Red Lion Chambers

Edmund Vickers KC is instructed in the most serious criminal cases at Crown Court, High Court and Appellate level. He has recently returned from two years as lead prosecution counsel in a multi-million-pound corruption and money laundering case in the Republic of Seychelles.

Ed is described in the top Legal Directories as:

“A first-class legal mind allied to a very charming and persuasive style.” [Chambers UK]

“Edmund’s preparation in every case is meticulous.” [Legal 500]

“A lawyer with a brilliant brain.” [Chambers UK]

“Edmund’s knowledge of the law is par excellence and coupled with his good judgement achieves excellent results for his clients.” [Legal 500]

“An excellent silk who remains utterly calm at all times” [Chambers UK]

Ed both defends and prosecutes in cases of Murder & Manslaughter, Fraud and Corruption and Serious & Organised Crime cases. His skills in cross-examination, dealing with experts and analysing forensic accounting detail, has led to a growing Business Crime & Fraud practice (Bribery and Corruption, Complex Fraud, Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime as well as cases before the tax tribunal).

In 2022-24 Ed was instructed by the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles to lead the investigation and prosecution of a multi-million-pound corruption and money laundering case, involving senior figures in government over many years. The case involved cooperation with law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland and Singapore. The case will be tried by the Chief Justice in 2025. Ed led the prosecution team of lawyers and investigators for two years, securing a global assets restraint order against the main defendant together with civil confiscation of assets, and led successful litigation in the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and Court of Appeal. Ed advised on numerous complex issues including mutual legal assistance requests, cross-jurisdictional investigations, legal privilege and digital forensics, as well as issues relating to Constitutional Law, Company Law, Trusts and the beneficial ownership of companies. Ed also presented a paper on multi-jurisdictional cooperation at the International Anti-Corruption Day seminar held in Seychelles in 2022.

Back in the UK, Ed has been asked to advise companies and individuals involved in business, tax and complex fraud investigations, and will advise at an early stage so that strategic decisions can be made involving matters such as voluntary disclosure, Legal Professional Privilege and confidentiality.

Ed has appeared in many high-profile cases particularly at the Old Bailey (murder and organised crime) and Southwark Crown Court (fraud), and has enjoyed success in cases as diverse as defending protesters storming the House of Commons, prosecuting police officers in the Tuition Fees Riot in Parliament Sq, and successfully defending in the UK’s first FGM trial. Ed is instructed by a wide range of solicitors firms and prosecuting authorities and has over 30 years’ experience of advocacy and providing legal advice, both defending and prosecuting, in the UK and internationally.

Ed is a lead advocacy trainer at the Middle Temple and is a member of the scholarship panel at the Inn. He is a trustee and former treasurer of the Kalisher Trust, a charity that encourages and supports students from non-traditional backgrounds to go on to higher education and pursue a career in the law, promoting greater diversity throughout the criminal justice system. He is currently lead trustee of the Kalisher Trust mentoring programme, pairing students with senior members of the Bar and judiciary. In 2023, Ed was elected a Master of the Bench (a member of the governing body) of the Middle Temple Inn of Court in London.

In 2021, Ed chaired the Criminal Bar Association C-21 Working Group, examining issues facing criminal practitioners in the Crown Court. The report was published in January 2022 and called for the establishment of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice without further delay. [Report]

Year of call: 1993

Inn: Middle Temple

Silk: 2017.

Advocate of the Republic of Seychelles

Publications:

Rule of Law/Human Rights/Codes of Conduct, a presentation to DPP of Nigeria and counter-terrorism prosecutors

Lead facilitator at UN conference on counter-terrorism investigations and prosecutions in Nigeria

Lecturer, RLC Lecture Series on prosecutions brought by the Serious Fraud Office

Trainer re handling vulnerable witnesses for Advocacy Training Council/Inns of Court College of Advocacy

Advocacy Trainer for The Advocacy Training Council/Inns of Court College of Advocacy

Advocacy Trainer for Middle Temple

Scholarship Panel for Middle Temple

Ed has written articles for The Times, Counsel Magazine and Archbold News, and is regularly asked to provide opinion pieces on legal issues that arise in the news.

Corker and Young on Abuse of Process, contributing editor

In 2020-21, Ed chaired the CBA Working Group on the Criminal Justice System, which produced a report on issues facing practitioners in the Crown Court. Report

French

CBA

South Eastern Circuit

Trustee and Treasurer of The Kalisher Trust – A legal charity established to encourage students from non-traditional backgrounds to develop advocacy skills and to assist them pursue a career in criminal law.

Ampleforth College Durham University – History BA (Hons) City University – Dip Law Inns of Court School of Law – Bar Finals