TWO HARCOURT BUILDINGS AND ITS MEMBERS RANKED IN 2023 LEGAL 500
We are delighted to announce that 2 Harcourt Buildings and 10 of its members (across 2 practice categories) have been ranked within the Legal 500 UK 2024 publication.
LONDON BAR – CRIME – TIER 4
2 Harcourt Buildings, with ‘a broad range of quality advocates‘, is gaining a reputation for being ‘a prominent defence practice‘ as well as an established prosecution set.
‘Keith Poynter is really good and very straightforward to deal with. Gary Wright is a really nice guy and a very helpful clerk. They’re both really safe pairs of hands.’
‘Keith Poynter is a top clerk and a natural leader. He is extremely responsive, always available and great at sorting diary issues. He is widely respected by solicitors, counsel and other clerks. He is ably assisted by Gary Wright who complements his proactive approach.’
‘2 Harcourt Chambers has now developed into a set with a prominent defence practice. Historically, they have had a reputation as being a prosecution set but are now conducting complex and high-profile defence work.’
‘A premier league set in every respect.’
‘2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding chambers. It has a national reputation for conducting the most serious prosecutions, and is a ‘go-to’ set for two counsel cases. At the junior end it is arguably the most experienced and able set of criminal juniors at the Bar.’
‘A fine chambers with a broad range of quality advocates. A top set.’
‘A set whose clerks are always happy to assist where they can. Both senior and junior members are popular and sought-after.’
INDIVIDUALS
CRIME
James Dawes KC - (Tier 4)
Jennifer Knight KC (Tier 4)
Jane Osborne KC ‘Jane has an excellent legal brain. Her written and oral submissions are of a very high standard. She has a comprehensive knowledge of her brief. Her cross-examination is suitably concise and effective. Her final speeches are very jury friendly and effective.' Jane balances defence and prosecution work, primarily prosecuting homicides, including those involving young people alleged to have connections to gangs. (Tier 4)
Catherine Donnelly Catherine is well-known for handling high-profile homicide and serious sexual offences cases. (Tier 2)
Tom Nicholson 'Tom is a good lawyer. He is hard-working and a pleasure to work with.' (Tier 2)
Sam Barker ‘Sam is an excellent lawyer and a naturally gifted advocate.’ (Tier 4)
Edward Franklin ‘Edward is an intellectual heavyweight. It is apparent from his excellent drafting that he has easy command of complex legal principles. His advocacy is measured and all the more forceful for that. He has mastered the art of emphasis by understatement, and can convey to better effect with a few short words that which many struggle to achieve when addressing courts at great length.’ (Tier 4)
Jenny Burgess ‘Jenny is a class act. She is meticulously prepared and knows her cases inside out. She is a confident, engaging advocate who gets straight to the point with legal arguments. She is reasonable in the points she takes and is very persuasive. Her closing speeches are also great.’ (Tier 4)
FRAUD CRIME
Jane Osborne KC ‘Jane assimilates case papers rapidly and has a clear grasp of the details. She gives important strategic advice from the outset of her instructions and is very pragmatic and forthright with clients when necessary.’ (Tier 4)
Dominic Hockley ‘Dominic is bright, diligent, knowledgeable and has very good judgement. He has excellent interpersonal skills which allows him to gain the trust of instructing solicitors, clients, opponents and judges alike. He has extensive experience in dealing with heavy fraud cases and is able to deal with factually complex matters with ease.’ (Tier 3)
John Ojakovoh ‘John is highly intelligent, has a good eye for detail and is very thoroughly prepared. He is liked by judges and extremely effective in cross-examination.’ (Tier 4)