Andrew Ford KC

For over 20 years Mr Ford KC enjoyed a busy and varied practice as Defence Counsel in the Crown Court. He took on the full variety of criminal cases, including Murder, Drugs, Corruption, and very many Rape and Historic Sexual abuse trials.

Mr Ford KC also developed a niche practice in the defence of white-collar workers, and employees whom faced criminal allegations within the workplace, especially teachers and care workers.

Mr Ford KC has extensive Appellate experience before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), for both sides. Many of his Appeals as a Junior were reported in the Law Reports from 2003 onwards.

For approximately ten years prior to Taking Silk, Mr Ford KC prosecuted the most serious and challenging multi-handed cases in Crown Courts throughout the North West.

On behalf of several North West Constabularies, especially Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police, Merseyside Police & the Cumbria Constabulary, Mr Ford KC steered to conviction a large number of multi-handed Conspiracies, in which serious criminals were tried and imprisoned. These were frequently, but not exclusively, large scale urban drugs conspiracies. They included Conspiracies to attack and compromise ATMs (cashpoints), and other very serious Conspiracies.

The trial Judge wrongly stopped one such Conspiracy at half time against 6 out of 7 drug traffickers. Mr Ford KC appealed this decision as a Terminating Ruling to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, whom reversed the Judge and ordered the trial to resume. The jury returned 6 out of 7 convictions.

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2014/1521.html

Mr Ford KC was routinely retained by Senior Crown Prosecutors within various branches of the CPS to lead for the Crown in these large scale prosecutions. He developed a style and familiarity with their presentation, and the use of both multimedia presentation and paperwork – whether before a jury or Judge alone; and with or without a Junior. He now adopts this approach prosecuting multi-handed Murders.

Mr Ford KC was a pioneer and a leader in what has now become the established method nationally in the cross-examination, and proper challenge, of vulnerable witnesses.

Between 2016 and 2019 Mr Ford KC designed, delivered and led the Northern Circuit Vulnerable Witness Training Programme. This Training represented a sea-change for Advocates in how to cross-examine people who are vulnerable, whether by reason of age, disability or for other reasons.

Mr Ford KC hand-picked and trained the Trainers at the outset of the 3-year Programme. He oversaw this Training to all barrister members of the Circuit throughout that period – involving a diverse range of Circuit Judges and counsel from other disciplines too. Mr Ford KC’s Training Programme was accredited by the Bar Council. Its methods have become the established way to conduct cross-examination in such cases.

As a Junior, Mr Ford KC was a Pupil-Supervisor. Mr Ford KC also served on the Executive Committee of the Criminal Bar Association both as a Leading Junior (2018-2019) and in Silk (2022-2023).

Mr.Ford KC retains a keen interest in the care and development of new entrants to the profession. During 2025 he has both lectured and trained students in advocacy in Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.

Outside of the criminal Courts, Mr Ford KC sits as a Tribunal Judge for UK Athletics. He has a healthy number of other interests and pursuits outside of the Law.