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
James Martin is an experienced practitioner who prides himself on attention to details and a fearless approach to defending his clients' interests.
James acts as leading counsel in the full range of criminal offending but in particular tends to focus on serious organised crime and fraud. He is also regularly led in homicide cases. He has particular experience in dealing with complex multi-handed cases of all types and is very adept at dealing with technical evidence such as that retrieved from 'phones, computers and associated cell site evidence.
Areas of Practice
- Confiscation, Civil Recovery & Asset Forfeiture
- Public Access
- Financial & Corporate Crime
- General Crime
- Serious & Organised Crime, including Homicide
- Sexual Offences
- Cyber Crime
- Regulatory & Professional Discipline
James is recommended by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500.
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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.'