Latest News and Events from our Barristers and Chambers

We are delighted to announce Yasmin Ford and Sophie Evans that and have both accepted an invitation to join chambers, following the successful completion of their pupillages.

Joseph Carr was recently instructed to represent a 40-year-old man charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, in a trial which lasted five weeks at Southampton Crown Court. The defendant was one of five accused of involvement in an enterprise operating principally over ‘Encrochat’ between 2019 and 2020,…

15NBS will be adopting the CBA Wellbeing Protocol with effect from 27th April 2024. This is to be formally announced at the CBA Spring Conference.  

Justin has concluded the successful defence of a man accused of conspiring to steal huge sums of money from cash machines. The case was prosecuted by two counsel, such was its complexity.   Justin’s client was acquitted by the jury despite not giving evidence and being first on the indictment.  …

Stephen Akinsanya successfully defends a defendant diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder after a 6 -day trial at Manchester Crown Court. The defendant was charged with three counts of wounding with intent after suffering a psychiatric episode in a Dr’s surgery, resulting in three members of staff being seriously injured. Psychatirc reports…

Anoushka Twining, instructed by Jonathan Salter of Duncan Lewis, secured two unanimous and 4 majority verdicts in a six count case covering an indictment period of over 18 months.   The defendant’s case was that the complainant was the person defrauding retailers and then their own banks by making false…

15NBS are proud to support International Women’s Day CBA Chair on International Womens Day 2024 Four years ago we were rightly celebrating 100 years at the Bar with greater than ever numbers of women holding senior positions across the Bar and Judiciary. However some of us worried at the time…

Ed’s client was charged with sexual assault of a child under 13 and assault by penetration of a child under 13. Ed was instructed late after the defendant had come in to conflict with his previous legal team, and after the section 28 cross-examination had already been conducted. When Ed…

The Tribunal considers applications by patients detained under the Mental Health Act. Every case is decided by a panel chaired by a Judge, together with a Medical Member and Specialist Member. Restricted patients are mentally disordered offenders who are detained in hospital for treatment and who are subject to special…

Ed's client was arrested five times in the space of around 18 months for supplying class A drugs. When the case was charged, Ed persuaded the prosecution to prefer two consolidated charges. The client gave a history of exploitation arising from his own drug use which fell just short of…

Helen’s client was charged with raping his former partner and then confessing in WhatsApp messages sent the following day. There was also medical evidence which the Prosecution relied upon in support of the allegation. The issue was one of consent. The jury unanimously acquitted Helen’s client. Helen Dawson was instructed by…

Beth’s client was charged with raping his wife twice in the same night. The defence argued that the complainant had fabricated the allegations due to arguments over the couple separating and rights to the house. It was alleged that she had repeatedly lied to the police and other professionals, withheld…

18 days after he had finished his licence period from a 9 year sentence for rape, predatory rapist Michael Chand struck again. He met his new victim at the bus stop outside Wood Green Crown Court. He got her number and a few days later invited her to his place…

Dominic Benthall’s client was a pre-eminent figure in the world of academia, accused of possessing a number of IIOC on two computer devices. Through detailed cross-examination of the prosecution’s forensic computing expert, Dominic was able to demonstrate that the Crown could not prove that his client was in possession of…

Beth and Clodaghmuire represented 2 brothers who had been charged with kidnap of a 15 year old boy.  The defendants’ father, a delivery driver, was lured to a property in order to make a delivery when he was stolen from and ended up on the ground being strangled by one…

The case turned upon a drug line used by the Defendant. The prosecution expert evidence was that the language in the widely broadcast messages could only relate to Cocaine. A defence expert was instructed and that expert gave evidence that while the messages could relate to cocaine it was also…

The trial of 7 defendants began in November 2023 and concluded on the 23rd of January 2024.  Mr Evans’ client, second on the indictment, was the only defendant to be acquitted.  The prosecution case consisted of months of police surveillance, call data, expert telephone and DNA evidence.  Drugs and cutting…

Cocaine, cannabis, cash, scales and a ‘dealer’s list’ was found by Police at GG’s home address. GG also had previous convictions for the supply of Class A drugs. After a full trial at Croydon Crown Court, Helen Dawson (instructed by Shelly Burroughs at GT Stewart) secured unanimous acquittals for her…

Tackling knife crime - written by Stephen Akinsanya in this months Counsel Magazine.   https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/tackling-knife-crime

Rupert’s client, a successful businessman, 80 years old, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving. On 5th January 2024 he was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court by the Recorder of Winchester, Her Honour Judge Morris. In view of the Defendant’s otherwise unblemished driving record and his…