Usual suspects join line-up

Criminal silks currently form an impressive line-up of talent, both in general and white-collar crime, and from a wide selection of chambers. Here leading criminal practitioners pinpoint their choice of the best.
Anthony Glass QC of Hollis Whiteman Chambers at Queen Elizabeth Building is praised for his "Rolls Royce mind and great client skills", together with "an impressive ability to soothe judges". From the same chambers, David Evans QC is widely acclaimed as a "remarkably skilled and impressive advocate", Robin Grey QC, Timothy Langdale QC and the "patrician" Julian Bevan QC, who replaced David Jeffreys QC as head of chambers last month, are also rated.
Two silks from 3 Raymond Buildings - Stephen Batten QC and Clare Montgomery QC - appear in The Lawyer's Top Five list of criminal barristers. Others commended in these chambers include: the "very bright and able" Alun Jones QC; Michael Bromley-Martin QC who is "very good at adapting to your working practices"; David Whitehouse QC who is "hard working, intellectually bright without being pompous" and possesses "boyish charm" and, for a fraud or extradition case, Clive Nicholls QC who is "charming to work with and has a great dock-side manner".
At Crown Office Row, head of chambers Richard Ferguson QC is described as "very committed" and a "spellbinding advocate", Patrick O'Connor QC is singled out for his "razor-sharp mind" and Stephen Leslie QC is commended for his "confident and fastidious approach".
Over at Doughty Street Chambers, Edward Fitzgerald QC is summed up as "a complete genius", and Edward Rees QC stands out as "very witty and perceptive" and a "joy to work with". From the same set, Christopher Sallon QC and Stephen Irwin QC are also highly regarded.
Head of 23 Essex Street, Michael Lawson QC, tops many people's lists and, at the same chambers, the "brilliant" Nicholas Purnell QC is said to prepare a case "like a chess grand master".
Another highly regarded head of chambers is the "very tough and reliable" Rock Tansey QC, of 3 Gray's Inn Square. At the same set, George Carter-Stephenson QC is described as "brilliant".
William Clegg QC, head of 3 Hare Court, is "exceptionally able" and Peter Cooper QC, at Nigel Mylne QC's 2 Harcourt Buildings, is "meticulous and impressive in court".
At 6 King's Bench Walk, Roy Amlot QC has "excellent judgement" and a "distinguished presence", Ann Curnow QC has a "matter of fact, no-nonsense approach" and Dorian Lovell-Pank QC is an "exceptional jury advocate". Bruce Houlder QC from the same set is also singled out.
The "charismatic" Ronald Thwaites QC, at 10 King's Bench Walk, is "exceptionally good", Andrew Trollope QC at 1 Middle Temple Lane is hailed as an "extremely powerful advocate" and, at Mitre House Chambers, Francis Gilbert QC is "a master tactician".
At 14 Tooks Court Michael Mansfield QC appears in The Lawyer's Top 5 and Adrian Fulford QC is praised as "a fighter". Head of 5 Paper Buildings, John Mathew QC, has "tremendous experience and ability to see the wood for the trees" and, at the same set, Kuldip Singh QC is commended for the "energy and depth" he brings to cases.
Anthony Arlidge QC, head of 18 Red Lion Court is, for one solicitor at least, "undoubtedly the wittiest" and for many stands out for his "experience in a diverse range of criminal law".