The 2026 listing of Leading London Criminal Law Kings Counsel details silks practising within the areas of Criminal Defence matters within the UK legal market who have been identified by the nation’s criminal law solicitors for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Eleanor Laws KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Duncan Penny KC, 6KBW College Hill
John Ryder KC, 6 KBW College Hill
James Scobie KC, Garden Court Chambers
Leading
Narita Bahra KC, 33 Chancery Lane
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, 2 Hare Court
Adrian Darbishire KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Jeremy Dein KC, 25 Bedford Row
Patrick Gibbs KC, 3 Raymond Buildings
Dean Gorge KC, 2BR
Mark Heywood KC, 5KBW
Jonathan Laidlaw KC, 2 Hare Court
Clare Montgomery KC, Matrix Chambers
Melanie Simpson KC, Doughty Street Chambers
Tyrone Smith KC, 25 Bedford Row
Jim Sturman KC, 2BR
Liam Walker KC, Doughty Street Chambers
Sacha Wass KC, 6KBW College Hill
Adrian Waterman KC, Matrix Chambers
Alisdair Williamson KC, 3 Raymond Buildings
Recommended
Christine Agnew KC, 2BR
Stuart Biggs KC, Cloth Fair Chambers
Henry Blaxland KC, Garden Court Chambers
Paul Bogan KC, 23 Essex Street
Trevor Burke KC, 3 Raymond Buildings
Allison Clare KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Peter Doyle KC, 25 Bedford Row
Alexandra Felix KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Sarah Forshaw KC, 5KBW
Alexandra Healy KC, Foundry Chambers
Nicola Howard KC, 25 Bedford Row
William Hughes KC, Foundry Chambers
Paul Hynes KC, 25 Bedford Row
Riel Karmy Jones KC, Red Lion Chambers
Leon Kazarkos KC, 2 Hare Court
Dermot Keating KC, 25 Bedford Row
Brendan Kelly KC, 2 Hare Court
Martin McCarthy KC, Farringdon Chambers
Paul Mendelle KC, 25 Bedford Row
Rajiv Menon KC, Garden Court Chambers
Ben Newton KC, Doughty St Chambers
Simon Pentol KC, 25 Bedford Row
David Perry KC, 6KBW College Hill
Selva Ramasamy KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Charlie Sherrard KC, 2BR
David Whittaker KC, 2 Hare Court
Lisa Wilding KC, 23 Essex Street
Nicholas Yeo KC, Three Raymond Buildings
Gudrun Young KC, 2 Hare Court