Ryan Murray

Practice areas

Serious crime
Regulatory crime
Civil

What others say

“I was introduced to Ryan as my barrister, and what a weight lifted from my shoulders! Such a professional-no hassle totally ‘smart’ gentleman I can’t ever thank him enough! So refreshing and professional at a difficult time for me! Thank you.“

Client

“…Ryan has not been at the bar that long and often defends, but he had a great attitude and worked really hard to get the right result in difficult circumstances.”

CPS

Profile

Ryan is known for his approachable nature and ability to quickly get to the core of any case. Ryan’s meticulous preparation and confident jury-friendly advocacy have led to him becoming a “go to” advocate amongst local solicitors.

Ryan’s practice is based in the Crown Court, though he does on occasion undertake cases in the Youth Court. He is a CPS Level 3 Prosecutor, but is best-known for his defence work, which makes up the majority of his practice.

Ryan’s work covers virtually the full spectrum of criminal offences, including but not limited to: serious non-fatal violence, serious sexual offences, weapons offences, arson, fraud, public order, harassment/stalking, motoring offences (including those involving deaths), drug offences (including multi-handed conspiracies), theft, robbery, burglary and offences against public decency/justice.

He is adept at handling complex matters and cases involving technical points of law. Ryan has defended in cases with issues such as insanity, automatism, intoxication, the householder branch of self-defence and modern slavery.

Ryan has experience of acting and advising in applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). He has appeared as a lone junior in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Before joining Devon Chambers and focusing on crime, Ryan worked as a freelance County Court advocate, during which he appeared in nearly 2,500 civil hearings on Circuit. Ryan retains a small civil practice – both advisory and advocacy-based – in areas of housing, insolvency and contract.

His background has led to considerable demand for Ryan to act for parties in regulatory matters, which fall within a civil jurisdiction but often arise from a criminal context. Recent such instructions include contempt proceedings, committals arising out of alleged breaches of anti-social behaviour injunctions and applications by the Police. Ryan is particularly sought after by both the Police and Appellants to act in/advise upon appeals against the revocation of firearms/shotgun licences.

Ryan is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.

Recent Cases:-

R v H [2025]. Defending a man in a “stranger rape” case, having walked a heavily intoxicated girl back to his property before allegedly having sex with her whilst she was unconscious.
R v L & W [2025]. Defending a man charged as part of a joint enterprise s.18 offence, the complainant having suffered deep lacerations, as well as multiple fractures to his skull and leg, allegedly sustained through the defendants’ use of various weapons including a meat cleaver, claw hammer and sledgehammer. Linked issues of drug supply.
R v X [2024]. Defending a man charged with offences of rape and other serious sexual offences allegedly committed against several of his grandchildren.
R v C [2024]. Defending a man charged with attempted murder, having used a Stanley knife to slit the throat of a female friend who had entered his flat in the early hours of the morning via a window.
R v G [2024]. Defending a young man charged with rape, s.20 wounding , multiple counts of strangulation and coercive / controlling behaviour, all allegedly committed against his partner during a brief but volatile relationship. Linked offence of perverting the course of justice, having given the Police and medical staff a false account as to how she sustained her injuries.
R v H & DP [2024]. Defending a vulnerable man charged as part of a multi-handed conspiracy relating to the alleged forgery of an elderly couple’s wills. Linked offences of perverting the course of justice.
R v A [2024]. Prosecuting a former Metropolitan Police officer, having allegedly used online chats to arrange serious sexual offending against children. Linked offences of possessing/distributing indecent images.
R v C [2024]. Defending a man with complex psychiatric issues charged with firearms offences, having produced and pointed a modified loaded Glock pistol at another man in the street. Linked offences of drug supply.
R v X, Y & Z (Operation Hourplate) [2022 – 4]. Led junior for the Prosecution in a three-handed case alleging attempted murder committed by youths in a revenge attack relating to a drug debt.
R v S [2023 – 4]. Led junior for the defence of a man with an acquired brain injury, arising from his service in His Majesty’s Armed Forces, in a “stranger rape” case.
R v T & others (Operation Miching) [2022- 3]. Led junior for the defence in a complex five-handed fraud/drug conspiracy described as “one of Britain’s largest dark web drugs cases”. It concerned the production and onward supply of fake pharmaceuticals via the dark web, the alleged proceeds (over £20,000,000) thereafter being laundered through Bitcoin. Served material amounted to nearly 10,000 pages. Led by Rupert Taylor.