Criminal Law

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The Crime Team is the largest team of specialist advocates at Doughty Street, with 40 practitioners at all levels of seniority, including 12 Queen's Counsel. No fewer than 19 of these presently hold individual Chambers & Partners rankings in one or more crime categories. Doughty Street has a reputation as one of the leading criminal sets in the country, providing specialist advice and advocacy of the highest quality in every aspect of criminal law. For twenty years we have represented defendants in the most difficult, demanding and high profile cases, appearing at every level of the domestic courts throughout the country and in all of the International tribunals.

The breadth and diversity of the team, and the quality and commitment of individual members, is second to none. We combine substantial forensic expertise with specialist knowledge of human rights in the context of every category of national and international crime. These include terrorism, homicide, fraud, financial and regulatory crime, courts martial, serious drugs trafficking, money laundering, sexual offences, political crime, extradition and international criminal and humanitarian law.

In addition to undertaking this range of trial work, we also have a particularly high reputation in appellate work both here and abroad, and also in the international tribunals. Members appear regularly in high profile, complex and important criminal appeals, including capital appeals, in the Privy Council, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. We are frequently instructed in criminal related civil cases and public enquiries as a result of the breath of skills and experience within the team. Many of our practitioners have written, broadcast and lectured on criminal law and human rights in the UK and overseas. Several are the authors or editors of seminal text books on the criminal law, evidence and procedure, or regular contributors to the professional journals.

Doughty Street Crime has continued in 2009-10 to go from strength to strength. It continues to recruit energetically, including several appointments at our offices in Manchester. New practitioners in the last six months include Piers Marquis, Farrhat Arshad and Erim Mushtaq.

The breadth of experience, talent and commitment within the team is exceptional and bears comparison with any other crime set in the country. But what makes Doughty Street stand out, and places the set in the first rank, is the range of work covered within the crime rubric. There are other criminal chambers with strong and talented general crime teams. But few if any offer the range and consistent quality of legal expertise in key specialist areas that run from terrorism and extradition to international and humanitarian law. And all of this is set against the human rights approach that characterises the whole of the Doughty Street "brand". Tenants are supported in their research by first rate informational technology and knowledge resources, and by a panel of academic experts who are associate tenants at Doughty Street. We have a dedicated clerking team to offer a prompt, proactive and responsive service to solicitors.

Team Members

Cases

To view an up to date list of cases, please click on the relevant area:

• Appellate
• Extradition
• Homicide
• International Crime
• Regulatory and Financial Crime
• Terrorism and Political Crime
• Other Serious Crime

What the Directories say

Chambers & Partners, 2010

Specialising in murder, terrorism and human rights cases, this "very user-friendly" set holds its own amongst London's specialist crime outfits, and is often seen in cases with an international angle. In recent years, it has had a significant role in Islamic terrorism cases, as well as animal rights work of a very serious kind. The set's dedication to police law also sets it apart from the pack. Christopher Sallon QC's "quick mind and excellent communication skills" make him a favoured choice. This past year has seen him concentrating on advisory work and appeals. Joint head of the chambers and leader of the set's extradition team, Edward Fitzgerald QC is "top-class and a guarantee of excellence." He has recently been acting in the McKinnon case and in Rwanda v Ugirashebuja and Others, concerning an individual who is wanted in Rwanda for genocide. Solicitors note that he has "a huge knowledge base and great attention to detail." He is also known for applying the "utmost dedication" to his cases. "Gifted advocate" Michael Grieve QC is a criminal defence specialist, who has particular expertise in cases involving fraud and corruption. He is popular as he "can master voluminous information quickly, is tight in cross-examination and instils confidence in judge, jury and client alike." He recently represented the main defendant in a gang-related execution. Rebecca Trowler upholds Doughty Street Chambers' reputation for producing barristers with great minds: "She is meticulous in preparation, and has a cool tactical approach." She is also "very good with clients, extremely bright and respected by judges." The recently recruited Ben Cooper further strengthens this set. He has established himself as a leading junior in extradition matters.Finally, in an interesting move Farrhat Arshad has moved from Garden Court North to Doughty Street Chambers, a set that has recently set up new premises in Manchester. "Incisive and personable," she is "great at dealing with defendants in a sensitive but assertive way."

Chambers & Partners, 2009

Doughty Street houses a number of practitioners who are regularly instructed to defend in criminal cases, the majority of which are serious in nature. The set has a fine name in the human rights field; unsurprisingly, many of its cases touch on HRA issues. A number also have an international angle. Edward Fitzgerald QC is described as "a gentleman who approaches everything he does with good grace." "Very creative and imaginative in his arguments," there is "nothing stale about him." Solicitors praise his advocacy skills, commenting that "he has a style all of his own; anyone who comes to listen to him will be spellbound by his dazzling delivery." He recently appeared in such significant cases as USA v Tollman and USA v Raissi. Christopher Sallon QC is another standout silk at Doughty Street. Specialising in heavy crime, with an emphasis on fraud, regulatory work and cases involving medicine and forensic science, he recently represented the Forensic Science Service in the independent Home Office review into forensic work carried out during the Damilola Taylor investigation.

Legal 500, 2008

Doughty Street Chambers is a well-known criminal defence set. Keir Starmer QC's skills as an ' impressive advocate, with a comfortable style with juries and judges alike' will be used for the benefit of the CPS as the incoming DPP, replacing Sir Ken Macdonald QC, in a significant departure for chambers. ' Charismatic advocate' Christopher Sallon QC represented the jockey Shaun Lynch in the Kieren Fallon 'race-fixing' trial. Richard Fisher is rated, and Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC is another outstanding silk.