The set was established in June 1982 by Daniel Hollis QC (1925–2016).[7] It was named after their former premises at Queen Elizabeth Building in the Temple which it left in 2010, moving to the City of London.[8]
QEB Hollis Whiteman Offices at 1 – 2 Laurence Pountney Hill, City of London, EC4
The chambers are considered "the go-to place" for criminal defence as well as for prosecution.[10]
Notable members
Members of chambers have prosecuted and defended in many widely publicised criminal cases.[10]
Mark Ellison KC defended Hogan Lovells solicitor Chris Grierson when he was accused of £1.27 million expenses fraud,[11] as well as prosecuting on behalf of FCA in £7.4m gains insider dealing case.[12] He also undertook a review of undercover policing in connection to Stephen Lawrence murder for the Home Office.[13]
Edward Brown KC advised the SFO and leads for the prosecution in the Barclays-Qatar fundraising prosecution,[14] as well as prosecuting Kevin Hutchinson-Foster in connection with Mark Duggan murder.[15]
Zoe Johnson KC is a former Senior Treasury Counsel and the founding member of the Bar Disability Panel.[17]
Peter Kyte KC is a prosecutor who also sits as a recorder at Southwark Crown Court.[18][19]
William Boyce KC is a Crown Court Recorder and former Senior Treasury Counsel.[20]
Eleanor Laws KC is a Recorder and has been described as the "go-to Silk" for sexual offences.[21]
Tom Kark KC is a Crown Court Recorder and former standing counsel to Customs and Excise.[22] He has been appointed to chair the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Public Inquiry in Northern Ireland (2022). He was a leading Counsel to the Francis Inquiry that examined the causes of the failings in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2009.[23] and conducted a review of the fit and proper person test for the Minister for Health published in 2019. He also sits as a legal assessor in the Osteopathic Council.[24]
Sean Larkin KC successfully prosecuted alleged Daesh sympathiser in a terrorism case which could have long lasting implications on the definition of terrorism and the impact of public international law on domestic legislation.[25]
Former members include Daniel Hollis QC, the founding member of the set,[2] and judge Ian Paton QC, criminal prosecutor who prosecuted in major criminal trials as well as sitting as a Recorder in Southwark Crown Court.[27]
Heather Norton practised at the chambers for 23 years, until 2012 when she was appointed a Circuit Judge sitting at Canterbury Crown Court.[28]
Rankings and honours
In 2016, Chambers and Partners named QEB Hollis Whiteman "Crime Set of The Year".[29]
In 2017, Who's Who Legal listed QEB Hollis Whiteman as one of their “leading sets” for crime.[3]
In 2018, Legal 500 named QEB Hollis Whiteman as “Crime Set of the Year”.[30]
