Largest and most prolific team of expert criminal barristers on the Western circuit

Adam Feest QC’s criminal law team at 3PB rightly enjoys a formidable reputation and its barristers are instructed in complex high profile cases on the Western and other Circuits.  Building upon a great tradition that has seen criminal law being practised at 3 Paper Buildings for over 100 years, we have a large and market leading team of silks and juniors, backed by a highly regarded team of specialist criminal clerks.

Chambers & Partners (2020)  reports that 3PB is “well respected for its "excellent breadth and depth of advocates," as well as its handling of high-profile cases involving sexual abuse, drugs charges and violent crime. Barristers at the set remain a popular choice for the CPS and also offer extensive experience of acting for the defence". The Legal 500 UK Bar 2021 reports that "according to some observers in the criminal law space [the set has] ‘the monopoly on the Western Circuit, due to its strength and depth’". The directory ranks both the Crime team and Business and Regulatory Crime (incl. Health and Safety) in the Top Tier, adding that "3PB 'is one of the forefront chambers in Western Circuit and a has a well-deserved reputation for quality representation for both prosecution and defence'". Members here are frequently instructed in criminal matters ranging from serious sexual offences to terrorism. The team represents an array of defendants as well as the CPS and other prosecuting authorities.”

As a specialist criminal chambers we have particular expertise in regulatory criminal offences, receiving instructions from government agencies, local authorities, businesses, insurers and private individuals. Our reputation has also been recently highlighted by the former head of chambers Nigel Lickley QC being appointed as a Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court and 3PB being awarded a certificate of congratulations from the Chief Constable of Hampshire.

With offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Oxford and Winchester all equipped with modern conferencing and video link facilities, we are able to provide a comprehensive and professional service to all.

We welcome direct instructions from both businesses and members of the public under the direct access scheme and are able to offer bespoke services and fee structures to private clients unable or unwilling to access public funding.

Recent cases include:

• R –v- Higgins  - high profile historic sexual offences case involving Southampton FC youth coach.
• Cheeki Rafiki  - 4 sailors lost on a sailing yacht in the Atlantic. Prosecution for failure to properly maintain the vessel resulting in the worse consequences.
• Operation Endorse - multi handed revenge shooting by London drug dealers against a rival Portsmouth gang.
• R v Kevin Downton - case regarding the murder of businessman Guy Hedger.
• Huntingdon terror plot  - Two defendants extradited from the Netherlands, sentenced for their part in a blackmail that stemmed from a campaign involving animal rights extremism, concluded in 2018.
• Metropolitan Police drug operation - resulted in a Hampshire prosecution that conclude with total sentence of 24 and a half years. for the traffickers
• Large scale importation of firearms in the Midlands – Multi handed conspiracy involved dozens of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
• R v Abukaber - representing the defendant charged with the use of acid during a robbery involving A drugs
• HSE –v- Southern Gas – High profile health and safety prosecution, resulting from a breach of gas resulting in a  large explosion. Company fines £1.2m

Stuart Pringle is the Group's Practice Director. His secure email address is stuart.pringle@3paper.cjsm.net . The group's practice management team can be reached at crime@3pb.co.uk. Additional contact details below.