Anthony Burton CBE

Partner
Crime & Regulatory

+44 20 3206 2713
Email Anthony
anthony.burton@smb.london
 LinkedIn

Anthony is a partner in our Crime and Regulatory team. One of our Founding Partners, he is a leading authority on domestic and international criminal law and has a wealth of high-profile court experience.

Anthony has been a prominent figure in criminal defence work for nearly 40 years and was featured in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for the first time in 2018. He was also ranked in Chambers UK and noted for his deep experience in handling a wide array of serious crime cases.  He is described as “a really dedicated and hard-working lawyer who is really committed to the client.” 

Anthony is Chairman of the Board of the Royal Court Theatre and is a regular writer and broadcaster on legal affairs. He is a Council member of the all party organisation Justice.

Testimonials

“He has invaluable experience, knowledge and strategy as there is no criminal case that he has not done.” Chambers and Partners, 2024

“He is the doyen of white-collar criminal cases.” Chambers and Partners, 2024

“He’s a very good tactician who gets good results for his clients.” Chambers and Partners, 2024

“Anthony is fabulous and the doyen of criminal law. He is hugely experienced and has enormous gravitas.” Chambers & Partners, 2021

“Enjoys a ‘towering’ reputation.” Chambers & Partners, 2020

“Anthony Burton CBE demonstrated extraordinary passion and expertise in fighting my case at the Old Bailey…” Chambers & Partners, 2020

“A really dedicated and hard-working lawyer who is really committed to the client.” Chambers & Partners, 2019

“He is very committed to his clients, is very realistic and will strive to achieve the best outcome.” Chambers & Partners, 2019

“Anthony Burton is a doyen of the criminal defence fraternity, having been a founding partner of the firm.” Legal 500, 2021

“Adept at handling matters relating to bribery, corruption and money laundering allegations.” Legal 500, 2021

“Extremely experienced, smart and charming.” Legal 500, 2019

“A wealth and breadth of experience.” Legal 500, 2019

“Diligent.” Legal 500, 2018

“Astute, highly experienced and tactically sound.” Legal 500, 2018

“An immensely experienced and well-respected solicitor.” Legal 500, 2018

“Guru of crime.” Legal 500, 2017

“Anthony Burton is perhaps the  best practitioner in crime.” ‘Rather his own Man’ by Geoffrey Robertson QC

Practice areas

  • ‘Anthony Burton is a fantastic advocate, with a unique depth of experience. His commitment to be present and help has been exemplary and critical throughout the many years that I have known him.’

    Legal 500, 2025

  • ‘Anthony Burton CBE is a senior, long-standing partner. His commitment to a client’s interests and well-being is total, and demonstrably awesome. To describe his handling of a matter as exceptional is an inadequate term.’

    Legal 500, 2024

  • “Anthony Burton worked tirelessly on my defence, with incomparable dedication, resulting in a unanimous acquittal at the Old Bailey. Anthony and his team were thorough and totally focused.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “Anthony Burton is a supreme criminal defence solicitor.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “I couldn’t think of a better person to handle complicated criminal matters.”

    Chambers and Partners, 2025

  • “Anthony is the most dedicated and focused solicitor I have ever encountered. I would not hesitate to recommend him for his passion, diligence and expertise.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2025

  • “Anthony Burton is an extraordinary figure; he’s very impressive and someone you always want to work with.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2025

News featuring Anthony