25 Bedford Row

Heads of Chambers: Tyrone Smith KC and Nicola Howard KC

Senior Clerk: Alfie Lee

Clerks: Emma Makepeace, Charlie Gardner, Alex Coomber, Conor Houghton, Kieran Schofield-Hawe

Fees Clerk: David Kirton

Administration Manager: Varuna Askoolum

Administration Assistant: Twinkle Plowman

Tenants: 72

Firm Overview:

Previously awarded Client Services Set of the Year by Chambers UK, this innovative set, consistently assessed as a centre of excellence, specialises in every aspect of modern defence advocacy. Widely recognised as the leading chambers in its core practice areas, its reputation for excellence is best demonstrated by their involvement in every recent major criminal trial, whether in fraud, organised crime or murder. Chambers are renowned heavy-weight defenders in all aspects of financial and white-collar crime. Members frequently defend large-scale prosecutions brought by the FCA, SFO and NCA. Advice is provided at every stage including pre-charge, post-charge and investigation. Chambers’ criminal expertise includes quasi civil-crime such as POCA proceedings, high-value restraint proceedings, data protection law, the legality of search warrants, costs law, civil actions and civil liberties law (including actions against the police) and all aspects of regulatory law (including professional disciplinary and environmental law). Excellence extends to the high quality of the clerking and administration team who have an exemplary reputation.

Main Areas of Practice:

Criminal: Experts in defending serious crime including homicide, organised crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and extreme sexual violence. Several members act for UK nationals facing criminal prosecutions in other jurisdictions. Chambers’ private client specialists are renowned for their success in ‘reputational management’ and their ability to mitigate the impact of criminal charges on clients’ careers/personal lives.

Fraud & Financial Litigation: Specialists in defending individuals and corporations against all allegations of business crime and fraud (restraint, confiscation, civil recovery/injunctions matters), including cross-jurisdictional prosecutions. Chambers offers specific advice on regulatory compliance, risk management and corporate governance/training.

Professional Disciplinary & Regulatory: Members regularly defend individuals appearing before professional bodies, disciplinary tribunals and regulatory authorities, including healthcare professionals, solicitors, police officers, accountants, sports players and sports organisations. Chambers practice in all aspects of contentious regulatory work including, but not limited to, environmental law and health and safety law, acting for employees, directors and companies.

Inquests & Public Inquiries: Members cover all aspects of coronial law, advising and representing bereaved families, individuals, statutory bodies and corporate entities in cases covering a vast range of complex legal and factual issues. Our barristers have represented interested persons in lengthy and high-profile inquests attracting intense media scrutiny. Experts in challenging the decision of the Coroner in the High Court and via judicial review proceedings arising from inquests in the Administrative Court. Chambers is routinely instructed in significant public inquiries including those involving alleged failings by both corporate and statutory bodies.

Civil Liberties & Human Rights: As a ‘defence only’ set, protecting civil liberties is a fundamental cornerstone of Chambers’ ethos. Members have extensive experience acting for persons facing human rights infringements including actions against the police and public authorities, extradition law, international law, inquests, public inquiries, public and administrative law.

International Work: Chambers acts and advises in all aspects of international criminal law (including human rights breaches, war crimes, extradition of high-profile individuals, offences against the state and overseas freezing/forfeiture orders) and regularly acts for individuals, governmental organisations and NGOs.