Year Of Call : 1990; HoC
Adrian is a highly effective and sought-after advocate with extensive experience of heavy-weight and sensitive cases before a broad range of courts and tribunals.
He advises in criminal, misconduct, regulatory and coroner’s court work. He is experienced in appeal cases and judicial review.
Year Of Call : 1991
Simon Laws KC has practised exclusively in criminal law for 27 years. He represents both the prosecution and the defence.
“Centres his highly regarded practice on homicide, fraud and drug crime, with additional strengths in cases involving sexual offences. He is frequently engaged to defend and prosecute murders and serious drug conspiracies”
“An incredibly bright lawyer with a lovely manner”
Band 1 – Chambers and Partners 2020
View ProfileYear Of Call : 1995
Paul is a Door Tenant of Walnut House, with family connections to the South West. He is also Head of Chambers at 2 Harcourt Buildings in London. Paul specialises in homicide, fraud, corporate crime – particularly bribery and corruption but also money laundering, cyber crime, and proceeds of crime.
He is regularly instructed by the CPS and the SFO and was on the Attorney General’s Criminal List for many years. Before his call to the bar he trained as a solicitor at a city firm (where he gained experience in all aspects of commercial law before qualifying in the commercial litigation/fraud group). He is a member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association and the Fraud Lawyers Association.
Year Of Call : 1987
The main focus is in ancillary relief (financial remedies) for husbands, wives and children, especially where there are trust and/or business assets and farms. Mark cuts through volume of paper to the core and critical issues and is focussed and blunt with his clients and the Court alike.
View ProfileYear Of Call : 1992
Simon Burns is a specialist in criminal law undertaking prosecution and defence work.
simon.burns@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 1993
Due to an extended period of illness, Peter is not currently practicing or accepting any new instructions.
Peter is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and other cases of serious violence.
peter.coombe@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 1993
Heather was called in 1993 and after having practiced in a leading criminal set in London for 22yrs, moved to the South West in 2015. Heather has prosecuted and defended in large-scale drug cases, gang violence and firearms cases along with rape and serious sexual offences. Heather has also defended and prosecuted as a led junior in murder trials at the Central Criminal Court and as leading junior counsel in numerous trials more recently. Grade 4 and RASSO panel Counsel.
Year Of Call : 1994
Mary is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, rape and fraud.
“She’s an extremely good advocate, brilliant at cross-examination and very good tactically; she knows how to destroy the opposition.”
Chambers and Partners 2018
Year Of Call : 1994
Hugh has extensive experience acting for Local Authorities, parents, grandparents, Guardians and proposed special guardians in care proceedings, including representing young and vulnerable parents, clients with learning difficulties and clients with chronic health conditions.
Year Of Call : 2000
Lara has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a variety of matters for over 20 years. She has a wide general civil litigation practice, and has given numerous Continuing Professional Development talks and seminars. She is certified to conduct all aspects of litigation, and therefore is certified to carry out all the legal work that not only barristers do, but also those legal activities usually reserved to solicitors.
lara.spencer@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2001
Kelly appears for both the Prosecution and Defence in all matters before the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
kelly.scrivener@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2002
Theresa is instructed in multi-day final hearings at which the Court determines whether children should be placed in care of the Local Authority, remain in the care of the Local Authority, be returned to their parents, placed with other family members or have placement orders made in respect of them.
theresa.mccormack@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2003
Lee Bremridge is a criminal barrister experienced in all areas of complex and serious crime. Lee is known for dealing with serious cases, defending and prosecuting in equal measure.
lee.bremridge@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2004
Helen is a very experienced member of our Family Team in Chambers.
(Full Profile to follow)
Year Of Call : 2005
Emma is a practitioner who accepts instructions in both civil and family law. Personable and approachable to clients, Emma has a practical and down-to-earth style both in conference and in court.
emma.smith@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2005
Bathsheba is a criminal barrister with a wealth of experience across all areas of complex and serious crime.
bathsheba.cassel@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2006
Joss Ticehurst is instructed to defend and prosecute in cases involving the most serious criminal offences in the Crown Court, particularly those relating to allegations of rape, attempted murder, multi-defendant cases involving drugs and murder, and multi-defendant cases of fraud and drug conspiracies.
joss.ticehurst@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2007
Dan has wide experience in all aspects of criminal law, quasi-criminal regulatory law, corporate investigations and international war crimes. He specialises in business crime, criminal law, terrorism and private prosecutions, both in court and in an advisory role.
Legal 500 2024 – Leading Junior Tier 1
Chambers & Partners 2024 – Band 3
Recorder (Crown Court) 2023
Year Of Call : 2015
Regularly instructed to defend in matters involving the most serious violence including two recent allegations of Murder.
will.parkhill@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2008
Brian prosecutes and defends in all areas of criminal law. His practice encompasses murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, serious violence and organised crime. He is a Grade Four advocate on the Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel and is also on the RASSO and Serious Crime Panels.
brian.fitzherbert@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2010
Felicity is a common law barrister with an established and varied practice in all aspects of criminal and civil law. Felicity is thorough, practical and robust in her approach, whilst remaining personable.
felicity.payne@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2011
Laura is a family barrister with a busy and varied practice acting and advising in public and private law proceedings, applications for injunctive relief and financial remedy proceedings. She is a personable and approachable advocate who prides herself on going the extra mile for her clients. She has studied and worked internationally in France, Brussels, Luxembourg and New Zealand and is a Denning and Eastham Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn
laura.searle@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2013
Emmi is a specialist family barrister with established practices in all aspects of public and private law proceedings, injunctive proceedings and ancillary relief. Emmi joined Walnut House in September 2014 having successfully completed a twelve-month pupillage in chambers, and since then has continued to enjoy a busy family practice. Emmi prides herself on being a personable and persuasive advocate who is both thorough and robust in her approach
emmi.wilson@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2019
Evie accepts instructions in both criminal and family law. She regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts where she prosecutes and defends in all stages of proceedings. She also acts for parents in both private and care proceedings from application stage through to contested interim and final hearings.
Since joining Walnut House after successfully completing a twelve-month pupillage in chambers, Evie has continued to enjoy a busy and varied practice. She has been complimented on her pragmatic and personable manner with her clients.
evie.dean@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2020
Sam has developed a diverse practice across Chambers’ family, criminal and civil teams, representing clients throughout the South West. He prides himself on his attention to detail, being approachable and offering pragmatic advice.
Sam completed his pupillage under the supervision of Hugh Cornford and accepted tenancy from Walnut House in October 2021. Furthermore, Sam successfully obtained his public access qualification in October 2022.
Year Of Call : 2021
Zoe recently completed a successful pupillage at Walnut House and as a result was offered a tenancy which she accepted. Prior to pupillage, she worked as a paralegal at a boutique agricultural law firm. During her BPTC, she volunteered as an Appropriate Adult, supporting children in police station interviews, and at Support Through Court, assisting litigants in person with the court process. She has also completed internships assisting a children’s charity with their policy documents, and in the privacy department of an international firm.
zoe.kuyken@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileYear Of Call : 2017
Azzam has a mixed Civil, Criminal and Family practice at Walnut House.
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