Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Crime - South Eastern (Bar)

1
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.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Claire Matthews
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Claire Matthews
1
Band 1

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.

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

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

Karim Khalil KC
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Karim Khalil KC
1
Band 1

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.

William Carter
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William Carter
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Band 1

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.

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

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Isobel Ascherson
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Band 2

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.

Stephen Spence
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Stephen Spence
2
Band 2

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.

Stephen Spence is an excellent heavyweight junior.

Ranked Barristers at
Drystone Chambers

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Band

Silks (KC)

South Eastern (Bar)

Crime

Karim Khalil KC
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Karim Khalil KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

South Eastern (Bar)

Crime

Claire Matthews
1
Claire Matthews
1
Band 1
William Carter
1
William Carter
1
Band 1
2
Isobel Ascherson
2
Band 2
Stephen Spence
2
Stephen Spence
2
Band 2