Kate Blackwell KC

Call To The Bar: 1992

“Kate Blackwell KC is renowned for her experience in high-profile public inquiries, whether as counsel to the inquiry or acting for core participants. She possesses strong expertise in matters relating to failures in the provision of medical care, and counts the NHS among her clients.” – Inquest and Public Inquiries – Chambers and Partners 2024

“She is very well prepared on cross-examination and has an impressive knowledge of the papers.” Ranked Band 1 – Crime – Chambers and Partners 2024

“Kate is a superb advocate and her speeches are works of art. She is excellent with clients, her preparation is meticulous, and she has a tremendous court presence; she ticks every box.” – Tier 1 Crime(General and Fraud) – Legal 500 2024

“Kate is a tenacious advocate who does not hold back from difficult questions, has a measured manner, and is always thinking ahead. She is all over the detail and is great at leading a team.” – Tier 1 Inquests and Inquiries – Legal 500 2024

“Kate is an extremely knowledgeable barrister.” – Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Kate is an exceptional Silk. Always on top of every detail, always prepared, always responsive to both the solicitor and the client on a case. Judges love her – and so do clients. She will give tough advice as she is always focussed on getting the best result. One of the best criminal silks in the country and an exceptional strategic thinker” – Legal 500, 2023

“Kate is extremely hard working, sees the bigger picture, and manages clients and other counsel deftly and tactfully. She inspires confidence in her strategy and enthusiasm from her team.” Legal 500, 2023

“is a prominent member of the set, handling major, high-profile inquiries.” – Legal 500, 2023

“One of the best silks in the country with an acquittal rate second to none.”
Ranked: Tier 1 – Legal 500, 2022

“Fantastic with clients, and great at explaining complexities in a way that is understandable and clear. Reassuring and calm in the face of a challenge.” – Legal 500 2022

“She is the best silk I’ve worked with – her trial preparation is meticulous, she is brilliant on strategy and she is great with clients. Her jury speeches are a work of art.” – Chambers & Partners, 2022

“A stylish advocate.” – Chambers & Partners, 2022

“She is very good at zoning in on the important things in time- and paper-intensive matters. She is also excellent with clients and instils confidence.”– Chambers & Partners, 2022

“She is a fantastic advocate who is great with clients, very approachable and always available. Great on her feet.” “Clients love her: she’s professional, hard-working, and manages a team very well.” – Chambers & Partners, 2021

“A go-to silk – a perfect combination of meticulous preparation and courtroom flair.” “She deals with really difficult and complex decisions with great sensitivity. She is strong, clear, firm and a good strategic thinker.” – Chambers & Partners, 2021

“A silk truly at the top of her game” – Legal 500 2020 and 2021

“A brilliant tactician.” – Chambers and Partners 2020

“She’s just fantastic; she’s very robust, very tenacious, and superbly charming. Has a very attractive advocacy style.” – Chambers and Partners 2020

“Barrister of the Year” – Manchester Legal Awards, 2019

“At the top of her game. One of the best cross-examiners on the circuit.” “Her trial strategy is second to none.” – Chambers & Partners, 2019

“Her speeches are pure genius.” – Legal 500, 2018

“She is a joy to instruct and is the silk you want in your corner when things get tough. One of the best cross-examiners on circuit and pure class all round.” “She is magnificent in court from start to finish; it is a pleasure to watch such skilled advocacy.” – Chambers & Partners, 2018

“A Master Tactician.” – Legal 500, 2017

“Barrister of the Year” – Manchester Legal Awards, 2017

“Regularly appears in complex white-collar and serious fraud cases, with noted experience in corruption and money laundering. She is also well known for her work on high-profile sexual offences, acting for both the prosecution and defence. Strengths: “She does high-profile work. She’s very hard-working and committed to her clients.” – Chambers & Partners, 2017

“Possibly the best crime silk on circuit; she has exceptional judgement and is an outstanding trial advocate” – Legal 500, 2016

“This criminal law specialist receives high praise from solicitors for her strong practice and advocacy skills. She is instructed by firms in cases of corruption, money laundering and fraud and also handles cases for private clients.” – Chambers & Partners, 2016

“An excellent barrister.” – Chambers & Partners, 2016

“She is an absolutely fantastic advocate.” – Chambers & Partners, 2015

“A robust advocate who has a strong track record in serious crime cases.” – Legal 500, 2015

“An excellent serious and business crime specialist” – Legal 500, 2014

“Has a specialism in serious and white-collar crime. She regularly appears for both the prosecution and the defence in high-profile cases. She is extraordinarily good with her preparation and advocacy.” – Chambers & Partners, 2014

“An excellent performer.” – Chambers & Partners, 2013

“Kate Blackwell handles the most serious criminal offences and impresses observers with her very hands-on approach. She is hugely responsive and I can call her any time of the day.” – Chambers & Partners, 2011

Kate Blackwell KC is profiled here: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/adam-johnson-trial-who-silk-10872296

OVERVIEW

Kate is one of the UK’s leading silks specialising in criminal law and public inquiries. She is sought after for high-profile cases and is instructed by leading firms of solicitors nationwide. Kate has a formidable reputation as a first-class silk due to her skill, judgement and outstanding performance in serious and complex cases. The professional guides rank Kate as a “Tier 1” advocate.

Kate has been instructed to represent NHS England in the Manchester Arena Inquiry – an independent public inquiry to investigate the deaths of the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena Terror Attack. manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk

Kate is Leading Counsel to the Jermaine Baker Inquiry – an independent public inquiry into the shooting of Jermaine Baker during a Metropolitan Police Service operation. www.gov.uk/government/publications/jermaine-baker-inquiry-terms-of-reference

Kate is leading counsel representing Serco in the Brook House Inquiry. https://brookhouseinquiry.org.uk/

Kate was appointed by the Home Secretary as Counsel to the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, to address questions relating to police involvement in the murder of Daniel Morgan, the role played by police corruption and the incidence of corrupt connections between private investigators, police officers and journalists at the News of the World. danielmorganpanel.independant.gov.uk

Kate was appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care as expert legal member of the Gosport Independent Panel to investigate historic concerns about the initial care of older people at Gosport War Memorial Hospital and the subsequent investigations into their deaths.  gosportpanel.independent.gov.uk

Kate also accepts a high proportion of privately-funded instructions on behalf of individuals facing criminal offences. She has an outstanding success rate in having cases dismissed and winning jury trials. Following success in a recent case the client said, “Kate was absolutely fantastic. I was extremely impressed by how quickly she grasped the case and focused on the most relevant points to have the case dismissed.”

Kate is an employee of KBQC Law Ltd.

Kate is also a member of Silk Road Chambers Limited in Hong Kong – Kate Blackwell QC – Silk Road Chambers Limited.

Kate Blackwell’s LinkedIn Profile