Department profile
5 King's Bench Walk

Crime

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


5 King's Bench Walk

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Crime - London (Bar)

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

5KBW is home to "barristers of the highest quality, who deal with high-profile cases on a regular basis." Indeed, they handle criminal cases of any type, whatever the level of seriousness. Major matters relating to organised crime, murder and terrorism are undertaken amidst the usual diet of general crime, and members boast further skill in commercial criminal cases and regulatory work. They have particular expertise in sexual offences cases, including historic sex crimes. Their recent matters include the prosecution of Daniel Khalife, who was convicted of espionage and terrorism offences.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are extremely professional and easy to deal with. They are very experienced in dealing with the most serious offences.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking is really good, responsive and reasonable.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Senior clerk Lee Hughes-Gage is great and makes the chambers.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • We know the clerks really well. They are receptive, responsive and contactable.

    Crime respondentUK Bar
  • 5 King's Bench Walk clerks are very well connected.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsMark A. Heywood
    Star IndividualsMark A. Heywood

    Mark A. Heywood

    Esteemed former First Senior Treasury Counsel Mark Heywood KC maintains a standout criminal practice and is expert in terrorism, homicide and organised crime cases, to name but a few. He is no stranger to the most serious, highly publicised cases of the day and is a man of great experience.

    • Mark Heywood is one of the best lawyers in the field.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is a tremendous barrister.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is in the absolute upper echelon of silks. You walk into a courtroom with him and people think they need to think four times before opening their mouths.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Heywood is superb.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He got a great result and the client loved him. He is a superstar, he is seriously smart.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsSarah Forshaw
    Star IndividualsSarah Forshaw

    Sarah Forshaw

    Sarah Forshaw KC is a dedicated silk who has acted in all manner of serious cases including those relating to murders and drug importation offences. She is especially renowned for her expertise in defending those charged with sexual offences, in particular historic sexual offences. Forshaw also regularly defends high-net-worth individuals.

    • Forshaw has the perfect blend of legal excellence, first-class advocacy and tactical genius with timeless elegance.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is simply the best KC at the Bar for a sexual offence case.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Sarah Forshaw KC can achieve outcomes others can only dream of.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is persuasive on her feet.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Sarah is an excellent cross-examiner, really good on the law and an excellent tactician.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Anthony Orchard
    Band 2Anthony Orchard

    Anthony Orchard

    Anthony Orchard KC specialises in prosecuting criminal cases and is a regular at the Old Bailey. He has particular expertise in cases involving organised crime and homicide.

    • Anthony Orchard has a stellar reputation.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Anthony is a class act to watch.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is very much at the top of his game.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Catherine Pattison
    Band 2Catherine Pattison

    Catherine Pattison

    Junior Treasury Counsel Catherine Pattison is a well-reputed practitioner with a varied body of criminal work. She has noteworthy experience in serious and complex cases, which often relate to murder, sexual offences and organised crime.

    • It is hard to find someone who works harder. Her level of preparation is phenomenal.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is a powerhouse.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Pattison does great and high-quality work.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Jonathan Higgs
    Band 2Jonathan Higgs

    Jonathan Higgs

    Jonathan Higgs KC is an established criminal silk who specialises in offences of homicide, serious and organised criminal activity and cases that involve serious fraud, money-laundering and tax evasion. He has extensive experience appearing before the appellate courts and is regularly instructed in high-profile criminal trials, including cases concerning multi-defendant homicide and gang murder.

    • Intelligent, methodical and fearless.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Danny Robinson
    Band 3Danny Robinson

    Danny Robinson

    • Danny is down to earth and clever. He gets to the point really quickly. Judges like him.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4David Osborne
    Band 4David Osborne

    David Osborne

    • David Osborne is strategically astute and has a captivating presence in the courtroom.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is very strong all round.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Osborne has huge experience, great judgement and is a great advocate. He knows how to prepare a case. He is a one-stop shop and can do it all.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Natasha Wong
    Band 4Natasha Wong

    Natasha Wong

    • Calm and polite, yet also steely, she is hugely effective. She has a lovely manner with juries and judges really trust her.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Rupert Kent
    Band 4Rupert Kent

    Rupert Kent

    • He has top communication skills, is very persuasive and excellent with juries, clients and judges.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Kent is very calm, very smooth and well thought through, which are very attractive to the jury. He works incredibly hard and is really effective.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Rupert Kent was seriously impressive with his performance in front of the jury.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is a very high-level prosecutor.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Valeria Swift
    Band 4Valeria Swift

    Valeria Swift

    • She is fantastic and someone who has a serious criminal practice.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Swift is great, impressive and assimilates the information very well.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Valeria gets really good results for us. She is really good with clients and makes them feel very confident about the advice they are receiving.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is very good with vulnerable witnesses.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Ben Holt
    Band 5Ben Holt

    Ben Holt

    • Ben Holt is an excellent lawyer; he has got a smoothness to him and is very impressive.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is very good with juries, charming to work with and a very determined and effective barrister.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is an excellent all-round performer. He is calm and consummate.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Frederick Hookway
    Band 5Frederick Hookway

    Frederick Hookway

    • He is hard-working, focused and extremely pleasant to deal with.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is the consummate barrister. He is always well prepared. He is a real class act.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is an excellent barrister.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He is a fabulous junior and barrister who cares hard. He is very determined.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 5Paul Taylor
    Band 5Paul Taylor

    Paul Taylor

    • His practice reflects the great traditions of the English Bar. He can distil complex legal arguments into understandable submissions.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Working with Paul is delightful.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Paul Taylor is a standout barrister for appellate work. He knows all about appeals and he can still have that sensitivity with the client.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • Band 6Charlotte Hole
    Band 6Charlotte Hole

    Charlotte Hole

    • Charlotte Hole is a tough opponent and is my standard bearer for a fierce prosecutor.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is very hard-working and very good.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • She is a walking encyclopaedia and very good with police teams.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • Charlotte Hole is formidable.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksWilliam Davis
    New SilksWilliam Davis

    William Davis

    • He has great advocacy and is very well prepared. He works so hard.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • William Davis is a formidable opponent. He is diligent, skilful, determined and scrupulously fair.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • He has gravitas and he is unfazed by anything.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
    • William Davis knows his brief and did a very good job. He cross-examined very capably.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 5 King's Bench Walk (15)

London (Bar)

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