Crime

 

             

 

“St John’s Buildings is a wholly professional and reliable set, and has a solid foundation of excellent tenants equipped to deal with the most complex of criminal cases.”

 

“A wonderful set that will always make counsel available even at short notice. One of the greatest strength is that they rarely let you down replacing counsel.” Legal 500 2023

 

“An impressive set for serious criminal matters housing a dedicated bench of barristers operating out of Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Chester. Members are highly regarded for their handling of cases relating to murder and manslaughter, drug trafficking, serious violence and sexual offences. The set is also regularly instructed in matters involving organised crime and high-value frauds, and its barristers act for both the prosecution and the defence.” Chambers UK Bar 2023

 

Our Criminal Law team comprises more than 100 junior counsel and six King’s Counsel, operating nationally out of Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Chester. We provide specialist advisory and advocacy services in every aspect of criminal law, including:

Members of Chambers regularly appear in some of the most serious and complex cases in the Crown Court,  whether prosecuting on behalf of the CPS,  HM Revenue and Customs or other prosecuting authorities, as well as undertaking similarly high profile and complex defence work.  Examples include:

The range of expertise and wealth of experience we offer is, in our view, unrivalled in the North of England. Whether the case is being heard in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court or Court of Appeal, members of our criminal team will combine thorough preparation with the very highest standards of oral and written advocacy to provide both instructing solicitors and clients with an exceptional service.

 

“The clerks at St John’s Buildings are excellent. They communicate effectively. They are also accommodating and will go the extra mile.” Chambers UK Bar 2023

 

We have an extremely high standard of conferencing facilities within Chambers, including telephone and video-conferencing facilities and, but we are happy to travel to the offices of those instructing us for conferences.  Our modern facilities and our business standards are tailored to delivering a high quality, friendly, and flexible service to meet the demands of all our clients.

Directory recommendations

St John’s Buildings has ‘experienced barristers‘ in its crime practice group. Members of the set have expertise handling cases involving murder and manslaughter, serious violent and sexual offences, child abduction and sexual exploitation, and drug trafficking.” Legal 500 2022

“Sports a strong criminal team of barristers who are regularly instructed across the full spectrum of cases. Practitioners regularly handle complex and serious criminal matters such as homicide offences, drug trafficking and organised crime. The team act as prosecution for a number of prosecuting authorities including the CPS and HMRC as well as undertaking criminal defence work.” Chambers & Partners 2019

“Past work for St John’s Buildings’ crime team includes attempted murder and manslaughter, organised crime and drug trafficking cases.” Legal 500 2019

“The criminal group at St John’s Buildings is well versed in cases of serious sexual offences, homicide, large-scale drugs conspiracies and fraud.” Legal 500 2017

“The range and depth of expertise that its barristers have to offer means they are frequently instructed in high-profile and serious cases on the Northern Circuit and across the UK.” Chambers and Partners 2016

“St John’s Buildings is one of the Northern Circuit’s pre-eminent sets. Its members regularly act on some of the most serious cases in the Crown Court for both the Crown and the defence. Its members are particularly noted for their expertise in high-profile murder cases.” Chambers & Partners 2015

Andrew O'Byrne QC - St John's Buildings

Andrew O'Byrne KC

Year of Silk: 2006
Richard Thyne - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Richard Thyne KC

Head of the Criminal GroupYear of Silk: 2022
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Jamie Hill KC

Associate MemberYear of Silk: 2006
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Brendan Kelly KC

Associate MemberYear of Silk: 2008

Julia Smart KC

Associate MemberYear of Silk: 2019
John Hedgecoe - Barrister at St John's Buildings

John Hedgecoe

Year of call: 1972
Geoff Lowe - Barrister at St John's Buildings Barristers Chambers

Geoffrey Lowe

Year of call: 1975
Anthony Longworth - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Antony Longworth

Year of call: 1978

Keith Harrison

Year of call: 1983
Jonathan Dickinson - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Jonathan Dickinson

Year of call: 1986
Julian Taylor - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Julian Taylor

Year of call: 1986
Jane Dagnall - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Jane Dagnall

Year of call: 1987
John Oates - Barrister at St John's Buildings

John Oates

Year of call: 1987

Bunty Batra

Year of call: 1988

David Watson

Year of call: 1990

Simon Reevell

Year of call: 1990
Tim Savage - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Tim Savage

