SILK PROFILE
John Kelsey-Fry KC

John Kelsey-Fry KC

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 3 practice areas

About

Provided by Cloth Fair Chambers

Practice Areas

Award-winning John Kelsey-Fry KC is regarded as the most sought-after criminal advocate in the land.

Pre-eminent in the fields of business and financial crime, and other high-profile crime, his legal expertise is matched by his commercial understanding and his strategic vision. Instructed by individuals and corporates alike, he is lauded for his unwavering commitment to his craft and the outcomes he achieves for his clients. In particular, he is the ‘go to’ expert where the criminal and commercial jurisdiction intersect.

A former Treasury Counsel, John has unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise. His clients span the commercial, financial, sporting and media worlds and they benefit from the decades that he has spent at the very top of the bar.

Further information of recent and past cases can be found here: https://www.clothfairchambers.com/who-we-are/john-kelsey-fry-kc

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Financial Crime - London (Bar)

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

John Kelsey-Fry KC is a star player on account of his truly remarkable performances as a jury advocate. He is regularly selected to advise on high-stakes matters, such as high-profile investigations and prosecutions by the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Conduct Authority. His areas of expertise include international corruption matters ‒ although he has further experience in the full range of fraud and financial crime. He is sought after for his financial crime advice to corporates.

Crime - London (Bar)

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Former Senior Treasury Counsel John Kelsey-Fry KC is particularly well known for his representation of private clients, a number of whom are high profile, in the most serious general crime and financial crime cases. Kelsey-Fry has been instructed in some of the most headline-grabbing matters of recent years, handling cases relating to homicide, corruption, perverting the course of justice and affray.

Financial Crime: Corporates - London (Bar)

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

John Kelsey-Fry KC is a star player on account of his truly remarkable performances as a jury advocate. He is regularly selected to advise on high-stakes matters, such as high-profile investigations and prosecutions by the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Conduct Authority. His areas of expertise include international corruption matters ‒ although he has further experience in the full range of fraud and financial crime. He is sought after for his financial crime advice to corporates.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He is a master tactician, immensely experienced and well-regarded.

    Financial CrimeUK Bar
  • As a prosecutor, you are very nervous to see him on the other side. He is extremely good.

    Financial CrimeUK Bar
  • Without a shadow of doubt he is the most outstanding criminal silk of the past decade for serious financial crime.

    Financial CrimeUK Bar
  • In his courtroom performance, he is at the top of the tree. He is very clever. He puts people at ease and inspires confidence. He is very good.

    CrimeUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Cloth Fair Chambers (29)

All Circuits

London (Bar)

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