About

Provided by 25 Bedford Row

25 Bedford Row is a leading criminal defence set, involved in the most serious and high-profile cases. In the last two years, Chambers has developed significantly under the Headship of Tyrone Smith KC and Nicola Howard KC, together with Alfie Clerk as Director of Clerking.

We are renowned for setting the highest standards in jury advocacy and legal arguments.

Members act for defendants facing every kind of offence against the person. We conduct more homicide cases than perhaps any other criminal set together with other types of serious violence and child neglect. These cases naturally require the highest level of skill and experience and the ability to employ skill and compassion to maximum effect. 

Organised crime includes multi-million pound drug trafficking cases, modern slavery and people trafficking, large scale robbery, blackmail, cybercrime and money laundering. Many members have been at the forefront of Encro related cases.

We ably defend allegations of sexual assault, historical sexual abuse, indecent images, prostitution and rape. Skilled advocacy and cross-examination ensure the rights of defendants are protected and that complainants are dealt with fairly.

We have unrivalled expertise in appellate advocacy. Frequently advising/appearing in the Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court (Case-Stated and Judicial Review) and applications for leave to the Supreme Court.

We are committed to supporting multiple organisations set up to assist with access to justice.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Crime - London (Bar)

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

25 Bedford Row is a set noted for its "strength in depth and exemplary client care," whose members regularly appear in reported murder, manslaughter, sex and terrorism cases, among others. They specialise in defence and are regulars at the Old Bailey and Court of Appeal, and are particularly known for their involvement in multi-handed murder trials, including those relating to young offenders. A recent case of note is R v TC, concerning a county lines drug dealer who was charged with murder and GBH.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Aisling Byrnes
1
Band 1

Aisling Byrnes is an excellent junior who attracts praise from observers for her handling of factually sensitive and emotive cases, and is noted for her sympathetic dealings with vulnerable clients. She focuses her practice on all areas of serious crime and has particular expertise in sexual offences and domestic violence cases.

Aisling has a forensic style in her examination. She is highly considered and has an ability to achieve the impossible.

She puts clients at ease and is an exceptional cross-examiner.

She is a go-to on sex cases and serious cases involving domestic issues or assaults or drugs. She is a fantastic advocate and will achieve the best result for a client every time.

Aisling is first-class, dynamic, perfect with clients and sets the bar extremely high.

Byrnes is an exceptional advocate and her client care is exceptional. She has great presence in court.

1
Dominic Thomas
1
Band 1

Dominic Thomas boasts a wealth of experience of both leading and acting as sole junior in serious homicide proceedings. He appears on behalf of the defence both at trial and on appeal.

Thomas' client care is second to none.

Dominic Thomas is a ferocious advocate with a piercing intellect. Our clients feel they have a champion fighting for them.

Thomas is a fantastic advocate, jury-friendly and great to work with.

His advocacy is masterful. He possesses great judgement.

1
George Carter-Stephenson
1
Band 1

George Carter-Stephenson KC is a well-regarded silk who specialises as a defence advocate in criminal, regulatory and fraud matters. He has vast experience across a broad spectrum of criminal matters, including complex murder and conspiracy to commit murder cases.

He is a legend. He leaves no stone unturned. He is an excellent advocate.

George is extremely level-headed and really excellent with clients.

George Carter-Stephenson remains a leader in the field who commands every case he is in. His attention to detail, his brilliance in cross-examination and thorough case preparation stood out.

He is an experienced and effective advocate.

1
Jeremy Dein
1
Band 1

Jeremy Dein KC is an incredibly capable defence practitioner who specialises in serious matters including murder, terrorism and organised crime. He is often entrusted with high-profile cases that have attracted significant media attention. Dein has significant appellate experience and is known for his sure touch when dealing with vulnerable defendants with mental illness.

Jeremy Dein is very, very good and comes into his own the more complex the case. His experience in the appeal courts really stands out when submitting and drafting grounds of appeal.

1
Paul Hynes
1
Band 1

Paul Hynes KC is regularly instructed in very serious, complex and high-profile criminal matters. He focuses his practice on criminal defence and regularly appears in heavyweight crime cases including those relating to terrorism, firearms and violent criminal offences.

Paul Hynes KC is usually the smartest man in the room. He makes it all look effortlessly easy with an extraordinary memory and his attention to detail.

Hynes builds a great rapport with the judge and jury.

