Pictured above: Richard Atkins, Alistair MacDonald and
Francis Laird
St Philips Chambers has announced they are to have three members
of chambers appointed as Queen's Counsel, taking the total numbers
of QC's in chambers to 17.
Francis Laird, Richard Atkins and Alistair MacDonald will all be
sworn-in as Queen's Counsel on Thursday 7th April in a ceremony
before the Lord Chancellor held at the Palace of Westminster.
Francis Laird and Richard Atkins were called to the Bar in 1986
and 1989 respectively and are both leading criminal practitioners
on the Midlands Circuit and beyond. They have extensive
experience in prosecuting and defending cases involving murder,
manslaughter, serious sexual crimes, fraud and regulatory offences.
Both sit as Recorders of the Crown Court.
Alistair MacDonald was called to the Bar in 1995 and is one of
the youngest QC's to be appointed this year. He specialises
exclusively in the law relating to children, concentrating on
complex public law cases in the High Court. As an
acknowledged expert on children's rights Alistair has recently
published a major new work in this area of law, entitled The Rights
of the Child - Law and Practice, which provides comprehensive
guidance to practitioners. Alistair sits as a Recorder in the
County Court.
James Burbridge QC, Head of St Philips Chambers said: "We
are delighted to announce the three appointments to silk in
chambers. This really is a great achievement and we are
certain this will build on our already hugely successful criminal
and family practices.
"St Philips is a large set of chambers practicing in all types
of legal work covering civil, family and criminal disciplines."