The ten best-paid criminal barristers received a total of £6.1 million from the legal aid budget in the year 2002-3, according to figures released by the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) last week.

Abbas Lakha QC, of 9 Bedford Row, topped the list, receiving £800,000 principally for his work on appeals in a customs fraud case. The other high earning silks included John C Rees (paid £664,000), Malcolm Swift (£637,000), James Sturman (£626,000), and Christopher Sallon (£603,000).


In the same period, their civil counterparts received £3.6 million. Lord Brennan QC, commercial specialist at Matrix Chambers and Labour peer, headed the civil table, earning £606,000.


Clinical negligence specialist Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel QC at 1 Crown Office Row was the second highest civil earner; she received £470,000.


The DCA pointed out that the figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, 'must be interpreted carefully' as they did not necessarily reflect work done in that year, were inclusive of VAT and disbursements incurred, and did not take into account professional expenses.