Overview
Archie Manby joined chambers in 2024 and has developed a busy practice prosecuting and defending cases in London, as well as across the South Eastern and Western Circuits.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Archie worked at a leading criminal defence firm for five years, including three years as a Solicitor Advocate. This experience has provided him with extensive expertise in defence work across the Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Courts.
Archie is now a Grade 2 CPS Prosecutor and continues to build a thriving prosecution practice, regularly appearing in a wide range of criminal matters.
His background as a solicitor gives him a strong appreciation of the importance of client care and the value of effective collaboration between counsel and instructing solicitors. He is known for his approachable manner, thorough preparation and pragmatic approach to case management.
Archie is accredited to work with vulnerable witnesses and has experience conducting Section 28 pre-recorded cross-examinations. During his time as a solicitor, he developed significant expertise in Youth Court proceedings and established a strong reputation among Youth Court practitioners and the Youth Offending Service across South East London.
Crime
2026
- R v S – Portsmouth Crown Court (2026)
Prosecution of defendant accused of running a county lines drugs operation in the Chichester area.
- R v M – Central Criminal Court (2026)
Prosecution of defendant accused of dangerous driving and possession of machete and hunting knife during a police car chase.
- R v G – Portsmouth CC (2026)
Prosecution of defendant accused of S.20 GBH in an incident following a disagreement in a Portsmouth bar.
- R v S – Portsmouth Crown Court (2026)
Prosecution of defendant accused of sexual assault on a 19-year-old girl and attempted S.18 GBH in the aftermath of the sexual assault.
- R v K – St Albans Crown Court (2026)
Defending in 5-week trial where defendant required an intermediary throughout the trial due to his autism and learning difficulties. The defendant was one of four men accused of kidnap and robbery as part of a ‘crypto-wrench’ attack in Shoreditch.
- R v C – Inner London Crown Court (2023-2026)
Defending 20-year-old accused of participating in 3 separated county lines operations in Norfolk, Kent and Essex. The three cases were eventually joined. The Crown were persuaded to offer no evidence on the Norfolk case as the defendant was a child at the time and he pleaded guilty to involvement in the two other lines and received a community order.
2025
- R v M – Aylesbury Crown Court (2025)
Prosecuting defendant accused of witness intimidation, ABH and assault in a domestic violence context.
- R v H – Brighton Crown Court (2025)
Prosecuting young woman accused of a S.20 GBH ‘bottling’ of another young woman on a night out in Brighton.
- R v K – Luton Crown Court (2025)
Prosecuting defendant accused of ABH in a domestic violence context.
- R v B – Oxford Crown Court (2025)
Prosecuting defendant accused of threats to kill, possessing a bladed article and handling stolen goods.
- R v G – Kingston Crown Court (2025)
Operation TAPIR – Prosecuting 3 defendants accused of kidnap in 5-week trial led by Grace Ong. This was a conspiracy to kidnap case investigated by the Flying Squad where the female victim, who was 6 months pregnant, was abducted metres from her home address and bundled into a stolen white van where she was kept for over 9 hours while ransom calls were made to her then partner. The case involved multiple schedules produced by a cell site expert and police, and the calling of expert evidence by cell site and voice recognition experts.
- R v J – Nottingham Crown Court (2025)
Defending a defendant who was accused of a series of robberies. The most serious involved the knife point robbery of 3 young teenagers whose faces were slashed in the course of the robbery, leading to additional counts of S.18 GBH.
- R v M – Woolwich CC (2025)
Operation OROCHI – Prosecuting 4 handed conspiracy to supply heroine and crack cocaine in South East London. Led by Oliver Weetch for this 5-week trial. The case involved lengthy cell site analysis to link all four defendants to the drugs line, which was doing hundreds of thousands pounds worth of business through the line.
- R v M – Isleworth Crown Court (2025)
Prosecuting domestic violence trial where the defendant was accused of causing actual bodily harm to his partner.
2024
- R v T – Birmingham Crown Court (2024)
Defending in 2-week violent disorder trial involving 7 defendants, who were all family members. Large scale public disturbance in a Birmingham suburb which received national press attention. Successfully applied to have the Jury discharged following reference to the outcome of a previous trial in Crown’s closing speech. The CPS did not pursue a further trial against these defendants.
