Peter Skelton KC
‘He is cuttingly clever, and has exceptional foresight and strategy.'
1 Crown Office Row is 'a go-to chambers for inquest work, with fantastic strength and depth across junior counsel and KCs'. Peter Skelton KC continues to act in the Thirlwall Inquiry into the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, for which former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby is serving a whole life tariff for murder, as well as representing the Cabinet Office in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Elsewhere, Neil Sheldon KC is representing the Government Office of Science in the Covid-19 Inquiry, and Matthew Hill acted as lead junior counsel to the Infected Blood Inquiry. Alasdair Henderson has an excellent track record in appearing in high-profile inquiries. Bolstering the team at the senior end, Amy Mannion KC took 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.
2024 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.
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.
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.
Caroline Cross
Rory Badenoch
‘Rory stands out for his practical approach. He simplifies complex issues to ensure progress is made.’
Jim Duffy
‘Jim’s attention to detail, client care and time management are all excellent.’
Suzanne Lambert
‘Her advocacy is excellent.’
Isabel McArdle
‘Her brisk cross examination technique is really first rate.’
Shahram Sharghy
‘Shahram is a pleasure to work with. He has a way with clients that puts them at ease.’
Rajkiran Arhestey
Fantastic advocacy skills, able to drill into the detail and presents clear and well-reasoned arguments.’
Gideon Barth
‘A highly skilled operator. He is driven, intelligent and very practical in his advice.’
Jessica Elliott
Jonathan Metzer
‘Jonathan is an absolute star.’
Jo Moore
‘Jo is extremely bright and has excellent judgement. Her pleadings are superb.’
Hannah Noyce
Judith Rogerson
Judith’s advocacy is brilliantly succinct and incisive.'
Amelia Williams
Lois Williams
She has good judgement and a strategic approach to her work.’
Rachel Marcus
‘She is fiendishly clever and extremely knowledgeable. Her written arguments are particularly impressive.’
Emma-Louise Fenelon
'Provides thorough advice and has a great eye for detail. Works in a collaborative manner and is great with experts and clients.'
Dominic Ruck Keene
‘He is a terrific inquest lawyer, practical and unflappable.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Darragh Coffey
'I have found Darragh to always be an effective advocate. He is well-prepared, persuasive and succinct. He has a good manner with clients, he is able to explain complicated legal and medical concepts in simple terms. He is good with experts.'
Thomas Beamont
'He approaches complex cases in a thorough manner and handled an extremely sensitive mediation in the perfect manner. He is articulate, intelligent and an impressive advocate. He works at a level well beyond one you would expect for his year of call.'