Louis is a recognised leader in the fields of criminal litigation, corporate investigations and human rights. He has an international reputation for providing expert strategic analysis, and frequently acts in cases with a multi-jurisdictional dimension.
Louis has acted in numerous cases in the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, and recently appeared for the Department of Justice in the High Court of Hong Kong in the territory’s largest corruption trial.
Louis was appointed Senior Treasury Counsel in 2015, and Queen’s Counsel in 2017.
Criminal Litigation
Louis’s specialism in the field of criminal litigation is dealing with cases, at first instance and on appeal, that are complex, high profile and sensitive. Recent cases include:
HKSAR v Hui, Kwok & others (Court of First Instance, Hong Kong)
Louis was admitted to the Hong Kong Bar and acted for the Department of Justice in the prosecution of the territory’s former Chief Secretary for taking bribes from property developers.
Parliamentary Expenses Scandal
Louis prosecuted the six Members of Parliament charged in connection with the Parliamentary expenses scandal. The litigation included the landmark constitutional case of R v Chaytor and others in the Supreme Court, on the scope of Parliamentary Privilege and Article IX of the Bill of Rights.
Isle of Wight Council v Platt (Supreme Court)
Louis represented the Secretary of State in the high profile Supreme Court case concerning the prosecution of parents who take their children on holiday during the school term.
R v Hurley
Louis represented the Crown in the Court of Appeal in a case where fresh evidence was called to challenge the safety of a murder conviction dating back 25 years.
R v Walker
Louis represented the Crown in the Court of Appeal in a case which clarified the means by which the DPP grants consent to prosecute.
R (Kenward) v DPP (High Court)
Louis represented the Attorney General in the litigation challenging the DPP’s policy on assisted suicide.
R v McLoughlin (Court of Appeal)
Louis represented the Crown and the Attorney General in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning a challenge to the compatibility of whole life sentences with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Other recent cases include advising on the scope of the privilege against self-incrimination under Hong Kong law; the prosecution of the man who interrupted the Boat Race for public nuisance; the prosecution of the Bulger killer Jon Venables after he re-offended; and numerous murder trials at the Central Criminal Court.
Corporate Crime and Investigations
Louis specialises in cases involving allegations of bribery, corruption, cartel activity and financial or corporate misconduct. He has recently advised on the coercive powers of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and on the criminal and extradition exposure of UK corporate officers in connection with conduct in an Asian jurisdiction. Other recent cases include:
London Whale Affair
Louis is acting for one of the involved in the London Whale affair, arising from JP Morgan’s announcement of a US$2 billion trading loss in 2012. Litigation has taken place in Spain; there are ongoing criminal and civil proceedings in the US involving the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission; and the UK litigation includes proceedings against the FCA in the Upper Tribunal, Tax and Chancery Chamber.
Akcine Bendrove Bankas Snoras v Antonov
Louis acted for a major Lithuanian bank in the Commercial Court in proceedings concerning the application of the privilege against self-incrimination and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights to disclosure in civil proceedings.
JPMorgan v SFO
Louis represented JP Morgan and a number of other City banks in the High Court, challenging the lawfulness of a section 2 (CJA 1987) Notice to produce documents, issued by the SFO at the request of an overseas prosecutor.
SFO v BAE
Louis acted in relation to the SFO’s investigation into BAE’s global business dealings.
Human Rights and Public
Louis has represented the UK Government in numerous cases in the European Court of Human Rights, including the following cases in the Grand Chamber:
Ibrahim v UK
Concerning whether the questioning of terrorist suspects under domestic legislation violated Article 6 of the Convention.
Vinter v UK
Concerning whether the domestic scheme of whole life sentencing was compatible with Article 3 of the Convention.
Al-Khawaja v UK
Concerning whether the domestic legislation in relation to hearsay evidence was compatible with Article 6 of the Convention.
University of Leeds, BA (Hons) (First Class), History.