Will Parkhill

Criminal Barrister

Year of Call
2015

will.parkhill@walnuthouse.co.uk

Criminal Law

Murder, Manslaughter and Non-fatal Violence:

Overview

Regularly instructed in offences of murder and manslaughter.

R v T

Defending a man with serious mental health issues accused of murdering his mother

R v F

Defending a man accused of murder arising from street violence.

R v N

Defending one of three members of an Organised Crime Group accused of murdering a member of a rival gang.

R v H

Defending a man accused of murdering a vulnerable adult and attempting to dispose of the body.

R v O

Defending a member of a gang who had utilised firearms, kidnap and rape as part of a drugs ‘turf war’.

Recent work +Close –

Drugs offences

Overview

Regularly defends those charged with involvement in the supply of illegal drugs at all levels up to and including the most serious and complex cases involving significant quantities of drugs and money.

Recent cases have included investigations undertaken by both Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the National Crime Agency.

R v B

Defending the captain of a ship involved in the second largest recorded importation of cocaine into the UK. Acquitted.

R v C

Defending in a lengthy drugs conspiracy Trial in Liverpool Crown Court. The case was so extensive it involved 6 months of court time and two separate Trials. Represented one of only two Defendants acquitted.

R v M

Defending in a large-scale drugs conspiracy involving 18 Defendants and drugs valued in excess of 1 million pounds.

R v H

Successfully defending a man who asserted that a large quantity of drugs had been ‘planted’ in his vehicle.

R v C

Successfully appealing the conviction of a youth asserted to be the organiser of a large- scale drugs conspiracy

Recent work +Close –

Serious Sexual Offences

Overview

Defends in cases of serious sexual offences and is capable of dealing with the multitude of issues that arise in such cases. Experienced in cases of a historic nature and those involving the youngest and most vulnerable Complainants and Defendants.

R v D

Defending a man accused of numerous allegations made by 9 separate complainants over a period of nearly three decades.

R v S

Successfully defending a young man accused of raping two young girls.

R v A

Successfully defending a medical student accused of rape

R v S

Successfully defending a Naval Officer accused of rape.

Recent work +Close –

Fraud, Commercial Crime, Confiscation and other Dishonesty Offences

Overview

Defends those charged with the full range of dishonesty offences often including the analysis of accounting information and expert evidence.

R v H
Successfully resisting Confiscation proceedings following conviction for drugs

R v G
Defending a large scale conspiracy to burgle involving a gang that had committed over 40 offences across three counties

R v S
Resisting confiscation Application made in excess of one million pounds

Recent work +Close –

Corporate Manslaughter, Health and Safety and Regulatory Offences

Overview

Regularly acts for individuals or companies being prosecuted by agencies other than the Crown Prosecution Service. Will is fully aware of the commercial aspects and sensitivities of such matters.

R v G
Instructed as Special Advocate by the Court in relation to a Trading Standards and DEFRA prosecution relating to the disposal of animal carcasses

Providing advice to a company regarding its use of industrial/agricultural vehicles during an investigation by VOSA

R v S
Defending a Trading Standards relating to an extensive Illegal Money Lending Operation involving over a million pounds.

Recent work +Close –

General Violence against the person

Overview

Has many years of experience in dealing with offences of violence and disorder. This includes those involving serious injury and large scale public disorder.

R v B
Successfully defending in a large scale Affray on licensed premises

R v P
Successfully prosecuting allegation of Wounding with Intent where a young man had been the subject of an unprovoked stabbing

R v H
Successfully defending a man charged with Wounding with Intent in relation to a ‘glassing’ on licenced premises

R v P
Defending a man charged with GBH in relation to a ‘road rage’ incident

Recent work +Close –

Firearms & Shotgun Licensing

Regularly instructed to appeal against the revocation of Firearms and Shotgun Certificates

Provides advice to the Police on related matters.

Biographical and Other Information

Solicitor
Previously Solicitor in Northern Ireland (2001) and England and Wales (2003)
Access
Direct Public Access accredited
Police
Authorised to conduct litigation by the Bar Standards Board

Criminal Law team members

View full team + Close -

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 Profile

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 Profile

Bill 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 Profile

Paul 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.

paul.cavin@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

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 Profile

Peter 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 Profile

Heather 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 Profile

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

mary.mccarthy@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

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).

View Profile

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 Profile

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 Profile

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 Profile

Joss 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 Profile

Dan 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

dan.pawson-pounds@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Will Parkhill

Year Of Call : 2015

Defends serious crime.

will.parkhill@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

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 Profile

Felicity 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 Profile

Frederick 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 Profile

Catherine Daly

Year Of Call : 2015; Door Tenant

Catherine is a 5* Google review rated Criminal Defence Barrister who became a Door Tenant at Walnut House after relocating to the Southwest.

She is also a member of MC Chambers in London.

catherine.daly@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Evie 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 Profile

Zoe 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 Profile

Azzam Bhatti

Year Of Call : 2017

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

View Profile

Bethany 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.

bethany.rickerby@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile