Crime

Consistently ranked in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, the Crime Team at Albion Chambers is one of the most highly respected on the Western Circuit. Led by Edward Hetherington, the Team offers breadth and depth of experience at all levels of call and seniority, affording clients the best possible calibre of representation from early pre-charge Advice, all the way through to hearings in the Supreme Court.

At the senior end of the Team, we have 4 King’s Counsel who regularly appear in cases of the utmost gravity and complexity. Our specialist criminal advocates include a former Leader of The Western Circuit, alongside practitioners who sit in judicial capacities in the High Court, Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and on various Tribunals.

Albion continues to place emphasis on the identification and development of the best emerging legal talent. Our Team has grown organically through the development of specialist criminal pupils and the recruitment of able practitioners at all levels of Call.

Whilst our work is predominantly based in the South West of England and South Wales, we are frequently instructed in high-profile and complex work across the country. We accept private and publicly-funded instructions, with some members of the Team accredited to accept cases under the Public Access Scheme.

Many of the team also practice in other complementary areas of law including judicial review, inquests and disciplinary actions against the police and prison services.

The team is supported by our experienced and responsive Clerking Team who are available to help identify the best possible barrister for your case. We recognise the importance of continuity, and make every effort to avoid late returns. When changes of representation do occur, their knowledge ensures that our Clerks are able to ensure a consistent level of representation with no impact on the client.

Continuing education, internal and external, is important to us. We run programmes of seminars, together with in-house training sessions and are accredited CPD providers. Please contact our Chambers’ Director, Nick Jeanes for further information.

‘Albion Chambers is the pinnacle for criminal and regulatory matters. There is enormous strength in depth, with some real heavy hitters and quality advocates.’ Legal 500 2025

‘Albion Chambers is the go-to set. It is an excellent team of criminal practitioners that deal with the full range of criminal and regulatory matters with an excellent selection of reliable and approachable silks.’ Legal 500 2025

‘One of the pre-eminent crime sets on the Western Circuit’ with ‘an excellent mix of different levels of call’ Legal 500, 2024

‘The whole team is great, very responsive and accommodating.’ ‘The clerks at Albion Chambers are affable and responsive.’ Legal 500 2023

'Praised by instructing solicitors as ‘a long established and central part of the criminal Bar in Bristol‘, Albion Chambers has ‘a wide choice of extremely able counsel‘ Legal 500 2023