Ranking tables

Crime | UK Bar

Western (Bar)

This section concentrates on what might be deemed 'serious' crime including illegal drugs, assault, sexual offences, terrorism and homicide. Financial crimes, including bribery and corruption, are covered separately. It covers work at all levels, from the Magistrates Court all the way to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Barristers ranked in this table are predominantly based on the Western Circuit.

Rankings overview for Sets

  1. Andrew Langdon KCGuildhall Chambers
  2. Richard Smith KCGuildhall Chambers
1

  1. Anna Vigars KCGuildhall Chambers
  2. Christopher Quinlan KCGuildhall Chambers
  3. Sarah Jones KCPump Court Chambers
2

  1. Adam Vaitilingam KCAlbion Chambers
  2. Charles Row KCQueen Square Chambers
  3. Kate Brunner KCAlbion Chambers
  4. Ray Tully KCGuildhall Chambers

  1. Jodie Mittell KC3PB Barristers
1

  1. Jennifer TallentireGuildhall Chambers
  2. Ramin PakroohGuildhall Chambers
  3. Richard Onslow3PB Barristers
  4. Robin ShellardQueen Square Chambers
  5. Tom Horder3PB Barristers
2

  1. Nicholas Cotter
    Nicholas Cotter 3PB Barristers10 Years Ranked
  2. Robert Bryan
    Robert Bryan Drystone Chambers15 Years Ranked
  3. Barry McElduff2 King's Bench Walk
  4. Berenice Mulvanny3PB Barristers
  5. David MaunderQueen Square Chambers
  6. David ScuttGuildhall Chambers
  7. Edward HetheringtonAlbion Chambers
  8. James TuckerQueen Square Chambers
  9. Mark WorsleyGuildhall Chambers
  10. Nicholas Tucker12 College Place
  11. Rebecca FairbairnPump Court Chambers
  12. Samuel JonesGuildhall Chambers
  13. Sarah ReganAlbion Chambers
  14. Thomas Acworth3PB Barristers
3

  1. Alistair Haggerty Guildhall Chambers3 Years Ranked
  2. Chloe GriggsGuildhall Chambers
  3. Dan Pawson-PoundsWalnut House
  4. Ellie FarginPump Court Chambers
  5. Fern Russell2 King's Bench Walk
  6. Gemma White3PB Barristers
  7. Gregory GordonGuildhall Chambers
  8. James HaskellGuildhall Chambers
  9. Jason BealDevon Chambers
  10. Mary CoweGuildhall Chambers
  11. Nicholas Robinson3PB Barristers
  12. Thomas Evans3PB Barristers
U

  1. Ryan MurrayDevon Chambers

All Sets profiles

1

Band 1

  1. 3PB Barristers
    1
    3PB Barristers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked

    3PB Barristers houses a strong team of barristers regularly undertaking work relating to crimes of the utmost gravity, including homicides, terror offences and large-scale drugs conspiracies. Regulatory criminal matters and cases involving both recent and historic sexual offences are also key areas of strength for the set, and members have experience acting for both the prosecution and the defence. Recent instructions have included R v Claffey, a joint enterprise murder case. An interviewee comments: "They are a strong set of formidable advocates."

    Stuart Pringle is the chambers director.

  2. Guildhall Chambers
    1
    Guildhall Chambers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked

    Guildhall Chambers houses a deep bench of senior and junior barristers who "regularly handle the most complicated and sensitive cases with conspicuous skill and command the ear of the judge." They are experienced in both the prosecution and defence of serious crimes such as homicides, serious sexual offences, terrorism and modern slavery. The team is also noted for its expert handling of serious fraud and is a top choice on the circuit for high-profile cases. Recent instructions have included R v Vladmir Ivashikin, a case concerning the high-profile retrial of a son accused of murdering his stepfather.

    Lucy Northeast is the senior practice manager for crime.

2

Band 2

  1. Albion Chambers
    2
    Albion Chambers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 2 | 15 Years Ranked

    Albion Chambers is a well-regarded set on the Western Circuit praised by clients as having "an exceptional depth of experience." Its barristers are routinely instructed to undertake high-profile cases relating to serious sexual offences and murder, and have experience acting for both the prosecution and the defence. Large-scale frauds and regulatory offences are also key areas of strength for the team, and the set's barristers accept both publicly and privately funded work. A recent instruction saw members of the set acting in R v Snook, which was a case concerning the murder of two children.

    Joanna Cload, Charlotte Fryer and Fred Livesey are clerks to the crime team.

  2. Pump Court Chambers
    2
    Pump Court Chambers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 2 | 12 Years Ranked

    Pump Court Chambers is a well-regarded set noted for its expert handling of a wide range of criminal cases. An interviewee comments that the sets has "barristers of all abilities which allows us to identify those best suited to certain individuals or cases." Members are regularly called upon to act for both the prosecution and defence in cases involving serious crimes such as murder, drugs-related matters and serious sexual offences. Additional areas of strength for the team include fraud and cases relating to serious violence. Members of the set were recently successful in defending David McLean, the former mayor of Winchester who was charged with the attempted murder of his 92-year-old mother.

    Tony George is the senior criminal clerk.

  3. Queen Square Chambers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Drystone Chambers
    3
    Drystone Chambers
    Crime
    2026 | Band 3 | 15 Years Ranked

    Drystone Chambers is an impressive set housing a strong bench of experienced criminal barristers. The set's tenants are regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend serious criminal cases, and offer considerable expertise in matters involving serious sexual offences and multi-handed conspiracies. A source says they are "always impressed with the way instructed counsel handles complex cases." Recent instructions have included the case of R v Moon Swee How & Others, which pertained to the definition of human trafficking and the Modern Slavery Act.

    Stephen McCarthy and Ryan Bartlett are the set's senior practice managers.

  2. Walnut House
    Crime
    2026 | Band 3