- R v L – Plymouth Magistrates Court (2024)
Police sought a Sexual Risk Order as client had been witnessed masturbating by his flat window which overlooked a school gate on a number of occasions. Successfully opposed the order being made.
- R v B – Woolwich Crown Court (2024)
Prosecuting two defendants accused of a number of domestic burglaries across several months.
- R v W – Aylesbury Crown Court (2024)
Defending defendant who was accused of joint enterprise stabbing. There were 3 eye witnesses to the stabbing, all who named the defendant as one of the people attacking the complainant. Following successful cross examination of the 3 eye witnesses about the possibility of them being mistaken, the defendant was unanimously acquitted.
- R v H – Basildon Crown Court (2024)
Prosecuting trial of the act where the defendant was accused of threats to kill.
- R v C – Luton Crown Court (2024)
Prosecuting defendant accused of causing actual bodily harm in a domestic violence context.
- R v B – Hove Crown Court (2024)
Defending defendant accused of being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine in the Brighton area.
- R v C – Woolwich Crown Court (2024)
Defending in 8 handed, 5-week affray case. The case involved an armed confrontation between two families.
- R v V – Winchester Crown Court (2024)
Led by Daniel Higgins, defending defendant who was accused of aggravated burglary. This involved an attack on a cannabis farm ‘gardener’ by men accused of being his handlers and involved an Albanian OCG.
- R v M – Woolwich Crown Court (2024)
Defending in a 5-week trial where the defendant was accused alongside 3 other ‘gang’ members of being in possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The 4 men were found in a taxi, with face coverings, machetes and a loaded handgun.
2023 and previous
- R v B – Woolwich Crown Court (2023)
Defending defendant accused of sexual assault of a child. The trial involved the pre-recorded cross examination of the vulnerable complainant.
- R v C – Snaresbrook Crown Court (2023)
Seven day s.18 GBH multi-handed trial involving the cross examination of 5 eyewitnesses.
- R v S – Inner London Crown Court (2023)
Four day possession with intent to supply class A drugs case where client was alleged to be seen discarding parcel of drugs by police. Unanimously acquitted.
- R v E – Harrow Crown Court (2023)
Multi-handed 9-day trial where co-defendant and E were accused of Kidnapping and falsely imprisoning co-defendant’s mother and also criminal damage. E unanimously acquitted of all three counts.
- R v C – Woolwich Crown Court (2022)
Defending the defendant at trial for possession of counterfeit currency. Client unanimously acquitted.
- R v R – Woolwich Crown Court (2022)
R had been convicted in the Magistrates Court of threatening his neighbour with a knife. He appealed the case to the Crown Court. Obtained previously unused evidence and utilised it to have R’s conviction quashed at Woolwich Crown Court.
- R v O – Maidstone Magistrates Court (2022)
O allegedly failed to provide a specimen for a drink drive procedure. Argued at trial that due to the police throwing away the mouthpiece, the bench could not be sure it was due to client’s failure. Acquitted.
- R v A – Bromley Magistrates Court (2021)
A was a youth when alleged incident occurred, accused of common assault. Secured acquittal for A at trial after successfully discrediting the prosecution witnesses in cross examination.
- R v M – Highbury Corner Magistrates Court (2020)
M faced charge of theft at trial. Successful half time submission of no case to answer on the basis that officer’s ID evidence was inadmissible due to lack of continuity with the exhibited photograph he was relying on.
Education
- Philosophy and Politics BSc. University of Bristol
- Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Law (Leeds)
- Legal Practice Course Masters, Nottingham Law School
News
Guilty verdicts in conspiracy to kidnap case – Grace Ong led Archie Manby for the Crown
Operation TAPIR – Kingston Crown Court. Grace Ong, leading Archie Manby, prosecuted this conspiracy to kidnap case investigated by the Flying Squad where the...
2KBW CPS Panel Grade 2 appointments
Congratulations to Archie Manby, Jack Furness and Jackalyn Chan who have received their CPS level 2 accreditations.
2KBW welcomes a new Member of Chambers
After a probationary period 2KBW is delighted that Archie Manby has accepted an offer of tenancy with Chambers. He is a welcome addition to...
Crime Team
crime@2kbw.com
+44 20 7353 1746