Fountain Chambers

Latest News Items
Expansion of clerking team
May 18, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Fountain Chambers is looking to expand its clerking team to deal with an ever-increasing workload for both the Criminal and Family Teams. Experience is desirable, but not...
Thief who caused Washington pensioner to suffer heart attack convicted of manslaughter
May 4, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
The victim suffered a cardiac arrest during a break-in, and later died in hospital. A manslaughter conviction was obtained after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Chambers'...
Fountain Chambers barristers instructed by the prosecution and the defence in major A1 crash
Apr 23, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Robin Patton prosecuted the case and outlined the facts; in summary: On 21 January 2022 in Bowburn Co. Durham Hugh Holmes drove a stolen car through a red light colliding...
Communication and assessment in care proceedings
Apr 10, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Anyone practising in the family courts will know the vital importance of the assessment process. Where there are communication barriers the correct assessment is all the...
Paul Rooney CoA judgment cited by CrimeLine
Apr 3, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Paul Rooney was successful at the Court of Appeal last month appealing a sentence imposed for PWITS class A drugs. The judgment for the appeal has been published and...
CBA no returns
Apr 2, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
In line with the result of the recent ballot, members of Fountain Chambers will not be accepting returns for any defence case to be heard on or after 11 April 2022. Chambers...
Paul Rooney successful at the Court of Appeal
Mar 2, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Paul appeared at the CoA Criminal Division today, to argue that a sentence imposed in relation to PWITS class A drugs was manifestly excessive. In October 2021 Mr Black, a...
Paul Rooney secures the only acquittal in an Organised Crime Group drugs trial lasting 5 months
Feb 19, 2022 | News Items, News 2022
Paul Rooney leading Stephen Hamill of counsel, were instructed by Nick Musgrove of Meikles Solicitors to represent Mr Vassallo, the third defendant of nine, named on the...
Durham County Cricket Club Stand Collapse – Private Prosecution
Dec 21, 2021 | News Items, News 2021
Paul Rooney and Jamie Hill QC represented Durham County Council (DCC), in a private prosecution against Durham County Cricket Club. The case related to a major incident,...
2021 CPS Panel appointment
Dec 14, 2021 | News Items, News 2021
Anthony Pettengell has been appointed a Grade 3 prosecution advocate following the latest round of CPS applications.
FreeBar Charter
Dec 1, 2021 | News Items, News 2021
Fountain Chambers has now signed up to the FreeBar Charter. FreeBar is an organisation which supports LGBT+ equality and inclusion across the Bar, and its Charter provides...
Horizon Post Office appeal
Nov 29, 2021 | News Items, News 2021
On 22 November 2021 Chambers' Robin Patton represented a former sub-postmistress, in her successful appeal against conviction for fraud in 2009. This follows the successful...