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Church Court Chambers would like to congratulate Tomas McGarvey on his recent election to the Executive Committee of the The Criminal Bar Association
Legal 500 2019 & 2021 recognises Kerim Fuad as a Leading Silk
Year of Call - 1992
Year of Silk - 2010
‘Commanding advocate and a great tactician. A very strong strategic thinker. A commanding presence, excellent with clients and exceptionally bright. He has the jury eating out of the palm of his hand.’
Legal 500 2021, Ranked as a Leading Silk
Listed in “Who’s Who.”
“First Class, I can say no more”
Martin Harvey, Partner, Angela Porters
“You’re bl**dy excellent at what you do and you do it with swag”
FC, Murder Client.
“Thorough and meticulous in preparation, a charming advocate and a joy to work with…”
Peter Woodley, Partner, St James solicitors.
“Kerim delivered, in defence of his client, one of the most powerful and eloquent closing arguments I have ever seen”
Public Defender, USA
“Kerim Fuad QC’s supreme mastery of the evidence is only surpassed by his ability to charm jurors and judges alike. He combines being the father of the house at the central criminal court with an extremely approachable and down to earth character who leaves clients with an unvarnished understanding of their predicament and a sense of relief that they are represented by the man to get them out of it.”
Sean Longley of GT Stewart Solicitors.
‘Commanding advocate and a great tactician. A very strong strategic thinker. A commanding presence, excellent with clients and exceptionally bright. He has the jury eating out of the palm of his hand.’
Legal 500 – 2021
Kerim Fuad QC is Head of Church Court Chambers and the former Leader of the South Eastern Circuit. He is the first choice highly experienced defence silk for instructing solicitors’ high-profile, sensitive and most difficult cases.
Kerim is a QC who is prepared to roll up his sleeves and fight fearlessly for his clients. His win rate is breathtaking and is second to none. He has been described as an “ingenious” barrister with a unique ability to relate effortlessly with juries. The court trusts him.
Kerim Fuad QC was the elected Leader of the South Eastern Circuit for 2017 and 2018, a reflection of the esteem with which his peers and the senior judiciary view him.
Kerim is regularly instructed in high-profile, complex and sensitive cases, for example the murder of Damilola Taylor, “the Exeter Bomber”, “the Three Cooks Bakery” murder “the Clockwork Orange” murder, the Uber Driver wife murderer, to name but a few. Kerim’s extraordinary energy, humanity and compulsive attention to detail means that he enjoys great success in defending his trials.
Accordingly he has regular success in huge fraud trials, including by way of example the largest fraud against the NHS to date. He recently represented the main defendant in a 3 month fraud alleged against deaf charities, a complex allegation of cheating the revenue matter at the Old Bailey. He was also counsel in of the largest European human trafficking cases ever.
He is also an Environmental law specialist, working for Thames Water.
Since taking silk Kerim has developed a practice of back to back murder, terrorism, serious sexual abuse and fraud trials, nearly exclusively at the Old Bailey, where he has been described by a resident judge as “the father in the house.”
Kerim has a wealth of past experience prosecuting crime (in particular sexual abuse) at all levels. This gives him a huge insight into the need to protect and understand the needs of vulnerable witnesses. The combination of his empathy, determined and sensitive approach led to great success which later formed the template for his highly astute trial tactics.
He was chosen to work on both National and Local “Better Case Management” Committees in a bid to improve the quality of the experience facing all court users. In particular those who are the most disadvantaged and who naturally can find the crown court an oppressive, daunting and scary place to appear. He hopes to help break down those boundaries.
Kerim is specialist vulnerable witness trained. He has a vast deal of experience in dealing with and obtaining the immediate trust of young and challenging clients and prosecution witnesses. His experience of mental health cases, especially unfitness to plead, defences of insanity and diminished responsibility is second to none.
Kerim has built a first class reputation for winning. He thrives on difficult cases and securing acquittals against the odds, in the face of seemingly the strongest of evidence.
This is why he is one of a small group of QCs who are regularly instructed to defend the most serious cases in the country at the Old Bailey.
He is renowned for his ability to cross-examine experts on complex forensic evidence, and is often instructed in murder cases which demand his understanding of forensic pathology and cell site analysis. He is an outstanding jury advocate who has an innate ability to bring warmth and humour to even the most sensitive of cases. He is renowned for his passionate and persuasive opening and closing speeches.
Kerim is highly regarded for his meticulous attention to detail and he values the importance of having Queen’s Counsel on board from the earliest opportunity and regularly insists on seeing clients in conference to reassure them even before a representation order for Silk is granted.
Kerim accepts instructions in all criminal and international matters and has been instructed by leading magic circle firms, to provide his criminal and regulatory expertise.
Kerim has long had an interest in international law and the benefit to be gained in learning from other legal jurisdictions and forging close cultural ties. Kerim was born in Kampala, Uganda and has lived in Hong Kong; he is of Cypriot heritage. Kerim proudly Co- founded and Co- Chairs “the Cypriot Lawyers’ Society.”
In March 2018 he was specifically chosen by the British High Commissioner to teach advocates in Cyprus and harmonise relations between the two communities. He made strong associations with both Chief Justices there and met their respective judiciaries.
Having fled Uganda as a refugee in the 1970s, he understands better than most the difficulties displacement and isolation can bring.
He has provided a detailed paper to assist the Law Commission on its consultation on the law of Insanity and Automatism. Furthermore he has helped in the response to the Law Commission’s consultation on “Misconduct in Public Office.”
In November 2016 he was the only QC in the country to be selected to visit the Scottish High Court and attend the Scottish CBA Conference.
There he was privileged to give a detailed talk on “Registered Intermediaries- The Theory in Practice in England and Wales.” He has developed strong ties with the Dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.
From 2012 to 2016 Kerim Fuad QC was an active member of the Executive of the Criminal Bar Association.
He was the appointed Chair of the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Bar Mess from 2013 to 2016.
In July 2019 Kerim Fuad QC was appointed by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou (of Easyjet) as a specialist adviser for his Philanthropic Foundation, focusing on matters relating to the island of Cyprus.
Kerim is a qualified Advocacy trainer for the Middle Temple.
He has also been a pupil supervisor for 21 years.
Kerim Fuad QC believes that with the right positive mindset anything can be achieved.
“Do the right thing, not the easy thing.”
On 10th October 2019 at 3.19 pm, a boy boarded the 241 bus on the way to Stratford wearing a balaclava and armed with a very large hunting knife. He proceeded to knife two 15-year-old schoolboys a total of 4 times, in front of terrified passengers, before running off the bus after B. A. who later died of his stab injuries.
Mr Fuad QC’s client was also a 15-year-old schoolboy and was carrying an identical hunting knife in his rucksack which he was seen on CCTV to take out on the same bus to inspect. The defendants’ knives had been bought together. He was alleged to have been the look out and the one who “tipped off” his best friend from the top deck via a lengthy phone call, and other phone calls, to know which bus the deceased and his friends were on and pinpointing where the bus was.
There was previous Snapchat talk involving all the boys in which knives were talked about and threats were made, including who was going to “be the first to be on someone’s blade.”
Mr Fuad’s client was acquitted of all 4 counts.
This acquittal adds to Mr Fuad QC’s quite extraordinary record of Murder acquittals, in particular over the last 10 years.
The other defendant was unanimously convicted of the Murder of B. A. He will be sentenced in due course following probationary reports.
This case has been widely reported in the national press, although reporting restrictions apply in respect of child defendants and witnesses.
On a separate note:
Both Mr Fuad QC and Miss Karaiskos are Cypriots who come from each of the island’s communities. The trial was a classic example of the two working as a successful, cohesive and powerful team.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50427925
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/london-stabbings-baptista-adjei-death-knife-crime-stratford-latest-a9153776.html
Kerim was instructed by Mr Joel Lamptey of Hanson Woods solicitors.
Murder and Conspiracy to rob. His client used a dumbbell to kill a drug user in Acton and steal cash and Rolex watches from him.
Very powerful evidence connected CM to the murder scene, including; ANPR, CCTV, Cell site, three I messages sent to him by the co- defendant at the time of the killing referring to the need to “Hurry up and get the P,” a contemporaneous phone call that was recorded of the killing and Crimewatch searches done on his phone.
He was convicted and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years’ imprisonment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53310091
https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/convicted-killing-dumbbell-17787100
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ealing-paul-tong-murder-manslaughter-rolex-watch-a4367651.html
Kerim was instructed by Shahid Khan of AdviceWise solicitors
Kerim Fuad QC today secured the unanimous acquittal of a young man alleged to have been involved in a “brutal and savage” murder. The trial before HHJ Leonard QC at the Central Criminal Court began on the 2nd December 2019 and lasted four weeks. It was alleged that the victim was stabbed repeatedly to death with a large kitchen knife in front of horrified eye-witnesses in retaliation for being on the “territory” of the three defendants having threatened two of them with a knife. He was instructed on behalf of the first defendant.
It was the defence case that the defendant together with a friend were being robbed by the victim, in an unprovoked incident, when another male emerged from nearby bushes and murdered the victim. It was advanced that there were, in effect, two separate incidents and thus the absence of a joint enterprise. Eye witnesses were skilfully cross-examined to establish a punctuation in time between the initial start of the incident, namely an altercation between the victim and the defendant said to be a robbery, and the end of the incident, when the stabber emerged from a hiding position and brutally attacked the victim.
This was a highly emotive case involving four young males and brought under the spotlight the issue of joint enterprise post Jogee, and the sheer brutality and prevalence of knife crime.
The stabber was duly convicted of Murder. The defendant and his friend were acquitted, however in such sad cases there are never any winners.
This case was another acquittal for Mr Fuad QC marking number eleven of the most recent and sensitive murder cases in which Mr Fuad QC has successfully defended.
It is the third consecutive acquittal for Mr Fuad QC and Mr Witcher when defending together in such cases.
https://courtnewsuk.co.uk/accused-killers-were-in-wrong-place-at-wrong-time/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7858197/Man-21-guilty-brutal-horrific-murder-18-year-old.html
Kerim was instructed by Mahomed Ismail, Director of MFI Law, London.
In a murder case dubbed “The Midsomer Murder,” Kerim Fuad QC represented a man who broke into a Waterside house in Bosham, West Sussex late at night in December 2013 with a claw hammer. He used the hammer to attack and kill a grandmother who was house sitting. The horrific injuries, in particular to her head were described as “extreme and akin to those seen in a road traffic accident.”
He then fled to Dej, Romania from where he was extradited under a European Arrest Warrant 6 years later.
The case led to the most extensive police investigation in Sussex history. 9,000 people were interviewed and over 3,000 DNA samples were taken in a police hunt for her killer.
The damning evidence was that he confessed to his ex partner and his dna was found on the bloodied hammer discarded at the scene.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7236667/Hammer-killer-suspect-28-Midsomer-murder-case-Sussex-appears-Romanian-court.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/23/romanian-man-accused-midsomer-murders-killing-remanded-custody/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/suspect-in-bosham-hammer-death-of-valerie-graves-is-arrested-in-romania-px5szmbtl
Kerim was instructed by Sef Mani of Bark and Co Solicitors.
Mr Fuad QC represented Mr T.P who accused of the Murder of his wife and Arson with intent to endanger his family and an alternate count of reckless Arson.
After a 13 day trial before the Common Serjeant of London, the jury found him guilty of murder, not guilty of Arson with intent, but guilty of reckless arson.
The jury had been 2 days in deliberation.
He was sentenced to a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years’ imprisonment. He received a 7 year concurrent sentence for the reckless arson.
His client was alleged to have strangled his wife and forced a flannel deep down the back of her throat whilst she was alive. The prosecution (and pathology evidence) strongly suggested he then dragged her across the floor, removing clumps of her hair (which were found in the hall way and bedroom), locked her in a bedroom and set her body (her head and private parts) and two rooms in the house on fire. Fire experts gave evidence as to it “having to be a deliberate setting of different fires in rooms.”
His three children were prosecution witnesses against him saying he had dragged their mother across the floor from one room to another in which her body was found.
T.P maintained that he was in fact dragging a suitcase, not his wife, and the killing and lighting of the three separate fires was an accident. He could not explain why he lit fire so close to her private parts, but said “it was spiritual like a séance.”
When a neighbour, the deceased’s 80 year old parents and the refuse men came to the burning house to assist, he claimed many times over (and was captured on body worn footage) that his wife was not in the house but had “gone for a walk.” He verbally and physically pushed people out of the house refusing to let them into the bedrooms.
He told the police that he had lit candles to “lighten the mood” and that the bite injuries which matched her teeth on his hand (a piece of his skin was later found), putting the flannel deep in her mouth, were caused by their pet dog. Other injuries to his face were caused; “when shaving.”
Three weeks before the killing he had set up life insurance for the maximum payable to him upon his wife’s death of £310,000 and was also to benefit from her pension. The jury also heard of two earlier separate but unproven reports of him assaulting her, once by attempting to strangle her.
He said in evidence that it was “a shame” she was dead.
In evidence he said he was in shock and was attacked by his wife first who had kicked him to his knee, having initially given a “no comment” interview.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47201007
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/controlling-bully-thomas-peter-who-15812151
Kerim was instructed by Chanelle Wray of Dexter Henry Solicitors
Kerim Fuad QC’s extraordinary run of Murder Acquittals continues On 31st October 2018, after a 7 week trial at his home court, the Old Bailey, Kerim Fuad QC’s client, D.B was unanimously acquitted of Murder. D was a 17 year old who was clearly captured on cctv running with a large knife in Logan Place W8 in a chasing pack of 20 young men who were chasing down a man, LB who was then, as the crown put it, “butchered” defenceless on the pavement. His client was also remarkably acquitted of manslaughter and violent disorder.
It was the 9th acquittal Mr Fuad QC has secured in his last 10 trials.
Kerim was leading James Hasslacher and instructed by Deborah Spence of Banks and Partners Solicitors
Kerim Fuad QC maintained his unique and extraordinary run of 10 acquittals in his last 11 homicide trials, at the Old Bailey. He led Edward Boateng-Addo, also of Church Court Chambers, successfully representing Mr I who had allegedly played a key role in planning Mr S’s brutal killing with axe handles. He had followed and passed the deceased’s red car 13 times in a space of a few minutes whilst constantly on the phone for just under half an hour and reporting the movements of the deceased’s car to the driver of another car. The multi handed trial ran from early November culminating with their client’s acquittal today. The first 2 defendants were unanimously convicted of murder, another of manslaughter. Another defendant was also acquitted.
Kerim was instructed by Ebenezer Madeinlo of Hanson Woods Solicitors.
Kerim Fuad QC secures another Murder acquittal. After a fascinating and extraordinary trial at Old Bailey that ran some 6 weeks, the jury unanimously acquitted FK of Murder but convicted her of manslaughter. The case widely reported by the media. The defence case not helped by the client who had taken a video and photo of deceased dying on pavement which she posted with the words “that’s what you get for fxcking with me.” She also fabricated documents in the middle of giving her evidence.
Telegraph
BBC
Kerim Fuad QC led Kevin Molloy of Church Court Chambers. They were instructed by Attiq Malik of Liberty Law.
Kerim Fuad QC wins again Mr Fuad QC’s winning streak continued. The jury at the Old Bailey unanimously acquitted AS on counts of murder and also manslaughter as a lesser alternative. The incident arose over a £20 drug debt in Plashet Park in East Ham on 15th October 2017. AS’s case was that he threw one punch at a man who he thought was an aggressor and then withdrew from the incident. Another stabbed the deceased who died at the scene from a single wound to the heart.
Telegraph
Kerim Fuad QC was leading Robert Newcombe. They were instructed by Mahomed Ismail of MFI Law, Solicitors.
After a hard fought six week trial at the Old Bailey, Kerim Fuad QC and Fiona McAddy’s client, DL was the only one of the 5 defendants to be acquitted of Murder & Manslaughter. DL was unanimously acquitted.
