25 Bedford Row is noted as an ‘a versatile chambers offering exceptional counsel across all practice areas’ and is frequently retained by clients for its considerable defence expertise, often in cases involving organised crime and EncroChat evidence. The set fields notable individuals such as George Carter-Stephenson KC, whose ‘mastery of his brief and attention to detail are second to none’ , and the ’highly intelligent and articulate’ Paul Hynes KC , whose recent workloads including representing high-profile Islamist Anjem Choudary, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for controlling the proscribed group al-Muhajiroun. Arlette Piercy, represented one of four defendants in a Modern Slavery Act case, which involved twelve victims, some of whom are alleged to have been trafficked to work at a McDonald’s. Clare Wade KC joined the team in April 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
George is a highly sought after specialist defence Silk with a varied and wide-ranging practice extending over all types of criminal cases and disciplinary proceedings. He is extremely experienced in dealing with highly involved and complex cases, including all areas of commercial, corporate and financial crime, incorporating SFO prosecutions and high-value confiscation, asset recovery, restraint proceedings, high value VAT tribunal work, murder and terrorism.
George's disciplinary and regulatory work includes representing financial and sports professionals.
Career
- Called 1975
- Appointed Silk 1998
- Head of Chambers
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- European Criminal Bar Association
- South Eastern Circuit
- Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Financial Services Lawyers Association
Education
Law (LLB Hons), Leeds University (1974).
Content supplied by 25 Bedford Row
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Very strong defence set doing serious work.'
- '25 Bedford Row is a highly regarded Chambers with quality counsel from top to bottom . '
- 'Excellent strength in depth. '
- '25 Bedford Row remain one of the go to criminal sets, able to deal with the most complex and serious of matters. The culture at the chambers, from what we can see, is supportive and inclusive.'
- 'A versatile chambers offering exceptional counsel across all practice areas.'
- 'The set as a whole is outstanding. There is quality from top to bottom. The chambers is unusual in that it offers excellent general crime coverage whilst also being able to offer counsel with expertise in every area of criminal law.'
- 'The set is highly professional and always responsive when it comes to counsel availability. If the requested counsel is unavailable, they are proactive in providing a list of alternative barristers who have relevant experience in handling similar matters. This flexibility and commitment to ensuring clients are well-supported is a notable strength of the chambers.'
- 'An excellent set, who I know I can rely upon to provide the best counsel in any case that I need. Of note is also the level of pupil barristers - there is clearly a lot of talent. '