Many Congratulations to Matthew Ness, who has accepted an offer of tenancy to join 5SAH Chambers following his pupillage.
Matthew prosecutes and defends in a wide array of criminal cases. He specialises in general crime, drawing on his extensive experience in criminal litigation to instil confidence in clients and solicitors alike. In addition, Matthew receives instructions in extradition and regulatory & professional discipline matters.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Matthew worked as a senior paralegal for Hennessy and Hammudi Solicitors, where he gained considerable experience as a litigator in all manner of criminal cases from road traffic to serious violence, organised crime, fraud and sex offences. He was a key member of the defence team in several high-profile cases including the alleged murder of PC Andrew Harper, 13-year-old Ollie Stephens (termed the “social media murder” by BBC’s Panorama), and the Reading Forbury Gardens terrorist attack in 2020. Matthew also litigated several reported judicial review cases in the High Court.
