Josh Normanton
Call 2012
“A formidable junior who is a silk in waiting” “He’s good fun, easy to deal with, committed and someone who will always fight your corner” Chambers and Partners
EXPERTISE
Josh is a sought-after advocate in high-profile, sensitive and complex cases nationwide. His practice spans the complementary areas of criminal, regulatory, disciplinary and financial services law. He has considerable expertise and experience in each area and a proven track record of achieving results.
Josh also has a busy advisory practice with three focuses: (1) Advising corporates on criminal and regulatory issues which arise in commercial transactions or relationships; (2) Providing a service to private individuals who are dealing with criminal or regulatory issues and require urgent, reliable and strategic advice; and (3) Advising corporates and entrepreneurs on licensing and regulatory law in the novel food and legal cannabis markets.
Josh practised exclusively in London until 2022 when he joined Trinity and began practising on the North-East Circuit.
CRIME
Financial Crime
Josh is regularly instructed in complex cases involving fraud or dishonesty. His expertise in financial services law and regulation is considered an asset in such cases. Recent instructions include defending in a well-publicised multi-million pound carbon credit fraud and acting for the first defendant in a large-scale accounting fraud against a well-known fashion retailer.
Josh has also been instructed to advise corporates on financial crime and POCA issues either in the context of internal investigations or during initial public offerings and similar transactions.
Serious Crime
Josh has a wide range of experience in serious criminal cases involving violence, sex and drugs, including appearing as leading counsel. He has been instructed as junior in murder cases and regularly appears in cases which are considered to be complex or difficult.
Josh has particular expertise in drug regulation and licensing and is regularly instructed to defend in complex drugs cases. Instructions have included a number of Encrochat cases and, due to Josh’s expertise in the legal cannabis market, a now long list of cases involving CBD companies and individuals in the CBD market facing criminal proceedings for selling cannabis (all of whom have been acquitted).
With respect to sexual offences, Josh was a core member of the Rook Group Advocacy and the Vulnerable Committee which developed the national advocacy programme on cross-examining vulnerable witnesses. Josh therefore has particular skills and expertise to bring to bear in cases involving vulnerable witnesses (he also edits the chapter in a leading practitioner textbook which deals with this area of law). His knowledge has translated into extensive work throughout his career in high-profile and complex cases involving sexual abuse and rape. Recent instructions have included representing a man with a severe mental disability accused of historic rape and other sexual offences against multiple complainants. The fitness to plead process in that case required four experts and spanned over a year and the subsequent trial required an intermediary throughout. The defendant was acquitted of rape and the majority of other counts.
Driving Law
Josh has maintained a practice in driving law since the outset of his practice. He is now regularly instructed to appear in complex cases. Recent instructions have included a successful half-time submission in an extremely complex and novel case involving a refuse lorry operative accused of aiding and abetting death by dangerous driving.
REGULATORY
Financial Services
Josh's expertise in financial services regulation was developed during a secondment to the General Counsel’s Division of the Financial Conduct Authority where he worked in an advisory capacity on market and regulatory issues. He continued to build on this practice and now receives instructions from a range of companies and individuals requiring financial regulatory advice or facing enforcement proceedings.
Josh is currently retained counsel at a financial services regulator in the Channel Islands. In this capacity, he advises on and prosecutes complex enforcement proceedings against corporates and individuals. These cases usually involve an international element.
Food Standards & Licensing
Josh is the director of a company which provides regulatory advice in the Foodtech market. He has an interest in the law and regulation relating to novel and technically innovative food production methods. He regularly provides regulatory and strategic advice to companies and entrepreneurs in this sector as well as in CBD and legal cannabis product market (in which he has been operating as an advisor for a number of years now).
Disciplinary
Josh continues to be instructed to advise or act as advocate for professionals facing professional disciplinary proceedings. Instructions have included cases before the GMC, NMC, HCPC and SWE as well as appeals to the High Court. Josh also has experience defending political figures facing internal disciplinary proceedings in national political parties. Recent instruction include successfully overturning the decision of a disciplinary committee and appellate committee (and all disciplinary charges) concerning a very senior executive member of a well-known political party.
APPOINTMENTS
- Retained counsel for a Channel Islands financial regulator
- Contributing Editor to Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice (since 2017)
- Level 3 panel CPS prosecutor
- Chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association (2019-2020)
- Harold G. Fox Scholar
- Middle Temple Lord Diplock Scholar
MEMBERSHIPS
- Criminal Bar Association
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Financial Services Lawyers Association
- International Cannabis Bar Association
DIRECT PUBLIC ACCESS
Josh is a popular direct access practitioner and regularly accepts instructions directly from individuals, businesses and professional and charitable organisations. Such instructions range from advisory work to representation. Josh is qualified as a litigator in direct access cases.
Liam Gorman
Lead Criminal & Regulatory Clerk
Liam joined Chambers in August 2010 as an Office Junior after leaving school at 17. He has held a number of positions in Chambers before becoming a Criminal Clerk in 2014. In 2017 Liam became our Lead Criminal and Regulatory Clerk. In this role, Liam is responsible for the Practice Management and Development of all members within his Team. This includes fee negotiation, diary management and business development across the group.
Chambers & Partners 2024
‘Trinity Chambers has one of the best set of clerks in the North East Circuit. Liam Gorman is the lead criminal and regulatory clerk.’
Legal 500 2024
‘Liam Gorman and Chris Gibbin are always on hand to deal with last minute issues, and have an excellent working relationship with local courts.’
