Department profile
2 Hare Court

Crime

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


2 Hare Court

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Crime - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

2 Hare Court is an expert criminal set with a great track record of handling the most serious matters. It has experience of prosecuting and defending murder, sexual offences, gang-related and serious violence cases, among others. It further has expertise in extradition and high-profile international cases. Members of the set have been instructed in some of the year's highest profile cases including acting for CPS in a matter involving four defendants who were convicted of their involvement in the assassination of a man.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They provide exceptional client care. It makes it so easy to consistently instruct them. Director of Clerking Julian Campbell and Practice Manager Chloe Tennent are fantastic clerks.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Senior Practice Manager Jack Shah is simply fantastic. He is always going over and above to provide the best-matched barrister. He has never let me down.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Chloe Tennent is super attentive, replying quickly to enquiries.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team are exceptionally strong. The clerks are incredibly professional and helpful. They are an asset.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • 2 Hare Court is excellently organised, with a great clerks room.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleOrlando Pownall
    Senior StatespeopleOrlando Pownall

    Orlando Pownall

    Orlando Pownall KC is a high-profile silk with a strong reputation at the London crime Bar. He is noted for his advocacy and his presence in court.

    • Orlando Pownall KC is wonderful. His speeches are always nothing less than gripping.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsJonathan Laidlaw
    Star IndividualsJonathan Laidlaw

    Jonathan Laidlaw

    Jonathan Laidlaw KC is an impressive and highly regarded silk with over 15 years of Treasury Counsel experience, who now specialises only in private defence work spanning the areas of general crime, business crime and regulatory work, among others. He represents both individuals and companies in a vast range of complex criminal matters. Laidlaw is an expert in both domestic and international criminal cases.

    • He is great.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Jonathan Laidlaw KC ensures that his clients get the best outcome. He is rightly regarded as being at the top of the criminal Bar. He really is just brilliant.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsOliver Glasgow
    Star IndividualsOliver Glasgow

    Oliver Glasgow

    Former first Senior Treasury Counsel Oliver Glasgow KC is an impressive silk with a fine reputation who is praised for his advocacy and his sensible approach to cases, many of which attract significant media attention. Glasgow has handled a number of gang-related matters including those relating to murder, drugs and knife crime.

    • Oliver Glasgow KC is one of the best prosecutors of his generation, if not the best. He is extremely hard, but very fair, and a superb advocate and brilliant cross-examiner.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsSallie Bennett-Jenkins
    Star IndividualsSallie Bennett-Jenkins

    Sallie Bennett-Jenkins

    Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC is a former Treasury Counsel who is now a gifted criminal defence barrister with a strong reputation for acting in sexual assault and rape cases. She is praised for her advocacy skills and client care when dealing with heavyweight cases, many of which attract media interest.

    • Sallie conveys great reassurance as she has authority, gravitas and great knowledge. Having someone like Sallie is a real asset. She is proactive and goes the extra mile.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is an excellent advocate and her rapport with clients is great. She takes time to properly read into a case and takes the time to care.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She repeatedly gets very good results for clients.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC is in a league of her own. She will fight tooth and nail for her client and as an advocate commands the courtroom in a manner rarely mastered by others.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is at the top of her game for this work. She is a classy and ferocious advocate when necessary, with a friendly demeanour and a core of steel.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Brian O'Neill
    Band 1Brian O'Neill

    Brian O'Neill

    Brian O'Neill KC is a strong silk who handles both prosecution and defence work. His practice spans a broad range of criminal matters, and he has undoubted expertise in serious and complex cases. O'Neill has further significant experience in related areas such as business crime and professional discipline.

    • He is an excellent and robust advocate. He is always very well prepared for his cases. His advocacy is authoritative.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Brian O'Neill KC is sensible, pragmatic, effective and organised.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Sarah Przybylska
    Band 1Sarah Przybylska

    Sarah Przybylska

    Treasury Counsel Sarah Przybylska is a leading junior who prosecutes and defends serious criminal matters. She has experience handling a number of high-profile criminal matters including murders and people-trafficking cases.

    • She is phenomenal, unflappable and very authoritative on the law.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She has good knowledge of the law. She possesses good judgement.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is first-rate.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Aftab Jafferjee
    Band 2Aftab Jafferjee

    Aftab Jafferjee

    Aftab Jafferjee KC is an excellent prosecutor who undertakes all manner of serious criminal matters. He routinely represents clients at the Central Criminal Court and is hugely experienced in terrorism and murder cases.

