Mary Prior KC
'Mary is a strong advocate in front of a jury or in submissions to a judge. From the early outset, she has a clear direction for her cases. All of her work is very well prepared.'
The 36 Group is ‘an excellent set, with members frequently appearing in the most heavyweight and complex criminal cases’. Mary Prior KC, who is praised for ’combines an outstanding intellect with an extraordinary capacity for hard work’, recently defended a woman accused of suffocating her terminally ill father while in a state of stress and intoxication. Sally Hobson acted for a defendant in a murder trial concerning the fatal assault of a friend, which allegedly involved striking the victim with a bottle and forcing a sock down his throat.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Michelle Simpson leads an extraordinarily professional clerks' room that reaches across the country, covering almost every circuit.'
- 'Michelle Simpson and Daisy Parsons are particular stars of the clerking team. Both are proactive problem solvers who will go far.'
- 'Michelle Simpson is always friendly and approachable and keen to work around tricky listing issues.'
- 'Elliot Styles and Daisy Parsons are particular stars of the clerking team.'
- 'The 36 group is a very strong set with good depth of counsel.'
- 'The 36 group is an excellent set.'
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.
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.
James Bruce
‘James is a formidable and unflappable advocate. He is persuasive and tenacious and a shining star in the courtroom. He is also approachable and provides exemplary written advice.’
Sally Hobson
Michael Haggar
‘Michael brings an impressive level of reasoning to every case, backed by a sharp eye for detail that ensures no aspect goes unnoticed. His strategic thinking and thorough preparation make him an outstanding advocate, earning the trust and respect of both clients and the courtroom alike.’
Katherine Kelleher
‘Katherine is the most gifted jury advocate. Her ability to develop a rapport with a jury is second to none. She is also particularly adept at dealing with vulnerable clients. Her client care is phenomenal.’
Diana Wilson
'Diana is a fearless advocate who meticulously prepares her cases. She leaves no stone unturned in preparing her cases and is highly organised.'
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.
Sebastian Walker
‘Sebastian has great attention to detail. He reads every word of every page and assesses all evidence with great care. He is an esteemed academic, and his legal knowledge is second to none.’