Colin Witcher

“Stand out Junior” Colin Witcher is ranked by both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500, where he is described as “completely brilliant”, a “KC in waiting” and a “formidable opponent”. He receives universal praise for his charisma, flair and natural advocacy skills.

Colin is known for his commanding courtroom presence, meticulous case preparation and excellent client care; as the directories observe “you want him on your side”.

Colin has cemented his position as Counsel of choice for instructing solicitors and King’s Counsel in complex and paper-heavy cases. In 2026 alone he is led by seven different King’s Counsel. He also routinely appears as sole counsel and leading other juniors.

He is often instructed in the most sensitive and well publicised criminal and regulatory cases including those involving high profile defendants. In 2026 he has appeared as Junior Counsel in the “landmark” Operation Afterburn embargo trial; defended a member of Foreign Royalty before Southwark Crown Court; been instructed to prosecute a former MP for sexual assault; and has advised a trillion-dollar turnover company. Historically he has appeared in the FA Bribery and Corruption Trial, defended in the high-profile lorry manslaughter case where 39 individuals lost their lives, and represented King’s Counsel before the Bar Standards Board.

Whilst covering the broad spectrum of serious general crime, Colin is a recognised specialist in financial crime and corporate wrong-doing, including specialising in confiscation, AFOs and cash forfeiture. He has appeared as Leading Junior in three lengthy fraud trials at Southwark Crown Court (on behalf of the first defendant in each case) and prosecuted a fatality at work arising from Health and Safety failings. Colin also regularly advises individuals and corporate bodies in the ever-growing area of Private Prosecutions and has developed a strong client base in this area of law.

Alongside a busy court practice, Colin was retained by the Bank of England assisting in a complex investigation (including managing a team of Counsel) and prior to that spent three years assisting a Regulator with an EU competition procurement matter. He is as comfortable in the boardroom as he is in Court with clients appreciating his realistic, pragmatic, and user-friendly approach.

In addition to extensive trial advocacy experience, Colin has a strong appellate practice: three of his recent appellate cases feature in the current editions of the leading practitioner texts. Colin also provides training and seminars, internationally, on financial crime, trial preparation, and advocacy.

Colin is a Recorder (Crime), Deputy District Judge (MC), Grade 4 Prosecutor, Rasso Prosecutor, and an Advocacy Trainer at Middle Temple. He is also a legal commentator and was described in the media as a show’s “secret weapon” following his appearance on a prime-time Channel 4 programme.

2026/2027 instructions:

Operation A: Led by James Hines KC in a complex embargo case described by the Times as the most significant arms case to come before a domestic court and described by HMRC and the Crown as a “landmark” prosecution

Operation X: Led by Richard Fisher KC in a £85m+ evasion of duty case.

Operation T: Led by Lisa Wilding KC on behalf of the lead defendant in historic sexual offending case.

R v E: Led by Kate Bex KC in prosecution of two defendants for rape, which occurred within a psychiatric unit.

R v D: Led by Benjamin Aina KC in sensitive prosecution for murder within a family context.

R v E: Led by Maria Karaiskos KC in murder appeal, concerning when self-defence should be left to the jury in the absence of the same forming part of the positive defence case.

Re X: Led by Lewis Power KC in cross-boarder international fraud.

AG v X: Leading Creana Dodson in respect to a matter of law and principle concerning AG References when a Respondent has been deported.

R v A: Attempted murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Instructions of note:

BSB v J: Led by Alisdair Williamson KC for the Respondent Silk in high-profile professional discipline case (2025)

R v X: Defending a member of foreign Royalty in proceedings before Southwark Crown Court (2026)

R v X: Defending a member of foreign Royalty in proceedings before Westminster Magistrates Court (2025)

R v D: Counsel alone over six week trial for international trafficking (2025)

R v E: Defending world-eminent surgeon of sexual offences (2024)

R v D: Leading Junior (Leading Michael Polak of Chambers) defending banker in internal banking fraud (2024)

R v E: Counsel alone on behalf of defendant charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to posses firearms with intent to endanger life over two six-week trials (2024)

R v G and others: Led by Kate Bex KC in the prosecution of five defendants for conspiracy to rape over a 5 week trial (2024)

R v D: Leading Michael Polak in respect to an internal banking fraud (2024)

R v T: Led by Kate Bex KC in unusual and sensitive historic sex case concerning deception as to anatomical sex both a trial and in the Court of Appeal (2024)

R v D: Leading Fiona McAddy on behalf of the first defendant in an investment fraud over a six week trial (2023)

R v D: Led by Lewis Power KC in point-blank revenge shooting on behalf of extradited defendant at the Old Bailey (2023)

R v E: Leading Junior (Leading Michael Polak) on behalf of the first defendant in a large-scale sporting event fraud over a six week trial (2022)

R v H: Led by Alisdair Williamson KC in high profile manslaughter case in which 39 people died over a two month trial (2021)