This is Chambers and Partners 2025 rankings for our Criminal Law team.

Kenworthy’s is thrilled that Chambers and Partners ranked our Crime department as well as our Immigration and Administrative and Public Law departments in their 2025 listings. See Kenworthy’s Chambers’ 2025 Chambers and Partners Immigration Rankings to discover why the leading legal directory awarded our Immigration department the top Band 1 ranking!

Crime

Chambers and Partners said, “Kenworthy's Chambers offers a variety of senior counsel with strengths in vast criminal and complex issues with expertise spanning a wide range of criminal matters.” 

“The set's barristers are experienced in both the prosecution and defence of cases relating to homicides, high-value drugs conspiracies and serious violent and sexual offences.” 

“The team is routinely instructed to appear in trials in the Crown Courts and in appellate proceedings, and the Barristers undertake both private and publicly funded work.”

Barry Grennan

Chambers and Partners recognised three of our Criminal Barristers as ‘notable practitioners’, the first of which is our Head of Chambers, Barry Grennan.

The leading chambers guide said, “Barry Grennan is head of chambers and specialises as a criminal defence advocate and is often instructed in serious and complex criminal cases. He is an expert on white-collar crime and is vastly knowledgeable on all areas of serious crime, including gang-related murders, sexual offences, people trafficking and infanticide. He also boasts a thriving fraud and regulatory practice.”

Patrick Cassidy

The second of our three Criminal Barristers earmarked as a notable practitioner by Chambers and Partners is our Deputy Head of Chambers, Patrick Cassidy.

The leading chambers guide said, “Patrick Cassidy is a highly capable criminal defence advocate with a broad practice encompassing the full spectrum of serious general and financial crime. He has experience of the most complex and challenging cases, including sexual offences, child abuse and gangland crime. He also handles cases concerning police misconduct and deaths in custody.” 

They provided a testimonial for the Criminal Barrister saying, “He is an exceptional advocate and is very well liked among other professionals and clients. He obtains fantastic results in very difficult cases.”

Martin McCarthy KC

Last but not least, Door Tenant Martin McCarthy KC was acknowledged as a ‘New Silk’ in Crime and Financial Crime by the leading legal directory.

Chambers and Partners said, “Martin is a King's Counsel (Silk) specialising in serious organised crime, homicide, fraud, human trafficking, money laundering, duty evasion, drugs, and sexual offences. He also appears in the High Court on costs appeals for Solicitors and Barristers.”

They also noted, “Martin McCarthy KC has a strong track record of defending in financial crime cases. He is esteemed for his ability in cases of fraud, money laundering and serious organised crime. He has particular expertise in modern slavery cases.”

Chambers and Partners collected three testimonials for the New Silk. "Martin is absolutely brilliant. He has a really down-to-earth and direct advocacy style that judges and juries really like and is very effective." 

"Martin speaks brilliantly and is very well prepared. His cross-examination is excellent because he has such a good tone of voice and deals with witnesses very well." 

Criminal Clerks

Special mention to our fantastic Criminal Clerks Paul Mander and Greg Highton who were both lauded by the chambers guide.

Chambers and Partners said, “The Clerks are one of the best we have worked with in terms of responsiveness. Senior Criminal Clerk Paul Mander and Clerk Greg Highton are always quick to respond to calls and emails."

"The clerks are extremely helpful and always do their best to accommodate."

For further reading on our Crime department see Kenworthy’s Chambers’ 2025 Legal 500 Criminal Law Rankings.

If you have a criminal case, you need advice or advocacy for, call our Criminal Clerks Paul Mander and Greg Highton on 0161 832 4036, e-mail Paul@kenworthys.co.uk, Greg@kenwrothys.co.uk, or fill out our contact form.