January 23, 2026
It is with great pleasure that we announce His Majesty The King, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, intends to appoint Felicia Davy and Serena Gates as King’s Counsel, as set out in the Ministry of Justice’s new Silk appointments published today (23 January 2026).
Felicia’s practice spans major criminal cases involving murder, manslaughter and serious sexual offences alongside a substantial financial crime practice focused on high‑value, complex matters such as Serious Fraud, restraint, civil recovery and confiscation. Her work encompasses complex legal argument, cross‑jurisdictional issues and sophisticated forensic evidence and she has extensive experience in cases involving international financial structures, offshore entities and multi‑jurisdictional banking arrangements. Frequently instructed by government departments and regulatory bodies, she has appeared before the Divisional Court and Court of Appeal in significant cases concerning abuse of process, confiscation, bribery and corruption. She also represents clients in regulatory and insolvency‑related proceedings involving allegations of fraud or misconduct. Read more: https://redlionchambers.co.uk/barrister/felicia-davy/
Serena has a thriving practice which focuses on homicide, serious organised crime, terrorism and sexual offences. Many of the cases in which she has been instructed have also involved complex international and sensitive issues. She has also advised on war crimes prosecutions and investigations, both in a domestic and international context and has a wealth of wider international experience advising on war crimes and terrorism cases brought in foreign jurisdiction: https://redlionchambers.co.uk/barrister/serena-gates/
Co-Heads of Chambers Gillian Jones KC and Tom Forster KC said:
“On behalf of everyone in Chambers, we are delighted to congratulate Felicia and Serena on their appointment as silk — a distinguished milestone that recognises their exceptional talent, outstanding advocacy and significant contribution to the Bar. We now celebrate nine female silks in Chambers- a remarkable achievement that reflects not only the depth of talent and dedication within RLC but also our continued commitment to supporting and championing women at the Bar.
We want to thank the collaborative efforts of our barristers, clerks and staff, whose combined skills and expertise set Chambers apart. A special thanks goes to Mark Bennett (Practice Director) and Nick Parkinson (Deputy Practice Director) for their invaluable contributions to this success.
We also want to congratulate Professor Sue Edwards (RLC Door Tenant) who has been appointed an Honorary KC, a distinction that recognises her outstanding contribution to legal scholarship and her long‑standing commitment to advancing the profession. Her work has had a profound impact on legal education and the development of the law and this honour reflects the esteem in which she is held across the legal community.”
Today’s appointment elevate RLC’s standing to 27 Silks in Chambers. See full list here
The full list of 2026 KC appointments including Honorary KC’s can be viewed here
