Alison Saunders's husband - a "leading defence barrister" - who?

by haroldd2 20.02.14 12:07

Who is Alison Saunders married to? Her husband is described here as a "leading defence barrister".

by Woofer 20.02.14 12:25

I can`t find anything yet Haroldd2. I spent an hour or so yesterday searching 192 and various defence barristers with the name Saunders. Also checked on Ancestry to try and find a marriage, but we don`t know if Saunders is her married name or maiden name. Don`t know where else to look. On Wiki it just says she is married with 2 sons.

by haroldd2 20.02.14 12:37

Woofer wrote:I can`t find anything yet Haroldd2. I spent an hour or so yesterday searching 192 and various defence barristers with the name Saunders. Also checked on Ancestry to try and find a marriage, but we don`t know if Saunders is her married name or maiden name. Don`t know where else to look. On Wiki it just says she is married with 2 sons.

I found the answer by getting into Who's Who online using my library card number. Her husband is Neil Saunders, a barrister at Three Raymond Buildings. He's not a silk, so it's extraordinary that Chambers describe him as "a silk in all but name". That surely annoys some of the silks. Maybe someone is trying to curry favour? Wink

He represented international arms trader Christopher McDowell. Got him off with a suspended sentence and some community service (!); confiscation is outstanding. McDowell made $4m from illegally selling and shipping Chinese fighter jets to Ghana. Had it been Angola, I would have said "Ha! Portuguese connection!"...

_{Off-topic: how about a smiley showing a man in an apron with his trouser-leg rolled up?}

by **Tony Bennett** 20.02.14 15:25

haroldd2 wrote:
I found the answer by getting into Who's Who online using my library card number. Her husband is Neil Saunders, a barrister at Three Raymond Buildings. He's not a silk, so it's extraordinary that Chambers describe him as "a silk in all but name". That surely annoys some of the silks. Maybe someone is trying to curry favour? He represented international arms trader Christopher McDowell. Got him off with a suspended sentence and some community service (!); confiscation is outstanding. McDowell made $4m from illegally selling and shipping Chinese fighter jets to Ghana...

Perhaps more relevantly, Neil Saunders is a leading barrister at Three Raymond Buildings.

The 'Head of Chambers' there is Alexander Cameron Q.C.

Who conveniently is the Prime Minister's brother.

When running the country, it must be handy that your brother is a Q.C. and head of chambers, and has within his practice the husband of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

No matter that she fouled up badly over the Hillsborough disaster, refusing a second inquest to the grieving families. It took 20 years after her blunder for the truth about one of the worst instances of police cover-up and lying to emerge

by Woofer 20.02.14 15:26

Ah ha ...... I did plump for him when I was looking but couldn`t confirm it. I`ll have another look.

by Woofer 20.02.14 15:40

I would have thought there could be conflicts of interest here, particularly as she is trying to get prosecutions and he is an experienced defence lawyer. They must surely discuss cases at home - she`s talking about trying to get a conviction and he`s giving her all the arguments a defence lawyer would come up with.

Yes Tony - all very convenient being pally with Cameron`s brother.

by diatribe 20.02.14 16:03

Woofer wrote:I would have thought there could be conflicts of interest here, particularly as she is trying to get prosecutions and he is an experienced defence lawyer.

Not necessarily, Woofer, one day counsels are defending, the next prosecuting. Its not unusual for counsels from the same chambers to be prosecuting and defending in the same trial. I think the same applies with libel trials, there was always a rush from both sides to engage the services of the late George Carmen QC.

by Woofer 20.02.14 16:10

diatribe wrote:
Woofer wrote:I would have thought there could be conflicts of interest here, particularly as she is trying to get prosecutions and he is an experienced defence lawyer.

Not necessarily, Woofer, one day counsels are defending, the next prosecuting. Its not unusual for counsels from the same chambers to be prosecuting and defending in the same trial. I think the same applies with libel trials, there was always a rush from both sides to engage the services of the late George Carmen QC.

From looking at his past cases, it appears most of them are as a defence lawyer. Just say he is defending a person who has been charged with a crime and its her department that`s trying to get a conviction - they must talk about it at home (or perhaps they don`t as it could end up in rows).

by ultimaThule 20.02.14 17:20

Alexander Cameron, head of the set at Three Raymond Buildings, and Charlie Brooks were exact contemporaries at Eton while the younger David Cameron ~~fagged~~ was 3 years below.

Three Raymond Buildings is home to Hugo Keith QC who was by the side of Charlie's wife, Rebekah, at Leveson. It's also home to Neil Saunders, husband of the DPP and 'silk in all but name', who is counsel for Charlie in the ongoing hacking trial, while Mrs Brooks is represented by Jonathan Laidlaw QC of 2 Hare Court.

The instructing solicitors for both Mr and Mrs Brooks are Kingsley Napley, with self-professed 'specialist in the criminal defence of victims and management of the media' Angus McBride leading.

As an aside, Mrs Broooks' original silk of choice was John Kelsey-Fry QC of Cloth Fair Chambers who scored a memorable goal for Harry Redknapp and it appears her change of mind necessitated a gagging order.

It's my understanding that Hugo Keith QC is counsel for Shiren Dewani in the matter of extradition proceedings.

by diatribe 20.02.14 17:33

ultimaThule wrote:Alexander Cameron, head of the set at Three Raymond Buildings, and Charlie Brooks were exact contemporaries at Eton while the younger David Cameron ~~fagged~~ was 3 years below.

Three Raymond Buildings is home to Hugo Keith QC who was by the side of Charlie's wife, Rebekah, at Leveson. It's also home to Neil Saunders, husband of the DPP and 'silk in all but name', who is counsel for Charlie in the ongoing hacking trial, while Mrs Brooks is represented by Jonathan Laidlaw QC of 2 Hare Court.

The instructing solicitors for both Mr and Mrs Brooks are Kingsley Napley, with self-professed 'specialist in the criminal defence of victims and management of the media' Angus McBride leading.

As an aside, Mrs Broooks' original silk of choice was John Kelsey-Fry QC of Cloth Fair Chambers who scored a memorable goal for Harry Redknapp and it appears her change of mind necessitated a gagging order.

It's my understanding that Hugo Keith QC is counsel for Shiren Dewani in the matter of extradition proceedings.

You're a legal groupie and I claim my £5 prize.