Rankings Released for Chambers & Partners 2025 - UK Bar
33 Chancery Lane and its barristers feature in Financial Crime, Financial Crime: Corporates, Fraud: Civil, POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture, Commercial Litigation and Crime.
The barristers at 33 Chancery Lane offer expertise spanning the full range of financial crime matters. The set is regularly instructed to act both for the prosecution and defence in complex bribery and money laundering cases, and members are also well versed in the handling of HMRC investigations. Asset recovery matters are a key area of strength for the team, owing to the set's recognised prowess in POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act) proceedings. The set's enviable client list includes leading corporations and individuals. Instructing solicitors describe counsel at the set as having a "wealth of expertise, a wide range of experience, strong advocacy skills, excellent legal knowledge and a thorough understanding of the law." Recent work for the set has included advising third-party defendants in the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into the collapse of Patisserie Valerie.
Chambers won ‘Financial Crime Set of the Year’ at this year’s Legal 500 Awards.
Leading Silks:
Andrew Mitchell KC – Band 1 -"He predicts how the judge will receive a submission and has an extremely impressive ability to get all the big calls pretty much bang-on."
Graham Brodie KC – "Graham is an amazing lateral thinker. He has an ability to see cases strategically from above and he is very sharp."
"Graham is an excellent advocate who produces superb written work backed by sound judgement and many years' experience."
"Graham Brodie KC is not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and thinking ‒ being prepared to take difficult points and argue them, which makes him an excellent leader."
Mark Rainsford KC - "Mark is a very experienced criminal practitioner and he's good at explaining complex strategy in a simple way."
"Mark knows his stuff and is affable, approachable and available. He's very easy to work with and keen to get to the heart of the issue."
Narita Bahra KC - "Narita's judgement in relation to decision-making and case strategy is excellent. Her written expression is always clear and precise, with attention to detail."
"She is just a winner. Somehow she gets hold of a case that looks to be going nowhere and wins it through tenacity and strategic acumen."
"Narita commands the respect of the court every time she enters and delivers results time and time again."
Leading Juniors:
Christopher Convey – Band 1 - "He has a really impressive ability to tailor his style to the judge or the court and to make a clear, complex argument."
"Christopher Convey has a wide range of experience, strong advocacy skills, excellent legal knowledge and a thorough understanding of the law."
"His mastery of tactics is absolutely at the highest level. He's a great planner and strategist and a great one for knowing how to deploy the tactics of case management over a long period of time."
Faisal Osman – Band 1 - "Faisal is excellent. His written work is very clear, he is very measured and he has very good legal analysis."
"Faisal has a real understanding of solicitor firms and is very willing to get involved. Knowledgeable and calm, he has a real winning manner when acting as an advocate."
"Faisal Osman's advice is meticulous. He provides clear, unambiguous views on the strengths of cases together with realistic action plans for future work."
Nick James - "Nick has a really nice manner with the jury. He makes dry material come to life in his delivery and has a charm that sets him apart."
"A highly skilled advocate, his preparation is exceptional and there is no task too much or too little for him."
"A highly competent fraud specialist, Nick James is very approachable and client-friendly."
Catherine Collins - "Catherine is probably one of the most meticulous barristers; she takes it to a whole new level. She is super-smart in terms of knowledge of the law and has such a good eye for detail."
"She is excellent on the legal argument and is a very good advocate."
LONDON BAR - Financial Crime: Corporates
Kennedy Talbot KC - "Kennedy is excellent. He looks to give pragmatic and realistic advice and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law."
"Kennedy Talbot KC is an extremely strong advocate in the courtroom. His drafting is excellent and he has a great ability to understand and explain complex issues clearly."
LONDON BAR – Fraud: Civil
Ian Smith - "Ian is very thorough and tactically astute, with very good judgement."
"He's really good on civil fraud. He's particularly good where there's a crossover between criminal and civil, because he's familiar with both regimes."
Faisal Osman - "Faisal has great commercial and legal judgement, getting fantastic results."
