6KBW College Hill

Ben is one of the leading juniors at the criminal bar. He is highly sought after and regularly appears in the most serious and high-profile of cases, including terrorism and homicide. He is frequently instructed to act for private clients in sensitive and difficult litigation. His outstanding achievements have been marked by Chambers and Partners, who have awarded him Crime Junior of the Year 2020.  Ben is also a leader in his field at the extradition bar, where he is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers & Partners.

“He strives to make himself available and is pragmatic and thoughtful. You can pick up the phone to him and he will answer and get back to you as quickly as he can. He is terrific.”

Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance

Ben is one of the country’s leading extradition juniors, who acts on behalf of both requesting states and individual clients in equal measure. He has been ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners for many years. Ben has appeared in many of the leading cases, including before the Supreme Court and Divisional Court. Ben is regularly asked to provide advice in sensitive and high-profile matters, often at very short notice. He has a vast experience of extradition litigation at all levels and involving countries such as the United States of America, New Zealand, India, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia and Georgia. Ben also provides advice in relation to Interpol Red Notices and requests for mutual legal assistance.

Ben has been described as a ‘highly regarded extradition junior’ who is ‘regularly instructed privately to advise companies and individuals on extradition matters’. He is a ‘first-rate barrister who is tactically astute and provides written and oral advocacy of the first water.’ (Chambers and Partners 2021)

Ben was also the Chair of the Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum in 2019. He is a frequent contributor to the Criminal Law Review and is the extradition author for Butterworths Stone’s Justices’ Manual and Consumer and Trading Standards: Law and Practice.

Criminal Litigation

Ben is one of the most sought-after leading juniors at the criminal bar. He was appointed Treasury Counsel in 2020 and was named Crime Junior of the Year 2020 by Chambers and Partners.

Ben both prosecutes and defends in the most serious and high-profile criminal cases, including terrorism and homicide. He frequently acts for private clients in sensitive litigation.

Ben is available to undertake advisory work in all aspects of criminal law and related areas, including bribery, corporate fraud and litigation, and cross-border cooperation and investigations. He is well-versed in issues concerning jurisdiction and mutual legal assistance. He has experience in the field of legal professional privilege and the handling of material gathered during large-scale searches of premises. Ben is able to provide advice either in writing or in conference, and at short notice if necessary.

Corporate Crime and Investigations, Fraud

Ben frequently receives instructions on behalf of private clients and companies, including in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption, with the offences often alleged to have been committed in foreign jurisdictions. He also receives instructions from the Serious Fraud Office.

Ben has significant experience of managing large-scale document review exercises, with particular emphasis on corporate and commercial institutions. He has a real understanding of, and sensitivity to the unique issues which can arise in such cases. He is very experienced with the relevant provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, legal professional privilege and the seizure and handling of journalistic material.

Public and Administrative Law

Ben is highly experienced in public law and in particular the operation of public law in the context of criminal litigation and extradition proceedings. He frequently acts for government departments. He understands the sensitivities involved in undertaking government work and has received security clearance to the highest level.

Ben is frequently instructed by the Appeals Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service, including up to the Supreme Court.

University of Warwick, LLB (Hons), LLM.