Simon Burns
Criminal Barrister
- Year of Call
- 1992
Criminal Law
Overview
Simon is a CPS panel advocate level 4 prosecutor and is included on the Attorney General’s list of advocates (List B). He has particular interest and experience in cases involving serious drug offences (including drug trafficking proceedings); sexual offences; fraud and fraudulent trading. A Captain in the Army Legal Service (TA), he has undertaken many Courts Martial cases in the UK and Germany.
Full Profile to follow
Biographical and Other Information
- Prosecution
- Simon is instructed in all areas of general criminal work both for the Prosecution and the Defence. He has substantial experience in fraud, confiscation, dishonesty offences and cases of general violence.
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 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.
Adrian 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.
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.
heather.hope@walnuthouse.co.uk View ProfileMary 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
Kelly 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 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 Profile- Lee Bremridge (2003; Head of Chambers)
- Simon Laws KC (1991)
- Paul Cavin KC (1995; Door Tenant)
- Adrian Chaplin (1990)
- Simon Burns (1992)
- Peter Coombe (1993)
- Heather Hope (1993)
- Mary McCarthy (1994)
- 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))
- Evie Dean (2019)
- Zoe Kuyken (2021)
- Azzam Bhatti (2017)