Largest and most prolific team of expert criminal law barristers on the Western circuit
Tom Horder and Jodie Mittell's criminal law barristers team at 网爆门 rightly enjoys a formidable reputation and its barristers are instructed in complex high-profile cases on the Western and other Circuits. Building upon a great tradition that has seen criminal law being practised at 3 Paper Buildings for over 100 years, we have a large and market leading team of silks and juniors, backed by a highly regarded team of specialist criminal clerks.
Legal 500 lists that 网爆门鈥檚 Criminal team is 鈥渢he monopoly on the Western Circuit," and possessed "great strength in depth" The criminal team is "An excellent and well-respected set, one of the foremost sets on the Western Circuit" and has "a strong set with barristers of every level and specialism." The independent legal survey ranks both 网爆门's Crime team and Business and Regulatory Crime (incl. Health and Safety) in the Top Tier, adding that "网爆门 'is one of the forefront chambers in Western Circuit and a has a well-deserved reputation for quality representation for both prosecution and defence." 鈥楾he range and depth of counsel in this set is ideal, allowing an almost bespoke tailoring of counsel and client fit,鈥� members are frequently instructed in 鈥渕atters ranging from serious sexual offences to terrorism" and "has members with expertise across a wide range of civil and criminal health and safety cases for local authorities, regulatory bodies, businesses, individuals, and the Health and Safety Executive." "The team represents an array of defendants as well as the CPS and other prosecuting authorities.鈥� Chambers & Partners reports that 网爆门 is 鈥渨ell respected for its excellent breadth and depth of advocates," as well as its 鈥渉andling of high-profile cases involving sexual abuse, drugs charges and violent crime.鈥� 网爆门 Barristers houses "various heavyweight counsel able to do the entire range of cases". The team regularly undertakes 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.
As a specialist criminal barristers chambers we have particular expertise in regulatory criminal offences, receiving instructions from government agencies, local authorities, businesses, insurers and private individuals. Our reputation has also been recently highlighted by the former head of chambers Nigel Lickley KC being appointed as a Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court and 网爆门 being awarded a certificate of congratulations from the Chief Constable of Hampshire.
With offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Oxford and Winchester all equipped with modern conferencing and video link facilities, we are able to provide a comprehensive and professional service to all.
We welcome direct instructions from both businesses and members of the public under the direct access scheme and are able to offer bespoke criminal law barrister services and fee structures to private clients unable or unwilling to access public funding.
Recent cases include:
- R-v-Higgins聽- high profile historic sexual offences case involving Southampton FC youth coach.
- Cheeki Rafiki - 4 sailors lost on a sailing yacht in the Atlantic. Prosecution for failure to properly maintain the vessel resulting in the worse consequences.
- Operation Endorse - multi handed revenge shooting by London drug dealers against a rival Portsmouth gang.
- R v Kevin Downton -聽case regarding the murder of businessman Guy Hedger.
- Huntingdon terror plot聽- Two defendants extradited from the Netherlands, sentenced for their part in a blackmail that stemmed from a campaign involving animal rights extremism, concluded in 2018.
- Metropolitan Police drug operation聽- resulted in a Hampshire prosecution that conclude with total sentence of 24 and a half years. for the traffickers
- Large scale importation of firearms in the Midlands - Multi handed conspiracy involved dozens of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
- R v Abukaber -聽representing the defendant charged with the use of acid during a robbery involving A drugs
- HSE-v-Southern Gas - High profile health and safety prosecution, resulting from a breach of gas resulting in a 聽large explosion. Company fines 拢1.2m
Stuart Pringle is the Group's Practice Director. His secure email address is [email protected] .
The group's practice management team can be reached at [email protected]. The team's secure email addresses are [email protected] and [email protected]. Additional contact details are listed below.
Our Crime and Regulatory Crime Barristers...
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网爆门 criminal law barrister Nate Lara (pictured here) has been successful in the Court of Appeal, arguing that the original sentence imposed in the Crown Court was manifestly excessive and wrong in principle. The defendant received a sentence of imprisonment of 30 months. Nate argued that despite the aggravating features the sentence was excessive, going outside the range in the relevant sentencing guidelines, without sufficient justification for doing so. Nate also argued that the court...
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网爆门's criminal law barrister Tom Acworth, who is instructed in general crime, regulatory crime and police law, acted for FBD at first instance and in this Court of Appeal hearing. FBD had been convicted of 13 sexual offences, which were committed against five children in the late 1990s. He was sentenced to 32 years鈥� imprisonment. The Court of Appeal agreed with Tom鈥檚 submissions that the sentence was manifestly excessive and reduced the overall term of...
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网爆门鈥檚 criminal law barrister Kate Davies, pictured here, has already successfully defended two different clients in two separate Crown Court trials for assault this month. Kate鈥檚 first client was charged with assault. The alleged assault was caught on CCTV. The defence was accident, and the case involved the cross-examination of four witnesses. The jury acquitted the defendant unanimously in less than an hour. Kate was instructed by Kate Green of Renshaw Derrick and Co Solicitors....
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网爆门 Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) have been awarded a record number of individual rankings in the 2026 edition of Chambers and Partners, reaching a total of 104 (96 last year) achieved by 86 of its barristers. The national set has doubled its number of individual rankings in 5 years (52 in 2021) and is rewarded with accolades in 22 areas of law across the London Bar as well as in the North Eastern, South Eastern,...
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网爆门 Barristers is delighted to confirm another strong set of results for its Crime and Regulatory Crime team in Chambers and Partners鈥� 2026 edition published today. While the team retains its Band 1 ranking for Crime in the Western Circuit, with 9 of its practitioners ranked in this area of law; and maintains its 3 individual rankings for Health and Safety in the same Circuit, it welcomes a new ranking for Financial Crime in the...
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网爆门 Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), one of the UK's largest chambers, is delighted to announce a record number of rankings - totalling 193 - in the Legal 500 2026鈥檚 edition which is published today, compared with 167 last year. A total of 123 网爆门 barristers are now ranked in the Legal 500, up from 108 last year. The set is ranked in 26 areas of law across 4 large UK Circuits (London, South Eastern, Western...
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网爆门 is delighted to confirm that its Crime and Regulatory Crime team remains top tier ranked in the latest Legal 500 edition for Crime (General and Fraud) in the Western Circuit with a total of 13 rankings. The crime group retains its tier 2 ranking for Business and Regulatory Crime (incl. Health and Safety) in Western. Crime clients regard 网爆门 as 鈥榓 massive set with a solid stable of highly competent, persuasive and talented advocates...
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网爆门 crime and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill, who is a specialist in financial crime, successfully prosecuted a defendant for possession of 拢800,000 in cryptocurrency and 拢20,000 in cash. The D was charged with money laundering offences relating to Bitcoin and other crypto-assets as well as cash stemming from the sale of cannabis edibles on the Dark Web. Jonathan was instructed by the Complex Case Unit of Wessex CPS to advise on the case from the...
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网爆门 criminal barrister Kate Davies represented a man charged with a serious sexual offence. After a six-day trial, the defendant was acquitted by the jury at Bournemouth Crown Court. Kate works across the Western Circuit and is based in 网爆门鈥檚 Winchester office and takes instructions across the full range of criminal cases and court martials. Kate is also a Level 1 Prosecutor on the CPS Advocate Panel General Crime List. Kate was instructed by Patricia...
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网爆门 criminal and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert (pictured here) appeared for Mr Grant St James, the owner of the popular Golden Retriever Experience, throughout the proceedings before the West Somerset Magistrates鈥� Court. He was instructed by Paul Loughlin, a partner with law firm Stephensons. Mr Grant St James pleaded guilty to a single offence of failing to ensure the welfare of animals under his care, in this instance near 40 golden retrievers. Despite the court...
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网爆门 Barristers' (3 Paper Buildings) criminal barrister Nate Lara (pictured here) has successfully secured an acquittal for his client in relation to a bomb hoax in a case heard at Swindon Crown Court. JM was charged with causing a bomb hoax at the Badbury Park Primary School in Swindon. Notably, JM accepted making the call to the school but denied making a bomb threat. In cross-examination, Nate questioned the receiver of the call, an administrator...
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网爆门 Barristers' (3 Paper Buildings) crime barrister Nate Lara has successfully secured an acquittal for his client in relation to a serious sexual offence. SB was charged with a public sexual assault in a pub, where two eyewitnesses and a complaint witness gave evidence before a jury. Nate was able to undermine each of the witnesses and ensure that a solid defence of denial was put before the jury. Following a three-day trial at Winchester...
