Kenworthy’s Chambers has over 50 Barristers, three of whom are Silks having been appointed to the King's Counsel (KC) as a mark of their outstanding ability. We are Manchester’s leading chambers on diversity, with 20% of our Barristers identifying as black, Asian, or mixed race.
Our members are fully compliant with the code of conduct regulations as directed by the Bar Standards Board and treat all cases with sensitivity and confidentiality. Chambers works to retain the Legal Services Commission's Quality Mark for the Bar and is committed to maintaining quality standards in every aspect of running the business.
Margaret McDonald is a highly regarded advocate who can always be relied upon to fight any case and is always thoroughly prepared.
Members offer considerable strength in matters concerning immigration detention and deportation, policing and prisons as well as community care and children's rights.
He is brilliant on the law and has a superb cross examination technique.
Accomplished Junior with 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.
A thorough practitioner who will fiercely fight his clients’ corner.
He can absorb and understand vast amounts of complex material and explain it to a jury.
A walking disclosure manual whose cross examinations are effective.
He is a rare breed of Leading Junior Advocates who has a firm, tenacious manner in Court mixed with charm and charisma.
Well thought of and a real fighter. A very, very good jury advocate.
Martin McCarthy is the go-to Counsel in heavyweight crime, particularly drugs, people trafficking and serious organised crime.
An accomplished Junior in financial crime, very experienced and great to deal with. A very good jury advocate who is excellent at witness handling.
Martin McCarthy is charismatic and fights tirelessly! One of the most talented fraud and business crime Juniors at the bar.
A strong and insidious Barrister with excellent judgment and who knows how to handle the opposition and get what he wants.
A Junior who possesses expert tactical acumen, both in his submissions and his dealings with witnesses and juries.
Martin is an astute tactician and a very good lawyer both in terms of his written and oral advocacy.
In command of his papers, Martin McCarthy is someone who robustly cross examines witnesses.
He has a very good forensic mind and the ability to dial it up or down in response to the mood of the courtroom.
Martin is an exceptional practitioner who is the rare combination of a brilliant brain and an excellent advocate. He reads the room and even in the most challenging of cases ensures that the jury and judge are on board with him.
Assiduous and extremely organised, his preparation for a case is excellent. He has an unrivalled sense of which direction a case is going once it's underway.
A forceful, formidable advocate who is adept in heavyweight crime and financial crime cases. Known for his well-prepared, meticulous and devastating cross-examination.
Martin McCarthy has an established defence practice across both crime and financial crime. He has experience of serious matters including those relating to people trafficking and terrorism. His cases regularly have cross-border elements.
Kenworthy's Chambers possesses wide-ranging expertise in bringing and defending judicial review challenges as well as advising on public law issues more broadly.
Soraya is a very careful and pensive advocate who cares deeply about all her cases. Nobody is more dedicated to fighting their clients’ corner than her. She does this whilst maintaining a warmth and charm.
Soraya is a fearless and tenacious advocate - she never shies away from a point that she believes is worth taking. She is a great team player too.
Shazia Khan specialises in judicial reviews concerning immigration and asylum. She represents clients before the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Paul Mander and Greg Highton are great Clerks.
We are going to mention Jonathan Greer and Kenworthy's Chambers in our East London Solicitors’ group. We hope other East London Solicitors would like to instruct you as well in the coming future.
Khalid Main, Worldwide Solicitors
The Clerks are always very accommodating to make sure matters are covered.
The Clerks are always helpful and effective.
After being involved in a non-fault accident, the case was won at the final trial. I received exemplary service from Adam Lewis who was professional and diligent in handling this matter. I cannot express my gratitude enough.
Annmarie Kirkbride, OCL Solicitors
He also handles cases concerning police misconduct and deaths in custody.
He has experience of the most complex and challenging cases including sexual offences, child abuse, and gangland crime.
Ms Snape dealt with the final contested hearing in a complicated enforcement of a financial order. She methodically approached the case and was extremely well prepared, providing the Judge with a note that gave them easy access to the figures.
Emma Kendall, Pearson Solicitors
Patrick Cassidy is a highly capable Criminal Defence Advocate with a broad practice encompassing the full spectrum of serious general and financial crime.
On behalf of our client who was in an ordeal for the last 11 years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your efforts and exceptional legal representation. We will always remember your contribution and will not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone in need of a brilliant Barrister!
Khalid Mian, Worldwide Solicitors
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.
Barry Grennan is Head of Chambers and specialises as a Criminal Defence Advocate and is often instructed in serious and complex criminal cases.
A robust trial Advocate.
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. Recent cases for the set have included R v Hussain, involving a complex intersection of sexual and violent offences in alleged attacks on two women.
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.
Kenworthy's Chambers offers ‘excellent counsel’ with expertise spanning a wide range of criminal matters.
The appeal has been allowed and we are writing to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks for your exceptional efforts and outstanding work in winning our case. Your dedication, expertise, and unwavering support were pivotal in achieving this favorable outcome, and we are immensely grateful for everything you have done.
