25 Bedford Row is ‘a really impressive chambers featuring a vast array of talent’. The set focuses solely on defence work, and the team is sought after for its strength in representing organisations and individuals in a wide range of highly sensitive and complex fraud matters. Nicola Howard KC‘s ’trial advocacy is impeccable‘, and Simon Pentol KC’s workload includes advising on VAT and investment fraud cases. Among the juniors, Duncan Jones is ‘an outstanding strategist’ and has an excellent reputation for being ‘one of the best juniors at the Bar for criminal fraud work’. James Martin joined the team in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Duncan Jones specialises in criminal and white-collar defence advice, advocacy and investigations. He has particular expertise in fraud and financial crime, business crime and regulatory enforcement.
Duncan advises individual and business clients facing investigation and prosecution by a range of agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, the US Department of Justice, HM Revenue & Customs, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Duncan has worked on numerous sensitive and high-profile matters and is frequently instructed to represent professionals, high profile, and high net-worth individuals in relation to confidential matters.
Duncan’s court practice encompasses proceedings at all levels of the English criminal courts. He acts as junior alone or as led-junior defending in complex trials. His recent cases include boiler-room frauds, international VAT and excise diversion fraud, international bribery and corruption, and ‘rogue trader’ fraud worth many millions of pounds.
In general crime, Duncan has successfully defended those facing allegations of organised crime including a national conspiracy to supply drugs, conspiracy to handle stolen goods, conspiracy to import tobacco, and conspiracy to rob. He has acted for defendants facing allegations of serious violence, weapons offences and sexual offences.
Duncan has substantial experience of a range of motoring law matters including drink and drug driving, dangerous driving, careless driving, vehicle and licencing offences. He has dealt with road traffic prosecutions involving fatal accidents.
Career
Called 2012.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Education
- University of Essex (LLB, joint hons, Law and Human Rights, 2008)
- Inner Temple exhibitioner (2010)
- City Law School (BPTC, outstanding, 2011)
- Winner of the national BPTC criminal trial competition, 2011
- Inner Temple prize for outstanding performance in BPTC examinations, 2011
- Michael Jaffa Prize, 2013
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Alfie Lee is a fantastic clerk.'
- 'Alfie Lee leads a fine clerking team.'
- 'Charlie Gardner and Chris Jones are terrific.'
- 'The clerking team at 25 Bedford Row are second to none.'
- 'A solid and reliable set of chambers in criminal defence work.'
- 'It offers an array of talented, reputable, and hard working defence practitioners.'
- 'Quality throughout.'
- '25 Bedford Row is an excellent set with a broad range of expertise.'