Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Crime - Northern (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
St John's Buildings is an impressive set for serious criminal matters housing a dedicated bench of barristers operating out of Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Chester. Members are highly regarded for their handling of cases relating to murder and manslaughter, drug trafficking, serious violence and sexual offences. The set is also regularly instructed in matters involving organised crime and high-value frauds, and its barristers act for both the prosecution and the defence. Recently, members have been instructed to defend allegations of historic sexual assault raised against a former headteacher.
Scott Baldwin is the senior clerk in Liverpool.
Strengths
St John's Buildings has an excellent clerking team who are efficient and always keeping us updated.
The clerks will always assist. Lead criminal clerk Andy Booth and clerk Joe Murphy respond promptly and Joe is very accommodating to instructions.
Notable practitioners
Gemma Maxwell is an experienced crime junior, with expertise on large drugs cases as well as sexual abuse and financial crimes. She is a Grade 3 prosecutor.
She shows great tactical strength.
Gemma is a top-class barrister.
Keith Harrison receives very strong praise for his advocacy and experience as a criminal practitioner. While mainly acting for defendants, he also undertakes prosecution instructions. His work regularly includes cases concerning serious criminal acts, including homicide, sexual offences, robbery, fraud and large-scale drug conspiracies.
He is a brilliant and a robust advocate.