law firm Skadden, where she worked on complex international disputes and regulatory matters. After her law degree at Oxford University and an LL.M. specialising in public international law, Natasha clerked for the President of the Supreme Court of Israel in Jerusalem. In 2018, as a Pegasus Scholar, Natasha was a Fellow at Columbia Law School in the National Security Law Program. She lectures globally on aspects of public international law and national security policy.

David Hercock

David Hercock specialises in regulatory and administrative law. He has experience across a broad range of disciplines with particular expertise in the following specialist areas: environmental and planning, health and safety, consumer and trading law (including product liability, trading standards and OFT enforcement action), food law, licensing law (including alcohol, entertainment, gambling, traffic commissioner inquiries and taxi licensing), care standards and care regulation, data protection and information law, professional discipline (including solicitors, doctors and accountants) and administrative law generally (including judicial review and advice to public authorities on powers, duties and functions). He has significant experience of regulatory prosecutions, judicial reviews and High Court appeals, claims before the civil courts, enforcement proceedings, inquests, statutory appeals and inquiries and tribunal procedures.

Stephen Hockman KC

Stephen Hockman KC has specialised in all forms of regulatory law for approximately the last 30 years. He is a leader of exceptionally high standing who has a broad environmental, health and safety and planning practice encompassing judicial review, inquiries, arbitration, civil claims and criminal prosecution and defence work. Stephen has a varied client base, including corporates and individuals, regulator and (alleged) polluter, and he is equally at home undertaking effective cross-examination as in sustained legal submission at any level of tribunal. His particular strength lies in the breadth and varied nature of his practice. He is able to draw on his extensive experience in his specialist areas of regulatory and health & safety law, civil and commercial law, and planning and environmental law to provide a unique service in complex and high profile litigation. Stephen is recognised as one of the leading practitioners in the fields of Health and Safety Law and Energy and Natural Resources. His practice also encompasses in particular environmental law including making and resisting public law challenges to environmental decisions, appearing for claimants/defendants in environmental cases in the common law courts, for example nuisance, and prosecuting and defending in major pollution cases. Stephen’s practice incorporates too a significant element of local government work, and he has appeared for and advised local authorities in every part of the country on a regular basis, on issues such as town and country planning and internal governance.

Paul Hogben

Paul Hogben is a specialist defence advocate. He was called to the bar in 1993 and has developed a strong defence practice based in Kent. He is regularly instructed to defend in cases of serious violence (including murder), robbery and large scale drugs importations. Paul has considerable experience representing clients who are vulnerable due to their age or mental health and has particular expertise defending in cases of rape and sexual abuse of children.

Ben Irwin

Ben is a highly experienced criminal barrister with a broad practice encompassing serious and complex fraud, violent crime, sexual offences and drugs conspiracies. He has particular expertise in financial crime, including SFO, CPS and FCA prosecutions, POCA and confiscation proceedings. Between 2014 and 2016, Ben worked as an Investigative Lawyer at the Serious Fraud Office on complex investigations arising from the 2007 financial crisis. He is an approved VHCC supervisor. Ben regularly prosecutes and defends cases involving murder, attempted murder, serious violence, robbery, weapons and gang-related offending. As Grade 4 RASSO counsel, he is frequently instructed in serious sexual offences, including rape and child sexual abuse cases. His wider practice includes complex drugs supply cases, SHPOs, SROs and DVPOs, firearms licensing appeals, cash forfeiture and detention proceedings, contested warrant applications and road traffic prosecutions.

Emin Kandola

Emin was called to the Bar in 2015. Emin’s practice encompasses all areas of criminal defence. Emin is instructed in cases of serious crime and regularly represents vulnerable and young defendants. Emin’s recent cases have included conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, prison mutiny, wounding with intent, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, human trafficking, murder and manslaughter.