Year of call: 1991
Andrew Green - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Andrew Green

Year of call: 1992
Timothy Ashmole - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Timothy Ashmole

Year of call: 1992

David Polglase

Year of call: 1993
Dermot Hughes - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Dermot Hughes

Year of call: 1993
Myles Wilson - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Myles Wilson

Year of call: 1993
Ben Jones - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Ben Jones

Year of call: 1993

Richard Orme

Year of call: 1993

Megan Rhys

Year of call: 1994

Mark Connor

Year of call: 1994
Craig Lowe - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Craig Lowe

Year of call: 1994
Gordon Stables - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Gordon Stables

Head of Criminal Team in SheffieldYear of call: 1995
Ian Goldsack - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Ian Goldsack

Year of call: 1997
Andrew Bailey - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Andrew Bailey

Year of call: 1997
Zillah Williams - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Zillah Williams

Year of call: 1997
Simeon Evans - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Simeon Evans

Year of call: 1997
Simon Parry - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Simon Parry

Year of call: 1997
Dafydd Roberts - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Dafydd Roberts

Year of call: 1998
Clare Thomas - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Clare Thomas

Year of call: 1998
David James - Barrister at St John's Buildings

David James

Year of call: 1998
Alexandra Simmons - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Alexandra Simmonds

Year of call: 1998
Philip Astbury - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Philip Astbury

Year of call: 1999
Alison Whalley - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Alison Whalley

Year of call: 2000

Oliver King

Year of call: 2001
Laura Marshall - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Laura Marshall

Year of call: 2001
Nichola Quinney - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Nicola Quinney

Year of call: 2001

David Pojur

Year of call: 2001
Louise Reevell - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Louise Reevell

Year of call: 2001
Robert Cline - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Robert Cline

Year of call: 2002
Paul Smith - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Paul Smith

Year of call: 2002
Rebecca Smith - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Rebecca Smith

Year of call: 2002
Louise McCloskey - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Louise McCloskey

Year of call: 2002
Cheryl Mottram - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Cheryl Mottram

Year of call: 2002
Abigail Hudson - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Abigail Hudson

Year of call: 2003
Ben Lawrence - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Ben Lawrence

Year of call: 2003

Catherine Rimmer

Year of call: 2004

Debra White

Year of call: 2005
Philip Clemo - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Philip Clemo

Year of call: 2007
Peter Gilmour - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Peter Gilmour

Year of call: 2007
Hannah Walker - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Hannah Walker

Year of call: 2008
Laura Nash - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Laura Nash

Year of call: 2009

David Baines

Year of call: 2009
Zahra Baqrui - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Zahra Baqri

Year of call: 2010
Jessica Southcote-Want - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Jessica Southcote-Want

Year of call: 2010

Rebecca Penfold

Year of call: 2012

Mark Brookes

Year of call: 2013
Gemma Maxwell - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Gemma Maxwell

Year of call: 2014

Suzanne Payne

Year of call: 2014
Hunter Gray - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Hunter Gray

Year of call: 2015
Tom Sherrington - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Thomas Sherrington

Year of call: 2015
Fatima Zafar - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Fatima Zafar

Year of call: 2015

Robert Edwards

Year of call: 2016
Kevin Jones - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Kevin Jones

Year of call: 2016
Matthew Burdon - Barrister at St John's Bul

Matthew Burdon

Year of call: 2016
Martyn Walsh - Barrister at St Johns Buildings

Martyn Walsh

Year of call: 2017
Richard Davies - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Richard Davies

Year of call: 2017

Maria Brannan

Year of call: 2017
Jemma Gordon - Barrister at St John's Buildings

Jemma Gordon

Year of call: 2015
Barrister RHIA ABUKHALIL

Rhia Abukhalil

Year of call: 2019

Ben Stanley

Year of call: 2019
Barrister Katherine White

Katherine White

Year of call: 2018
Barrister Stuart Bell

Stuart Bell

Year of call: 2015
Pupil Barrister Rosemary Proctor

Rosemary Proctor

Year of call: 2021
Pupil Barrister Alexandra Carrie

Alexandra Carrier

Year of call: 2020
Emmanuel Coniah - pupil barrister

Emmanuel Coniah

Year of call: 2019