Legal 500 2023
‘Clerks are attentive and quick to get back to you. Liam Gorman can sort any problem out quickly.’
Legal 500 2022
'The clerks, in particular the lead criminal clerk Liam Gorman, are excellent. Incredibly helpful and friendly and always respond quickly to queries. Have never had a problem with the service they provide, and they make everything very easy.'
'The criminal team is run to perfection by Liam Gorman.'
'Liam Gorman is a fantastic friendly clerk always willing to help.'
Chambers & Partners 2022
'The lead criminal clerk Liam Gorman is particularly good.'
'We receive exemplary service.'
Chris Gibbin
Clerk
Chris had over 9 years experience as a Senior Clerk in a barristers chambers in Middlesbrough before joining Trinity Chambers. Prior to that Chris worked in the Lord Chancellors Department, now HM Courts and Tribunals Service, at Teesside Combined Court Centre for over 10 years. During that time Chris covered most areas but the majority of his experience was gained in dealing with Criminal and Family Law matters. Chris’ latter years in the LCD were spent in the Listing Office at Teesside Crown Court where he developed his skills which ultimately saw him transferring to his role in a barristers chambers.
Chris is a member of the Institute of Barristers Clerks.
Outside of work Chris enjoys playing cricket for Marske Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League, watching football and rugby and socialising.
Legal 500 2024
‘Liam Gorman and Chris Gibbin are always on hand to deal with last minute issues, and have an excellent working relationship with local courts.’
Legal 500 2022
'Chris Gibbin is an extremely helpful and experienced clerk.'
'The Teesside branch is spearheaded by Chris Gibbin who is extremely helpful and efficient.'
Chambers & Partners 2022
'I cannot fault the clerking services – Chris Gibbin in Middlesbrough is very helpful, offers prompt responses and is always willing to assist.'
Chloe Lau
Criminal & Regulatory Clerk
Chloe joined Chambers in November 2010 as an office junior after leaving school at 17.
She has held a number of positions in Chambers before becoming a Criminal & Regulatory Clerk in March 2022.
Chloe is responsible for the general day to day management of the Criminal and Regulatory teams' administrative activities.
Outside of work Chloe enjoys socialising with friends and spending time with her young family.
Edward Shepherd
Criminal & Regulatory Clerk
Edward, known as Ted to those who know him, joined Trinity in 2024 as a Clerk in the Criminal and Regulatory teams after working 5 years in the quality and compliance and the day-to-day coordination and management of operations at a Northeast commercial law firm.
Edward’s interest in law, specifically criminal law, dates back to his university days, where he achieved a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in Criminology from Liverpool John Moores University in 2018.
Outside of Chambers Edward enjoys long-distance running, socialising with friends and following Middlesbrough Football Club.
Fiona Bullock
Direct Access Clerk
Fiona joined Trinity Chambers in 2007 after an established career in some of Scotland's top hotels and restaurants.
After gaining a BA in Hotel Catering and Management, Fiona progressed with her Food and Beverage Management career and on moving to the North East, she became one half of a North Yorkshire restaurant.
Fiona is Chambers Direct Access clerk and has found that her previous education and experience has stood her in good stead being in a client focused role.
Outside Chambers Fiona and her Labrador Olly volunteer with Wag & Co North East Friendship Dogs.
Paul McNab
Civil & Criminal Silks' Clerk
Paul joined Trinity Chambers in March 2020 following the closure of Zenith Chambers.
Paul has a wealth of experience in the legal profession having commenced his career in the late 80's and qualified as a legal executive in the early 90's whilst working for one of the countries largest criminal law firms dealing with serious criminal cases before moving to Number One Fountain Court in Birmingham as the Senior Clerk. Following the merger of Number One with St Philips Chambers in 2002 Paul became the Senior Criminal Clerk looking after what was then the largest criminal team in the country at the time.
Paul took almost a decade away from clerking during which he was the Chief Executive of an International Law firm specialising in domestic and international public law and human rights law adding a range of business and management skills to his CV before returning to the Bar in 2017 as the Senior Civil Clerk at Zenith Chambers in Leeds.
Away from chambers Paul can be found packing down in the second row although he has been on the verge of "retirement" from club rugby for the last three seasons but as a former club captain it's difficult to let go. When Paul does hang his boots up he plans to start learning to play the guitar again. When not playing rugby Paul is a season ticket holder at Wasps RFC and religiously follows Ireland Rugby home and away where possible where he enjoys the occasional "sociable pint"!
Chambers & Partners 2024
'Paul McNab is always available, commercial and pragmatic.'
'Paul McNab, clerk, is the go-to person. If Paul can't do it no one can. He is the finest clerk I have worked with. He's an asset to the chambers.'
Legal 500 2024
‘Paul McNab, Aimee Bloxham and Josh Stewart-Tilling are always on the end of the phone or email to help us find barristers with availability, even at short notice.’
‘Steve Walker and Paul McNab are always friendly, approachable and make excellent suggestions as to which counsel may be best suited for a particular matter.’
‘Paul McNab is always available and always willing to assist where he can.’
Chambers & Partners 2023
'Paul McNab, clerk, is excellent and has never let me down.'
Legal 500 2023
‘Clerks are approachable and accommodating.’‘Paul McNab – contactable, adaptable, and provides a good service.’‘Paul McNab is responsive, professional and knowledgeable.’
Chambers & Partners 2022
'Paul McNab is an excellent clerk. He's responsive, reliable and personable.'