Introduction
Ben Williams KC works in Criminal & Regulatory Law with expertise in complex fatalities (murders of children; gang-killings; gross negligence manslaughter; workplace deaths); fraud and other ‘white collar’ offending; organised crime conspiracies (trafficking guns, drugs, etc.); and serious sexual offences.
He is recommended in Chambers & Partners 2026 guide to the legal profession in both Crime and Health & Safety, where he is described as “highly talented” and “extremely popular”.
He is also top-ranked in the Legal 500 2026 for both general Crime and Business & Regulatory, where he is described as “thoroughly well-prepared” and “excellent in front of a jury”, whilst his knowledge of health and safety law is said to be “exceptional”.
Ben undertakes private client defence work for individuals and companies in a range of matters.
Prior to taking silk, Ben was ranked as a Level 4 CPS prosecutor and was on the specialist CPS lists for Serious Crime, Rape, Fraud and Confiscation; he was also on the Attorney General’s List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (Band A) and the Attorney General’s regional civil panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.
Ben is also experienced in Inquests and Judicial Review proceedings where they interface with criminal and regulatory issues.
Crime
Ben’s criminal specialities are in homicide, organised crime, fraud and serious sexual offences. Across the span of those areas of work he has demonstrated high-level skill in handling complex technical evidence such as cell-site, DNA, imagery analysis, pathology and firearms. He has extensive knowledge of the laws of evidence and procedure and is adept at applying legal arguments tactically to best suit the strategic needs of a case.
Reported Cases
R v Brewster & Cromwell [2011] 1 WLR 601 (Pitchford LJ, Maddison & Macduff JJ). – Leading authority on Non-Defendant’s Bad Character. Ben appeared for the first appellant, who had been convicted of kidnapping and robbery. The convictions were quashed after detailed legal argument.
R v Chauhan & Croft [2019] 4 WLR 135 (Simon LJ, Picken, Swift JJ) – Guidance on timing of judicial reasons, based on novel argument developed from principles set out in Judicial Review cases.
Organised Crime and Terrorism
Ben has extensive experience of organised crime cases involving: professional campaigns of commercial robberies and burglaries; County Lines drug supply conspiracies; firearms trafficking; and shootings carried out in connection with gang rivalries and conflicts. Such cases invariably depend on analysis and cross-referencing of extensive cell-site data, CCTV, ANPR records, phone contact and forensic scientific evidence. Ben is extremely adept at marshalling such voluminous and multi-faceted material and at identifying points of detail to develop and/or exploit tactically.
Recent work includes:
- The shooting of a young mother late at night, through her front door, with no motive ascertained (Op. Icefox);
- The shooting of a teenage boy riding pillion on an electric motorbike, in retaliation for an earlier knife attack (Op. Bafflix);
- The ramming and shooting of a rival drug-dealer in his car, in revenge for an earlier gun attack on one defendant’s mother’s home (Op. Confident);
- A quadruple attempted murder, by a gang using a car as a weapon to drive it into a group of four pedestrians, targeting an individual rival (Op. Sunstark);
- A nationwide campaign of attacks on ATMs in banks and supermarkets, with specialised equipment – featured on the BBC’s ‘The Real CSI’ (Op. Tekap);
- An international conspiracy to traffic and control women for the purposes of prostitution (Op. Driver);
- A series of conspiracies to commit arson and inflict GBH through recruited ‘hitmen’, arising from an entrenched family feud over rights to land overseas (Op. Baylory);
- Conspiracy to import illicit tobacco products, involving a Dutch OCG and supply routes from Vietnam (Op. Fanbelt);
- Planned kidnapping and torture of two men by a Lithuanian OCG (Op. Muse)
Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)
Ben is regularly instructed in complex homicide cases involving multiple, interacting specialities of medicine and pathology arising from, e.g., violence upon or neglect of children or vulnerable adults; and involving fatal stabbings and shootings stemming from the activities of organised crime groups, which inevitably depend on cell-site data, CCTV, ANPR records, phone contact and forensic scientific evidence.
Recent work includes:
- Murder trial representing a teenage boy, appearing alongside his father and uncle for murder, arising from a pub fight following which the deceased had refused medical attention and self-dosed with codeine prior to dying several days later – multi-layered disputes over expert pathology and medical evidence relating to causation (Op. Chatree);
- Murder in a prison, involving group attack on inmate in his cell (defending) – cut-throat defences; nuanced strategy required concerning character evidence (Op. Lancer);
- Prosecuting murder as lead counsel – victim stabbed in kitchen of HMO shared with defendant; legal argument concerning loss of control (Op. Mechanical);
- Defending mother on charges of causing death of one child by neglect and the neglect of a second, leading to permanent disability, through gross malnutrition and lack of medical care – due to the defendant parents’ extreme cultural beliefs; extensive, complex medical evidence (Op. Loopflex);
- Defending 93-year-old man charged alongside adult son with Gross Negligence Manslaughter re death of vulnerable adult daughter, who died from septic pressure sores; complex interacting legal and medical issues (Op. Genoa).
Notable earlier cases include: defending a man described by police as an “iconic criminal” in Birmingham and said to be a senior member of the ‘Burger Bar’ gang, in a high-profile series of murder trials arising from a double shooting; defending in a ‘drive-by’ shooting using a machine gun, perpetrated by a gang said to be an off-shoot of the Burger Bar known as ‘Armed Response’; and defending in an intra-familial murder for gain, which involved a faced a plethora of esoteric forensic evidence (archaeology, anthropology, engineering, radiocarbon-dating etc.), as well as cell-site, banking, handwriting analysis, theology (paganism & ritual crimes).
