Mary Prior KC

Mary Prior KC is Head of 36 Crime, the criminal team at the 36 Group in London, and has been named Criminal Law Expert of the Year in England at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025. The individual honour recognises her standing as one of the country's leading criminal silks, a reputation built over more than three decades at the Bar and reinforced by her leadership of both her team and the wider profession.

Called to the Bar in 1990 and appointed King's Counsel in 2017, Mary Prior KC both prosecutes and defends the most serious criminal cases, including murder, organised crime and terrorism. Her expertise spans complex and organised crime, cybercrime, financial and corporate crime, murder and violent crime, proceeds of crime, asset forfeiture and financial compliance, regulatory and professional discipline, and serious sexual offending. She frequently acts in high-profile matters, provides pre-arrest and pre-charge advice, and conducts sensitive internal investigations for organisations facing criminal or regulatory risk.

A distinctive feature of her practice is her particular skill in the questioning and representation of the most vulnerable people in the justice system, with a focus on those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD or with personality disorders. She is widely regarded as a powerful and persuasive advocate who commands the respect of the courtroom, and is described by legal directories as a terrific jury advocate with a rare ability to get people to open up. This combination of forensic skill and sensitivity marks out her work across the full range of serious crime.

Beyond her casework, Mary Prior KC holds a series of senior professional roles. She assumed the position of Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and is a Bencher and Master of the Library at Gray's Inn, co-chair of a Ministry of Justice advisory group on children in the criminal justice system, and a leader of initiatives on social mobility, education and mentoring within the profession. She also sits as a Recorder, hearing criminal and family cases as a part-time judge, giving her insight into the process from both the advocate's and the bench's perspective.

Her recognition as Criminal Law Expert of the Year in England at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 confirms a reputation earned over a long and distinguished career. For clients facing the gravest allegations, and for a profession that has entrusted her with its leadership, Mary Prior KC represents experience, advocacy of the highest order and a deep commitment to fairness in the criminal justice system.