News - Dere Street Barristers

15/04/2025

Retirements from the Bar

All members of Chambers and staff join in wishing our friends and colleagues Geoff Hunter and Angus Taylor all the very best on their retirements from the Bar. Geoff Hunter was called to the Bar in 1979 and became a member of Westgate Chambers on Westgate Road, then at Broad Chare Chambers before joining York […]

11/04/2025

Denise Breen-Lawton KC

Chambers are delighted to welcome Denise Breen-Lawton KC as a door tenant. Denise is an experienced terrorism, homicide, fraud and organised crime Barrister, and acts both for the Defence and Prosecution in cases of the most complex and serious nature. Coming from a humble background and state school educated, she was the first in her […]

10/04/2025

Opening of Provincial House

Dere Street Barristers would like to thank the Local Judiciary, Solicitors and other members of the legal community for joining them to celebrate the opening of our newest premises in Newcastle. Our new suite of offices at Provincial House, Northumberland Street is in close proximity to the Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunal Centre […]

09/04/2025

The Expert’s Agenda

The next episode from ‘The Advocates Lounge’ is delivered by Jonathan Godfrey who guides us through his take on the expert’s agenda. Jonathan specialises in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury. He acts on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants. He has 25 years plus experience. He is an accredited advocacy trainer for the North Eastern Circuit and […]

08/04/2025

Helen Towers secures acquittal in Rape trial

The Defendant faced a two count indictment of Rape and Assault by Beating. The trial lasted 6 days at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury returned not guilty verdicts after only 7 minutes of deliberation. Helen practises across the spectrum of criminal law, receiving instructions to represent both Defence and Prosecution involving matters of violence including […]

08/04/2025

Boy, 15, who stabbed girl with a sword near the A63 is sentenced

David Lamb KC led Claire Holmes at a six day trial in March to prosecute a teenage boy found guilty of attempted murder. The 15-year-old boy, who brutally stabbed a teenage girl leaving her with life-threatening injuries on Halloween last year, has now been sentenced to 11 years in detention. You can read full media […]

07/04/2025

Dere Street Pupils embark upon their 2nd Six

Each week, leading up to their start, we introduced our 5 new pupils to you, Hawa Jogi, Jessica Noble, Zackeray Fixter, Laura Peto and Jillian Newton. Hawa, Jessica and Zackeray under the supervision of Ruth Phillips, Jennie Smith and Crispin Oliver respectively are undertaking Common Law Pupillages and Laura and Jillian‘s pupillages, under the supervision […]

31/03/2025

Haris Simpson (1990 – 2025)

Everyone in Chambers has been shocked to learn this past weekend of the death of Haris Simpson whilst he was enjoying a holiday abroad. Haris was a very dear colleague who was held in great affection and respect by all who knew him in the legal profession and through his previous work in Local Authority […]

26/03/2025

Specialist Pupils’ secondment to the CPS

As part of their specialist criminal pupillage within Chambers, Jillian and Laura undertook a short secondment to the CPS to enable them to have a direct insight into the role of the CPS in respect of both Magistrates and Crown Court work. During their secondment they spent time in the Magistrates Court including the Youth […]