Introduction
With a specialist criminal practice, Tom Walkling has a wide range of experience and expertise in all areas of crime, with an emphasis on homicide, firearms and organized crime. He comes recommended as an accomplished, talented, and heavyweight trial advocate, but is also known for the quality and intelligence of his written work and his attention to detail. He is often praised for his approachability and his ability to put clients at ease. He is a level 4 prosecutor and member of the counter terrorism, serious crime and specialist rape panels.
Tom is regularly instructed as leading junior in cases of homicide, large-scale drug trafficking and serious organized crime.
Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)
Homicide cases form the bulk of Tom’s practice, for both the prosecution and the defence. His recent caseload includes lethal group and gang violence, planned individual murders, conspiracies to murder, attempted murder and death by dangerous driving.
Reported Cases:
- R v Lucious Winchester (2024): Murder/manslaughter. Leading counsel for the prosecution.
- R v Pablo Hoad (2023): Manslaughter, issues of self-defence and the pathology of self-inflicted wounds.
- R v Carnegie & others (2023): 9-defendant murder. Difficult case involving suggestions of gang violence and issues of joint enterprise.
- R v Tibere (2023): Murder and attempted murder. Complex issues of diminished responsibility and states of mind.
- R v David Venables (2022): Prosecuted 89-year-old famer who murdered his wife 40 years’ ago.
- R v Anderson & others (2022): Defence. Alleged gang-related murder. Drive-by shooting.
- Operation Aridity (2022): Defended a child charged with murdering another child. On-street stabbing captured on CCTV.
- R v Nall & others (2022): Defence. Multi-defendant murder of rival drug dealer.
- Operation Voyage (2021): Prosecution. 3 defendants charged with crossbow murder of 2 men – one by transferred malice. Featured in BBC2 documentary “Forensics: The Real CSI”.
- R v Honer (2020): Murder in the course of a dispute between rival county lines drug gangs.
Organised Crime and Terrorism
Tom prosecutes and defends cases involving serious organised crime, from multi-million-pound international smuggling and drug importation to regional gang violence and domestic conspiracies to murder, rob and steal.
Reported Cases:
- Operation Wingdale (2024): Leading counsel prosecuting 8 defendants charged with attempted murder.
- Operation Batteried (2024): Prosecution of youth, charged with support for and membership of Islamic State.
- Operation Ahull (2023): Leading counsel in 30-defendant public disorder.
- Operation Thundershower (2023): Conspiracy to import millions of pounds of cocaine from South America.
- Operation Ares (2023): Multi-defendant prison mutiny at HMP Long Lartin.
- Operation Alkaline (2021): Prosecution of a 6-defendant OCG charged with serious assault and perverting the course of justice.
- Operation Regeneracy (2020): Counterterrorism prosecution for explosive substances and terrorist materials.
- R v Copeland (2020): Counterterrorism case, homemade explosives manufacture. Novel legal argument at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
- Operation Denier (2020): Large scale disorder at YOI Swinfen Hall.
- Operation Granite (2019): Nationwide commercial extortion case involving arson and firearms.
- Operation Bushel (2019): Gang gunfight on residential streets. 3-defendants, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Serious Sexual Offences
Reported Cases:
- R v Owens (2023): Defence. Historical familial child sexual offences.
- R v Ferrie (2023): Defence. Assault by penetration.
- R v Bennett (2021): Defence. Historical allegation of rape. Defendant charged following a media campaign. High profile and sensitive case with a lot of media interest.
- R v Birks (2021): Multiple historical child sexual offences.
- R v Wilkinson (2021): Multiple historical child sexual offences.
- R v Hartley (2021): Defence. Multiple allegations of rape against spouse.
Education
BA (Hons) Philosophy, First Class
Winner of Cicely Coulson Prize, awarded to the most promising final year student
Common Professional Examination (Postgraduate diploma)
Winner of Branthwaite Prize, awarded for best performance on the CPE
Bar Vocational Course
Lincoln’s Inn Levitt Pupillage Scholarship
Appointments and Memberships
Recorder (2020 Crime, Midlands circuit)
Criminal Bar Association
Midland Circuit
Testimonials
“Clients appreciate his ability to distil complex legal issues into clear, concise arguments and his professional demeanour fosters confidence and trust.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“He is experienced at dealing with matters of the utmost gravity with confidence and great ability and he has excellent client focus.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Tom is a truly first-class advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Tom has always shown an excellent ability to analyse and assimilate the evidence in order to identify the issues in the case. He is able to identify very quickly those matters which are of importance and which require further scrutiny. He is an intuitive trial advocate, with the ability to deal with issues as they arise throughout trials calmly and appropriately.” Legal 500 2025
“Tom is a very heavyweight practitioner. He’s got that very assured and confident manner in court and in conference. He’s extremely authoritative and incredibly intelligent.” Chambers and Partners 2024
“Tom is great. He is really down to earth, puts you at ease and is so bright and well read.” Chambers and Partners 2024
“Tom can digest vast amounts of evidence quickly and identify the issues in the case. He always responds promptly to any queries by his professional clients and is always present and willing to assist when needed. His manner with clients is fantastic, and he soon gains their trust.” Legal 500 2024
“Tom has always shown an excellent ability in analysing and assimilating the evidence in order to identify the issues in the case. He is able to identify very quickly those matters which are of importance and which require further scrutiny. He has a sound judgement in relation to case strategy and decision making. He is an intuitive trial advocate, with the ability to deal with issues as they arise throughout trials calmly and appropriately.’ Legal 500 2023
“Tom is hard-working and experienced.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He has a stellar practice. He goes the extra mile for those he represents.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“A hard-working barrister with a really cerebral approach to cases.” Chambers UK 2022
