Department profile
Drystone Chambers

Crime

UK Bar Guide 2026 : South Eastern (Bar)

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Drystone Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Crime - South Eastern (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Drystone Chambers has a prominent presence in East Anglia and maintains an impressive reputation for its serious crime practice. The set is praised as "a large set with an unrivalled reputation for quality of representation." Members of the set offer notable skill acting as both defence and prosecution counsel in high-profile cases. Its barristers regularly handle cases relating to murder, sexual offences and gross negligence manslaughter, as well as fraud and regulatory issues. The set also offers strong capabilities in extradition. Recent instructions for the set have included R-v-Valdo Calocane, the killing of two people and attempted killing of three more people.

Steve McCarthy and Ryan Bartlett are the senior practice managers.

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Strengths

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  • The Drystone clerking team has an enormously challenging task in triaging all the cases, but do so with a great deal of aplomb.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

  • A clerk is always available to assist. They are efficient and pleasant to deal with.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are extremely helpful and will always try and accommodate our requests.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are always willing to go that extra mile for the client.

    Crime respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Claire Matthews
    Claire Matthews

    Claire Matthews

    Claire Matthews is regularly instructed across London and East Anglia to work in cases ranging from serious sexual offences to child neglect. She distributes her time equally between prosecuting and defending. She is particularly adept at handling complex homicides and medico-legal cases.

    • I like to instruct Claire Matthews for serious sex offences because of her experience and complete dedication to the case.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

    • Claire has become one of the finest criminal barristers in the east. It’s always a privilege to have her representing a client.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

    • Claire Matthews is amazing. She is very approachable and friendly. Clients love her and she gets great results.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
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  • Karim Khalil
    Karim Khalil

    Karim Khalil

    Karim Khalil KC is a standout criminal silk and an esteemed practitioner across the South Eastern Circuit. He is considered by his peers to be one of the leading figures in his practice area. He has significant experience taking on some of the highest profile, most sensitive and high-value cases. He has particular expertise in cases concerning fraud and murder.

    • He is calm in the right situations, but isn’t afraid to rumble.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
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  • William Carter
    William Carter

    William Carter

    William Carter is an experienced and highly capable barrister who prosecutes and defends across a range of criminal issues. He specialises in cases that involve technical detail, and is regularly instructed in heavy fraud and medico-legal cases. He has extensive knowledge of matters concerning 'shaken baby syndrome'.

    • William Carter is as good as you can get.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

    • William Carter is a simply outstanding heavyweight junior. The go-to barrister for all serious crime.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
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  • Isobel Ascherson
    Isobel Ascherson

    Isobel Ascherson

    Isobel Ascherson is a highly experienced junior with a varied caseload including murder, fraud and drugs matters. She is noted for her representation of professionals facing allegations of serious sexual offences.

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  • Stephen Spence
    Stephen Spence

    Stephen Spence

    Stephen Spence is adept at handling all aspects of serious crime and has a specialism in internet crime. He prosecutes and defends criminal offences such as sexual assault and murder. He also has particular expertise in aviation cases.

    • Juries love Stephen Spence. He is charming and cross-examines so gently that they do not see the sting coming.

      Crime respondentUK Bar

    • Stephen Spence is an excellent heavyweight junior.

      Crime respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Drystone Chambers (5)

South Eastern (Bar)

Drystone Chambers has rankings in the following guides

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