1
Paul Mendelle
1
Band 1

Paul Mendelle KC is a respected and impressive silk with extensive experience of the most serious and high-profile criminal cases. He has handled numerous murder cases, including those relating to gangland warfare, as well as a number of corruption-related matters.

His work ethic is great and extraordinary and he is so committed to clients. He is a real asset to any defendant.

Paul is a hugely experienced class act and fights hard.

Mendelle does an excellent job and is an excellent advocate.

1
Tyrone Smith
1
Band 1

Tyrone Smith KC is an impressive silk who routinely acts in murder, manslaughter, drugs and all manner of other serious criminal cases. He is particularly noted for his skill in motor manslaughter matters, and is an expert in telecommunications evidence.

He is of a different level. Clients love him and he has an excellent analytical mind and superb advocacy.

Behind his easy manner is a brilliant trial tactician.

Smith provides excellent judgement and tactics.

Tyrone has a great strategic mind. He is impressive to watch.

Tyrone is a great cross-examiner. He is calm, reasonable and charming.

2
Arlette Piercy
2
Band 2

Arlette Piercy is a highly experienced and trusted junior who accepts instructions exclusively in criminal defence cases, especially those relating to serious violence such as murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. Gang-related crimes in particular are a feature of her practice.

Arlette is a passionate advocate who is unapologetic about fighting hard for her client.

Arlette acts well under pressure. She is well articulated and persuasive, and has excellent preparation.

Arlette goes the extra mile for every client. She really does care, she sees things outside of the box and will push every door for her client. She is a pleasure to work with.

2
Ben Smitten
2
Band 2

Ben Smitten is a sought-after junior who acts exclusively as a criminal defence advocate and adviser in murder, large-scale fraud and serious organised crime cases. He also frequently defends UK nationals charged with criminal offences in other jurisdictions. Smitten mainly accepts privately funded cases unless the matter is of public importance, such as the inquest and criminal proceedings arising from the Hillsborough stadium disaster.

Smitten leaves no stone unturned.

He is one of the leading senior juniors and has a tenacious work ethic. He makes a serious impact in the case.

2
Clare Wade
2
Band 2

Clare Wade KC provides expert representation to defendants facing a range of serious allegations. She is particularly experienced in defending vulnerable women accused of murder.

Clare Wade KC is great. She's very experienced and is respected in the Court of Appeal.

2
David Wood
2
Band 2

David Wood is a well-respected junior who is often instructed in crime and regulatory matters. He has experience handling serious crime cases such as murder, theft and drug-related matters.

He gets great results. He is the cream of the cop.

David Wood is an excellent advocate. He goes above and beyond to assist.

David was really polished, professional and has good judgement.

2
Emma Akuwudike
2
Band 2

Emma Akuwudike is a skilled and well-regarded junior who is noted for her extensive experience in firearms matters. Akuwudike is also regularly instructed on cases relating to murder, serious sexual offences and drugs conspiracies, among others.

Emma has tactical awareness and is a tough negotiator.

She is good at hard, sensitive cases, and she really fights for clients.

She is vastly experienced and excellent with clients.

Akuwudike is an excellent advocate.

Emma Akuwudike is an extremely experienced counsel.

2
Jeffrey Israel
2
Band 2

Jeffrey Israel undertakes a variety of defence work, often acting on high-profile and sensitive cases. He has experience representing individuals accused of offences of a sexual and violent nature, some of which have attracted media attention.

Jeffrey maintained good rapport with the client and pinpointed what was at the heart of the criminal case.

2
Lisa Wilson
2
Band 2

Specialist defence practitioner Lisa Wilson is an adept junior who frequently takes leading roles on cases. She has particular experience in handling complex cases relating to murder and historical sexual offences, among others.

Wilson is a force of nature. She is sharp, strong and fast, as well as difficult to beat.

Lisa Wilson is a very strong and passionate advocate.

2
Michael Neofytou
2
Band 2

Accomplished junior Michael Neofytou is regularly instructed to defend complex gang-related murder and drugs cases. He routinely acts as leading junior in serious criminal trials.

Michael Neofytou is an outstanding junior who excels as an advocate, lawyer and man who can charm a courtroom.

He cuts through all the irrelevant bits and has a very good bedside manner for clients.

2
Paul Keleher
2
Band 2

Paul Keleher KC is highly experienced in all areas of crime, including cases relating to terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, serious violence and sexual abuse. Keleher is skilled at dealing with complex evidence and disclosure issues.

