FIND A BARRISTER

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  • 5 King's Bench Walk, Temple, London EC4Y 7DN
  • T: +44 (0) 20 7353 5638
  • clerks@5kbw.co.uk
  • Out of Hours: 07738 328059
  • DX: LDE 367 London
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What The Directories Say

With a ‘fantastic array of talent from top to bottom’ 5KBW has a strong reputation for its criminal law offering

Legal 500 2024

“Clever, articulate and brilliant at legal argument."

Chambers UK 2020 | Jonathan Higgs KC

‘A powerhouse of talent’, 5KBW is ‘home to some of the biggest names’ at the Criminal Bar.

Legal 500 2020

“A truly class act and one of the very best at the Criminal Bar.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Mark Heywood KC

‘An outstandingly skilled advocate, especially in dealing with extremely vulnerable witnesses.’

Legal 500 2020 | Charlotte Newell KC

"Strong from top to bottom’, solicitors receive a ‘second-to-none’, ‘competitively priced’ service from a diverse group of hardworking barristers."

Legal 500 2020

‘She excels in serious sexual offence cases and the disclosure issues that arise during them. ’

Legal 500 2020 | Sarah Forshaw KC

‘A masterful advocate – eloquent, sharp and irresistibly persuasive.’

Legal 500 2020 | Jonathan Polnay KC

“He just has a way of reducing what are extremely complicated submissions into a really easy, digestible and understandable form. He is first-rate.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Mark Heywood KC

"The clerks ‘all genuinely understand the importance of keeping instructing solicitors informed and always return telephone call promptly. They are all incredibly professional’."

Legal 500 2020

‘He is excellent at putting clients at ease.’

Legal 500 2020 | James Martin

‘A real superstar – a real calming energy in a case.’

Legal 500 2020

“Sarah is a real force to be reckoned with, and hugely respected in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal."

Chambers UK 2020 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"The clerk’s room befits chambers’ good reputation"

Legal 500 2020

“I find the clerks at 5KBW, especially Lee Hughes-Gage, professional, helpful and friendly. They will do all that they can to accommodate your requests, even at incredibly short notice or long distance.”

Chambers UK 2020

“He has extensive experience of how the criminal justice system operates in practice, particularly in relation to the processes used by law enforcement and the mechanics of the various powers available to law enforcement agencies. He has excellent judgement and is able to offer simple, but highly useful suggestions.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Jonathan Polnay KC

“A truly wonderful set” that has barristers who “prepare everything early and give huge confidence to clients.”

Chambers UK 2020

"Her refusal to back down is one of her greatest attributes. She is extremely dedicated and hard-working, which instils great confidence in her clients and solicitors alike.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"If you are serious about getting the very best representation then you need look no further than 5 KBW."

Chambers UK 2019

"Chambers has an array of talented and hard-working barristers who support their instructing solicitors, and each other, when necessary."

Chambers UK 2019

"There are not enough superlatives to do this gentleman justice; he has a prolific energy that galvanises his cases."

Chambers UK 2019 | Jonathan Polnay KC

"The clerks are polite and well organised." "The attitude of the set as a whole is that it is hungry to develop new work contacts and provide a higher level of service." Lee Hughes-Gage is the senior clerk.

Chambers UK 2019

"An excellent jury advocate who makes clients feel at ease." "She is a very hard-working and accomplished advocate in whom clients have faith."

Chambers UK 2019 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"The consummate silk."

Chambers UK 2019 | Mark Heywood KC

The ‘fantastic’ 5KBW has dealt with many high-profile criminal cases over the last year and is ‘fast becoming a leading chambers thanks to the ability and experience of its counsel’.

Legal 500 - 2019

‘Her key strength is her very engaging advocacy style – juries and judges are rapt.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | Sarah Forshaw KC

‘Solicitors wouldn’t hesitate to use him – he really is very good.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | Anthony Orchard KC

"A highly diligent new silk who exhibits clear communication skills and has great sensitivity to client concerns. High-value money laundering, rate rigging and corporate theft matters feature in her caseload. She is noted for her experience of handling matters for financial services clients."

Chambers UK 2019 | Natasha Wong KC

'An excellent jury advocate with excellent client care who can take a sensible and pragmatic view.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | Jeffrey Israel

‘She inspires confidence in clients, which is born out in her track record.’

Legal 500 - 2019

‘Very knowledgable, with an amazing client manner – someone you want on your side.’

