About Us

Doughty Street Chambers is a buoyant and cutting-edge set, renowned for and committed to defending freedom and civil liberties, and has a truly national and international profile across its wide range of practice in criminal law, civil law, administrative and public law, international law and human rights.

Since our foundation in 1990, our aim has been and will always be to improve access to justice and to promote human rights and civil liberties through the law.  Founded by fewer than 30 barristers, we have grown to become one of the largest sets in the country with over 120 members, of whom 29 are Queen’s Counsel, and we have established chambers in Manchester and Bristol as well as London.

The characteristics that define Chambers and enable us to achieve our aim can be described as:

• Expert - our barristers are acknowledged as leaders in their field.
• Intelligent - intellectual excellence is one of our principal recruitment yardsticks in order that we may provide the most in-depth, reliable and considered advice to our clients.
• Collegial - the team is more effective than the individual; by operating in teams of barristers who are expert in their area of legal practice, we can bring to bear substantial combined intellect and experience.
• Accountable - we recognise our clients’ investment in us, and both individually and as a set of Chambers we deliver on our commitment to the client.
• Committed - to our aim and to providing a first-class service.  Barristers come to Doughty Street because they want to make a difference.

Doughty Street Chambers is unique.

Areas of Practice

We provide specialist practitioners at all levels of seniority in civil and criminal work, offering advice and representation before all the courts of England and Wales and the rest of the UK, as well as in Europe and other jurisdictions worldwide. Members are often involved in high-profile, precedent-setting cases. Many of our barristers are qualified to accept work directly from lay clients through the Public Access scheme and we can also provide mediators and facilities for dispute resolution. Principal areas of practice include administrative and public law, civil liberties and all aspects of criminal law including the following:

Criminal

Civil

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Seminars