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Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
Call 2000 | Silk 2020
Allison Summers K.C.
Call 2000 | Silk 2020
Allison Summers KC is Head of Drystone Chambers. A formidable court advocate, known for her meticulous case preparation and exceptional client care, Allison is a go-to criminal law barrister for heavyweight cases.
With a national defence-based practice, she specialises in cases involving homicide, other serious violence, and sexual offences. She is routinely instructed in cases involving young and vulnerable defendants and witnesses. Notably, her youngest client was 13 years old (charged with murder); her oldest was 92 years old (charged with historical sexual abuse). It’s these complex and emotionally charged cases where Allison excels.
She has extensive experience of dealing with vulnerable defendants with mental health problems and other behavioural conditions including Aspergers, Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Where cases require cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses, she is robust and fair. Her familiarity with the use of intermediaries for both prosecution and defence witnesses make her a versatile and sought-after counsel.
This considerable expertise mean that Allison is frequently instructed by solicitors on cases involving difficult or unusual features. Knowledge gathered over many years gives her great insight when it comes to identifying and instructing appropriate experts.
In respect of her expertise in somnambulism where she has previously represented a man charged with attempted murder she has also undertaken rape cases involving sexsomnia. She appeared in the 2022 BBC documentary Sexsomnia: Case Closed? which looked at some of the legal issues relating to prosecuting and defending cases when sexsomnia was raised.
Between 2011 and 2025 Allison sat as an Assistant Coroner and is able to draw on this experience in cases involving extensive or complex medical issues. She has appeared in several cases of homicide where medical causation has been an issue.
Allison’s range of experience in cases involving homicide and serious violence includes gang related killings, somnambulism (sleep walking), infanticide, vehicular homicide and domestic killings.
R v S [2024] Snaresbrook Crown Court
Defended young man originally charged with murder but who pleaded to manslaughter. The case involved a single punch by a defendant who had recently been the victim of an acid attack and had symptoms of PTSD. The case involved expert medical evidence as to the interaction between the acid attack and the Defendant’s violent conduct.
R v M [2024] Lincoln Crown Court
Defended a 28-year-old man with autism charged with the murder, dismemberment and disposal of body parts of his wife. The case involved identifying and instructing appropriate experts, including forensic psychiatrist, neuropsychiatrist specialist in autism, and neurologist.
R v S [2023] Central Criminal Court
Defended young man charged with murder and attempted murder in a case involving a drive-by-shooting involving mistaken identity of the targets. Presence in the car was denied.
R v J [2023] Luton Crown Court
Defended young mother charged with murdering her 5-week-old baby by poisoning him with paracetamol. The case involved complex and contested medical evidence. Following disclosure of the fact that all biological samples had been inadvertently destroyed, including the samples on which the prosecution relied as well as samples which had never been tested, the defence ran an abuse argument. The prosecution subsequently accepted a plea to manslaughter.
R v P [2023] Norwich Crown Court
Defended 23-year-old jointly charged with his father with the murder of his mother’s new partner. The case involved what was said to have been a planned attack by the defendants to kill. The issues in the case included the nature and timing of any joint enterprise and the extent of any participation by the defendant.
R v M [2022] Norwich Crown Court
Defended father charged with murdering his 19-year-old daughter. The case involved use of a car as a weapon. The defence case was that the defendant had driven dangerously but not murderously. The analysis of distressing footage captured on CCTV, ring-door bell devices and mobile phones was pivotal to the defence case. The cross-examination of the pathologist involved an understanding of key medical events and the ability to cross-reference these with other evidence in the case.
R v K & Others [2022] Nottingham Crown Court
3 month trial involving seven defendants in a planned stabbing of a former member of a Lincoln drugs gang. Significant factual and legal issues as to participation in a joint enterprise murder. K was one of three defendants acquitted.
R v B [2021] Lincoln Crown Court
Defended father charged with the murder of his baby son and causing grievous bodily harm, with intent, to the twin of the deceased. The babies had been born prematurely. The case involved multiple medical experts. The issue in the case related to whether the father was the perpetrator and as such the timing of the injuries and the apparent presentation became central to the case.
Allison has an established practice in cases involving rape and other serious sexual offences. She has represented a range of defendants including children and professionals charged with both historic and recent sexual offences. She has a particular interest in disclosure and has a proven track record of using this to her client’s advantage in cases of rape.
R v D [July 2024 - March 2025] Birmingham Crown Court
Defended 84 years old former teacher charged with offences of conspiracy to commit child cruelty and sexual offences. The case on the conspiracy to commit child cruelty involved over 80 complainants with allegations going back over 40 years. Following a successful submission of no case on a significant count, the case was stopped and jury discharged. Prosecution decision as to whether there will be a retrial is pending.
R v T [2022] Kingston-Upon-Thames Crown Court
Defended young man charged with rape against his partner. The case involved issues of sexsomnia, and both the prosecution and defence relied on expert evidence from sleep experts. The cross-examination of the prosecution expert involved an understanding of the key aspects of the sleep cycle and debunking certain myths about functionality during sleep.
