Bark&co

David Byrne

Up until February 2003, partner and head of litigation and investigations in Dechert’s London office. He set up Byrne and Partners as a specialised litigation and regulatory practice. He handles all aspects of investigations work and represents companies and individuals in national and international fraud cases and regulatory investigations, including those brought by the SFO, DTI, CPS, FCA, Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise. He maintains a specialism and is well recognised in the field of Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise investigations.

Dharsh Lokaswaran

Dharsh is a Solicitor Advocate with a wide-ranging general crime practice. She is involved in many of the department’s key cases, with recent examples including modern slavery and large-scale drugs manufacture/supply cases.

Giles Bark-Jones

Giles Bark-Jones has defended clients in many of the largest white-collar crime and fraud cases of recent times. His impressive track record and wide experience includes representing individuals in prosecutions and investigations brought by the SFO, the FCA, HMRC and other bodies. Giles’s track record includes the SFO investigation into Rolls-Royce, acting for a number of key individuals; R v Asil Nadir (an SFO prosecution involving allegations of theft from Polly Peck International); the Adoboli case (involving a US$2.3bn trading loss fraud at UBS); and R v F & ors, described by prosecution counsel as the ‘biggest case ever’ involving carbon trading fraud. Other recent highlights include acting for three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in relation to criminal charges brought by the Insolvency Service following his bankruptcy, and acting for the Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus in connection with the Polly Peck/Asil Nadir case. On the tax side, Giles has a similarly impressive record including an appeal against a £60m+ conviction for alcohol tax evasion; a complex matter involving payroll companies that allegedly failed to pay tax on behalf of the companies for which they acted; and a £100m multijurisdictional matter described by KPMG and the Daily Telegraph as “one of the biggest direct tax frauds in UK history”. He also assisted a number of clients in National Crime Agency and SKAT investigations into a £1.5bn fraud against the tax authorities in a number of countries, and has defended in large-scale money laundering SFO investigations. Giles is an expert in serious general crime as well as criminal fraud, and his practice includes high-profile murder/manslaughter cases, sexual offences cases, and cases involving offences under anti-terrorism legislation.

Magdalena Motyl

Legal Consultant

Malisha Patel

Malisha is a para-legal at Bark & Co who assists solicitors as well as preparing her own cases for trial. Malisha has worked on an extensive range of criminal cases including drugs offences, fraud matters and sexual offences. She is passionate about defending the rights of the vulnerable and has experience in dealing with clients who suffer with mental health and/or learning difficulties. She delivers high quality service, upholding client care in every action. She understands the difficulty our clients face when charged with a criminal offence and will work to the best of her ability to ensure that justice is achieved. Client testimonials: “Honestly cannot thank you enough, I just feel so thankful for all you have done and the results you have achieved thank you again!” “Ms Patel, who was always to hand when needed and exhibited a professionalism and maturity beyond her experience.” “Thanks for all your hard work throughout the case it’s been reassuring having you defending my son, I’m really grateful. ”

Maria Stalbow

Senior Solicitor

Patricia Wilson

Pat is a criminal defence expert in white collar and business crime, general criminal defence including serious drugs offences, rape, murder and kidnap, and proceeds of crime offences. She has significant experience defending clients in serious and complex criminal cases facing charges brought by CPS, HMRC, SFO, FCA, The Pensions Regulator and Trading Standards. Pat has particular expertise in representing clients in POCA related matters concerning money laundering, confiscation, enforcement, restraint orders and asset forfeiture proceedings. ‘’Pat is extremely organised and clear in her instructions. She is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the best possible outcome for her clients. She has worked on a number of high -profile cases but brings the same level of attention to detail to cases large and small. She has good knowledge of the law and doesn’t leave any stone unturned." Chambers & Partners 2021

Paul Cameron

Senior Consultant

Peter Finbow

Senior Solicitor Particular experience in defending cases of serious crime, fraud, corporate and commercial crime, tax offences, and POCA. Acted for clients in several high profile cases brought by the SFO, FCA (FSA), HMRC, CPS, NHS, and Environment Agency.

