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 Claffey, a joint enterprise murder case. An interviewee comments: "They are a strong set of formidable advocates."

Stuart Pringle is the chambers director.

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.

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.

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.

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.