Crime | UK Bar

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 Scott, the prosecution for multiple historic offences of child cruelty and sexual offences.

Stuart Pringle is the chambers director.

Guildhall Chambers houses a deep bench of senior and junior barristers who 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, such as the prosecution of Darren Osment in a two-month murder trial concerning the disappearance of Clare Holland in 2012.

Lucy Northeast is the senior practice manager for crime and is supported by practice manager Grant Bidwell.

Albion Chambers is a well-regarded set on the Western Circuit offering "a range of experience" in its members and able to "accommodate cases of differing complexity". 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 Dann, prosecuting a local businessman for killing another man in a road rage incident. 

Chris Norman is the senior criminal clerk.

Pump Court Chambers is a well-regarded set noted for its expert handling of a wide range of criminal 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.

Senior clerk Tony Atkins is supported by Tony George leading the criminal clerking team.

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. Recent instructions have included the high profile case of R v Webb and Somerset-How, concerning a prosecution for modern slavery offences where the alleged perpetrators were living off of the alleged victim's income and care allowance.

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