Leeds

0113 245 9763

Teesside

01642 232523

Newcastle

0191 406 7800

Dr Christopher Wood

Chris Wood

Year of call

2008

Career details

Education

2017

Durham University, Hatfield College Ph.D - "Risk Assessment, UK Counter-Terrorism Law & Policy, A Human Rights Based Approach"

2010

Durham University, Hatfield College LL.M Master of Laws

2008

Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Law School Bar Vocational Course - Very Competent

2007

University of Derby, Derby Law School LL.B (Hons)

Career

2011

  • Pupil at Old Court Chambers, Middlesbrough

2013

  • Tenant at Old Court Chambers, Middlesbrough

2014

  • Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University, Newcastle

2020

  • Old Court Chambers merges with PSQB

Appointments

November 2019

  • North Eastern Circuit Representative for Lincoln's Inn

December 2019

  • CPS Panel - General Crime Grade 3

December 2019

  • CPS Panel - POCA Specialist Grade 3

December 2019

  • Serious Crime Specialist Grade 2

December 2023

  • RASSO Grade 4

December 2023

  • Serious Crime - Level 4

Memberships

2013 - Present

  • North Eastern Circuit

2012 - Present

  • Criminal Bar Association

2010 - Present

  • Durham Human Rights Centre

2010 - Present

  • Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience

2013 - Present

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

2015 - Present

  • Royal United Services Institute

Crime
Children Law

Chris is ranked in The Legal 500 (2026) for Crime.

“Chris can absorb substantial volumes of data in short order whilst at the same time maintaining meticulous attention to detail.”

-The Legal 500 (2026)

Chris is an experienced criminal practitioner, dealing with prosecution and defence, which encompasses all parts of criminal law including serious violence including murder and attempted murder, drug trafficking, firearms, serious sexual offences and terrorism offences. He provides a dedicated service to every case he is involved in and utilises his knowledge to analyse cases, prepare them and present them fully. He has experience of dealing with cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses and defendants.

He has a detailed understanding of Proceeds of Crime and is highly skilled in dealing with the complexities which arise in such cases. He is regularly instructed on applications to vary restraint orders, vary confiscation orders, enforcement proceedings and much more.

Chris has also appeared before the Court Martial, defending serving personal and is happy to travel to deal with such matters.

Between 2014 and 2018 Chris was involved in extensive research regarding biometric evidence in criminal cases. He specifically examined the way in which such evidence can be used cross-border and international mutual assistance arrangements to tackle serious organised crime, sexual offences and terrorism. His research contributed to the UK Parliament decision to become signatories to the

Prüm Treaty. Chris has presented several papers at national and international conferences addressing topics on evidence and biometric evidence, criminal procedure and terrorism.

Chris has led, for the prosecution and defence, in various complex and serious cases and has achieved excellent results for those he represented. Chris has previously been seconded to other organisations, including the HMRC, giving advice and guidance on domestic and international operations to tackle financial crime.

Notable Cases

  • R v Gallen – appearing before Lord Justice Holroyde (Vice-President of Court of Appeal, Criminal Division), successfully argued for the appeal against conviction to be refused. The appellant argued that the offence of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body required a strict application and no intent had been made out.
  • R v Freeman – secured an acquittal for the defendant accused of a bomb hoax at the Darlington Territorial Army.
  • R v Grant et al – successfully led and secured convictions those involved in a conspiracy to supply drugs into Teesside.
  • R v Walker – under Operation Cobweb, the final member of a drug conspiracy gang finally convicted more than 10 years after others within the conspiracy were convicted.
  • R v Smith – successfully secured an acquittal the defendant for offences of coercive and controlling behaviour, violence and rape.
  • R v Zirari – successfully secure a conviction against the defendant for various sexual offences performed against his employees at his restaurant.
  • Re: W – successfully secure a rape conviction against a youth defendant.
  • R v Hubbard – successfully convicted the defendant for committing a sexual offence against his work colleague in a care home whilst caring for vulnerable patients in his care.
  • R v Costello – represented the defendant for terrorism offences associated to inciting racial hatred and for distributing such material in the UK and globally. The defendant was leader of the extreme racial organisation responsible for distributing such material online.
  • R v Jones – represented the defendant for historical sexual abuse against children who he babysat and children within his family.
  • R v Stephens and Wright – secure convictions against the defendants who planned and implemented a kidnap and blackmail plan.
  • R v Bashier – in a POCA s.22 Variation Application, secured a variation for £1.8m of the outstanding balance.
  • R v Hussain – secured a conviction for fraud when the Defendant misled a woman to believe they were in a relationship and secured money and car finance from her. Following conviction, a Confiscation Order was secured for over £45,000.
  • R v Sgt. M – client was a Sergeant in the British Army and being prosecuted for an Affray, however an acquittal was secured.
  • R v Jary – secured a conviction for a single punch attack which left the victim in a vegetative state.
  • R v Carter – secured an acquittal for the client who was alleged to have been involved in multiple burglaries within the Teesside area.
  • R v Barker – secured a conviction against the Defendant who obtained funds from the family business to fund his online relationships

