clerks@walnuthouse.co.uk 
+44 (0) 1392 279 751 
40 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1PE DX:115582 Exeter 
Bill Baker KC
Criminal King's Counsel
- Year of Call
- 1991; Door Tenant
clerks@walnuthouse.co.uk Criminal Law
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.
For 14 years he was one of the most senior in-house prosecution advocates in the country prosecuting only cases that involved large amounts of evidence and unused material, legal and factual complexity or difficulty, covert investigation techniques, reputational risk to the CPS and or NCA, organised crime and an international element. He has led numerous multi-handed large-scale conspiracies, including the largest ever detected conspiracy to import drugs with an estimated wholesale value of £7 billion and the longest ever criminal trial.
His cases often involve witnesses from abroad, hearsay, technical evidence, experts in mobile phones, computers, cell site analysis, handwriting, fingerprints, DNA, drugs, money laundering, finance, psychiatrists, neurologists, proceeds of crime and serious crime prevention orders.
He is adept at explaining complicated offences to juries persuasively and cross-examining witnesses called by the opposing side so the jury can reject their evidence. He only takes a small number of cases at a time so he can dedicate himself to them.
Biographical and Other Information
- King's Counsel: 2024
Criminal Law team members
Lee Bremridge
Year Of Call : 2003; Head of Chambers
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.
lee.bremridge@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileSimon 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 ProfileBill Baker KC
Year Of Call : 1991; Door Tenant
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.
clerks@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfilePaul Cavin KC
Year Of Call : 1995; Door Tenant
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.
Simon Burns
Year Of Call : 1992
Simon Burns is a specialist in criminal law undertaking prosecution and defence work.
simon.burns@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfilePeter Coombe
Year Of Call : 1993
Peter is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and other cases of serious violence.
peter.coombe@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileHeather Hope
Year 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.
Mary McCarthy
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
Nikki Coombe
Year Of Call : 1994
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
Year Of Call : 1999; Door Tenant
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.
View ProfileKelly Scrivener
Year 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 ProfileBathsheba 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 ProfileDan Pawson-Pounds
Year Of Call : 2007; Head of Crime / Deputy HoC
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 2025 – Leading Junior Tier 1
Chambers & Partners 2025 – Band 3
Recorder (Crown Court) 2023
Brian FitzHerbert
Year 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 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 ProfileFrederick Hookway
Year Of Call : 2011; Door Tenant
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.
View ProfileCatherine Daly
Year Of Call : 2015
Catherine recently accepted an invitation to join Walnut House as a tenant after a short period as door tenant.
She is also a door tenant of MC Chambers in London.
catherine.daly@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileEvie Dean
Year 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 ProfileZoe Kuyken
Year Of Call : 2021
Zoe joined chambers after successfully completing a 12 month pupillage in 2022.
Zoe accepts instructions in criminal and family law.
zoe.kuyken@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileAzzam Bhatti
Year Of Call : 2017
Azzam has a mixed Civil, Criminal and Family practice at Walnut House.
View ProfileBethany Rickerby
Year Of Call : 2024
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.
- Lee Bremridge (2003; Head of Chambers)
- Simon Laws KC (1991)
- Bill Baker KC (1991; Door Tenant)
- Paul Cavin KC (1995; Door Tenant)
- Simon Burns (1992)
- Peter Coombe (1993)
- Heather Hope (1993)
- Mary McCarthy (1994)
- Nikki Coombe (1994)
- Mary Aspinall-Miles (1999; Door Tenant)
- Kelly Scrivener (2001)
- Bathsheba Cassel (2005)
- Joss Ticehurst (2006)
- Dan Pawson-Pounds (2007; Head of Crime / Deputy HoC)
- Will Parkhill (2015)
- Brian FitzHerbert (2008)
- Felicity Payne (2010)
- Frederick Hookway (2011; Door Tenant)
- Catherine Daly (2015)
- Evie Dean (2019)
- Zoe Kuyken (2021)
- Azzam Bhatti (2017)
- Bethany Rickerby (2024)