Dere Street Barristers - The Legal 500 Directory 2020 recommendations.

The Legal 500 – 2020 edition, has the following to say about Dere Street Barristers.
Dere Street Barristers ‘offers considerable strength-in-depth for family law work’, counsel ‘always willing to go the extra mile’ in personal injury and clinical negligence work including ‘juniors who understand the costs constraints on solicitors and senior counsel able to undertake the most complex and valuable cases’. The clerks are ‘professional, responsive, and hardworking’, with notable names under head clerk Kevin Beaumont including senior family clerk Neil Gibson (who heads a team that includes the ‘approachable and friendly’ Liam Branch), ‘standout’ senior civil clerk Andy Gray and senior criminal clerk Craig Mead. Offices in: Newcastle and York
At Dere Street Barristers, members prosecute and defend in a wide range of criminal cases. Recent highlights include John Elvidge QC‘s representation of a defendant financial consultant in a five-month multi-defendant SFO prosecution and Peter Makepeace QC securing an acquittal for a defendant in a joint enterprise murder case, in which several of the co-accused were convicted of murder or manslaughter.
Leading Silks
John Elvidge QC – Dere Street Barristers ‘An excellent leader with a cool head.’ (Ranked: tier 1)
Peter Makepeace QC – Dere Street Barristers ‘Recommended for serious drug-related cases.’
Commercial, banking, insolvency and Chancery law
Stephen Fletcher is the key name to note for chancery work at Dere Street Barristers, also maintaining a more general commercial litigation practice. Notably, Fletcher defended a company director in Manolete Partners plc v Mercury Tax Group (in liquidation), which involved a £1m breach of duty claim.
Leading Juniors
Stephen Fletcher – Dere Street Barristers ‘An excellent advocate who engages well with clients.’ (Ranked: tier 1)
Crime
Leading Juniors
Anne Richardson – Dere Street Barristers ‘Particularly effective with vulnerable witnesses.’ (Ranked: tier 1)
Anthony Davis – Dere Street Barristers ‘An experienced criminal junior. ’
Daniel Cordey – Dere Street Barristers ‘Particularly strong on fraud cases.’
Employment
Dere Street Barristers ‘ employment team is home to several strong practitioners, and recently provided juniors on both sides of Court of Appeal case City of York Council v Grosset, which concerned the definition of disability discrimination law set down in the Equality Act 2010, and saw Samuel Healy acting for the council while Angharad Davies represented the former teacher. Other notable cases include Healy’s successful representation of a respondent school following an allegation of sexual orientation discrimination brought by a heterosexual man who had been dismissed.
Leading Juniors
Sam Healy – Dere Street Barristers ‘A very capable and approachable advocate who gets directly to the point.’ (Ranked: tier 1)
Angharad Davies – Dere Street Barristers ‘Acts for both claimants and respondents in Equality Act and dismissal claims.’
Family and children law
Dere Street Barristers is active across the spectrum of family law matters, though it is most notable for members’ particular experience in public law children proceedings, often involving non-accidental injury. The set is recommended by clients for its ‘considerable strength in depth’ and its ‘welcoming and friendly approach‘.
Leading Juniors
Pauline Moulder – Dere Street Barristers ‘Recommended for cases involving complex medical evidence.’ (Ranked: tier 1)
Elizabeth Callaghan – Dere Street Barristers ‘Very insightful with a strong presence in court.’
Tim Donnelly – Dere Street Barristers ‘Adept at handling complicated cases in a thorough and professional manner.’
Carly Henley – Dere Street Barristers ‘Specialises in abuse international child abduction cases.’
Personal injury
Dere Street Barristers is home to Daniel Edwards, who specialises in catastrophic injury cases – he primarily acts for claimants, but also does some defendant work.
Leading Juniors