Thaiza Khan

Thaiza conducts work across all of Chambers core areas of practice, with a particular focus on Civil, Commercial and Family Law. Within her family law practice, Thaiza has particular expertise in financial remedies and matrimonial finance, disputes between cohabitants pursuant to TOLATA 1996 and applications under s.8 of the Children’s Act 1989. Thaiza represents a wide variety of clients in the County Courts and Family Court as well as the High Court and has also appeared on a number of occasions in the Court of Appeal, including as a junior in H (A Child:Recusal) 2023 EWCA Civ 860. Thaiza has appeared in cases involving complex financial structures, including trusts and commercial assets, as well as her work in the Court of Protection in relation to vulnerable adults. Thaiza’s work in this area extends to her appearing in proceedings brought in the High Court in relation to disclosure of material between concurrent criminal and family jurisdictions in applications for public interest immunity. Thaiza is regularly instructed by various Police forces in actions against the Police, applications across the financial spectrum, including Police Property Act and Proceeds of Crime, as well as appeals in firearms cases and in the High court for injunctions. Thaiza has a specialism in counter-terrorism work and has acted in a number of high profile cases, which led to prosecutions against notable far right extremist groups and most recently in the proscription of various political groups in which she has acted as independent counsel. In maintaining a niche criminal practice, Thaiza is uniquely placed to represent clients across multi-disciplinary areas including, criminal, family (children) and finance matters, ensuring continuity for clients and making her an in demand advocate.

Lucy Luttman

Lucy is a highly experienced criminal defence and prosecution advocate with an established record in crime. She is also an extremely experienced led junior and has regularly appeared for the defence and Crown in complex and serious cases. Her criminal practice encompasses most areas of regulatory law and she appears for the defence and prosecution in a wide range of regulatory cases. Lucy has gained a wealth of experience in the field of defending and prosecuting sexual offence cases. She has acted alone and as a led junior in complex cases involving young defendants, multiple historic allegations and abuse cases involving young and vulnerable victims. She contributed to the original publication of the “Sexual Offences Referencer” (Oxford University Press) written by Eleanor Laws QC and HHJ Patricia Lees and is currently assisting with the second edition.

Williams McBarnett

William has developed a broad practice embracing all aspects of Chambers’ work, with an emphasis on property, landlord and tenant, commercial and other civil disputes. He has experience prosecuting and defending environmental and health and safety matters (including statutory nuisance and food safety) and has represented both Local Authorities and private clients in a variety of planning and licensing cases. He also has experience of bankruptcy and insolvency and judicial review proceedings.

Gordon William Menzies

Gordon’s practice principally focuses on regulatory work, in particular health and safety. He both defends and prosecutes and has particular experience of cases involving breach of duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act (and related legislation) to manslaughter. He was recently instructed in the prosecution of an individual convicted of manslaughter and associated food safety offences after causing the death of a young woman by selling her toxic slimming pills via the internet (R v Rebelo). The work in the construction sector includes R v Claxton Engineering and others (quadruple fatality during construction of a pressure testing facility) whilst his experience in the transport industry has special focus on the rail industry such as R v Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Ltd (electric shock through contact with live overhead line on the railway) and R v Network Rail Ltd (electrical safety arrangements on the national rail network). His work also extends to the maritime industry (R v CRo Ports London [2016] EWCA Crim 1589). Cases which relate to social and medical care have involved prosecutions arising from the death of a service user in a care home (R v Robinia Care Group) and wilful neglect (R v Shyla Reddy). His health and safety work extends to representation at Inquests, most notably the Inquest into the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002, product liability, gas safety and challenges to enforcement notices and food safety. His work in the Employment Tribunals reflects long standing experience in employment law acting for both Claimants and Respondents. His discrimination practice extends to both direct and indirect discrimination, including transgender equality. Other work includes Edwards v Surrey Police [1999] IRLR 445 (time limits applicable in constructive dismissal cases),Truelove v Safeway Stores [2005] ICR 589 (time off for dependents) and Whitmar v Earth Island Publishing [2013] EWHC 1881 (Ch) (application of restrictive covenants in context of social media).

Danny Moore KC

Danny has an extensive criminal practice with an emphasis on prosecuting and defending multi defendant serious crime. Danny became silk in 2025. Since taking silk in 2025 he has secured five acquittals in murder and an acquittal in manslaughter. Since taking silk he has been instructed to prosecute murder cases for Kent CPS in 2025 involving torture and sexual penetration of a corpse and murder of family members. He has recent instructions from SECCU in a guns for sale case. He has particular experience in homicide cases and is an expert in the partial defences of diminished responsibility and loss of control. He recently secured his clients acquittal at half time in a manslaughter case having successfully argued that the prosecution case on causation was flawed. This case involved the evidence of five leading experts in sub-dural haemorrhages. Danny Moore specialises in the defence of serious sexual offences. He has experience of multi complainant and defendant cases, and cases involving abuse by professionals, institutional abuse and historic abuse. He also has considerable experience in cases involving allegations of fraud, money laundering, and large-scale drugs conspiracies. Since taking silk, he has been instructed in a multi-million-pound fraud acting for D1.

