Serious Violent & Sexual Crime

Three Raymond Buildings has long been recognised as a pre-eminent criminal set. Over the decades many of the most celebrated advocates in criminal law have practised from here and continue to do so. The practice of our members encompasses advocacy and advisory work in every aspect of criminal law both domestically and internationally, including international mutual assistance and extradition.

The conduct of proceedings involving serious and violent crime remains at the heart of what we are and what we do. We have an uninterrupted history of members practising as Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey, and one existing member was First Senior Treasury Counsel.

Members of chambers have defended some of the most notorious individuals and continue to appear in cases involving the most serious alleged violence and sexual crime both at the Old Bailey and nationally. We have adapted as the criminality of legendary criminals in the East End of London in the 1960s has given way to the violence associated with contemporary gangs of young people in cities across the UK, and the evolution of crime linked to county lines. We defend in controversial judge-only trials in Northern Ireland, including allegations of State entrapment.

We also contribute to the development of these aspects of criminal law. Examples include a report leading to substantive reforms to the sexual offences prevention order regime in 2014 –this marking a change in philosophy now applied in other contexts such as modern slavery, domestic violence and female genital mutilation – and delivering training through the UN as to the investigation and prosecution of violent crime and terrorism.