Crime News

3PB’s Gemma White appointed to the First Tier Tribunal (mental health jurisdiction)

25th January 2023

3PB are delighted to announce that barrister Gemma White, pictured here, has been appointed a fee-paid judge of the First Tier Tribunal and will be sitting in the Health and Social Care Chamber in the Mental Health Tribunal. As this is a part-time appointment, Gemma will continue to practice as a barrister alongside sitting and remains available for instruction. The Mental Health Tribunal is an independent body whose role is to hear applications and references...

Rebecca McKnight successful in appealing motoring offence sentence at Bristol Crown Court

14th December 2022

3PB Barrister’s (3 Paper Buildings) specialist criminal barrister Rebecca McKnight (pictured here) has been successful in appealing a motoring offence sentence at Bristol Crown Court. The sentence was imposed for failing to name a driver under Section 172(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. During the original case, a guilty plea entered online and a sentence of 6 penalty points plus a fine was dealt with in absence at Bath Spa Magistrates Court. At the...

Thomas Acworth successful in firearms appeal by way of case stated

22nd November 2022

3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Thomas Acworth, pictured here, appeared for the successful appellant the Chief Constable in the Administrative Court, before Sir Ross Cranston, in the case of Chief Constable of Surrey Police v Nelson Smith. At first instance, the Crown Court upheld the Chief Constable’s decision to refuse Mr. Smith’s application for a firearm certificate on the basis that he was a risk to public safety and the peace. The Crown Court then...

Rebecca McKnight becomes newest 3PB criminal barrister

25th October 2022

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has announced that criminal pupil barrister Rebecca McKnight (pictured here) has become a tenant and member of the national chambers, following the successful completion of her third six pupillage at the set. Rebecca joins our strong Crime Group and will be based at 3PB’s Winchester office. She brings an expertise in general crime (both prosecuting and defending), regulatory disputes and court martial work, having already seen successes in court in...

3PB Criminal Law team achieves the TOP TIER in both legal directories again

20th October 2022

3PB offers its congratulations to its Criminal Law team for again reaching the top tier in the latest editions (2023) of the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. The team has increased its number of juniors ranked in the Western Circuit by Chambers and Partners to 10 (+2 on last year), and now achieves 12 rankings in the Legal 500 (+2 on last year). 3PB’s criminal law team ‘offers an impressive array of criminal practitioners’ and...

3PB excels with 73 rankings in Chambers and Partners 2023

20th October 2022

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has been awarded a record number of rankings in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 73 accolades for its barristers. The national heavyweight chambers achieves its rankings in London, South Eastern, Western and the Midlands - in 18 categories of law. Earlier this year, 3PB also celebrated its first ranking in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth guide. Click here to view the full results...

Jonathan Underhill successful in resisting High Court challenge to Sexual Harm Prevention Order

17th October 2022

3PB specialist criminal and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill (pictured here), instructed on behalf of the respondent the Chief Constable of Dorset police, successfully resisted an application by way of case stated before Mr Justice Chamberlain at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre. The applicant was made the subject of an SHPO at Poole Magistrates Court. Having successfully defended the appeal to the Crown Court, Jonathan was called upon to refute the suggestion the order was based...

Five 3PB pupil barristers become tenants

5th October 2022

3 Paper Buildings (3PB Barristers) has announced that five of its current pupils - former general counsel Jo Laxton (Employment & Discrimination) and four 12-month pupils: Rachel Bale (Commercial/Property & Estates), Olivia McGonigle (Crime), Oliver Hirsch (Crime/Personal Injury/Animal Welfare) and Robert Dawson (Construction/Commercial) - have become tenants following their successful pupillages at the national chambers. 3PB Chief Executive Simon Astill, pictured here, said: “We welcome these five pupils as new tenants and junior counsel across...

3PB welcomes four new pupil barristers

3rd October 2022

National chambers 3 Paper Buildings (3PB Barristers) has welcomed four new pupil barristers to its 230-strong barrister ranks today. The four pupils starting their twelve-month pupillages, pictured left to right from the top, are: former in-house energy lawyer Poppy Watson  who will be focusing on commercial litigation and arbitration; former in-house lawyer and domestic violence and disability campaigner Liz Adams who will be focusing on family law alongside property/other civil areas; former law firm PA Emma...

3PB triumphs in latest Legal 500 ratings of the UK's best barristers  

29th September 2022

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), the UK's third largest chambers, is delighted to report its best rankings yet - totalling 130 - in the Legal 500 2023’s edition published last night, up 12% on last year’s 116. The set has achieved its rankings across 5 large UK regions - or Circuits (London, South Eastern, Western, Midlands and Chester and Wales) - in 21 categories of law. Earlier this year, 3PB also celebrated its first rankings...

Criminal QC Adam Feest appointed as a Circuit Judge

7th September 2022

We are delighted to announce that the Queen has appointed 3PB’s criminal barrister Adam Feest QC (pictured) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from 12 September 2022. Called to the Bar in 1994 and taking silk in 2016, Adam Feest QC has been a Crown Court Recorder for the last 12 years. With over 25 years’ experience at the Bar, he has led some of the most complex and important criminal cases across the Western Circuit, especially...

Exceptional criminal KC joins 3PB

6th September 2022

3PB is delighted to welcome leading criminal law barrister Kate Lumsdon KC (pictured here) as a door tenant. Joint Head of Chambers at 23ES, Kate was called to the Bar in 1993. She practised exclusively on the Western Circuit at 2KBW until moving to 23 Essex Street in 2010.  Prior to taking Silk in 2018, she was a Grade 4 prosecutor on both the Western and South Eastern Circuit, and defended across the country. Rated...