New Park Court Chambers is a ‘well-regarded set, with strength in depth throughout the criminal team’, handling both high-profile prosecution and defence work. Robert Smith KC prosecuted in the trial of a defendant extradited from Pakistan, who was convicted of masterminding the 2005 robbery that resulted in the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky. ‘An exceptional barrister’, Nicholas Lumley KC is regarded as ‘the best choice of barrister for vulnerable or technical cases’, and defended a schoolboy charged with the murder of another pupil, an incident that occurred in front of dozens of children and staff at a city school. Adam Birkby successfully prosecuted a woman who was sentenced to three years for failing to disclose her teenage son’s Islamic fundamentalist-inspired suicide bomb plot. The team was bolstered at the senior end following Geraldine Kelly KC‘s elevation to silk in March 2025.

Park Square Barristers is praised as ‘a chambers offering the highest calibre of barristers, available at short notice and always willing to go that extra mile to assist clients’. Richard Wright KC secured the conviction of a former Gateshead police officer for manslaughter, following the fatal assault of his wife, a matter in which complex medical evidence proved key in establishing that the death was not accidental. Peter Moulson KC successfully prosecuted three teenagers for murder and attempted murder after a violent house break-in; all were convicted under joint enterprise and sentenced to life. ‘A highly skilled and experienced counsel’, Taryn Turner is a leading junior with expertise spanning serious violence, organised crime, drugs trafficking, and sexual offences. Catherine Silverton, ‘a fearsome advocate’,  was instructed by the National Crime Agency to prosecute a defendant charged with raping and sexually abusing ten child victims. In March 2025, Gillian Batts KC was appointed to silk.

Dere Street Barristers is renowned for its ‘brilliant, dedicated, and persuasive advocates, handling cases of the utmost gravity across all practice areas’. John Elvidge KC was recently instructed to prosecute a case involving five men charged with the attempted murder of a 16-year-old boy in Salford. Peter Makepeace KC  represented a man, and Elvidge KC his son, in a murder and manslaughter trial and appeal after the father killed a man in a deliberate hit and run revenge attack. Anne Richardson prosecuted a man sentenced to eight years after being convicted of seven counts of perverting the course of justice for making false rape allegations against multiple men.

Exchange Chambers is regularly sought after for both prosecuting and defending in a wide range of high-profile criminal cases, including homicide, drug conspiracies, and serious sexual offences. Nicholas Johnson KC achieved an acquittal of both murder and manslaughter for a defendant accused of murdering a friend with a hunting knife at a Christmas party. Christopher Tehrani KC, instructed by the CPS, prosecuted two gang members charged with conspiracy to transfer firearms and supply Class A and B drugs. Eddison Flint is currently defending a defendant charged with the murder of a 72-year-old man, alongside her partner.

St Pauls Chambers, described as ‘a reliable set’, represents clients in high-profile cases involving a wide spectrum of serious criminal offences, from complex murders and drug conspiracies to child cruelty and sexual offences. Jane Brady successfully acted for a defendant acquitted of grooming offences dating back to the 1990s in a case involving twelve defendants, eight of whom were convicted. Kristina Goodwin, who is ‘very good at navigating prosecution cases and leaves no stone unturned’, was instructed by the CPS in a case where the defendant imported heroin from Pakistan in three packages via post, claiming he was framed by ex-business associates, but DNA and fingerprint evidence proved he handled the drugs’ packaging.

Trinity Chambers has built a strong reputation for its criminal law expertise, frequently handling high-profile cases. Caroline Goodwin KC brings extensive experience in prosecuting and defending homicide, sexual offences, and organised crime cases. Toby Hedworth KC, praised for his ability to ‘control the court from the moment he stands to speak’, represented a defendant charged with murder and wounding with intent in a joint enterprise case. Christopher Knox is well versed in assisting with a broad range of homicide and financial crime matters, while Tony Cornberg represented a 15-year-old girl charged with the murder and attempted murder of a father and son, both alleged to be paedophiles who raped the defendant's sister.

At Broadway House Chambers, members have significant expertise in handling the full spectrum of criminal law. Stephen Wood KC, ‘an exceptional advocate whose ability to get to the heart of the matter quickly is second to none’, was instructed by the CPS in a murder prosecution where defendant knocked the victim unconscious in an unprovoked attack and left him to burn to death in a flat already engulfed in flames. Michelle Colborne KC successfully prosecuted a joint enterprise case, where one defendant pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 17-and-a-half years, while the other was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

KBW is widely regarded as ‘a lovely set of chambers’ home to ‘counsel with a broad range of experience’. Dafydd Enoch KC recently acted in defence of a man accused of murdering his then-girlfriend, who was six months pregnant at the time of the alleged offence. David Brooke KC, described as ‘an experienced and very able advocate’, is frequently instructed in complex murder cases.

The team at Wilberforce Barristers boasts a solid track record in handling the full gamut of serious criminal work, with recent instructions spanning murder, sexual offences, and major drug conspiracies. Charlotte Baines is ‘an exceptionally well-organised barrister, particularly adept at prosecuting multi-handed trials’, and is currently being instructed by the CPS in a multi-defendant case involving street dealers charged with murder and drug supply from a local crack den. Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, hailed as ‘a real class act’, is know for ‘achieving outstanding results in the most serious and complex of cases’. Oliver Shipley, praised as ‘a jury advocate’, recently secured an acquittal for a defendant - with previous convictions for the same offence -  in a case concerning allegations of dealing Class A drugs.