"Faisal has exceptional knowledge of the DIFC."
ALL CIRCUITS - POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture
A set praised as "the POCA set," 33 Chancery Lane has experience across the full spectrum of POCA matters and is especially noted for its expertise in money laundering investigations. Described by solicitors as "a leading set for POCA work with a good range of experienced individuals," members act for defendants and prosecutors alike in cases which are often high-profile and international in nature. They also frequently represent receivers and third parties with regard to issues ranging from civil recovery and restraint proceedings to regulatory advice. Members have recently acted in the civil recovery resulting from the investigation and prosecution of individuals on charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to property developments in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Leading Silks
Andrew Mitchell KC – Star Individual - "The quality of his advice is great, and his approach is very good. He is very reputed in this space, and he turns things around very quickly."
Kennedy Talbot KC – Star Individual – "Kennedy is excellent. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the law and he always looks to give pragmatic, realistic advice."
"He is a very respectful and very sophisticated advocate who can present his arguments in a number of different ways, which is incredibly impressive."
"When you instruct Kennedy, you know you are going to be given an academic and legal masterclass in confiscation. He is at the top of his game."
Martin Evans KC – Star Individual – "Martin has a great ability to cut to the chase and then work strategically on a case, advising his clients on all the options. He offers a one-stop shop and is an excellent brief."
Graham Brodie KC - "Graham is great. He has a really lovely persuasive manner and is a true strategist."
"Graham Brodie KC is a great thinker and a superb advocate who has a fabulous command of criminal law."
Mark Rainsford KC - "He has a really lovely manner in court and delivers good, persuasive arguments."
Leading Juniors
Barry Stancombe – Band 1 – "Barry has a thorough understanding of proceeds of crime in an insolvency context. He's practical, helpful, great with clients and someone who knows just about everyone involved in the market."
Fiona Jackson – Band 1 – "Fiona is excellent and an expert in all things POCA, having specialised in the sector for a long time. She gives clear advice and has a nice manner."
"Fiona's grasp of the area and the principal issues involved is very good. She's also well organised, diligent and calm."
Ian Smith – Band 1 – "Ian Smith's work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law."
He's very good both on paper and when it comes to handling the clients.
Penelope Small – Band 1 – "Penelope is a tenacious advocate who fights her client's corner well. Her written work is concise and well thought through - she presents all the relevant issues admirably."
"Penelope Small is really ahead of the game in asset forfeiture. She's a great tactician who is fantastic to work with."
"She has a huge amount of knowledge and a very good handle on all things POCA-related."
Catherine Collins – "Catherine is very bright. Her knowledge is second to none, and her skeleton arguments are beautifully pitched."
"She has a real mastery of the issues involved in confiscations arising out of fraud."
"Catherine has such a good eye for detail and you can trust her completely. She is very good on her feet and superb at her job, I wouldn't like to be opposite her in a POCA case."
Christopher Convey - "Christopher is exceptionally bright, very hard-working and easy to get on with. If you have a client with a complex matter, he's the first person to speak to."
Faisal Osman - "Faisal Osman is very user-friendly with clients and someone who explains things in a very digestible way."
"Faisal is an excellent barrister."
"Faisal has a very nice manner in court. Being so well prepared, he produces neat, succinct submissions that are quietly impressive."
MIDLANDS BAR – Commercial Dispute Resolution
Olivia Chaffin-Laird - "Olivia is very approachable and makes a point of full liaison with very thorough preparation, support and practical advice."
LONDON BAR – Crime
Narita Bahra KC - "Her level of expertise and advocacy is above par and she provides exceptional client service."
"Narita is one of the finest silks at the modern criminal Bar. Simply elite."
Clerks testimonials:
"The clerks are very responsive and attentive."
"The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases."
"They are the best clerks in the business. Practice director Martin Adams and deputy Chris Chiles are available whenever you need them. Nothing is too much or too little."
"The clerks are very responsive and attentive at 33 Chancery Lane."
"The clerks are helpful, friendly and always willing to accommodate."