In what was one of his toughest cutthroat defences to date, Mr Fuad QC exposed the first 3 defendants’ lies, that their client DL was in the culprit car that went to the murder and whom was alleged by all to have played a lead part in the brutal and fatal knife attack on young Jermaine Goupall.
This was in spite of DL getting a text shortly before the murder saying;
“Get your nank we going 7.” 7 was a reference to “CR7” another part of Croydon with whom the gang who lived in “CRO” postcode had historical issues of taunting and violence.
Complex issues relating to a co-defendant’s bad character dominated the case, and Mr Fuad QC’s powerful and incisive cross examination based in part around the fruits of the application decimated the accounts of the co-defendants, and critically, augmented the Crown’s case against them.
Mr Fuad QC was the only silk to make a defence opening speech which firmly laid the foundation for their defence and took the sting out of the case against his client.
He was instructed by Tim Edwards of Edwards Vaziraney.
Mr Fuad QC represented the main defendant a Serco detention officer, Mr H, who was accused of very serious counts of rape and sexual assault of a female detainee at Yarlswood detention centre in Clapham, Bedfordshire.
In addition his client faced an allegation of misconduct in a public office.
In this high profile and complex trial Mr Fuad QC managed to thoroughly discredit the complainant’s account over two days by his incisive, sensitive but powerful cross examination.
The allegations had hung over his client who was of impeccable character for over 5 years. His attention to detail and painstaking research into thousands of pages of material, comprising years of Serco and Home Office reports lead to a hugely focused and ultimately compelling cross examination of the complainant.
His trademark opening speech set the tone from which the crown’s case never truly recovered.
Kerim Fuad QC was leading Matthew Kirk instructed by Cartwright King Solicitors.
Kerim Fuad QC succeeded yet again in university rape case.
Mr Fuad QC represented a young man accused of the rape of a fellow University student. After a trademark opening speech by Mr Fuad QC, straight after the crown’s opening, and his meticulous cross examination (which was praised by the Judge for its sensitivity) Mr Fuad QC exposed the complainant’s account.
Mr Fuad QC’s client who was a young man of impeccable good character, had given a complete and consistent account from the moment of his arrest that all sexual contact was consensual. He could not have assisted the investigation more.
Unusually and a first for the very experienced trial Judge, the trial did not even get to half time as the crown in the exceptional circumstances of this case, simply had no choice but to offer no evidence after the cross examination had concluded. The Judge directed the jury who happily found him not guilty.
Mr Fuad QC complimented his opponent in open court for the sensible decision he initiated, making plain how important it is that the independent Bar prosecute these sensitive and complex matters.
Mr Fuad QC was instructed by Steve Halloran of Lawtons Solicitors.
Another successful acquittal in a complex Murder trial, this time before HHJ Bevan QC at the Central Criminal Court. The victim had been stabbed at least 12 times in a senseless act of gratuitous violence; the motive inferred as revenge for the victim having dared “mess with the wrong people”. The defendant, K.M, an accepted road related (gang related) young man, was the owner of the car that carried the killers to the scene; the number plate having been noted down by an off duty police officer. The defendant was later positively identified on an ID procedure by an independent eye witness as being one of the two killers. When arrested the defendant’s face was half burnt – the car carrying the killers had been set on fire. Further, the defendant’s phone had ceased all contact with the co-defendant after the time of the murder.
The jury acquitted K.M after the evidence, although seemingly compelling on its face, had been carefully dissected by the defence.
The co-defendant was convicted of Murder and was sentenced to a life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years.
Mr Fuad QC was instructed by Tim Edwards of Edwards Vaziraney and Co.
An unusual case where the victim was stabbed repeatedly following a heated exchange over a trivial parking matter. The allegation was that the defendant, having had a fight with the victim on his doorstep, retreated to his house and retrieved a kitchen knife. After a few moments he was then captured on CCTV running through the cul-de-sac where both parties lived. Whilst the victim was sat in his car, unarmed, trapped by his seatbelt and sitting next to his partner, the defendant stabbed repeatedly through the open window, causing “devastating and life changing injuries.”
The case was unusual in that the defendant’s evidence was that he simply could not remember what had happened – one moment he was at his front door with the victim, the next he was standing with a knife with people screaming at him that he had stabbed someone. The Crown argued that there was a clear intent to kill in that the defendant had said, as he went to get the kitchen knife; “Just watch what is going to happen next.” He then plunged the knife repeatedly into the victim and had told officers soon afterwards that he “had seen red mist”. He also made other unhelpful remarks noted by police officers. By good fortune and the commendable work of paramedics the victim survived, albeit being in a coma and sustaining life changing injuries. He spent many months in hospital. The added complexity to the case was that the defendant’s previous firm of solicitors withdrew having unusually breached legal privilege. As such the entire former legal team withdrew only a few days before the trial was scheduled to commence. The Learned Judge, HHJ Dodgson recognised that this unusual case deserved the attention of Queen’s Counsel – Kerim Fuad QC and Colin Witcher were instructed. The trial had in the first instance to be adjourned in October 2016 and the jury discharged, Counsel rightly not being satisfied that the case had been fully prepared by the original legal team and that critical matters of disclosure remained outstanding. The trial then took place this week and after a five day trial the jury took only an
hour and a half to unanimously find the defendant “not guilty” of Attempted Murder.
Kerim Fuad QC took the decision to make a robust and persuasive opening speech which helped quell much of the fire of prosecution counsel’s speech.
The defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to section 18.
Press: ITV: http://www.itv.com/news/london/2017-03-15/knifeman-jailed-for-frenzied-attack-on-his-neighbour-in-trivial-parking-space-row/ Standard: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/jailed-for-five-years-thug-whose-frenzied-knife-attack-left-neighbour-in-coma-a3489841.html
Counsel were instructed by Karmenah Vaziraney, Partner at Edwards Vaziraney
The Uber driver murder.
Mr L googled how to stab his wife in the most painful way hours before he did so, inflicting many stab wounds.
He was instructed by George Kampanella of EBR Attridge and Co
Kerim Fuad QC’s client was acquitted of Murder in triple stabbing incident.
After a two month Murder trial before the Honourable Mr Justice Openshaw, the jury unanimously acquitted Mr Fuad QC’s client, E.S of both Murder and S.18.
E.S was one of the main defendants and was caught on a covert prison van recording, confessing to not only ‘not knowing whether he
had licked the victim’ but also shouting ‘Get the Ting,’ at the time they were alleged by eye witnesses to have gone to the boot of the car to obtain the murder weapons.
Two of the co-defendants were convicted JB of both Murder and S.18, and ND convicted of S.18. The rest were acquitted.
Kerim Fuad QC led Ray Tully of Guildhall Chambers.
He was instructed by Damon Whitlow and Emily Evans of Allen Hoole Solicitors, Bristol
Year of Call - 1972
Year of Silk - 1996
Patrick is a highly experienced practitioner who specialises in defending cases involving murder and manslaughter.
After years prosecuting high-profile cases involving terrorism and serious fraud, Patrick specialises in defending homicides – where he combines a meticulous approach with an ability to put defendants at their ease.
He devotes time and attention to evidential detail – on the long-held principle that time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted. He has a good network of expert witnesses and a strong knowledge of firearms and ammunition.
Patrick prides himself on his ability to communicate with defendants, giving them the time they need – and helping them remain calm despite the serious charges they may face.
He believes in taking time to support the family of a defendant – helping them stay aware of what is happening during a period of difficulty and stress.
Patrick is also a recorder with both criminal and civil jurisdiction, and a tribunal judge with the mental health review tribunal.
Interests
Patrick teaches advocacy at the University of Hertfordshire
Recorder (criminal and civil jurisdiction)
Tribunal judge with mental health review tribunal
Master of the Bench, Inner Temple
Attempted murder/Section 18, in which the defendant eviscerated his victim with a machete. Not guilty both counts.
A Royal Marine charged with fraud and theft and possession of 500 rounds of rifle ammunition. Not guilty on all counts Truro Crown Court.
Wood Green Crown Court. Attempted murder/Section 18. A North London street gang stabbing. Not guilty on all counts.
Attempted murder, in which the victim was stabbed 46 times. Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Gross negligence and manslaughter, whereby the victim was killed by mechanical digger – guilty, sentence suspended. Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Murder, the victim shot in care home by husband who was found not guilty of murder and sentenced to a hospital order. Chelmsford Crown Court.
Murder, in which the victim was beaten to death. Client found not guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to a hospital order. Winchester Crown Court.
Murder, in which the victim was stabbed 8 times by neighbour. Found guilty of manslaughter – 13 years imprisonment. Inner London Crown Court.
The victim, a suspected paedophile, was stabbed. Chelmsford Crown Court.
Victim was beaten to death. Winchester Crown Court.
Historical child sex offences. Guilty and sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment. Southwark Crown Court.
Victim was driven over 6 times with a large Mercedes. Defendant sentenced to life imprisonment. Chelmsford Crown Court.
Murder of one identical twin by the other. Winchester Crown Court.
Cage fighter acquitted of murder. Maidstone Crown Court.
Substantial fraud involving stolen scrap metal. Acquitted of all charges. Oxford Crown Court.
Attempted contract killing. Victim survived. Acquitted on all charges.
Contract killing. Central Criminal Court.
Billion dollar negotiable instrument fraud. Southwark Crown Court.
Drugs conspiracy involving transport of heroin through British Army bases in Germany. Manchester Crown Court.
Unprovoked attack on a man at night. Acquitted of manslaughter. Central Criminal Court.
Money laundering Columbian drug funds. Southwark Crown Court.
Rape, s.18 and child cruelty. Acquitted of all charges. Blackfriars Crown Court.
Conspiracy to import drugs by the ton from Columbia. Acquitted of all charges. Central Criminal Court.
Known as the Airline Bombers’ Case. The defendant was acquitted of the main charge of conspiracy to destroy aircraft. Woolwich Crown Court.
Known as the Lakeland Terrorist Training camp case. B was acquitted. Woolwich Crown Court.
Corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences. Acquitted of manslaughter.
Multi-million investment fraud. Southwark Crown Court.
Year of Call - 1987
Year of Silk - 2009
Ben is a highly sought-after, stand-out Silk whose career reflects his strengths as an advocate, his analytical ability and meticulous attention to detail. Ben works with each client to achieve the best result obtainable, however challenging the circumstances.
Ben was appointed Queen’s Counsel in March 2009, and to the Serious Fraud Office QC list in 2009 and 2013. Prior to taking Silk, Ben developed a varied practice initially obtaining an LLM in company law, intellectual property law, company law and administrative law. Ben served as standing counsel to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, an area where he continues to accept instructions in suitable cases.
Ben prosecutes and defends in equal measure and with equal commitment. Before taking silk he was a Grade 4 Prosecutor on the South Eastern and Midland Circuits and a long-standing advocate on the Specialist Prosecution Rape Panel.
Ben continues to accept a wide range of work, including murder, commercial fraud, personal injury, actions against the police, contract and commercial disputes and Judicial Review. He is an experienced hand in the Court of Appeal and has assisted in the development in his list of decided cases.
Ben has served by invitation as special counsel to the Governor of the Cayman Islands to advise on constitutional matters relating to the judiciary and law officers. Ben’s broad knowledge of the law and his in-depth experience as an advocate informs each case he undertakes.
Ben is known for his commitment to the criminal justice system. He is a senior advocacy and ethics tutor for Lincoln’s Inn. He assesses advocates for the CPS Higher Advocates panel a role that includes assessing Queen’s Counsel employed by the CPS. He has been involved in providing training for those who will be involved in the development of the vulnerable witness programme.
Man kills wife due to lesbian affair. Loss of control defence. Defendant convicted.
Man pushes former Eurotunnel boss onto train tracks. Attempted murder. Defendant convicted.
Gangs steal free evening standard newspapers for profit. Instructed to give detailed advice on the law of theft. Both defendants convicted following trial.
Seven-handed murder. Obtaining successful acquittal on charge of murder. Manslaughter alternative verdict.
Four handed gang related murder at the Old Bailey. Successful acquittal.
Two-handed murder. Obtaining successful acquittal on charge of murder of a 15-year-old. Manslaughter alternative verdict.
Acquittal of husband and wife (separately represented) on allegation of shooting and using a knife against family members inside and outside their home on Easter Sunday. Both accused successfully raising pleas of self defence.
Defending in four-handed murder. Victim attacked with various weapons and having been killed attempts had been made to dismember his body with an angle grinder. Accused acquitted of murder convicted of manslaughter but all other defendants convicted of murder.
Four-handed murder charge in context of drug-related offences. Allegations of torture. 16-year-old vulnerable defendant.
27 day three-handed murder and attempted murder, defending vulnerable 16-year-old defendant; victims also 16. Case involved the aftermath of an acid attack. Defences considered were diminished responsibility, legal loss of control, lack of intent and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alternatively an adjustment disorder. D acquitted of murder but manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
Death caused by driving when under influence of alcohol/drugs. Obtained successful conviction following 7-day trial for manslaughter.
Five-handed murder, attempted murder possession of firearms and section 18 assaults. All parties both accused and victims were members of gangs in the Birmingham area.
Five-handed attempted murder/conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm involving serious allegations that police evidence had been planted and raising issues of when a judge should recuse himself in an ongoing case.
AG Ref. on sentence in Murder/manslaughter case. Sentence was not increased.
The applicable mens rea in indecent images, abuse of process principles; the Tryell principle, preferring indictments on electronic system; jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal in Terminating appeals.
Issues arising relating to abuse of process; missing documents; terminating rules in the context of historic allegations of sexual abuse.
The correct approach to circumstantial evidence in murder cases.
The correct approach to bad character hearsay evidence where cut-throat defences are being run in murder cases.
Ambit and scope of cab rank principle in complex fraud cases.
Application of bad character provisions in circumstantial evidence cases.
Admissibility of new evidence after justices have retired.
Criteria to be applied before lawful intercepts can take place in prison.
Ambit of customs co-operation interviews.
Abuse of process in section 51 transfer cases.
Admissibility of foreign evidence in English Courts.
Applicability of code C.10-12 in customs cases.
“Legal 500, 2019 & 2021 – Leading Silk”
Year of Call - 1987
Year of Silk - 2010
‘He has great client empathy.’
Leading Silk in Crime in Legal 500 - 2021
“ The ‘calm and composed’ Amjad Malik QC is noted for his ability to provide ‘a clear case strategy from the off, and maintain it through the turbulent waters of a trial’.”
Ranked in Chambers & Partners: Crime
“Well–regarded advocate Amjad Malik QC is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend murder and organised crime cases.”
Leading Silk in Crime in Legal 500
“Regularly instructed to prosecute and defend murder and organised crime cases”
Leading Silk in Crime in Legal 500
“Experienced in prosecuting and defending murder cases”
Leading Silk in Crime in Legal 500
“Well regarded for a broad criminal practice focused on complex homicides and drugs conspiracies. He is particularly experienced in the area of white–collar crime.”
Leading Silk in Crime in Legal 500
“He is articulate and surgical in his advocacy, and the way he digests information and gives advice is amazing.” “He prepares his cases fantastically thoroughly.”
A leading Silk in the field of Crime and in Fraud demonstrating a multi disciplinary skill set encompassing civil, commercial and criminal expertise.
Amjad Malik QC is continuously instructed in the most complex and important of cases. He is sought after by solicitors because of his stylish, persuasive advocacy and is known as being at the forefront in the field of fraud, corruption and commercial crime such including confiscation and restraint.
Recently he has been asked to advise clients in a matter with regard to facilitation payments under the Bribery Act. He represented JM in the landmark proceeds of crime case, A, M and others (Operations R and A), the money laundering of £40 million through London Currency Exchange Bureaus tried in 2013.
He has also recently represented KM in R v SB and others (Operation V) a MTIC fraud, causing a loss of approximately £95 million to the taxpayer. R v M and others 2015 defending in a Money laundering enterprise through a Midlands currency exchange.
He also executes a regulatory and civil expertise when appearing before specialist regulatory tribunals: the General Medical Council; the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Healthcare Professionals Council. He presently represents a Consultant Professor in GMC v B, charged with publishing plagiaristic research articles in a number of international medical journals.
He has wide experience of many aspects of mental health law including mental capacity, healthcare law and human rights. His practice encompasses many areas in which this specialism is important, for example, the Court of Protection, prison law, community care, torts actions, inquests and inquiries.
He possesses an in–depth knowledge of terrorism offences and has long experience of “Honour Killing” crime; defending JD in the Southall murder of Geeta Aulukh at the Central Criminal Court.
Work Undertaken
– Commercial crime (including fraud and money laundering)
– Serious Crimes (including terrorism offences, murder, manslaughter and drugs)
– Professional regulatory and disciplinary
– Mental health and healthcare law
– Human rights
Elected President of the Association of United Kingdom Muslim Lawyers (2011-2016) http://www.aml.org.uk/cms/ The membership consists of some seven hundred solicitors and barristers. He has helped in the development and advancement of understanding in areas of Sharia law with regard to English civil, commercial and family law. See seminars.
Sharia finance Seminar at Bar Council Rooms March 2014
Sharia “Dispelling Myths” with Professor Tariq Ramadan of St Annes Oxford at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce 2013.
He is regularly invited as a keynote speaker in Terrorism legislation, Honour Crime and Hate Speech crime seminars (“Speech Crimes” Published in The Barrister issue 48).
A keynote Speaker on “Wilful Neglect” and protecting vulnerable adults at Safeguarding Conference Islington and Lincolns Inn BIA conference in April 2014.
Fluent in Urdu
Fluent in Hindi
Fluent in Punjabi
Representing KM in R v SB and others (Operation Vex) Kingston Crown Court. Defendant involved in a massive MTIC fraud, causing a loss of approximately £90 million to the taxpayer.
Representing JM in the second trial arising from the landmark proceeds of crime case, Anwoir, Meghrabi and others. Money laundering of £40 million through London Currency Exchange Bureau. Kingston Crown Court.
Defending in a money laundering enterprise through a Midlands currency exchange.
Defending the so called “honour killing” of Geeta Aulukh in a residential street in Southall by defendant and 3 others using machetes.
Prosecuting leading Counsel Homophobic murder of an elderly disabled man by a 17 year old teenager who had lured the victim to a remote area in order to kill him.
Conspiracy to Murder. Leading Prosecuting Counsel in a targeted shooting of a Organised Crime gang rival – The victim survived the attempt on his life and refused to provide evidence to the Crown of who shot him.
Corruption – Leading Prosecution Counsel in a case involving payment to a civilian employee in order to obtain access to Police Computer database and obtaining information on rival organised crime gang members. Computer and telephone evidence issues.
Heroin and Cocaine supply conspiracies– Leading Prosecution Counsel involving surveillance visual and probe material. Sensitive unused material issues.
Murder of a visually impaired and disabled man by the defendant.
Leading Prosecution counsel. Murder of an Asian gang member by a rival Black gang in Slough. Gang member issues and anonymous witnesses.
Conspiracy to Murder and attempted murder. Leading Prosecution Counsel Contract killing paid for by an organised crime gang on 2 rival gang members in Luton.
The torture and murder of a businessman in a targeted robbery at residential premises in Leicester. The murder was carried out by the defendant and two others, forcibly wrapping the head of the deceased with layers of cloth in order to kill by asphyxiation. Cut–throat defences.
A pre–planned murder of the defendant’s female partner, who was taken to a remote area late at night, the defendant using a knife and heavy metal cutters to kill. Loss of control was raised as the defence to murder.
The beating and brutal murder of a 76 year old man during a robbery, carried out in his own home by the defendant and another. Cut–throat defences involving witnesses who were all from the travelling community.
An Albanian drug cartel the subject of surveillance operations conducted by the Serious Crime Agency. Defendant found with 4 kilograms of Heroin (street value 1 million pounds) and acquitted.
19 year old defendant who robbed and killed a stranger in the town centre in the early hours of the morning.
Defendant with three others attacked rival gang members with meat cleavers in Bedford Town centre, murder of one man and the attempted murder of another.
Leading Prosecution Counsel. Two defendant’s, age 15 and 17, charged with murder of a young man at a party by joint enterprise stabbing. Third adult defendant involved in assisting an offender after the murder.
Chelmsford Crown Court - joint enterprise murder.
Oxford Crown Court - Polish gang related murder.
Hull Crown Court - defending murder involving a killing by the cutting of the throat in a residential street.
Luton Crown Court - murder of a man involving GHB/GBL and Mephedrone overdose.
Wolverhampton Crown Court - manslaughter during a robbery.
Exeter Crown Court - Assisted suicide.
Wolverhampton Crown Court - Prosecution of Murder of elderly homeowner during robbery.
Oxford Crown Court defending the Excel Sheet/Wind in the Willows 1st Edition Murderer who was targeting celebrities.
Chelmsford CC – Honey trap murder prosecution.
Nottingham Crown Court - Prosecution of Murder by 19 year old with fitness to plead, diminished responsibility and loss of control issues.
Prosecuting Operation Diesel Birmingham CC. A 13 defendant Conspiracy to supply Cocaine and Money laundering.
Recently advised and obtained leave to appeal the conviction of a mother for the murder of her 7 year old son by beating because of a failure of the boy to recite the Koran properly. Issues raised on appeal as to failure of trial Judge to allow expert evidence on Honour based violence sustained by the defendant at the hands of her husband.
Representing a Solicitor, who faced witness intimidation charges arising out of a criminal trial that he himself conducted. Appeal against original conviction successful but Court of Appeal ordered a re–trial. Appeared for the defendant in the retrial and Defendant was acquitted after submissions made of no case to answer.
“Legal 500, 2020 & 2021 – Leading Silk”
Year of Call - 1992
Year of Silk - 2010
‘Lewis is a force of nature. His amiable charm fills the robing room and the court room alike. He works every character in a case, from the co-defendants’ advocates, to the prosecutor to the judge and, ultimately, the jury, who hang on his every word. His charm underlays a deadly cross examination technique.’
Legal 500 2021, Ranked as a Leading Silk
"Ruthlessly intellectual in preparing his cases with precision."
Legal 500 2020, Ranked as a Leading Silk
Lewis Power QC is a leading Queen’s Counsel both domestically and internationally. He is a formidable advocate who has established a reputation as a leading practitioner in complex jury trials and has been described recently in the media as “being in the Top Ten List of barristers in the UK”.
He specialises in complex and heavyweight criminal cases, including cases concerning murder, criminal fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption, offshore and international, serious sex crimes, terrorism and war crimes. Notably he successfully defended in the London Bombing trials at the Old Bailey in London and was lead Counsel in the private prosecution of the current UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
He has successfully recently appeared for the defence in a number of high profile murder cases achieving a string of acquittals. Lewis has recently acted as leading Counsel in the internationally renowned “Cyprus Teenager Rape case” where he was permitted to act by the Attorney-General of Cyprus. Clients consistently comment on Lewis’ strategic and tactical acumen developed through nearly 30 years of trial advocacy, latterly in international or trans-national cases including Cyprus, India, USA, the Balkans, the United Arab Emirates and in Ireland. Lewis also regularly acts as a guest lecturer and speaker all over the world and regularly appears on National TV and in a variety of documentaries giving his insight into topical legal issues. He is recognised as a leading Queens Counsel by both Chambers UK and the Legal 500 which comment in particular on his renowned strength in cross-examination: “The epitome of a modern silk. He is approachable, naturally charming and engaging, with a work ethic that is second to none. His cross-examination is effortless and even in the most hopeless of cases, he fights tenaciously for the client and leaves no avenue unconsidered.” He is referred to as “an unrivalled cross-examiner” where his style is said to be “nothing short of brilliant”.
Legal 500 2018 : Ranked QC
Lewis Power QC – Church Court Chambers ‘A strong trial tactician, he is devilishly effective in front of a jury.
Chambers Commentary (UK Bar) 2017
Lewis Power QC of Church Court Chambers Prominent criminal barrister known for his handling of complex international cases relating to regulation, fraud, rape and murder. Sources commend his ability to manage and reassure clients in highly sensitive proceedings. Strengths: “The epitome of a modern silk. He is approachable, naturally charming and engaging, with a work ethic that is second to none. His client care skills leave the most apprehensive clients firmly reassured. His cross-examination is effortless and even in the most hopeless of cases, he fights tenaciously for the client and leaves no avenue unconsidered.” Recent work: Appeared in R v Miles Headley, a high-profile attempted murder case linked to gang violence in south London.
Lewis Power QC is part of our experienced and highly acclaimed team advising and representing clients at all stages and at every level of the regulatory process, including advice on compliance with regulation and at all stages of investigation and prosecution of regulatory offences, and advice on enforcement and improvement notices in all areas of regulation.
Corporate Manslaughter has been at the forefront of regulatory lawyers’ minds for several years. Lewis Power QC has regularly been involved in the provision of seminars to both professional and lay clients, providing opinion about the law as it was predicted to be enacted, and subsequently into the effect of the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act once it came into force.
Lewis has regularly defended the full range of Health & Safety offences and has appeared and advised in a number of high profile cases at the Central Criminal Court :R v Yousoff and in Lewes Crown Courts : R v Barnett and R v H ).
He has particular experience and expertise relating to construction cases, R v H becoming involved in cases at an early stage and has often provided advice in relation to compliance issues.
Lewis has advised and represent those involved in all types of construction accidents including:
– Construction, Design and Management issues.
– Falls from height on construction sites.
– Structural collapse during construction or demolition
– Asbestos contamination
– Environmental waste and Landfill sites.
– In terms of Health and Safety at work Lewis has successfully defended prosecutions brought by HSE and local authorities relating to all aspects of workplace safety, both as it affects the employer’s own workforce and as it impacts upon the members of the public served or affected by the employer’s undertaking, and whether the accused is the business as a whole or an individual employee said to be at fault.
Types of accident covered include:
– Falls through and from fragile roofs and elsewhere from a height in the workplace ( Corporate manslaughter defending company Mead Contractors Ltd re death of Stephen Bonner ).
– Slips, trips and falls.
– Workplace transport ( notably an employee fatality Corporate Manslaughter with Eastbourne Buses ).
– Mechanical failure, especially in manufacturing and factory
– Retail, with safety representation and advice offered for and against national retailers ( Next fatality – Bicester Outlet Village ).
Lewis’ work includes complex cases concerning companies, public authorities and individuals in cases involving fatalities in the workplace. He also does a large amount of inquest work and enforcement notice appeals. He is currently advising in a case concerning environmental issues in respect of the large-scale disposal of controlled waste and land-fill tax schemes.
He has considerable experience in representing clients in a range of tribunals especially medical and sports matters ( Osteopathic General Council and UKAD – famous Cyclists; boxers ) where he combines his expertise of robust courtroom advocacy and thorough case preparation to secure favourable results.
Public Law
Lewis is regularly instructed to advise and represent companies, organisations and individuals at inquest His expertise has also recently been sought in one of the largest public enquiries in the UK to date.
Offshore & International
A former lecturer in International law at Birbeck College University of London, Lewis was appointed Officer to War Crimes Committee of International Bar Association from Jan 2015. Lewis is on the International Bar Association’s War Crimes Committee as the Conference Coordinator. He is moderating at the Peace Palace at the Hague in January 2016 at the Conference on Legal Challenges to Modern Warfare chairing the session on “Peacekeepers Responsibilities and Liabilities in Conflict Zones”.
He is regularly instructed in heavyweight criminal proceedings involving fraud and regulatory cases with an international dimension, and for those which are particularly complex requiring prompt judgement. His specialisms also include murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and rape cases. Recent instructions have also included the two major cases witnessing the new slavery crime being charged, the first of their kind in 200 years. Admitted as Defence lead Counsel to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Counsel List. The STL is said to constitute in effect the World’s First International Terrorism Court.
Sports Law
Lewis acts on a regular basis for high profile sports personalities, specifically in the fields of football, rugby, horse racing and boxing and recently acted for the World Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury. Last year due to his high profile International legal work he was honoured with being made an Ambassador to Belfast in Northern Ireland.
He acted in the first ever football fixing trial ( R-v Grobbelaar & others ) ; has advised professional jockeys before the Jockey Club and has acted recently in respect of extant Anti-Doping matters before the National Anti-Doping Panel Tribunal.
“The Changing Face of International Law” – Counsel magazine – England & Wales – February 2015.
“Slavery & Trafficking – An International Criminal Epidemic” – IBA – December 2013 ; “21st Century Slavery: Hidden in Plain Sight” – Lead Article in Counsel Magazine – England & Wales – February 2014.
“Call to Arms”: A Paper on behalf of the North American Forum dealing with issues of International Criminal Justice: 2013 International Bar Association.
Full member of Association of Defence Counsel before ICTY (International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia)
Northern Irish Bar
Criminal Bar Association
Sussex Bar Mess
International Bar Association
Approved Football Association Lawyer
Member of North American Forum and War Crimes Forums
Southwark Crown Court – Defendant acquitted on all charges in 3 month money laundering trial involving Multi-Million Pound alleged Italian Mafia linked Bureau de Change Fraud and linked tax avoidance case.
Inner London Crown Court – Defendant acquitted on Marital Rape case after submissions on disclosure forced Crown to offer to offer no evidence – ground-breaking case as to disclosure in sex cases.
Lewes Crown Court – Acquitted in University Rape Case.
Lewes Crown Court – Acquitted of Murder in Multi-handed murder trial – after successful submission of no case to answer at close of Prosecution case.
Guildford Crown Court – Defendant acquitted on all charges in Modern Day Slavery Case.
Cardiff Crown Court – Defendant acquitted on Murder Charges – daughter had killed father in house fire and found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Chichester Crown Court : Historical Sex abuse case by carer on children and separate Adult Rape Allegations – acquitted on all charges.
Lewes Crown Court – Paedophile ring familial sex abuse trial- representing vulnerable Defendant.
Belfast Crown Court – Paramilitary case – Attempted Murder/Perverting the Course of Justice.
Instructed on high profile case focused on the rivalry between prolific south london gangs. National newspapers ran features on the prevalence of such gangs which are responsible for some of the worst crimes committed in recent years by organised gangs in the capital. Defendant cleared of two attempted murders.
Instructed on the dexter copy-cat murder case where a teenager fascinated with the hit tv show “dexter” murdered his 17 year old girlfriend in a sadistic fashion. Overview as to applicability of defence of diminished responsibility and brain disorders.
Instructed in “Assassins Creed Baby Murder” case. Huge media coverage across national headlines in extraordinary baby shaking case with medical complications for both baby and Defendant, who required 29 medical experts for assessment.
Conspiracy to murder; hired assassins; defendant acquitted.
Multi-handed murder of homeless man; defendant acquitted of murder.
Complex murder trial at the Old Bailey; new defence of “loss of control”; acquitted of murder.
Trial of one of oldest historic rape cases in UK dating back half a century; Defendant acquitted.
Multi-handed, 6 defendant, Sri-Lankan Gang related murder trial at Old Bailey; representing only defendant to be acquitted.
First judgment of Court of Appeal by Lord Chief Justice on new slavery offences; Lewis Power QC leading 4 Junior counsel.
The first ever prosecution of the new offences of “Slavery” under the Coroners & Justice Act 2009; acquitted all charges at re-trial.
Representing only female defendant in Irish Traveller slavery case.
Church of England Vicar with historic sexual abuse allegations within Church.
Largest money laundering case involving Bureau de Change in UK to date; involving laundering of approximately £200 Million.
Representing defendant in million pound bank factoring fraud & building construction fraud.
Attempted murder by youth in racially motivated campaign.
“The Missing Body Murder Case”; representing only defendant to be acquitted.
Sophisticated fraud on law firm by employee.
Murder of wife case where defendant advanced “morbid delusional jealousy” as partial defence re diminished responsibility.
Baseball bat murder.
National art fraud conspiracy.
Serious Fraud Office (SFO) international prosecution where some 22 Million Euros were dishonestly appropriated by the Defendant.
Multi-million pound international identity fraud.
A complex conspiracy to defraud the O2 Telecommunications Network by way of an International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF).
Murder – one of the first murder cases under the new legislation re partial defence for murder in diminished responsibility cases;defendant was putting forward “Alcohol Dependency Syndrome “as diminished responsibility defence.
Murder; manslaughter contrary to the common law and one count of administering a poison or noxious substance so as to endanger life, contrary to section 23 of the OAPA 1867; defendant giving a lethal heroin injection.
Manslaughter; cyclist road rage.
London terrorist bombings case where only 1 out of 2 defendants acquitted.
Leading Counsel in the “Adams Family” gangland case “Operation Trinity”; joint Police and MI5 case quoted as the biggest corruption case to come before the UK Courts; acted as leading counsel and secured acquittal for family Accountant.
Acted for the first Defendant in this International Fraud case which involved the infamous Indian Corporate Giant Company Sahara India Pariwar. Secured the acquittal of the Defendant. Highly complex and novel case involving International Corporate Fraud on a huge scale and where the Crown acknowledged that this case involved concepts of “International Capacity Building” on money laundering and cash smuggling with recent foreign deployments and also and most crucially “Alternative Remittance Systems and Informal Value Transfer Systems” such as Hawala.
“Legal 500, 2012 - 2021 – Leading Silk”
Year of Call - 1981
Year of Silk - 2012
‘An eloquent silk with particular expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence. Provides pragmatic advice and adopts excellent strategy in the most complex of cases. He possesses a quiet calmness and confidence indicative of a Counsel that is aware of his expertise and skill, with no need to shout about it, incredibly effective in his style of advocacy and yet calm and reassuring manner with clients and their families.’
Legal 500 2021, Ranked as a Leading Silk
"A confident and strong advocate who has great presence in the court room."
Legal 500 2020, Ranked as a Leading Silk
"A brilliant advocate"
Legal 500, 2018 Tier 1 Silk
"A strong presence in court and has a good rapport with his clients."
Legal 500, 2019
"Regularly handles murder and manslaughter cases on behalf of both the prosecution and defence as part of a busy general crime practice. Recent work: Successfully defended a professional man charged with causing death by dangerous driving. The case involved complex scientific evidence and detailed cross-examination of expert witnesses."
Chambers UK, 2017
"He has expertise in public interest immunity, complex fraud and medico-legal cases."
Legal 500, 2016
Ranked in Legal 500 2016 as a leading Silk on the Wales & Chester Circuit
"Known for his expertise in medico legal cases."
Legal 500, 2015
"A ‘Leading Silk’ on the Wales and Chester Circuit: ‘Noted for his ability to evaluate complex evidence, particularly in medico-legal cases."
Legal 500, 2014
"Primarily prosecutes complex criminal law cases. He is recommended in matters where there is significant medical evidence, such as murder and violent crimes." (Chambers UK Guide 2015)
Chambers UK Guide, 2015
"Michael Mather-Lees QC is recommended for medico-legal cases, as well as fraud and confiscation work."
Legal 500, 2013
"Michael Mather-Lees QC receives praise for his ‘exceptional intellect.’ He runs a broad practice but is particularly renowned for his work on fraud cases."
Chambers UK 2013
"Michael Mather-Lees is recommended for VAT, fraud and medico-legal cases."
Legal 500, 2012
"Michael Mather-Lees really shines as a barrister who specialises in medico-legal cases and serious and complex fraud matters."
Chambers UK 2011
Michael Mather-Lees is "intellectually exceptional but also down to earth."
Chambers UK 2009
The Legal 500 2019 describes him as “A confident and strong advocate, who has great presence in the court room”; the 2018 edition describes him as a leading silk and “a brilliant advocate” and in both 2017 and 2016 he was ranked him as a leading silk, stating that “he is noted for his ability to evaluate complex evidence, particularly in medico-legal cases”
Chambers Legal Directory states: “He primarily undertakes complex criminal law cases. He is recommended in matters where there is significant medical evidence, such as murder and violent crimes.”
His practice covers the most serious criminal cases, having prosecuted and defended many homicide cases, complex sexual cases, including internet-based offences and serious fraud (including internet fraud) together with cases involving vast volume and very intricate issues of disclosure, up to and including the most sensitive levels. The majority of these cases now involve the ability to both understand and be conversant with detailed computerised technology and the use of web-based information.
He is noted for his extensive experience in medico-legal litigation, both criminal and civil, and has recently successfully defended a Police Detention Officer charged with unlawful act manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. That case involved very detailed and specialised medical evidence and the cross-examination of eminent medical specialists, and has extensive experience in cases of “baby shaking” murders, both prosecuting and defending.
In addition, he also undertakes a substantial amount of regulatory work, including Health and Safety, Police Discipline, Motor Vehicle Licencing and Regulatory, Medical Defence, Inquests, Public Enquiries and Environmental Law, Disciplinary Tribunal work and Courts Martial.
Having practiced for many years as a junior in complex cases of Clinical Negligence and personal injury, he has, since being in Silk, re-engaged in this area. He has a particular and specialised interest in forensic medicine.
Affiliated International Member of the American Bar Association
Member of Inner Temple
South Eastern Circuit
Wales and Chester Circuit
Western Circuit
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Criminal Bar Association
European Bar Group
Queen’s Counsel
CPS Advocates Panel – Fraud
CPS Advocates Panel – Serious Crime
CPS Advocates Panel – Proceeds of Crime
CPS Advocates Panel – Rape and Sexual Offences
Duress -involvement in drugs operation following threats of physical violence arising out of debt.
Inadmissibility of medical evidence – infant death x 2 (Munchausen/apnoea), substitution of verdict by virtue of additional evidence.
Driving without due care and attention – diabetic in hypoglycaemic state – defence of automatism.
Mixed statements of partial confession.
Confiscation.
Successful appeal of minimum term for murder.
Baby shaking S 18.
Infant genital mutilation.
Defence of “baby shaking” murder.
Appellate counsel – “baby shaking” murder.
Defence of gang murder by stabbing.
Defence of “baby shaking” murder.
Re Appeal multi-count sexual offences.
Defence of “baby shaking murder.”
Appellate counsel – “baby shaking” murder.
Successful defence of police detention officer charged with manslaughter (death in custody).
Successful prosecution of international conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Defence of complex attempt murder.
Successful resolution of case involving multi-handed defendants charged with murder, public disorder, and firearms.
This was a multi handed, evidentially complex, modern slavery prosecution, tried over a period of three months, all defendants convicted. It involved the use of Czech Nationals, many of whom were either under a disability of vulnerable, and required a very high level of witness care. Most of the witnesses spoke little or no English. Much of the evidence was presented as a result of multi-agency international co-operation, together with live link evidence for extra territorial locations.
Successful defence to murder, involving complex medical evidence and issues of causation.
Baby shaking case which involved complex issues of causation and cross examination of expert medical witnesses. The case was partially successful, as acquittals, were secured in respect of historic injuries.
Defence in multi handed drugs related murder.
Defending in murder involving the victim being burned to death, detailed submissions in respect of aggravating issues.
Successful prosecution of drugs related murder with complex evidential issues.
Successfully defended a professional man, charged with causing death by dangerous driving. The case involved complex scientific evidence and detailed cross-examination of expert witnesses.
Successful prosecution of murder/manslaughter.
Successful prosecution of defendant denying homicide of baby, involving very complex medical evidence.
Defence of person under very serious intellectual disability, charged with serious sexual offences.
R v A (2014) Defence of serious sexual offences.
Defence – Murder.
Successful defence of Company Director, avoiding director’s disqualification.
Year of Call - 1971
Alun is a criminal practitioner for 39 years, undertaking prosecution and defence work in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts and in the Court of Appeal.
Experience: Alun’s caseload has been wide-ranging and has included:
Of late he has predominantly prosecuted for the CPS and other agencies such as the Probation Service and the Department of Work and Pensions.
Skills and Personal Qualities
As a seasoned advocate, Alun feels confident in his ability to take the daily twists and turns of the court process in his stride. But there are always surprises, which keep him sharp and interested.
Blessed with a good memory for detail, he can assimilate complex casework quickly. His many years at the Bar help him identify and focus on the issues that require attention and which go the heart of a case.
He aims to promote confidence in the prosecution service in others, particularly those who are giving evidence in court, seeking their continued participation in the event of delays and adjournments. Whether civilian witnesses, defendants, experts or police, He listens to what they say, explains what will happen, and provides reassurance to secure their trust and co-operation.
He has built a sound, flexible working relationships with prosecution professionals, caseworkers, and police officers, placing emphasis on effective communication.
He is tenacious when pursuing important issues, taking the initiative to problem solve. Equally, he is realistic when there is little prospect of success, and will speak his mind.
Calm, self-assured, and with an articulate, distinctive speaking voice, he is a persuasive advocate with a good track record of success for whosoever instructs him.
B.Sc (Econ) International Relations, London School of Economics, 1975
Criminal Bar Association
Grays Inn
Inner Temple
CPS External Advocate Grade 3
Child Abduction Act, compatibility with Human Rights Act, 2015
DNA challenge to robbery identification, 2015
Affray and self defence, 2015
Non-insane automatism, 2014
Computer Sales Fraud, 2014
Using noxious substance with intent to do GBH, 2014
Blackmail, 2014
Dangerous Driving and identification, 2014 Court.
Year of Call - 1979
Breakdown Britain (state of nation)
Breakthrough Britain (reform proposals)
Couldn’t Care Less (children in care law reform)
Completing the Revolution (Mental Health Law reform)
Bar Human Rights since 1990
Bar Free Representation Unit since 1979
Centre for Social Justice since 2007
Advisor to Home Office on International child Abduction and
Forced Marriages
Parliamentary Group for Children in Care since 2000
Parliamentary Group Care Leavers Voice established in 2013
Every Child Leaving Care Matters
Trustee of Frank Buttle Trust 2005-2010
Trustee of Rees Foundation 2013
Holland Park School
University College London (LLB 1978)
Inns of Court School of Law (1978-9)
Called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn (July 1979)
Georgetown U. Washington DC (LLM 1981)
Vocational training 1979-80
(a) Criminal Law : chambers of Attorney-General Geoffrey Thomas Q.C
(b) Civil Law : chambers of Solicitor General Sir Ian Percival Q.C.
Internationally experienced litigator, legislative and commercial policy advisor
Of Counsel to US Attorneys Sidley & Austen advising on US antitrust and EEC competition law 1981-2
Professional private practice as a Barrister based in London England 1982-2013
Insurance coverage litigation and arbitration
Antitrust/competition issues.
on Appointment of Special Attorney General for Antitrust.
Human rights litigation.
Human rights conflict resolutions.
Presenting US Insurance industry in litigation against Lloyds of London –”LMX Spiral.”
£100m “share ramping” allegation.
Multi million pound Anton Pillar fraud.
Alleged multi-million pound excess fare frauds successfully defended.
Multi-million pound advance fee fraud successfully defended.
Alleged perverting course of justice in civil proceedings-successfully defended.
£100M drugs importation.
Murder by poisoning –successfully defended.
Multiple murders by stabbing –successfully defended.
Counsel for Scotland Yard, Civil Aviation Authority, Port of London Authority, Serco
Year of Call - 1982
Justin’s main area of Practice is in all areas of Family Law. He is particularly experienced in Ancillary Relief particularly cases involving substantial assets, pensions and private companies. He has considerable experience in Co-habitee disputes and applications under S15 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. He handles all areas of private and public law cases. He has handled a number of cases involving International Child Abduction.
He is experienced in all forms of Civil Litigation. In particular personal injury. He has vast experience handling the following types of cases: Accidents at Work, Occupiers Liability, Product Liability, Highway Accidents, RTA, Repetitive Strain, and Fatal Accidents. He is prepared to undertake Conditional Fee work in appropriate cases.
He is regularly instructed in Clinical Negligence, professional negligence, actions against the police, Landlord and Tenant both private and public sector and business tenancies. Construction disputes, Property claims, (including sale of land, trusts, mortgages, trespass, nuisance, boundaries and easements and dilapidation claims as well as employment cases.
He has substantial Criminal experience involving Serious Fraud, murder, rape, child abuse, death by dangerous driving and serious drug offences.
Licensing Act 2003 applications, reviews, variations and enforcement.
Direct Access
Justin regularly takes instructions from professional bodies and persons other than solicitors as well in appropriate cases direct from the public.
Justin’s area of practice is in and around London and the South Coast. He is a Founder member of Kings Bench Chambers Bournemouth.
Scott v R 1989 AC 1242 Privy Council Jones v Trollope Colls Cementation Overseas Times 26/1/90 Re Capita Expansion and Development Corporation v Brackland Times 30/11/92 Fozal v Gofur Times 9/7/93 Re R (a minor) 1994 2 FCR 629 CA DPP v G 1997 (whether a head teacher investigating an alleged assault by a teacher is subject to PACE
Year of Call - 1983
Lesley Manley is a highly experienced barrister. She has well deserved reputation for dealing with challenging cases and clients.
She has defended in a number of serious fraud matters.
The case of R V G concerned an alleged cheat on the Revenue of £1.2 million by a two defendants. Having inspected original files held by the Revenue the court ruled Lesley and co-defending counsel, a commercial specialist and using a multi disciplinary approached successfully argued that the prosecution was an abuse of process. Both defendants were acquitted. Thereafter Lesley was instructed in a complex conspiracy to defraud in Gibraltar.
She became known internationally for her role as defence counsel in R v Marrache. The trial lasted for 9 months and was the longest running fraud trial in the history of Gibraltar and concerned the loss of £40 million pounds. This case was tried at The Supreme Court of Gibraltar. This was a complex case that necessitated reviewing of the bankruptcy files from various civil actions brought by those who had suffered financial loss, reviewing volumes of other unused material including trust agreements.
In addition to factual issues in the trial the case gave rise to numerous legal complications and arguments which included recusal of Judge, abuse of process, applications to exclude evidence and a possible appeal to the Privy Council in relation to Judge only trial.
This case was complex not only in terms of the financial and Tusts aspects of the case but in terms of its international aspects. Evidence was received by live link by agreement with the government of the Czech Republic. There was evidence relating to a number of EU countries in particular Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and the Republic of Ireland and also to Israel, Canada and the United States.
This case was the subject of international media attention and reports can be found on www.chronicle.gi and www.gbc.gi/ . This matter is the subject of an appeal to the Privy Council.
In addition to acting as junior in respect of the criminal matter Lesley researched legal issues in respect of constitutional matters and appeared in court to assist Charles Gomez, Gibraltar Counsel, who brought a Constitutional Motion against the Attorney General’s Office and The Governor of Gibraltar on behalf of Behalf of Benjamin Marrache. The trial concluded in 2014.
On her return to the UK and upon joining Churchcourt Chambers Lesley was instructed as leading counsel in OPERATION AGULLIAR R v N in £1 million pound fraud at Southwark Crown Court. The defendant was deaf and accused of conspiracy to defraud the DWP of ATW payments and also charity funds. Conferences and the giving of evidence were facilitated by the services of a sign language interpreter
Sexual Offending
Lesley Manley is very experienced in defending in cases alleging sexual offending including cases where other offences such as violence, cruelty or robbery are connected. She has acted as leading and junior counsel.
Lesley is often instructed to represented defendants accused of serious sexual offending including multi-handed cases involving human trafficking and grooming. Recent examples are set out.
In particular she has special expertise in representing defendants with mental illness, mental impairment and autism. She has written published articles on this point. She is also experienced in representing deaf defendants
She has been asked to provide written advises for convicted persons in connection with references to the Criminal Appeals Review Commission.
Lesley is a trained vulnerable witness facilitator and has provided training on several occasions to other members of the bar.
