New Park Court has one of the most established and widely experienced criminal teams on the North-Eastern Circuit and routinely receives instructions in major criminal cases attracting nationwide media attention.
Our Crime Team comprises of highly skilled and experienced advocates who focus on complex casework within the spectrum of criminal proceedings and can offer advice at the investigatory stage through to Crown Court or Appeal Court proceedings.
Such casework can include:
- Homicide & Manslaughter – the prosecution and defence of complex medico-legal cases and/or cases with a complicated scientific element and multiple expert evidence.
- Non-Accidental Head Injury in Children – instructed for both the prosecution and defence of such cases where the ‘triad’ of signs and their interpretation have arisen.
- Organised Crime – instructed for the prosecution and defence of ‘operational’ cases involving significant sums of fraud and money laundering, drugs conspiracies and gangland murders.
- Road Traffic Offences – defendant representation in cases where the accused has been charged with death by dangerous or death by careless driving.
- Serious Sexual Offences.
- Terrorism – instructed by the prosecution and defence at both advisory and trial stage for defendants charged with terrorism offences.
Our expertise in business crime includes the following allegations which companies or individuals may face:
- Advisory – retained by individuals and major FTSE 100 index and FTSE 200 companies in an advisory capacity.
- Bribery & Corruption – instructed in cases where companies and individuals have been charged under the Bribery Act 2010.
- Confiscation – instructed in complex and high value confiscation proceedings.
- Corporate & Gross Negligence Manslaughter – act for companies, care homes and nurseries charged with Corporate/Gross Negligence Manslaughter.
- Cross-border / International – act in major investigations across EU countries and the United States.
- Environmental – instructed in cases following investigations into the illegal handling, storage and export of hazardous waste.
- Health & Safety – instructed for the prosecution and defence of companies on health and safety charges arising out of fatalities and serious injuries in the workplace and other breaches of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Licensing – act on behalf of those applying for licences and also for Police Forces. Firearms appeals also undertaken.
- Money Laundering – instructed in complex money laundering issues, involving significant sums.
- Serious Fraud – act for the prosecution and defence of individual and corporate defendants under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
- Trading Standards – instructed for the prosecution and defence of companies charged with trading standards offences such as trade description, counterfeiting and piracy.
All members of our team accept instructions in both publicly and privately funded work.
Robert Smith KC
Call: 1971 Silk: 1986
I was Called to the Bar in 1971 and commenced practice on the North Eastern Circuit at 5 King’s Bench Walk. These chambers had produced many ‘high...
Alistair MacDonald KC
Call: 1983 Silk: 2000
Alistair Macdonald KC prosecutes and defends in the most serious crime cases, including murder and serious drugs offences. His particular strength...
Simon Jackson KC
Call: 1982 Silk: 2003
Simon Jackson KC is regularly instructed in serious criminal (principally homicide), regulatory (including corporate manslaughter), professional...
Robert Woodcock KC
Call: 1978 Silk: 2009
Robert Woodcock KC, known by many as Bertie, was called to the Bar in 1978 and took Silk in 2009. He is a "through and through" criminal law advocate...
Paul Greaney KC
Call: 1993 Silk: 2010
Paul Greaney KC specialises in serious crime, public inquiries and inquests, regulatory crime and professional discipline. For many years he has...
Nicholas Lumley KC
Call: 1992 Silk: 2012
Nicholas Lumley KC is a specialist criminal and regulatory law advocate. His expertise covers cases involving homicide, serious fraud, drug...
Jason Pitter KC
Call: 1994 Silk: 2014
Jason Pitter KC was called to the Bar in 1994 and commenced pupillage in Chambers in 1995 and became a member in 1996 practicing initially in general...
Simon Kealey KC
Call: 1991 Silk: 2017
Simon Kealey KC is an extremely popular and personable advocate who enjoys a busy practice concentrating on criminal and regulatory law. Simon’s...
Nicholas de la Poer KC
Call: 2003 Silk: 2020
Between 2015 and 2020, as a junior, Nick was instructed in a significant number of cases involving crimes of homicide or in which fatalities had...
Sharon Beattie KC
Call: 1986 Silk: 2021
Since being appointed to Silk, Sharon has continued to act in complex cases involving scientific, pathological and medical evidence. As well as cases...
