Chambers UK 2009, “A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession”, lists 18 Red Lion Court as one of the leading London Criminal sets. In its Crime section, Chambers UK states that:

 

“18 Red Lion Court offers clients a great deal of experience and a high level of professionalism”. Observers note that it has proved skilful in maintaining the standards of its members over the years and it is widely expected to thrive in this period of uncertainty at the Criminal Bar.”

 

In the Criminal Fraud section, Chambers UK comments that:

 

"18 Red Lion Court both prosecutes and defends serious fraud cases, securing involvement in some of the causes célèbres of the day such as the BAE Systems corruption affair and the pharmaceuticals cartel investigation.”

 

The Legal 500 UK Edition 2008/9 ranks 18 Red Lion Court as one of the top sets for crime and states that it is “a great outfit for fraud work.”

 

18 Red Lion Court is a set that can offer a comprehensive service across East Anglia, from its Chelmsford annexe, covering the Crown Courts at Chelmsford, Basildon, Southend, Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich. The Chelmsford annexe currently houses 23 barristers. It includes highly regarded silks Graham Parkins QC and Stephen Harvey QC. Also practising from Chelmsford are 20 excellent junior counsel across the full range of call and experience.

 

Individual members of chambers are generally acknowledged as amongst the leaders in their field. Chambers UK 2009 names David Etherington QC, Anthony Arlidge QC, Graham Parkins QC, Tony Shaw QC, Peter Carter QC, Patricia Lynch QC, Mark Lucraft QC, Noel Lucas QC, Max Hill QC, David Williams QC, as leading silks in crime and/or fraud. Among the juniors, Sally-Ann Hales, Andrew Thompson, Jenni Dempster and Gillian Jones are singled out as top calibre.

 

Chambers UK comments that David Etherington QC is “a very commanding advocate with great knowledge of the law and incredibly sound judgement.” Anthony Arlidge QC is said to be “on top of his game” and Graham Parkins QC “a match for the best.” It is said of Tony Shaw QC that he “always gives exceptional advice” and of David Williams QC that “he doesn’t ever miss a trick – he’s marvellous”. Sally-Ann Hales is described as “an immensely thorough, tough and impressive cross examiner.”

 

The Legal 500 of 2008/9 ranks Tony Shaw QC, Anthony Arlidge QC and Mark Lucraft QC as among the leading silks for fraud cases, and David Etherington QC, Anthony Arlidge QC and David Williams QC as leading silks in crime. Crime juniors, Tom Forster (“really good for extremely complicated cases”) and Gillian Jones (“developing a very good serious crime and extradition practice”) were singled out.

 

Max Hill QC has prosecuted some of the most serious terrorist cases of the last five years, including the Real IRA mainland campaign case in 2003, the Ricin conspiracy case and all three trials resulting from the “21/7” bomb attacks on the London Transport system in 2005.

 

Peter Carter QC has defended in many of the most serious terrorism cases and is the creator of the Protocol for Special Counsel in PII cases. He is an expert in international human rights law and was part of the team instructed by both Houses of Parliament to produce an amicus brief in the US Supreme Court in the Guantánamo case of Rasul v Bush.

 

Mark Lucraft QC was instructed by the OFT to prosecute the first cartel prosecution brought under the Enterprise Act 2002 and is currently briefed, with Tom Payne, to prosecute the biggest case brought to date against employees of British Airways for price fixing.

 

David Williams QC is instructed, with Lydia Jonson, by the SFO to advise on the long-running investigation into alleged corruption overseas by BAE Sytems PLC. Chambers UK 2009 states that he is “recognised for the high quality work he undertakes.”

 

Tony Shaw QC is said by Chambers UK to be a “lawyer with a fantastic mind for fraud and a firm grasp of all the issues” who “always shows impressive judgement.”

 

A number of members of chambers serve on the Bar Council, committees of the Bar Standards Board, the Criminal Bar Association, the South Eastern Circuit Committee and various of the Circuit Messes as well as assisting with pro bono work and advocacy training, both at home and internationally.

18 Red Lion Court is proud of its Standing Counsel to Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) and other prosecuting government departments and agencies. We also enjoy excellent links with the academic legal world. Prof. David Ormerod is both a practising member of chambers and Professor of Criminal Justice at Queen Mary University of London. See our separate pages on this topic within this site.