She is also a pupil supervisor and trained advocacy trainer at Middle Temple where she has taught for over 15 years.
This year she attended the Advocacy Trainers Symposium at the ICCA. She also was selected to attend the Florida Advocacy Course in Gainesville in 2018. She has experience of the most up to date teaching methods used nationally and internationally.
The diverse nature of her practice has led to her being instructed in a wide range of offences. Examples are armed robbery, kidnap, attempted murder, murder, child cruelty, cases where rape has been accompanied by section 18 and robbery, aggravated burglary and copyright theft.
“Are you fit for fitness to plead” published in Crimeline Mental Impairment Identifying The Signs
”I’ll prove I’m innocent. I’ll take a lie detector test” . The admissibility of Polygraph Evidence by Colin Witcher and Lesley Manley
Podcasts:
False Allegations of Rape
Fitness to Plead
Mercy killing-An act of Compassion or Self Interest.
Murder-Sexual Infidelity as a defence
Lectures:
She has provided lectures in the fields of the development in the law of sexual offences, vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, fraud and the development of the law in relation to firearms.
Criminal Bar Association
In 1994 she was chair of Education Appeals in Tower Hamlets
She is also an approved pupil supervisor and an advocacy trainer at Middle Temple
Lesley Manley is appreciated for her sensitive approach at the Coroner’s Court.
She has acted in numerous fatal road traffic collisions.
2015 Acted on behalf of parents who tragically lost 3 year old child in fatal traffic accident.
2013 Acted on behalf of family whose relative had died as a result of fall from Beachy Head. Verdict. misadventure.
She has also acted in a variety of difficult cases. They include
An inquest into the death of a baby when suffocated by a family member
Represented a Custody Sergeant ( Newcastle Coroner’s Court) following the death of a man who had swallowed a drug package.
An inquest into the death of a wife whose husband had been originally charged with her murder. Verdict. Suicide.
Instructed as leading counsel in multi-handed million pound fraud trial at Southwark Crown Court to commence in 2016.
The defendants were accused of cheating the Revenue of £1.2 million pounds. An abuse of process argument advanced by previous counsel had been dismissed. The defendants continued to maintain they had immunity from prosecution. Isaac Jacob of 9 Stone Buildings co-defended in the matter using a multi-disciplinary approach with their respective knowledge of tax law and criminal law. In due course the Revenue found a file which lead to the re-opening of the abuse argument and the case against the defendants was stayed.
In R v W (and others) at Maidstone Crown Court the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to defraud the NHS by way of dishonesty in respect of procurement of contracts. The trial was estimated to last 6 weeks but collapsed after 4 days as a consequence of the defence raising issues in connection with disclosure and failure of the Crown to properly investigate matters which may have pointed to the defendants’ innocence.
Croydon Crown Court. Defendant charged with substantial benefit fraud but no evidence offered after DWP accepted the level of domestic violence she had suffered was so severe that she was psychiatrically incapacitated by post traumatic stress syndrome.
Drugs Importation / Class A Drugs at Croydon Crown Court.
Case involving serious Harassment of Officials with issues of Fitness to Plead to be determined at Aylesbury Crown Court.
Case involving the arranging of Sham marriages. Newcastle Crown Court.
Sham marriage case at Isleworth Crown Court.
Undercover police operation in respect on online attempts to be provided with 3 year old child.
Supply of class A drugs. Defence of duress advanced.
Sexual Activity with child. Female offender.
Acting for the lead defendant in multi-handed trial accused of blackmail, threats to kill and witness intimidation.
Drug importation. Multi-handed case concerning the importation of £1 million pounds of heroin.
[Serial rape case with defendant attacking victims at knifepoint]
[Internet date rape case followed by serious physical assault on victim]
[Rape of 13 year old girl by mentally impaired defendant]
[Sexual Assault upon stepdaughter]
[Multi-handed rape by school boys upon fellow pupils]
[Historic sexual abuse by stepfather upon stepdaughters from different families. Abuse spanning 1960’s -1980’s]
[Historical case. Rape by father of his biological daughter when she was 11-14. Complaint made when accused aged 76]
[Historic sexual touching of granddaughter. Successful application to exclude lie detector evidence the Crown wished to place before the jury]
Child Cruelty. Croydon Crown Court. Mother aged 17. Accused of fracturing bones of new born baby.
Aggravated Burglary Luton Crown Court. Brain injured defendant accused of breaking into his sister’s house and attempting to kill her.
Year of Call - 1983
Called in 1983 Chris has been in continuous practice at the Bar since 1983 and has a broad breadth of knowledge and experience with skills honed from thousands of cases. He is known to work extremely hard on case preparation and ensures he’s fully briefed before setting foot in court. Chris provides excellent client care and ensures all concerned are kept abreast of case issues. He is a specialist criminal barrister who predominantly defends but also prosecutes. He is a Level 4 CPS advocate for the South Eastern [London/Non London] and Midland circuits. Chris has frequently been instructed in a number of leading criminal cases including; murder & manslaughter, kidnap with torture & blackmail, allegations of violent assaults, sexual offences & rape, , large scale organised drugs conspiracies, firearms offences and serious fraud. He has acted as leading defence counsel in a large number of cases including murder. Chris’s abilities and successes have secured the backing of a large body of solicitors who regularly instruct him. He has worked extensively in sexual assault cases, involving historic allegations of familial sex, which have involved detailed forensic examination of social services files, educational and psychiatric reports. He has also undertaken the role of leading counsel in large-scale car-ringing cases, local authority internal frauds, sophisticated retail frauds and armed bank robberies. He’s regularly instructed in criminal appeals from referrals and appears for appellants in the Court of Appeal. Chris has enjoyed a thriving practice in the Military Courts and is often abroad conducting court martial trials. In 2010, he was instructed by one of the “Magic Circle” firms to advise a multi-national company on an internal employee fraud. Chris has been a pupil supervisor since 1996.
R v Pommel (1995) 2 Cr. App. R R v. Jason Graham [2007] EWCA Crim 1499
Criminal Bar Association South Eastern Circuit
Snaresbrook CC. Successfully defended a warehouseman in £8m value drugs importation from Holland investigated by The Serious and Organised Crime Command. Operations Ultra, Bush
Successfully defended a man at The Central Criminal Court accused of wounding his brother with intent to cause GBH when he drove his truck onto the pavement at the victim.
Operation Cave, Wood Green CC, defended in a £1m tobacco and alcohol duty evasion organised crime case.
Operation Pileated, Cambridge CC Represented a defendant in a courier fraud conspiracy involving multiple elderly victims.
Operation Limit, Leicester CC. defended in an allegation of the supply of “Skorpion” machine gun and ammunition as part of organised crime group.
Nottingham CC, Operation Feast & Zephyr. Lead defence counsel in industrial scale cocaine supply from London to Northampton.
Leicester CC. Represented a man accused of serial rape and sexual offences on young boys in 1980s.
Leicester CC. Represented a male accused of serious sexual assault by penetration of a resident in a special needs care home.
Snaresbrook CC. Prosecuted a teenage male for rape of 10 year-old sister.
Represented the alleged leader of gang of five men responsible for the kidnap, false imprisonment and torture of two separate victims and subsequent blackmail of the families.
Defended one of five men accused of largest haul of ram -raid burglaries of rural banks in East Anglia.
Successfully defended man accused of multiple rape counts.
Prosecuted a case of familial sexual allegations dating back to 1965.
Represented the man known as the “night stalker” in his appeal against conviction for several rapes of elderly people in their homes.
Represented man accused revenge slashing of former police officer investigating licensed taxi offences.
Successfully prosecuted a leader of a gang of men who had embarked upon a campaign of rape and sexual offences towards a 12-16 year old girl in Bucks in 2004-13.
£1.5 m VAT Evasion Prosecution Central CC for HMRC.
Leading defence counsel in the largest ever Flying Squad Bank Robbery Operation involving over 12 armed bank robberies spanning 10 years.
Successfully defended one of the three acquitted defendants out of ten Charlton FC fans accused of racist violence.
Defended man in multi handed trial in which he was accused of firearm possession in large Trident case.
Defence counsel in successful defence of man accused of domestic violence featuring all the accused’s children supporting his “battered wife”.
Successfully represented woman accused of stabbing her former boyfriend in the street.
Defence counsel in multi handed car ringing/burglary case in Maidstone CC.
Central CC. Successfully defended when led by QC man accused of murdering drugs rival with shotgun.
Conducted an appeal against conviction before full Court of Appeal in the case of an appellant who had been convicted of throwing acid over barristers appearing against him in a High Court action he was bringing. High Court barrister burned in courtroom acid attack.
Defended an alleged gang member accused of having a sawn off shotgun which was alleged to have been used to threaten others.
Represented a defendant who was acquitted of his part in a murder and further stabbing of another victim in an alleged racist gang attack in the Isle of Sheppey.
Familial historic sexual assault.
Leading defence counsel for one member of a cash-in-transit robbery gang. K.B., the leader of said gang, was a notorious criminal. The trial lasted three months and was conducted under the tightest security ever witnessed in an English court.
Representing as leading counsel one female member of a gang said to have committed the largest alleged fraud of its time on a health authority: NHS fraudsters jailed (From News Shopper).
Sexual assaults on children within a church congregation.
Random slashing of stranger giving rise to IPP sentence.
An internal fraud of a national bread manufacturer by managers worth £300k.
Instructed for the Finance Officer of a business who along with others is accused of a £1.5m fraud on State/ local authority agencies in a trial listed for 2016.
Year of Call - 1983
“Excellent barrister my clients recommend him to their friends”
HSR London (2017)
“A man that instils confidence in clients”
MN LAW (2017)
Elroy is a highly experienced defence specialist and is an established criminal practitioner.
He specialises in defending in serious criminal cases and also undertakes police tribunal work.
Elroy is regularly instructed in cases of fraud, murder, rape, drug offences, serious violence, proceeds of crime, kidnapping, firearm offences, armed robbery fraud and serious historical sex cases, financial crime and regulatory matters.
Throughout his career, Elroy has built a reputation on his analytical and thorough approach to the preparation of his cases. During his career he is consistently recognised for his communication with lay clients.
His court craft and advocacy are built upon a clear working knowledge of the issues and tactics to be deployed in a particular case.
As a Leading Junior he is able to marshal complex paper heavy cases and liaise effectively with both Junior council and Solicitors to ensure that the case is prepared thoroughly and efficiently. Having conducted many ‘two counsel’ cases,’ he is well respected and trusted by solicitors to deliver the best for their clients.
Elroy is always calm under pressure, which enables him to develop positive relationships with lay and professional clients as part of a legal team.
Elroy is sensitive to issues and matters that arise. These qualities has allowed him to establish trustworthy relationships between himself and clients.
Elroy has been a Recorder since 1998.
Regularly instructed to defend on a direct access basis.
Criminal Bar Association
South Eastern Circuit
People trafficking, young women from Nigeria to Prague and then on to Heathrow, case required an understanding of the Nigerian culture and traditions of Nigerian village traditions.
Defendant charged with rape allegation that the victim was drugged. Defendant acquitted.
International sex trafficking gang, trial at the Central Criminal Court.
Representing serving prisoner in sexual activity with a child. Defendant had substantial links with the Manchester underworld.
Illegal immigrant fraud exposed by BBC Panorama programme.
Representing man charged with historical rape offences whilst serving a long sentence for rape.
Multi handed fraud case in the North of England.
Perverting course of justice in a multi handed Murder case
Multi-handed mortgage fraud heard in Manchester Crown court.
Leading counsel in £1 million fraud. Five men charged with setting up fraudulent firm with the aim of providing fraudulent HGV licence. Representing only defendant to be acquitted.
Banking fraud, money laundering.
Year of Call - 1985
Pamela Brain is one of the most respected barristers practicing at the criminal bar and has nearly 30 years’ experience in defending in complex and difficult cases. She has defended virtually every kind of criminal offence and is renowned as a brilliant jury advocate. She has successfully defended in murder and attempted murder cases, in particular in those involving ‘battered woman syndrome’. She has been instructed in cases involving allegations of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Blackmail, Riot, Conspiracy to Import and Supply large quantities of Class A drugs, large scale Fraud and Money Laundering cases and Child Cruelty.
Pamela has a particular expertise in defending these very difficult types of cases. She has represented defendants who have been charged with every type of sexual allegation including those accused of Serial Rapes , Gang Rapes, Rapes involving the Administering of Date Rape Drugs, Male Rape, Paedophile Offences , Indecent Images and Historical Allegations with some dating back 30 or 40 years. Naturally she has gained considerable experience in cross examining vulnerable complainant’s. Some have been as young as 4 years of age and others have needed the assistance of intermediaries because of their severe learning difficulties or mental health problems. She is particularly skilled in cross examining the complainant’s in a way that does not alienate the jury from the defence case. This ability sets her apart from many others at the criminal bar. She also has very good client skills, which is especially appreciated by those who instruct her in these uniquely difficult cases. She often represents young defendant’s as well as those who are vulnerable because of learning difficulties or mental health issues and she has a reputation as being someone who can engage with some of the most challenging of clients.
Pamela has extensive experience in the Court of Appeal. In 3 separate cases of Rape she has managed to successfully persuade the Court to overturn the convictions and allow the appeals. They were cases involving allegations of Gang Rape, a Rape by a Youth and an Historic allegation dating back over 30 years.
Pamela is direct access qualified.
The Practical Challenges of Representing Defendant’s Accused of Sexual Offences
This was a case where it was alleged that the defendant was a serial rapist who had raped 3 women who were unknown to each other. Following a day of legal argument, the Crown offered no evidence.
This was a case which was widely reported in the National Press ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ news/article-2063439) It was an historic allegation of Rape involving 2 young complainants.
This was a case involving allegations of Sexual Activity with multiple complainants who were suffering from dementia by an employee of a Care Home.
This was a case involving an allegation of Rape where both the complainant and defendant suffered from very severe learning difficulties and mental health problems. Both required intermediaries. The defendant was acquitted of the charge.
This was a case concerning an allegation of Rape where it was alleged that a date rape drug had been administered. The defendant was acquitted.
This was an allegation of Rape where the complainant had learning difficulties. A defence application for disclosure was made and this resulted in the CPS obtaining third party material. In light of this material the Crown offered no evidence.
This case involved an allegation that the defendant was part of a long running international advanced fee fraud which involved the defrauding of millions of pounds from vulnerable victims.
In this case it was alleged that the defendant had fired a shot gun at a 12 year old girl, causing injury.
This was a case involving a conspiracy to supply large quantities of Cocaine that originated from Colombia.
This was a case involving 2 separate conspiracies to supply large quantities of Cocaine.
This case involved an employee of the DWP who was alleged to have made a fraudulent claim re invalidity benefit. There was extensive surveillance evidence and expert medical evidence. The proceedings were stayed as a result of a successful abuse of process application being made.
Year of Call - 1988
Michelle is a criminal barrister with over 30 years’ experience, she has recently spent 5 years as an in house barrister at cartwright king which has added to her understanding of both sides of the profession. Due to her breadth and depth of experience she is highly regarded for her advocacy and skills in all types of trials dealing with a wide range of offences including serious sexual offences; fraud; murder; manslaughter; child cruelty; drug trafficking and has been instructed in such cases as both a junior and lead counsel.
She has a reputation for first class advocacy and instilling confidence in her clients. She has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable people, either as defendants or complainants.
Member of the Western Circuit
Member of the CBA
Defending as junior counsel the main 18-year-old defendant in a revenge murder.
Defending Yarlswood detention officer charged with sexually molesting a detainee.
Historic allegation of molesting boys in the woods (high profile case).
Attempted murder with a knife in a revenge attack between drug dealers.
Sham marriages conspiracy with brides being flown in and out of the UK.
Housing benefit fraud defending the lead applicants partner.
Defending in False Trademark prosecution.
Violent disorderly involving two rival gangs.