Khalid Mian, Worldwide Solicitors
Margaret McDonald of Kenworthy's Chambers routinely receives instructions from claimants and defendants in Costs cases. She is well versed in claims arising out of clinical negligence and solicitor-client disputes.
Our Manchester Barristers are based inside an impressive Grade II listed building of high gothic style, designed in 1880 by eminent Salford-born architect, Thomas Worthington. The tower-topped Arlington House boasts a Boardroom, two Lecture Theatres, and several Conferencing Rooms suitable for mediation. If you have a conference, meeting, or mediation to organise you can book facilities at Kenworthy’s in Salford, Manchester, by calling our Practice Manager Maria Rushworth on 0161 832 4036 or emailing maria@kenworthys.co.uk
Kenworthy’s provides Manchester Barristers, Lawyers and Solicitors with a programme of lectures, seminars, and bespoke courses on all the major areas of law throughout the year.
Kenworthy’s training events are delivered by practicing Barristers, contribute towards CPD points and provide legal professionals with a chance to refresh their knowledge of the law and gain insight into new areas of practice.
Barristers at Kenworthy’s Chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board - to learn more read our Terms of Service and Business.
For members of the public who wish to instruct a Barrister or receive advice, please visit our Public Access page before contacting us.
In 1987, 26 Cross Street Chambers, led by Head of Chambers Frank Burns, took their team of 12 Barristers specialising in Criminal, Family and Civil Litigation and moved into Kenworthy’s buildings, changing their name to Kenworthy’s Chambers.
In 1989 Gita Patel, the first Hindu woman at the Northern Circuit Bar, joined Kenworthy’s Chambers. The founder of our Immigration Department, Gita Patel was the first of many hires that helped make Kenworthy’s the diverse set of Chambers it is celebrated as today.
Practice Manager Maria Rushworth, who was one of the first female Senior Clerks in Manchester, and Chambers Administrator Sue Barlow were recruited from Barclays Bank to improve the professionalism of the clerking team.
By 2000, the Manchester Chambers had grown to 20 members, through smart recruitment of Solicitors with strong market knowledge, contacts, and a desire to transfer to the Bar.
In 2001 Mark Schwenk joined Kenworthy’s Chambers, shortly followed by George Brown and together they expanded and strengthened our Immigration Team which has since been awarded the top ranking, Tier 1, by the world’s leading legal directory, the Legal 500.
In 2002, Kenworthy’s bought and renovated the tower-topped Arlington House. The impressive Grade II listed building was designed by eminent Salford-born Architect, Thomas Worthington, in 1880.
Over the last 20 years, Kenworthy’s has diversified its portfolio of work, expanding into Civil Litigation. We have managed to increase the income generated, whilst maintaining a consistent voluntary presence at local law centres and immigration advice services.
The Civil Litigation and Costs team gained traction when Margaret McDonald joined the team in 2011. She has worked on landmark cases such as Bradley v Kone, on estimated time and standardised time recording, Ramsey v Instore, in relation to exaggerated costs and mis-certification of costs bills, and Masten v London Britannia Hotel Ltd.
In 2014, Mark Schwenk, George Brown, Craig Holmes and John Nicholson set up the Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) to provide free, independent legal advice and representation for people who could not otherwise afford it, campaign for access to justice, welfare provisions, employment rights, and housing for all.
Following the death of Frank Burns, Barry Grennan was appointed as the new Head of Chambers and Patrick Cassidy as the Deputy Head of Chambers.
Kenworthy’s strengthened its profile and reach by recruiting Senior Civil Clerk, Michael Jones, along with several Personal Injury and Consumer Credit Barristers in Josephine Scally, Joannah Webster, Adam Lewis, and Yasser Iqbal in 2016. Taking our number of Civil Litigation Barristers to 10.
Many members of chambers have been appointed into prestigious judicial positions over the years. Alan Wilson was appointed as her Majesty’s Coroner for Blackpool and Flyde, independent of local and central government, to investigate any sudden or unexplained deaths.
Paul Holmes was appointed as the Judge of Employment Tribunals in the Newcastle region. Margaret McDonald was appointed as a Part-Time Deputy District Judge. Shazia Khan was appointed as Part-Time Tribunal Judge of the First-Tier Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
In 2021 Kenworthy’s hired a Marketing Manager with content creation, social media, and event management experience. Bruce Cousins subsequently used his website architecture knowledge, SEO research, and copywriting skills to deliver a website overhaul for Kenworthy’s Chambers.
In February 2022, Patrick Cassidy was appointed as Her Majesty’s Assistant Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde. Richard Lees was appointed as a Deputy District Judge for the Northern Circuit in October 2022 by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable Lord Burnett of Maldon. In January 2023, Jonathan Greer was appointed as both an Employment Judge and an Immigration Judge.
Barristers at Kenworthy’s Chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board - to learn more read our Terms of Service and Business.
Still can’t find the information you are looking for? Feel free to Contact Us or call us on 0161 832 4036.
