Great James Street Chambers

08/10/2026

💚 Investing in Wellbeing at Great James Street Chambers 💚

At Great James Street Chambers, we believe that looking after wellbeing is just as important as the work we do. The legal profession can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with significant pressures. Long hours, demanding workloads, emotionally challenging cases and the responsibility of supporting others can all take their toll on mental health.

At GJS, we recognise that supporting wellbeing must go beyond simply encouraging people to speak up. It means providing meaningful, accessible support when it is needed.

We are therefore delighted to announce that Great James Street Chambers has partnered with Spill to provide confidential mental health support to all our members, pupils and clerks. Through Spill, everyone at Chambers will have access to professional counselling, therapy sessions, drop-in chats and independent mental health support, whether their concerns are professional or personal.

We recognise that barristers and clerks spend much of their professional lives supporting others, often navigating difficult and emotionally demanding situations. It is equally important that they have someone to turn to themselves. We want to foster a culture where wellbeing is genuinely prioritised, seeking support is normalised, and everyone feels valued and supported.

A special thank you to Ally Watson at Spill for his support in helping us introduce this benefit to Chambers.

We are proud to take another positive step towards creating a healthier, more supportive working environment and continuing to champion wellbeing across the Bar.

07/10/2026

Muin Boase, instructed by Georgiana McCarthy of BK Law, has successfully represented an IPP prisoner whose indeterminate sentence was today quashed at Wolverhampton Crown Court after 20 years imprisonment.

The Defendant had committed the underlying arson offence (being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed) at just 17 years old and was originally given a minimum term of two years and 82 days.

Following a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Mr Justice Choudhury, sitting with a magistrate, quashed the original finding of dangerousness and replaced the indeterminate sentence with a determinate sentence of four years and 264 days.

Having already spent approximately 20 years in custody, the Defendant was released.

The case has been reported today in The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/oct/07/two-men-freed-indefinite-sentences-for-public-protection-ipp

Convicted pair, plus third man released in August, have IPPs replaced after serving much longer than minimum terms

01/10/2026

We are incredibly proud to congratulate Lucy Chapman on her recognition in The Legal 500 UK Bar 2027 rankings.

Lucy has been ranked as a Tier 4 Leading Junior for Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law – London Bar.

This recognition reflects Lucy’s growing strength in professional discipline and regulatory work, where she regularly acts in complex proceedings involving healthcare professionals and regulators, alongside her wider practice.

Lucy’s ranking is a fantastic acknowledgment of the quality of her advocacy, preparation and commitment to her clients.

Congratulations Lucy!

01/10/2026

Vishal Misra, instructed by Cotisens Solicitors, secured the acquittal of his client following a 17-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

The defendant was charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, namely co***ne.

Despite the length of the trial and the volume of evidence before the jury, Vishal’s cross-examination of the relevant Crown witness tactically consisted of just five questions.

Those five questions established the essential point: at its highest, the evidence suggested only that the defendant had occasionally been involved in the social supply of cannabis. There was no evidence that he had ever entered into any agreement to supply co***ne.

It was a clear example of the impact that focused and concise cross-examination can have, identifying the single issue that mattered and putting it directly before the jury.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty for Vish's client, while convicting the co-defendants.

Vish's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/vishal-misra-profile/

To instruct Vish, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

We are delighted to announce that Great James Street Chambers has been recognised in The Legal 500 UK Bar 2027 rankings for Crime (General and Fraud).

We are particularly proud to see Kevin Metzger and Vishal Misra individually recognised as Tier 3 Leading Juniors within the same category.

Kevin is described as:

“Engaging and articulate,” with “attractive advocacy before a jury and in submissions before a judge alone.”

The Legal 500 describes Vishal as:

“Calm, confident and composed. He is very approachable and delivers an excellent closing speech before the jury.”

We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our referees who took the time to provide feedback to The Legal 500 during the research process. Your support, trust and continued confidence in our members and clerking team is hugely appreciated.

Recognition in The Legal 500 is an important milestone for Chambers and reflects the strength of our criminal practice, the quality of advocacy delivered by our members and our continued commitment to providing an excellent service to both professional and lay clients.

We are incredibly proud of the team and look forward to building on this recognition in the years ahead.

18/09/2026

Clarissa Rodio, led by Maryam Mir of Doughty Street Chambers, instructed by Sevim Zelal Tonbul of Morgan Has Solicitors, successfully secured an acquittal for their client on a charge of attempted murder following an eight-week trial at the Central Criminal Court.

The Crown’s case was that the defendant, who was present at the scene of a stabbing in Canning Town in March 2025, was guilty of attempted murder on the basis of joint enterprise. The entire incident was captured on CCTV. The Crown also relied upon telephone calls between the defendant and one of the stabbers in the period surrounding the incident, together with DNA evidence linking the defendant to a knife recovered close to the scene.

The client had a previous conviction for possession of a knife two years earlier but had since distanced himself from criminality. He was the only defendant in the trial to give evidence. His case was that he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maryam and Clarissa challenged the reliability and significance of the DNA evidence and carefully analysed the telephone evidence, demonstrating that the number and duration of the calls were less significant than initially indicated.

Following more than 26 hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted the defendant of attempted murder. He was convicted of the lesser charges of GBH and Violent Disorder. He will be sentenced alongside his co-defendants in November 2026.

Clarissa's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/clarissa-rodio/

To instruct Clarissa, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 4404949.

Adam Smith Email Clarissa Download CV Privacy Policy 2021 Practice Areas CrimeExtraditionRegulatoryClarissa joined Chambers in May 2023. Her domestic practice consists of criminal law, extradition and regulatory law. She regularly defends and prosecutes in the Crown Courts, and

09/09/2026

Kevin Metzger, leading Poppy Cleary, instructed by Mohammed Naser and Sadia Mahmood of M&N Solicitors, successfully secure acquittals on attempted murder, and s18 GBH in the alternative, for their client following a five-week trial at St Albans Crown Court.

All Defendants were acquitted of the attempted murder, with three co-Defendants being convicted of the alternative GBH charge.

This outcome reflects a sustained and rigorous defence throughout the proceedings. Achieving it required extensive preparation and advocacy over a lengthy and complex trial, with counsel and the wider legal team addressing significant factual and legal issues.

The Defendant was convicted of drugs matters. He will be sentenced alongside the co-Defendants at the end of the year.

Kevin's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/kevin-metzger/

Poppy's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/poppy-cleary/

To instruct counsel, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

02/09/2026

Ishaq Usama, instructed by McGrath & Co Solicitors, secured a unanimous Not Guilty verdict for his client charged with intentional strangulation against a prison officer at Maidstone Crown Court.

The prosecution's case was that Ishaq's client strangled the complainant while being detained and relied on CCTV evidence and a colleague's witness account who was present during the incident.

However, Ishaq successfully highlighted contradictions between the witness's account compared to the CCTV evidence and demonstrated how the injuries were not consistent with a strangulation, leading to an acquittal.

Ishaq's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/ishaq-usama/

To instruct Ishaq, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

Adam Smith Email Ishaq Download CV Privacy Policy 2023 Practice Areas Crime Youth Court Regulatory Law Extradition Law Ishaq is a confident and persuasive advocate who is known for his thorough preparation, tactical awareness and calm approach under pressure. He