Crime ยท criminal defence
Criminal defence barristers, instructed directly.
If you are under investigation or charged with an offence, a barrister can advise you and defend you in court.
At a glance
Investigation to trial
Advice from the police station stage through to trial.
Plea and evidence
An honest view of the case and your options.
Robust defence
Specialist advocacy in the Magistrates' and Crown Court.
A criminal allegation puts your liberty, your reputation and your livelihood at risk, and the right advice from the outset can change the outcome. A criminal defence barrister can advise you during a police investigation, on plea and on the strength of the evidence, and defend you at trial in the Magistrates' Court and the Crown Court.
A barrister will assess the prosecution case, the available defences and the realistic outcome, and represent you robustly. For some criminal cases a litigator is also needed to handle the paperwork, and your barrister will advise you if so. Through Direct Access you can instruct a barrister directly for advice and many hearings, without going through a solicitor first.
Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
Through Direct Access you can instruct a criminal defence barrister directly, without going through a solicitor first. Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
When to bring in a barrister
You are under police investigation or have been interviewed
You have been charged and need to decide on plea
Your case is heading to trial and you need an advocate
Abbas Lakha KC
Abbas successfully appealed against HMRC's decision to cancel Brac Saajan Exchange Limited's registration under The Money Laundering, Terrorist...
Adal Ibrar
Before transferring to a career in law, Adal qualified and spent several years working successfully in the financial services sector. He graduated...
Andrew Locke
Andrew Locke is a barrister at Nexus Chambers with a mixed practice across landlord and tenant, commercial, regulatory and licensing, and criminal...
Angela Sharma
Angela Sharma is a barrister specialising in all areas of immigration law, from settlement, asylum and human rights to appeals and judicial review....
Aris Nicolson
Aris is a barrister practising in tax, asset-protection trusts, company law, Children Act matters, road traffic offences and serious crime. Called in...
Chengetai Mupara
Chengetai's passion for advocacy and human rights started from a very young age. He started off as a pro-democracy campaigner, student activist and a...
Colette Chesters
Family law is a wide area and it is my belief that by specialising in the specific areas of private child law and domestic abuse I can offer the best...
Dr John Brown
Civil Litigation is often described as " the most complicated indoor sport devised by mankind ". Going to Court is not to be undertaken without fully...
Dwain Coward
Dwain is a passionate and dedicated advocate always willing to apply his experience of advocacy and knowledge of the law to get the best possible...
Eugene MacLaughlin
Eugene MacLaughlin is a barrister practising across family law, housing, immigration, civil litigation and motoring defence, representing both...
Eve George
Eve George is a criminal defence and family law barrister. She defends serious Crown Court cases, including homicide, serious sexual offences, drugs...
Forz Khan
Forz Khan is an immigration barrister with over 30 years' experience across the full range of visa, appeal, deportation and asylum matters. Called in...
Gary Pons
Gary Pons is a barrister specialising in licensing and criminal law, ranked by Chambers and Partners as a leader in crime at the London Bar. He...
Gary Summers
Gary Summers is a barrister with over 30 years' experience specialising in private prosecutions, commercial disputes, fraud, insolvency and...
Gemma Lindfield
Gemma is an experienced family law barrister and is regularly instructed in all aspects of family law. Gemma is instructed in public and private law...
James Miller
James specialises in family law, civil litigation and costs. He accepts instructions in relation to Children Act matters (child arrangements) as well...
Janaka Siriwardena
Janaka is instructed for both Claimants and Defendants and has dealt with fast and multi-track trials for breach of contract, family property and...
Jeanette Ashmole
"From the outset this was an extremely aggressive prosecution by the CPS due to me once being employed by the CPS myself. My job, legal qualifications...
John King
John King stands as a distinguished barrister in England and Wales, renowned for his thirty-plus years of unwavering dedication to the legal field....
John Lucas
I offer expertise in a wide range of legal fields and in particular criminal defence work including, complex fraud, murder and attempted murder, rapes...
Martin McCarthy
Areas of Expertise Fraud including Business Crime. General Crime, especially Homicide & People Trafficking. Cyber Crime / Cyber Fraud Overview...
Nigel Edwards KC
Represented the first Defendant on a multi-handed multi million pound advertising/ charity fraud. The case ran to 10,000 pages plus and required close...
Roderick Hine
Rod is an experienced advocate with over 30 years call. Has sat as a Deputy District Judge for the last 12 years. Rod's practice mainly involves the...
Satpal Roth-Sharma
Satpal is a highly experienced advocate at the Criminal Bar. She possesses extensive litigation and advisory experience, spanning over 25 years in the...
Sharmeen Quadri
I am an employment law barrister advising employers and private individuals on workplace disputes, risk management and Employment Tribunal...
Stephen Harvey KC
Stephen has prosecuted and defended in equal measure in all aspects of the criminal law, and particularly over recent years, in allegations of serious...
Steven Hayden
I am a criminal defence barrister working from the Chambers of Michael Mansfield KC and fully qualified in 2010. I have represented hundreds of people...
Frequently asked questions
Can I instruct a criminal defence barrister directly?
For advice and many hearings, yes, through Direct Access. Some cases also require a litigator, and the barrister will tell you if one is needed.
Should I get advice before a police interview?
Yes. Early advice can be critical, including at the investigation stage, and may affect whether charges follow.
What does it cost?
Barristers often agree a fixed fee for a defined stage such as advice or a hearing. There is no charge to enquire.
Related areas of law
Speak to a criminal defence barrister
Tell us about your matter. There is no charge to enquire.