Benjamin Burge

Ben is a criminal practitioner, who is regularly instructed as junior counsel in serious fraud, financial and general crime matters.

Ben is a barrister specialising in crime and financial regulation, and is frequently instructed as junior counsel in serious and complex fraud, financial and general crime matters.

In recent years, Ben has developed a strong practice in the areas of complex, high-value fraud, money laundering and business crime. He is frequently instructed as led junior counsel in lengthy, multi-defendant cases in the Crown Court, including homicides.

Ben also has experience acting as the instructed disclosure counsel, including in a series of multi-defendant cases involving international money laundering prosecuted by HMRC, and is currently assisting the National Crime Agency with a lengthy and ongoing LPP review.

In addition to his Crown Court practice, Ben has assisted law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and private firms with substantial disclosure exercises, evidence reviews and in providing general legal advice.

Ben is currently part of a team involved in reviewing historic investigations and case material in connection with the Post Office Inquiry.

Since October 2022, Ben has been seconded to the Financial Conduct Authority in the Enforcement and Market Oversight Division. His role has been to advise on applications made by cryptoasset firms for registration under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and in accordance with the Fifth Money Laundering Directive. As a result, he is developing an expertise in cryptocurrency, and more specifically an understanding of the United Kingdom’s approach to regulation of cryptocurrency, to supplement his fraud and confiscation practice.

In 2018 he acted as part of an international team representing a former London based foreign exchange trader who was charged, by the Department of Justice, with conspiring to manipulate the global foreign exchange market over several years. The trader was acquitted following a trial in the Southern District of New York. His instructions were extended for the civil proceedings brought by the US Government’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

In 2016 Ben was seconded to the National Crime Agency to act as part of an independent panel of counsel reviewing the processes, procedures and compliance of production orders, search warrants and evidence obtained in respect of their live and ongoing investigations.

Pupillage, Walnut House Chambers in Exeter. Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School (Very Competent). Law Degree, King's College London (First Class Honours).

Prizes:

Sir Francis Jacobs Prize for EC Law (2008). Inner Temple Exhibition.