Owen specialises in criminal law. He is regularly instructed to appear for both the prosecution and the defence in cases involving homicide, serious violence, large-scale drugs conspiracies and rape and serious sexual offences.
For several years Legal 500 has ranked Owen as a Tier 1 practitioner and a Leading Junior.
âOwen has a grasp of the case very quickly and is able to communicate this in an effective way to the client and Court very effectively. No case is too problematic for Owen to resolveâ.
(Legal 500 2022)
In previous editions of the Legal 500 he has been “recommended for cases involving murder, serious sexual offences and gross negligence manslaughter”.
He is a Grade 4 prosecutor and is on the Specialist Panel for Prosecuting Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO).
Additionally, Owen has experience of prosecuting and defending in a wide range of cases brought by local authorities and government departments.
 Chambers UK Guides – The Bar
“Owen is always straightforward and comprehensive in his advice and representation of the clients.”
“He deals with all levels of work, including highly sophisticated and technical work.”
“He is very diligent in preparatory work and an excellent advocate.”
“Owen is excellent with clients. He is very diligent in preparatory work and an excellent advocate. He deals with all levels of work, including highly sophisticated and technical work.”
“Owen is a talented advocate who can tailor his advocacy to suit the case. He is very easy to work with, providing advice throughout the life of a case, making preparation easier.” (2025)
âSources describe him as an affable and user-friendly barrister” (2013).
“Owen Williams is a balanced lawyer who has a charming manner with the courtâ (2012).
Legal 500 Directories – The Bar
“Owen is very good with clients and is able to convey his advice in clear and concise language that clients can understand. He has excellent communication skills and is always available to answer any queries that a client or instructing solicitor may have. He has also proven himself to be an excellent trial advocate over the years” (2024).
âOwen has a grasp of the case very quickly and is able to communicate this in an effective way to the client and Court very effectively. No case is too problematic for Owen to resolveâ (2022).
âAn all-round barrister able to deal with all types of serious case, who connects well with clientsâ (2021).
âRecommended for gross negligence manslaughter casesâ (2019).
âRecommended for cases involving murder and serious sexual offencesâ (2018).
Owen has also defended as Junior Counsel in many murder cases and Leading Junior Counsel in several attempted murder cases:
- R v Davies & Another [2024] â Fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Deeley [2023] – Murder involving dismemberment of body,
- R v Garwood [2023] – Single punch murder/manslaughter,
- R v Press [2023] – Fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Smith [2022] – Murder â death caused by deliberate arson,
- R v Parks [2022] – Strangulation murder in a familial setting,
- R v White [2022] – Fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Mehalla & 5 Others [2021] – Multi Defendant OCG murder,
- R v Ibrahim [2021] – Attempted murder of a police officer,
- R v Hassan & Legall [2020] – Attempted murder – pre-planned with shotgun & machete,
- R v Burrell [2020] – Murder trial following earlier conviction for s.18 and subsequent death,
- R v Symons & 7 Others [2020] – Multi Defendant (Adults & youths) fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Jones & 3 Others [2019] – Multi Defendant (Adults & youths) fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Ward and Baxter [2019] – Fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Vaughan [2018] – Attempted murder in a domestic violence setting,
- R v Paget [2018] – Pre-planned murder for financial gain,
- R v Bingham and Saleh [2018] – Fatal stabbing murder,
- R v Stevenson [2017] – Attempted murder – pre-planned for financial gain,
- R v Jones [2017] – Attempted murder – Defendant with mental illness unable to form specific intent,
- R v Trevelyan [2013] – Defence of diminished responsibility,
- R v Rogers & 2 Others [2012] â Multi Defendant murder – Client with severe learning difficulties,
- R v Lewis, Cooke and Ward [2008] â Multi Defendant murder,
- R v Shaddick [2007] – Strangulation murder in a domestic violence setting.
- In 2019, Owen prosecuted as Leading Junior Counsel in the manslaughter case of R v Higgins.
- In 2022, Owen defended as Junior Counsel in the case of R v Swain Scaffolding Ltd, a gross-negligence manslaughter prosecution arising from a fatal accident that occurred during the demolition of a church in in 2017.
- In 2017, Owen defended as Junior Counsel in the case of R v Pike and Pike, a gross-negligence manslaughter prosecution arising from a fatal accident that occurred during the commercial activity of removing golf balls from golf course lakes in South Wales.
- In 2014, Owen defended as Junior Counsel in the case of R v Malcolm Fyfield and MNS Mining Ltd, the gross-negligence manslaughter prosecution arising from the Gleision Colliery mining disaster of September 2011.
- Tribunal Judge â Mental Health Review Tribunal Wales
- Cardiff University Law (LLB) Â Â Â Â 1996-1999
- Cardiff Law School BVC Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1999-2000
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