LINENHALL CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Apprentice Clerk
Abbi is currently working towards her Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship as a Clerk Apprentice. She is being trained in all three areas of expertise so that she will be equipped to work across all areas of family, civil, and criminal matters upon completion of her apprenticeship.
In her spare time, Abbi enjoys reading novels, cooking, and spending time with family. Having studied French at University, Abbi also likes to practice French by reading, researching, watching movies, and listening to music.
Andrew Thomas was born and brought up in Wrexham. He studied law at the University of Cambridge and completed bar finals at the Inns of Court School of Law in London.
He undertook pupillage at Sedan House Chambers in 1989. From 1990 until 2008 he practised full-time from chambers in Chester.
Since taking silk in 2008, Andrew Thomas has also practised from Lincoln House Chambers in Manchester, where he has been Head of Chambers since 2016.
In addition to specialisms in Financial Crime, Health and Safety and Environmental Law, Andrew Thomas has appeared in more than 70 cases of murder and manslaughter. He regularly advises in and undertakes cases of Corporate and Gross Negligence Manslaughter. As well as Crown Court work, he also undertakes cases before the High Court and before specialist tribunals including Planning Inspectors.
Andrew was appointed Queen's Counsel in January 2008 on the basis of a mixed civil/criminal practice.
Anita has worked as a credit controller in industry for over 25 years. She joined chambers in 2021 to oversee all credit control activities for Linenhall Members.
Anita has a number of outside interests including Yoga, going to live music concerts and taking her dog for long walks.
Ben Douglas-Jones QC is a leading silk in financial, serious, consumer, appellate and human rights crime. He defends professional and corporate clients including public limited companies. He prosecutes for the Serious Fraud Office and CPS Headquarters' Specialist Fraud Division, Appeals and Review Unit, Organised Crime Unit, Proceeds of Crime Unit and Complex Case Units. He also prosecutes for local authorities.
Ben has prosecuted financial crime in the Supreme Court and has defended in the most high profile frauds in England and Wales for over 18 years. Ben practises in all serious, complex fiscal and non-fiscal fraud, including corporate, financial, banking, carousel, MTIC, tax evasion scheme, acquisition, mortgage, Excise, Hawala, advance fee (419), boiler room, Ponzi , NHS, dental, pharmaceutical, Internet, car-ringing, gambling, cheque clearing cycle and insurance fraud.
Ben has vast experience in Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 cases, including restraint, confiscation, receivership, forfeiture, civil recovery and asset freezing proceedings.
Recent fraud cases include: the "Ed Sheeran" landmark National Trading Standards prosecution of ticket "touts": in R v Hunter, Ben represented the first defendant in the prosecution of the officers of BZZ Ltd for reselling concert and event tickets using multiple names; and R v Bryant, the National Trust procurement fraud. He is member of the Fraud Lawyers' Association.
Ben's appellate work has seen him appear in over 200 reported cases. He is a leading Silk in appeals concerning issues of human trafficking and refugees, including the leading cases of AAD (2022), Bani (2021), Brecani (2021), R v GS (2019), R v Joseph (2017), R v Mirahessari (2016); R v Mateta (2016); R v L (2013), R v N and L (2011). Ben conducts second-opinion defence appellate work where he did not appear in the Crown Court and is instructed by the CPS Appeals and Review Unit in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Ben's human rights work has led to his representing a team of amici curiae in the International Criminal Court appeal of Dominic Ongwen in connection with child soldiers. He is leading a team of lawyers in a UN submission concerning the abuse of children and slaves in brick kilns in Cambodia. He represented the family of Shamima Begum in connection with the removal of her citizenship.
He also has significant expertise in miscarriage of justice work having represented Colin Stagg and secured the £706,000 compensation for Stagg's wrongful indictment for the murder of Rachel Nickell.
Ben has appeared in high profile and complex murder and homicide cases, including Operation Molar, in which he represented a 19-year-old indicted for conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life in connection with a drive-by shooting in Birmingham, and Operation Triangle, in which he prosecuted the murderer of a child killer.
Ben has consistently appeared in high profile consumer law and consumer crime cases over the last 20 years, including the Worldwide Tickets Ltd combined regulatory appeals on the penal sections of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Operation Cleo, a multimillion pound alleged copycat website case, where the defendants were found not guilty of alleged multimillion pound consumer fraud. Ben's regulatory practice extends to all areas of consumer law, with an emphasis on trade-marks and copyright law, criminal planning, food safety and environmental health.
Ben was The Times Lawyer of the Week in 2019 for successfully prosecuting Leuan Harley for the murder of David Gaut.