Year of Call - 1989
Paula Bignall is a London based barrister specialising in serious crime and complex cases of family law. She is recognised as a skilled, highly experienced and resourceful advocate with well honed and sympathetic client care skills.
Criminal Law
Paula is regularly instructed to defend in cases involving serious violence, rape, and all types of sexual offences, large-scale fraud and dishonesty and drugs case including trafficking and production.
Cases more recently defended include large-scale importation of class A drugs, conspiracy to commit fraud and robbery involving 19 defendants and hundreds of pages of cell site analysis, historic rape cases,rape cases involving victims and defendants under the age of 13, kidnapping and false imprisonment involving torture, Child neglect and also attempted murder.
Family Law
Paula undertakes all forms of private and public law work involving children. She has practised at all levels including the high court.
Year of Call - 1990
Called in 1990, Colin McCarraher was the founding Head of Chambers at Church Court and has been in independent practice for 25 years. During that time he has established a reputation for determined, fluent advocacy with a proven track record for winning cases both large and small all over the country.
He is qualified as an International Commercial Arbitrator and is fluent in Russian.
He is registered as a Direct Access Barrister.
Colin McCarraher has advised government departments on Human Rights with regards to the Iraq war and the Republic of Yugoslavia conflict.
He is regularly instructed as leading junior counsel and in that role, recently defended in a 9 million pound drug supply case, murder, major drugs supply and contract killing case.
He represented the Balcombe anti-fracking protesters and frequently advises those engaged in civil disobedience campaigns.
He has been instructed in all aspects of criminal law, prosecuting and defending, particularly serious crime involving banking fraud, organised crime, corruption, money laundering and proceeds of crime. He also appears in human trafficking, child abduction and serious sexual offences.
He served for 25 years in the Royal Naval Reserve and Intelligence Corps (V) so he has a sound knowledge of maritime matters and the Armed forces in general.
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Lincoln’s Inn (Hardwicke Scholar). Call 1990
King’s Inns Dublin. Bachelor of Law
University of Cambridge. MA Law
Civil Service Commission Interpreter : Russian
This is the leading authority on voice identification and the first case in England and Wales to rely solely on voice identification using sophisticated auditory techniques without any further supporting evidence. It broke new ground at the time and resulted in a new area of forensic expertise.
This case resulted in the CA deciding that for the purposes of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 Common Assault was to be construed as including Battery. It involved tracing the entire history of the law relating to violence and is used today for statutory construction.
Year of Call - 1990
Michael Fullerton was admitted to the Victorian Supreme Court as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1981. He practised as a solicitor until 1986 when he signed the Bar Roll of Victoria and was admitted to the Inner Temple as a Barrister in 1990.
Able and versatile Australian barrister with 35 years’ experience as defence jury advocate and civil practitioner covering an extensive range of both criminal and civil law including a variety of appellate cases in crime, civil and judicial review.
His civil practice includes advising and litigating on behalf of an array of international clients. His case authorities cover personal injury, common law procedure, commercial law and criminal law.
Regulatory work includes licensing offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals)(England) Regulations 2018, Pet Shop licensing, breeding and selling of animals.
He is registered and conducted many cases on Direct Access and is also a Qualified Mediator.
Personal Injury Quantum Reports
Inner Temple
SE Circuit
Sussex Bar Mess
CBA
PIBA
1982: Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
1990: Called to the Bar of England and Wales.
PRACTICE; Established practitioner of both crime defence and civil law.
Direct Access: Registered and accepted both criminal and civil cases.
Mediator: Qualified August 2008.
Attempted murder – Complex case involving multiple experts on injuries, weapon, glass, CCTV identifying vehicle, cell site and mobile phone evidence.
Historic rapes and ABH. Acquitted on rapes.
Leading Ms. Chiara Maddocks. 8-week carbon credit fraud. Six hander, conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Voluminous commercial, financial and digital evidence, expert evidence and over 50 lay witnesses. Acquitted on both charges.
s.8 Animal Welfare Act offences re organised dog fighting.
Conspiracy to produce cannabis – Cut-throat three-hander. DNA, fingerprint and satellite navigation evidence.
s18 GBH. Suspended sentence and compensation order.
Benefit Fraud, Suspended sentence.
Sexual assaults – Acquitted on both charges.
Possessing criminal property. Acquitted.
Aggravated burglary, false imprisonment and robbery. Firearms, knives. Acquitted on all charges.
Theft of BMW removed beyond EU. Trial 1 – hung jury. Trial 2 – Acquitted.
Affray, Offensive Weapon, Damaging Property. Absent witness, Hearsay evidence successfully excluded. Three hander. Acquitted.
Acting in breach of Restraining Order – Acquitted.
PWIT – 5 counts of class A and having article with blade – Secured agreement for reduced indictment and sentence.
s.18 and s.20 GBH. Secured agreement for ABH & suspended sentence.
Arson – Fitness to plead enquiry – capacity to form intent.
Burglary & Theft – secured agreement to Theft only – penalty of fine.
Burglary, Damaging Ppty and Theft – Secured agreement to amended indictment re damaging ppty only. Community Order and Restraining Order.
PWIT –Various Class A & B – Community Order and suspension of curfew.
Making indecent photos of child – Cats A, B & C. Possessing extreme photographs. Expert report obtained and at trial prosecution offer no evidence.
S.18 GBH and ABH. Secured agreement for Affray.
Affray – suspended sentence.
POCA hearing.
Two separate counts of Dangerous Driving – hung jury on one count.
ABH and having offensive weapon – Acquitted on both counts.
Putting person in fear of violence by harassment, breach of Non-Molestation Order, ABH, Dangerous Driving. Secure agreement to harassment count only.
PWIT – Class A. Secure agreement to possession only.
ABH – Exclusion of hearsay evidence and BWV – Acquitted.
Kemp & Kemp, The Quantum of Damages Vol. 3 F2-001 (Leading case on whiplash injury);
EWCA Civ 361; [2001] PIQR Q13 (loss of chance)
EWCA Civ 361; [2001] PIQR Q13 (loss of chance)
EWCA Civ 1261 (toboggan accident)
EWCA Civ 546 (Costs of company awarded against Director)
EWHC 500 (Admin) (Animal Welfare)
EWCA Crim 348 (Industrial scale production of cannabis)
EWHC 1418 (Admin) (unlawful use of warrant)
Companies Court. Part 7 and Part 8 claims. International Share purchase agreement & cross-application. Application to re-open previous High Court judgment and various costs orders successfully defended against Leading Counsel.
FPM – Central London County Court – Appeal under s.214 Housing Act 2004 for failing to protect deposit. Secured massive reduction of claimed costs.
Upper limb work related claim – settled for Claimant.
Resulting and Constructive property claim against family member. Claim succeeds.
Setting aside default judgment.
Defending Dogbite claim.
Appeal under s.214 Housing Act 2004 for failing to protect deposit. Secured massive reduction of claimed costs.
Infant settlement including substantial award for gratuitous care by friend of family.
Family Division – Opposing Local Authority Application for Contempt of Court. Application dismissed with costs.
Opposing Appeal against Order dismissing claim for defamation. Appeal dismissed.
Fraud involving summary judgment against fraudulent accountant, Freezing Orders and Injunction involving firms of solicitors, fraud and restitution concerning national company, Insolvency and bankruptcy.
Litigation regarding contractual disputes, building and construction, shareholding and directorships, international drilling contracts.
Litigation against multi-national oil companies in Niger delta.
Year of Call - 1991
At a recent murder trial, a senior Old Bailey Judge, specifically commended Stephen
Bailey, for the “Excellent representation of his client during the trial” See the case of A (2010.)
The Director of Liberty Law, Attiq Malik, describes Stephen as “a true master of advocacy” and Church Court Chambers should be “proud” to have him.
• Instructed on a regular basis in two counsel cases, as leading counsel.
• Instructed in serious, complex and difficult cases but always available to represent clients at all levels of criminal cases to ensure that the client has the best available representation.
• A first – class and very successful trial barrister. A go-to lawyer.
• A hard working and dedicated defence brief, who always presents to the court, fearlessly and without regard to his personal interests, the defence of his client.
• Excellent client care skills.
• A likeable and very approachable lawyer.
Extensive experience in cases involving:
• Serious fraud, murder and sex cases, as leading and junior counsel.
• Organised criminal gangs
• Defendants’ turning “Queen’s Evidence” See the cases of R -V- B Maidstone C.C., and R -V- H Nottingham C.C.
• Mental health, fitness to plead and fitness to stand trial issues.
• The representation of young or vulnerable clients.
• The difficult and sensitive area of the cross examination of child witnesses.
• The cross examination of expert witnesses, in relation to such diverse matters as pathology, blood
spatter evidence, D.N.A, ballistics, fire arms residue, cell site analysis and forensic accountants.
• The vital area in case preparation, of disclosure, P.I.I. and third party disclosure
C.B.A. & South Eastern Circuit.
V.H.C.C: V.H.C.C. accredited.
A 3 handed conspiracy to defraud / commit forgery (production of counterfeit / forged immigration documents). The issues included a cut throat defence by a partially sighted co-defendant, alleged by the Crown to have held himself out as an immigration lawyer and therefore able to assist his clients in obtaining false do.
Murder (led junior). A 12 handed gangland shooting case. Cut throat defences abound. Cell site analysis played a key part in this case. 8 week trial. Reported in the media.
Rape. Complainant had psychological difficulties.
Kidnap and false imprisonment in the context of an attempted rape.
Murder (leading counsel). Drug gang execution. Cut throat defence. Cell site analysis and CCTV analysis played significant roles in the trial.
Murder (leading counsel). The multiple and frenzied stabbing of the defendant’s drug dealer who attempted to rob and attack the defendant with a baseball bat and knife. Unlawful burial of the corpse. Detailed cross examination of the pathologist and blood spatter expert. Bad character played a significant role in the trial. Reported in the media.
Murder (led junior). The execution (shooting) of two hit men who had attended the defendant’s small holding with a view to committing arson and to attack the defendant. Mobile phone evidence, D.N.A, ballistics and bad character played significant roles in this trial. Reported in the media.
Sexual assaults in relation to 3 of the defendant’s step children and computer downloading of voluminous quantities of child pornography. A forensic computer expert was instructed to analyse this case and to give evidence as to the likely user of the computer at the relevant times of the downloads, based upon the actual internet activity on the computer over a 6 month period.
A two handed, historic sexual abuse case. Stephen defended the first defendant, who had been accused of sexually assaulting an 11 year old pupil, when he was a senior lay teacher at St Benedict’s Roman Catholic School. It is noteworthy, that the defence adduced at trial the defendant’s previous convictions (guilty pleas) to similar allegations against former pupils, in three previous prosecutions, as part of the defence case.
This case, and several other cases in relation to this school, have been reported in The Times newspaper. Lord Carlile of Berriew, recently lead an inquiry into sexual abuse at St Benedict’s in the 1970’s and also into the efficacy of the past and current child protection provisions at the school.
A nightclub doorman was accused of raping a customer jn the toilets of the club. Reported in the media.
A very unpleasant child cruelty case.
An historic case, of systemic rape and sexual assaults by the defendant of 3 of his grand children and two of their young friends over a period of 4 years.
Murder (junior alone). The successful defence of a Polish man, accused of murdering a fellow compatriot. As a result of defence submissions, the Crown were persuaded to offer ” no evidence” prior to the P.C.M.H.
A 4 handed witness intimidation case with threats to kill a key witness if he gave evidence the following day in a murder trial. Reported in the media.
A case of the utmost sensitivity involving P.I.I. and informant information. A very successful result.
Murder (led junior counsel). The issue in this case was whether the strangulation / death of the defendant’s partner, occurred during a consensual sex game and was manslaughter, or did not and was murder. Reported in the media.
A major 5 handed conspiracy to steal railway equipment.
Murder (leading counsel). The preliminary issue here, was whether the defendant was fit to plead and or stand trial. The issue at trial, was whether the defendant “did the act”. The case had a heavy forensic scientific content, notably pathology, blood spatter and psychiatric evidence. The representation of Ali, was described by the trial judge, as “excellent” (See above). The case included a relatively novel aspect, as the defendant who was “unfit” to travel south, watched and participated in the proceedings, via video link from Sheffield Crown Court.
Manslaughter (junior alone). The Issue was self defence. A one punch manslaughter case. Reported in the media.
Representing the first defendant, in a multi million pound,
12 handed cannabis cultivation case, using dozens of house in the wider Newcastle area.
Representing one of the main defendants’ in a 16 handed
conspiracy to supply Class “A “drugs between Birmingham and South Wales. The case included a significant amounts of probe and surveillance evidence.
The stabbing of the defendant’s drug dealer. The defence raised diminished responsibility and intoxication.
(Led junior counsel) Stephen conducted the majority of the cross examination of the co-defendants’ in a 6 handed cut throat murder case. The case flowed from a nationwide cannabis cultivation conspiracy. The deceased was punished / attacked for stealing a crop from one of the factories.
An 8 handed, major nationwide D.S.S. fraud.
A 16 handed, conspiracy to supply Class “A” drugs. The case
involved 150 hours of undercover surveillance evidence and test purchasing audio / video tapes. The defendant relied upon the defence of duress.
A 5 handed conspiracy to supply Class “A” drugs. The issues
were duress and entrapment.
A 4 handed conspiracy to import / supply Class “A” drugs with an actual supply to two undercover officers. The issues included entrapment and duress and the admissibility and relevance of an intelligence gathering interview ( the officers were in the witness box for 3 ½ days). The defendant was in the witness box, giving evidence in chief for 3 days. The defendant admitted to being a retired drugs dealer / police informant in Nairobi, Kenya.
A 7 handed attempted murder and violent disorder, at the
Vaisakhi festival, emanating from political differences between worshipers at a Sikh Temple in Birmingham. Reported in the media.
A 3 handed murder case. The Crown successfully applied for multiple anonymity of witness orders.
Representing a 12 year old boy charged along with 5 other boys under the age of 15, with the manslaughter of a 65 year old man. The issues were joint enterprise, causation, and the legal requirements of unlawful act manslaughter. The conviction was overturned on appeal. Reported in the media.
Murder. The Issue was the identity of the killer.
Murder. The issues included the conflict of expert evidence as to whether the stab wound was consistent with the claim of self defence, whether the client was fit to plead and stand trial and whether “he did the act.” Mental Health Act disposal.
A 7 handed Murder case. The case involved a 16 year old contract killer who turned Queen’s Evidence.
An 8 handed conspiracy to import Class “A” drugs from several islands in the West Indies and South America, with a further conspiracy to supply the drugs within the U.K. – Birmingham. The issues included a cut throat defence, cell site analysis, mobile phone evidence and significant disclosure matters. As a result of a section 8 C.P.I.A. 1996, disclosure request, on behalf of this defendant, the Crown offered no evidence against her.
A 16 handed conspiracy to import and supply Class “A” drugs within the UK – London to Birmingham, and Yorkshire. The issues included probe evidence, mobile phone and observation evidence.
The possession with intent to supply “Class A” drugs between
Leeds and London . The issues included entrapment and or fit up.
A 6 handed conspiracy to supply Class “A” drugs. The issues
included a detailed cross examination of 16 surveillance officers and disclosure.
A 7 handed conspiracy to import Class “B” drugs. The issues
included one defendant turning Queen’s Evidence. The client’s co-defendant brother, was a serving
National Crime Squad officer. The case was stayed for an abuse of process, three months after the trial
started.
a 14 handed rape case. The one co-defendant at trial, had committed the offence whilst on the run for the murder of W.P.C. Beshenivsky.
An historic 4 handed gang rape and false imprisonment of two 13 year old girls, over a 3 day period, in 1995. The client was arrested in 2004, on the basis of advances in D.N.A. technology. Stephen led the submissions re: abuse of process (investigative failings). The conviction was overturned in the Court of Appeal, on the basis of the claim of an abuse of process.