Neil Jones
Call: 1978
Neil Jones initially had a private practice in Newcastle, then 32 years as military lawyer. US Army JAG School 1989. RCDS 2008. MA Kings College...
Peter Schofield
Call: 1982
Peter Schofield specialises in criminal work and has a flourishing practice in defence work in and around Newcastle. He has been instructed to defend...
Ian Brook
Call: 1983
As an Ag. Puisne Judge in Trinidad, Ian Brook tried 11 capital murder cases. Of 34 years call, he now defends and prosecutes general crime,...
Stephen Uttley
Call: 1984
Stephen Uttley was called to the bar in 1984. He defends exclusively in serious crime. He will fight unfalteringly on behalf of his clients and has an...
Nick Cartmell
Call: 1990
Nick Cartmell is a senior criminal practitioner specialising in defending serious crime. Nick is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and has...
Elyas Patel
Call: 1991
Elyas was called to the bar in 1991 and after a broad common law practice, (including personal injury, family, Immigration and employment) Elyas now...
Andrew Espley
Call: 1993
Andrew Espley defends and prosecutes serious criminal cases. Andrew has appeared on both sides in five attempted murders over two years. He has...
Tom Storey
Call: 1993
One of the most highly-regarded juniors on the North Eastern Circuit, Tom has been regularly recommended as a leading individual for criminal law in...
Stuart Graham
Call: 1995
Geraldine Kelly
Call: 1996
Geraldine Kelly is an experienced and extremely able criminal practitioner, who manages a well-balanced practice, consisting of both defence and...
Vincent Ward
Call: 1998
Vincent Ward was called to the bar in 1998 and has a Masters degree in mental health law. In his well-established criminal practice he accepts...
Christopher Rose
Call: 1999
Christopher Rose practises in high level, serious and complex crime. He is a hugely experienced trial advocate, appearing in criminal courts across...
David Povall
Call: 2000
David Povall is a specialist criminal practitioner, having spent his entire career to date appearing both for the Crown and the defence across the...
Lee Fish
Call: 2003
Lee Fish is recommended in the leading directories as “an exceptional barrister” who is “very bright and very able.” Lee’s practice covers...
Chloe Hudson
Call: 2003
Chloe Hudson's practice encompasses criminal and regulatory work. Her particular areas of specialism are cases with a medical aspect and sexual...
Jessica Strange
Call: 2003
Jessica Strange is a specialist criminal practitioner who has a well balanced practice defending and prosecuting in all types of criminal cases. She...
Chloe Fairley
Call: 2004
Chloe Fairley is an outstanding and persuasive advocate, with an exceptional ability to put both professional and lay clients at ease. Chloe has...
Matthew Donkin
Call: 2004
Matthew Donkin is trusted to conduct cases of gravity and complexity, and is recognised for his ability to manage demanding evidence and legal issues....
David Outterside
Call: 2004
David Outterside has an excellent reputation, particularly in front of the jury. He has been involved in some of the most serious, high profile, and...
Jeremy Barton
Call: 2004
Jeremy joined chambers in 2015 having previously spent 11 years in London at 2 King’s Bench Walk and was called to the bar in 2004. He specialises...
Susannah Proctor
Call: 2005
Susannah is an outstanding and passionate advocate; she is regularly instructed in a range of serious and complex cases including sexual offending,...
Adam Birkby
Call: 2006
Adam Birkby is a highly respected specialist in criminal, regulatory and disciplinary law. Whether being led by the pre-eminent silks on circuit,...
Eleanor Fry
Call: 2007
A tenacious advocate, Eleanor Fry deals with a broad range of complex and sensitive matters in the criminal and family jurisdictions, often with...
Ben Campbell
Call: 2008
Ben Campbell has developed a significant practice with a focus on crime and regulatory work. A CPS Level 4 Prosecutor, Ben both defends and prosecutes...
Nick Lane
Call: 2008
Nick Lane is a busy and highly regarded specialist criminal advocate who regularly appears in the most serious cases including those of murder,...
Graham O'Sullivan
Call: 2009
Graham O'Sullivan was educated at City of London School, Cambridge University and City University, London. He was called to the bar in 2009, joining...
