- Our Head of Chambers
- Lee Bremridge
- Our KCs
- Simon Laws KC
- Paul Cavin KC
- Our Juniors
- Bhatti, Azzam
- Bray, Helen
- Burns, Simon
- Cassel, Bathsheba
- Chaplin, Adrian
- Coombe, Peter
- Dean, Evie
- FitzHerbert, Brian
- Hookway, Frederick
- Hope, Heather
- Kuyken, Zoe
- McCarthy, Mary
- McCormack, Theresa
- Parkhill, Will
- Pawson-Pounds, Dan
- Payne, Felicity
- Scrivener, Kelly
- Searle, Laura
- Smith, Emma
- Spencer, Lara
- Ticehurst, Joss
- Treneer, Mark
- Wilson, Emmi
- Wysocki, Sam
clerks@walnuthouse.co.uk 
+44 (0) 1392 279 751 
40 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1PE DX:115582 Exeter
Public Access team members
Simon Laws KC
Year Of Call : 1991
In May 2021, Simon Laws KC was instructed to represent the victims in a trial in The Hague in which the former President of Kosovo and three others are being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The proceedings are ongoing and Mr Laws is therefore currently unable to accept other instructions.
View ProfileAdrian Chaplin
Year Of Call : 1990
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.
Lara Spencer
Year Of Call : 2000; Head of Civil
Lara has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a variety of matters for over 20 years and has appeared before most Courts and many different Tribunals. She has also given numerous talks and seminars in civil litigation to CPD providers and assisted in writing civil litigation material for online CPD providers. Lara is authorised to conduct all areas of litigation. She is a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association and the Personal Injury Bar Association. Many of Lara’s cases are high value. As such, she often appears against KCs. Although based in Exeter, Lara undertakes court work throughout England and Wales. Lara’s wide common law practice affords her with a thorough understanding of the processes and tactics of civil law and litigation, and enables her to provide specialist, pragmatic and practical advice. Similarly, her early experience at the criminal bar, during which time she prosecuted and defended in the Magistrates Court and Crown Courts, and her continued work there in planning and environmental matters, provides her with a continued specialist knowledge and experience of criminal law and practice.
lara.spencer@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileTheresa McCormack
Year 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 ProfileHelen Bray
Year Of Call : 2004
Helen is a very experienced member of our Family Team in Chambers.
(Full Profile to follow)
Bathsheba Cassel
Year 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 ProfileJoss Ticehurst
Year 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 ProfileWill Parkhill
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 ProfileFelicity Payne
Year 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 ProfileLaura Searle
Year Of Call : 2011; Head of Family / Deputy HoC
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 ProfileEmmi Wilson
Year Of Call : 2013
Emmi is a specialist family barrister with established practices in all aspects of public and private law and injunctive proceedings. 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 ProfileSam Wysocki
Year Of Call : 2020
Sam has developed a diverse practice across Chambers’ family 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 and accepted tenancy from Walnut House in October 2021. Furthermore, Sam successfully obtained his public access qualification in October 2022.