Paul Taylor KC specialises in criminal appeals and is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities in this area.
In addition to being the general editor of Taylor on Criminal Appeals – the definitive practitioners’ textbook on the procedural aspects of criminal appeals and review – Paul is head of the 5KBW Criminal Appeals Unit, and writes and lectures on appellate topics for lawyers in England, Northern Ireland and the Caribbean.
Paul’s core practice involves advising and representing those appearing before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in capital and other appeals from the Caribbean), and the local Caribbean appellate courts, as well as drafting submissions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
He provides second opinions on the merits of a potential appeal where trial counsel has advised that there are no grounds or where the defendant seeks to instruct new counsel. Acutely aware of the potential cost of such reviews, Paul provides a staged approach starting with an initial review of case documentation, an outline of what further work would be required and an estimate for that work.
Paul has developed particular expertise in appeals involving fresh evidence, including expert forensic evidence relating to gun-shot residue, DNA, CCTV analysis, and psychiatric opinion. His approach involves meticulous analysis of the documentation, supervising the selection and instruction of experts, all within the context of an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the appellate legal framework. Paul takes a pragmatic and empathetic approach in dealing with defendants and their families and excels in leading a team of lawyers and experts.
Paul has lectured on appellate matters in England & Northern Ireland, and provided training in the Cayman Islands & Bahamas, and (virtually) to members of the Organisation of Caribbean Commonwealth Bar Association and the Law Association of Trinidad & Tabago.
In 2025 he assisted the Bar Council in drafting the response to the Law Commission’s Consultation Paper on Criminal Appeals.
Paul is licenced under the Direct Access Scheme and accepts instructions directly from members of the public in appropriate cases.
He also hosts Appealcast5kbw, an occasional podcast dealing with appellate crime.
The following case commentaries were first published by Thomson Reuters (Professional) UK Limited in Criminal Law Review and are reproduced by agreement with the publishers.
