187 CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Anna Hamilton-Shield is a senior and experienced practitioner who has chosen to specialise in defence cases at the criminal bar.
She has also undertaken an LLM in employment law and represents complainants in cases of unfair dismissal, sexual, racial and disability discrimination.
R v B (2013) - Anthony representeda town clerk who committed fraud on funds of the council
Tony Rimmer is approved to accept instructions direct from international and UK clients on a direct access basis, without the need for a solicitor intermediary in appropriate cases.
Bulmer Art heist trial; R v SA [2019] 4 WLR 142 - Defendant charged with conspiracy to defraud after recovering £2 million of fine art stolen from the heir to the Bulmers Cider fortune. Submission of no case to answer succeeded at trial and on the prosecution's appeal, leading to collapse of the case.
Daniel Kersh has over 25 years' experience in criminal law, having practiced as a solicitor since 1990 and was one of the first solicitors to be awarded the right to appear in the Crown Court as an advocate in 1993.
Daniel was a founding partner in a very well established Central London criminal defence firm for 19 years before transferring to the Bar. He has been repeatedly recognised as a leading practitioner in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 legal directories.
His practice is in serious criminal work. He has a wealth of experience in a broad range of offences, from violent and sexual offences (Murder, rape, blackmail) to fraud and financial crime.
Daniel is known for his trial advocacy and his ability to secure acquittals in telling circumstances.
‘Daniel is a brilliant barrister who is meticulous in his case preparation. From the moment Daniel meets clients he instantly reassures them by treating them with dignity, respect and compassion. His ability to put clients at ease is matched by his forensic and cerebral approach to advocacy.' Legal 500 - 2024
Diana's particular expertise is in dealing with cases involving sexual complaints. She prosecutes and defends. She has developed a particular expertise in dealing with young and vulnerable defendants. She has considerable patience and can explain law and facts in a way that a defendant can understand. She also represents defendants who are professionals in their field and who face grave consequences if convicted.
Diana Pigot is approved to accept instructions direct from international and UK clients on a direct access basis, without the need for a solicitor intermediary in appropriate cases.
Emma Gluckstein Chambers' Administrator Emma was called to the Bar in 1985. She then took a sabbatical and returned to Chambers to assist with their move to Fleet Street in 1999. In 2004 Emma's role changed to become Chambers' Administrator and she is in the unique position of understanding both sides of the profession. Email: emmag@187chambers.com Phone: 020 7430 7410
Gideon Cammerman KC, Head of Chambers, is a top ranked silk in fraud and regulatory cases. Gideon is currently instructed in many of the highest profile SFO and CPS investigations including Entain (former CEO), ENRC (primary individual), Balli Steel (first defendant), Unaoil, Petrofac and Petrobras. Gideon is a trial advocate. He has also appeared in many of the highest profile trials in recent years including the Carillion Audit trial before the Financial Reporting Council, Balli Steel trial, the Alstom corruption case, LIBOR rate-fixing, Weavering Capital Fund fraud, the "Gypsy Slavery" cases and the "Anonymous" computer hacking case. Gideon has prosecuted many multi-million pound private prosecutions, all successfully.
Gideon is also instructed by individuals, company directors and government departments to advise and act in cases outside the sphere of public litigation. These clients have included offshore jurisdictions, companies conducting internal investigations, online gambling companies and sportspeople (gambling and doping related). In recent years, Gideon has also had a particular focus on sanctions and the consequences to non-sanctioned individuals of sanctions regimes.
"He is an impressive and persuasive advocate who can pick up hugely complex fraud cases in no time and is incredibly client-friendly." Chambers and Partners 2024
"Gideon is hard working, client-focused and very user friendly. He is also very commercial in his approach to cases." Legal 500, 2024
"Gideon is an extremely able advocate. He is always in demand to take on the more difficult and challenging cases." Chambers and Partners 2023
"Gideon is a formidable silk." Chambers and Partners 2023
"He is extremely thoughtful, academically very smart and fearless about putting forward arguments. Gideon is clear and focused in the advice he gives and is strong on the detail."
