23ES

Francis is an exceptional practitioner with a high level of expertise in conducting cases across the entire spectrum of the criminal law, who consistently performs to a high standard in the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal. He has a specialist knowledge of the law relating to communications data, and demonstrates a masterful grasp of the details when it comes to presenting or challenging such evidence in court and he has lectured on RIPA and other statues relating to the legality (or otherwise) of intercepting communications. He has regularly been instructed in cases of serious fraud and has appeared either as a leading junior, or junior alone in trials involving considerable evidential or legal complexity, including a pioneering environmental law case in the Crown Court. Francis has the ability to utilise the strengths or limitations of scientific evidence to maximum effect in any trial, his skills as an advocate have been honed over years of conducting trials, including offences of violence (fatal and non-fatal), serious sexual offences and allegations relating to drugs and dishonesty. These attributes have left him ideally equipped to undertake the most challenging of briefs.

Called 1995; Middle Temple.

Criminal Bar Association. South Eastern Circuit. Fraud Lawyers Association.

St Malachy’s College, Belfast; New College, Oxford (MA (Oxon) Jurisprudence).

Reading, history and taking long walks.