Brendon Moorhouse

Brendon Moorhouse is an established environmental, planning and regulatory barrister, acting as both leading counsel and senior-junior counsel in cases throughout England and Wales. He is regularly instructed in large-scale criminal waste and water cases that include some of the biggest prosecutions in the country. He is also instructed in significant environmental permitting cases as well as dealing with public inquiry work on projects such as Hinkley C cooling system marine permit conditions, Bristol Airport expansion and the then proposed M4 motorway extension around Newport. He has extensive practical experience dealing with Habitats and Marine Regulation. Brendon Moorhouse is frequently instructed in planning appeals and enforcement cases including those with wider environmental concerns such as the UK’s largest unlawful AD plant and alleged condition breaches for a gas peaking plant. Experienced in nuisance cases, he has been instructed to represent clients ranging from a motor manufacturing plant, a power station to a metal smelting plant.

Charles Morgan

Charles Morgan’s practice is now entirely concerned with the use and management of water by the water industry, businesses, national and local public bodies and private individuals, in which areas he has been involved for over 35 years (since before privatisation). He is one of a very small number of practitioners with such specific experience and expertise. His work in this field has led to appearances before a huge variety of courts and tribunals all over England & Wales including the Magistrates Court, Government Inspectors, the County Court, the Crown Court, the King’s / Queen's Bench Division, the Chancery Division, the Technology and Construction Court, the Administrative Court, the Business & Property Courts, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the Supreme Court. His established wider background in both environmental law and commercial Chancery practice renders him equally confident in addressing public law and private law issues, which often arise together in disputes concerning the use of water, notably in the context of property rights. Whilst a member of the Attorney-General’s Regional Panel (between c.1985 and 2011) Charles represented the Environment Agency in numerous significant regulatory appeals before government inspectors involving the water industry, as well as advising upon all aspects of the Environment Agency’s functions in relation to the aqueous environment. He also represented and advised a large number of other manifestations of central government. He has long acted for local authorities, mainly in relation to compulsory purchase and compensation cases and other areas of environmental and property law. Charles’ earlier career provided a thorough grounding in many aspects of commercial Chancery work including building and engineering contracts, insolvency, banking, insurance and sale of goods which render him an unusually versatile practitioner capable of recognising, understanding and advising fully upon all aspects of the real-life multi-faceted situations which affect businesses, individuals and public bodies. Charles has been since 1992 a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has extensive experience of commercial arbitration and mediation, including in the context of the water industry.

Amy Nicholson

Amy Nicholson prosecutes and defends in the most serious and complex criminal cases, with particular expertise in homicide and sexual offences. She is a Level 4 Prosecutor and joined Six Pump Court in 2021 following extensive experience at both the independent Bar and the Crown Prosecution Service. Called to the Bar on the Northern Circuit in 2001, Amy practised there for ten years before joining the CPS in London and the South East, where she became a specialist rape and youth prosecutor. In 2021, Amy was selected for the Treasury Counsel pathway, which identifies and supports talented advocates from underrepresented backgrounds with the potential to become future Treasury Counsel. Educated at a comprehensive school and from a working-class family, Amy was the first generation of her family to attend university and the first to enter the legal profession.

Nicholas Ostrowski

Nicholas Ostrowski specialises in public, environmental and regulatory law and has been nominated by Chambers & Partners as Environmental and Planning Junior of the year for 2026. As a member of both the A Panel of the Attorney General’s Civil Panel (following time on the C panel 2015 – 2020 and the B Panel 2020 – 2024) and the ‘A’ List of Specialist Regulatory Counsel he advises and represents government departments, corporates and individuals in the most complicated and significant matters. He is ranked as a leading barrister in the legal directories and has a particular sub-specialism in water law in which he has appeared and advised in a number of the leading cases and is the head of the Six Pump Court Water Industry Law Group and co-convenor of the UKELA water law group.