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Recommendations
Chambers UK 2022
Client service:
网爆门 Barristers houses a strong bench of dedicated criminal barristers, noted for their expert handling of a wide range of high-profile and complex cases. The team regularly undertakes 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 of acting for both the prosecution and the defence.
"The clerks are very accommodating." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2022
CRIME (GENERAL AND FRAUD)
网爆门 'has huge strength in depth in criminal work on the Western Circuit and can be relied upon to provide first class counsel for any case'.
BUSINESS AND REGULATORY CRIME (INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY)
网爆门 is 'a strong set for regulatory work' with 'real strength in depth'
鈥楢 Rolls Royce criminal set on the Western Circuit鈥�.
鈥樛� has great strength in depth and is very accommodating in finding the right counsel for the job鈥�.
鈥楢 well-respected set鈥�.
鈥楾he chambers has a good range of high calibre barristers鈥�.
Legal 500 2021 - Tier 1
BUSINESS AND REGULATORY CRIME (INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY) TIER 1
"Members of 网爆门 are highly active in health and safety cases across the western circuit, with instructions for both the defence and prosecution in a range of cases up to and including multi-fatality matters."
CRIME (GENERAL AND FRAUD) TIER 1
网爆门 'is one of the forefront chambers in Western Circuit and a has a well-deserved reputation for quality representation for both prosecution and defence'.
Chambers UK 2021 - Band 1
网爆门 Barristers houses a strong bench of dedicated criminal barristers, noted for their expert handling of a wide range of high-profile and complex cases. The team regularly undertakes 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 of acting for both the prosecution and the defence. Significant cases recently handled by the set's tenants include R v Robert Higgins, the high-profile prosecution of an ex-Southampton FC youth coach for a variety of historic sexual offences.
Client service: "The set is very well run and the clerks are all very experienced and approachable. They react quickly to changing events and provide reliable support." "网爆门 is a very welcoming chambers and all of the staff are polite, professional and committed." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2020
网爆门 is praised by clients as a 'go-to set' for both prosecution and defence instructions work across the western circuit, with 'excellent strength in depth'. The set is instructed on all manner of cases, including serious violent, sexual, or drug-related crime, as well as more specialist areas including fraud and court-martials. Timothy Bradbury prosecuted a British Army officer, who was alleged to have raped a United States Air Force captain. Adam Feest QC prosecuted a former Southampton FC youth coach for multiple historical sexual offences against 24 complainants.
Legal 500 2020
"according to some observers in the criminal law space [the set has] 鈥榯he monopoly on the Western Circuit, due to its strength and depth鈥�".
The combined clerks鈥� room across the set鈥檚 six offices is a 鈥榳ell-oiled machine鈥�.
Lee Giles 'a master of his art'.
Chambers UK 2020 - Band 1
Well respected for its "excellent breadth and depth of advocates," as well as its handling of high-profile cases involving sexual abuse, drugs charges and violent crime. Barristers at the set remain a popular choice for the CPS and also offer extensive experience of acting for the defence. Recent significant cases include the Huntingdon Terror Plot, involving two defendants extradited from the Netherlands who were sentenced for their involvement in a blackmail that developed from a campaign involving animal rights extremism.
Client service: "The clerking is excellent and they are always ready to go the extra mile." "The clerks are efficient and easy to deal with." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2018/19
"网爆门 has great breadth and depth in its criminal team, with members acting in large-scale drug trafficking matters, high profile historic sexual offences, murder cases and violent crime. In a particular highlight, multiple members of the group acted in the high profile R v Kevin Downton case regarding the murder of businessman Guy Hedger."
Chambers UK 2017
网爆门 Barristers are in Band One and enjoy a sterling reputation on the Western Circuit for high levels of quality and consistency across its broad criminal practice. It has an enviable track record of handling high-profile and demanding criminal cases, including murder, fraud, drug and sex offences. Instructing solicitors single out the set's efficiency and excellent client service as strengths, observing that the practitioners are "extremely reliable with great diversity, and are able to get to grips with cases at a frightening speed."
Chambers UK 2017
网爆门鈥檚 criminal law practitioners provide 鈥榯op-class advice and advocacy鈥�.
Chambers UK 2016
"Getting almost impossible results time after time."
Legal 500 2016
"A great set of criminal law chambers."
excellent serviceChambers and Partners