    • He has an amazing reputation.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • A great operator. He's exceptionally good and a man to be feared if you're against him.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Julia Faure Walker
    Band 2Julia Faure Walker

    Julia Faure Walker

    Julia Faure Walker is a skilled, sought-after Junior Treasury Counsel, who has experience in taking on complex, sensitive and high-profile criminal cases. These span the areas of murder, terrorism and fraud, among others.

    • She is great.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Julia Faure Walker is a brilliant junior that everyone wants. She is super efficient and brilliant in court.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Leon Kazakos
    Band 2Leon Kazakos

    Leon Kazakos

    Defence specialist Leon Kazakos KC provides representation across the whole spectrum of serious criminal cases. Alongside his general crime practice, he has experience of handling counterfeiting offences and charges of misconduct in public office.

    • He is an all-round strong lawyer, with a great mind.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Leon is a top-drawer silk. He is well organised, up for a fight and cool as a cucumber in court.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Leon Kazakos KC is a jury-friendly and caring advocate. He is impressive.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Martin Hicks
    Band 2Martin Hicks

    Martin Hicks

    Martin Hicks KC is a talented silk with a broad criminal practice that takes in both domestic and international cases. He has experience of managing high-profile trials and is adept at handling serious murder and drug-related cases.

  • Band 2Peter Lownds
    Band 2Peter Lownds

    Peter Lownds

    Peter Lownds has built a strong reputation for acting in drugs conspiracy, historic sexual abuse and violent offences cases. He has particular experience dealing with matters relating to organised crime.

    • Peter is a first choice for serious and complex matters. He is a first-rate advocate and is very adept at developing client relationships. He has excellent case understanding and court preparation.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Peter Lownds is the perfect senior junior. He is thoroughly decent, extraordinarily talented and utterly committed.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Peter Wright
    Band 2Peter Wright

    Peter Wright

    Peter Wright KC is a well-respected member of the criminal Bar and former Treasury Counsel. He has experience of both prosecuting and defending serious matters including those relating to homicide and serious sexual offences.

    • He's a bold cross-examiner, who doesn't waste any time in getting straight to the truth of the matter.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Brendan Kelly
    Band 3Brendan Kelly

    Brendan Kelly

    • Brendan Kelly KC has real gravitas. He is a quintessential jury advocate. He is just brilliant.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He does great work and operates well.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4David Whittaker
    Band 4David Whittaker

    David Whittaker

    • David Whittaker KC has a calm, relaxed manner and is extremely persuasive in court. He is a brilliant advocate and is really user-friendly.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is trusted, reliable and very experienced. He is someone who can fill you with confidence.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • David is an incredibly smooth advocate. He is extremely persuasive when presenting legal arguments, and has a nice touch. He is very good at identify the wheat from the chaff.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Gudrun Young
    Band 4Gudrun Young

    Gudrun Young

    • Gudrun is a class act.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She has an impressive manner; she is focused and gets stuff done.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Gudrun Young KC is great. She is very dedicated and busy.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Harry Bentley
    Band 4Harry Bentley

    Harry Bentley

    • Bentley's clients are assured of quality representation in court. He is an excellent advocate.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is diligent and really hard-working. He gives 100% to his cases and he is very earnest about them.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is an extremely good advocate and has got some exceptional results.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Harry Bentley is a fantastic barrister with a sharp eye for detail, and he is incredibly personable.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Zubair Ahmad
    Band 5Zubair Ahmad

    Zubair Ahmad

    • Zubair Ahmad KC has brilliant written work. He is great at dealing with experts, and his advocacy is concise, direct and effective.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Hannah Thomas
    Band 6Hannah Thomas

    Hannah Thomas

    • A hard-working, fearless barrister, who stands up for herself in court and doesn't take prisoners.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Super popular with defence solicitors and so approachable. She displays a high level of empathy when dealing with clients.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Martin S Heslop
    Band 6Martin S Heslop

    Martin S Heslop

    • Consistently good over a period of many years. He's an excellent choice if you're faced with a really meaty case.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Nneka Akudolu
    Band 6Nneka Akudolu

    Nneka Akudolu

    • Hugely professional, yet so down to earth, she's an incredibly knowledgeable and personable barrister, who commands the attention of the courtroom.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • A very measured barrister with a really genuine and sincere manner. She exudes quiet authority and does not take stupid points.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingHarry Laidlaw
    Up and ComingHarry Laidlaw

    Harry Laidlaw

    • Harry Laidlaw is very experienced and knowledgeable counsel. Clients love him and he is a dedicated barrister.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Harry's manner is exquisite. His tone and approach are pitch perfect.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Harry is highly skilled and talented in dealing with clients.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Clients have appreciated his knowledge, preparation and overall representation of them.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 2 Hare Court (21)

London (Bar)

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership