2 Bedford Row

"2 Bedford Row is almost a brand - if the barristers are good enough to be there, they must be very good indeed."  Legal 500, 2010 edition.

In all of our practice areas we aim to provide our clients with a complete service of advice, representation and internationally acclaimed advocacy in an efficient, professional and friendly manner.

FRAUD

Chambers has enormously wide experience acting on behalf of both individuals and companies accused of, or being investigated for, fraud.  Our success on behalf of our clients has been recognised with many professional awards.

We provide clear advice from the earliest stages of an investigation and representation before the courts at any subsequent trial.  We ensure clients receive detailed knowledge of:

• the powers of the particular investigating body
• the likely steps to be taken by the prosecuting authority.

Members of Chambers have been instructed in most of the leading fraud trials of the last ten years including, Maxwell, B.C.C.I., Brent Walker, Wickes plc, Jubilee Line, The Arrows, Allied Resources, W.S.T.C., Bute Mining, Alpine Double Glazing, Resort Hotels, Richmond Oil and Gas, (all S.F.O. prosecutions) as well as a large number of Inland Revenue, D.T.I. and Customs and Excise.

More

SERIOUS CRIME

Chambers enjoys an unrivalled reputation for providing advice and representation in criminal trials. Recognised for its depth of ability at all levels, 2 Bedford Row's service is highly specialised providing insightful advice to those accused of criminal offences together with outstanding advocacy at a criminal trial.

Members of Chambers bring an extraordinary breadth of experience to each case, and tailor that knowledge to the needs and demands of each client. Particular attention is paid to:

• identifying appropriate defences, preparing legal arguments
• ensuring compliance with the prosecution's duty of disclosure and
• taking all steps necessary to ensure that the client's best interests are maximised.

Members of Chambers have been instructed in most of the leading and celebrated criminal trials of the last decade including: The Rachel Nickell murder, The Stephen Lawrence murder, The Greenwich Dome Robbery, The Brixton Nail Bomber, The Kenneth Noye murder trial.

More

APPEALS

A list of recent reported cases in which members have been instructed is shown under Cases on this website. Members have extensive experience in:

• The House of Lords (as was)
• The Supreme Court
• The Court of Appeal Criminal and Civil Divisions
• The Administrative Court.

Our members frequently advise in references to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Our members are frequently instructed on appeals where they have not appeared at the original hearing at the court below.

Many of our Barristers are also members of the London Panel and appear in the Privy Council pro bono for indigenous petitioners. A number of members are prepared to advise pro bono in relation to domestic appeals in the first instance.

More

PROSECUTION

Treasury Counsel, and standing Counsel for the Health and Safety Executive, both practise from Chambers. A number of members prosecute on behalf of the S.F.O. and we regularly advise in cases of corporate and involuntary manslaughter as well as Health & Safety prosecutions.

More

DEFENCE

Our members provide representation and advice to those accused of all types of criminal offence, whether being tried in the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court on the most serious of charges.  We are committed to providing our clients with comprehensive, clear and professional advice together with excellent advocacy whatever the offence.  We appear for the defence in the entire range of criminal cases including:

• murder/manslaughter
• violent offences
• drugs trafficking
• terrorism offences
• bribery/corruption
• revenue and customs offences
• MTIC/caruosel frauds
• trade description offences
• sex offences and child abuse
• insider dealing and market abuse
• mortgage fraud
• international sanctions breaking
• road traffic offences

We are instructed on behalf of various professional bodies to represent their members and are familiar with the demands made of defence advocates by clients and are ready to provide the best service possible. 

More

REGULATORY/COMPLIANCE

Members of Chambers frequently advise individuals and corporates on regulatory issues.  Such compliance advice is given over a wide range including:

• Financial Services legislation and the FSA COB
• The Bribery Act
• Health and Safety Law
  
• Environmental Law
• Money Laundering, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations
• Solicitors' Regulation and Conduct
• Accountancy issues
• Professional Conduct
• Trade Sanctions
• Corporate Governance where issues of exposure to criminal or regulatory proceedings may arise.

More

CONFISCATION

Chambers enjoys an unrivalled reputation for its expertise in this important area.  Members have a vast amount of experience both prosecuting and defending such proceedings.

More

CIVIL ASSET RECOVERY AND FORFEITURE

Members of chambers are frequently instructed in High Court restraint work, either for the Crown or the defendant. We have wide experience in seeking to lift restraint or receivership orders from assets of defendants or third parties to criminal proceedings. Members of chambers act in all confiscation matters, whether following on from trial or instructed purely for the purposes of the confiscation hearing. Members have acted increasingly in money laundering matters.

More

SPORTS LAW

Chambers has represented individual athletes, football players and clubs, national and international sporting associations and regulatory bodies. Members of chambers regularly appear before CAS, the FA, FAPL, UEFA, FIFA and the regulatory bodies of other sports - such as boxing, horse racing, athletics and rugby. Our experience covers all disciplinary and regulatory matters, including doping. Members of chambers sit as Chairman of FA and RFU disciplinary commissions.

More

TRIBUNALS

Members have been instructed to represent clients before the Police Complaints Tribunal and various professional bodies, sports supervisory bodies, The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Regulatory Decisions Committe of the Financial Services Authority.

More

HEALTH AND SAFETY

2 Bedford Row's specialist health and safety team offers unparelleled experience and service throughout the field, advising employers, companies, directors, individuals and public bodies on all aspects of health and safety enforcement.

Members of the 2 Bedford Row specialist health and safety team have been involved in high profile cases relating to:

• oil and gas;
• nuclear;
• gas supply;
• construction;
• railway and rail maintenance;
• hotel, catering and leisure industries; and
• the retail trade. 

The team includes the co-authors of the leading practitioner text Health and Safety Enforcement: Law and Practice (Oxford University Press) and the author of Blackstone's Guide to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007(Oxford University Press); Standing Counsel to the HSE and the Office for Rail Regulation.

More

FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION

Chambers have a team with expertise in Financial Services law and practice and offer advice and representation in relation to investigations, tribunal hearings and criminal prosecutions brought under the provisions of the Financial Services legislation.

More

PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE

2 Bedford Row Ranked is ranked as a leading set in Professional Discipline by both Legal 500 2010 and Chambers and Partners 2010 commenting:

"2 Bedford Row is widely regarded as an up-and-coming set in professional discipline. Its members are doing an increasing amount of work in the area, utilising their background in criminal law to turn in excellent courtroom performances. The work here is spread across a variety of professions, with police, healthcare, finance and sport matters all handled"

More

CORONERS' INQUESTS

Members of chambers frequently act for the families of the bereaved as well as other interested parties, corporate and individual, at Coroners Inquests. Such hearings are often highly significant if there is an ongoing, or potential, investigation by the police or the HSE.

More

PUBLIC INQUIRIES

Several members appear regularly in Public Inquiries such as the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry, the Victoria Climbie Inquiry and the Ashworth Special Hospital Inquiry. Jim Sturman QC appeared before the Turks and Caicos Commission of Inquiry.

More

JUDICIAL REVIEW

High Court challenges to decisions in the criminal law sphere are an important safeguard against administrative excess but they are a niche practice area. Several members of chambers have specialist knowledge and experience of advising and conducting judicial review cases in criminal and quasi-criminal areas both for the claimant and the defendant.

More

ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

Members of the specialist team have advised and acted for corporations in environmental prosecutions concerned with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Water Resources Act 1991, groundwater / controlled waters pollution, waste management regulation, waste permits/ licenses, Producer Responsibility Obligations and Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations.

More

INTERNATIONAL

Members of Chambers have appeared in the West Indies, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. We have been instructed to take evidence on commission in Spain, U.S.A., Switzerland, West Indies, Poland, Holland, Australia and Russia.

More

MILITARY LAW

Chambers has a long history of defending members of the Armed Forces in Courts Martial as well as civilians prosecuted in the Service Civilian Courts.  Members of chambers maintain close links with all three Services and the Ministry of Defence; many members of chambers have military backgrounds.

Both Queen's Counsel and barristers from 2 Bedford Row have acted for members of all 3 services in all types of matters from  very serious cases concerning allegations of torture, murder, attempted murder and rape to less serious matters of common assault, fraud and simple theft.  We have appeared in court martial centres abroad, "Field Courts-Martial" established on operations, and Military Court Centres in the UK.  Members of chambers have also been heavily involved in the high profile courts-martial arising out of the Iraq war.

More