Dere Street Barristers – Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2021

Criminal Department – Band 2

Dere Street Barristers offers expertise in a wide range of criminal matters, including serious crimes such as homicides and serious sexual offences. Several members of the team are on CPS panels, and the chambers is also home to a number of specialist rape prosecutors. Additional areas of strength for the set include cases relating to organised crime, such as drugs conspiracies, and criminal fraud matters.

Client service: The senior criminal clerk is Craig Mead.

John Elvidge QC
Former leader of the North Eastern Circuit who attracts plaudits for his impressive experience of dealing with a broad variety of serious criminal matters. He has expertise in cases involving homicide, serious and organised crime, commercial drugs supply and serious sexual offences. He has been instructed to prosecute and defend cases brought by the CPS Complex Crime Unit.
Strengths: “He has good insight and really understands human behaviour.”
Recent work: Prosecuted a woman accused of killing her husband at their family home. She claimed to have acted in self-defence.

Peter Makepeace QC
Respected silk who is experienced at both prosecuting and defending a range of serious crime cases. His practice includes cases concerning drugs, homicide and serious violence. He sits on the CPS Specialist Fraud Advocate Panel.
Strengths: “He is a formidable opponent and is as wily as a fox.” “He communicates well and is very persuasive.”
Recent work: Successfully prosecuted a defendant accused of murdering his former partner.

Employment

Samuel Healy -Band 2

A specialist employment advocate with a vast abundance of experience to offer to his clientele across the breadth of the practice area. He has impressive experience handling TUPE and discrimination claims.
Strengths: “He put his clients at ease at a particularly difficult time. He’s a brilliant negotiator, which makes him eminently suitable for alternative dispute resolution. He also produces clever cross-examination.” “Approachable, good with clients, technically very knowledgeable and has excellent advocacy skills.”
Recent work: Acted in a constructive dismissal case involving consideration of a number of covert recordings.

Family/Matrimonial Department – Band 2

Dere Street has a sizeable team of barristers, often called on to act for local authorities and guardians, as well as parents, across the full range of children work. Members handle all manner of difficult cases, from those concerning serious injury and death to private law disputes over child arrangements and contact. The set is also noted for its experience in Court of Protection cases and is particularly well regarded for the barristers’ ability to act for vulnerable clients.

Client service: “The clerks deal with all enquiries in a prompt and orderly fashion while being able to maintain their friendly and approachable manner at all time. They make themselves available both in and out of work hours dealing with emergencies that arise in this area of law.” “All the staff are pleasant and if there are difficulties, they are in touch straight away and offer alternative barristers.” “The clerks go the extra mile and I know that if I have a problem with my diary, they will hold it in mind in the changing landscape of schedules.” Neil Gibson is the senior family clerk.

Carly Henley

A public law specialist, Henley has expertise in child abuse and serious non-accidental injuries cases for local authorities, children and relatives. Her role as an assistant coroner means she is particularly adept at handling highly technical medical and factual evidence. She is also experienced in handling child cases with an international element.
Strengths: “She takes a forensic approach to cases and is highly organised and very approachable.”

David Rowlands

Specialises in private and public law child cases. He often acts for local authorities and families in connection with grave charges, such as of factitious illness and physical or sexual abuse.
Strengths: “He’s a very experienced senior counsel. He’s fantastic, very approachable and very well prepared.”

Elizabeth Callaghan

A committed family law advocate whose practice covers both public and private law, with a focus on cases involving child fatalities and alleged non-accidental injury, in addition to contested adoptions, sometimes with a multi-jurisdictional component. She acts for parents, children and local authorities, though she has particular experience with vulnerable clients.
Strengths: “She has this ability to switch from an empathetic mode to barrister mode. There are not many with that skill.” “She is very thorough, very calm and very organised.”

Karen Lennon

Has a broad family practice incorporating both private and public law children work. She is very familiar with care, adoption and wardship proceedings, and has experience handling complex cases of injury, abuse and neglect on behalf of parents, children and local authorities.
Strengths: “She is always well prepared and makes sure she will argue her client’s case.” “She’s a robust advocate.”

Pauline Moulder

An experienced senior junior who is exceptionally well versed in child care law. She represents parents and children alike in complex cases of serious injury, abuse and parental negligence, which often involve complex medical evidence. She also handles children cases with international aspects.
Strengths: “She is an absolute fighter and very forensic.” “She’s really very good on complex injury cases for parents.”

Timothy Donnelly

He often acts for local authorities and parents in care proceedings involving complex medical evidence such as allegations of sexual abuse, induced illness and suspicious deaths. He has particular experience in cross-examining children and other vulnerable witnesses. He also acts on child arrangement and abduction matters.
Strengths: “He is able to approach any problem with a calm, commanding and approachable manner.” “He’s a very well-respected junior counsel and a fantastic advocate. He’s very good with the clients and very well organised.”

Family – Matrimonial/Finance

Crispin Oliver

Applauded senior junior well versed in financial orders, high-value ancillary relief and cases featuring complex overseas assets. He acts as an arbitrator as well as an advocate in both financial and children-related matters.

Strengths: “He’s highly experienced and takes a very pragmatic approach to cases.” “He is an extremely knowledgeable and eminently sensible barrister who, time and again, will impress clients by getting the outcome that he’s advised is appropriate.” “He is very calm, assured, assertive and good at managing clients.”

Personal Injury

Daniel Edwards – Band 2

A highly regarded barrister who maintains a broad personal injury practice. He represents both claimants and defendants in catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims, with particular expertise in cases involving issues of employers’ liability. He counts insurers, businesses, trade unions and private individuals among his clients.
Strengths: “An excellent barrister. He’s knowledgeable and very good with clients.”

Real Estate Litigation

Stephen Fletcher – Band 2

Provides high-quality representation in property-related tribunals and trials. He has experience of an interesting array of issues including rights of way, landlord and tenant disputes, covenants and joint ventures.
Strengths: “Stephen is always available and gets a huge amount of work done very efficiently. He goes the extra mile and gives you a Rolls-Royce service.”
Recent work: Acted in a four-day trial in Newcastle regarding the location of a boundary.