Fraud, Business and Financial Crime
Ben has a depth of expertise in ‘white collar’ crime, with a thoroughness to his preparation; a keen eye for detail; and an ability to distil complex matters into simple, understandable points, which have been consistently recognised by the professional guides (see ‘Testimonials’).
Example cases include:
- Lead counsel for 1st Defendant against silk & junior in tax fraud valued at over £5m arising from a string of ‘pre-pack’ insolvencies, designed to transfer assets to ‘phoenix’ companies, leaving behind debts to HMRC and suppliers;
- Defending private client director of successful financial services company with a portfolio of property investments, in relation to conspiracy to purchase redundant housing stock from Severn Trent Water below market value, orchestrated by a corrupt employee;
- Defending director of corporate services business, based in Gibraltar, in relation to a conspiracy to commit fraud and money-laundering, arising from an alleged investment scam with 41 ‘high net worth’ victims, valued at £10 million; based on loans being made to a company which would then use pooled funds to access a ‘Private Placement Trade Program’ (all charges were dismissed on successful submissions of ‘no case to answer’, mid-trial);
Ben is experienced in representing Defendants on a private-fee basis in ‘white collar crime’ and is committed to providing the level of service which instruction on such a basis demands.
Serious Sexual Offences
Ben has an exceptional track record of successfully defending allegations of serious sexual offending. He is available to be instructed privately and is committed to providing the level of service which instruction on such a basis demands.
Recent defence cases involved a Moroccan student accused of raping a young woman he had met at the gym; a young man accused of raping and assaulting his partner within her home; a young man accused of the serial abuse and rape of his cousin during regular family gatherings when they were children; and a company director charge with stalking and persistently sexually assaulting a junior employee – all resulting in Not Guilty verdicts.
Ben also prosecutes such cases and has previously acted as junior Crown counsel in a series of large-scale child abuse cases, involving numerous defendants and complainants and significant quantities of complex material.
Ben was previously led by Stephen Linehan KC in the defence of a man in his mid-90s facing sexual allegations dating back to the 1930s, concerning alleged rape of his natural daughters as well as pupils of both sexes who attended a school for maladjusted children which the defendant ran as proprietor and headmaster.
Environmental
Ben is experienced in major prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency concerning pollution of water, land and air. He has acted in many private prosecutions brought by statutory water undertakers Severn Trent Water and United Utilities, for offences committed by businesses in relation to the sewerage network. He has acted for Local Authorities on many occasions. He regularly represents, including major multi-billion pound housebuilders, in Environmental matters.
Health & Safety, Corporate & Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Ben acted as junior counsel defending a theme park in relation to a high-profile ride fatality involving a child. He has been involved in a range of cases arising from alleged breaches of Health & Safety regulations, acting for both companies and individuals in the Crown Court, Coroner’s Court and in the context of civil litigation. Examples include a near-fatal roller door collapse; a fatal fall from height; electrocution at work; and fatal crushing at a haulage company’s yard.
Ben has defended private clients (corporate and individual) in Fire, Food and Health & Safety cases, including the owner of a chain of pubs; a private landlord with a portfolio of HMOs; and a national business owning a string of Burger King franchises.
Appointments and Memberships
Recorder 2020
Testimonials
“Ben is a highly talented advocate and extremely popular.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Ben Williams is a first-class advocate with perfectly pitched submissions.” Chambers and Partners 2026
“Ben is excellent in front of a jury. His health and safety law knowledge is exceptional, and his trial advocacy is thorough and understandable.” Legal 500 2026
“Ben is a thoroughly well-prepared advocate. His written work is first-class.” Legal 500 2026
“He is very impressive and his written work is incredible.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Ben is a well-respected and capable advocate and a pleasure to instruct.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Ben is a superb barrister. He has a very approachable manner, both with instructing solicitors and lay clients. He approaches all cases with a thoroughness and attention to detail. In court, his representations are persuasive and concise, whereas with juries he is personable and provides great clarity to seemingly complex issues.” Legal 500 2025
“An experienced advocate who is calm and unflappable, Ben is quick to learn the intricacies of health and safety law.” Legal 500 2025
“Ben is well respected, hard-working and intelligent.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Ben is great counsel. He has a keen eye for details and is able to grasp very complex cases with ease.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Ben is intelligent and pragmatic. He is responsive in his communications and has the ability to put clients at ease. He is robust with prosecutors and judges alike. His drafting of advice and applications is always of a very high standard.” Legal 500 2023
“Ben is a good operator who works hard.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Ben is extremely intelligent.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“An excellent junior barrister who turns work around quickly. He is great on paper and very user-friendly.” Chambers UK 2022
“He is client-friendly, very good at the law and could charm the birds out of the trees.” Chambers & Partners 2022
“He is committed, thorough, careful and someone you can respect.” Chambers & Partners 2022
“He builds strong trust with clients by quickly understanding their case and helping them develop it in a positive direction.” Chambers UK 2021
“He’s one to watch. He’s a criminal advocate, but with environmental work.” Chambers UK 2021
“Bright, self-assured, focused, excellent on his feet and super-efficient.” Legal 500, 2021
“Supremely organised, bright and hugely impressive advocate.” Legal 500 2020
“He works tremendously hard and is very bright.” Chambers UK 2020
“A very capable advocate.” Chambers UK 2020
“Self-assured and excellent on his feet.” Legal 500 2019
“Super talented, super-efficient” Chambers UK 2019
“All over the law, very bright and very capable.” Chambers UK 2019
