Crime

St Ives Chambers’ Criminal team values fearless and determined advocacy. Its members are regarded for their down to earth, no-nonsense approach to criminal cases. The quality of advocacy within our group is endorsed by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

St Ives Chambers’ Criminal group undertakes defence and prosecution work in equal measure.

We offer barristers with expertise across a range of specialist areas including:

• Assault / Violence
• Burglary / Robbery / Theft / Shop-lifting
• Child Abuse
• Criminal Fraud and Proceeds of Crime
• Dishonesty Offences
• Domestic Violence
• Drugs Offences
• Murder and Manslaughter cases
• Road Traffic Deaths
• Sexual Assault
• Terrorism, Firearms and Public Disorder Offences
• Vandalism

Chambers has maintained a steadfast commitment to the junior bar, even through politically turbulent times. The Criminal group is now enjoying the dividends of that commitment and has developed a reputation for accommodating the rising stars of the junior bar.

The Criminal group of St Ives Chambers has also provided fertile soil for appointments of our senior counsel to the Circuit and High Court Benches in recent years.

We are acutely aware of the erosion in accessibility to legal aid and excessively high contributions on legal aid cases. In such circumstances, we privately negotiate fees that reflect our high standards of advocacy and representation, but still offer value for money.

We have launched a bi-annual Crime Newsletter, providing updates on developments in criminal law and practice, offering practical insight and guidance to those working throughout the Criminal Justice System. Past issues can be found below:

– Issue 1 (July 2026)