3PB

Crime; Personal Injury

Overview

Oliver Hirsch is a criminal barrister based at 3PB’s Winchester office. He conducts work for both defence and prosecution.

As defence counsel, Oliver has secured acquittals in a range of cases, including the supply of Class A drugs and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH). He has been instructed as junior counsel in cases involving historic child sex offences and county lines drug trafficking; and has appeared in the Court of Appeal, where his client’s sentence was reduced by 18 months.

Oliver has been appointed to Level 2 of the CPS General Crime Advocate Panel. Previous cases have included the successful prosecution of an attempted robbery.

Oliver's caseload extends beyond general crime to encompass regulatory matters. He was recently involved in the successful defence of an e-bike retailer from prosecution by the DVSA.

Oliver is the editor of 3PB’s criminal law newsletter.

Crime

Oliver Hirsch is a barrister, based at 3PB’s Winchester office, who accepts instructions in both defence and prosecution work, appearing in the magistrates’, youth and Crown Courts.

Criminal Defence

R v A: junior defence counsel in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

R v M: represented defendant in the Court of Appeal, having his sentence reduced by one third.

R v K: ABH, client acquitted of allegation that he assaulted his neighbour. He had argued self-defence.

R v S: possession of Class A with intent to supply - client acquitted after trial by jury.

R v E: acted as junior counsel in a multi-week trial of historic child sexual abuse allegations.

R v L: defended client at his sentencing for a knifepoint attempted robbery; highly unusually, a suspended sentence was passed.

R v B: Successfully argued that the defendant would suffer 'exceptional hardship' if her driving licence was not restored.

R v W: Mitigating for his client in a court martial sentencing for going absent without leave, Oliver persuaded the court to grant (unusually) a community service order.

R v T: client acquitted at trial; self-defence to a charge of assaulting an emergency worker.

R v C: possession of a bladed article; starting point of 18 months in custody reduced to a 6-month suspended sentence.

Criminal Prosecution

R v P: secured conviction for street robbery after trial by jury.

R v B: custodial sentence for a racially aggravated public order offence upheld on appeal.

R v P: conviction for driving in charge of a vehicle while unfit.

R v M: conviction in drink-driving case involving expert evidence.

Proceeds of Crime

R v A: Oliver persuaded the prosecution to settle, after making a novel argument that the defendant’s current account balance was in fact held on trust for his bank. The client paid £16,000 less than the prosecution had been pursuing.

R v C: Oliver negotiated the amount sought by the prosecution down from £15,000 to £3,500.

Regulatory

Oliver acts in all areas of regulatory law. His most recent experience includes taxi licence appeals and a private prosecution under the electric pedal cycle regulations.

Year of Call: 2020

Inner Temple Western Circuit Criminal Bar Association UK Centre for Animal Law

Bar Professional Training Course, V Competent (University of Law) Graduate Diploma in Law, Distinction (University of Law) BA History, First (University of Oxford