Call to bar

1981

Practice:

Criminal Law

Other Chambers

9 St John’s Street, Manchester

Recorder

2000

Silk

2006

Personal

Mr Clarke QC has spent 25 years at the Manchester Bar and has extensive experience across the whole criminal spectrum. He was made an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000. Chambers and Partners described Mr Clarke as 'forceful but sensitive' in his conduct of cases with medical or psychiatric issues.

He has aquired a reputation defending and prosecuting case of homicide, large scale drug importation and sexual and physical abuse of children. He has taken a particular interest in case with a medical or psychiatric background and has extensive experience of cross examining expert witnesses including pathologists, psychiatrists, neuroradiologists and paediatric specialists in various disciplines. Mr Clarke defended in the first trial in this country in which the Crown relied solely on earprints to identify the defendant during which he cross examined an expert from Holland in ear print identification. He has conducted 2 cases involving palynological evidence as a geographical signature (by pollen and spores).
Mr Clarke has acted in a number of large scale frauds and money laundering both for the Prosecution and Defence involving many tens of thousands of documents. He has appeared in contested POCA applications, extending to millions of pounds.

During the last few years until his recent appointment, Mr Clarke was instructed as a leading junior counsel in complex cases where he has led many members of the Junior Bar from Manchester Chambers and elsewhere.

Mr Clarke appeared on BBC's Panorama in relation to the disclosure provisions of the CPIA 1996. Hehas also appeared on television to discuss the case of a youth who incited the murder of himself.

He has embraced new technology to assist in research and the presentation of material in court (eg PowerPoint presentations and/or the use of electronic presentation of documents using courtroom computers and monitors for all court users including the jury). He is prepared to accept instructions and case papers via email or on disc. He is an efficient professional who remains aware of his pastoral role and the need to communicate with and retain the confidence of the lay client.