A 6 handed conspiracy to commit kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, rape, indecent assault and possession of firearms with intent re: 3 complainants. The issues included similar fact evidence and the admissibility of the statement of an unavailable complainant. The defendants were described by the Crown as “dangerous members of a mafia style, Eastern European protection racket”.
A 6 handed conspiracy to commit armed robbery / burglary of
circa 75 supermarkets and warehouses in the South East, over a 12 month period. The issues included a
cut throat defence, the extent of the clients involvement and cell site analysis.
Wine investment / boiler room conspiracy to defraud investors of over £4 million (leading counsel.) 10 week trial. Reported in the media.
Representing (leading counsel) the first defendant, in a 5 handed conspiracy to steal over £1 million, from a bank account. The funds were laundered by a practising solicitor – one of the co-defendants’ at trial. The client had a cut throat defence with 3 of the 5 defendants. Reported in the media.
Represented the first defendant on the Indictment, in a 5 handed conspiracy to defraud / steal 30 high value cars from national dealerships, by making fraudulent applications for loans / hire purchase.
Represented the director of a company, in a 3 handed conspiracy to defraud people who had paid for time share accommodation and cheap flights. Reported in the media.
A 5 handed conspiracy re a large scale and complex car cloning case. The issues included the admissibility of bad character evidence, a cut throat defence and fit up.
A V.A.T. fraud over 8 years by a West London chain of
restaurants
Year of Call - 1992
Alex Specialises in Criminal Law and has a particular interest in Human Rights Law and regulatory Law.
His Practice has included high profile and/or complex cases for which he has represented the Defence or Prosecution.
Alex is regularly instructed to represent the Defence or Prosecution in DWP, VOSA, Serco, Trading standards and HM Custom’s fraud cases.
Alex is an approved prosecutor on the CPS panel of advocates and has been regularly instructed by the CPS since called. In addition Alex has acted on behalf of insurance companies and Local Authorities.
For 18 years Alex was the Deputy Managing Director of a group of French companies with branches across Europe which Alex assisted to set up and develop. He was the Director of Sales and marketing for the companies’ overseas operations.
Alex was also the Marketing Executive for EW Facts Plc’s (now Nord Anglia Plc) School of Finance and Management Division. He was responsible for the marketing and development of the company’s overseas operations in the Far East, Africa, Indian Ocean and Caribbean.
Worked as a freelance lecturer in Business Law to undergraduates undertaking the University of Hull BA degree at the School of Finance and Management in London. Alex was also a part time lecturer to undergraduates undertaking the University of London LLB degrees and to post graduates taking the Inns of Courts, Bar Final Examinations at the London School of Law. Alex was involved in the training of trading standard officers on enforcement laws in Northern Ireland. Speaks fluent French and Italian
Practice Detail
Crime: Serious Fraud, Murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, torture, armed robbery, blackmail, child abduction, false imprisonment, serious drug offences, organised crime and serious motor prosecutions
Health & Safety: Represented individuals and companies prosecuted under the Health & Safety Act, Food Trading standards and other regulatory legislation including fatal accidents. Represented families, local authorities, individuals and companies at Inquests.
Immigration: Asylum applications, entry clearance appeals on behalf of visitors, students and businesses following refusals of their applications and judicial reviews. Alex is especially interested in the link between immigration issues and Human Rights Law.
Alex works as a freelance lecturer in Business Law to undergraduates undertaking the University of Hull BA degree at the School of Finance and Management in London. Alex was also a part time lecturer to undergraduates undertaking the University of London LLB degrees and to post graduates taking the Inns of Courts, Bar Final Examinations at the London School of Law. Alex was involved in the training of trading standard officers on enforcement laws in Northern Ireland.
French
Italian
Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB Hons)
Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
Conspiracy, £ 28 Million VAT fraud.
£38 million, confiscation hearing. Resulted in one of the highest confiscation orders in the UK.
Bad character in the Court of Appeal.
Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, allegedly hit a cyclist like a golf ball at 99mph. Found not guilty.
Organised crime involving black on black killings in North London and Indian/Pakistani gang war crime.
False imprisonment involving the torture of a vulnerable witness with disabilities found gagged with his arms and legs tied up by the police. Found not guilty.
Successfully represented a major European airline against customs and Excise.
Year of Call - 1994
Glenn is a specialist criminal defence advocate. He has a significant practice as both leading and junior counsel in very serious cases such as murder, robbery, serious sexual offences, drugs and fraud. In addition Glenn advices on criminal and regulatory matters evolving from maritime offences.
His reputation as a fearless advocate, coupled with excellent client care has meant that he has been instructed in some of the most high-profile and serious cases in recent times.
Glenn Harris has lectured on various aspects of criminal investigations into potential maritime offences and regulatory breaches. He regularly advises one of the most respected city firm of solicitors who specialise in maritime law.
He has previously been instructed as counsel to advise following a ‘fatality at sea’ and as a result of his assistance and representation this has had the effect of preventing a significant criminal prosecution against the ship owners and controllers.
Glenn was recently instructed under the direct access provisions to represent a skipper of a vessel charged with various regulatory offences arising out of an incident in Poole Harbour. He was able to successfully negotiate a much-reduced liability and considerably mitigate the sentence at court.
Historically, he has been instructed in the largest legal-aid fraud of its time (R. v. Pritchard and others) and in R v Twomey and others which was a large scale armed robbery at Heathrow Airport using an inside man. This case took several years to go through the courts, having several aborted trials at significant public expense and which later made legal history and gained notoriety by becoming the first trial without a jury for over 300 years.
Glenn was also instructed as junior counsel to represent one of those accused of the axe murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987, an investigation dogged by police corruption and which yet again resulted in no convictions after lengthy and successful legal arguments on abuse of process. This case is still in the public eye with the Home Secretary announcing an independent review of the case.
Glenn continues with his criminal practice but has broadened his practice to include International Crime, Regulatory work such as Health and Safety and Trading Standards Prosecutions.
As well as his demanding case load, Glenn is currently in the process of embarking on a series of lectures on International Criminal Law to Judges from foreign states and on the Bribery Act.
Recent Years
In 2014 one of Glenn many successes, was his defence of a young man charged with murder and firearms offences following a lengthy retrial at the Old Bailey.
Success continued in 2015 when again he secured the acquittal of a young man accused of murder. In fact, Glenn’s client was the only defendant in the case to be acquitted of all charges he faced. Glenn also successfully defended a father accused of murdering his own daughter and he successfully argued that there was no case to answer for a mother accused of being involved in a large-scale sex trafficking conspiracy.
When not in court Glenn has spent considerable time advising clients and solicitors in connection with alleged war crimes involving a variety of legal and human rights issues arising out of the Syrian crisis. This included complex jurisdictional issues and the procedure and jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Glenn’s practice goes from strength to strength and 2016 looks to be a very busy year for him. Having already secured an acquittal of a man accused of a serious assault with a sword, he has been instructed to defend in two murder trials, a terrorist trial, three lengthy fraud trials and a trading standards trial.
Glenn can also be instructed directly having completed the Public Access Course.
Year of Call - 1996
Shaun Esprit is known for having an extremely meticulous approach and an engaging and highly persuasive court presence. He specialises in general crime, corporate crime and regulatory work. He also undertakes work in selected specialised areas of civil law. Shaun both defends and prosecutes, including as a Leading Junior. He is a well-respected barrister, who has an ability to engage with people from all walks of life.
Shaun has appeared a number of times on TV as an expert criminal barrister, including offering detailed commentary and analysis on the Oscar Pistorius’ Trial. All media enquiries for interviews, case comments or analysis on legal news, should be addressed to Chambers’ senior clerk Daniel Bartlett.
Areas of expertise
Crime: including serious violent offences (including murder/manslaughter); sexual offences (rape, child abuse); drugs; regulatory work; fraud
Civil: personal injury; clinical negligence; Court of Protection
Shaun also has a specialist expertise in relation to Proceeds of Crime and the interplay between confiscation proceedings and ancillary relief/financial remedies.
“For Richer, For Poorer”: article on the interplay between confiscation and matrimonial proceedings: The Proceeds of Crime Review (No.2 2008)
“A Fair Share”: article on property rights of cohabitees in context of confiscation/restraint proceedings: The Proceeds of Crime Review (No.4 2009)
“Abuse of Process in Confiscation Proceedings”: The Proceeds of Crime Review (2011)
“Criminal or Casualty: Marine A”: article in Counsel Magazine (2017)
BA (Hons) Oxford University
Common Professional Examination (City University)
Bar Vocational Course
CPS Panel General Crime (Grade 3) and Proceeds of Crime
Specialist Panel (Grade 3)
Fluent French
Fluent Spanish
Defending in large scale conspiracy to supply over 50kg of ketamine (£1.25 million street value).
Prosecuting manslaughter.
Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal for interested third party (wife) in multi-million pound confiscation proceedings.
Attempted murder.
defending historical sexual offences case: defendant acquitted of all 33 offences arsing from alleged incident in 1970s [Stafford Crown Court].
Murder: Central Criminal Court, led by QC
Successful appeal against conviction representing senior consultant physician re possession of indecent images of children (Court of Appeal).
Successful appeal against conviction and subsequent acquittal representing defendant charged with causing death by careless driving.
Murder: Central Criminal Court, led by QC
Defending attempted murder (Blackfriars Crown Court).
Defending attempted murder with gangland background (Inner London).
Cardiff: prison riot; attempted murder/section 18 Cardiff Crown Court.
Lewes Crown Court: representing lead defendant in trial arising from large scale drug importation of Class A drugs in excess of £10,000,000
Defending in prison violent disorder/attempted murder trial (Worcester Crown Court)
Represented Defendant in high-profile multi-handed racially aggravated public disorder case.
Represented Defendant at trial for importation of over 10kg of high purity cocaine.
Prosecution on behalf of RCPO re the importation of 90kg of heroin into UK.
Defended in relation to a conspiracy to commit burglaries and steal high performance motor vehicles for onward sale; value £450,000.
Represented Father in care proceedings arising from his alleged involvement in an extensive paedophile ring
Represented the Sandwell Borough Council in care proceedings arising from alleged anal rape of infant.
Inner London Crown Court: defended firearms case (as led junior) arising from Operation Trident investigation into gun crime.
Represented Appellant before the Employment Appeal Tribunal; setting aside of finding of dishonesty made against senior health care official in his claim for unfair dismissal.
Represented Claimant in successful clinical negligence proceedings arising from obstetrician’s negligence; award of over £500,000 achieved
Defending owner of money exchange business in trial of multi million pound money laundering conspiracy Reading Crown Court.
Prosecuted as led junior a large scale money laundering conspiracy arising from the proceeds of an MTIC fraud.
Prosecuted re-trial of Barclays Bank manager alleged to have stolen from employers as part of a conspiracy with participants in organised crime.
Prosecution on behalf of RCPO re importation of 40kg of herbal cannabis.
Prosecuted on behalf of RCPO case involving just under £1,000,000 evaded duty on imported cigarettes.
EWCA Crim 1368: led junior defending banker allegedly engaged in largest “arrangement fee” fraud ($80,000,000) ever prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office. Leading authority on issue of accidentally disclosed PII material and its effect on fairness of criminal trial.
McClean McNally, International Attorneys, Turks & Caicos in relation to the first copyright case brought in that jurisdiction (re application and extension of the Copyright Acts 1911 and 1956 and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1989 to the Turks and Caicos Islands).
Year of Call - 1996
Barrister Robert Newcombe has secured numerous acquittals for clients. For example:
Mortgage Fraud
Murder
Mortgage Fraud
Appeal Against Conviction (Reporting Restrictions apply)
Rape
1. Fraud Act: Mortgage Fraud – Title Fraud: 2 month trial (and two week re-trial) at the Crown Court at Preston. Mr Newcombe’s FCA approved mortgage broker client (of good character) was charged with making false representations on behalf of clients in order to induce mortgage lenders to believe that a number of residential conveyancing transactions were genuine, when they were not. Properties were “sold” without the real owners knowing.The defence case that the broker was not a knowing participant was accepted by the jury. Detailed cross-examination of the Crown expert on a large number of conveyancing files assisted the defendant’s case.
2. Murder: Central Criminal Court: 2 month trial at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Newcombe was led by Mr Kerim Fuad QC, head of Church Court Chambers. A man was stabbed to death outside Stockwell Underground Station during a public order incident. Two young men were tried for murder and several others were charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder and GBH with intent.The evidence against Mr Newcombe’s client was: (a) he was seen on CCTV running into the fracas; (b) the deceased’s blood was found on his hoody and (c) he was seen on CCTV re-enacting what appeared to be the fatal blow, afterwards.The jury accepted his case that he was neither a principal or secondary party to murder, and he was acquitted of all charges. He had assisted the police with their inquiries at all stages. The forensic evidence of the blood staining was in fact consistent with that which any bystander at the scene may have been expected to have received, according to the prosecution forensic expert, in cross-examination.
3. Conspiracy to Defraud: Mortgage Fraud, tried at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution case against the defendant (bank employee of good character) collapsed after 4 weeks of financial expert evidence against this defendant and several others. The allegations included use of false documents to obtain many millions of pounds of mortgage advances.Dogged pursuit of disclosure requests, combined with a written submission of “No Case” at the end of the prosecution evidence lead to no evidence being offered at that late stage, against Mr Newcombe’s client.
4. Offence not Disclosable: Appeal against Conviction: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division): Mr Newcombe acted for an Appellant before the Full Court, with leave to appeal, and bail for the Appellant. The nature of the Appeal concerned “Fresh Evidence”. The conviction was quashed. A reporting restriction is in place relating to the Judgment of the Court.
5. Rape: Crown Court at Bradford. The defendant was acquitted of raping his own son, several years earlier. The jury heard about the defendant’s previous conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with his step-daughter (aged 15 ½ at the time). This conviction’s use by the jury was limited to background only and not propensity, after submissions before the learned judge.
In 2015 Mr Newcombe represented a Bishop (of previous good character) who was convicted of rapes which occurred many years ago (two week trial, at Inner London Crown Court before HHJ Madge). Four other females also made allegations of indecent and sexual assault, of which he was also convicted. The defendant received a sentence of 25 years imprisonment. In sentencing, the learned judge agreed that a determinate sentence was appropriate notwithstanding that he had made a finding that the defendant was a “Dangerous Offender”.
This was due to the defendant’s age (66) and the length of the determinate sentence to be passed. The learned judge referred the case to the Hon. Lowell Goddard’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, for consideration, given his concerns regarding the previous investigation by the Local Authority where some of the females lived and concerns relating to regulation of Churches.
Cyber Fraud and Financial Crime
Robert Newcombe has wide experience in financial crime cases, as well as in multi-million pound cyber frauds – conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. He acts as leading junior counsel or as junior alone in these fraud trials. He has lectured on cyber fraud to solicitors and barristers for CPD: for example with a former Head of Operations of the British Army’s Cyber Warfare branch, as part of the Church Court Chambers lecture series: “Cyber Fraud and Cyber Security: Trojan Botnets, Web-Injects and Mules – Law and Practical Case Management”.
Wide Ranging Experience
Robert Newcombe has a breadth and depth of criminal law experience and is often engaged by clients (often of good character and high standing in the community) specifically because of his ability to master technically complex facts and legal areas.
A recent case involved a CHIS (Covert Human Intelligence Source). The abuse of process hearing relating to prosecution disclosure lasted for four weeks. RIPA Authorizations; Search Warrants; Open Justice; potential Waiver of Privilege by the Crown and the Burden and Standard of Proof were issues on which Robert submitted written documents, and made submissions.
Robert has acted as trial counsel in over a dozen homicide cases at the Central Criminal Court and elsewhere. In a Newton Hearing in 2016 at the Central Criminal Court involving 2 days of evidence, acting as junior alone, Robert succeeded in persuading the learned judge that the killing had not been done for financial gain as the Crown alleged – which reduced the Life sentence by 20 years. In other murder cases Robert has been instructed as junior counsel to QCs, and has conducted attempted murder trials as junior counsel alone.