Ria Kudrati

Ria qualified as a Solicitor in 1999, gained her Duty Solicitor status in 2002 and obtained her Higher Rights of Audience in the Crown Court in 2008. She is also a trained, accredited Mediator. She has been instructed as Junior Counsel in complex multi handed cases and has previously headed Crime departments in her previous firms with responsibility for guiding and mentoring trainee solicitors and Junior Staff members. Throughout this period, she has gained extensive experience in criminal matters representing both adult and youth Clients, regularly appearing, as an advocate, in the Criminal Courts and representing Clients at the Police Station, from the investigative stages through to trials. She is also familiar with cross border negotiations involving highly sensitive matters pertaining to counter terrorism and extradition. Ria advises on pre charge representations during police bail periods, to the police, courts, and prosecution often to avoid charges being brought on the legality of investigative powers or in relation to restrictive bail conditions. Ria has a keen interest in representing vulnerable children and adults with additional needs. She is familiar with the particular difficulties faced by this Client group including intermediary applications and discontinuance or ‘interests of justice’ representations, the implications of the Modern Slavery Act and the NRM framework. Ria has also successfully completed the vulnerable witness accredited training program with the Law Society. Ria has represented ‘celebrity’ high profile Clients facing the personal and professional trauma of historic sexual allegations and regardless of how a case is funded, she is a skilled advocate known for her excellent Client rapport, pro-active advice, dedicated, meticulous case preparation and favourable results as well as acquittals. Ria is currently the lead Crime Supervisor for the firm, but she also undertakes a range of privately funded and legal aid Client matters defending the firm’s more serious and complex cases including murder, sexual offences, money laundering and fraud. “Ria Kudrati … Gives strong and professional advice in an unflinching manner. Steadfastly strong for her clients. A pleasure to work with. Tirelessly hardworking and an excellent team player. Clients are in very safe hands under her stewardship.” – James Scobie QC

Riz Majid

Head of Litigation

Sabrik Dhamu

Senior Solicitor

Safiya Sinclair

At the start of her career, Safiya trained with Bark&co to qualify as a Solicitor. After some years, she then returned to us in November 2021 as a Consultant, and has been an integral part of the team again ever since. Safiya’s work mainly involves her representing suspects at the police station, Defendants in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, and appeals against conviction and/or sentence where appropriate. She accepts instructions for both legal aid and privately funded work. She is renowned for the excellent rapport she has with her clients and her meticulous case preparation, which many colleagues comment on and are highly appreciative of. Her experience spans from representing those accused of murder, to those accused of ‘petty crime’. No matter the seriousness, she recognises that any brush with the Criminal Justice System can have a massive impact on her client’s lives, and therefore strives to give her utmost attention and time to every case she is instructed on. Recent Cases: K – no further action taken in relation to an allegation of attempted murder. The client was arrested in the vehicle involved in the alleged incident approximately half an hour after the incident was said to have taken place. M – no further action taken in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to commit GBH despite the complainant describing the person that stabbed him as M. R v C – case of possession with intent to supply drugs over a sustained period of time dropped by the CPS before trial. The client raised a defence of Modern Day Slavery. Safiya instructed two experts to compile reports in support of his account which the CPS took into consideration when discontinuing the case. R v A – client received a 2 year suspended sentence following a guilty plea to possession with intent to supply class A drugs. The starting point on the sentencing guidelines is 4.5 years immediate custody. R v P – case dropped by the CPS four months after the client was charged with aggravated burglary and allegedly cell sited in the vicinity of the incident. Safiya instructed a telephone/cell site expert to analyse the telephone data in this case and test the strength of the case against her client. R v B – client received a suspended sentence for a third possession of a knife offence. The Sentencing Guidelines state (not verbatim) that a court must impose a sentence of immediate imprisonment, a minimum of 6 months, for any second knife offence, unless it would be unjust. Robust mitigation and careful preparation on this case achieved an impressive result. R v M – client acquitted by the Jury following a £33,000 fraud which was proved had taken place. R v T – client acquitted by the Jury after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation following a successful defence of necessity.

Vanessa Wiggins

Solicitor

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