5 Paper Buildings > Crime > London Bar (2025)

England - London Bar

Crime

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5 Paper Buildings is widely recognised as a ‘strong set with a good reputation’ for handling a wide variety of criminal cases, ‘including the more unusual criminal-medical cases’, for example those involving allegations of toxic poisoning or baby shaking.Deanna Heer KC recently prosecuted two teenagers convicted of the murder of Brianna Ghey, a teenager lured to a park and stabbed to death by the pair in February 2023 - the two defendants (one of whom, owing to mutism, typed his evidence in court) received life sentences with minimum terms of 20 years and 22 years respectively, and the reporting restrictions anonymising the defendants were lifted. In June 2024, Miranda Moore KC led Richard Padley in a murder trial, with the defendant having previously been convicted of wounding with intent after running over the victim, who died of his injuries four years later - the case turned on complex medical evidence concerning cause of death.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Dale Jones and Graham Briggs run a slick service and are both charming and personable. They are well organised and always helpful.'
'Dale Jones brings a little bit of the best of old school clerking to the corporate demands that solicitors in 2024 have and does so with total success.'
'The clerks are easy to contact and helpful in trying to assist with cases. Graham Briggs is always very helpful.'
'Dale Jones is an absolute star of a clerk.'
'5 Paper Buildings is a strong set with a good reputation.'
'5 Paper Buildings is a very strong set indeed as it has strength in depth across the criminal field.'
'5 Paper Buildings is amazing. From senior to junior barristers they are very bright and hard-working individuals. The clerks are always available to assist to cover cases and find suitable counsels for particular matters.'
'5 Paper Buildings is a well-established set dealing with the highest- end crime. There are a wide range of silks and senior juniors with experience in general crime, including the more unusual criminal/ medical cases, such as baby shaking and toxic poisoning.'

Silks

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

2Miranda Moore KC5 Paper Buildings 'Miranda is unflappable and knows everything. She has such a depth of experience that literally nothing throws her. She can handle complex legal, factual, medical, and financial analysis with ease. She commands respect and is always cool under pressure. She is also great fun to work with, and not at all stuffy.'

3Benjamin Douglas-Jones KC5 Paper Buildings ‘Ben is an absolutely first-class criminal barrister. When he speaks, people listen, because what he says is always worth listening to. He has a total eye to detail and never misses a page of the papers. He has a great tactical approach and moves straight to the key points. He has no weaknesses.'

4Deanna Heer KC5 Paper Buildings ‘Deanna is a class act. She is charming and persuasive. Her legal knowledge is outstanding. She is fair, hugely talented and has scrupulous integrity. It is always a pleasure to work with her. Her cross-examination is well prepared and to the point. Her legal submissions are focused, clear and on point.’

Juniors

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

3Teresa Hay5 Paper Buildings ‘Teresa demonstrates impeccable client care, making each and every client feel at ease and taking time to understand their backgrounds and circumstances. She is calm, collected and confident in court, well-respected by judges, other lawyers and juries. Teresa is an effective advocate and skilled in cross-examining young witnesses.'

3Jennifer Dannhauser5 Paper Buildings ‘Jennifer is persistent and hugely well prepared for any case. She will know the unused material backwards. Her ability to navigate complex matters of law and evidence is envious. Jennifer can not only put a client at ease but provides a solid backbone to the defence team. She is a silk in waiting.'

4Richard Padley5 Paper Buildings ‘Richard is a clever lawyer and tactician. He has a gravitas without being foreboding. He is very client and solicitor friendly. Richard has an ability to absorb quickly prodigious amounts of information and convey the contents simply and succinctly. He is definitely a barrister to watch for the future.’

4Joshua Normanton5 Paper Buildings‘Josh is the complete barrister. He knows the law and procedures intimately, has excellent judgement, and his written and oral advocacy is highly competent. He works cooperatively with other professionals and establishes strong relationships with lay clients. Josh is a star.’