Legal 500 - 2019

‘Incredibly hardworking, with a level of preparation that is second to none.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | Charlotte Newell KC

‘A go-to barrister in high demand from many top-calibre solicitors.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | Rishi Nathwani SC

‘Tenacious and fully committed to every case, he is polite but unyielding.’

Legal 500 - 2019 | James Martin

‘Primarily a very fair and effective prosecutor, he is also a very hardworking defence junior who gets on very well with clients.’

Legal 500 - 2018

"He is very well respected, very knowledgeable and a great advocate with extra skill from his scientific background."

Chambers UK 2019 | Alistair MacDonald KC

‘She demonstrates detailed preparation, forensic analysis of the evidence and great people skills.’

Legal 500 - 2018 | Natasha Wong KC

“Her meticulous approach wins plaudits from interviewees who also value her ability to get to the heart of complex fraud matters”.

Chambers UK 2018 | Natasha Wong KC

‘She is robust in defending with a velvet-clad iron fist.’

Legal 500 2017

'An electrifying character, who has an excellent rapport with clients.'

Legal 500 2017

"Her attention to detail, tactical acumen and sensitivity with clients all deserve the highest praise."

Chambers UK 2018 | Natasha Wong KC

‘As first senior Treasury Counsel, he prosecutes in some of the most serious cases.’

Legal 500 2017

‘He has an exceptional intellect, which allows him to analyse and dismantle a prosecution case with first-class finesse in the courtroom.’

Legal 500 2017

‘Incredibly hardworking and meticulous, with an attention to detail that is second to none.’

Legal 500 2017

‘A first-class junior, who is very tactically astute, hardworking and effective.’

Legal 500 2017 | Rishi Nathwani SC

‘A no-nonsense advocate and a tough opponent with an attractive manner before juries.’

Legal 500 2017 | James Martin

In the clerks’ room, Lee Hughes-Gage ‘leads a very steady ship’. His team always provides ‘a high-quality service’ by ‘going the extra mile’ for clients and ‘providing the best barrister to suit client needs’.

Legal 500 2018

‘A very effective prosecutor, and also a very hardworking defence junior, who gets on very well with clients.’

Legal 500 2017 | Jonathan Polnay KC

‘An extremely able advocate, who gains the client’s confidence quickly.’

Legal 500 2017 | Jonathan Higgs KC

'A tenacious advocate, who is knowledgeable and very good with clients.'

Legal 500 2017 | Jeffrey Israel

‘A very accomplished advocate.’

Legal 500 2018 | Alistair MacDonald KC

‘a serious outfit with the ability to take on very high-level cases’.

Legal 500 2017

"She's a silk who reads every piece of paper. She's demanding on those she works with and she's got great client rapport. Juries love her."

Chambers UK 2017 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"You can't get better than Mark Heywood. He's a beautiful advocate with great strategic awareness, who is lovely to work with and a very charming man."

Chambers UK 2018 | Mark Heywood KC

"One of the best lawyers, if not the best lawyer in the country."

Chambers UK 2017 | Mark Heywood KC

"Brilliant. An amazing advocate who's comfortable with the clients, takes an uncompromising approach to case presentation and develops a very good rapport with the jury." 

Chambers UK 2018 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"Well established in the market, he has a stellar reputation for his deft handling of serious crime cases."

Chambers UK 2017 | Alistair MacDonald KC

"He is a class act in every way."

Legal 500 2016 | Alistair MacDonald KC

"He is able to get to the crux of a case extremely quickly and instils confidence in clients like few others. He is an exceptionally brilliant advocate who is loved by juries and judges alike".

Chambers UK 2016 | Alistair MacDonald KC

"He instils great confidence in clients."

Legal 500 2016 | Jonathan Polnay KC

"Breathtakingly intelligent and beautifully eloquent."

Legal 500 2016 | Mark Heywood KC

"Conscientious, supportive, hardworking and forward-thinking."

Legal 500 2016

"Silky smooth."

Legal 500 2016

"5KBW is ‘a truly independent and a forward-thinking set with a mind on the bigger picture and expertise at its core’. Containing ‘a wealth of high-end experience’ in criminal law."

Legal 500 2016

"Recommended for his experience from his previous career in the Police."

Legal 500 2016

Mark Heywood QC "...who is known for the strength of his intellect."

Chambers UK 2016

"Intellectually razor-sharp."

Legal 500 2016 | Rishi Nathwani SC

"She has an engaging manner with solicitors and lay clients."

