Red Lion Chambers

As a first port of call for heavyweight criminal and fraud cases, RLC has a formidable reputation as a leading set in criminal and regulatory law with members acting for both the defence and prosecution. Drawing on a 70-year history as a market leader, Chambers was named ‘Criminal Set of the Year 2018’ at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar awards, highly commended as ’Specialist Chambers of the Year’ at The Lawyers Awards 2019 and ‘Chambers of the Year’ at the Legal Business Awards 2019.

With some of the finest expertise at the Bar, 24 King’s Counsel, 16 Crown Court Recorders, and many contributors to or editors of  leading criminal works, the set provides an unparalleled depth and breadth of experience and expertise. Chambers specialises in cases concerning financial crime, serious fraud, corruption, proceeds of crime and asset forfeiture, regulatory law, professional discipline, inquests and inquiries, public law and all aspects of serious crime and international criminal law. At the core of the set’s principles is a commitment to providing the highest quality of service to its clients, who are attracted by its members’ reputation for fearless highly skilled advocacy, hard work and dedication.

Former members include High Court and Crown judges, as well as a Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief Coroner, The Recorder of London, Director of the SFO and a General Counsel to the SFO.

Work undertaken
Corporate and financial crime: RLC has a longstanding history of excellence in the field of serious and complex financial crime, acting on behalf of both individuals and corporates, as well as being instructed by the Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority. Members have been instructed in all of the highest profile cases of the last few decades including: Airbus, Unaoil, LIBOR, ENRC, Barclays, G4S, Amazon, Serco, Rolls-Royce, GSK, BA, Tchenguiz, Pharmaceuticals, Blue Arrow, and Guinness.

Serious crime: RLC has long been acknowledged as one of the leading sets here. Members are ‘leaders in their field’ in terrorism, homicide, serious sexual offences, modern day slavery and gang violence both in the Crown Court and Appellate jurisdictions appearing in cases including 21/7, the ’phone hacking’ trials, Jeremy Bamber, Damilola Taylor, the Soham Case, Tony Martin, Max Clifford, and Dharmasena and Hussain (the first FGM case in the UK).

Public Inquiries and Inquests: Chambers has a strong presence in public inquiry work, including the Dobbs Review (LBG acquisition of HBOS), Undercover Policing Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, London Bridge, Al-Sweady inquiry, 21/7 Inquiry, Chilcot/Iraq War inquiry and the ‘Bloody Sunday’ Inquiry. Members are also regularly instructed in high-profile inquests.

Professional disciplinary and regulatory: Members regularly provide advice and representation to Regulators across a wide range of professions and industries, including: GMC, GDC, GPC and NMC, as well as acting on behalf of Respondents, including accountants, medical professionals, teachers and entities such as hospital trusts.

Health and safety, environmental and fire law: Members are instructed in leading health & safety and environmental cases involving fatalities, serious injuries, and major incidents, and in prosecutions brought by the Health & Safety Executive, Environment Agency and local authorities.  Members have been at the forefront in this developing area of law offering expertise in diverse fields including construction and steel industry, motor racing, farming, railways, waterworks, rivers, waste, and the film industry.

International: Chambers has a leading international team who represent and advise individuals, victims, Governments, and corporates in jurisdictions around the world, including before international criminal courts involving allegations of genocide, war crimes and terrorism. Members also regularly provide advice to a range of Governmental and non-Governmental organisations. Recent high-profile work includes acting for the defence before The Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague concerning the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, making chambers the only UK set to both prosecute and defend in a major international trial. Chambers also successfully advised the Bangladeshi Non-Governmental Representatives in filing submissions at the ICC leading to a landmark ruling regarding the Rohingya crisis.

Public law and human rights: Members have a strong reputation in providing expert advice and representation in the sphere of public law where it intersects with its established specialist practice areas.  There is a particular focus in cases involving issues of national security where members have been instructed in cases before SIAC, TPIMs and in both public law and private law proceedings involving closed material procedures of which the recent litigation in Kamoka and others is but one example.

RLConsulting is a new initiative associated with chambers led by Dame Linda Dobbs, providing consulting services  including judicial and legal training, law and order sector reform, mediation and facilitation, conducting investigations/inquiries, policy design and implementation and public affairs/media guidance to law firms, governments, NGOs, corporations and institutions around the world. Consultants are senior and highly respected professionals including senior judges, police officers, academics, experts in both national and international justice, advisors to governments, corporations, and other organisations.