Crime | UK Bar

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.

Red Lion Chambers is a highly regarded set which maintains a strong reputation across East Anglia as having an "excellent range of highly skilled counsel." Barristers here are regularly instructed in cases involving murder, sexual offences and organised crime. Its members also have experience handling more rare cases, such as a recent instruction in R v Stuart Worby, concerning the defence of a client in a procurement of a miscarriage and sexual assault matter.

Mark Bennett is the practice director and senior clerk.

Lamb Building houses a well-respected criminal team who are frequently instructed as the defence and the prosecution in serious criminal cases. It is seen as "an excellent and diligent team that goes the extra mile to help." The set's tenants handle cases involving allegations of GBH, homicide, rape and modern slavery. An instructing solicitor comments: "Cases are dealt with expertly and in a very timely fashion." Recent instructions for the set involved R v Tracey Charlesworth concerning sexual activity with a minor.

Gary Goodger is the senior clerk.

Six Pump Court is a popular set with an impressive profile in Kent and a strong bench of silks and juniors, who have "a wealth of expertise." They are seen as having "extremely experienced and effective advocates, who have a reassuring manner for both defendants and solicitors alike." Its barristers regularly prosecute and defend a range of serious criminal cases, including murders, drug conspiracies and sexual assault. Recent instructions include prosecution work in R v Stephanie Langley concerning a murder and R v Stephen Lloyd Jones, Tiamo Zanaj and Kirsat Kizilkaya in a case of drug smuggling.

Richard Constable is the senior clerk at the set.

23 Essex Street Chambers is a well-regarded set with barristers who can "provide expertise in all areas of criminal law and at all levels." Members are instructed on high-profile sexual offences, murder cases and fraud-related matters for both prosecution and defence. Recent matters for the set have included a historic rape and sexual assault case which involved 60 counts of rape and sexual assault.

Wayne King is chambers director.

4 King's Bench Walk is a solid criminal set with a team of barristers able to handle a wide range of complex cases. An interviewee comments: "The quality of members of chambers is extremely high." Another adds: "4 KBW has a range of counsel with a variety of expertise and experience." The set is experienced in the whole gamut of serious criminal cases including murder, allegations of historic sexual abuse and drugs offences. An example of the instructions the set regularly receives is R v Smith, a case concerning a multi-handed conspiracy to import multi-kilos or MDMA.

Rick Gardner is the managing criminal clerk.

Westgate Chambers houses a strong group of junior barristers who are recognised for their expertise in serious crime. Its members frequently prosecute and defend a wide range of cases, including those relating to motoring offences, drugs matters and homicides. The set is also well equipped to handle regulatory work.

Sean Gould is the senior clerk.