"He will really fight in the trenches for you." "He is really intelligent and extremely persuasive." "A fearless advocate." - Chambers & Partners, 2022
Gideon is regularly instructed to appear before the tribunals including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Reporting Council, the Gambling Commission, National Anti-Doping Panel, British Horseracing Authority, he was for a number of years the senior external Case Presenter for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Gideon has acted in a number of Health and Safety Act cases, in particular those relating to construction and groundworks. Gideon has a particular expertise in dealing with the temporary freezing powers arising from Part VII of POCA. Gideon has acted for online gambling companies, solicitors firms, accountancy firms, banking services complainants, boxers, rugby players, jockeys.
Gideon has been instructed by HMRC to appear in the first tier tax tribunal. Since taking silk, Gideon has not accepted instructions from public bodies and takes appellant work.
Grant Vanstone is a practising Criminal Barrister involved in both prosecution and defence work. Called to the bar in 1988, He has wide experience in all criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, serious fraud, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, serious sexual offences, kidnapping, armed robbery, public order and serious drug offences.
He has been involved in training and lecturing including the Inn, solicitors and other professional bodies. He is a registered pupillage supervisor with Middle Temple and has been involved in training the Bedford Police.
Greg Unwin specialises in serious organised crime, including homicide, modern slavery and drug trafficking as well as financial and regulatory crime and money laundering. He is a leading junior sought after in cases requiring complex legal argument and examination of expert witnesses.
Greg defends and prosecutes and has significant experience in the Court of Appeal. Notable cases include the DWP's largest ever fraud investigation, a gross negligence manslaughter prosecution following the electrocution of a child, the head of a country lines drugs network tried for the close range shooting of a rival dealer, an SFO corruption trial and the "Bulmer Art Heist" trial.
He is ranked by the legal directories in crime, fraud, POCA and asset recovery.
"Greg is a meticulous, outstanding advocate, who gives great attention to the smallest of detail" · "Tactically, he was brilliant. He's a real star in the making" · "A lawyer with a brilliant mind, who is a really creative thinker. His legal arguments, both written and verbal, are very good" - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Greg has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and he is absolutely on top of the facts of every case he is involved in. He is trusted and popular with clients, both professional and lay, and respected by judges and other advocates. His advocacy is very smooth and accomplished" - Legal 500 (Crime) 2024
"His eye for detail means he often picks up issues in evidence others miss. He also has a calm and professional approach to every case" - Legal 500 (Fraud) 2024
Greg Unwin advises and defends individuals and companies facing investigation and prosecution for alleged regulatory breaches, particularly by Trading Standards authorities. He is able accept instructions directly from the client. In 2019 he was appointed to the Regulatory Advocates List B. He is experienced in healthcare professional regulatory proceedings.
Greg Unwin acts principally for the defence in post-conviction confiscation proceedings and on private instruction in account freezing / forfeiture applications.
Greg Unwin has presented numerous fitness to practise hearings before healthcare regulatory panels. He was chosen to present particularly complex and high profile cases on behalf of the NMC. He is able to accept direct access instructions from individual healthcare professionals.
Greg Unwin is approved to accept instructions direct from international and UK clients on a direct access basis, without the need for a solicitor intermediary in appropriate cases.
Henry Hughes is a specialist criminal practitioner with a wealth of experience in the field of corporate and financial crime.
His focus is primarily on the defence of professionals facing serious criminal offences arising in connection with their work and charged in criminal and disciplinary proceedings.
He is involved in cases from pre-charge and experienced in identifying at the earliest stages issues which will prove determinative to the final resolution. His practice involves every element of criminal litigation, from Trial to Judicial Review, Appeal and Asset Recovery.
