General Crime

“Great strength across the entire range of criminal matters, from junior juniors to heavyweight silks”.

The Legal 500 2021

We are one of the leading criminal sets in the UK, with a stellar reputation in our field. Our barristers specialise in all types of serious and general crime, financial crime and criminal regulatory work.

We receive instructions to prosecute and defend at every level, and accept both publicly-funded and privately-funded work.

We provide specialist representation and astute, strategic advice at all stages of a case, including pre-charge, trial and appeal. Key areas of practice include:

Cyber crime
Drug trafficking
Fraud
Human trafficking
International crime
Money laundering
Murder and manslaughter
Private prosecutions
Road traffic offences
Robbery
Serious and organised crime, including corruption and bribery
Serious sexual offences including historic abuse
Terrorism
Violent offences

We have 40 Category 4 Prosecutors – more than any other barristers’ chambers in the UK. We receive instructions from the CPS and other prosecuting authorities / specialist agencies including the Serious Fraud Office, the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, CAA, SOCA, HMRC, BIS, DWP, HSE and the Environment Agency.

Members appear in all levels of court and in quasi-criminal jurisdictions such as The General Medical Council, the Coroner’s Court and in all forms of judicial inquiry. Many members also specialise in regulatory and professional disciplinary hearings, where their experience from the criminal courts brings distinct advantage.

Our barristers are regularly invited to provide training to local authorities, solicitors, police and other professional bodies.

What the Directories Say

Exchange Chambers retains its reputation as a go-to set on the Northern Circuit for complex and high-profile criminal cases. Instructing solicitors note that the set “houses a strong bench of very able people and provides a good, solid service.”
Band 1 Leading Set – Crime (Northern Circuit), Chambers and Partners 2021

“‘A top-drawer set across three Northern cities‘, Exchange Chambers has ‘great strength across the entire range of criminal matters, from junior juniors to heavyweight silks‘.”
Leading Set – Crime (Regional), The Legal 500 2021