The 2026 listing of leading Manchester Criminal Law Barristers details counsel practising in criminal law matters in the Manchester legal market who have been identified by the city’s Criminal Law solicitors and fellow counsel for their expertise and abilities in the area.
Kings Counsel
Preeminent
Kate Blackwell KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Simon Csoka KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Nina Grahame KC, Garden Court North Chambers
Alexander Leach KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Benjamin Myers KC, Exchange Chambers
Andrew Thomas KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Leading
Brenda Campbell KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Siobhan Grey KC, 18 St John Street Chambers
Simon Gurney KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Jaime Hamilton KC, Nine Chambers
John Harrison KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Michael Hayton KC, Deans Court Chambers
Nicholas Johnson KC, 7 Harrington Street
Tim Storrie KC, Lincoln House Chambers
David Temkin KC, Exchange Chambers
Lisa Wilding KC, 23ES
Peter Wright KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Recommended
Richard English KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Mark Ford KC, Lincoln House Chambers
Iain Simkin KC, Deans Court Chambers
Vanessa Thomson KC, Nine Chambers
Junior Counsel
Preeminent
Clare Ashcroft, Lincoln House Chambers
Richard Dawson, Lincoln House Chambers
Virginia Hayton, Deans Court Chambers
Gemma Maxwell, St John’s Buildings
Rachel Shenton, 18 St John Street Chambers
Leading
Gerard Doran, Lincoln House Chambers
Andrew Evans, 18 St John Street Chambers
Rebecca Filletti, Lincoln House Chambers
Martin Hackett, Lincoln House Chambers
Michael Lavery, Exchange Chambers
Sarah Magill, Lincoln House Chambers
Damian Nolan, Exchange Chambers
Brendan O’Leary, Lincoln House Chambers
Rebecca Penfold, St John’s Buildings
David Toal, Exchange Chambers
Richard Vardon, 18 St John Street Chambers
Rachel White, Lincoln House Chambers
Recommended
Marianne Alton, Lincoln House Chambers
Philip Astbury, 7 Harrington Street
David Birrell, Exchange Chambers
Mark Friend, Lincoln House Chambers
Sara Haque, Kenworthy’s Chambers
Ian McMeekin, Lincoln House Chambers
Ellen Shaw, Lincoln House Chambers
Ian Whitehurst, Exchange Chambers