Legal 500 2016

"A tenacious advocate."

Legal 500 2016

"5KBW is a strong set with excellent sexual offence specialists."

Legal 500 2016

“If you want a real leader on the case, then look no further; he really is that good”.

Legal 500 2015 | Alistair MacDonald KC

“He has a phenomenal legal brain and very quickly gets to grips with the facts of a case. His preparation is unparalleled.”

Chambers & Partners 2020 | Senghin Kong

“An extraordinary barrister – she’s insightful, tactically aware and good on her feet. She commands the respect of the tribunal.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Charlotte Newell KC

“He’s eloquent, understated and extremely bright. He gets fantastic results and is always available on the end of the phone.” “He’s great with clients – I would recommend him without hesitation.”

Chambers UK 2020 | James Martin

“She is disarmingly friendly and makes people feel at ease.” “Very impressive and a really great advocate.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Natasha Wong KC

“Unflappable and very effective.”

Chambers UK 2020 | Anthony Orchard KC

'A fearless silk; Juries love her.'

Legal 500 2020 | Natasha Wong KC

'She is Just Fantastic'

Chambers UK 2020 | Louise Oakley

‘He is highly intelligent; he is prolifically hard-working and has endless stamina and he is a great strategist and his judgment is pretty perfect. He is one of the best junior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey. A masterful advocate; he makes winning look easy.’

Legal 500 2021 | Jonathan Polnay KC

‘A hard working junior with an unflappable and laid back style. Fierce in cross-examination when required’.

Legal 500 2021 | Ben Holt

' Sarah is a master on her in feet in the courtroom and commands the attention of all in her presence due to her skilled advocacy.’

Legal 500 2023 | Sarah Forshaw KC

‘Natasha is an absolute star and now obviously one of the leading silks of her generation.’

Legal 500 2023

‘Charlotte has a wonderfully calming and reassuring nature when advising clients. Her advocacy is exceptionally clear and easy to digest, which is essential for a complex criminal case when people”s lives are on the line.’

Legal 500 2023 | Charlotte Newell KC

‘Danny is a consummate professional. He is a top-class advocate with a skill for an economy of words, each one carefully chosen for maximum impact.’

Legal 500 2023

‘Jonathan is a top silk whose attention to detail and presence in court make him a force to be reckoned with.’

Legal 500 2023 | Jonathan Higgs KC

Louise is calm under pressure, collected in the face of hostile opponents, and completely in command of her brief. A real star.'

Legal 500 2023 | Louise Oakley

Excellent in all areas, his advocacy is excellent and precise.'

Legal 500 2023 | Jeffrey Israel

Will is well-respected by the judiciary due to the structured and engaging nature of his advocacy.'

Legal 500 2023 | William Davis

‘ Jonathan is immensely impressive. He is incredibly clever, extremely hard working, and thinks incredibly quickly on his feet. A lethal cross-examiner. ’

Legal 500 - 2023 [Financial Crime] | Jonathan Polnay KC

' Mark is a master tactician and a real class act. His advocacy is smooth and eloquent. Everyone in the room listens to him when he speaks.'

Legal 500 - 2023 [Financial Crime] | Mark Heywood KC

"An outstanding advocate who is very bright and respected by all."

Chambers UK 2023 | Mark Heywood KC

"A fabulous advocate and one of the very best KCs in the business."

Chambers UK 2023 | Sarah Forshaw KC

"He is outrageously good and instils total confidence from the outset. A hugely impressive professional who is very, very responsive and able to grasp cases immediately."

Chambers UK 2023 | Jonathan Polnay KC

"He has a vision for the conduct of his lay client's case that he is ruthless in pursuing."

Chambers UK 2023 | Jonathan Higgs KC

"James Martin is very experienced and has always provided a brilliant service to clients both through his advocacy and in the way he conducts conferences."

Chambers UK 2023 | James Martin

"A great cross-examiner who is always all over the facts in a case."

Chambers UK 2023 | Louise Oakley

"His case preparation is always thorough and his arguments are always well directed."

Chambers UK 2023 | Anthony Orchard KC

"Diligent in her case preparation and persuasive with judges and juries alike. She also has consummate client skills."

Chambers UK 2023 | Natasha Wong KC

"He is incredibly robust and will fight all the way. You definitely want him on your side."

Chambers UK 2023 | Jeffrey Israel

"Carving a name for herself in silk as both a talented prosecutor and defender."

Chambers UK 2023 | Charlotte Newell KC