James Counsell KC named ‘Lawyer of the Week’ by The Times

The Times has named James Counsell KC ‘Lawyer of the Week’ after he acted for the BSB in disbarring Anu Mohindru KC after an allegation of dishonesty was found to be proved, relating to an application which he made for tenancy in 2012/13. 

James Counsell KC was identified as Lawyer of the Week in The Times’ 1st October edition after his stellar performance in the recent Regulatory & Disciplinary case of Anu Mohindru KC.

By James’ own admission when interviewed by Catherine Baksi for this feature, this was a bittersweet case – upholding the high standards of the legal profession but ultimately ending the 20+ year career of a “brilliant” KC. During the course of his application for a tenancy to 23 Essex Street Chambers (“23ES”), Mr Mohindru had falsely claimed that he had studied medicine at Oxford University. Mr Mohindru, who denied the allegation, was interviewed by a panel of senior barristers at 23ES and had claimed that he had obtained a ‘blue’ in cricket (playing for Oxford University against Cambridge), when he had not been to the university at all. That falsehood had led the panel to make further investigations by asking Mr Mohindru to provide a CV in which he had said that he had read medicine at Oxford University when, in fact, he did not have an undergraduate degree at all.

Having heard evidence from barrister members of the interview panel and from the chambers’ director at the time, together with Mr Mohindru himself and from character witnesses called on his behalf, the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal found the allegation proved.

Read James’ full interview with The Times, available to subscribers here.

Find out more

James Counsell KC has a longstanding background in regulatory and disciplinary work, spanning the whole range for and against professionals, including appearing in hearings involving doctors, dentists, accountants, solicitors, barristers, IFAs and actuaries. He is regularly instructed by the BSB and the SRA, and prosecutes misconduct hearings against solicitors and barristers for dishonesty and sexual impropriety as well as defending individuals. James is also frequently instructed by all the principal medical defence organisations to represent doctors and dentists at the General Medical Council (the MPTS) and the General Dental Council. 

To find out more about James, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)207 427 4907 or Graham Woods on +44 (0)207 427 4902 for a confidential discussion.

News 3 Oct, 2025