Largest and most prolific team of expert criminal law barristers on the Western circuit
Tom Horder and Jodie Mittell's criminal law barristers 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.
Legal 500 lists that 3PB’s Criminal team is “the monopoly on the Western Circuit," and possessed "great strength in depth" The criminal team is "An excellent and well-respected set, one of the foremost sets on the Western Circuit." and offers “an impressive array of Criminal practitioners.” The independent legal survey ranks both 3PB's 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." ‘The range and depth of counsel in this set is ideal, allowing an almost bespoke tailoring of counsel and client fit,’ members are frequently instructed in “matters ranging from serious sexual offences to terrorism. The team represents an array of defendants as well as the CPS and other prosecuting authorities.” Chambers & Partners 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.” 3PB Barristers houses "various heavyweight counsel able to do the entire range of cases". The team regularly undertakes work relating to crimes of the utmost gravity, including homicides, terror offences and large-scale drugs conspiracies. Regulatory criminal matters and cases involving both recent and historic sexual offences are also key areas of strength for the set, and members have experience acting for both the prosecution and the defence.
As a specialist criminal barristers 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 KC 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 criminal law barrister 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 [email protected] . The group's practice management team can be reached at [email protected]. Additional contact details below.
Our Crime Barristers...
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3PB specialist crime and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill's client, a serving police officer, was accused of raping and sexually assaulting his boyfriend during the period of their relationship; following their having met on Grindr in 2017. Jonathan's client denied that the sexual activity complained of ever took place; despite the complainant approaching the police several years later in 2022 and providing detailed and lengthy accounts of a controlling, coercive and sexually violent relationship. At the...
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In a recent case at Winchester Crown Court, 3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist criminal barrister Rebecca McKnight’s client was found not guilty of two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm which included serious allegations of persistent strangulation. Following the cross examination of Crown witnesses the credibility of the complaint was seriously undermined. It also transpired during cross examination that several crucial pieces of evidence appeared to be missing or no longer available. Rebecca...
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3PB Barristers’ specialist fraud practitioner Jonathan Underhill (pictured here), led by Benjamin Newton KC of Doughty Street Chambers were instructed to defend MB. The 7-count indictment involved 6 separate but personally connected victims. Over a 5-year period, MB purported to invest sums in excess of £800K into both the Forex Capital Markets and various Cryptocurrency platforms. Notwithstanding the initial sums invested, Benjamin, Jonathan and Sam’s careful financial analysis led to the court accepting a loss...
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3PB criminal and PI barrister Oliver Hirsch recently appeared in the Court of Appeal, in a challenge to his client's sentence for breach of a restraining order. The appeal succeeded, with the sentence being reduced by nearly one third, from 58 months to 40. The Court commended Oliver for his 'very helpful' submissions, which contended that the sentence passed had insufficient regard to totality and was manifestly excessive. The Court ruled that the sentences for...
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Welcome to 3PB's crime law newsletter, bringing you news and analysis from our team. Oliver Hirsch analyses the case of R v AFU [2023] EWCA Crim 23; Holly Fagan reviews the latest sentencing guidelines; Rebecca McKnight considers the origins, injuries, and challenges of non-fatal strangulation; and Jonathan Underhill sets out a sentencing guide for intentional non-fatal strangulation cases.
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Criminal law specialist, Holly Fagan, pictured here, has become a member of chambers and will work from 3PB's Winchester office. She will be supported by 3PB's new criminal law and regulatory pupils Kate Davies and Jack Felvus. With a strong following and active client base for a barrister of her level of call, Holly has a busy practice both prosecuting and defending in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court across the Western Circuit. Holly has...
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3PB is proud to announce that its Crime team has retained its TOP TIER ranking in the Legal 500 for Crime (General and Fraud) in the Western Circuit with 11 individual rankings. The team has also retained its Band 1 ranking for Crime in the Chambers and Partners’ edition published today. The Legal 500 also ranks the team in Tier 2 for Business and Regulatory Crime (incl. Health and Safety) on the Western Circuit, recommending...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) breaks another record in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 81 accolades. The national set is rewarded with rankings in 18 areas of law, in the London Bar as well as in the South Eastern, Western and Midlands Circuits and exceptional comments on its service delivery, including praise for its “sublime service” and its "ability to manage matters in a professional and comprehensive manner second...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), the UK's third largest chambers, is delighted to report this year again an outstanding number of rankings - totalling 145 - in the Legal 500 2024’s edition published today, a 12% increase on last year’s 130. The set has achieved its rankings across 5 large UK regions - or Circuits (London, South Eastern, Western, Midlands and Chester and Wales) - in 21 areas of law. 3PB is also ranked in...
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We are delighted to announce that the King has appointed 3PB’s criminal and regulatory barrister David Richards (pictured here) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from Monday 9 October 2023. David has been deployed to the South Eastern Circuit and will be based at the Inner London Crown Court. Called to the Bar in 1989, David Richards has been a Recorder for the last four years and was head of 3PB's successful Public and...
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3PB’s specialist criminal law barrister Rebecca McKnight (pictured here) has successfully secured an acquittal for her client of two charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and two charges of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, after a trial at Southampton Crown Court. The defendant was a vulnerable person who had been facing these allegations for almost 2 years. If found guilty, the defendant would have likely faced a period...
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3PB specialist criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson represented CL at his trial at Oxford Crown Court for possessing a class A drug with intent to supply. On 13 February 2023, officers from Scotland in conjunction with Oxfordshire Constabulary, executed a stop and search warrant of CL's Mercedes vehicle in Oxford as it travelled from Hamilton, Scotland to Bournemouth, England. The police found 1kg of high purity cocaine concealed in a stage light in a box...
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Recommendations
Chambers UK 2022
Client service:
3PB Barristers houses a strong bench of dedicated criminal barristers, noted for their expert handling of a wide range of high-profile and complex cases. The team regularly undertakes work relating to crimes of the utmost gravity, including homicides, terror offences and large-scale drugs conspiracies. Regulatory criminal matters and cases involving both recent and historic sexual offences are also key areas of strength for the set, and members have experience of acting for both the prosecution and the defence.
"The clerks are very accommodating." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2022
CRIME (GENERAL AND FRAUD)
3PB 'has huge strength in depth in criminal work on the Western Circuit and can be relied upon to provide first class counsel for any case'.
BUSINESS AND REGULATORY CRIME (INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY)
3PB is 'a strong set for regulatory work' with 'real strength in depth'
‘A Rolls Royce criminal set on the Western Circuit‘.
‘3PB has great strength in depth and is very accommodating in finding the right counsel for the job‘.
‘A well-respected set‘.
‘The chambers has a good range of high calibre barristers‘.
Legal 500 2021 - Tier 1
BUSINESS AND REGULATORY CRIME (INCLUDING HEALTH AND SAFETY) TIER 1
"Members of 3PB are highly active in health and safety cases across the western circuit, with instructions for both the defence and prosecution in a range of cases up to and including multi-fatality matters."
CRIME (GENERAL AND FRAUD) TIER 1
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'.
Chambers UK 2021 - Band 1
3PB Barristers houses a strong bench of dedicated criminal barristers, noted for their expert handling of a wide range of high-profile and complex cases. The team regularly undertakes work relating to crimes of the utmost gravity, including homicides, terror offences and large-scale drugs conspiracies. Regulatory criminal matters and cases involving both recent and historic sexual offences are also key areas of strength for the set, and members have experience of acting for both the prosecution and the defence. Significant cases recently handled by the set's tenants include R v Robert Higgins, the high-profile prosecution of an ex-Southampton FC youth coach for a variety of historic sexual offences.
Client service: "The set is very well run and the clerks are all very experienced and approachable. They react quickly to changing events and provide reliable support." "3PB is a very welcoming chambers and all of the staff are polite, professional and committed." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2020
3PB is praised by clients as a 'go-to set' for both prosecution and defence instructions work across the western circuit, with 'excellent strength in depth'. The set is instructed on all manner of cases, including serious violent, sexual, or drug-related crime, as well as more specialist areas including fraud and court-martials. Timothy Bradbury prosecuted a British Army officer, who was alleged to have raped a United States Air Force captain. Adam Feest QC prosecuted a former Southampton FC youth coach for multiple historical sexual offences against 24 complainants.
Legal 500 2020
"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 combined clerks’ room across the set’s six offices is a ‘well-oiled machine’.
Lee Giles 'a master of his art'.
Chambers UK 2020 - Band 1
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. Recent significant cases include the Huntingdon Terror Plot, involving two defendants extradited from the Netherlands who were sentenced for their involvement in a blackmail that developed from a campaign involving animal rights extremism.
Client service: "The clerking is excellent and they are always ready to go the extra mile." "The clerks are efficient and easy to deal with." Stuart Pringle is based in Winchester and is chambers director.
Legal 500 2018/19
"3PB has great breadth and depth in its criminal team, with members acting in large-scale drug trafficking matters, high profile historic sexual offences, murder cases and violent crime. In a particular highlight, multiple members of the group acted in the high profile R v Kevin Downton case regarding the murder of businessman Guy Hedger."
Chambers UK 2017
3PB Barristers are in Band One and enjoy a sterling reputation on the Western Circuit for high levels of quality and consistency across its broad criminal practice. It has an enviable track record of handling high-profile and demanding criminal cases, including murder, fraud, drug and sex offences. Instructing solicitors single out the set's efficiency and excellent client service as strengths, observing that the practitioners are "extremely reliable with great diversity, and are able to get to grips with cases at a frightening speed."
Chambers UK 2017
3PB’s criminal law practitioners provide ‘top-class advice and advocacy’.
Chambers UK 2016
"Getting almost impossible results time after time."
Legal 500 2016
"A great set of criminal law chambers."
really excellent for customer serviceChambers and Partners