Ian Rees Phillips

Ian Rees Phillips has a substantial practice spanning commercial, chancery, employment, property, planning, environmental and regulatory law. He acts for companies, directors, shareholders, developers, landowners, local authorities, public bodies and private individuals across a broad range of contentious matters. Ian is particularly recognised for cases which cross traditional practice boundaries, combining commercial, corporate, property, planning and regulatory issues within a single dispute. He is frequently instructed in matters involving corporate governance, shareholder rights, insolvency, trusts and estates, land ownership, planning enforcement and regulatory investigations. He regularly appears in the civil and criminal courts, specialist tribunals and appellate courts. His practice is particularly noted for disputes involving the intersection of commercial interests, land ownership, corporate structures and regulatory enforcement.

Tanya Robinson

Tanya Robinson specialises in criminal cases, coroner’s inquests and regulatory work. She is a persuasive advocate, well used to dealing with the pressures of sensitive, demanding cases, and always prepared to go the extra mile. She has considerable experience in criminal cases, defending and prosecuting those charged with murder, serious child cruelty (including baby shaking and fracture cases), serious violence (including medical, pathological and blood spatter evidence), arson (including detailed forensic evidence), fraud, firearms (including expert ballistics/firearms evidence), serious drugs (including detailed tachograph opinion and cellsite/telephone evidence) and serious sexual offences (including the cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses, including those with learning difficulties using an intermediary, multi-complainant/historic allegations both as leading and junior counsel, diagnostic/non-diagnostic medical evidence, complex computer evidence, sexsomnia, the use of intermediaries and staying historical cases as an abuse of process). She has an extensive Coroners’ Court practice. She regularly acts for the police in jury inquests where there have been deaths following police shooting (suicide by cop), deaths in custody, and deaths following road traffic accidents involving the police (including multiple fatality cases) requiring sensitive witness handling (including questioning the deceased’s family and witnesses potentially responsible for the death), presenting and challenging complex expert evidence (including psychiatry, pathology, neurology, toxicology, ballistics, firearms, ACPO policy and training), making complex legal submissions to the coroner on Human Rights matters (including how article 2 impacts on the scope of the inquest, how article 8 impacts on the admissibility of evidence including bad character) and the availability of verdicts. She represents nursing homes following deaths in care and has advised clients in relation to health and safety issues, corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter following deaths in assisted housing. She also advises and prosecutes on behalf of local authorities and other regulatory bodies such as DEFRA and BIS. She is authorised to accept direct instructions. She has been an advocacy trainer at Inner Temple since 2009.

Angelica Rokad

Angelica is a barrister at Six Pump Court with a broad common law practice. She undertakes advisory and litigation work in courts and tribunals for a range of clients, including Government departments, local authorities and global and national companies in the FTSE 100. Angelica joined Chambers in 2018 following successful completion of her pupillage. Prior to the Bar, Angelica worked as a paralegal at Mischon de Reya and Charles Russell Speechlys LLP. She also has experience working as a County Court advocate, appearing in over sixty civil applications, possession and Stage 3 disposal hearings across London and the South Eastern Circuits. Having studied law, Angelica was awarded a distinction in her postgraduate law degree. Now in practice, Angelica lectures to students studying the Planning and Property Law module at her former University, University College London. She speaks conversational Spanish and is embarking on learning Italian.

Thomas Stern

Thomas was born in Kent and his early intention was to join his father’s family tradition of farriery and blacksmithing. However, at the age of sixteen he discovered the option of a career at the Bar. From that moment his sights were set and he has never looked back. Thomas studied law at the University of Dundee and graduated with Upper Second Class Honours. He sat the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn during the Autumn of 1995. He completed twelve months as a chancery pupil at 11 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn. He was then elected to develop an expertise in criminal work. Thomas has formed a strong criminal defence practice in Kent and the South East. He also appears on the CPS Advocates Panel. He has forged an excellent reputation. His experience is extensive and embraces all areas of criminal work. He is known for his assiduous preparation, excellent client-skills and ability to present cases in a persuasive and incisive manner.

Nicola Strachan

Nicola Strachan has a practice in commercial litigation and arbitration, public law and planning (including compulsory purchase). She also acts for a number of clients in the UK and overseas in relation to oil and gas exploration including shale gas and fracking and climate change. Nicola has appeared in a number of reported judgments and is regularly instructed in cases where she acts as sole Counsel or as a Junior to Leading Counsel. She has the reputation of being a strong and tenacious advocate and of having commercial acumen and good judgment. Highly regarded by professional and lay clients, she has developed a strong client base. Nicola was also called to the Seychelles Bar in 2021.

Megan Thomas KC

Megan Thomas KC is a popular silk specialising in the fields of planning, environment, highways, judicial review, compulsory purchase, injunctions, town and village greens and other aspects of local government administration. She undertakes a wide range of advisory work and appearances in the civil and criminal courts, public inquiries, local plan examinations, hearings and tribunals on behalf of those in need of expert advice and representation. Examples of her very recent work including winning a planning appeal for a very large purpose-built Student Accommodation Facility adjacent to the South Downs National Park and a number of designated heritage assets. She also represented Epping Forest District Council opposing a 89 unit Extra Care Facility and won the second appeal on the same site. She has been advising on the Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review since its inception and was the advocate at the examination last year. The plan has just been successfully adopted in March 2024. Other high profile cases in which she has recently been instructed include Manston Airport DCO, water neutrality, nitrate neutrality, biodiversity net gain, the public safety zone for Burghfield nuclear weapons facility; and the legality of parameter plans for strategic housing sites. She is particularly known as a renewables and wind farm barrister and has experience in dealing with large infrastructure projects including gas storage facilities and pipelines.

William Upton KC

William Upton KC specialises in environmental, planning and local government law. His experience ranges across the civil and criminal courts, as well as public inquiries and local plans. He has a particular interest in the regulatory control of land use and the environment. He leads the Public, Planning and Environmental Law team in chambers. He has acted for public authorities, the Environment Agency, public companies, private developers and third parties. Before taking silk, he was on the ‘A’ List of Specialist Regulatory Counsel, involved in prosecution, permitting and consent work. He was also appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (Civil, 2003-2013). William has been recommended as a leading barrister for both environment and planning in both the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide and the Legal 500 for many years. He was the winner of the Planning/Environment Junior of the Year at the 2014 Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards. He was a Member of Lord Raynsford’s Review of Planning (TCPA). He regularly provides seminars to the planning and environment sectors, based on his practice, and recent topics have included Planning and nuisance (2026, UKELA conference), Flood Risk management (2026, UKELA), Nature Recovery and LURA (2026), and the Building Safety Act 2022 and Higher Risk Buildings (2025). Other topics have included Environmental Impact Assessment, Dealing with Nutrient Neutrality, Development and Nature recovery, Obstacles to Infrastructure Planning, and DMMO and Caselaw Updates on Rights of Way.

Mark Watson KC

Mark Watson is a barrister specialising in the full range of regulatory law spanning the following fields: • Health & safety law – including criminal proceedings, civil enforcement and inquiries & inquests • Environmental regulation – all aspects of criminal and civil enforcement and related advisory work • Building safety, including fire safety law and structural safety • Maritime safety law • Food safety law • Trading standards and consumer law • Other regulatory law

Gordon Wignall

Gordon Wignall is an experienced environmental / property, regulatory and dispute-resolution practitioner. He provides advice and assistance in all forums (judicial review and criminal as well as for injunctions / damages). He has an additional interest in the effect of competition law and long experience in litigation funding and costs. He has been involved in numerous group litigation cases (environmental, product liability and consumer rights. Wiglaw.co.uk provides information in respect of nuisance and pollution law.

Anne Williams

Anne specialises in planning and environment work. She advises developers on pre-application discussions, the content of planning applications and prospects of success on appeal. She is particularly experienced in planning inquiries and hearings and has a wide client base, ranging from individuals, local authorities, national and international companies. She is noted for her ability to work as part of a team and present a client’s case clearly and pragmatically. Anne successfully acted for the local planning authority at the DP World Thames Gateway container port inquiry in Essex (described as a ‘once in a lifetime’ case). This scheme which includes a container port, new rail line and 10m sq ft of commercial development is now being constructed. She has recently been advising on proposals for a major strategic mixed use in West Ham. She also has wide experience of conducting cases relating to conservation, retail and residential proposals and also proposals to list Assets of Community Value and register Village Greens. She advises both developers and local planning authorities. Anne has also sat as an inspector on a number of occasions which gives her an added perspective which others do not have. She has written widely on her subject and regularly speaks at National conferences. Most recently, she was appointed to the editorial board of Garner’s Environmental Law. Anne Williams is a Visiting Professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, UCL