Alistair Haggerty

Alistair is a skilful and persuasive jury advocate. He is a Grade 4 prosecutor, who is instructed in the most serious cases, in addition to having a well-established and diverse defence practice.

Alistair prosecutes and defends in the full range of criminal trials, including murder, manslaughter, serious violence, child abuse, fraud, drugs conspiracies, and firearms offences. He is often briefed at an early stage in complex, multi-handed cases in which his eye for detail and strategic insight are especially valued.

He combines a detailed knowledge of the law and a forensic approach to preparation with a natural empathy and ability to judge the emotional tone of a case. It is this skill which has seen him praised, by judges and instructing solicitors, for his ability with vulnerable complainants and defendants, young witnesses, and those suffering from serious mental health problems.

In addition, Alistair has been instructed by individuals and companies in a variety of driving matters, including those arising from fatalities. Alistair’s comprehensive knowledge of road traffic law has resulted in him being instructed by high-profile clients. He is the joint editor of ‘A Practical Approach to Road Traffic Law’, which was published in 2023.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Alistair worked in Mississippi for six months, where he assisted lawyers representing individuals on Death Row. His work included drafting a petition for clemency to the state governor and investigating pathology reports on shaken baby deaths.

Featured Crime cases

R v H (2025)

Defending in this ongoing case arising out of the murder of two teenagers.

R v H (2025)

Defending a young man accused of a joint enterprise attempted murder in a revenge stabbing

R v S (2024)

Prosecuted a high-profile figure in the Black Lives Matter movement who abused her position to embezzle money raised by a charitable organisation for which she was a director.

R v G and G (2023)

Defending in a murder trial which followed a stabbing in Castle Park.

R v H and others (2023)

Leading junior prosecuting a multi-handed conspiracy to supply high-value stolen farm machinery and commercial vehicles throughout the UK and into continental Europe.

R v D and others (2022)

Led by Ray Tully KC in a conspiracy to supply cocaine in Bristol.

R v B (2022)

Defended a man accused of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties in a care home

R v D (2022)

Prosecuted a career fraudster who, over a four-year period, acquired over £600,000 after scamming a large number of victims who believed that they were being provided with IT services

R v D (2021)

Prosecution of a defendant who had stabbed his daughter’s step-father on the streets of Bristol inflicting life-threatening injuries.

R v M, M and M (2020)

Prosecution junior in this case concerning a conspiracy to murder the 16 year-old victim.

R v J and others (2019)

Successfully defended a woman in this case concerning allegations of conspiracy to kidnap, robbery, false imprisonment and blackmail arising out of a kerb-crawling honey trap.

R v E (2019)

Prosecution of a defendant who had posed online as a sixteen year-old boy and a twelve year-old girl in order to contact and groom vulnerable young children on the internet. He had then attempted to meet the children at train stations. An extended sentence of 16 years imprisonment was imposed.