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

All Sets profiles

1

Band 1

  1. 3PB Barristers
    1
    3PB Barristers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 1 | 14 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 Scott, the prosecution for multiple historic offences of child cruelty and sexual offences.
  2. Guildhall Chambers
    1
    Guildhall Chambers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 1 | 14 Years Ranked
    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.
2

Band 2

  1. Albion Chambers
    2
    Albion Chambers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 2 | 14 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. Pump Court Chambers
    2
    Pump Court Chambers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. Queen Square Chambers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Drystone Chambers
    3
    Drystone Chambers
    Crime
    2025 | Band 3 | 14 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. 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.
  2. Walnut House
    Crime
    2025 | Band 3