Dere Street Barristers is renowned for its ‘brilliant, dedicated, and persuasive advocates, handling cases of the utmost gravity across all practice areas’. John Elvidge KC was recently instructed to prosecute a case involving five men charged with the attempted murder of a 16-year-old boy in Salford. Peter Makepeace KC  represented a man, and Elvidge KC his son, in a murder and manslaughter trial and appeal after the father killed a man in a deliberate hit and run revenge attack. Anne Richardson prosecuted a man sentenced to eight years after being convicted of seven counts of perverting the course of justice for making false rape allegations against multiple men.
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Profile

Work Department

Crime/Regulatory

Position

Peter has practised exclusively in Criminal law since 1994 and has extensive experience of defending and prosecuting in all areas of serious crime. He is on the CPS Specialist Fraud Advocate Panel. Prior to taking Silk in early 2016, Peter frequently acted as leading Junior in multi counsel cases.  He continues to receive instruction as leading Counsel and Silk alone in the most serious of matters including multi defendant murders, sexual offences, fraud and large scale, complex drug conspiracies.

Areas of special experience include homicide and other serious violence, fraud, serious and large-scale drug conspiracies, sexual offences, the importation and distribution of medicines, and a growing expertise in computer-related law culminated in the first prosecution for fraud of a peer to peer, bit torrent music file sharing site.

Throughout his practice, Peter has developed a particular reputation in cases requiring sensitivity of approach either through the nature of the offence or the vulnerability of witnesses, victims or the accused. He is acknowledged to have an exhaustive approach to case preparation and manages his diary to ensure serious cases are afforded the proper case management they require.

Peter also accepts private instructions in the field of licensing and regulatory offences.

Career

Called 1988; recorder (crime) 2009; QC 2016; approved pupil master 2002; Grade 4 Prosecutor, Fraud, Serious Organised Crime and Rape Panel.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association; North East Circuit.

Education

University of Wales (Bachelor of Laws (Hons)).

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Testimonials

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  • Craig Mead is the shining light in the set of chambers.'
  • 'Craig Mead is a wholly outstanding clerk, always available, tremendously efficient and deals with his huge workload professionally.'
  • 'The clerks are always available and supportive of your cases and achieving the best outcome for our clients.'
  • 'Dere Street Barristers is a strong set of chambers, particularly at the senior junior level and kings counsel.'
  • 'Dere Street Barristers is a multi-disciplinary set, a healthy mix of expertise across the chambers.'
  • 'Dere Street Barristers is a  very friendly set, always willing to go the extra mile.'
  • 'Dere Street Barristers' staff is always available and goes the extra mile for your cases.'