He is a master tactician, thoroughly well prepared, completely in control of the case and very clever. He always has his eye on the key issues. He is an all-round brilliant advocate.

Keleher is an amazing guy and knows his stuff.

2
Sebastian Gardiner
2
Band 2

Sebastian Gardiner is a junior who is noted for his specialist expertise in drugs cases. On a broader level, Gardiner is experienced in serious crime matters, such as those relating to EncroChat.

He is very capable in dealing with complex drug cases. He knows his way around any issues surrounding such cases.

James Martin
3
James Martin
3
Band 3

James Martin is the man you want on your side. He is robust and punchy.

He stood firm under serious pressure. He is excellent.

3
Peter Doyle KC
3
Band 3

Peter Doyle KC is a very experienced silk, with a charming manner. He has a light touch, which judges like and respect.

He is a really senior, respected member of the Bar.

Everyone likes him and it benefits his client. His manner also helps and he helped a client in a hard case.

3
Sheryl Nwosu
3
Band 3

She was great to work with.

Nwosu did an exceptional job in keeping a very difficult client very happy, and worked very hard.

Sheryl is a very strong leading junior and fearless in every way.

Nwosu's client service is second to none.

Stephen Moses
3
Stephen Moses
3
Band 3

He knows his law as well as anyone and is great in court. He fights really hard for the client and is utterly charming with it.

4
Laurie-Anne Power
4
Band 4

Power has fantastic preparation.

She is a fierce advocate who is gentle and empathic with her clients. She is one of my first-choice silks.

Laurie-Anne Power KC is an outstanding silk who is going from strength to strength. She has the command of any courtroom.

She stands out and makes an impression.

4
Rudi Fortson
4
Band 4

Fortson is a very good lawyer. Juries like him and as do judges. He is an effective but sympathetic cross-examiner.

Rudi is and always has been a real professional.

5
John Cooper
5
Band 5

A determined individual who gives everything his all.

Michael Gomulka
5
Michael Gomulka
5
Band 5

Pleasant, personable, willing and attentive.

5
Osman Osman
5
Band 5

Osman Osman is quick to pick up issues, good with clients and authoritative.

Osman is very good at handling any serious criminal matter and putting the client at ease.

5
Simon Pentol
5
Band 5

He was excellent, easy to work with and doing his best for his clients. He is very collaborative.

Pentol fights your corner every step of the way. His court presence is unrivalled.

He is quite good and very experienced.

6
Beth O'Reilly
6
Band 6

Beth is proactive, provides incredible attention to detail, is forensic on disclosure and clients adore her.

She is great.

O'Reilly is going places and is tenacious. She fights the corner as best she can.

Chantel Gaber
U
Chantel Gaber
U
Up and Coming

Chantel is a first-class advocate who is all over her brief. She is personable with clients and very strong in court.

Gaber is incredibly calm and impressive.

Chantel is an outstanding up-and-coming junior counsel. She is incredibly dedicated and always going the extra mile for her clients, and truly fights for them.

Chantal has always gone the extra mile and more.

She is a very hard-working junior.

U
Kerrie Ann Rowan
U
Up and Coming

Kerrie Ann Rowan is a great junior who is dedicated to the clients and the case.

She is brave and takes on the big and difficult legal challenges and holds her own.

Kerrie is good and a safe pair of hands. She did a very good cross-examination.

She is determined and not afraid to keep going. She is a hard worker.

Ranked Barristers at
25 Bedford Row

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Crime

1
George Carter-Stephenson KC
1
Band 1
1
Jeremy Dein KC
1
Band 1
1
Paul Hynes KC
1
Band 1
1
Paul Mendelle KC
1
Band 1
1
Tyrone Smith KC
1
Band 1
2
Clare Wade KC
2
Band 2
2
Paul Keleher KC
2
Band 2
3
Peter Doyle KC
3
Band 3
Stephen Moses KC
3
Stephen Moses KC
3
Band 3
4
Laurie-Anne Power KC
4
Band 4
4
Rudi Fortson KC
4
Band 4
5
John Cooper KC
5
Band 5
5
Simon Pentol KC
5
Band 5
6
Beth O'Reilly KC
6
Band 6

Juniors

London (Bar)

Crime

1
Aisling Byrnes
1
Band 1
1
Dominic Thomas
1
Band 1
2
Arlette Piercy
2
Band 2
2
Ben Smitten
2
Band 2
2
David Wood
2
Band 2
2
Emma Akuwudike
2
Band 2
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