Chris is regularly instructed in both, Public Law and Private Law matters.

Public Law

He has been instructed to represent the local authorities, parents, grandparents, children and interveners in care proceedings and other public law proceedings. He is regularly instructed in cases involving serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. He has experience of representing vulnerable clients and supporting them throughout proceedings and is similarly very good at dealing with highly emotional and volatile clients.

Private Law

Chris has predominantly represented parents and grandparents in a variety of private law matters. He has dealt with cases involving difficult and complex child arrangement issues, such as contact. He has been instructed to represent parents in private law finding of fact hearings as well as cases involving serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse. He also has also previously been instructed in various Family Law Act applications including non-molestation orders and committal applications.

Notable Cases

  • Re: N – led by Darren Howe KC to represent a mother accused of fabricating or inducing illness in her children and encouraging them to make false allegations of a sexual nature against others within the family. The local authority later accepted that the sexual allegations made by the children were true and those specific allegations were subsequently dropped. Findings were made in mothers favour, with the Local Authority being criticised for their heavy handedness.
  • Re: J, EM and MJ – represented the grandparents in public law proceedings where they were in a pool of perpetrators to have caused serious sexual harm to their grandchild, successfully arguing they should be excluded and obtaining a Special Guardianship Order.
  • Re: S – represented mother during Finding of Fact Hearing and successfully obtained a finding that father had intentionally alienated the mother from her children when the parties separated.

Chris takes instructions in relation to all aspects of family property and finances which arise following marital separation and separation of cohabitees.

He often appears at First Directions Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings.

He has experience of dealing with cases that involve: Family Trusts, Foreign Property, Pensions and Interveners.

Chris has been instructed to represent clients at the Mental Health Review Tribunals.

Chris has an interest in Regulatory and Public Law matters. He has previously been instructed to give advice and draft applications seeking Judicial Review. His interests in public law and human rights practices were expanded into researching UK Counter-Terrorism Law and Human Rights through his Ph.D thesis entitled ‘Risk Assessment, Counter-Terrorism UK Law & Policy; A Human Rights-Based Analysis’ and continues to expand his interests within this field.

He has also represented Local Authorities in bringing prosecutions for various public safety and health regulation breaches. Chris has also previously defended those accused of animal cruelty in prosecutions brought by the RSPCA.

Notable Cases

  • Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council v Farndale – prosecuted a farmer for failing to comply with EU Regulations on keeping up-to-date records of cattle and failing to dispose of cattle carcases appropriately – Click here for media coverage

Contact Dr Christopher Wood's clerks:

Dan Foulger, Clerk at Park Square Barristers
Dan Foulger

Senior Clerk

[email protected]

01642 056065

Claire Gibson

Lead Family Clerk

[email protected]

01642 056067

Emma Gibson

[email protected]

01642 056066

Kate Ingledew

[email protected]

01642 056064

Harry Dixon-Sanderson

Junior Clerk

[email protected]

Related articles

Dr Christopher Wood's clerks

Latest from Dr Christopher Wood

View all

01/04/2026

Read more

Unanimous acquittal for Dr. Chris Wood in Sex Case

Chris Wood

01/04/2026

Read more

Success at Court of Appeal for Dr. Chris Wood

Chris Wood

17/03/2026

Read more

Dr. Chris Wood successfully prosecutes rapist who is sentenced

Chris Wood

03/03/2026

Read more

12-year sentence for man who killed Durham student – Dr. Chris Wood prosecutes

Chris Wood