Bathsheba Cassel

Lee Bremridge

Lee Bremridge is Head of Chambers at Walnut House and 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.

Simon Laws KC

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.

Chambers and Partners 2026 Spotlight: International Criminal Law

Dan Pawson-Pounds KC

Dan has wide experience in all aspects of criminal law, quasi-criminal regulatory law, corporate investigations and international war crimes, both prosecuting and defending. His practice encompasses all aspects of criminal litigation, with particular expertise in terrorism, violent and sexual offences, and large-scale fraud, both in court and in an advisory role. He frequently appears in the Court of Appeal and is consistently listed as a leading practitioner in the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories for Crime. Dan was appointed King’s Counsel in 2026.

Legal 500 2025 – Leading Junior Tier 1
Chambers & Partners 2025 – Band 3
Recorder (Crown Court) 2023

Bill Baker KC

Bill is a Door Tenant of Walnut House, with family connections to the South West. He is also a member of Lincoln House Chambers in Manchester. Bill has been a dedicated criminal advocate for more than 30 years. He prosecutes and defends the most serious, complicated and high profile criminal cases.

Legal 500 2026 – Leading Silk Band 3

Paul Cavin KC

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.

Serena Gates KC

Serena is a Door Tenant of Walnut House, with strong connections to the South West. She is also a member of Red Lion Chambers in London. Appointed King’s Counsel in 2026, Serena is a leading barrister specialising in the most serious and sensitive cases, with particular expertise in homicide, terrorism, organised crime, sexual offences, and fraud.

Simon Burns

Simon Burns is a specialist in criminal law undertaking prosecution and defence work.

Peter Coombe

Peter is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and other cases of serious violence.

Heather Hope

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.

Mary McCarthy

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

Nikki Coombe

Nikki is a well – respected, diligent and persuasive jury advocate, having practiced criminal law since 1994 in London and Oxford before moving to the Western Circuit.
Nikki has substantial experience and expertise, both prosecuting and defending the full range of serious criminal offences including rapes, violence (including murder and manslaughter), the importation and supply of drugs, firearms and frauds. Nikki is regularly instructed in complicated or multi-handed cases, sometimes appearing against King’s Counsel (either alone or as leading counsel).

Mary Aspinall-Miles

Mary is a door tenant at Walnut House.

We are happy to accept instructions on her behalf for any matters that are relevant to the Western Circuit. Her main Chambers are 12 College Place Barristers in Southampton and Mary’s full profile can be found through their site.

Mary accepts instructions for the defence and is a Grade 4 Prosecutor and on the RASSO Panel.

Kelly Scrivener

Kelly appears for both the Prosecution and Defence in all matters before the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).

Joss Ticehurst

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.

Will Parkhill

Defends serious crime.

Brian FitzHerbert

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.

Felicity Payne

Felicity is a criminal barrister with an established and varied practice. Felicity is thorough, practical and robust in her approach, whilst remaining personable.

Frederick Hookway

Frederick is a door tenant at Walnut House and lives in the South West. We are happy to accept instructions on his behalf for any matters that are relevant to the Western Circuit. His main Chambers is 5 King’s Bench Walk in London and his full profile can be found through their site.

Catherine Daly

Catherine is a Door Tenant at Walnut House, accepting instructions in criminal and parole cases.

Evie Dean

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.

Zoe Kuyken

Zoe joined chambers after successfully completing a 12 month pupillage in 2022.

Zoe accepts instructions in criminal and family law.

Azzam Bhatti

Azzam has a mixed Civil, Criminal and Family practice at Walnut House.

Bethany Rickerby

Beth has recently joined chambers after working for the Crown Prosecution Service for the past two years as an in-house barrister.
Prior to becoming a barrister, Beth was a solicitor for 7 years holding both civil and criminal higher rights. During her time as a solicitor Beth gained experience in criminal defence and private family work.
Beth now regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts where she prosecutes and defends all criminal cases.
Beth is a Level 2 CPS prosecutor. She is regularly instructed by the CPS and the police.
Beth accepts instructions in both criminal and family law.

William Glover

Will accepted tenancy at Walnut House in October 2026 after successfully completing 12 months pupillage.

He accepts instructions in Criminal, Family and Civil Law cases.