6KBW College Hill remains a leading set for matters premier prosecutions at all court levels, being retained in cases from Youth Courts to the Supreme Courts. Duncan Penny KC ‘is extremely knowledgeable, calm, assured and a highly skilled advocate’, advising in serious mandates pertaining to terrorism and the National Security Act 2023, including prosecuting five men who were involved in a Russian-ordered arson attack on a warehouse of goods in Leyton destined to supply Ukraine. In addition, the set includes Duncan Atkinson KC, whose portfolio of prosecutions include sophisticated manslaughter incidents, such as the case of a man described in the press as a “slapping therapist” who was convicted of causing the death of an elderly woman from lack of adequate care during a Paida Lajin workshop. Annabel Darlow KC and Alistair Richardson prosecuted a Liverpudlian student who was convicted of preparing an anarchist terrorist bombing campaign. Paul Jarvis KC was appointed to silk in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Lawyers
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Annabel Darlow KC
‘Annabel is supremely able. She is surely destined for even greater things.’
Simon Denison KC
‘Simon is calm, persuasive and professional. His oratory is magnetic.'
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Alison Morgan KC
‘Alison is a true star of the profession.’
Tony Badenoch KC
‘An effective advocate who shows that reasonableness can be used to devastating effect.'
Jacob Hallam KC
‘A very persuasive advocate. Juries rest on his every word.'
Louis Mably KC
‘Calm, thoughtful, measured, intelligent, fair.'
Gareth Patterson KC
‘Excellent preparation, skilful advocate. One of the most excellent and formidable prosecutors in England and Wales today.'
John Ryder KC
‘John is by far one of the best if not the best criminal silks in the country. He is simply in a league of his own.’
2025 Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Simon Ray KC
‘Simon is a great tactician and very approachable with clients. Very measured in court.’
Paul Jarvis KC
‘Paul is an exceptional barrister. He is highly intelligent and has a genuine academic interest in the law. His legal arguments are therefore invariably well-researched and profound. As an advocate he is calm and measured. His submissions are so much more effective for this. He has the total respect of judges and fellow professionals.’
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Denis Barry
‘A great tactician and very approachable with clients. Very measured in court.’
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Peter Ratliff
‘A Silk in waiting. Peter is superb. He is extremely clever and a hugely respected advocate.'
Alistair Richardson
‘Alistair is a very engaging advocate and lawyer. He is hard working and always on top of the detail.'
Ben Lloyd
‘Ben is extremely hard working, tactically astute and conceals his industry behind an easy charm in court.'
Adam Payter
‘Adam is wise strategist. He is both an excellent black-letter lawyer and a barrister who is able to take a step back from a case and think about the best way through it.’
Esther Schutzer-Weissmann
Lyndon Harris
‘Lyndon is a formidable junior. He is a very fine lawyer, and an engaging advocate. He is a first class junior.’
Thomas Williams
‘He has a first-class mind and his written advocacy (in the form of his paperwork) is excellent.’
Alex Du Sautoy
‘Very good client manner, attention to detail and excellent advocacy.’