He is editor of Southwell, Brewer and Douglas-Jones QC - Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Law in Practice; Bloomsbury Professional - February 2018. He is also an author of the Blackstone's Guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015; 2nd edition 2021.
Ben is editor of Human Rights in Criminal Law; Bloomsbury Professional - to be published in 2022.
Ben has co-written the CPS Guidance on charging and prosecuting victims of human trafficking for over 10 years, the Law Society Guidance on defending people who might be victims of human trafficking and the refugee defence and the Judicial College Guidance on trying defendants who might be victims of trafficking or slavery.
Ben is author of Blackstone's Guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Caroline is an approved counsel for rape and serious sexual offences prosecution.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administrative Team
- Chambers Business Manager
Charlene has over 12 years management experience and joined Chambers in 2017. She works alongside the Chambers Director to implement business strategy.
With 5 years finance experience, Charlene also manages and develops the Finance team, helping to ensure the Chambers runs as smoothly as possible and deliver the highest levels of service to clients.
Charlene spends her spare time with her family, listening to music and running.
Daniel Dodd is ranked Band 2 - Family: Children in Chambers and Partners UK (2022 & 2023).
Daniel is head of the family team and attracts praise from instructing solicitors for his handling of complex non-accidental injury cases. He acts in a wide range of cases relating to child law and is well equipped to handle challenging issues such as sexual abuse allegations.
Strengths: "He is always very accommodating and prepared to advise on complex areas of law." "His cross-examination of expert witnesses is very skilful."
Daniel is also recommended in the Legal 500 2022 and 2023 Tier 1, as a leading junior in Child Law (Public and Private) on the Wales and Chester Circuit:
"Daniel becomes very invested in the cases, he has excellent knowledge of the law and he takes the time to conduct thorough research. He has a great manner in dealing with clients who are often in a state of crisis." (Legal 500, 2022 ranked Tier 1)
Denise Fitzpatrick is recognised as a leading junior for Criminal Law. She has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending a wide range of serious and complex criminal cases.
Her attention to detail and capacity for hard work has secured her a reputation for consistently outstanding work. Those features, coupled with her commitment to providing the highest standards of client care, attract instructions from a broad range of clients.
Denise Fitzpatrick is an approved Advocate on Level 4 of the Crown Prosecution Service's advocate panel for general crime. She is also on the specialist advocates' panel for fraud (including fiscal fraud).
Dominic Jones is recommended in the Legal 500 2022 and 2023 as a leading junior in Personal Injury on the Wales and Chester Circuit:
"He is always very well-prepared. Perhaps his barrister's best quality, however, is the very realistic approach that he takes to matters. There is a great deal to be said for applying common sense while still representing a client's best interests." (Legal 500, 2022 ranked Tier 3)
‘He is thorough and has an ability to pick up issues very well, and advise and advocate in a manner which is not aggressive but effective.' (Legal 500, 2023 ranked Tier 3)
Duncan is the Head of Linenhall Chambers and a criminal law specialist who prosecutes and defends all types of criminal matters.
Eva joined Chambers in December 2022 as a fees/billing clerk. She has a background in administration and holds a Masters Degree in Welsh Writing in English and Creative Writing from Bangor University.
In her spare time Eva enjoys reading, learning new languages, going to the cinema and live music events.
Frances has been instructed in the Coroners Court to protect the interests of both the family of the deceased and those potentially subject to criticism by the Coroner. Frances has a particular interest in inquests involving significant advocacy where she can use the skills from her criminal practice. She is adept at dealing with cases with the sensitivity that is always required in the Coroners Court.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Senior Criminal Clerk
Gareth is the Senior Criminal Clerk who oversees the running of the busy Criminal Team consisting of 36 Juniors and 7 Silks.
Gareth's in-depth knowledge of each members practice and areas of expertise means he is able to advise on the selection of appropriate counsel for each matter and he works hard to ensure clients receive the best possible service.
Gareth worked previously at Wrexham County Court and Chester Crown Court but started his career as a Barrister's Clerk in October 1996 at 40 King Street Chambers, which relocated to Nicholas Street in 1998. Gareth was promoted to the position of Junior Clerk in the same year. Nicholas Street Chambers continued to expand its numbers and in 2000 Gareth became the Criminal Clerk/Deputy Senior Clerk.
In March 2011 Nicholas Street Chambers and 1 Stanley Place Chambers merged to form Linenhall Chambers and Gareth was appointed as the Senior Criminal Clerk.
In his spare time Gareth enjoys spending time with his family, walking, travel, reading, cycling, music, craft beer and wine. He also follows Wrexham and Liverpool Football Clubs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administrative Team
- Chambers Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Senior Civil Clerk
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Family Clerk
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Junior Civil Clerk
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administrative Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clerks Team
- Criminal Clerk