Nicoleta Alistari
Call: 2009
Nicoleta has a common law practice, with emphasis on crime. She prosecutes and defends in a wide range of cases, including those involving scientific...
Jessica Slaughter
Call: 2009
Jessica Slaughter is a specialist criminal barrister. She prosecutes as a level 4 CPS panel advocate and defends in complex criminal cases. Having...
Fiona Lamb
Call: 2010
Fiona only accepts instructions for the defence and has developed a very busy practice. Fiona completed a reduced pupillage at Farringdon Chambers...
Joe Culley
Call: 2010
Joe Culley became a member of Chambers in January 2018 and has established a busy criminal practice on the North Eastern Circuit. Called in 2010,...
Claire Anderson
Call: 2011
Claire Anderson is a junior criminal practitioner, who prosecutes and defends. Based in Newcastle, she is known for her thorough preparation and...
Felicity Hemlin
Call: 2011
Felicity Hemlin has an established criminal and family law practice. She has experience both prosecuting and defending serious cases in the Crown...
Jade Bucklow
Call: 2012
Jade accepts instructions in a wide range of areas, including Crime and Regulatory. Called in 2012 Jade undertook a mixed crime and civil pupillage...
Georgina Goring
Call: 2012
Georgina specialises in professional discipline, inquests and inquiries and crime. Georgina is recognised by the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior in...
Amber Walker
Call: 2010
Amber deals with a range of matters across the Criminal and Regulatory disciplines. She is known for her ability to engage, reassure and quickly...
Peter Byrne
Call: 2012
Peter Byrne has almost 30 years' experience of conducting criminal cases before the courts, including the Court of Appeal, ranging from motoring...
Richard Holland
Call: 2012
Richard Holland is an advocate who appears in cases of significant legal and factual complexity. At ease with professional and lay clients alike, he...
Maryam Ahmad
Call: 2013
Maryam joined Chambers following the completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Chloe Hudson and Jeremy Barton. She is developing a strong...
Ashleigh Metcalfe
Call: 2014
Ashleigh has developed a strong criminal law practice that belies her level of Call. Having been appointed as a Grade 4 prosecutor at 7 years full...
Amy Levitt
Call: 2015
Prior to joining Chambers, Amy graduated with a first class honours from the University of Sheffield in 2014. She also received a distinction in...
Emma Hughes
Call: 2015
Emma Hughes specialises in criminal, family and civil law matters. Emma has experience representing both claimants and defendants in a variety of...
John Hobley
Call: 2015
John Hobley joined chambers in 2017, following the completion of a pupillage supervised by Lee Fish. John has established a practice in criminal,...
Ryan Donoghue
Call: 2015
Ryan is an experienced court and tribunal advocate with a keen eye for detail and a personable nature that enables him to easily engage with clients...
Danielle Gilmour
Call: 2017
Joined New Park Court in 2018 after successfully completing pupillage under the supervision of Chloe Fairley. Danielle accepts instructions in a range...
Ian Cook
Call: 2018
Ian practiced as a solicitor for 18 years before his call to the Bar in 2018. For 8 of those years he dealt exclusively with Crown Court cases as a...
Jemima Stephenson
Call: 2018
Jemima joined New Park Court in March 2020. She was previously a Tenant at Zenith Chambers, having successfully completed pupillage there. Jemima...
Marte Alnaes
Call: 2018
Marte Alnaes accepts instructions in a wide range of areas, including Crime, Regulatory, Civil and Family. Marte completed her pupillage...
Benjamin Whittingham
Call: 2018
Ben completed pupillage under the supervision of Adam Birkby in September 2020 and accepts instructions across all aspects of common law. Before...
Oliver Connor
Call: 2017
Oliver accepts instructions in a number of areas including Crime and Regulatory. Oliver commenced pupillage at New Park Court Chambers in September...
Michael Brady KC
Call: 1992 Silk: 2020
Since taking Silk in March 2020, Michael Brady KC has been instructed to both prosecute and defend in a number of high-profile murder cases,...
Rachel Shenton
Call: 1993
Rachel is an experienced criminal advocate practising exclusively in crime and is regularly instructed by both the prosecution and defence in serious...