He is regularly instructed in cases involving fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud, commercial-scale immigration offences, false accounting, and perverting the course of justice.
Over the past years Henry has appeared in cases involving allegations of Murder, Manslaughter and Large Conspiracies to supply narcotics. He is experienced in all issues that arise in such cases and in defending in long and complex trials.
Job Titles:
- Member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association
James is an elected member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) Amicus Committee, charged with responding to requests for ICCBA amicus curiae opinions to assist the ICC chambers, through the provision of legal or factual expertise that is relevant to the determination of issues in cases before the ICC. James is also a member of the ICCBA Training Committee, responsible for the design and implementation of training in substantive and procedural international criminal law and advocacy for all ICCBA members.
James is a keen photographer and artist. He enjoys experiencing new cultural destinations and has a passion for travel journalism. He has been awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Millennium Volunteer Award of Excellence for his work in the community. James has sat on the boards of trustees of two charities responsible for outreach projects across North London.
James Onalaja is approved to accept instructions direct from international and UK clients on a direct access basis, without the need for a solicitor intermediary in appropriate cases.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head of Chambers )
- Specialist in Criminal Law, Sports Law, Disciplinary Proceedings and Regulatory Law
Having spent the first 10 years of practice acting predominantly for the prosecution, in the last 10 years Jason has expanded his practice to include a significant volume of defence work at the very highest level. During that time he has been involved in some of the most notable cases tried across the country. In particular, Jason has specialist expertise in cases of homicide, serious/organised violence, fraud and large-scale drug trafficking (including complex confiscation proceedings). He is recognised as an expert in cases involving complex telephone/electronic evidence as well as cases involving complex legal issues of both joint enterprise and bad character.
Jo has been a clerk for over 25 years and has experience of working in two other criminal sets.
She was a diary clerk at 2 Pump Court before joining 187 Chambers in July 2014 following the merger of both Chambers and is responsible for all aspects of Chambers' prosecution billing including aged debt.
‘John Pyne is one of the best in the business and certainly one of the nicest. He is a credit to Chambers and has developed a vibrant and talented Clerks Room' - Legal 500
John joined 187 Chambers as a clerk in 1981 and was appointed to the role of Senior Clerk in 1996.
John is responsible for overseeing the efficient running of Chambers ensuring that clients receive the highest level of service. He is also responsible for the development of barristers' practices and the management of the clerking team.
Kate Davey is approved to accept instructions direct from international and UK clients on a direct access basis, without the need for a solicitor intermediary in appropriate cases.
Appeal against conviction based on the unfairness of the judge's summing up. Lonnie Smith [2016] Conviction appeal based on the definition of conspiracy. Dr Arowojolu [2016] Conviction overturned in relation to the wrongful admission of bad character evidence.
Operation Airbrick (2015) - Company director acquitted after seven week trial of £14 million money laundering allegations in the under bond alcohol trading industry.
Operation Cathird (2022) - Company director laundering proceeds of 3.8 million European Distribution Fraud.
Seb Oswiecimka Junior Clerk Seb joined 187 in October 2023 having previously worked for the CPS and a civil set of Chambers. Email: sebastian@187chambers.com CJSM: sebastian@187chambers.com.cjsm.net Phone: 020 7430 7310
Steph joined 187 Chambers in November 2017 having previously worked for a firm of solicitors in Essex.
Steph has responsibility for the management of the diary and the development and maintenance of client relationships. She also manages and posts regular updates to the website and Chambers' social media pages.
"Steve Parr is an able and ambitious 1st junior clerk" - Legal 500
Steve is a very experienced clerk and has previously worked in two of London's largest criminal sets.
Steve is responsible for business development and engagement with instructing solicitors and agencies.
Theresa joined Chambers in 2001 and has responsibility for the management of the diary and the development and maintenance of client relationships.
Prior to joining Chambers Theresa worked for over 20 years for a criminal defence solicitors in South East London.