Practice Summary

Doughty Street is the leading chambers for criminal appeals. We recognise that a wrongful conviction or sentence at any level can have a devastating impact on an appellant and his family. Members represent appellants across the full range of offences, from the relatively minor to homicides and terrorism; and at all levels, from challenging magistrates courts’ decisions, drafting submissions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, to appearing before the highest appellate courts.

The cases frequently involve complex legal or evidential issues. We have built up a particular expertise in cases involving fresh evidence (including non-disclosure such as Barkshire [2011]: involvement of undercover police officer; Edwards [2012]: police informant); often from experts (such as T (Footwear evidence) [2011] 1 Cr App R 9: fundamental review of use and presentation of statistics and forensic evidence), and involving mentally disordered offenders and psychiatric issues (such as Evans [2009]: provocation based on “recovered memories”; Reeves [2010]: reliability of confessions and impact of ADHD;  Erskine [2009] 2 Cr App R 29: “the Stockwell Strangler”; raising fresh psychiatric evidence on appeal in relation to diminished responsibility; Madden [2010]: use of psychiatric evidence in setting minimum term for murder). Several members have additional expertise in judicial review and case stated appeals, and can advise on the appropriate method of challenging decisions falling within these areas.

We have extensive knowledge of appellate procedures and can advise solicitors at all stages of the appeal process. Members regularly lecture on appellate topics and the second edition of Taylor on Criminal Appeals (OUP 2012), the leading specialist practitioner textbook in this area, has been written by a group including 14 members of the criminal team.

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