At New Park Court Chambers, we do things a little differently. With 70 junior barristers and 16 King’s Counsel, our reach and influence stretches far beyond the bounds of our Circuit.
As a Tier 1 Set based in Leeds and Newcastle we are home to a number of high profile and nationally and internationally reputable Counsel.
Jaime Hamilton was appointed a KC in 2019 and was Leader of the Northern Circuit from 2023 to 2025.
Throughout his career he has undertaken both prosecution and defence instructions. Jaime has acquired a reputation as a calm, concise and eloquent advocate.
Since taking Silk, Jaime has appeared in cases involving serious and organised crime on both sides of the courtroom. Many of those cases have been of national significance and have featured widely in the news and in documentaries. In addition, he has both prosecuted and defended in a wide range of homicide cases.
His vast experience in these cases has led Jaime to gaining a very strong reputation for the analysis and presentation of CCTV and other digital material.
Jaime still undertakes a variety of fraud work, particularly cases which involve complex confiscation proceedings. As a junior, Jaime frequently appeared cases involving serious sex offences and has maintained a string of such instructions on a private basis in Silk. He has also provided training to forensic medical examiners through the Sexual Assault Referral Clinic at St Mary’s in Manchester.
Appearing both as a junior advocate and an expert witness in the General Medical Council, Jaime has a wealth of experience in professional discipline. In Silk he has represented a number of police officers charged with criminal offences and has represented them before disciplinary proceedings.
Jaime has been actively involved in life on the Northern Circuit, having previously been both Leader, Junior and Secretary. He was the Leader of the Northern Circuit from 2023 to 2025, which saw him advancing the cause of both sides of the profession in relation to publicly funded work. He has also been consulted by the Government in relation to various aspects of legal reform, visiting Parliament on a number of occasions.
He is currently an elected member of the Bar Council and is a member of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy International Committee. He has delivered training to Bulgarian and Moldovan lawyers. He is very active in the provision of advocacy training. Together with Nigel Booth, he has co-authored a book on advocacy, due for publication in the autumn of 2026.
Given his reputation for public speaking he has addressed meetings of both solicitors and barristers about funding and has provided lectures and seminars across a variety of topics. He has also delivered many after dinner speeches to members of the Circuit, regional law societies and other organisations.
During his career Jaime has undertaken a wide range of criminal work on behalf of both prosecution and defence at first instance and onto appellate level.
In Silk he has defended in cases arising from gang related disputes which have resulted in homicides. He has prosecuted a series of cases that were all linked to a major gang war in Salford. He also prosecuted one of the main cases arising from the Encrochat investigations.
Prior to taking Silk, he appeared on behalf of the defendant in many cases involving the importation and distribution of drugs, including a conspiracy to import £19 million worth of ecstasy.
Over time he developed a practice whereby he was frequently instructed in cases of serious sexual offending, where he excelled in the focussed and sympathetic cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses. This particular area of practice has led to him provide training and lectures to the world renowned forensic expert courses provided by St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Clinic. He was led in a case which involved serious sexual offences in respect of seven different victims spanning a thirty year period.
Since taking Silk, he has appeared on behalf of the defendant in a “grooming gang” trial in Manchester. He has also represented and advised a number of defendants charged with sex offences where they have been funding their case privately. Due to his extensive experience in cases involving sexual offending he was instructed to prosecute a woman who had made a series of false allegations of rape.
Represented the lead defendant in a “grooming gang” case. The two victims were particularly vulnerable. Instructed as the only KC in the case with the responsibility of dealing with cross-examination on matters of credibility on behalf of all defendants in the case.
Represented one of four defendants charged with murder arising out of a widescale public order incident. Case involved the correctness of identification by a police witness from CCTV.
Defending one of eight defendants charged with a joint enterprise murder that occurred when a planned robbery of a known gangster went wrong. The case involved complex legal issues relating to the law on joint enterprise.
Prosecuted a number of defendants for conspiracy to murder. The case was directly related to the murder of Paul Massey and involved a defendant who was already serving a whole life order. One of the first multi-handed cases to be prosecuted in Manchester during the COVID pandemic.
Defended a man charged with gross negligence manslaughter. Trial involved the detailed cross-examination of expert witnesses.
Prosecuted a trial involving conspiracy to commit section 18 and firearms offences. One of the very first trials in the UK to deploy evidence obtained from Encrochat devices. The case was closely linked to a widespread gang related dispute.
Represented a serving police sergeant charged with offences of perverting the course of justice in connection with the arrest and prosecution of a member of the public. There was a successful submission of no case on behalf of the defendant.
Instructed to prosecute a young woman charged with perverting the course of justice by the fabrication of allegations of rape in the context of grooming. Had conduct of the case for over two years, including an aborted trial. The case gained national prominence and was the subject of a number of documentaries.
https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19921888.ellie-williams-trial-everything-happened-day-1/
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/accused-the-fake-grooming-scandal
Defended one of a number of young defendants charged with conspiracy to murder. The case concerned a revenge attack for a previous murder. The prosecution deployed “drill rap” music as part of their gang narrative. The case was reported on internationally.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/world/europe/uk-ademola-adedeji-murder-conspiracy-gangs.html
A case involving a brutal axe murder. The main issue in the case was one of diminished responsibility.
Prosecuting a widescale fraud involving financial and legal professionals. Case ultimately involved detailed legal arguments on costs.
Prosecuting ten young defendants for the murder of another teen where there was no direct evidence of the involvement of any of the defendants.
Defending a serving officer charged with perverting the course of justice and assaulting a vulnerable girl in a care home.
The prosecution of 14 defendants charged with offences relating to conspiracy to murder, importation of drugs and firearms offences. All arising from the Encrochat material. The main defendant was sentenced to 43 years imprisonment. The case featured prominently in a documentary about the NCA operation.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/operation-dark-phone-murder-by-text
The prosecution of 3 teenage defendants charged with the murder of a 14 year old boy in Manchester.
Defending a woman charged with murder where the two co-accused were her son and her daughter. The murder was recorded by the defendants on a mobile telephone.
Advising in conference and in writing a major entity in the legal sector on their money laundering policies.
Advising a Local Authority in respect of a discrete issue on disclosure that had arisen in child care proceedings.
Advising a limited company with regard to issues of potential criminality arising out of an employment dispute.
Awards
“Jaime Hamilton KC is approachable but has that gravitas as leader of the circuit. ”
Chambers UK Bar (2026)
“Jaime Hamilton KC undertakes a broad range of criminal work on behalf of both the prosecution and defence. His experience encompasses cases concerning murder, sexual offences, distribution of drugs and fraud. ”
Chambers UK Bar (2025)
“Jaime is excellent: our KC of choice." "Jaime is an excellent advocate. He is clear, succinct and a strong presenter of a case to a jury." "Jaime is very impressive. Juries love him. ”
Chambers UK Bar (2024)
Jaime Hamilton KC has practised predominantly in Crime for the last 32…
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