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2 Harcourt Buildings

UK Bar Guide 2024

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UK Bar

2 Harcourt Buildings

2 Harcourt Buildings

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(020) 7353 2112

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Provided by 2 Harcourt Buildings
UK Bar

Heads of Chambers: James Dawes KC & Paul Cavin KC

Senior Clerk: Keith Poynter

Clerks: Gary Wright, Joe Scanlan & Amanda Copas

Tenants: 34

The Chambers: 2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding set of criminal barristers, with counsel of the highest quality at every level. Members of Chambers prosecute and defend in the full range of criminal cases and are noted for their dedication, commanding courtroom performances, and sound advice.

Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. In addition, Chambers has a particular specialism in cases investigated under Serious and Organised Crime Command, and the National Crime Agency. Regular instruction in the most heavyweight of criminal cases, combined with a tradition of retaining 2 counsel cases within Chambers whenever possible, provides the juniors at 2 Harcourt Buildings with experience far beyond their call, enabling them to command the respect of opponents and judges alike.

WORK UNDERTAKEN

Crime: Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. Recent cases include: the defence of David Fuller for the historic murder of two young women in Tunbridge Wells and the sexual abuse of multiple corpses in the mortuary at Pembury hospital, the prosecution of London GP Manish Shah for sexual offences committed against 24 female patients, and of Diana Danescu the Conservative Party election agent convicted of fraud.Also, the prosecution of Robert Wells, the GP convicted of multiple counts of historic rape and indecent assault against 5 children and teenagers he had drugged to facilitate his offending.

Financial Crime: Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings specialise in high value and complex financial crime.Members of chambers are well known for their advisory skills, their performance in court, and their ability to process, assimilate and present the large quantities of information often involved in such complex cases.

Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in fraud and financial crime cases involving allegations in all areas but particularly including multi million pound banking fraud, diversion fraud, investment and boiler room frauds, tax fraud, duty evasion, money laundering allegations, bribery and corruption charges, cyber-crime offences, and immigration fraud.Instructions come from all areas, but particularly cases prosecuted by the Specialist Fraud Division of the CPS, the SFO and the FCA, and investigations conducted by HMRC.Members of Chambers are experienced in conducting private prosecutions and are alert to the particular challenges such proceedings can present.Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings are frequently instructed from the outset of an investigation, providing advice pre-charge, through to the conclusion of proceedings, including dealing with restraint and confiscation.

The presentation of evidence electronically at trial is something chambers as a whole is familiar with.Junior members of chambers often appear as junior counsel and learn by example how to present and manage complex investigations and trials.

Recent cases include: the prosecution of Feezan Hameed, responsible for the biggest vishing fraud in UK history; the first known election fraud prosecution alleging misrepresentations to voters; the prosecution of Diana Danescu, also prosecuted for and convicted of election fraud.

Professional Discipline: 2 Harcourt Buildings is establishing a reputable inquests and public inquiries practice. Members of Chambers act for bereaved families, medical professionals and state Interested Persons in Article 2 inquests heard before juries. Members are able to bring their expertise in criminal law to inquests involving evidence from the police, the prison service and the probation service, as well as a high standard of advocacy developed in the Crown Courts.

Chambers offers advice in inquests matters that crossover into public law, with members advising the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to a potential judicial review arising from whistle-blower evidence concerning a historic inquest into a sensitive police shooting, and advising on, and drafting grounds of, the judicial review of the decisions made by Coroners during the course of inquests.

Members are regularly sought after to represent both the council and registrants before the RCN, GDC, GOC, NMC, BACP and TRA. Members have been instructed in the full array of proceedings including lengthy substantive hearings before the Conduct and Competency Committee, hearings before the Health Committee, restoration applications, registration appeals, and fraudulent/incorrect entry cases. We also act for the SIA and SPA.

Recruitment: Chambers prides itself on offering structured, challenging and fulfilling twelve-month pupillages to high quality applicants. Chambers aims to prepare all pupils for a successful career within our chambers and actively seeks to recruit junior tenants from amongst their number. Nine of our last eleven pupils were taken on at the end of their pupillage.

Members
  • James Dawes KC (1995) P
  • Paul Cavin KC (1993) P
  • Jennifer Knight KC (1996) P
  • Jane Osborne KC (1996) P
  • Sean Brunton KC (1990)
  • Mark Paltenghi (1979) P
  • Mark Gadsden (1980) P
  • Jane Carpenter (1984)
  • Toby Fitzgerald (1993) P
  • Sally Halkerston (1994)
  • Sally Thompson (1994)
  • Nicholas Alexander (1996) P
  • Catherine Donnelly (1997)
  • Fer Chinner (1998)
  • Paul Casey (1999)
  • Christopher Stimpson (1999) P
  • Kate Blumgart (1999)
  • Subhankar Banarjee (2000) P
  • Tom Nicholson (2001) P
  • Sally Mertens (2002) P
  • Edward Franklin (2006) P
  • Jenny Burgess (2008) P
  • John Ojakovoh (2008)
  • Duncan Cooke (2008) P
  • James Caldwell (2011)
  • Dominic Hockley (2011) P
  • Natalia Constantine (2011) P
  • Sam Barker (2014)
  • Imogen Nelson (2014)
  • Amy Oliver (2016)
  • Charles Drinnan (2016) P
  • Mahesh Karu (2016) P
  • William Goss (2018)
  • Page Nyame (2021)
  • Simran Ghotra (2022)
  • Joe Weeks (2022)

Ranked Offices

Provided by 2 Harcourt Buildings

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2 Harcourt Buildings rankings

UK Bar Guide 2024
Filter by
London (Bar)
Crime
1 Set
6 Ranked Barristers
Set
Crime
4
Crime
4
Band 4
Silks (KC)
James Dawes KC
5
James Dawes KC
5
Band 5
Jennifer Knight KC
5
Jennifer Knight KC
5
Band 5
5
Paul Cavin KC
5
Band 5
Juniors
4
Catherine Donnelly
4
Band 4
Dominic Hockley
4
Dominic Hockley
4
Band 4
5
Christopher Stimpson
5
Band 5
Financial Crime
1 Ranked Barrister
Silks (KC)
4
Jane Osborne KC
4
Band 4