He acted as leading junior counsel in a nine handed conspiracy to defraud for two months at Southwark Crown Court, where the client was first on the indictment. Issues involved the scope of the conspiracy and guilty pleas of two co-defendants, and whether their bases of plea were admissible.
Robert Newcombe also led another barrister in chambers, Oliver Grimwood, in a successful two month money laundering trial where video-links to witnesses in Jamaica were set up.
Firearms
Mr Newcombe has acted as junior alone, representing clients for attempted murder and is very familiar with firearms and their legitimate and illegal uses. Antique hammer guns or concealed key-ring guns or fully automatic machine pistols – Robert has a wide array of experience with their deployment. He has lectured to barristers and solicitors on this technical area.
Environment and Planning Law
Robert Newcombe is also a specialist in cases prosecuted by the Environment Agency, including all waste and pollution matters and the Environmental regulatory offences. He often acts for businesses and landowners. After a nine week trial in 2013 his landowning client was acquitted of s.33 Environmental Protection Act matters. A strong challenge was made to the use of covert surveillance by the Environment Agency, the use of which is not authorised under the Police Act 1997.
In addition to his Environmental Law expertise, Robert Newcombe also is instructed to defend and prosecute in Planning Enforcement cases under the provisions of section 179 et sec of the Town and Country Planning Acts. These have included Appeals to the Inspector and Statutory Appeals to the High Court and injunctions, as well as jury trials.
His Regulatory work also includes cases prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive. In 2014 he represented a business owner at Southwark Crown Court who was tried for breaches of the Work at Height Regulations, which resulted in the fatality of an employee.
Expert Evidence
Robert Newcombe has a real flair for dealing with contentious expert evidence, whether it be financial, FCA related evidence; or medical evidence including brain injuries; or blood spatter, glass shards, ballistics and DNA evidence; or surveyors’ reports regarding baselines on land levels; or cell site and telecoms evidence; or engineering or waste management industry expert evidence.
Reported Cases
R v Mitchell [2004] EWCA Crim 3206 – Rape conviction, appeal dismissed. (S.41 YJCEA 1999 – temporal provisions).
R v Kuosmanen [2005] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 354 – ID documents sentencing.
R v C [2015] CA(CD) – Reporting Restrictions Apply.
Cyber fraud and Cyber Security: Trojan Botnets, Web Injects and Mules (at the University of Northumbria’s Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies) and as part of the Church Court Chambers’ CPD Lecture series.
Firearms: Law and Case Management (CPD for practitioners)
Defending Environmental Prosecutions (CPD for practitioners)
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Criminal Bar Association
UK Environmental Law Association
Royal Forestry Society
Leading Dejan Mladenovic of chambers. Defendant denied conspiracy to manufacture and distribute identity documents on an industrial scale. He was convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment after a two month trial.
Leading counsel in two day Proceeds of Crime and sentencing hearing involving multi-million pound drugs conspiracy. Negative equity in residential property portfolio.
Leading Oliver Grimwood of chambers. Defendant was acquitted of laundering cash to Jamaica using money transfer companies after a two month trial.
Leading counsel, where defendant was convicted of being in possession of a Skorpion sub-machine pistol, key-ring gun and handgun, and more than a kilo of heroin, with intent to supply. Defendant granted bail between conviction and sentence.
Multi-handed fatal stabbing and perverting the course of justice. To be tried in 2017. Led by Kerim Fuad QC.
Defendant acquitted of Murder after being present at the scene of a fatal stabbing, led by Kerim Fuad QC.
Defendant acquitted of Murder after a man was bludgeoned to death on the back seat of the car he was driving, led by Tim Barnes QC.
Defendant acquitted of Murder after three-way cut-throat defences, led by Nigel Baker QC.
Defendant stabbed father and pleaded guilty to Manslaughter on day of trial (provocation); not guilty of Murder, lead by Paul Sloan QC.
Defendant convicted of Murder in the course of robbery on elderly victim. Identity and causation in issue, with numerous similar fact robberies. Medical evidence challenged from neuropathologist; pathologist; neurosurgeon; A&E registrar; ambulance crew and GP, led by Tim Barnes QC.
Defendant pleaded guilty to Manslaughter after injecting friend with heroin, led by Nigel Rumfitt QC.
Murder. Newton Hearing against QC. 2 days of evidence to determine whether Crown could prove whether killing was for financial gain. Finding in favour of defendant which meant Life sentence was some 20 years lower than might otherwise have been the case. Aggravating factors were concealment of body.
Defendant acquitted of Attempted Murder after injured party was shot in the head with a .22 shot cartridge fired from a pre-1880 hammer pistol. Both defendants were successful with their defence of accident.
Defendant acquitted of joint enterprise Attempted Murder, but convicted of aggravated burglary and possessing (and discharging) a firearm during a Schedule 1 offence. Co-accused was convicted of attempted murder.
Defendant acquitted of Attempted Murder after stabbing his brother 9 times. The jury accepted the defence of self-defence. The assailant brother was unarmed.
Defendant was acquitted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. 25kg of drugs in the boot of his car as he entered the UK from a ferry. The two co-accused in the vehicle when it was stopped by Customs were convicted.
Joint enterprise Murder allegation.
Defendant acquitted of Murder after man bludgeoned to death on back seat of the car he was driving.
Defendant acquitted of Murder after three-way cut-throat defences.
Defendant stabbed father and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on day of trial (provocation); not guilty of Murder.
Defendant convicted of murder in the course of robbery on elderly victim. Identity and causation in issue, with similar fact robberies. Medical evidence challenged from neuropathologist; pathologist; neurosurgeon; A&E registrar; ambulance crew and GP.
Defendant pleaded guilty to Manslaughter after injecting friend with heroin.
Defendant acquitted of Attempted Murder after injured party was shot in the head with a .22 shot cartridge fired from a pre-1880 hammer pistol. Both defendants were successful with their defence of accident.
Defendant acquitted of Attempted Murder, but convicted of aggravated burglary and possessing (and discharging) a firearm during a Schedule 1 offence.
Defendant acquitted of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. 25kg of drugs in the boot of his car as he entered the UK from a ferry.
Mortgage fraud and money laundering involving fraud on the title of residential properties (re-trial 2015).
Mortgage fraud relating to over 170 residential properties. Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining money transfers by deception (for trial 2015).
Leading Dejan Mladenovic of chambers. Defendant denied conspiracy to manufacture and distribute identity documents on an industrial scale. He was convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment after a two month trial.
Leading Oliver Grimwood of chambers. Defendant was acquitted of laundering cash to Jamaica using money transfer companies after a two month trial.
Defendant deputy manager of nursing home convicted of similar fact ill-treatment of multiple residents under s. 44 Mental Capacity Act.
Defendant found unfit to stand trial due to progressive brain tumour – fraud in breach of trust alleged to be £½ million.
Operation Lath: investigation commenced by FBI in USA and involved a conspiracy to defraud UK banks of tens of millions of pounds. The Zeus Trojan virus had been utilised by a sophisticated criminal syndicate to assist in withdrawing funds from internet accessible bank accounts.
This case involved the use of Trojan botnets (to acquire compromised sensitive data), web-injects (to phish) and money laundering mules (to cash-out from drop accounts).
Operation Mandrill: investigation into conspiracy to defraud the Student Loans Company of millions of pounds together with a further conspiracy to defraud UK banks.
This case involved the use of Trojan botnets (to acquire compromised sensitive data), web-injects (to phish) and money laundering mules (to cash-out from drop accounts).
Mortgage fraud and money laundering involving fraud on the title of residential properties: Acquittal.
Mortgage fraud relating to over 170 residential properties. Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtaining money transfers by deception: Acquittal.
Defendant deputy manager of nursing home convicted of similar fact ill-treatment of multiple residents under s. 44 Mental Capacity Act. Expert opinion taken from one of the country’s leading professor’s of psychology to establish whether a base-line existed beyond which the nominal complainants lacked capacity.
Defendant found unfit to stand trial due to progressive brain tumour – fraud in breach of trust alleged to be £½ million. Crown Offered No Evidence.
Defendant convicted of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, where 27 year old complainant had a mental age of 4-5.
Abuse of Process involving CHIS, lasting 4 weeks. Reporting Restrictions apply.
Defendant acquitted after 9 week trial of Permitting the Deposit of Controlled Waste, offence under s. 33 Environmental Protection Act. Defence consisted of suitability of deposited material and the de minimis principle and statutory defence. Challenge to the policy of permitting trespass by EA officers even though no Police Act 1997 authorisation is possible.
Defendant pleaded guilty very early in proceedings to numerous charges contrary to the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations and was sentenced to a non-custodial sentence.
Defendant sentenced to a non-custodial sentence after permitting the deposit of hundreds of tons of controlled waste at a swan sanctuary.
Defendant convicted of breaches of the Work at Height Regulations, resulting in a fatal fall from scaffolding, after failing to attend for his trial (whilst serving a life sentence for murder).
Robert Newcombe has been involved with many cases where lack of mental capacity has been in issue and is interested to explore further cases in this area.
Lancashire Mortgage Corporation v Ikoku and Onabrakpeya – the signatory to a false mortgage application was advised to submit to questions on his affidavit of means. He was then not charged with any offence.
Article 2 Right to Life Application for emergency injunction (on behalf of alleged murderer while awaiting trial) to prevent footage of murder victim being broadcast. BBC submitted that the Human Rights Act did not apply to its broadcast function, but this was rejected by Collins J: it was arguable that it did for the purposes of the application.
Statutory appeals to High Court and injunctions specifically in relation to the Town & Country Planning Act.
Year of Call - 1996
Alkan acts in a broad range of commercial litigation, arbitration and transaction matters. His focus includes high value commercial disputes, cross-border banking and finance, banking regulation, commodities trade disputes, art and antiquity law.
Prior to the Bar, Alkan worked for Clifford Chance and has developed hands-on experience in financial services regulation and banking and finance products such as derivatives and offshore investment funds. At Clifford Chance, he advised a number of pension funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, insurance companies and institutional investors.
Alkan has also advised major banks including The Royal Bank of Scotland, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch on a range of complex disputes involving both institutional and private investors.
At the height of the banking crisis in 2009, Alkan counseled banks on disputes relating to International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) contracts, structured investment transactions, off-shore investment trusts, bank insolvency, FSA/FCA regulatory breaches and anti-money laundering.
Alkan’s expertise also includes proceedings before international courts, tribunals, offshore jurisdictions and enforcement of foreign judgments in England.
Alkan is also a regular commentator on a range of international legal issues and geo-political risks in emerging markets having provided commentary for publications such as Africa Asset Management and MENA Insurance Review.
More recently, Alkan has also advised on legal issues affecting fine arts and antiquities. He has also written extensively on the Elgin Marbles, the Hague Convention and the looting of antiquities in Iraq and Syria.
Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL)
International Law Association (ILA)
Cypriots Lawyers Society (CLS)
Called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn 1997
University College, London, LL.M. (International Business Law) 1996
Acting for a major US bank in a dispute with a Luxembourg hedge fund.
Defending a UK bank in a claim by a private high net worth client involving financial promotions rules.
Mediating a dispute between East European high net worth clients involving the sale/purchase of oil.
Acting for a Middle East sovereign fund investor in a claim against US and Swiss banks.
Advising a private client in respect of financial mis-selling by a UK bank.
Advising on cross-border civil fraud/breach of trust proceedings in the Caribbean.
Advising shareholders on breach of director’s duties and asset tracing.
Year of Call - 1999
Kevin is a hugely experienced and talented criminal defence barrister and his practice caters mainly for private clients and those who are publicly funded.
Kevin was called to the Bar in 1999 and has been in continual practice in London ever since.
He is highly regarded by both the solicitors who instruct him and the barristers who appear with or against him in court. Judges who know him have described him as an “assured and highly skilled advocate”. He is regularly instructed in the most serious and complex cases both in the Crown Court and in the Court of Appeal. He recently secured an appeal against conviction for a victim of trafficking who was wrongly prosecuted and convicted in the Crown Court. R v HHD [2018] EWCA Crim 2995 a case which now appears in the CPS guidance on issues surrounding Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Slavery.
Queens Counsel who have led him in complex trials value his tactical awareness, tenacity and attention to detail.
As a cross-examiner he is known as a barrister who can undermine the most confident of witnesses and expose weaknesses in evidence others have missed. Due to the reputation he has earned over the years other counsel regularly seek his advice. Kevin is known to have excellent judgement which, combined with a sharp legal brain make him a hugely popular choice with both lay and professional clients.
His vast experience and well-earned reputation has meant he has been instructed in high profile cases in courts both inside and outside London.
He has successfully defended in the most serious cases including those alleging murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, large scale drugs conspiracies, fraud conspiracies, gun crime, bomb making and sex offences. He was also instructed in the first case of its kind brought to court in relation to coercive and controlling behaviour under s.76 Serious Crime Act 2015.
Kevin regularly acts as leading counsel in complex trials and secured the only acquittal as leading counsel in the very first “slave” case brought to trial in the UK in nearly 200 years. The trial lasted three months and was described by the trial judge as one of the “most complex any jury would ever have to deal with”.
Despite a very heavy work load Kevin plays an active part in the management of his chambers and is an active member of various legal, professional bodies. He sits on the South Eastern Circuit committee and is Chair of his local Bar Mess. Kevin is heavily committed to diversity within the profession and takes part in initiatives both inside and outside his Chambers to ensure the profession fully represents those it serves.
Contributed to SEC committee response to government paper entitled “Breaking the Cycle of Offending”. Contributed to Circuiteer quarterly magazine.
Committee member South Eastern Circuit
Chair of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Bar Mess
Member of Middle Temple Inn
Chambers representative for Middle Temple Inn
Member of the Northern Ireland Bar
Member of the CBA
Kevin acted as leading counsel in a murder trial at the Bailey. The defendant decided to plead guilty after day three and faced an almost certain “whole life order” as the defendant already had a conviction for murder and attempted murder. Kevin, after lengthy submissions successfully persuaded the court not to impose such a sentence.
Attempted murder trial at the Old Bailey. Defendant accused with attempting to kill the victim in order to enforce a drugs debt. The victim had been put in a bath and doused from head to toe with petrol before being set alight, suffering 40% burns to his body. The defendant accepted presence but denied being responsible. The victim had studied law and maintained that the defendant was a drug dealer and was the man responsible for his horrific injuries. Following a three week trial the jury unanimously acquitted the defendant.
Court of Appeal, Kevin won an appeal against conviction in relation to a victim of human trafficking, debt bondage and slavery under s.45 Modern Slavery Act 2015. The case was of such importance it was referred to the Senior Presiding Judge of England and Wales.
People smuggling trial in Portsmouth. Kevin represented a female defendant who had been charged with two others with conspiring to smuggle into the UK vulnerable migrants. The defendant was stopped in Portsmouth and in her van the authorities found 8 migrants. The co-defendants who were in a car behind tried desperately to blame the female driver of the van. Following a lengthy trial, the jury acquitted the female van driver and convicted both the male co-defendants.
Three month fraud conspiracy at Southwark Crown Court. The case involved benefit assessors who agreed to falsify numerous false benefit applications. These benefits paid out over a period of years and were in excess of a million pounds. Kevin led counsel from chambers in this long and very complex case.
Three month murder trial at the Old Bailey successfully defending the “Snapchat Queen” against an allegation of murder. The defendant was prosecuted as a secondary party who was alleged to have wanted to have a man, who wanted to be her boyfriend murdered. She recorded footage of the victim dying on the street and uploaded it onto Snapchat.
Prosecution alleged defendant had smuggled firearms into a property in Luton. Following two days of legal argument Kevin secured the dismissal of the case.
Unusual and novel gross negligence manslaughter trial which involved experts giving evidence from the USA with regard to a drug called Ibogaine. Following lengthy legal argument at the close of the Crowns case the defendant was found not guilty.
The only trial to be conducted with the defendant appearing in court via video-link and not in person in the dock. The trial Judge described the defendant as the “most d
